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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...

Uzbekistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) could climb to $167 bn next year, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said while addressing the Oliy Majlis.

He also announced the launch of the «Doubling Productivity and Efficiency» programme, which will be supported by $200 mln in international loans and grants.

In addition, the country will establish a Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution to introduce Industry 4.0 solutions, including robotics, the internet of things and smart factories. Companies will be able to test new technologies at the centre before rolling them out in production.

Kursiv also reports that Uzbekistan plans to attract...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced new priorities for Uzbekistan’s investment policy, saying the country plans to attract an additional $50 bn in foreign investment in 2026.

He stressed that future investment must not only finance projects but also bring advanced technologies and support the production of high value-added goods. Special support measures will be introduced for strategic investors, including the direct allocation of land for projects at market prices. If the land category is changed, investors will be allowed to pay fees for underused land in instalments.

To simplify procedures, the government will launch a digital single-window platform. Through...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced that Uzbekistan’s first astronaut and an artificial satellite are ready for space launch.

He said the mission will give a major boost to the country’s scientific and technological progress and raise national development to a new level.

Plans are also in place to host the International Astronomical Congress in Samarkand in 2028.

The satellite project, agreed in 2023 by Uzbekcosmos and the Agency for Innovative Development, will involve young specialists from Uzbekistan. Tashkent has expressed interest in launching the satellite with SpaceX, which is also set to assist in developing Uzbekistan’s space exploration...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced plans to strengthen Uzbekistan’s digital sector in 2026. Four data centres and two supercomputers will open in Tashkent, Fergana, Bukhara and Tashkent region.

15 artificial intelligence laboratories will be launched in universities to support over 100 projects across agriculture, finance, healthcare and other industries. A new Centre for Digital Technologies will also be established to nurture young talent.

Mirziyoyev said these initiatives aim to develop the IT sector and predicted that by 2030 Uzbekistan’s IT services will reach $5 bn.

Kursiv also reports that Uzbekistan’s GDP has exceeded $145 bn for the first time in...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has announced that 2026 will be the year of mahalla development and the advancement of society in Uzbekistan.

A special state plan will be adopted to implement initiatives in over 9,000 mahallas, aiming to make them centres of harmony, justice and community education.

«The well-being of the country begins with the mahalla. People judge our reforms by the condition of roads, water and electricity supply, transport, as well as the state of kindergartens, schools and local clinics,» he said.

The president added that developing mahallas and their infrastructure is a top priority...

Pomegranates grown in Uzbekistan have entered the Japanese market for the first time, Dunyo reports.

The fruit is being sold to Japanese consumers through Costco, one of the world’s largest retail chains with over 800 warehouse stores globally. Uzbek exporter Quva-Agro Star plans to deliver 50 tonnes of pomegranates by the end of 2025.

In addition, a partnership has been established with AEON, one of Japan’s largest supermarket chains. Through this collaboration, Uzbek pomegranates will reach a wider audience, with exports expected to total 100 tonnes by February 2026.

By the end of 2026, Uzbekistan aims to increase pomegranate...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev told the Oliy Majlis and the people of Uzbekistan that the country’s GDP has exceeded $145 bn for the first time in its history.

«Our economy has been reshaped, we have expanded market relations and social protection, and strengthened the rule of law. Most importantly, the results of our reforms are felt in everyday life in every neighbourhood, every home and for every citizen,» he said.

Exports rose 23% to $33.4 bn, while foreign investment reached a record $43.1 bn, accounting for 31.9% of GDP, the president noted.

Mirziyoyev added...

In 2025, Russian gas supplies to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan increased by 20%, Gazprom chairman Alexey Miller told TASS.

Miller said Russian gas would remain in demand in Uzbekistan in the coming years, and the company plans to continue expanding exports.

«We are focused on long-term cooperation given the growing gas needs in Central Asia,» he said.

Gazprom has also agreed to increase deliveries to Kazakhstan and is discussing the construction of new pipelines in the country. Miller noted that while Central Asia has its own gas resources, the region’s rapid economic growth is...

Turkish authorities said they have disrupted planned attacks targeting Christmas and New Year celebrations after detaining more than 100 suspected members of the Islamic State group.

The chief prosecutor in Istanbul said coordinated raids were carried out at 124 locations across the city. Police seized firearms, ammunition and what officials described as organisational documents.

Authorities said IS supporters had been actively planning attacks across Turkey this week, with particular focus on events involving non-Muslims. Police detained 115 suspects, while efforts continue to locate another 22 people, according to an official statement.

Prosecutors said the suspects were in contact with Islamic...

The killing of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov has led a Moscow court to order the arrest in absentia of two men from Uzbekistan, Saidakbar Gulomov and Mirjalol Odilov, TASS reports.

The Basmanny District Court also issued an arrest warrant in absentia for Andriy Hedzyk, a Ukrainian national. All three have been placed on an international wanted list.

Four other people are implicated in the case, including another Uzbek citizen, Ahmad Kurbanov. Russian law enforcement agencies say Kurbanov carried out the attack that killed Kirillov.

Investigators said Kurbanov told them he was recruited by Ukrainian intelligence services. He claimed he...

President Donald Trump said the United States carried out a «powerful and deadly» strike against Islamic State militants in north-west Nigeria. He described the group as terrorists and accused it of killing civilians.

Trump said the US military conducted what he called precise and successful strikes. US Africa Command later confirmed that the operation took place on Thursday in Sokoto state and was carried out in coordination with Nigerian forces.

Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC the action was a joint operation aimed at terrorists and had no connection to any religion. Trump wrote on...

Santa Claus and his reindeer have set off on their annual Christmas Eve journey, delivering gifts to billions of homes worldwide.

After weeks of preparation at the North Pole workshop, Father Christmas departed west, beginning his route over the South Pacific before continuing through Asia, Africa, Europe and then crossing the Atlantic to the Americas.

Every year, NORAD – the North American Aerospace Defense Command – provides real-time tracking of Santa’s sleigh as it travels across the skies.

According to NORAD, Santa is currently travelling south from Alaska over the Pacific Ocean, marking the final stretch of his...

Uzbekistan welcomed 10.7 mln tourists between January and November 2025, marking a 47.4% increase compared with the previous year, according to the State Committee on Statistics.

The largest number of visitors came from Kyrgyzstan, with three mln arrivals, followed by Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, each contributing 2.5 mln visitors. Russia and Afghanistan accounted for 923,800 and 429,400 tourists, respectively.

Uzbekistan also attracted visitors from China (250,500), Turkey (161,900), India (73,400) and South Korea (44,100), reflecting the country’s growing appeal to international travellers.

Kursiv also reports that nearly 2,700 citizens of Uzbekistan visited Japan in the first 11 months of...

Birmingham’s infamous Peaky Blinders gang is back in the official Netflix trailer for Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. The film continues the story of the hit crime drama and will be released in select theatres on March 6, before streaming on Netflix from March 20.

Cillian Murphy returns as Tommy Shelby in the new instalment.

Speaking in June 2024, Murphy said, «It seems like Tommy Shelby wasn’t finished with me… It is very gratifying to be re-collaborating with Steven Knight and Tom Harper on the film version of Peaky Blinders. This is one for the...

Imani Smith, a former child actor who played Young Nala in Broadway’s «The Lion King,» was found dead on December 21 in Edison, New Jersey, authorities said. She was 25.

Police responded to a 911 call reporting a stabbing at 9:18 a.m. Upon arrival, officers found Smith with stab wounds and transported her to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Jordan D. Jackson-Small, 35, was arrested without incident in connection with the case. He has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful...

Chinese investment in Uzbekistan soared from $284 mln in 2016 to $10.7 bn in the first half of 2025, according to a report by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB).

The bank noted that since 2022, Uzbekistan has become the second-largest recipient of Chinese investment in Central Asia, behind Kazakhstan, which received $11.4 bn. Of the $10.7 bn invested in Uzbekistan, $5.5 bn went to the energy sector and $3.3 bn to manufacturing.

In 2024 and the first half of 2025, China strengthened its investment presence in Uzbekistan through projects in petrochemicals, energy and gas infrastructure. The largest project is...

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan has denied reports suggesting that data from the country’s road surveillance cameras is accessible online.

Earlier, TechCrunch reported that information from Uzbekistan’s traffic camera network, including vehicle registration numbers, violation locations and descriptions, could be found on the internet. The ministry clarified that cameras are installed by private operators and all violation data is sent to the central system, Maʼmuriy Amaliyot.

Officials stressed that all systems undergo cybersecurity checks and that citizens’ personal information does not appear on photos or videos.

Fines can only be viewed through official links or dedicated...

The FIA has signalled there will be no compromise, allowing Mercedes and Red Bull Powertrains to continue with their current engine concepts, Motorsport reports. According to sources, the governing body has accepted that the combustion chambers in the disputed power units would be considered legal if inspections carried out at room temperature show a compression ratio of 16:1. It would not matter if the figure rises when the engine is running hot.

The principle mirrors the long-running debate over flexible wings, which remain within limits during static tests but deform under increasing aerodynamic load. Should the engines reach...

A Dunfermline grandmother, Agnes, known online as EpicGamerGrandma, died in hospital on Sunday surrounded by her family after suffering a stroke in October.

Her TikTok account attracted 2.4 mln followers and more than 81 mln likes, with videos showing her gaming, using soundboards and experimenting with face filters.

Her death was confirmed by her grandson, Dylan King, in an Instagram post on Tuesday. He said she proved that age was never a barrier. In a statement shared online, he said the family was proud of who she was long before her online fame and of the way she spent...

Three people were killed by a bomb in Moscow on Wednesday after two police officers approached a man behaving suspiciously. It was near the location where a senior Russian general was killed by a car bomb two days earlier, investigators said.

Russia’s State Investigative Committee said the officers were killed when an explosive device detonated as they approached the man. A third person also died, though officials did not identify who that was. Criminal cases were opened into the killing of law enforcement officers and the illegal handling of explosives.

The blast occurred close to the site where Lieutenant...

At least five people were killed in a bomb explosion inside a crowded mosque in Nigeria’s north-eastern Borno state, according to BBC.

Police spokesman Nahum Daso said a further 35 people were injured in the blast, which struck the Gamboru market area of Maiduguri, the state capital, during evening prayers.

Unverified videos shared on social media appeared to show the scene after the explosion, with dust hanging in the air as people gathered in the market.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, armed groups in the region have repeatedly targeted mosques and busy public spaces using...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a draft peace plan discussed by Ukrainian and US negotiators could involve Kyiv withdrawing troops from parts of eastern Ukraine claimed by Russia, marking a significant, though contentious, shift in negotiations to end the war.

Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said the proposal envisions the Donbas region becoming a demilitarized «free economic zone,» with neither Ukrainian nor Russian forces present. Most of the territory is currently occupied by Moscow’s troops.

Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine opposes withdrawal but acknowledged the pressure to explore alternatives to continued fighting. He said the updated plan preserves security guarantees...