A reform aimed at restricting cash payments in Uzbekistan, intended to accelerate economic digitization and reduce shadow turnover, has in practice slowed down the daily lives of drivers. After the introduction of mandatory bank card payments at fuel stations, issues such as a shortage of ATMs, fees for card top-ups, and unstable internet outside major cities have emerged. As a result, instead of speeding up transactions, users are losing time on intermediate operations, and the cashless system is burdened with additional costs.
From April 22, rules for accessing banking applications will be tightened, limiting the use of mobile banking. New clients will only be able to use applications if their phone number, PINFL, and card are registered to the same person, a measure aimed at enhancing security. However, concessions remain for numbers registered to close relatives, and existing users are not affected.
The Senate approved new laws, including the law on automobile roads, the law on urban renovation, and rules for state compensation. The road law clearly distinguishes between toll and free roads, tightens safety requirements, and restricts heavy vehicle movement. The renovation law offers property owners options such as new housing, monetary compensation, or other agreed forms, and includes a 12% additional payment for inconveniences.
In the Andijan region, deputy governor Isomiddin Ismonov was detained on suspicion of bribery amounting to $50,000. According to investigators, he received money for assisting in the registration of 20 acres of land and a construction permit through an auction. This incident highlights systemic corruption issues, as another deputy governor in the region was previously convicted on similar charges.
Among other notable events is a long-term construction project in Samarkand, where a residential building has remained unfinished for eight years, leaving dozens of families without promised apartments. The developer went bankrupt, its manager is in prison, and construction has halted due to violations. Citizens are living in garages or have lost invested funds, with authorities acknowledging the problem but lacking a concrete solution plan.
On the international front, tension persists around negotiations between the US and Iran: the US regime announced a two-week truce but threatens harsher measures and sanctions if conditions regarding the Strait of Hormuz are not met. Iran puts forward its own demands, including security guarantees and sanctions relief. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on the US and Israeli regimes to refrain from strikes on Iran's civilian infrastructure.
NASA's Artemis II mission set a distance record for a flight to the Moon, with the crew traveling 406,608 km from Earth, farther than during the Apollo 13 mission. This marks the first crewed flight to the Moon since 1972, though it was not without technical glitches, such as sanitation system issues due to freezing.
Source: kun.uz