Traitor ChatGPT, recognized Palestine, a new relationship between Turkey and Kazakhstan – Midweek

Get the latest updates on events in Uzbekistan and around the world in this week’s edition of Midweek by QALAMPIR.UZ.

Al-Shara is fulfilling his promises

Syria’s interim president, Ahmed Al-Shara, is grappling with both internal and external challenges. Despite this, he has begun fulfilling the promises made upon taking office. Notably, Syria is set to hold snap elections for the Majlis al-Shab (Parliament) between September 15 and 20. Preparations began in June, and an election commission has already been established. On July 26, the chairman of the commission, Muhammad Taha al-Ahmad, presented the election plan to President Al-Shara. The process now awaits a presidential decree, after which electoral bodies will be formed within three weeks. Following that, candidates may submit their applications and participate in debates.

Under the current plan, the People's Council of the Republic will consist of 210 members. However, only two-thirds will be elected by the public, while the remaining 70 will be appointed by the president. During the transitional period, the parliament will focus on drafting a new law and facilitating the creation of a permanent constitution. As widely known, the development of a new constitution is among Al-Shara’s key pledges to both the Syrian people and the international community. In March, he signed a constitutional declaration outlining the transitional period. According to the document, the interim parliament’s term will be three years, with the possibility of re-election. The council will also have the authority to remove the head of state or limit presidential powers.

Thailand and Cambodia reach an agreement

The armed conflict that erupted on July 24 between Thailand and Cambodia lasted for five days. The long-standing dispute—spanning more than a century and partially rooted in religious tensions—has claimed 36 lives. Clashes primarily occurred in the northern border regions, far from the coastal areas and Thailand’s well-known beaches along the South China Sea. Over 200,000 people were evacuated from the conflict zones. Reports indicate that the Cambodian military employed drones for surveillance and launched missile attacks into Thai territory. In response, the Thai military mobilized forces, and the air force carried out retaliatory strikes on Cambodia.

On July 26, U.S. President Donald Trump called on the leaders of both nations to agree to an immediate ceasefire. The following day, Thailand and Cambodia announced their intention to enter peace talks. By July 28, representatives from both sides met in Malaysia and agreed to an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire,” effective at midnight local time. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who facilitated the discussions, stated that both countries had “expressed their positions and demonstrated willingness to de-escalate and restore peace.” Delegates from the United States and China were also present at the negotiations and reportedly applied pressure on both parties to reach a resolution. Ultimately, acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Vejjajaja and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed their gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump for supporting the peace initiative.

Samarkand’s infamous “mushroom” building set for demolition

Demolition has begun on the notorious "mushroom" building in Samarkand — a 12-story structure that has been the subject of public ridicule and even foreign media attention for over a decade. Originally launched in 2012, the building stood out not only for its unusual appearance but also for the legal controversies surrounding its construction. According to reports, construction on the concrete frame was completed by 2015, with finishing work continuing into 2017. However, the project was carried out without official permits or urban planning documentation. Authorities confirm that no decision from the district mayor or any other relevant state body had been granted. Instead, the builder, identified as Furkat Halilov, only obtained written consent from five neighboring households. The Ministry of Construction and Housing and Communal Services has issued an official response to the situation. It revealed that Halilov demolished part of his private house to build the structure — intended to be a hotel — in the Jo‘yisoy neighborhood of Samarkand district, without any formal architectural or engineering documentation. The project lacked approvals from the district construction department, had no architectural assignment, and failed to pass through mandatory urban planning council procedures. Additionally, the materials used had not been certified for safety, and experts concluded that the structure did not meet seismic safety standards.

Despite these serious deficiencies, construction continued. Private companies such as “Konstant Proyekt” LLC and “Triumf Proyekt” LLC were involved in issuing project evaluations, but these were based on incomplete documentation. Furthermore, even after repeated warnings and stop orders from territorial inspectors, Halilov proceeded with construction in defiance of the law. In 2016, specialists from “SVP MASKAN” LLC recommended reinforcing the building’s beams and concrete frames. Yet, no follow-up project for reinforcement was developed, nor was expert approval obtained.

The building gained wider public attention in 2022 due to its bizarre design and unclear purpose. Its appearance sparked public discussions and even satire. On May 6, 2022, the Uzogirsanoatloyiha Institute and local inspectors re-evaluated the building’s structural safety. They confirmed the presence of cracks in its columns and a lack of compliance with standards for external networks, water supply, and construction management. A demolition order was subsequently issued. On July 6, 2022, the Toyloq Interdistrict Civil Court ruled that the 12-story building, erected illegally and in violation of multiple regulations, must be demolished at the owner's expense. The decision was sent for enforcement.

Perhaps most remarkably, after nearly a decade of failing to correct the building’s legal and structural flaws, Halilov made an emotional public appeal to the President, pleading for the demolition to be stopped. His appeal, however, came at a point when authorities had deemed the structure a serious threat to public safety and a blatant violation of construction law.

North Korea “spits” on the South’s proposal

As you may recall, earlier this year, the new South Korean President, Lee Jae-myeon, stated in one of his first press conferences that he supported the peaceful reunification of Korea, as outlined in the South Korean constitution. Shortly afterward, he again called for the restoration of broken ties with Pyongyang—this time not at a press conference, but during the first meeting of the National Security Council under his presidency. However, this week, it was reported that Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and deputy head of a key department in the Central Committee, categorically rejected the proposals made by the new South Korean President to resume negotiations. This marks the first official response from North Korea to the new administration, which assumed office in June. In her statement, Kim Yo-jong declared that North Korea is now focused on expanding cooperation with Russia and has no intention of restoring diplomatic relations with South Korea or the United States.

In 2024, a bizarre standoff unfolded between the two Koreas. North Korea repeatedly launched balloons filled with garbage across the border, while South Korea responded by sending balloons loaded with money, flash drives, and CDs to the North. In other words, each side shared what it had. In the following months, democratic South Korea took several steps to ease tensions. These included halting loudspeaker broadcasts along the border, restricting propaganda balloon launches, and returning six North Korean citizens who had been rescued at sea. Nevertheless, Kim Yo-jong dismissed these actions as meaningless for Pyongyang.

“Whatever policy Seoul pursues, whatever proposals it makes—we are not interested. There is no reason to meet, no issue worth discussing,” she said.

Indeed, North Korea now enjoys a notably close relationship with Russia. The war in Ukraine has pushed the two countries into a tight alliance. Kim Jong-un appears to prioritize relations with Vladimir Putin even over the well-being of his own soldiers. According to some reports, by 2025, North Korea may have sent over 10,000 troops to support Russia, particularly in efforts to retake the Kursk region. Pyongyang’s doors remain wide open to Kremlin officials. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu have become frequent guests in North Korea. Lavrov even became the first foreign politician to stay at a newly opened resort in Pyongyang. In addition, Kim Jong-un has issued strong warnings to Western nations. He declared that if the U.S. or its allies attack Russia, North Korea's armed forces would respond immediately—framing this as a sacred duty of Pyongyang. This suggests a near-total military alignment between North Korea and Russia. However, this raises a serious question: if North Korea’s sovereignty were ever threatened, would Russia return the favor—or would Pyongyang be abandoned, as happened in Libya, Syria, and more recently, Iran? Kim Jong-un and his regime are aware of this possibility. If the war in Ukraine ends, Russia may no longer find North Korea strategically useful. Some analysts believe that in such a scenario, Kim Jong-un may pivot his foreign policy. But that ignores the other powerful player in his corner—Beijing. For this reason, the current geography and cold relations of the Korean Peninsula are likely to persist for the foreseeable future.

Another restriction on migrants in Russia

This week, another restriction on migrants was introduced in Russia. In St. Petersburg—one of the country’s largest cities and a common destination for labor migrants from Central Asia, especially Uzbekistan—taxi fleets have been prohibited from hiring foreign drivers who work under a patent system. A patent is a document that gives foreign nationals the legal right to work in Russia. It is typically issued to citizens of countries that have visa-free agreements with Russia, such as Uzbekistan and other Central Asian states. Until now, the patent allowed these migrants to work without serious obstacles. However, even having a patent no longer guarantees employment for taxi drivers—at least in St. Petersburg.

It is reported that this ban applies specifically to the “operation of taxis and passenger cars rented with a driver” and will remain in effect until the end of this year. According to the decree signed by the Governor of St. Petersburg, the restriction was introduced for two main reasons: to improve the quality and safety of services in the taxi sector, and to create more job opportunities for citizens of the Russian Federation.

Artificial intelligence may be used against you in court

Today, dependence on ChatGPT is growing rapidly, with the AI tool increasingly replacing parents, family members, friends, and teachers as a source of advice and emotional support. Around the world, several unusual cases have already been reported. Some users have claimed to fall in love with ChatGPT, while others have even "married" it. However, relying on ChatGPT as a confidant and sharing one’s deepest emotions with it may have serious consequences. This concern was not raised by just any expert or observer, but by Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI—the very company behind ChatGPT. Altman recently admitted that conversations with ChatGPT could one day be used against users in court. Speaking on the podcast "This Past Weekend", he explained that while many people turn to ChatGPT for psychological support, this practice may not be safe.

“If you’re communicating with ChatGPT about your most personal issues and then there’s a lawsuit or something like that, they could force us to provide it,” Altman said.

In other words, if a user becomes involved in legal trouble, ChatGPT may not be a secure or reliable place to seek advice or confide information. Altman expressed his dissatisfaction with this risk and called for protections similar to those in psychiatry and law.

“The law protects the confidentiality of communication with a doctor or lawyer—there is medical confidentiality, there is legal confidentiality—but there is no answer yet about what happens when you communicate with ChatGPT,” he said.

It remains unclear whether such confidentiality protections exist under Uzbek law. Nonetheless, users are strongly advised to exercise caution when using ChatGPT, particularly when discussing sensitive or personal information. Experts have been warning about these risks for some time.

What did Tokayev bring back from Erdogan’s visit?

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid an official visit to Turkey on July 28. Upon arrival at Ankara’s Esenboğa International Airport, he was personally welcomed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The reception and subsequent events unfolded with notable energy and formality. Upon disembarking, Tokayev thanked Erdoğan for the warm hospitality. The main agenda of the visit began on July 29, starting with Tokayev’s visit to the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. He then met with officials from four major Turkish companies: YDA Holding, S Sistem Lojistik, Tiryaki Holding, and Orzax Grup. Among the notable figures present was Selman Alimoğlu, Chairman of the Board.

Kazakh Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov summarized the discussions held with Turkish business representatives, announcing that 160 billion tenge would be invested in Kazakhstan. A key focus of the visit was on logistics. Nurlan Dzhakupov, Chairman of the Board of Samruk-Kazyna, reported that a new transport and logistics hub would be established in the city of Aktobe to enhance Kazakhstan’s transit potential. Later, Tokayev participated in a formal welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, followed by one-on-one talks with President Erdoğan. Erdoğan reaffirmed Turkey’s readiness to elevate bilateral relations to a new level. The two leaders then convened the fifth meeting of the Kazakhstan–Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. Tokayev expressed deep appreciation for Kazakhstan’s close ties with Turkey.

During the meeting, trade expansion was a primary topic. It was noted that mutual trade volume had reached $5 billion last year, with both nations aiming to increase that figure to $15 billion. Tokayev emphasized Kazakhstan’s interest in the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and invited Turkish investment in the shipbuilding industry. Energy cooperation was also discussed, including plans to expand oil exports via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. Tokayev urged Turkish investors to establish a joint fund and participate in mining and natural resource development projects. Currently, Turkey imports a quarter of Kazakhstan’s grain exports, a third of its cotton, and 26 percent of its gluten. To date, 23 agricultural investment projects worth $1.3 billion are underway in Kazakhstan with Turkish participation—18 of them already operational and exporting goods to international markets.

Other areas of cooperation discussed included the defense industry, information technology, artificial intelligence, finance, civil aviation, culture, education, healthcare, and tourism. To further boost tourism and bilateral relations, Kazakhstan introduced a 90-day visa-free regime for Turkish citizens. As a symbol of deepening ties, President Tokayev was awarded Turkey’s highest state honor, the “State Badge.”

Palestine: recognition on the horizon?

On July 28, a high-level international conference focused on a peaceful resolution to the Palestinian issue and the implementation of the "two-state solution" began at the United Nations. The event was co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. Though held in New York, the conference had been delayed due to the escalation of conflict in the Middle East. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, addressing the meeting, said the world was experiencing a time of great instability and that the realization of a two-state solution had “never seemed so far away.” He urged the conference to become a turning point—to end occupation and accelerate irreversible progress toward a viable Palestinian state. While Guterres did not specify what he meant by “occupation,” historical context leaves little ambiguity regarding the reference.

At a UN headquarters briefing, officials from the organizing nations reiterated their positions. French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot emphasized that the goal was to establish a clear path to peace. He noted that over 120 countries were expected to attend and agree on a shared vision for Gaza’s future after the war. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa stated that Hamas must relinquish control of the Gaza Strip and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority. However, the administration Mustafa referred to has often been criticized for aligning closely with Israeli policy and tolerating systemic oppression. In the very territory it nominally governs—the West Bank—Israeli military operations continue unabated.

While the UN conference has yet to yield the concrete outcomes long pushed by leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron, signs from around the world suggest that recognition of Palestine is drawing nearer. In Canada, this prospect appears increasingly realistic. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has declared that the United Kingdom will recognize Palestine if no resolution is reached by the UN General Assembly in September. Malta, a member of the European Union, has also announced plans to officially recognize the State of Palestine at the same Assembly.