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Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the Islamic Civilisation Centre in Tashkent, a landmark complex set to become one of the world’s largest hubs dedicated to Islamic history and culture.

Located within the Hazrati Imam Complex, the centre spans 10 hectares. The three-storey building measures 161 metres in length and 118 metres in width, with a dome rising to 65 metres. Covering more than 42,000 square metres, it is expected to be recognised by the Guinness World Records.

The architecture blends traditional and historic design elements. Entrances are positioned on all four sides, while arches are decorated with Quranic verses and...

Uzbekistan is demonstrating a significant acceleration in economic growth according to the March 2026 Macroeconomic Review published by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB). Following a solid performance in recent years, the nation’s GDP increased by 7.7% in 2025 which marks a notable rise from the 6.7% growth recorded the year before.

This robust economic expansion was primarily supported by active domestic demand and a steady influx of investments. The sectors experiencing the most dynamic development were trade, services and construction.

The positive momentum has firmly carried over into the new year. In January 2026 economic activity remained high due...

Tom Holland is back as Spider-Man in an early glimpse of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, set to arrive in cinemas on July 31 from Sony Pictures. The actor confirmed on Instagram that the film’s full trailer will be released on Wednesday, with brief teaser clips rolling out across fan social media accounts worldwide in the lead-up.

The initial footage shows Spider-Man swinging between buildings as he rescues someone, accompanied by a voice saying «rebirth». The darker, slow-motion tone marks a stylistic shift from Holland’s earlier outings, drawing comparisons to the work of Zack Snyder.

The film also represents a...

Denis Villeneuve joked that the unveiling of Dune: Part Three felt more like a premiere than a trailer launch as he introduced the film’s cast at a packed AMC theatre in Los Angeles just after the Oscars.

Returning stars Zendaya and Javier Bardem were joined by newcomers Anya Taylor-Joy and Robert Pattinson to preview the final chapter of the sci-fi trilogy. Timothee Chalamet, who plays Paul Atreides, appeared via video message rather than attending in person.

In his message, Chalamet praised Villeneuve as a «master of cinema» and thanked him for bringing the trilogy to life, calling the...

According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the train will operate from March 20 to 25, linking Almaty, Turkistan, Samarkand, Dushanbe and Tashkent before returning to Almaty.

The маршрут is designed to give travellers a compact journey through some of the region’s most important cultural and historical centers. Stops include Turkistan, a spiritual hub of the Turkic world, and Samarkand, one of the most iconic cities of Islamic civilization.

The program will feature guided excursions, cultural events and visits to heritage sites, offering passengers an immersive experience across Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

The initiative aims to boost...

Large parts of Cuba were left without electricity on Tuesday following a major blackout, the third in four months, highlighting the island’s worsening energy shortages and economic strain.

Authorities said power was gradually being restored to hospitals and parts of the country, but warned the fragile grid could fail again. Cuba’s aging electricity system has deteriorated in recent years, leading to frequent outages and large-scale disruptions.

The government has blamed the crisis on U.S. pressure, including warnings from Donald Trump about tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba. Reduced fuel imports, including disruptions from Venezuela, have further strained the island’s...

Japan’s Metaplanet to invest in Bitcoin ecosystem

Tokyo-based investment firm Metaplanet plans to invest roughly 4 bn yen (about $26 mln) into Bitcoin-related infrastructure and startups in Japan.

The company said it will launch a dedicated venture arm targeting sectors such as lending, payments, custody, stablecoins and derivatives. It has also signed a preliminary deal to invest up to 400 mln yen in JPYC, a regulated yen-backed stablecoin issuer.

A U.S. subsidiary based in Miami will focus on Bitcoin capital markets and cross-border investment flows between Asia and Western markets.

South Korea orders partial...

Global digital operator VEON Ltd. has announced a series of senior leadership appointments aimed at accelerating its digital transformation and strengthening operations across key markets.

As part of the changes, Yevgeniy Nastradin will become Chief Executive Officer of Beeline Uzbekistan, subject to regulatory approvals. He brings over a decade of experience within VEON and most recently led Beeline Kazakhstan, where he oversaw strong growth and digital expansion.

Current CEO Andrey Pyatakhin, who has headed Beeline Uzbekistan since October 2024, will transition to the role of Chief Operating Officer. The move is intended to enhance operational efficiency while supporting...

The global economy continues to expand in early 2026, driven largely by strong performance in Asian countries, according to the latest macroeconomic review by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB).

Global GDP grew by 3.3% in 2025, supported by emerging markets, particularly in Asia. China and India remained key growth engines, while economic activity in the eurozone showed signs of recovery. At the same time, the US economy began to slow, with growth expected to ease further in 2026.

Inflation in the U.S. and eurozone declined in 2025, prompting central banks to gradually ease monetary policy. However, this trend...

The head of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, has resigned in protest over the ongoing conflict with Iran, triggering sharp divisions within political circles and among supporters of President Donald Trump.

Kent announced his resignation in a letter published Tuesday, saying he could not «in good conscience» support the war. He argued that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States and warned that the country risked repeating past military mistakes in the Middle East.
Appointed by Trump in early 2025, Kent had been a close political ally of the president, making his departure...

Veteran character actor Matt Clark, best known for his roles in classic Hollywood Westerns, has died at the age of 89.

Clark passed away on Sunday in Austin, Texas, his daughter, producer Amiee Clark, confirmed. He had suffered a broken back several months prior.

Over a career spanning more than five decades, Clark became a familiar face in Western films, appearing in titles such as The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean, The Cowboys, and The Outlaw Josey Wales. He also featured in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, Hearts of the West, and numerous other films...

Uzbekistan has approved a national cybersecurity strategy through 2030, introducing stricter measures to combat fraud and protect consumers. Experts from профильные agencies and the Interior Ministry outlined the key changes at a conference held at the Sputnik press center. Kursiv Uzbekistan summarizes the main points.

No Messenger Bans, But Stronger Anti-Fraud Measures

The new strategy increases corporate responsibility for outdated cybersecurity systems. If a client loses money due to insufficient or unpatched protection, banks or payment systems will be required to compensate the losses. All digital transactions will now be strictly recorded.

Telecom operators will also be обязаны to more...

Lisa Rinna drew attention with a striking gown made from over 11 lbs of human hair at the Elton John Oscars Afterparty. The 62-year-old former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star collaborated with designer Christian Cowan and TRESemmé to create the curve-hugging strapless dress.

The gown, featuring a sweetheart neckline, was constructed by wrapping strands of ethically sourced hair around fabric and boning. At a glance it resembled black fabric strips, but the loose tresses at the hem confirmed the hair detail. Cowan shared behind-the-scenes clips on social media days before the event, calling it «A-List hair, reimagined in the...

Timothee Chalamet missed out on Best Actor at the Academy Awards and became the subject of jokes during the ceremony following recent remarks that drew criticism from the arts community, The Sun reports.

Host Conan O’Brien referenced the controversy in his opening monologue and later quipping about Chalamet’s reaction.

“Security is very tight tonight. There’s concerns about attacks from the ballet and opera communities.”

«Maybe it takes ten years, but we can change society through art, through creativity, through theatre and ballet — and cinema.»

The actor, who starred in Marty Supreme, had...

Geri Halliwell and her husband Christian Horner have won a planning dispute with neighbours over a structure built at their countryside home in Northamptonshire, The Sun reports.

The couple faced backlash after constructing a pergola and gazebo without prior permission, with residents claiming the additions disrupted views of a nearby historic church in the conservation area.

A previous application for retrospective approval was rejected last year, with council officials describing the development as unacceptable. However, a second application to retain the pergola has now been approved, while the status of the gazebo remains unclear.

The pergola, built near the...

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday that senior Iranian figures, including Ali Larijani and a commander of the Basij paramilitary force, were killed in an air strike, Reuters reports.

There was no immediate confirmation from Iran regarding the reported deaths.

Earlier, the Israeli military said it had killed Gholamreza Soleimani, head of the Basij, a force under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps often used to suppress domestic protests, the National News reports.

Larijani, a former nuclear negotiator and long-time political figure, had recently been seen attending public events in Tehran. He previously served as speaker of...

The Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) has released an updated report on Uzbekistan’s real estate market, highlighting February 2026 trends in transaction activity, regional distribution, and housing and rental prices in the capital.

According to the analysis, nationwide housing sales rose nearly 4% in February, reaching 29.7K transactions. Compared with the same month last year, sales increased by 7.2K, a 32.4% rise.

Regional Market Activity

Navoi region recorded the strongest year-on-year growth at 53%, followed by Syrdarya at 39% and Tashkent city at 49%. Month-on-month, the highest gains were seen in Tashkent region (+25%), Navoi (+22.6%), and...

Shigeaki Mori, a survivor of the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima and famously embraced by former Barack Obama during his historic 2016 visit, has died at the age of 88.

Mori, eight years old when the bomb destroyed Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, was knocked unconscious by the blast. He later devoted decades to locating victims who had been cremated at his school playground and identified 12 Americans who died in the attack.

The image of a tearful Mori in Obama’s arms at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park became an iconic moment of the first visit by a sitting...

K-pop supergroup BTS will celebrate its return after nearly four years with a monthlong cultural festival across Seoul. The event, titled “BTS The City Arirang Seoul,” will feature riverside drone shows, media art installations and musical fountains.

The group shared details on Monday via Hybe’s fan platform Weverse. BigHit Music said the festival, running from Friday through April 19, was organised in partnership with the Seoul Metropolitan Government to let locals and tourists experience culture and art in a new way while enjoying BTS’ comeback. Related events will span the food, beverage and mobility sectors.

Media Shows and...

Uzbekistan has introduced a cashless payment system for real estate and vehicle transactions, moving settlements to an escrow model managed electronically between notaries and banks.

Under the December 10, 2025 presidential decree, the government set measures to popularise cashless payments and reduce the share of the informal economy. The system ensures secure and reliable handling of funds when registering property and vehicle sales.

The Ministry of Justice registered regulations (No. 3790, March 16, 2026) governing electronic data exchange between notaries and banks for processing transactions of real estate and vehicles.

From April 1, 2026, transactions for real estate, vehicles...

Capcom Co., Ltd. announced that Resident Evil Requiem, released on February 27, 2026, has sold more than 6 mln units worldwide, making it the fastest title in the Resident Evil series to reach this milestone.

The game offers photorealistic visuals and an immersive survival horror experience, featuring two protagonists whose interplay blends intense fear with thrilling action. Capcom plans to provide ongoing support and additional content to extend gameplay for fans.

The series will celebrate its 30th anniversary on March 22, 2026, with planned events including a collaboration with Universal Studios Japan and orchestral concerts across Japan, the U.S...

Timothee Chalamet has shared the first glimpse of Dune: Part Three, the concluding chapter of Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi trilogy. The film is scheduled for release on December 18, where it is set to compete with Avengers: Doomsday.

Chalamet posted the image on social media, confirming his return as Paul Atreides following the events of Dune: Part Two.

The sequel followed Paul and his mother, Lady Jessica, played by Rebecca Ferguson, as they aligned with the Fremen on Arrakis. Alongside Zendaya’s Chani, Paul led a rebellion against the Harkonnen forces, culminating in victory and the launch of a wider war.

New...

At least 400 people were killed and 250 injured in an air strike on a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul, a spokesman for the Taliban government said on Tuesday, marking a sharp escalation in tensions with Pakistan.

Islamabad rejected the allegation as «false and misleading», stating that its forces had targeted military sites and what it described as terrorist support infrastructure during strikes carried out late on Monday.

The attack came hours after China reiterated its willingness to help ease tensions between the neighbouring states, urging both sides to avoid further escalation and return to talks.

Witnesses and...

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan has announced that Uzbekistan has delivered a humanitarian aid shipment to the people of Iran.

The shipment included essential food supplies such as flour, rice, sugar, pasta, sunflower oil and canned goods, along with medicines and medical equipment.

Officials from the Iranian side attended the handover ceremony in the city of Daregaz. Among those present were Daregaz governor Mojtaba Bazmara, head of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Razavi Khorasan and adviser to the minister Ali Masumifar, as well as Iran’s ambassador to Turkmenistan Ali Mojtaba Ruzbexani.

During the event, Iranian...