News

The ICT Week forum has concluded in Tashkent, bringing together leading IT and telecom professionals from around the world. Experts discussed Uzbekistan’s digital future and the role the country can play in the rapidly evolving digital architecture of the modern world.

One of the key themes of ICT Week 2025 was the development of artificial intelligence. Kursiv Uzbekistan spoke with Elena Kunakova, Director of Audience and E-commerce at Microsoft AI, about how AI is transforming markets, what opportunities it opens for Uzbekistan, and why women’s inclusion in IT has become an important factor in the industry’s growth.

Digital by New Rules

— Elena...

The 15th Murataliev Memorial Tournament concluded in Talas, Kyrgyzstan, with more than 100 young boxers from across Central Asia and Russia competing for titles at the Gazprom Arena.

Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and the host nation Kyrgyzstan all sent strong teams to the international youth event, which featured athletes born in 2008 and 2009.

Kyrgyzstan’s own Akhmadi Arvaz, the reigning ASBC Asian Junior Champion, once again showcased his dominance by securing the middleweight (75kg) gold medal. The 17-year-old powerhouse defeated fellow Kyrgyz boxers Isa Semenov, Abdygany Mukhamediminov, and Iskander Rasulzhanov, continuing his impressive streak of victories — having won over...

Square, the payments company owned by Jack Dorsey’s Block Inc., has unveiled a new feature that allows U.S. merchants to accept Bitcoin (BTC) payments directly at checkout, marking a major step toward mainstream cryptocurrency adoption.

The service enables businesses to receive Bitcoin payments, hold BTC in an integrated wallet, or automatically convert a portion of their sales into the digital currency. Square has announced zero processing fees through 2026, with a modest 1% transaction fee set to begin in 2027.

Available to U.S. sellers (excluding New York State), the feature integrates seamlessly into Square’s existing merchant dashboard, which...

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Games concluded in Azerbaijan with thrilling boxing finals that saw Uzbekistan’s young talents dominate the ring, while neighboring Tajikistan celebrated a historic gold medal in Yevlakh.

The boxing tournament, held over seven days at the Yevlakh Olympic Center across eight host cities, featured some of the most promising athletes from the region.

Uzbekistan’s Utkirbek Norkosimov reached the final in the pinweight (46kg) category but narrowly lost to Azerbaijan’s Kardash Rakhimov by a 3:2 split decision. Another Azeri, Ali Aliyev, defeated Tajikistan’s Azamjon Khasanov in the light flyweight (48kg) final, also by a close...

He spoke at the forum and went for a swim. Photo: Digital Business.kz

Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov has deleted from his channel a video showing him swimming in one of the lakes of Kazakhstan’s Kolsai Lakes National Park.

After the video went viral on social media, the park administration launched an internal investigation. The management promised to punish the staff members who failed to ensure proper control of the area, TASS reports.

At the same time, the park clarified that its inspectors did not personally record the violation, so no fine will be imposed on Durov.

According to Kazakh...

The Kuwaiti national football team has concluded its training sessions in Tashkent ahead of a friendly match against Uzbekistan on Thursday at the Olympic Stadium.

The game is part of Kuwait’s international break preparations for the Arab Cup playoff against Mauritania on November 25 in Doha, organized under FIFA’s supervision.

Head coach Helio Sousa said he aims to refine the squad’s tactics and cohesion following a 2–2 draw with Syria in September. The team faces a strong opponent led by Italian legend Fabio Cannavaro, as Uzbekistan recently qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

After the match, Kuwait will...

Popular YouTuber Kwak Tube (real name Kwak Jun-bin) has revealed that he and his fiancée are expecting a baby boy — just days before their upcoming wedding.

In his latest YouTube video, «Uzbekistan After One Year, the Challenging Korea Invitation Project,» posted on October 7, Kwak travelled to Uzbekistan to invite local friends to his wedding in South Korea. During the visit, he shared emotional moments with acquaintances who had waited late into the night to greet him and offer their congratulations.

While chatting in a car, one friend asked whether he had children.

Kwak...

Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), has invested $2 bn in Polymarket, a cryptocurrency-based prediction market, giving the startup a $9 bn post-money valuation, according to a company post on X.

The deal marks one of the largest traditional finance investments in a Web3 platform, highlighting growing ties between Wall Street and the crypto industry. ICE’s NYSE remains the world’s largest stock exchange, with a market capitalization exceeding $25 trillion as of mid-2024.

Polymarket allows users to buy and sell shares tied to the outcomes of real-world events, including elections, sports, and...

Deloitte Australia will partially refund the federal government after a report it produced was found to contain apparent AI-generated errors, including a fabricated judicial quote and citations to nonexistent academic papers.

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations said Tuesday that Deloitte had agreed to repay the final instalment of its AU$440,000 ($290,000) contract after reviewing the 237-page report and confirming that «some footnotes and references were incorrect.» The refund amount will be disclosed once reimbursed.

Originally published in July, the report was revised and republished on Friday after Sydney University law researcher Chris Rudge alerted the media to...

Members of Uzbekistan’s Legislative Chamber have approved a bill aimed at reinforcing citizens’ rights to control the use of their image, sending the draft law to the Senate for further review.

The proposed legislation stipulates that anyone wishing to photograph or film a person must first obtain their consent. It also outlines limited exceptions where recording is permitted without permission, while emphasising the need to respect privacy when using surveillance cameras.

Under the amendments, filming minors under the age of 16 will require authorisation from a parent or legal guardian. The bill further mandates that all public places equipped with...

Airbus achieved a major milestone on Tuesday as its A320 family of aircraft overtook Boeing’s 737 to become the most-delivered jetliner in history, Reuters reports.

According to UK-based aviation consultancy Cirium, which tracks global aircraft deliveries, the record was broken when a new A320 was handed over overnight to Saudi carrier Flynas, bringing total deliveries since the model’s 1988 debut to 12,260. Airbus declined to comment on the data, compiled by analyst Rob Morris.

Together, Boeing and Airbus have produced more than 25,000 single-aisle jets — aircraft originally designed to connect major hubs but later embraced by low-cost airlines...

Rescue efforts to evacuate over 200 trekkers stranded near the eastern face of Mount Everest in Tibet are expected to conclude on Tuesday, according to a source familiar with the situation. The trekkers were trapped due to severe snowstorms that swept through western China.

The incident occurred when hundreds of outdoor enthusiasts, taking advantage of an eight-day holiday starting October 1, were caught off guard by a sudden blizzard while attempting to view Everest’s Kangshung face.

Evacuation operations, which began on Monday, are anticipated to be completed by Tuesday. The source, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization to...

Tesla is expected to unveil a lower-cost version of its best-selling Model Y SUV on Tuesday, as the electric vehicle maker seeks to revive declining sales and recover market share in an increasingly crowded global market, Reuters reports.

Chief Executive Elon Musk has long promised affordable mass-market vehicles, though he cancelled plans last year for a new $25,000 electric car. The model anticipated this week is understood to be a more affordable variant built on Tesla’s existing manufacturing and design platforms.

Over the weekend, Tesla posted two teaser clips on X that sparked excitement among fans. One showed a...

Gold surged to a record high on Tuesday as the political deadlock in the United States Congress showed no signs of ending, leaving the government partially shut down. Growing expectations of an imminent U.S. interest rate cut also strengthened investor appetite for the precious metal.

Spot gold climbed 0.4% to $3,974.09 per ounce by 04:46 GMT, trading close to its all-time peak of $3,977.19 reached earlier in the day. U.S. gold futures for December delivery increased 0.5% to $3,996.40.

Market Uncertainty and Rate Cut Hopes

«The likelihood of rate cuts in October and December...

Mining Sector Booms

Bitcoin reached a new all-time high of $126,080 on Monday, triggering significant gains across the crypto mining and treasury sectors. The rally has led to substantial increases in share prices for multiple companies involved in cryptocurrency operations.

Argo Blockchain emerged as the top performer among global crypto miners, skyrocketing by 96% on the London Stock Exchange to reach 5.3 pence per share. US-based competitors also showed impressive growth, with some posting gains exceeding 20%.

Major US mining companies experienced notable increases:

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg arrived in Athens on October 6 to cheers from pro-Palestinian supporters after being deported by Israel, along with hundreds of other activists detained at sea for trying to deliver aid to Gaza.

Israel confirmed it expelled 171 people, including Thunberg, bringing the total deported to 341 out of 479 detained when the flotilla was intercepted. Greece’s Foreign Ministry said 161 activists landed in Athens, among them 27 Greeks and citizens of nearly 20 other nations.

Thunberg Condemns Israeli Actions

Speaking at Athens airport, Thunberg, 22, denounced Israel’s campaign in Gaza.

Uzbekistan’s banking sector continues to show resilience, according to the latest Bank Activity Index from the Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) for Q3 2025. The report highlights sustained growth among major players and notable movement within the mid-tier segment.

CERR assessed 35 commercial banks, 20 large and 15 small, based on 27 indicators aligned with international standards. The ranking aims to enhance transparency, encourage competition, and strengthen public trust in the sector.

Sector Performance

Total assets reached 863 trln sums ($71.2 bn), while liabilities stood at 734 trln sums ($60.6 bn). Lending growth eased to 14%, deposit...

Kazakhstan has been chosen as the filming location for the fourth instalment of Jackie Chan’s legendary action franchise, Armour of God. The news was confirmed by the media company Sәlem Entertainment, which announced that the upcoming film, titled Armour of God: Ultimatum, will be produced in the country.

Speaking at the Digital Bridge 2025 forum, the company’s CEO Igor Tsai informed the President of Kazakhstan that production of the new film starring Jackie Chan would take place locally, marking a significant collaboration between the Kazakh film industry and one of Asia’s most famous movie icons.

The Armour of God...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed new plans on October 6 to expand the development and application of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in Uzbekistan’s economy and social sectors.

Uzbekistan’s AI Progress Recognised

AI is now becoming a crucial tool in fields such as education, healthcare, energy and governance. Its use is expected to improve state management efficiency, optimise resource allocation and enhance the quality of public services.

Over the past few years, Uzbekistan has implemented steady reforms in this area, rising 17 places in the global AI application ranking to 70th among 188 countries and first in Central Asia.

The...

Top welterweight contender Shakhram Giyasov will make his highly anticipated return to the ring on November 14 at the prestigious Humo Arena in Tashkent, as announced by Lift Promotions.

The undefeated Giyasov (17-0, 10 KOs), currently ranked fifth by The Ring at 147 pounds and holding the number one spot in the WBA rankings, will face an opponent to be announced in what promises to be an exciting homecoming fight.

While preparing for this bout, Giyasov remains in contention for a mandatory title shot against WBA welterweight champion Rolando Romero. The 32-year-old native of Bukhara, known as «Wonder Boy,» boasts an impressive resume that...

Uzbekistan is stepping up efforts to diversify its debt issuance strategy , building on recent successes in the sustainable bond market and exploring new financing opportunities in Islamic finance.

The country’s dollar-denominated bonds have shown impressive returns this year, climbing nearly 14%, which significantly outpaces the average 10% return seen across emerging and frontier markets tracked by Bloomberg. This performance comes after years of market isolation prior to 2016, followed by a period of economic reforms under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, including the introduction of a free-floating currency regime.

In recent years, Uzbekistan has made significant strides in sustainable finance...

Global central banks added a total of 15 tons of gold to their reserves in August, according to the latest report from the World Gold Council (WGC). The data, compiled from sources including the International Monetary Fund and national central banks, shows a return to active gold purchasing following a temporary pause in July.

The August figure aligns with the average monthly purchases recorded between March and June. The slight slowdown in July was attributed to Indonesia’s decision to sell 11 tons of its gold reserves.

Despite record-high gold prices in 2025, central banks have maintained their interest in the...

The First Vice President of the Uzbekistan Football Association Ravshan Irmatov has dismissed claims that Fabio Cannavaro will earn around €4 mln annually as head coach of the national team.

«Cannavaro’s salary is not €4 mln. It is not even a quarter of that figure. However, both sides have agreed not to disclose the exact amount,» Irmatov told reporters when asked about the deal.

The football body confirmed that Cannavaro has signed a contract structured as 2+3. Irmatov also expressed gratitude to Srečko Katanec, Timur Kapadze and other specialists who played a key role in...

A growing number of young adults are choosing to cut ties with their parents, a phenomenon that was once considered taboo. Cara, a 25-year-old journalist from Bradford, is one such individual who hasn’t spoken to her father for three and a half years.

Statistics and Research

Recent studies indicate that family estrangement is more common than previously thought. Research suggests that approximately one in five UK families and 6% of adult children in the US experience parental separation.

High-Profile Cases Bring Awareness

Celebrities like Matthew McConaughey and Davina McCall have publicly discussed their experiences with estrangement, helping...