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Shakira is in talks to perform at a new 51,000-seat stadium in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek this November, potentially delivering one of Central Asia’s biggest concerts. But fans should keep their passports and wallets shut for now: no date or confirmation appears on the diva’s official tour calendar.

Kanybek Tumanbaev, head of Kyrgyzstan’s presidential administration, teased the appearance on social media with the message, “Would you like to see her at Bishkek Arena? Waiting for that?” Local outlet 24.kg later reported that negotiations with the star’s representatives were continuing, with November proposed as the likely window.

That...

Rob Reiner got himself a piece of The Bear with just three episodes, a baseball cap and a notebook. His posthumous Emmy is a reminder of Albert Schnur, the consultant who discovered the best business idea in the show, hidden in the smallest of sandwich windows. 

Warning: Beware of spoilers for seasons four and five of The Bear.

Rob Reiner was named outstanding guest actor in a comedy series for «Tonnato», the ninth episode of season four. The announcement had the audience at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theatre on their feet, with Reiner’s friend and fellow...

Google’s Pixel 11 Pro has earned broadly positive reviews despite a growing gap between its software strengths and hardware specifications.

After using the Pixel 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL for three weeks in a row, Android Authority praised their cameras, refined design, battery efficiency and software, while MKBHD reached a similar conclusion after using the Pro for two weeks across Spain, Ireland, Wisconsin and the US.

Both reviews point to the same central issue: Google’s flagship phones are becoming pricier without matching rivals on headline specifications. The Pixel 11 Pro starts at $1,099 with 12GB of...

Uzbekistan climbed ten places to 37th in the 2026 Global Peace Index (GPI), becoming Central Asia’s highest-ranked state. It now sits above the UK and Sweden as global peacefulness falls for a 12th consecutive year.

Uzbekistan scored 1.726, where a lower figure indicates greater peacefulness, placing it seven positions ahead of Kazakhstan and second in the wider Eastern Europe and Central Asia region, behind Bulgaria.

That broader region was the only one of eight to improve, and only marginally. In a world full of lingering or emerging wars, peacefulness deteriorated by 0.7 per cent, while...

South Korea is attracting foreign tourists at a record pace, but some of those visitors are finding that the hardest part of the trip can come after they land. Authorities admitted that tourists have already voiced more grievances than the whole of last year’s total.

The Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO) recorded 1,753 negative testimonies between January and July, compared with 1,744 for all of 2025, Yonhap news agency reported on Monday. Foreign visitors accounted for 84.3% of the complaints.

The list of complaints is revealing for a country that is selling itself on K-pop, food, shopping, and increasingly popular...

A Russian Language Institute has officially registered «schumacher» as a common noun for those driving aggressively or at excessive speeds, drawing inspiration from one of Formula 1’s greatest champions.

The word now appears in the institute’s Akademos spelling dictionary. Its adoption reflects a slang usage that developed in Russia during the 1990s, when Formula 1 broadcasts became increasingly popular and Michael Schumacher emerged as the sport’s dominant figure.

The German driver’s surname gradually acquired a second meaning in everyday Russian speech. People began using «schumacher» sarcastically to describe drivers who race through city streets, accelerate excessively...

Japanese conveyor-belt sushi operator Kura Sushi abruptly cancelled a promotional tie-in with the popular manga franchise Chiikawa after uncovering employee theft of limited-edition merchandise.

The campaign, originally scheduled to run from August 21 through September 30, ended prematurely on September 6. Kura Sushi launched an internal investigation following customer complaints on social media and the sudden appearance of exclusive collaboration items on secondary marketplaces like Mercari.

Zero chance of winning

The probe confirmed that staff members embezzled capsule toys, cups, acrylic magnets, pin badges and original sushi plates meant for the chain’s “Bikkura Pon” dining game. The arcade-style...

Newly appointed Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Syria, Ayubkhon Yunusov, has presented his credentials to Syrian Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani.

Based in Kuwait City, the Uzbek diplomat met with senior government officials in the Syrian capital to map out a path for renewed bilateral engagement. During the introductory discussions, the Syrian administration emphasised its commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships across Central Asia, with particular emphasis on Tashkent.

Both representatives underscored a shared desire to intensify political dialogue and scale up trade and economic exchanges. The formal talks focused on identifying specific priority areas to revitalise long-term relations between the two...

For Central Asians considering a job or tuition, the Alternative for Germany’s (AfD) landslide victory in Saxony-Anhalt sends an unsettling signal. The party seeking to govern this troubled region believes in Germany that is free from the «culturally alien» Muslim constituencies. 

The far-right AfD won 43.8% in Saxony Anhalt’s election on 6 September. The result will not be enough for a parliamentary majority, but it marks the first time a German far-right party has risen to popularity since World War II.

Ulrich Siegmund, who leads the AfD’s regional branch, already knows something of Central Asia and Uzbekistan in particular. Back...

HoYoverse has announced the Version 7.1 Special Program for Genshin Impact, setting the livestream for September 12 at 8 a.m. EDT (12 p.m. GMT). The broadcast will reveal new content and developments for the upcoming update and distribute new redemption codes and other rewards.

The announcement gives players a clear indication of where the next chapter of the Snezhnaya storyline is heading. The promotional artwork for «A Requiem for the Underworld» brings together the Tsaritsa, Rhinedottir, also known as Gold, Ronova, Pierro and Dainsleif alongside 7.1 characters including Vesna and Vodyanitsa.

With both the Cryo Archon and one of...

The Uzbekistan U-20 national football team concluded their AFC Asian Cup qualifying campaign with a decisive 3-0 victory over Syria on Sunday night. The dominant performance in Tashkent secured a perfect nine points from three matches and guaranteed the squad a place at the 2027 tournament in China.

Manager Jamoliddin Rakhmatullaev saw his team assert control immediately. The hosts opened the scoring just 10 minutes into the first half when Diyor Ermanov found the back of the net. Uzbekistan dictated possession for the remainder of the opening period, while goalkeeper Nematulloh Rustamjonov was rarely tested by the Syrian attack.

Xiaomi has showcased a ceramic special edition of its upcoming 18 Fold smartphone shortly before its official debut in China. The soft pink ceramic finish ensures each handset is unique while maintaining the same physical dimensions and layout as the standard model.

In addition to the premium ceramic version, the 18 Fold will be available in black, Warm Gold White and Xiye Red. The company describes the device’s design as a “medium fold”, placing its size directly between traditional large book-style foldables and compact flip phones.

Xiaomi has scheduled the formal unveiling for its autumn...

Kimi Antonelli delivered one of the most astonishing drives in modern Formula 1 history to win the Italian Grand Prix from 19th on the grid.

The 20-year-old Mercedes driver thrilled the passionate home crowd by hunting down teammate George Russell in the closing stages to become the first Italian to triumph at the Temple of Speed since Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966.

The race began with immense drama. Shock pole-sitter Pierre Gasly led away cleanly while Russell battled a fast-starting Ferrari duo. Lewis Hamilton was forced into the gravel at the first chicane following contact with teammate Charles Leclerc.

The Centre for Contemporary Art in Tashkent (CCA Tashkent) officially opened on Sunday, marking the establishment of a first-of-the-kind cultural institution for Uzbekistan.

Photojournalists and art enthusiasts gathered at the site to document the opening of the new cultural institution. The inaugural day welcomed members of the public with an extensive schedule of activities, including poetry readings and film screenings showcasing works by internationally acclaimed artists Kimsooja and Ali Cherri.

Attendees also gained first access to “Hikmah,” the venue’s debut exhibition, featuring 11 works by prominent creators from across the globe.

Exploring wisdom and spiritual transformation

Sebastian Vettel returned to the Formula 1 paddock on Sunday to pilot Michael Schumacher‘s legendary Ferrari F2002.

The four-time world champion completed an emotional demonstration lap around the Monza circuit shortly before the Italian Grand Prix commenced. The run formed part of a special weekend celebrating 30 years since Schumacher first arrived at the Maranello factory.

Vettel thrilled the passionate Italian fans by performing donuts on the asphalt, bringing the roaring V10 engine back to life at a track synonymous with Ferrari’s historic triumphs. The F2002 chassis stands as one of the most successful designs in motorsport history...

Massive volcanic plumes from Anak Krakatau forced aviation regulators to halt operations across six Indonesian air terminals on Sunday, stranding upwards of 150,000 travellers and disrupting 467 flights.

Airspace contamination prompted morning closures starting at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport serving the capital. Cancellations severely impacted key regional routes connecting Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney and Doha. Indonesian Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi advised air carriers to reroute active journeys and instructed management teams to process passenger refunds promptly while providing immediate status updates to prevent overcrowding inside terminal halls.

Read more: Eruption of Mount Dukono in Indonesia...

Rubens Barrichello returned to the cockpit of one of Ferrari’s most celebrated Formula 1 cars on Saturday, taking the F2002 around Monza as part of a tribute to his former teammate Michael Schumacher.

The Brazilian drove the championship-winning Ferrari during the Italian Grand Prix weekend, giving fans around the circuit the chance to hear the distinctive sound of the historic car’s engine once again.

Barrichello’s appearance came on a remarkable day at Monza, where Pierre Gasly secured the first pole position of his Formula 1 career in a dramatic qualifying session.

The Alpine driver edged George Russell

Global music phenomenon Lalisa Manoban has pulled back the curtain on the rigid constraints of the South Korean entertainment machine, admitting she was forced to conceal past romances to safeguard her group’s standing.

The candid admissions headline “Always Lalisa”, a feature-length documentary charting her recent independent pursuits. Directed by filmmaker Sue Kim, the project is slated for an opening gala screening at the Toronto International Film Festival ahead of a wider autumn theatrical run and subsequent streaming launch on YouTube Premium.

Within the cinematic project, the performer addresses the immense public scrutiny that defines the idol ecosystem.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has indicated an unnamed K-pop group will accompany South Korean President Lee Jae-myung during his upcoming diplomatic visit.

Speaking at her regular morning press briefing on Thursday, Sheinbaum confirmed Lee’s scheduled September trip to Mexico. When questioned by local media regarding the summit’s agenda, the president highlighted the economic and cultural connections linking the two nations before revealing the musical act’s involvement.

“We have commercial, cultural and other interests with the Republic of Korea,” Sheinbaum stated. “One of the K-pop groups, younger than BTS, is coming to Mexico with him.”

Xiaomi has initiated closed beta testing for HyperOS 4 in China. The new firmware, built on the Android 17 architecture, brings an array of visual enhancements, system optimisations and advanced artificial intelligence capabilities to a wide selection of smartphones and tablets. A global rollout is expected to follow the initial Chinese launch.

At the core of the update sits the new Soft Light Glass user interface. The design language uses advanced rendering to simulate light refraction and applies dynamic background blur that reacts fluidly to user interactions.

Under the hood, developers focused heavily on power efficiency and rendering speed...

Mariska Hargitay claimed two prestigious prizes at the Creative Arts Emmys for her deeply personal documentary project. The veteran actress earned trophies for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special and Outstanding Directing for her work on “My Mom Jayne”.

The HBO film explores the complex life and career of her late mother, the iconic 1950s Hollywood star Jayne Mansfield. Mansfield tragically died in a fatal car crash in 1967 when Hargitay was just three years old.

Accepting her awards, Hargitay delivered an emotional speech honouring the trailblazing feminist pioneer Gloria Steinem, who died earlier in the week at...

Television’s biggest awards season has officially commenced with the announcement of this year’s preliminary Emmy recipients. These initial weekend galas celebrate the crucial off-camera talent and technical craftsmanship that precede the main televised event later this month.

A spectacular Super Bowl showcase propelled Bad Bunny to the forefront of the early pack. His live halftime spectacle amassed seven distinct trophies across multiple disciplines. Produced by Apple Music, the massive stadium gig triumphed in categories encompassing choreography, audio mixing and musical supervision. The broadcast’s dedicated crew also secured coveted statuettes for both their lighting design and flawless technical execution.

Uzbekistan has inaugurated a new consulate general in Seattle, Komil Allamjonov, the official envoy representing the Uzbek Presidential Administration in Washington informed.

“This is our country’s first consular post in the Pacific Northwest and an important step in the further development of relations between Uzbekistan and the USA,” noted Allamjonov.

The diplomatic outpost aims to foster stronger economic, technological, educational and cultural connections between the two countries.

A primary objective for the newly opened office involves engaging with the growing Uzbek diaspora residing along the West Coast. Consular staff will provide essential legal and...

Pierre Gasly has delivered a monumental shock at the Temple of Speed by putting his Alpine on pole position for the Italian Grand Prix for the first time in his career. In a blistering conclusion to a tense qualifying session at Monza, the Frenchman capitalised on upgraded machinery and immense track evolution to beat heavy favourites Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari.

Throughout practice it appeared to be Mercedes’ weekend to lose. George Russell had topped two of the three practice sessions, revelling in the immense straight-line speed of the Silver Arrows. With teammate Kimi Antonelli already destined for a back-of-the-grid...