News

Smoking prevalence in Uzbekistan will decrease by 4.6% over the next five years. Despite this, tobacco-related mortality will continue to be a major issue, according to an international research team. Kursiv Uzbekistan has obtained the report.

In 2021, 18.8% of men and 0.5% of women in the country smoked. Projections suggest that between 2020 and 2025, the total number of smokers will fall by 4.6%.

However, smoking will still pose a significant threat to public health. It leads to deaths from conditions like oral and lung cancer, as well as heart disease. In Uzbekistan, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death.

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan reported incidents of phone scammers claiming to be its staff, the regulator’s press service announced.

Scammers also created a fake Telegram channel to steal money from the bank cards of Uzbek citizens.

The Central Bank reminded the public that it does not issue loans or provide financial services to individuals.

Officials urged citizens to protect their bank card details and avoid clicking on suspicious links.

Minister of Justice Akbar Tashkulov announced during a forum for Civil Society Week that by December 2024, Uzbekistan would have over 10,000 non-governmental non-profit organisations (NGOs).

Tashkulov stated that these organisations employ more than 70,000 people across the country.

“NGOs are actively providing social support at the local level. They serve as a vital link between citizens and the government,” he highlighted.

Civil Society Week will continue until December 6, bringing together 40,000 international organisations.

Swiss prosecutors have accused Lombard Odier Bank of money laundering with aggravating circumstances, according to the Financial Times.

The Swiss government states that the bank played a crucial role in concealing the criminal activities of Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan’s first president, over several years.

In September 2023, prosecutors charged Karimova with embezzling a large sum of money and laundering it through a Swiss organisation known as the Office.

Karimova has denied the allegations made by Swiss authorities.

The prosecutors have also charged a former Lombard Odier employee. They have been investigating the case since 2016.

Protests in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi have been ongoing for three consecutive days. During the latest protests, Kommersant reported that a fire broke out in the country’s parliament building.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday when demonstrators fired fireworks at the building. This caused a fire to break out in one of the rooms, which was later extinguished.

Additionally, a large bonfire was lit near the parliament during the demonstration.

The current wave of protests was sparked by the Georgian government’s temporary decision to suspend its bid to join the European Union.

The Syrian army has reported losing dozens of soldiers in the largest attack in recent years by the Islamist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). On the day before, the group stormed Aleppo. By Sunday morning, it became clear that HTS forces had seized control of the local airport, Reuters reported.

Troops loyal to the country’s president, Bashar al-Assad, have relocated from the city. In support of the Syrian army, Russian military forces carried out strikes against HTS positions.

The United States has issued a statement saying it is closely monitoring the situation in Syria. A representative from the U.S...

On the day before, 31 Uzbek citizens were detained at Abu Dhabi Airport. They had arrived on a Wizz Air flight from Tashkent, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in the UAE reported.

The embassy did not specify why the passengers were denied entry to Abu Dhabi. However, they contacted airport officials to ensure the citizens received food and, if needed, medical assistance.

The International Fencing Federation (FIE) announced the host cities for the 2025–2027 World Championships. Uzbekistan will host the 2027 Senior Fencing World Championships, an important event for Olympic qualification.

FIE Secretary-Treasurer Salhi Ferial Nadira revealed the following host cities:

The 2027 Senior World Championships will be critical for athletes seeking Olympic qualification, as points earned at the championship will directly affect their rankings for the 2028 Games.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that...

FIE Secretary-Treasurer Salhi Ferial Nadira highlighted the federation’s key goals under Alisher Usmanov’s leadership at the 2024 FIE Election Congress in Uzbekistan. The FIE aims to drive global growth, advance technology and promote inclusivity across Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe.

Speaking to Kursiv Uzbekistan’s correspondent, Nadira emphasised Usmanov’s landmark achievement in securing 12 medal events for fencing at the Olympic Games, an increase from the previous 10. She stated that no one, except Usmanov, had been able to achieve this in fencing’s history, cementing the sport’s place in the Olympics.

The FIE is committed to expanding fencing’s reach and ensuring...

Uzbekistan aims to host the 2027 Senior Fencing World Championships in July 2027. This event will play a crucial role in Olympic qualification, with athletes earning points that will determine their eligibility for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

FIE Secretary-Treasurer Salhi Ferial Nadira, speaking to Kursiv Uzbekistan, emphasised the critical role the championships will play.

«The points athletes earn at the Senior World Championships will directly affect their Olympic qualification,» she said.

This decision reinforces Uzbekistan’s role in hosting major international sporting events and highlights its growing importance in the fencing world.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that businessman Alisher Usmanov...

Alisher Usmanov, a businessman, won the election for President of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) today in Tashkent, TASS reports.

Usmanov secured 120 votes, defeating Otto Drakenberg, President of the Swedish Fencing Federation, who received 26 votes.

“I thank the international fencing family for their trust and support. It confirmed my decision to run for the FIE presidency! I couldn’t ignore the 103 national federations that backed my candidacy. I deeply appreciate every federation that voted for me,” Usmanov said after his victory.

He also addressed the sanctions imposed against him, which he challenged in court.

“I have always...

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) has helped Uzbekistan raise $1 bn in green financing, reports the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change.

With GGGI’s support, partner banks launched two green bond issuances on the London Stock Exchange. A large portion of the funds will support sustainable agriculture projects.

The Aral Sea GRIP project, launched with GGGI and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), will help eco-friendly businesses in Karakalpakstan attract and manage green investments.

Farmers have access to training and consultations on climate-smart agriculture.

Project participants are also working with banks and credit institutions in Uzbekistan...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a new law on railway transport. The document was published on the Lex.uz portal.

The Legislative Chamber approved the law in September, and the Senate ratified it the same month.

The new law defines various types of railway services, including domestic, international, transit, and mixed transport.

The state will regulate tariffs for railway infrastructure, locomotive services, and passenger transport. However, this does not apply to high-speed train services.

The law also states that no discounts will apply to domestic freight transport. For international freight, discounts will be set based on contracts.

Additionally, the law...

The National Bank of Kazakhstan has raised its base rate by one percentage point to 15.25%. This move follows the sharp drop in the tenge and rising inflation, the regulator reported.

Inflation in Kazakhstan reached 8.5% in October, driven by higher tariffs and faster price increases for services and non-food goods. The National Bank also noted the failure to meet budget revenue targets and the volatility of inflation expectations.

The tenge’s weakening played a key role in the decision to tighten monetary policy. The official exchange rate against the US dollar fell nearly 3.7% in one week. This...

Uzbekistan Airways has started regular flights on the Tashkent-Lahore route from 29 November, according to the airline’s press service.

The flights will operate every Friday on an Airbus A320 Neo. Ticket prices begin at UZS 2 mn.

Uzbekistan and Pakistan are working on launching additional routes. The Uzbek authorities have also simplified the visa application process for Pakistani citizens.

Georgia’s government will not discuss EU membership until the end of 2028, announced Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, according to local broadcaster Rustavi2.

«We have decided not to include the issue of opening negotiations with the European Union in the agenda until 2028. Additionally, we will not accept any EU budget grants during this period,» Kobakhidze said.

He added that by 2028, the country will be “properly” prepared for EU membership from an economic standpoint.

«We will not join the European Union by begging or standing on one leg. We will enter with dignity, with a solid democratic system and...

Australia has introduced one of the strictest technology laws in the world. It will restrict children and teenagers under 16 from accessing social media platforms, according to Reuters.

The law requires companies that own platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to block minors from their services. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to AUD 49.5 mn ($32 mn).

The ban will take effect in one year, with trials for restricting children’s access to social media set to begin in January.

The law has divided Australian society. Parent associations have largely supported it, while child rights groups...

A day after Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire, both sides accused each other of breaking the deal, Reuters reports.

Israeli officials reported that suspicious individuals entered the southern conflict zone in vehicles, violating the truce. Hezbollah, in turn, claimed Israeli forces attacked people returning to their homes.

In response, Israeli airstrikes targeted a site in southern Lebanon. According to Israeli authorities, Hezbollah used the location to store medium-range missiles.

The exchanges highlight the fragility of the ceasefire, which is expected to hold for 60 days.

Uzbekistan has 5.35 mn registered social media users, representing 15.3% of the population and one-fifth of all internet users. According to a study by We Are Social in collaboration with Brand Analytics, the active social media audience—excluding Telegram—accounts for only 10% of all registered users. However, when Telegram is included, this figure rises to 65%.

In October 2024, TikTok led in the number of posts, with 2.03 mn, while Facebook ranked first for active authors, boasting 201,000. TikTok closely followed with 195,000 active authors. Among Russian platforms, Odnoklassniki held the top position, with users posting 774,000 messages, followed by VKontakte with 665,000 posts.

Instagram stands out for...

Carbon monoxide poisoning has killed 82 people in Uzbekistan since early 2024, reports Hududgazta’minot. Abdusattor Kayumov, the department head, shared the figures.

Last year, the same issue led to 88 deaths.

Carbon monoxide exposure also injured 80 citizens, with varying levels of severity. Authorities recorded 74 incidents involving natural gas usage in homes during this period.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is one of the world’s major financial institutions actively promoting gender equality in its operating countries. To achieve this, the bank has implemented various programs to support women’s businesses, develop social initiatives, and collaborate with governments to enhance women’s rights and reduce gender imbalances. In Uzbekistan, over 90% of ADB programs are directly or indirectly focused on advancing gender equality. The bank’s partnership strategy with the Government of Uzbekistan includes additional measures to support women in the country.

Kursiv talks with Kanokpan Lao-Araya, the Director of the ADB representative office in Uzbekistan, about the bank’s...

Since January 2024, Uzbekistan’s financial support for exporters has increased by 32% compared to 2023, reports the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan.

For every dollar of support, companies exported goods and services worth $7.4, up from $5.6 last year. A total of 798 export companies have benefited from support provided by the Trade Development Agency.

Direct financial support reached UZS 311 bn, down from UZS 410 bn in the same period of 2023. Additionally, financial institutions received $241 mn to support export credit operations.

Despite a decrease in support volume, recipients managed to increase exports by...

Uzbekistan has enlisted a group of seven Turkish experts to support the transformation of its healthcare system, the Ministry of Health reports.

Hasan Çağıl, a graduate of Istanbul University, leads the team. He contributed to modernising healthcare in Turkey between 2003 and 2013.

The Turkish experts are focusing on modernising primary healthcare, introducing medical insurance, and digitising the sector.

Other priorities include improving emergency and ambulance services, enhancing service quality, and ensuring hospitals have adequate medication supplies.

International Data Corporation (IDC) projects spending will reach $107 bn by 2028, tripling from the current amount of $31.8 bn.

In the first half of 2024, investments in AI hardware rose by 37% compared to the same period in 2023.  Servers accounted for 89% of total AI infrastructure spending. Analysts expect accelerated servers to dominate server-related expenditures, exceeding 60% by 2028.

The United States leads the AI infrastructure market with 50% of global spending in early 2024. China follows with 23%, while the Asia-Pacific region and EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) account for 16% and 10% respectively...