Kursiv Uzbekistan (Eng)

🏦Azerbaijan’s ABB to Acquire Majority Stake in Uzbekistan’s Davr Bank 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan’s largest bank, ABB, is preparing to buy a controlling 51% stake in Uzbekistan’s Davr Bank later this year. 🤝 ABB chief Abbas Ibrahimov said negotiations have concluded positively, with the move forming part of the bank’s broader expansion into Central Asia. 🌍 The lender sees strong potential in Uzbekistan due to its growing economy, improving business climate and deepening strategic ties with Azerbaijan. 📈 ABB has expanded rapidly in recent years, reporting profits of nearly $238 million last year following a successful IPO. 🏛 Davr Bank, founded in 2001, remains one of Uzbekistan’s leading private lenders and was recently ranked among the country’s top 10 banks. 💰 The Uzbek bank also posted strong financial results in early 2026, recording profits exceeding $15 million in the first quarter alone. 🚀 The deal highlights increasing financial and economic integration between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. Telegram /Site/LinkedIn

🇮🇹Former Italian Ambassador Arrested Over Alleged Visa Scheme 🚨 Italian authorities have arrested the country’s former ambassador to Uzbekistan over allegations of running an illegal Schengen visa network for Russian citizens. 🛂 Prosecutors claim Piergabriele Papadia de Bottini took control of the embassy’s visa operations in Tashkent shortly after arriving in late 2024. 💶 Investigators allege applicants were charged between €4,000 and €16,000 for visas that normally cost less than €60 through official channels. 🌍 Authorities believe at least 95 Russian nationals entered Italy using the alleged scheme, with some reportedly bypassing mandatory embassy interviews. 📄 The investigation also uncovered claims of irregular procedures and potentially falsified documentation during the visa process. 🔍 The operation came to light after Italy’s Foreign Ministry launched an internal audit in 2025. ⚖️ The former diplomat has been detained in Rome and faces charges including corruption and facilitating illegal migration. Telegram /Site/LinkedIn

🛸Pentagon Releases Declassified UFO Files After Trump Directive 📂 The U.S. Department of Defense has published a large archive of declassified UFO files following an order from President Donald Trump. 🌌 The release comes amid renewed public fascination with extraterrestrial life and unidentified aerial phenomena after recent congressional hearings and high-profile political comments. 🚀 Newly released documents include strange incidents reported during historic NASA missions, with astronauts describing unexplained lights, objects and particles during flights to the Moon. 🌕 Files from the Apollo and Gemini programmes detail mysterious sightings witnessed by astronauts including Buzz Aldrin, Alan Bean and Jack Schmitt. 🎥 The archive also contains modern military footage from the Middle East showing unidentified fast-moving aerial objects that the Pentagon says remain unresolved. 👽 Civilian reports spanning decades were included as well, ranging from alleged flying saucer encounters in the 1950s to recent sightings of metallic hovering structures. ⚖️ The declassification has divided politicians, with some praising the move as a victory for transparency while others dismissed it as a distraction from domestic and international issues. Telegram /Site/LinkedIn

🦠Hantavirus Alert Expands Beyond Cruise Ship Outbreak 🚢 International health agencies are investigating possible secondary hantavirus infections linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak after suspected cases emerged in Spain and the remote island of Tristan da Cunha. 🇪🇸 Spanish officials are testing a woman in Alicante who developed mild respiratory symptoms after reportedly sharing a flight with an infected Dutch passenger who later died. 🏝 A second suspected case involves a British passenger who visited Tristan da Cunha after travelling aboard the cruise vessel during its South Atlantic voyage. ⚠️ The original outbreak linked to the ship has already resulted in three deaths, while several other confirmed patients remain hospitalised in multiple countries. 🔬 Health experts believe the cluster is connected to the Andes virus — a rare hantavirus strain capable of limited human-to-human transmission through prolonged close contact. 🛳 The MV Hondius is expected to dock in Tenerife, where passengers will undergo strict medical screening upon arrival. 🚑 The U.S. CDC has classified the situation as a level three emergency and plans to quarantine American passengers after repatriation flights. Telegram /Site/LinkedIn

🌋Mount Dukono Eruption in Indonesia Leaves Three Dead 🚨 Indonesian rescue teams launched an emergency operation after Mount Dukono erupted on Halmahera island, trapping a group of hikers near the volcano. 🌫 The eruption sent a massive ash cloud around 10 kilometres into the sky, prompting authorities to maintain a high alert level and establish a strict exclusion zone around the crater. 👥 The hiking group included both Indonesian and Singaporean nationals, with rescue personnel and police rapidly deployed to locate them. ⚠️ Officials also warned of dangerous volcanic mudflows caused by heavy rain mixing with fresh ash deposits on the mountain slopes. 🛟 According to reports, all hikers were eventually located and 15 people were evacuated safely. 💔 Three people were confirmed dead, while two others remained on the volcano to assist rescuers in recovering the bodies. ✈️ Authorities have not reported any disruptions to commercial flights despite the large ash plume. Telegram /Site/LinkedIn

🎶Shakira and Burna Boy Team Up for 2026 World Cup Anthem ⚽️ Colombian superstar Shakira has joined forces with Nigerian artist Burna Boy to release “Dai Dai”, the official anthem for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 📅 The track is set to launch on May 14 ahead of the tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. 📱 Shakira announced the collaboration through a video filmed at Brazil’s iconic Maracana Stadium, featuring World Cup imagery and dancers in national team kits. 🌍 The singer has a long history with the tournament, most famously through the 2010 anthem “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)”. 🎤 She also performed at major World Cup ceremonies in both Germany 2006 and Brazil 2014, cementing her status as one of football’s most recognisable musical voices. 🔥 “Dai Dai” is expected to become one of the signature songs of the 2026 competition. Telegram /Site/LinkedIn

🎖President Mirziyoyev’s Uncle Honoured for WWII Heroism ⚔️ Urumbek Yakibov, the great-uncle of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, reportedly eliminated more than 20 Nazi soldiers during the Oder River offensive in January 1945. 🌉 Commanding a mortar crew, Yakibov helped Soviet forces cross the Oder River and defend a strategic bridgehead while repelling seven enemy counterattacks over two days. 🏅 For his actions, he received the Order of the Red Star in 1945 and had previously been named a Hero of the Soviet Union in 1944. 🛡 Earlier in the war, Yakibov helped repel 15 counterattacks during the Dnieper River crossing and also received medals including “For Courage”. 🇺🇿 Historical records show around 2 million citizens of Uzbekistan participated in World War II, with approximately 580,000 killed in combat. 📜 Uzbekistan also played a major wartime support role, hosting evacuated factories and supplying the front with food, ammunition, and military equipment. 👥 According to officials, 60 WWII veterans and related survivors currently remain in Uzbekistan today. Telegram /Site/LinkedIn

💰 Tashkent Weather & Market Update – May 8, 2026 ☀️ Weather: Sunny throughout the day. With temperatures ranging from +35°C to +21°C. Don't forget your sunscreen! 💵 Exchange rate: 1 USD = 12,114 UZS 🥇 Gold: $4,713 ₿ Bitcoin: $79,677 Stay updated and plan your day wisely!

⚽️ Real Madrid Fans Launch “Mbappe Out” Petition 📱 A viral online petition calling for Kylian Mbappe to leave Real Madrid has gained massive attention, with reports claiming millions of fans have signed it. ⚠️ However, the figures remain unverified, as the website hosting the petition reportedly lacks protections against duplicate votes or bots. 🏝 Fan frustration intensified after photos surfaced of Mbappe holidaying in Sardinia while recovering from a hamstring injury ahead of a crucial El Clasico clash. 🗣 The French star’s representatives defended the trip, insisting the club was informed and rejecting criticism over his commitment. 📊 Despite the backlash, Mbappe’s numbers remain impressive — scoring 41 goals and providing six assists in 41 appearances this season. 🏆 Real Madrid’s disappointing campaign, including exits from the Champions League and Copa del Rey plus a large gap behind Barcelona in La Liga, has fuelled tensions among supporters. 🔥 Reports of internal dressing-room friction have added to the speculation, though there is currently no indication the club plans to part ways with the forward. Telegram /Site/LinkedIn

📈 Trading of UzNIF Shares to Begin on May 18 🏛 The Republican Stock Exchange Toshkent has officially listed the Uzbekistan National Investment Fund (UzNIF), with trading set to start on May 18. 💹 UzNIF shares have entered the exchange’s Premium category and will trade under the ticker symbol UZNF. ⏳ Investors have until May 12 to subscribe for shares, with applications closing at 17:00 Tashkent time. 🤝 The placement is being managed by a group of investment firms including Alkes Research, Avesta Investment Group and Bluestone Financial Group. 🌍 The IPO is structured as a dual listing, with shares offered both in Uzbekistan and internationally through the London Stock Exchange. 💰 Pricing has been set at $25 per Global Depositary Receipt, valuing the fund at around $1.95 billion overall. 📊 The government plans to sell roughly 30% of its stake in the fund, with proceeds directed into the state budget. Telegram /Site/LinkedIn

📊Digital Growth vs Infrastructure Reality: Central Asia’s Fintech at a Turning Point Central Asia’s fintech sector is entering a new phase of growth — and infrastructure is becoming a strategic priority, not just a technical issue. In a new expert column for Kursiv Uzbekistan, IT infrastructure specialist Anton Ustinov explores why the region’s rapid digitalisation is exposing critical weaknesses in fintech architecture. 📱 Digital payments and mobile banking are scaling rapidly across Central Asia. In Uzbekistan alone, digital payment users already account for around half of the population. But as transaction volumes surge, many systems are struggling to keep pace. In the analysis, Anton Ustinov examines: ⚡ Why infrastructure failures are becoming a growing risk for fintech companies ☁️ The trade-offs between local data centres, private infrastructure and cloud solutions 🔐 How new data localisation and compliance requirements are reshaping the market 📈 Why hybrid infrastructure models are emerging as the most practical solution for the region 🏗 Why infrastructure planning must become part of long-term business strategy The article also highlights a broader shift: in fintech, resilience and scalability are now directly tied to customer trust, regulatory compliance and business growth. #CentralAsia#Fintech#Uzbekistan

📄 Previously Hidden Jeffrey Epstein Note Released by U.S. Court ⚖️ A U.S. federal judge has unsealed a handwritten note allegedly written by Jeffrey Epstein shortly before his 2019 death in prison, according to reports. 📝 The document reportedly contains dark reflections on his legal troubles and the line: “It is a treat to be able to choose one’s time to say goodbye.” 🏛 Epstein was awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges when he was found dead in a Manhattan jail cell, with authorities officially ruling the death a suicide. 🔍 The note was allegedly discovered by Epstein’s former cellmate, ex-police officer Nicholas Tartaglione, who claims he found it hidden inside a book in their shared cell. 📂 The document reportedly never appeared in the millions of Justice Department files connected to the investigation, only surfacing later during Tartaglione’s own court proceedings. 👨‍⚖️ Judge Kenneth Karas ordered the note unsealed, citing overwhelming public interest and rejecting arguments for keeping it private. ⚠️ The court did not verify whether the note was authentic, focusing solely on whether it should be made public. Telegram /Site/LinkedIn