News

Telegram has rolled out a major update that introduces live comments and reactions in group calls, private notes for contacts, birthday suggestions, and new profile colour options for Premium users, alongside enhancements for AI bots and blockchain-based gifts.

Live Comments and Reactions in Calls

Users in group calls and video chats can now send short comments or emoji reactions directly within the call interface. The temporary messages appear briefly on screen, allowing participants to respond or show appreciation without interrupting the discussion. The feature is currently available in groups with fewer than 1,000 members.

Notes and Suggested...

Bitcoin, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency by market capitalisation, extended its losses on Friday following fresh tensions in the US–China trade dispute.

President Donald Trump announced a sharp escalation in trade measures, saying tariffs on Chinese exports to the United States would rise to 100%. He also introduced export restrictions on «any and all critical software» in response to Beijing’s recent limits on the export of rare earth minerals vital to technology and manufacturing sectors.

The announcement unsettled global investors, with the benchmark S&P 500 Index sliding more than 2% as traders reacted to fears of a renewed...

US President Donald Trump has reignited the trade war with China, abruptly ending a fragile truce between the world’s two largest economies, Reuters reports. The move came after Beijing expanded export controls on rare earth elements crucial to global technology production.

White House announced a sweeping set of trade measures on Friday, including a 100% tariff on Chinese exports bound for the U.S. and new restrictions on «all critical software» exports from America. The measures will take effect on November 1, just days before existing tariff relief expires.

Speaking to reporters, Trump hinted that his long-anticipated meeting with...

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, released a statement on social media platform X thanking Donald Trump, the American people, and democratic nations worldwide for their support in her country’s ongoing struggle for democracy.

«This immense recognition of the struggle of all Venezuelans is an impetus to complete our task: achieving freedom,» Machado wrote. «We are on the threshold of victory, and today more than ever we count on President Trump, the people of the United States, the people of Latin America, and the democratic nations...

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has urged members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to unite in supporting infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, highlighting the country’s stability as vital to regional security.

Speaking at the CIS Heads of State Summit, Mirziyoyev proposed coordinated investments to help rebuild Afghanistan’s economy and improve connectivity across Central Asia. He also called for stronger cooperation among CIS diplomatic and intelligence agencies to address shared security challenges.

The appeal follows the «Moscow format» talks on Afghanistan held on October 7, where the Taliban’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi urged global recognition of their government...

Solana is rapidly emerging as the next major player in corporate crypto adoption, following the lead of Bitcoin and Ethereum treasury models that have fuelled stock rallies and institutional investment.

According to CoinGecko data, public companies now hold 2.46% of Solana’s supply, nearly $3 bn worth of SOL, as part of their digital asset treasuries (DATs). Firms such as Forward Industries, DeFi Development Corp (DFDV), Upexi, and Sharps Technology have accumulated millions of SOL in recent months.

The Solana treasury boom mirrors strategies used by Bitcoin and Ether treasuries, but with a unique twist: companies are not only holding...

Uzbekistan’s parliament has voted to approve a new law that would ban photographing and filming people without their permission, a move critics say could restrict journalists, bloggers, and tourists alike.

The legislation, passed on October 7, requires verbal or written consent from anyone being photographed or recorded. Violations could result in fines of up to $1,364 and the confiscation of camera equipment. The law still awaits approval from the Senate, though the step is seen as largely ceremonial.

Lawmakers say the measure is designed to protect personal privacy, particularly that of children — with parents or guardians required to...

Global logistics giant DP World has announced a $288 mln investment to develop a multimodal logistics terminal near Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in partnership with Tashkent Invest, a subsidiary of the Tashkent City Administration.

The new facility, located in the Yangi Avlod Special Industrial Zone in the Yangihayot district, aims to boost Uzbekistan’s logistics capacity and support its ambitions to become a major regional trade hub.

Under the agreement, DP World will hold an 85% stake in the joint venture DP World Tashkent LLC, while Tashkent Invest will retain 15%.

The project will span 82 hectares and include a rail-connected dry...

A massive cryptocurrency investor known for holding over $11 bn in Bitcoin has re-emerged with $900 mln in short positions against Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH), signaling expectations of a near-term market correction despite overall bullish sentiment.

According to blockchain data from Onchain Lens, the whale opened a $600 mln 8x leveraged short on Bitcoin and a $300 mln leveraged short on Ether late this week. The investor’s Bitcoin liquidation threshold sits around $133,760, meaning the position would fail if prices climb above that mark.

The whale also opened a $330 mln 12x short on Ether, with a liquidation...

The United States is deploying around 200 military personnel to Israel to help oversee the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire and coordinate humanitarian operations.

Drawn from US Central Command, the troops will not enter Gaza but will form part of a civil-military coordination centre based in Israel. The new body will work alongside partner nations, NGOs and private-sector organisations to manage logistics, transport and security for aid deliveries into the war-torn territory.

Officials, who spoke anonymously because the details are not yet public, said the centre will help ensure the smooth flow of humanitarian supplies and monitor progress...

Private Uzbek airline Qanot Sharq has filed a request with the US Department of Transportation for a foreign air carrier permit to operate regular charter flights from Tashkent (TAS) to New York (JFK) twice a week. This could make it the first private carrier from Uzbekistan to fly directly to the US.

Currently, Uzbekistan Airways is the only Central Asian airline with permission to fly to the United States. Its direct Tashkent–New York route is popular not only with Uzbek passengers but also with travellers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

While Uzbekistan Airways runs scheduled flights, Qanot Sharq...

Kazakh physics teacher Boranbek Erkinbek has become an online sensation after showing how complex scientific laws can be explained with simple household items.

His video on TikTok has already gained over seven million views and thousands of comments from students, parents and fellow educators.

In the viral clip, Erkinbek demonstrates how air wave motion works using just plastic bottles, tubes and a few everyday materials to make an air blaster. The straightforward yet visually striking setup clearly illustrates how sound waves travel, making the concept accessible even to those who have never been fond of physics.

Venezuelan opposition leader and democracy activist María Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her dedication to promoting democratic rights and advocating for a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy in her home country.

The Nobel Committee praised Machado’s «tireless work in advancing the democratic rights of the Venezuelan people and her struggle for a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.»

A long-time critic of President Nicolás Maduro, Machado has faced political persecution and violent attacks from government supporters throughout her career. She was nominated for the...

Japan has declared a nationwide flu epidemic after an unprecedented early spike in cases, forcing schools to close and hospitals to overflow with patients. The outbreak, which arrived five weeks earlier than usual, has prompted the return of some pandemic-style restrictions.

According to Japan’s Ministry of Health, 4,030 people were hospitalized with influenza as of October 3 — a fourfold increase from the previous week — and 135 schools and childcare centers have been temporarily shut down to curb the spread.

Health experts warn that the early and rapid spread may signal that the virus is evolving.

Uzbekistan plans to raise its agricultural and food exports to $3.5 bn in the coming years, with a further increase to $4 bn by 2027. This is stated in a decree signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the development of greenhouses and export of fruits and vegetables.

Under the strategy, gas-supplied greenhouses are expected to produce 620,000 tonnes of agricultural goods next year, rising to 670,000 tonnes by 2027. Export volumes are projected to grow from 30% to 70% during this period.

To support the sector, a reduced social tax rate of 1% will be applied to greenhouse enterprises...

Danny Jones and Maura Higgins reunited on stage at the National Television Awards to accept the Reality Competition prize for I’m A Celebrity, six months after their viral Brits afterparty kiss.

With Ant and Dec absent due to filming commitments in South Africa, McFly guitarist Danny, 38, took charge of the acceptance speech, thanking fans for their votes.

«Thank you so much to all the viewers and the voters, we love you all. Have an amazing night,» he said.

Awkward Reunion After Tabloid Scandal

Their on-stage moment drew mixed reactions online, with some...

Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Digital Technologies has signed a memorandum of understanding with the American company Amazon Kuiper Commercial Services LLC, marking a new step in the country’s digital development. The agreement sets out plans for cooperation in the field of satellite internet and telecommunications infrastructure.

Both sides discussed the prospects of deploying high-speed internet services based on Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellite network, with the goal of expanding access to advanced digital solutions across Uzbekistan.

Amazon Kuiper, a subsidiary of Amazon established in 2019, is developing a satellite constellation designed to deliver reliable broadband connectivity to users around the world, particularly...

Excavation has started in the Farish district of Jizzakh region for the foundation pit of the RITM-200N reactor, part of Uzbekistan’s first small-scale nuclear power plant. The project marks a new stage in the country’s peaceful nuclear energy programme.

The ceremony was attended by Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev and Uzatom head Azim Akhmedkhadzhaev, who jointly launched the works. At the initial stage, around 1.5 mln cubic metres of soil will be excavated, with the pit reaching a depth of 13 metres.

High Level of Local Participation

As with Rosatom’s other international projects, the construction will feature a...

According to data from the prediction market Polymarket, the US president Donald Trump has a 4% chance of receiving this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. The figure is lower than that of Yulia Navalnaya but still higher than environmental activist Greta Thunberg.

The frontrunner is Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who holds a commanding 68% probability of winning. Her support among Polymarket participants is more than three times higher than that of the second-placed contender — the Sudanese humanitarian coalition Emergency Response Rooms, which stands at 18%. Navalnaya follows in third place with 8%.

Trump’s odds are roughly...

The Uzbekistan national football team made a convincing start under their new head coach, Italian legend Fabio Cannavaro, defeating Kuwait 2–0 in a friendly at Tashkent’s Olympia Stadium.

Early Pressure and Two Precise Goals

From the opening whistle, Uzbekistan took control of the match, pressing high and attacking with intent. The breakthrough came in the 11th minute when Eldor Shomurodov calmly finished after a smart assist from a teammate.

The goal was confirmed following a VAR review. Just eight minutes later, Khojimat Erkinov doubled the lead with a precise strike from Otabek Shukurov’s well-timed pass.

The hosts dominated the...

A federal judge in Manhattan has thrown out rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), which represents both him and Kendrick Lamar, over Lamar’s diss track «Not Like Us.»

US District Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the lyrics accusing Drake of being a pedophile were «nonactionable opinion» and therefore did not meet the legal threshold for defamation.

Drake had filed the lawsuit in January, claiming that the song’s accusations endangered him and his family. He argued that UMG was liable for promoting and profiting from the track, which he described as containing false and harmful claims.

However...

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has turned 41, but instead of celebrating, he issued a message warning that the free Internet is on the brink of collapse.

In a post shared on his official Telegram channel, Durov said he could not celebrate while witnessing what he described as the rapid decline of digital freedom across the world.

«Our generation is running out of time to save the free Internet built for us by our fathers,» he wrote.

«A Tool of Control»

Durov accused governments in once-democratic countries of turning the Internet into «the ultimate tool...

Uzbekistan has joined the expanding list of nations expressing interest in hosting a Formula One Grand Prix, according to reports from British journalist Joe Saward. Representatives from the country reportedly attended the Singapore Grand Prix to hold initial discussions about bringing the world’s premier motorsport series to Uzbekistan in the future.

Formula One President and CEO Stefano Domenicali has repeatedly said that numerous countries are vying for a place on the F1 calendar. In recent months, potential hosts have included South Korea, Thailand, Portugal, Germany, Turkey, South Africa, and even Morocco and Rwanda – countries not traditionally associated...

Russian President Vladimir Putin urged closer political and economic ties between Russia and Central Asian nations during the second Russia–Central Asia summit held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on Thursday.

The meeting brought together the leaders of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, focusing on deepening cooperation in trade, energy, infrastructure, and regional security. A Joint Action Plan for 2025–2027 was adopted to advance partnerships across multiple sectors.

Putin highlighted that trade between Russia and the five Central Asian republics exceeded $45 bn in 2024, with more than 25K companies operating in the region using Russian capital. He emphasized growing industrial...