News

Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are working on expanding cross-border cargo transport, including the launch of a new logistics corridor linking China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The plans were discussed at a meeting of the two countries’ joint commission on international road transport held this week in Samarkand.

The talks focused on easing bottlenecks at the Jartepa–Sarazm border crossing. Officials agreed that increasing its capacity is key to supporting higher freight volumes and faster movement of goods between the two countries.

Participants also reviewed the idea of running pilot shipments along the China–Tajikistan–Uzbekistan route. The corridor could open additional transit...

In Syrdarya region, authorities have sanctioned foreign employees who used a 2,000-sum banknote to light a cigarette, according to the regional police.

Each worker was fined 100 base calculation units, totaling UZS 41.2 mln, and their employer terminated their contracts.

The incident occurred on December 23 at a local enterprise. Officials opened an administrative case under laws prohibiting the production or distribution of materials that incite national, racial, ethnic, or religious hatred.

A video of the act had previously circulated on WeChat, showing Chinese workers setting the banknote on fire to light a cigarette.

A new study reveals that over 20% of videos recommended to new YouTube users are low-quality AI-generated content, often dubbed «AI slop.» These videos are designed to attract views rather than provide meaningful or original content.

Kapwing, a video-editing company, analyzed 15,000 top YouTube channels worldwide and found 278 channels entirely devoted to AI slop. Collectively, these channels have over 63 bn views and 221 mln subscribers, generating an estimated $117 mln annually. On a fresh YouTube account, 104 of the first 500 recommended videos were AI slop, highlighting how prevalent such content has become.

Popular AI channels include India’s Bandar Apna...

French actress Brigitte Bardot, one of the most influential figures in European cinema of the 20th century, has died at the age of 91. Her death was reported by Le Figaro.

Earlier this autumn, French media reported that Bardot had been hospitalized for several weeks in a private clinic in the Var department due to serious health issues and had undergone surgery. Details of her condition were not disclosed at the time.

Born in Paris on September 28, 1934, Bardot trained as a ballet dancer before making her film debut in 1952 in Jean Boyer’s comedy Crazy for Love (Le...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday, as diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine intensify. The talks come amid continued Russian missile and drone strikes on Kyiv, highlighting the contrast between active negotiations and ongoing hostilities.

Purpose of the Meeting

The meeting, arranged on short notice, follows weeks of intensive consultations led by US envoys. Washington is working to finalize a peace framework originally proposed by Trump last month and later revised by Kyiv. US officials say the majority of provisions have already been agreed...

Abdumannop Buriev has been named the new Business Ombudsman under the President of Uzbekistan.

Before this appointment, Buriev served on the Committee on Combating Corruption and Judicial-Legal Affairs in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis. He holds degrees from the University of World Economy and Diplomacy and the Higher School of Strategic Analysis and Forecasting.

The Business Ombudsman Office, established in 2017, is tasked with supporting the private sector and promoting transparent business practices. The first ombudsman, Dilmurod Kasimov, later became the Deputy Prosecutor General of Uzbekistan.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Uzbek government is moving toward a «single window» system for business-related...

The Uzbek government has approved a resolution aimed at enhancing the spiritual, cultural and ideological content of national holidays, according to an official document.

Under the new approach, methodological guidelines will be developed for each national holiday to ensure a unified concept and consistent messaging during celebrations.

Over 50 National Holidays Covered

The document notes that Uzbekistan currently celebrates more than 50 nationwide holidays. Each of them will receive a distinct thematic framework, including:

These measures are intended to reinforce national values and cultural identity through public celebrations.

Focus...

Starting January 4, 2026, Kyrgyzstan will introduce fixed tariffs for domestic airline tickets, eliminating price fluctuations based on demand or the time of purchase. The change was announced on air by Aiday Shaidylbaeva, Commercial Director of one of the country’s airlines.

Fixed prices instead of market-based fares

According to Shaidylbaeva, airfares on domestic routes were previously set according to market principles and could vary significantly depending on seat availability and demand. Under the new system, ticket prices will be fixed and identical for all passengers, regardless of when the ticket is purchased.

Discounts for pensioners

A 10% discount for pensioners will remain in place...

By early December 2025, approximately 7 mln citizens of Uzbekistan had travelled abroad, marking a 23% increase compared with the previous year, according to the State Committee on Statistics.

Most Uzbeks visited neighbouring Central Asian countries. Kyrgyzstan led with 3.1 mln visitors, followed by Kazakhstan with 1.3 mln and Tajikistan with 1.2 mln. Other popular destinations included Russia at 399,000 and Saudi Arabia at 296,400. Turkey and the UAE also attracted significant numbers, with 251,100 and 126,300 Uzbek tourists respectively.

Looking ahead, Tashkent aims to grow tourism service exports to $20 bn within five years. Plans include modern pedestrian...

Russian exports of liquefied petroleum gas, including propane and butane, to Central Asia and Afghanistan doubled in the first 11 months of 2025, surpassing 1 mln tonnes, according to Reuters.

Following European sanctions on LPG, Russia redirected supplies from Europe to Central Asian countries. The fuel is used for heating and petrochemical production. Shipments to Afghanistan and other regional countries now represent 36% of total Russian LPG exports, up from 19% a year ago.

Afghanistan emerged as the largest buyer, benefiting from a decline in Iranian exports, which remain subject to US sanctions.

By early December, Russia had spent...

Austrian Raiffeisen Bank has joined Uzbekistan’s capital market «sandbox,» the National Agency for Advanced Projects (NAPP) announced. The bank became the sixth participant after receiving official approval from the agency.

According to NAPP, Raiffeisen Bank will act as a foreign nominal holder, enabling its clients to store and trade Uzbek securities acquired via UZCE and the Tashkent Regional Financial Centre.

Raiffeisen Bank, headquartered in Vienna, operates across Central and Eastern Europe, providing corporate and retail banking, investment banking services, leasing and other financial solutions.

The bank reported consolidated profits exceeding €1 bn in the third quarter of 2025, marking...

Christmas delivered strong results at the box office as audiences returned to cinemas. James Cameron’s «Avatar: Fire and Ash» took the top spot on Christmas Day with $24 mln, positioning the film for a solid run through the end of the year as it aims to match the billion dollar success of earlier entries in the franchise.

The film opened to $88 mln last week and is forecast to earn between $75 mln and $80 mln over the four-day Christmas holiday period. While behind the pace of 2022’s «Avatar: The Way of Water,» which earned $29 mln on Christmas Day...

Uzbekistan plans to raise exports of tourism services to $20 bn over the next five years, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said in an address to parliament and the nation.

In Samarkand, new pedestrian routes and bridges will link Bibi-Khanym, Registan, the Amir Temur mausoleum, Ulugbek Observatory, Shah-i-Zinda and the Afrosiyob Museum into a single tourist area. In Shahrisabz, the first phase of the large Gelon tourism complex will be launched, while the Pap district will develop the Arashan mountain resort zone. Khiva’s Ichan-Kala is set to become an immersive smart museum city.

Authorities also plan to create a major tourism...

Amos Poe, the New York underground filmmaker who captured the city’s punk scene and directed films such as «Blank Generation» and «Alphabet City,» has died at the age of 76 after a battle with cancer.

His wife Claudia Summers shared the news on Poe’s Instagram account on December 25, writing,

«Amos took his last breath today at 3:33 pm, surrounded by loved ones. ‘Adios’ — AP.»

His 1976 film «Blank Generation,» co-directed with guitarist Ivan Kral, was among the first to document New York’s punk rock movement. Filmed partly at CBGB, it included appearances...

Oil prices fell sharply on Friday as traders weighed expectations of a global supply surplus against easing geopolitical tensions, including hopes of progress toward a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.

Brent crude slipped $1.03, or 1.65%, to $61.21 a barrel by midday in New York, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate dropped $1.05, or 1.8%, to $57.30. Despite recent support from supply disruptions, both benchmarks are heading for their steepest annual losses since 2020. Brent is down about 18% this year and WTI nearly 20%.

Rising production has fuelled concerns of an oil glut next year. The International Energy...

Severe winter storm warnings caused widespread disruption to U.S. air travel on Friday, with airlines cancelling and delaying thousands of flights during the peak holiday period, according to FlightAware.

By 12:30 p.m. ET, 1,139 flights had been cancelled and 3,808 delayed. The National Weather Service warned that winter storms would create hazardous travel conditions from the Great Lakes to the northern Mid-Atlantic and southern New England through Saturday morning.

Major airports in affected regions, including New York’s JFK and LaGuardia airports as well as Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, cautioned passengers about possible delays and cancellations.

JetBlue recorded the...

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s 2022 Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan prompted a shift in opinion for former England rugby star Matt Dawson, who said one remark by Meghan made him rethink his initial reaction.

Dawson, 44, said he began watching the series expecting a «woe is me» narrative but changed his view after Meghan addressed the number of books written about the couple by people they did not know. In the series, Meghan questioned why the public would not want to hear their story directly from them rather than through third-party accounts.

Dawson said the comment resonated...

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism have delivered advanced forensic and ballistic equipment to law enforcement agencies in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as part of a joint initiative to combat the illicit circulation of small arms and light weapons.

Funded by Canada, the project aims to strengthen national security and improve the effectiveness of criminal investigations linked to organised crime and terrorism.

In November, Tajikistan’s Interior Ministry received high-precision digital ballistic microscopes capable of analysing bullets and cartridges and integrating data into national ballistic information systems. Officials said the equipment...

North Korea has revealed its first nuclear-powered submarine, a major milestone in its military development that is expected to heighten regional security concerns.

State media released images showing leader Kim Jong Un inspecting the 8,700-tonne vessel, which is designed to carry nuclear-capable missiles and remain submerged for long periods. Kim described the submarine as an «epoch-making change» in the nuclear arms race, signalling what analysts say could be a significant boost to Pyongyang’s deterrence capabilities.

Experts note that a nuclear-powered submarine would strengthen North Korea’s so-called second-strike capability, allowing it to retaliate even if land-based missile systems were...

China has imposed sanctions on Boeing and a range of US defence firms after the administration of Donald Trump approved one of the largest-ever packages of arms sales to Taiwan.

Beijing’s foreign ministry announced sanctions on 10 individuals and 20 US defence companies, including Boeing’s production hub in St Louis, Missouri, a key manufacturing centre for fighter jets such as the F-15EX Eagle and the MQ-25 Stingray aerial refueller. Other companies targeted include Northrop Grumman and L3Harris.

The move follows Washington’s approval of an arms deal worth more than $11bn (£8bn), which includes missile systems and drones for...

Sam Altman has predicted that the next major step toward superhuman artificial intelligence will come when AI systems develop «infinite, perfect memory».

Speaking on the Big Technology Podcast, the OpenAI chief said future AI assistants could eventually remember «every detail of your entire life», from conversations and documents to daily work, something no human can do. Altman suggested OpenAI is working toward such capabilities as early as 2026.

Current advances in large language models, including ChatGPT, have focused largely on improving reasoning skills. However, Altman said memory remains «very crude» and represents a key frontier for the technology.

Erling Haaland has given himself the green light to feature for Manchester City against Nottingham Forest after responding to a public weight warning from manager Pep Guardiola.

Guardiola had warned that any City player returning overweight after the Christmas break would be left behind for the trip to Nottingham. Haaland reported back to training on Christmas Day after three days off and revealed on social media that he weighed 94.4kg, captioning the post «All good!!».

The striker has previously spoken about his physical transformation, saying in a 2021 interview that he had increased his weight significantly since joining Borussia Dortmund...

During Pope Francis’s visit to Portugal in August 2023, thousands queued to confess to priests — a reminder of how, for centuries, humans turned to religious authority for guidance. Today, some thinkers argue, that role is increasingly being filled by artificial intelligence.

Commentators and researchers warn that reliance on AI tools for everyday decisions, from navigation and writing to personal and political choices, may signal a retreat from independent reasoning. The concern echoes ideas first articulated by Immanuel Kant, who described intellectual maturity as the courage to think without external guidance.

Since the launch of ChatGPT, AI adoption...

Leonardo DiCaprio is reportedly reassessing his long-held opposition to cosmetic procedures as he navigates ageing in Hollywood, according to media reports citing industry insiders.

The Oscar-winning actor, who previously ruled out Botox, fillers and hair transplants, is said to be open to subtle, conservative treatments aimed at maintaining a camera-ready appearance. Sources claim DiCaprio now views his looks as «non-negotiable» for both casting opportunities and personal confidence, though any changes would be limited to minor «maintenance work» rather than dramatic alterations.

Insiders suggest the actor has become more conscious of wrinkles, looser skin and the impact of high-definition...