News

Indonesian police have arrested two women in Banten province on blasphemy charges after a video showing one of them stepping on a Quran went viral, sparking widespread public outrage.

According to authorities, the incident took place on 8 April in Lebak, where a salon owner accused a customer of theft. After the accusation was denied, the owner allegedly demanded the woman prove her innocence by stepping on the holy book, while filming the act. Both individuals have since admitted their involvement and could face up to five years in prison under Indonesia’s blasphemy laws.

The video quickly spread...

Mark Zuckerberg is reportedly developing an AI-powered version of himself to interact with employees, as part of Meta’s broader push into artificial intelligence.

The project involves creating a digital «clone» trained on Zuckerberg’s voice, mannerisms and public statements, allowing staff to ask questions and receive responses that reflect the chief executive’s thinking. The initiative aims to improve internal communication across Meta’s workforce of nearly 79,000 employees.

Zuckerberg has previously experimented with digital avatars, notably during the company’s early push into the metaverse. However, Meta has since shifted its focus toward AI-driven virtual characters capable of more natural, real-time...

Suspected militants opened fire on a police vehicle guarding polio vaccination workers in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday, killing one officer and injuring four others, officials said.

The attack took place in Hangu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, near the Afghan border, shortly after the country launched its second nationwide anti-polio campaign of the year. Police returned fire, killing two of the attackers at the scene.

No group has claimed responsibility, but suspicion is likely to fall on the Pakistani Taliban and other militant groups, which have frequently targeted vaccination teams and their security escorts.

Pakistan remains one of only...

Hundreds of Chinese construction workers staged a rare public protest in Russia’s Far East, calling on Vladimir Putin to intervene in a wage dispute.

The workers, employed by the Petro-Hehua company, marched through the city near a refinery construction site linked to energy giant Rosneft. According to reports, they have not been paid for their work and are demanding immediate compensation.

Footage circulating online showed protesters carrying signs in Russian and English reading «No money,» «Putin help,» and «Sechin help,» referring to Rosneft chief Igor Sechin. The demonstration appeared to proceed without arrests.

The protest...

Tyson Fury has challenged long-time rival Anthony Joshua to a blockbuster fight after securing a comfortable points victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov in his return to the ring.

Fury, 37, was fighting for the first time in 15 months and delivered a dominant performance, winning convincingly on the scorecards. Moments after the bout, he called out Joshua, who was watching from ringside, urging him to agree to a long-anticipated all-British showdown.

«I challenge you, Anthony Joshua, to fight me next. Do you accept?» Fury said in the ring.

However, any immediate clash has been...

Peter Magyar has declared a landslide election victory in Hungary, ending the 16-year rule of Prime Minister Viktor Orban and reshaping the country’s political landscape.

In his victory speech, Magyar promised a break from the past, vowing to tackle corruption, restore democratic institutions and rebuild ties with the European Union. His rise marks a dramatic turnaround for Hungary, where Orbán had long appeared politically untouchable following his dominant win in 2022.

While analysts cite familiar factors behind Orbán’s defeat — including tensions with the EU, close relations with Vladimir Putin and concerns over governance — many point to...

Iranian authorities have published a list of around 400 individuals accused of being «supporters of the enemy,» including national team football captain Zahra Ghanbari, whose assets have reportedly been seized.

The move comes months after Ghanbari and her teammates staged a silent protest by refusing to sing the national anthem during a match in Australia. The act drew sharp criticism from Iranian media, which labelled the players «traitors» at the time.

According to reports, the government has frozen bank accounts and confiscated property belonging to those named on the list. The crackdown targets a mix of public figures...

Ursula von der Leyen has called for sweeping reforms to the European Union’s foreign policy decision-making following the election victory of Peter Magyar, which ended Viktor Orban’s 16-year rule.

Speaking shortly after the result, von der Leyen urged member states to «use the momentum» to reconsider the bloc’s unanimity rule in foreign policy. She proposed expanding qualified majority voting to prevent individual countries from blocking key decisions, particularly on sanctions and financial support for Ukraine.

Orban had frequently used Hungary’s veto power to delay or dilute EU measures targeting Vladimir Putin and to resist aid packages for Kyiv. His defeat...

South Korean boy band Tomorrow X Together (TXT) has returned to the spotlight with their eighth EP titled “7th Year: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns”, Yonhap reports.

The project marks a significant departure from the expansive conceptual narratives of youth and growth that defined their previous eras. Instead the quintet has chosen a remarkably candid route to mark their first release since all five members renewed their agency contracts with BigHit Music in August 2025.

The meaning behind the thorns

During a media showcase held at Korea University in Seoul TXT shed light on the introspective...

A new survey conducted by the employment platform hh.uz has shed light on the frequency of workplace romances in Uzbekistan.

Polling 900 respondents across the country the study revealed that 54% of professionals have experienced romantic feelings for a colleague at least once in their careers.

Within this group 34% stated their feelings were mutual while 13% kept their crushes a secret and 7% faced unrequited love. Conversely 46% of participants reported that they have never harboured romantic feelings for anyone they worked with.

From co-workers to partners

It appears that the office is a highly common environment for...

South Korean music sensations BIGBANG have celebrated their 20th anniversary with an electrifying comeback at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Yonhap reports.

Taking to the stage on Sunday the iconic trio performed as a complete group for the first time in nine long years.

Comprising G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung the band closed out the Outdoor Theatre stage in Indio with a dynamic 50-minute set. The highly anticipated performance featured a string of their most famous anthems including “Bang Bang Bang”, “Fantastic Baby” and “Loser”.

Nostalgia and solo showcases

The Californian crowd erupted into loud cheers as...

Uzbekistan has announced a major initiative to attract global academic talent by launching the New Uzbekistan Scholarship. Under this programme the state will award up to 500 university grants every year to gifted foreign citizens.

These students will be able to study at public higher education institutions across the republic. The financial backing for these international scholarships will be drawn directly from any unallocated domestic grant quotas for bachelor’s degree courses during that specific academic year.

To accommodate the anticipated influx of international scholars the government is simplifying the application process. Starting in the 2026/2027 academic year foreign candidates...

Following a recent arrest for drink driving in California, pop superstar Britney Spears has reportedly admitted herself into a rehabilitation centre to be treated for substance abuse, The Sun reports.

The 44-year-old singer is believed to have voluntarily entered an undisclosed facility within the United States. While the decision was her own, U.S. media reports suggest that her inner circle had been actively encouraging her to seek professional assistance.

An insider revealed to the entertainment website TMZ that the singer finally understands she has reached rock bottom. Furthermore, legal strategy appears to have played a significant role in the...

Australia has unveiled a major restructuring of its highest military echelons which includes the unprecedented appointment of a woman to head the army. Starting this July Lieutenant General Susan Coyle is scheduled to take over the role.

This move shatters a 125-year glass ceiling and marks a pivotal shift for the nation’s armed services.

Currently acting as the chief of joint capabilities the 55-year-old commander will officially take the reins from the outgoing Lieutenant General Simon Stuart in the coming months.

Coyle began her military career back in 1987 and has since navigated through various demanding senior command positions. Her...

South Korean authorities are preparing to purchase crude oil from Kazakhstan as ongoing military conflicts in the Middle East threaten traditional supply routes, Reuters reports.

A South Korean delegation travelled to the Central Asian nation in early April to negotiate the delivery of crude oil and naphtha. Seoul is currently highly vulnerable to Middle Eastern geopolitical shifts as up to 70% of its hydrocarbon imports originate from the region.

South Korea’s Industry Minister Kim Chong Kwan announced that the government is prepared to disclose specific volumes for the Kazakh oil imports next week. He also sought to address any...

Interpol has confirmed that a body discovered on the island of Gran Canaria in the spring of 2025 belongs to Annabella Lovas.

The deceased was a well-known figure in her home country following her appearance on A Nagy Ő, the Hungarian equivalent of the popular reality television franchise The Bachelor. Hungarian media outlets have reported that the identification brings a tragic conclusion to a drawn-out missing persons case.

The events leading up to the discovery were marked by a series of unsettling developments. Annabella Lovas initially vanished in November 2024 while travelling in the Canary Islands. She ceased all...

Javokhir Sindarov has taken a massive stride towards winning the Candidates tournament and earning the right to challenge Gukesh for the world title.

Entering the latest round with a comfortable two-point advantage, the grandmaster opted for a highly pragmatic approach to secure a swift draw against American star Hikaru Nakamura.

With only two rounds remaining, Sindarov’s strategy is clear: avoid unnecessary risks, conserve energy and maintain his grip on the leaderboard.

“Every draw gets him miles nearer to the end goal,” observed commentator Peter Svidler during the live broadcast, correctly predicting that Sindarov would steer...

Viktor Orban’s 16-year grip on power has spectacularly collapsed, BBC reports. The architect of a political system frequently condemned as an “electoral autocracy” has been ousted by Peter Magyar, a 45-year-old former party insider who successfully mobilised the nation for change.

Addressing jubilant crowds on the banks of the River Danube opposite the magnificent parliament building in Budapest, Magyar declared an end to the era.

“Together we overthrew the Hungarian regime,” he told cheering supporters.

A landslide victory and record turnout

Following a record-breaking turnout where 79.5% of the electorate cast their ballots...

Hungarians headed to the polls on Sunday in a closely watched election that could unseat Prime Minister Viktor Orban after 16 years in power.

The vote is widely seen as one of Europe’s most consequential this year, with Orban, the European Union’s longest-serving leader, facing his strongest challenge yet from opposition figure Peter Magyar.

Polling stations opened early across the country, with turnout in the first hour reaching a record level for the post-socialist era, according to election officials.

Speaking after casting his ballot in Budapest, Orban said he was «here to win,» while thanking supporters for their...

Justin Bieber made a high-profile return to the stage as a headline act at the Coachella festival, delivering a nostalgia-driven performance that revisited his early career and biggest hits.

The 32-year-old pop star opened his set with tracks from his recent albums before shifting focus to fan favourites such as Baby and Never Say Never. In a nod to his rise to fame, Bieber incorporated YouTube videos, including early home recordings from his teenage years, projecting them on a large screen during the show.

The performance marked his first major live appearance in four years after he cancelled...

Italy’s Yemaneberhan Crippa claimed victory at the Paris Marathon on Sunday with a personal best performance, while Ethiopia’s Shure Demise set a new course record in the women’s race.

Crippa, 29, completed the race in 2:05:16 after a tightly contested men’s event, finishing just five seconds ahead of Ethiopia’s Bayelign Teshager. Kenya’s Sila Kiptoo secured third place to complete the podium.

In the women’s race, Demise delivered a dominant performance, crossing the finish line in 2:18:33 and breaking the previous course record by more than a minute. Fellow Ethiopian Misgane Alemayehu finished second, followed by Kenya’s Magdalyne Masai in third.

Business delegations from Afghanistan and Uzbekistan have called for deeper economic cooperation, increased exports and the removal of trade barriers following a joint meeting in Kabul.

According to the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, discussions focused on expanding bilateral trade, boosting joint investment and addressing key challenges facing businesses, particularly visa restrictions and transit issues.

The Uzbek delegation was led by Shukhrat Abdurakhmanov and included senior officials and around 60 traders and investors. Representatives highlighted Uzbekistan’s industrial capacity across sectors such as transport manufacturing, textiles, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and construction materials, expressing readiness to increase exports to Afghanistan.

The city of Samarkand hosted the international education exhibition World Edu 2026 on April 10–11 at the SOF EXPO venue, bringing together universities and education providers from across the globe.

Organised by SOF EXPO, the event featured leading universities, consulting agencies and training centres from Uzbekistan and more than 10 countries, including European nations, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Turkey.

The exhibition served as a key platform for applicants, students and parents, offering information on university admissions, scholarships and grants, as well as international exams such as IELTS, SAT and GMAT. Visitors also explored modern academic programmes and career...

The United States and Iran have failed to reach an agreement following marathon negotiations in Islamabad, marking a setback in efforts to end the ongoing Middle East conflict.

After 21 hours of talks, JD Vance said Washington had presented its «final and best offer» but had not received the key assurance it sought from Tehran — a commitment to abandon nuclear weapons development.

«We leave here with a very simple proposal… We’ll see if the Iranians accept it,» Vance told reporters, adding that discussions would continue as the US gives Iran time to respond.