News

The Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA) will open its doors to the public on September 6, marking a milestone for the cultural landscape of Uzbekistan.

Operating as the nation’s first state-run contemporary art institution and the largest facility of its kind across Central Asia, CCA Tashkent aims to position the capital city as a vital regional hub for creative expression and international collaboration.

The flagship project, spearheaded by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation, occupies a revitalised brick building originally constructed in 1912. Designed by architect Wilhelm Heinzelmann, the historic structure initially served as a city tram depot...

A Chinese national has been rescued alive from a tunnel in Nepal, authorities said Saturday, 10 days after a devastating glacier collapse tore through a Himalayan valley and killed more than 1,300 people.

The survivor, identified by the Nepali army only as Luhaitao, was found inside a 225-metre tunnel at the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project.

He was flown by helicopter to an army hospital after receiving emergency medical treatment at the scene. Footage released by the army showed the man appearing exhausted and disoriented, with dried mud and dust covering his skin and clothing as a medic checked...

American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have landed in Moscow ahead of renewed discussions regarding the conflict in Ukraine. According to Donald Trump, the senior delegation carries a fresh proposal designed to end the prolonged war.

The US representatives are expected to hold direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to outline the updated framework. Following their engagements in the Russian capital, the diplomats are scheduled to travel to Kyiv on Sunday to discuss the terms with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Although neither Washington nor the Kremlin has officially confirmed the delegation’s arrival, international flight tracking data provided...

Preparations for next year’s flagship smartphone market are well underway. Internal documents suggest the South Korean tech giant has begun evaluating its future Galaxy S27 lineup using a processor that Qualcomm has not yet made public.

A recently surfaced image from a developer portal indicates these early trials are happening simultaneously across several key global territories.

The component driving these prototypes carries the SM8975 identifier. Industry observers anticipate this silicon will ultimately launch as the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. Within the leaked interface, three distinct project files point to specific variants of the forthcoming handset. These files...

At least two people were killed and 81 injured after explosions involving pyrotechnic material rocked a military barracks in the Bolivian municipality of Viacha, about 30 kilometres from La Paz.

The blasts struck the Centro General de Mantenimiento of the RAM-2 Bolívar military regiment on Friday afternoon. Defence Minister Ernesto Justiniano said the latest confirmed death toll stood at two as authorities continued rescue and recovery work. Earlier reports had listed 14 people as missing, although police later reported seven missing as searches progressed.

WATCH: Explosion at pyrotechnics storage area of military base in Viacha, Bolivia...

Xiaomi has unveiled two additional colour options for the upcoming Xiaomi 18 Fold, expanding the foldable’s design choices just days before its official launch.

The company previously showed the handset in a deep red finish. Xiaomi President Lu Weibing has now presented a black version and a gold-and-white model, giving buyers a choice between a more conventional look and a lighter premium design.

The Xiaomi 18 Fold is scheduled to launch on September 7 in China. Xiaomi has described the device as a new type of foldable called a “mid-fold”, positioned between a conventional smartphone and the larger book-style...

A disruptive traveller who allegedly hurled racist slurs and assaulted fellow passengers was restrained with zip ties and duct tape Thursday, forcing an American Airlines flight to make an emergency landing in Maryland.

Arthur Lundeen, 67, of Arizona, was arrested and charged with second-degree assault and disorderly conduct after the mid-air altercation. American Airlines Flight 618 was travelling from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to Newark, New Jersey, when the confrontation erupted in the first-class cabin.

Witnesses reported the man became belligerent roughly halfway through the journey. He reportedly shouted profanities, racial slurs and homophobic abuse before physically striking...

Tech consumers bracing for drastic price hikes on Apple‘s upcoming premium smartphones might find relief in newly leaked figures. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will reportedly see modest cost increases rather than the severe jumps previously forecasted by industry analysts.

Recent pricing circulation suggests the iPhone 18 Pro will cost about 10% more than its predecessor, while the Pro Max faces an 11% bump. Translating these percentages to US markets places the starting price of the Pro at $1,099 and the Pro Max at $1,299.

These figures contradict earlier market projections that warned of $150 to...

DC Universe fans suspect Adria Arjona will play Wonder Woman in upcoming films following a cryptic workout video and past comments from DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn.

Speculation intensified after Women’s Health released a seven-minute video showcasing the actress performing an intense boxing and strength routine. While Arjona noted the training prepared her for the film “Onslaught,” fans zeroed in on her phrasing regarding an unannounced DC character.

“I think the excitement of playing the woman I’m playing gives me everything I need to wake up,” Arjona said in the footage. “Physically, it’s exhausting, but...

Pierre Gasly’s penalties for speeding in the pit lane during the Monaco Grand Prix have been reinstated following a hearing before the FIA International Court of Appeal.

The FIA announced the decision on Thursday after the court heard the case in Paris on August 25. The ruling restores the sanctions imposed on the Alpine driver during the race.

Gasly received two five-second time penalties for different speeding offences in the pit lane, resulting in a total 10-second penalty. The FIA’s updated classification lists the French driver seventh, with the revised penalties included in the official results.

The case...

Uzbekistan accounted for 76% of the 58 venture deals tracked across the CIS, excluding Russia, in the first half of 2026, according to fresh research by DSIGHT consultancy. All three M&A and exit events in the report’s regional sample occurred in Kazakhstan, illustrating how far Tashkent’s startup market still is from a full investment cycle.

The key takeaway for international investors in the Venture Eurasia H1 2026 report is the contrast between investors finding an escape route in Kazakhstan, the only market in the sample to do so during the period, while Uzbekistan has created the region’s most active...

Former NewJeans member Danielle has taken her first public step towards an independent future by launching a personal YouTube channel while facing an ongoing legal dispute with her former agency ADOR.

The Australian-born K-pop singer uploaded her first video, titled Detour, to the channel Dazzibelle on Thursday. The video shows Danielle speaking to viewers beside a lake in Australia, where she has been spending time with her family.

«I’ve really, really missed my home,» she said. «The nature, the ocean and of course my family.»

Danielle said returning home had given her an...

Google has released the Stephen Curry Special Edition of its Pixel Watch 5, bringing a bespoke aesthetic and tailored accessories to the company’s wearable lineup.

Initially held back while other variants rolled out following the product’s debut, the athlete-branded model is now on sale for $579.99.

The special variant carries a $50 markup over the standard 45mm LTE configuration, which retails at $529.99. Rather than introducing distinct internal hardware, the price difference covers a unique design package curated alongside the four-time NBA champion.

The device features a 45mm Satin Pyrite case paired with an exclusive Google Performance Loop band...

Foreign visitors booking through local operators will receive medical or accident cover, although the measure does not introduce a new insurance check at the border. 

The Kyrgyz government decree from 28 August requires the measure to enter into force ten days after its official publication. It applies to tour operators rather than to travellers directly. Kyrgyzstan’s Tourism Law already states that tourism businesses must arrange medical or accident insurance through licensed national insurers. 

The novelty is not a new visa or border-entry condition, and the government has not...

Magnus Carlsen and Uzbekistan’s world championship challenger Javokhir Sindarov are scheduled to lock horns at least twice during the fourth season of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League in Bengaluru.

Modelled directly on cricket’s Indian Premier League, the franchise competition brings together elite grandmasters in an innovative team format that is designed to modernise professional chess.

The tournament runs from September 5 to 13 in India’s technology capital, concluding just two days before the massive 400-team Chess Olympiad opens in Samarkand. Carlsen returns to the league to lead the defending champions Alpine APL Pipers on the top icon...

Executives warned that Europe’s biggest carmaker could slip into losses without an immediate change of course, and Volkswagen approved its toughest rescue plan in its 89-year history, according to Bild newspaper.

«Today we decide the survival of the Volkswagen Group,» said an internal memo seen by the media outlet. The language is extraordinary for a company that employs around 663,000 people worldwide, including 284,000 in Germany, and remains the historic backbone of the country’s car industry.

Bild reported that about 95% of the management proposal survived negotiations. Volkswagen’s supervisory board later...

Following the commercial success of Apple‘s MacBook Neo released in March, industry reports point towards a second-generation model slated for 2027. The upcoming MacBook Neo 2 aims to address the hardware limitations of its predecessor while retaining an affordable price point.

The upcoming machine will transition from the current A18 Pro silicon to an A19 Pro processor. Industry analysts indicate Apple plans to use a binned variant featuring a five-core GPU equipped with dedicated neural accelerators rather than the six-core configuration found in flagship mobile devices.

This processing jump delivers single-core and multi-core CPU gains of...

Ravshan Amirov, from Samarkand, has completed a gruelling solo bicycle expedition from Uzbekistan to China and is now returning home. The 39-year-old journalist started his journey from the historic Registan Square on 1 August and took 23 days to cross some of Central Asia’s toughest terrain to reach Kashgar.

Amirov has already covered approximately 3,000 kilometres during his unsupported expedition. The route took him across the formidable Pamir Mountains before he eventually crossed the border between Tajikistan and China.

To manage the remote and desolate stretches of his journey, the cyclist travelled independently with a tent and a...

A 26-year-old Singaporean athlete faces potential prison time following accusations of shoplifting from a major sports retailer, CNA reports. Despite having no known prior criminal record, Keane Ko Wen Qiang is currently navigating judicial proceedings regarding property crimes.

Authorities assert the national distance runner misappropriated KD900X footwear priced at $110 in July 2025. He allegedly returned to the same Kallang commercial outlet in September to take $25 worth of practice markers. Following an initial docket appearance on July 1, the defendant must attend a subsequent hearing scheduled for October 2.

Under domestic statutes governing theft within a dwelling, penalties...

Mexican voice actor and dubbing director Francisco Reséndez, best known as the Latin American Spanish voice of Scooby-Doo, has died at the age of 85.

Reséndez, widely known as Don Paco, died on 2 September, although news of his death was confirmed publicly a day later. The cause of death has not been disclosed.

Reséndez provided the Latin American Spanish voice for the famous Great Dane in several productions, including The Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo Show. He also appeared in animated films such as Scooby-Doo and the Boo Brothers, Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School and Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf.

The cost of an upgrade comes back into focus at Apple’s annual presentation on 9 September. Ahead of the event, Kursiv Uzbekistan looked at how the current iPhone 17 Pro’s price compares with average net salaries across Central Asia, only to find that the numbers really do tell a story. 

That’s the difference between about two and a half monthly salaries in Kazakhstan and nearly ten in Turkmenistan — before spending a dime on food, housing or other essentials.

Kazakhstan offers the shortest route to an iPhone

Kursiv used the listed local price of an...

OpenAI President and cofounder Greg Brockman believes the world may have entered the era of artificial general intelligence, following the release of the company’s new GPT-6 Astra model.

Speaking to reporters after OpenAI unveiled Astra, Brockman said he personally viewed the model as a potential turning point in the development of AI systems capable of matching or surpassing human performance across a broad range of tasks.

«It’s not unreasonable to feel that we are now in the AGI era,» Brockman said.

He added that, looking back in several years, people may identify the...

Uzbek citizens will have to obtain a visa before travelling to Thailand from 15 September, losing both the 60-day exemption and the option of receiving a visa on arrival.

The current 60-day visa-free regime will remain available through 14 September, the Uzbek Consulate General in Bangkok confirmed. From the following day, Uzbek citizens travelling for tourism will need to obtain a visa before departure.

Uzbekistan is now seeking to make the procedure less burdensome. «We are negotiating with the Thai side about changing this procedure,» Foreign Ministry spokesperson Omonulla Fayziev told Kursiv Uzbekistan.

Applications must be submitted through Thailand’s...

Gloria Steinem, the American writer, lecturer, activist and organiser who fought for gender equality and women’s civil rights for more than five decades, has died. She was 92.

Her foundation announced the death on Thursday via an Instagram post, confirming that she died on Wednesday.

Recognised for her signature centre-parted hair and aviator glasses, Steinem became a glamorous symbol of the second-wave feminist movement. She considered herself an entrepreneur of social change, famously stating that she learned feminism primarily from Black women and women of colour.

In 2013, then-President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the...