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OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Atlas, an AI-driven web browser built around its popular chatbot, directly challenging Google Chrome’s dominance in the market.

The launch signals OpenAI’s latest step in expanding beyond chat into users’ wider digital activity. With over 800 mln weekly ChatGPT users, the company aims to integrate AI into everyday browsing and gather insights into how people navigate the web.

The browser, now available globally on Apple’s macOS, will roll out to Windows, iOS and Android later. ChatGPT Atlas allows users to open a sidebar to summarise content, compare products or analyse information from any site. A paid...

Uzbekistan plans to launch 100 artificial intelligence (AI) projects in 2026, according to the press service of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The president emphasised that the successful development of AI depends on three main factors — infrastructure, open data, and human resources. Over the past eight years, the country has built 300,000 kilometres of fibre-optic lines, providing mobile coverage to 99% of settlements. To support data storage and processing, seven data centres have already been launched.

The upcoming artificial intelligence projects will be implemented in healthcare, energy, banking and finance, customs, taxation, transport, mining, and agriculture.

To meet the...

A modern medical cluster worth nearly $150 mln will be built in Tashkent, according to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Health. The project involves South Korean investors, Korea Eximbank, and the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).

A contract to construct a multidisciplinary medical centre for adults was signed between the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan and the Kyeryong consortium, which serves as the general contractor. Of the total cost, $124 mln will be provided by the Korean side through EDCF loans, while Uzbekistan will contribute $25.8 mln.

The new facility will accommodate 300 hospital beds and create over 700 jobs. As...

Japan has elected Sanae Takaichi as its first-ever female prime minister, marking a historic moment for the country’s politics while signalling a decisive shift to the right.

Takaichi, a staunch ultraconservative who has often cited Margaret Thatcher as an inspiration, won 237 votes in the 465-seat lower house of parliament and is expected to secure approval from the upper chamber before being sworn in later today.

Her election follows a last-minute coalition deal between her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Japan Innovation Party, struck after the LDP’s centrist ally Komeito withdrew from the government. The change comes...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has attended the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the second phase of Tashkent’s IT Park, marking another milestone in Uzbekistan’s digital transformation.

Under this new stage, the area of the complex will be expanded by 1.5 times. In partnership with Saudi company Data Volt, a 12 MW data centre worth $150 mln will be built, with plans to increase its capacity to 500 MW in the future and attract an additional $3 bn in investment. The site will also include an Artificial Intelligence Centre, a Space and Future Technologies Centre, two 20-storey office towers, and service...

A recent survey by Virginia-based Alan’s Factory Outlet has shed light on which cars are most likely to be targeted by birds. The «Bird Dropping Report,» based on responses from 1,000 American drivers and ornithological research, found that car colour and parking habits may influence how often vehicles get splattered.

According to the findings, brown, red, and black cars are the most frequent victims, while lighter colours like white and silver tend to be spared. Among vehicle brands, Ram trucks were the most affected, followed by Jeep, Chevrolet, Nissan, and Dodge.

The study also uncovered how widespread the problem...

Apple shares hit a record high this week, climbing to $264.38 and pushing the company’s market capitalization to $3.9 trillion, just shy of the historic $4 trillion mark. The rally follows strong early sales of the newly launched iPhone 17, which outperformed its predecessor by 14% in the first ten days after release.

According to Counterpoint Research, demand for the base iPhone 17 model in China nearly doubled compared to last year’s iPhone 16, while U.S. consumers praised the device’s improved camera, battery life, and AI-powered features.

Investor optimism has been further lifted by analyst upgrades, with Loop Capital...

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih announced that a decision on importing Uzbek agricultural produce will be finalised within 60 days, Uzbekistan 24 reports.

During his meeting with Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Al-Falih said that once all technical procedures are completed, Uzbek fruits and other farm goods will be cleared for export to the Saudi market.

Saudi Arabia currently imports most of its agricultural products and fruit from other countries, making it a major and promising market for Uzbekistan.

«We need to accelerate cooperation, develop land, livestock and orchards, and jointly implement large projects to speed...

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has begun a five-year prison sentence at La Santé prison in Paris. He was convicted of criminal conspiracy over alleged Libyan financing of his 2007 election campaign. He denies wrongdoing.

In a rare decision last month, a Paris court ordered Sarkozy to start serving time immediately, before his appeal is heard, citing the seriousness of the offense. He may request release while the appeal is pending; judges have up to two months to decide.

Sarkozy, who led France from 2007 to 2012, is expected to be held in solitary confinement or in a protected...

Daniel Naroditsky, a U.S. chess grandmaster and popular online teacher and commentator, died on Monday at age 29. The Charlotte Chess Center in North Carolina, where he coached, announced his death. The cause was not immediately disclosed.

Born in California to parents from Ukraine and Azerbaijan, Naroditsky won the Under-12 World Youth title in 2007 and became a grandmaster at 18. He studied history at Stanford and later moved to Charlotte to train top juniors.

«Daniel shared his passion and love for the game every day,» his family said in a statement released by...

Telegram founder Pavel Durov said he is ready to buy the jewels stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris and donate them to the Louvre Abu Dhabi. According to him, the museum in the UAE is better protected against theft and similar incidents.

The robbery took place on October 19. Thieves broke into the «Apollo Gallery,» where jewelry from the eras of the Empire, the Restoration, Napoleon III, and Empress Eugénie were displayed. In total, nine pieces of jewelry were stolen.

Durov said the incident did not surprise him.

«This is another sad sign...

The UK is accelerating efforts to deepen ties with the European Union, but officials in Brussels show little appetite for moving at the same pace, raising the risk of frustration in Westminster.

At a May 19 UK-EU summit in London, Prime Minister Keir Starmer met European Council president Antonio Costa and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, signing a long-term fisheries deal and pledging talks on agrifoods, energy and defence. Since then, ministers have sharpened their tone: Chancellor Rachel Reeves has linked weak growth to Brexit, while EU relations minister Nick Thomas-Symonds has pressed for «rapid progress...

A dedicated metro line will be constructed to connect Tashkent with the city’s new International Airport, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev revealed during the Menimcha programme on Uzbekistan 24 TV.

The route will stretch around 24 kilometres, running between Tashkent and New Tashkent, with travel time from the city to the terminal expected to take about 25 minutes.

According to government estimates, the airport project and the planned expansion of the national aircraft fleet from 105 to 180 planes could generate around $770 mln annually for the economy. To enhance transport accessibility, the project will also include shuttle services and integration with...

The cargo terminal of Tashkent International Airport has successfully passed inspection and regained its RA3 international status, enabling direct shipment of goods and mail to the United Kingdom and European Union.

Independent auditors carried out the assessment following UzCargo’s relocation to a modern terminal in spring 2025. The RA3 certification confirms full compliance with aviation security standards set by the EU and UK. The airport has received unique registration numbers now listed in the official European database, with the certification valid until August 2028.

The renewed status is expected to simplify and speed up deliveries, reduce logistics costs, and strengthen...

A new Riyadh-style complex will be constructed in New Tashkent with the participation of Saudi companies Al Majdiah and First Avenue, according to the Uzbekistan 24 TV channel.

The initiative was discussed during President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s meeting with the heads of leading Saudi firms on October 15. The gathering included representatives from ACWA Power, Vision Invest, Al Majdiah, Riyadh Cables, InterHealth, and Saudi Tabreed.

During the meeting, Abdulsalam Al Majid, Chairman of the Boards of Al Majdiah and First Avenue, highlighted the growing interest of Saudi entrepreneurs in investing in Uzbekistan.

«In recent years...

Russian-born tennis player Maria Timofeeva, 21, has officially changed her sporting nationality and will now represent Uzbekistan in Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tournaments. The change is reflected in her updated WTA profile, where the flag next to her name now displays Uzbekistan.

The Uzbekistan Tennis Federation’s Deputy Chair, Iroda Tulyaganova, confirmed the move, stating:

«Yes, Maria Timofeeva has officially changed her citizenship and now represents Uzbekistan. Her parents have also been living in Tashkent for more than six months.»

Born in Moscow, Timofeeva competed for Russia until October 2025 and is regarded as one...

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says U.S. export restrictions have completely wiped out the company’s presence in China, reducing its market share there from 95% to zero.

Speaking in an interview with Citadel Securities, Huang said the U.S. government’s tough trade measures against China have «essentially closed» the Chinese market to Nvidia — once one of its most profitable regions.

«We went from 95% market share to 0%. I can’t imagine any policymaker thinking that’s a good idea,» Huang said.

He warned that Washington’s chip restrictions could hurt U.S. innovation more than China’s technological ambitions.

A major power outage has entered its fourth day across 11 provinces of Afghanistan, including Kabul, after electricity imports from Uzbekistan were cut off, the state-run Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) said on Monday.

The main transmission line carrying imported power from Uzbekistan was severed along the Amu River, where repairs have been slowed by difficult terrain and security concerns. DABS engineers have been working for three days but, by Monday evening, electricity had not yet been restored, despite earlier promises of resumption by noon.

Residents in Kabul and several northern provinces reported severe disruptions, relying on generators and solar...

Azerbaijan’s Defence Minister Colonel General Zakir Hasanov arrived in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to take part in the Distinguished Visitors Day of the joint military exercise «Unity-2025» (Birlik-2025).

The visit came at the invitation of Uzbekistan’s Defence Minister Lieutenant General Shukhrat Khalmukhamedov, according to a report by

During the meeting, the two ministers discussed the current state and future development of cooperation between their countries in military, military-technical and military-educational fields. Both sides underlined the importance of joint drills as a platform for sharing experience and strengthening defence partnerships.

Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Uzbekistan Huseyn Guliyev also attended the meeting. The participants praised...

According to the research firm Counterpoint Research, the latest Apple iPhone 17 lineup is off to a promising start. The standard iPhone 17 has nearly doubled sales in China compared to the iPhone 16 during the first ten days after its launch.

In both the United States and China combined, sales of the iPhone 17 series were about 14 % higher than the iPhone 16 series over the same early period.

Why this matters

The Ministry of African Integration, Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad has announced the death of Cheikh Touré, a young Senegalese footballer, in Kumasi, Ghana, on Friday, October 17, 2025.

According to a statement released on Saturday, preliminary investigations by consular services suggest that Touré may have been the victim of a fraud and extortion network. His body has been placed at the Ebenezer Morgue in Tafo, in Ghana’s Ashanti Region, about 250 killometers from Accra.

Ghanaian authorities have been officially notified and have launched an in-depth investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. Two officials from the Senegalese Embassy...

Russia’s Energy Ministry has held talks with Kazakhstan and Belarus about possible supplies of gasoline and diesel fuel, according to reports from Russian Telegram channel “Polkovnik Chernov”.

Energy expert Olzhas Baydildinov confirmed that such discussions did take place. However, Kazakhstan refused, saying that its refineries are already working at full capacity and that the country has no surplus fuel to export.

Baydildinov noted that Kyrgyzstan could face a fuel shortage this week because of reduced deliveries from Russia. This could lead to higher prices and limits on fuel sales at gas stations — for example, 20 to 30 litters...

In Uzbekistan, conformity assessment bodies will now bear joint liability for any harm caused to human life or health due to safety violations. The measure is part of a new law aimed at strengthening consumer protection and accountability in product certification.

Under the legislation, if a person suffers harm as a result of breaches in conformity assessment procedures, responsibility will be shared between the assessment body and the manufacturer, service provider, or seller involved.

Companies that recall at least 70% of defective products will be exempt from financial penalties. This exemption also applies to manufacturers, their representatives, distributors, and importers.

At least two people were killed after a cargo aircraft skidded off the runway and crashed into the sea at Hong Kong International Airport early Monday morning.

The Emirates flight EK9788, arriving from Dubai, went off the north runway around 3.50am local time, police said. The Boeing 747 freighter failed to stop in time and partly landed in the water.

Police said the aircraft hit a ground service vehicle during landing, pushing it into the sea. Two ground staff were inside the vehicle. A 30-year-old worker died at the scene, and a 41-year-old was later declared dead at hospital.