The proliferation of modern financial technology (fintech) requires banks and businesses to seamlessly utilize digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI). Modern fintech companies are rapidly breaking into all areas of the economy. To this, the following is a testament.   According to PYMNTS, citing the Financial Times, leading British multinational Revolut Neobank and Fintech company has announced the launch of a mobile service that will “offer users unlimited calls, text messages and data at home, as well as 20GB of data roaming across Europe and the US”, and for the first time will be launched in the UK and Germany. This confirms that fintech companies are making their way into the telecoms sector. From these PYMNTS reports, “the penetration of mobile phones in the global market is blurring the boundary between telecoms and financial services”, which is leading in turn to “digital banks, and especially neobanks, moving into connectivity and mobile payments, while telecoms companies in turn are becoming increasingly embedded in finance”.   Marco Santos, CEO of the German technology solutions group (Gesellschaft für Technologietransfer – GFT), also spoke about the growing demand for financial technology, despite the ongoing global macroeconomic instability, in an interview with BNamericas on 29 April. According to him, GFT has a very clear vision and long-term vision to become leaders and a fully AI-focused company. According to the information, GFT operates in the US and its presence can help mitigate international trade tensions. Banks see “cost optimization” as an “investment in structuring”, reducing costs in banking and are investing heavily in simplifying processes and improving customer service, driving demand for technology, especially AI.   Despite the rapid adoption of AI tools in many business domains, the adoption of AI in fintech applications is still slow due to regulatory requirements related to citizen money management. According to the author's assertion, most of the AI functions in fintech today are focused on speeding up functions such as customer service, accounting, and other operations. Now, a new trend is emerging in fintech: the use of AI for deep investment research by bankers and investors.   In turn, traditional banks are investing in digital transformation and partnering with fintech companies to improve their digital services. These collaborations, she believes, help integrate financial solutions such as digital wallets, peer-to-peer payments and advanced lending solutions, blurring the line between financial institutions and fintechs. Banks partnering with fintechs benefit from innovation, flexibility, cost efficiency and customer-centric service. The use of AI is of interest to the financial services industry as banks are cautiously looking for innovative ways to improve decision-making and operational efficiency, as well as utilizing technology for regulatory compliance, and for banks with operations in multiple countries, the use of AI makes it easier to handle complex reporting across jurisdictions.   In conclusion, investing in digital transformation, financial technology and artificial intelligence will drive competitiveness for fintech companies and banks to improve their digital services and meet growing customer expectations.   * The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.

According to Fazliddin Djamalov, Donald Trump shows himself as a leader with deep personal ambitions, proud and absolutely confident in his abilities. The specialist notes that he considers himself a strong personality guiding the world, applies the principle of “if there is a benefit – I will do it” in every decision and usually pays little attention to the internal aspects of specific small-organizational issues. Trump has a strong will, loyalty and flexibility, wants to be recognized as a “leader elected by the people” and prefers relationships based on personal respect with his associates.   According to the expert, Trump’s political views are mainly based on conservative principles: he actively defends traditional values and sharply criticizes globalism, liberal democracy and multilateral diplomacy. Djamalov argues that Trump, acting under the slogan “America for Americans”, promotes a policy of supporting Russia, Israel and other conservative states while opposing liberals, the Democratic Party and positive progressive parties in Western Europe.   According to the expert, Trump’s foreign policy is based on a neorealist model that emphasizes bilateral negotiations on international issues and puts the idea of “Great America” above national interests. He seeks to pursue an independent policy by withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement and revising commitments in NATO, participating in global cooperation only if it is in the interests of the United States.   According to the expert, Trump does not rely too much on public opinion when making decisions, but instead considers power and favorable factors as the main criteria as a “deal-maker”. Because he favors an unconventional, dynamic style that allows him to quickly adapt to political situations, this approach serves to further strengthen his leadership on the world stage.   Read the full interview on the UzA website   * The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.

The recent incident in Spain and Portugal, where a massive power outage affected more than 50 million people, caused widespread public outcry and demonstrated the high degree of vulnerability of modern infrastructure. Some 15 gigawatts of power – about 60 per cent of total consumption – was taken out of the grid, causing transport to stop, hospitals to shut down, retail outlets to close and communications to go down. Despite the availability of backup generators, mobile networks began to fail after a few hours: overloaded calls and exhausted batteries on repeaters led to their shutdown. In the absence of internet and mobile phones, radio became the main channel for emergency information. Through car and portable radios, authorities quickly relayed instructions and updates to the population.   This case in Europe emphasized the critical need for offline, outage-resistant sources of information. A direct analogy can be seen in the Uzbek context. Although the country is not one of the highly seismic regions, in the long term, the possibility of perceptible earthquakes cannot be ruled out. Currently, about 60 seismological stations are in operation, and the Republican Seismic Prognostic Monitoring Centre of the Ministry of Emergency Situations regularly generates assessments and forecasts for profile structures.   However, an important component of national resilience remains the availability of effective emergency communication systems. It is worth emphasizing the need to develop a single radio channel, oriented towards mass domestic radio broadcasting, through which information on the course of emergency response can be communicated to the population.   Radio, in this context, has obvious advantages: it is energy-independent – it can operate on batteries, solar panels or hand-held generators; it has a wide coverage area, including rural and hard-to-reach areas; and it remains easy to use and accessible to all segments of the population.   The European incident thus highlighted the structural vulnerabilities of digital dependency and emphasized the need to invest in resilient communications channels. In the context of possible natural or man-made disasters in Uzbekistan, radio may become a key link in the public security system. In this regard, it is advisable to increase attention to the development and integration of autonomous radio networks as a strategic resource for national emergency preparedness.   * The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.

In 2024, the global electricity generation structure once again demonstrated a strong dependence on fossil fuels—coal, natural gas, and oil—which accounted for nearly 60% of total output. Nevertheless, there has been a steady increase in the share of renewable energy sources (32.1%) and a moderate strengthening of nuclear energy’s role (9.1%). This imbalance reflects the complex dynamics of the global energy transition: decarbonization is underway, but remains highly uneven across regions.   The 2024 Global Energy Mix: Coal — 34.5% Natural gas — 23.5% Renewable energy sources (RES) — 32.1% Nuclear energy — 9.1% Oil — 0.7%   Regional Specificities: India maintains the world’s highest coal share at 73.4%, driven by rapidly growing electricity demand. Renewables and nuclear account for only 20.5% and 2.6%, respectively. China remains heavily reliant on coal (58.4%) but continues to expand both RES and nuclear capacity. The United States relies primarily on natural gas (42.6%) as a transitional fuel, supplemented by RES (23.3%) and nuclear power (18%). The European Union leads global decarbonization efforts: RES account for nearly 49% of electricity generation, with an additional 23.6% from nuclear, and only 10.7% from coal.   Key Trends: Renewable energy is experiencing robust growth, especially within the EU. However, its expansion is constrained by generation variability and limited energy storage infrastructure. Nuclear energy remains a stable source of low-carbon electricity, particularly attractive to countries with ambitious climate targets. Natural gas serves as a transitional compromise, particularly in the U.S., though its long-term environmental viability is increasingly questioned.   Strategic Conclusions: Accelerating the energy transition requires systemic investment in RES and grid modernization. Nuclear energy is a key instrument for reliable decarbonization. Natural gas may serve as a bridging resource but cannot substitute for zero-emission solutions. The development of hydrogen energy and its integration with RES offers a promising model for sustainable power generation.   The global power sector in 2024 stands at a crossroads between traditional carbon-intensive paradigms and an emerging green trajectory. While coal and gas continue to dominate, the growing potential of renewables and nuclear power provides grounds for cautious optimism. The central challenge ahead is to ensure a just and technologically resilient energy transition on a global scale.   * The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.

Social networks are actively discussing a video that refers to the cancellation of a number of US programs totaling $250 million. Among them is a grant to increase transparency in Uzbekistan's cotton industry. This project started in August 2022 and was due to end in December 2026. It provided for the implementation of international labor standards in the industry. In 2022, $2 million was allocated for implementation, and another $1 million was planned for 2025. Previously, the U.S. State Department had already cancelled 139 grants worth $215 million, including a $2.5 million project in Uzbekistan to develop civic participation.   Such decisions reflect the changing foreign policy priorities of the US administration, which is increasingly focusing on domestic objectives and reviewing international support programs. Nevertheless, U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jonathan Henick stressed in an interview that bilateral relations remain strong, based on trust and respect, and the U.S. recognizes Uzbekistan's right to an independent foreign policy.   The cancellation of grants should be seen as a consequence of the donor country's domestic agenda. Of course, the principles of cultural diplomacy and grant support play an important role in the development of international relations, and such initiatives are appreciated. However, Uzbekistan has its own potential, which allows it to move forward confidently regardless of external support.   The development of civil society in the country remains a priority of government policy: in recent years alone, more than 60 normative acts have been adopted, and a legal and institutional framework has been created to support NGOs and initiatives of the population. The cotton industry, in turn, remains strategic: Uzbekistan annually produces about 1 million tons of cotton fiber (5% of the world's total), of which 800,000 tons are exported. Textile exports totaled $2.87 billion in 2023.   In general, Uzbekistan’s expert community respects the priorities of its foreign policy partners, while emphasizing the country’s sustainable domestic development.   * The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.

Shokhrukh Saidov, member of the IAIS Volunteers Club, in his commentary on Kazakhstan’s recent engagement with Afghanistan, argues that the official visit of Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin to Kabul from April 21 to 23 marks a significant recalibration of Astana’s regional diplomacy. The author contends that Kazakhstan’s signing of twenty agreements worth $140 million with the Taliban-led administration is not merely transactional but reflects a deliberate strategic shift in Central Asia’s approach to Afghanistan, particularly following Russia’s removal of the Taliban from its list of terrorist organisations. In this context, Kazakhstan emerges as a regional actor intent on balancing economic interests with pragmatic foreign policy adjustments.   The commentary underscores three major pillars driving Kazakhstan’s outreach: transit, trade, and resource diplomacy. Saidov highlights Kazakhstan’s keen interest in transforming itself into a key transit corridor between Russia and the Indian Ocean via Afghanistan. Notably, this vision aligns with Astana’s long-term objective of diversifying trade routes amidst shifting global supply chains and increasing geopolitical fragmentation.   The author also points out the significant surge in sugar exports, alongside opportunities in grain, flour, and confectionery products. With Afghanistan’s population exceeding 41 million, the author suggests that access to this consumer base offers both immediate economic benefits and long-term potential for sustained trade growth. Saidov draws attention to Kazakhstan’s entry into Afghanistan’s mineral sector, highlighting the dispatch of a geological mission to Nuristan Province and the collection of ore samples for analysis. This move, he argues, may herald deeper resource cooperation and introduce Kazakhstan as a technical partner in Afghanistan’s untapped mining economy. The decision to form a joint technical team reflects a commitment to structured and scientific collaboration — potentially positioning Kazakhstan as a regional leader in responsible resource development.   In conclusion, the author argues that Kazakhstan’s engagement with Afghanistan is a calculated policy that transcends economic expediency. It reflects an aspiration to influence the infrastructural and commercial architecture of Central Asia while cautiously navigating a post-American Afghan reality. As Shokhrukh Saidov notes, the broader impact may be a redefinition of regional connectivity, with Astana positioning itself not only as a trade partner but as a strategic bridge linking Russia, Central Asia, and South Asia.   Read on paradigma.uz   * The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.