News

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched an investigation into energy giant Drax over «historical statements» made about the sourcing of wood pellets used at its North Yorkshire power plant.

The probe will cover the period from January 2022 to March 2024 and will assess whether Drax complied with transparency and disclosure rules, including in three annual reports.

Drax confirmed the investigation and said it would cooperate fully. The company has received more than £10bn in renewable subsidies since 2012, despite long-running concerns over the sustainability of its biomass fuel.

Last year, Drax was fined £25m for supplying inaccurate data...

Bruce Willis’s wife Emma Heming Willis has said she made the «hardest decision» to move the actor out of their family home as his dementia progresses.

Willis, 70, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in 2023. The illness affects behaviour and language and becomes worse over time.

Emma, 47, explained the move was to protect their daughters, Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11.

«Bruce would want them to be in a home that was more tailored to their needs, not his needs,» she told ABC News.

The Die Hard star now lives in a...

Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a new two-year contract with Al-Nassr, ensuring the 40-year-old will continue leading the club as the Saudi Pro League (SPL) kicks off its new season on Thursday, The Guardian reports.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, now just 61 goals short of the 1,000-goal milestone, is eyeing his first major trophy in Saudi Arabia since joining in 2023. Ronaldo will play under returning coach Jorge Jesus, who previously guided Al-Hilal to a dominant league title and a world record 34-game winning streak.

Al-Nassr have strengthened their squad with the arrivals of Kingsley Coman from Bayern Munich...

The Taliban marked the fourth anniversary of its return to power by announcing a five-year development plan focused on housing and resettling millions of Afghan refugees being deported from Iran, Pakistan and beyond, as reports The Telegraph.

The plan pledges to prepare the «dignified and safe return of Afghan refugees,» with officials promising to build 21 new residential towns equipped with basic services for returnees. Housing Minister Najibullah Haqqani said land allocation has already begun in several provinces, adding:

«The goal of starting this programme is to help provide sustainable housing for families who...

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has laid the first stone in the foundation of the country’s future National Museum, according to the presidential press service. The project will include the main museum building, underground facilities and supporting structures.

The design was developed by the Japanese bureau Tadao Ando Architect & Associates in collaboration with Germany’s Atelier Brückner. Its architectural vision is based on a fusion of Eastern and Western traditions. The construction work is being carried out by CSCEC International Construction of China.

«This museum will become a centre of science, enlightenment and culture...

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has stated that the national economy is forecast by the IMF to surpass $130 bn this year. As of August, the country’s GDP had already reached $115 bn.

«Such rapid growth and such high international recognition have never been seen before in Uzbekistan,» he declared at a ceremony honouring representatives of business, science and culture on the occasion of the 34th anniversary of independence.

The president underlined that these results were achieved through support for entrepreneurship, the construction of industrial enterprises and the transition to a green and...

On September 3, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will travel to China to attend a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of liberation from Japanese occupation and the end of the Second World War. The event will bring together numerous world leaders, according to Xinhua news agency.

Alongside Uzbekistan’s president, the celebrations will host the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Presidents of Russia, Belarus, Armenia and Azerbaijan are also expected to take part. For the first time since 2019, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit China. In total 21 presidents have received invitations.

The...

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan has withdrawn the licence of Eurasian Bank, citing insufficient charter capital and non-compliance with other mandatory requirements.

From January 1, 2025, the minimum capital requirement for commercial banks in Uzbekistan rose to 500 bn soums ($40.28 mln). Eurasian Bank, however, remained at just 200 bn soums ($16.1 mln), falling short of the threshold. Alongside this breach, the bank failed to meet additional regulatory obligations.

A liquidation commission will be formed to oversee the closure. From the day its licence was revoked, the institution has been prohibited from accepting deposits, issuing loans or engaging in...

South Korean entertainer PSY is being investigated by police for suspected breaches of medical law after allegedly receiving prescription psychotropic drugs through third parties without attending hospital in person, Yonhap reports.

Officials confirmed on Thursday, August 28, that the Seoul Seodaemun Police Station is examining both PSY, whose real name is Park Jae-sang, and a university hospital doctor. They have been booked on charges of arranging for PSY’s manager and others to collect the medicines on his behalf without face-to-face consultations.

Investigators believe that from 2022 until recently PSY obtained prescriptions for the psychotropic drugs Xanax and Stilnox from...

Nvidia on Wednesday reported a 56% jump in second-quarter revenue and a 59% rise in net income compared with last year, but its stock slipped in after-hours trading after sales in its key data center division fell slightly short of Wall Street expectations, says the Independent.

The company booked $46.74 bn in revenue for the May–July period and forecasted about $54 bn for the current quarter. Despite the miss in its core unit, Nvidia has been one of the driving forces behind the AI boom that has powered the S&P 500 to record highs this year.

Nvidia’s market...

The US Open delivered a historic image when Italian photographer Ray Giubilo captured a remarkable moment involving world number eight Jasmine Paolini.

Paolini’s Racket ‘Mask’

During her opening-round victory over Australian qualifier Destanee Aiava, Paolini briefly found herself hidden behind her own racket. The strings lined up so precisely that her eyes, nose and mouth appeared perfectly framed by the Yonex logo, creating what fans have dubbed the «Paolini...

A school shooting in Minneapolis that left two children dead and 17 more wounded is being investigated as a hate crime against Catholics, according to BBC.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed in a statement on X that the attack is being treated as domestic terrorism.

Gunman Opens Fire During Mass

The violence unfolded on Wednesday morning at Annunciation Church, where pupils were gathered for Mass. The attacker, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, fired repeatedly through the windows of the building, which also houses a school. Two children aged eight and ten were killed. Westman later died from...

On August 28, dry weather is expected across Uzbekistan with no rainfall during the day. Winds will reach speeds of 7–12 m/s and daytime temperatures are forecast between 34°C and 39°C.

In Tashkent, conditions will also remain dry with lighter winds of 3–8 m/s. Temperatures in the capital will range from 37°C to 39°C.

In the mountain regions, skies will stay clear without precipitation. Winds will blow at 7–12 m/s and temperatures are expected to be slightly cooler, between 28°C and 33°C.

Air Quality in Tashkent

According to data from automatic air monitoring stations at 9:00 a.m. on...

The second round of the English League Cup produced a result few would have believed possible. Grimsby Town, a club from the fourth tier of English football, sensationally eliminated giants Manchester United.

Match Report: Grimsby Town vs Manchester United

Grimsby showed no fear from the outset and took the lead in the 22nd minute through Charles Vernam. Shortly after the interval, Danny Rowe doubled the advantage, putting the visitors on the brink of a humiliating exit. Yet United clawed their way back. Bryan Mbeumo reduced the deficit in the 67th minute, and deep into stoppage time Harry Maguire struck...

Several banks have updated their rates for exchanging foreign currencies into UZS as of August 28. This article contains information about the most favourable rates.

Here are Central Bank Reference Rates to exchange USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, JPY or KZT into soums:

Several banks offer the best rates to exchange USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, JPY or KZT into soums:

Financial institutions may change the value...

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, confirmed on Wednesday that UN inspectors have made a limited return to Iran for the first time since Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June.

The move has sparked protests in Tehran, where lawmakers accused the government of breaching a July law restricting cooperation with the IAEA. MP Mohammad Taqi Naqdali called the return «a criminal act,» warning that officials who approved it could face punishment.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi defended the decision, saying inspectors would only oversee refuelling at the Bushehr nuclear site, as...

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday inaugurated Turkey’s new integrated air defense system, the «Steel Dome,» calling it a historic milestone for the country’s military and defense industry.

«These systems are a show of strength for Turkey,» Erdogan said at defense contractor Aselsan’s Ankara facilities. «In air defense we are ushering in a new era for our beloved Turkey.»

The Steel Dome links sea- and land-based defense platforms and radar sensors into a single network to protect Turkish airspace. The latest stage of the project includes 47 vehicles worth $460 mln, though the government has not specified when the...

Nvidia will release its quarterly earnings on Wednesday, with Wall Street watching closely to gauge whether the artificial intelligence surge is fuelling sustainable growth or showing signs of an overheated bubble.

The chipmaker, which supplies most of the processors powering AI data centers, recently became the first U.S. company to surpass $4 trillion in market value, with shares up another 13% since then. Analysts expect Nvidia to report earnings of $1.01 per share and $46 bn in revenue for the May–July quarter — year-on-year gains of 49% and 53% respectively, though slower than last year’s triple-digit growth.

The company’s...

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has quietly stopped funding nonprofit groups managed by Arabella Advisors, a Washington, D.C.–based consulting firm long accused of channelling «dark money» into progressive causes and Democratic campaigns, Daily Mail reports.

In an internal June 24 announcement, the $77 bn foundation said it would no longer invest in or renew grants linked to Arabella and would seek «early exits» from some existing partnerships.

Executives cited a shift toward working «directly with programmatic partners — organizations that are deeply embedded in the communities we serve.»

The move comes...

India risks being banned from world football for the second time in three years after FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) demanded that the All India Football Federation (AIFF) adopt a new constitution by October 30.

In a joint letter to AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, FIFA and the AFC expressed «profound concern» over the long delay in finalising the constitution, which has been pending before India’s Supreme Court since 2017.

«Failure to meet this schedule will leave us with no alternative but to refer the matter to the relevant FIFA decision-making body for...

China’s electric vehicle market posted mixed results in the third week of August, with some brands recording sharp gains while others faced steep declines. The period, covering August 18 to 24, 2025, underscored the volatility of the sector as competition intensifies, CNC reports.

Winners of the Week

Leapmotor emerged as the standout performer, registering a record 12,100 units, a 16.3% rise from the previous week and nearly doubling sales from the same period in 2024. Xpeng also shone, delivering 8,200 vehicles, up 192.9% year on year. Xiaomi matched Xpeng’s weekly figure with 8,200 units, marking a staggering...

On August 27 in Tashkent, Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Iwaya Takeshi, met his Uzbek counterpart Bakhtiyor Saidov for the inaugural Japan-Uzbekistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue. The talks, which lasted around 90 minutes, focused on strengthening bilateral relations and regional cooperation.

Minister Saidov welcomed Minister Iwaya on his first official visit to Uzbekistan and voiced his commitment to expanding cooperation with Japan in diverse areas through this new dialogue framework. Minister Iwaya, in turn, expressed his gratitude for the invitation and stressed that Japan regards Uzbekistan as an important strategic partner in upholding a free and open international order...

Chinese automaker BYD has announced that its Yangwang U9 engineering test car has achieved a top speed of 472.41 km/h, setting a new global record for electric vehicles.

The achievement comes less than a year after the model established a national benchmark by hitting 391.94 km/h in a speed test last November. The latest run represents a 20.53% improvement, placing the U9 firmly among the fastest hypercars in the world.

At 472 km/h, the Yangwang U9 holds the title of China’s fastest car and now competes with renowned combustion-engine machines. For comparison, the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut reaches 531 km/h...

Chinese President Xi Jinping will welcome more than 20 world leaders to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, in what analysts see as a show of Global South unity and support for sanctions-hit Russia, as reported by Reuters.

Among the attendees are Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking Modi’s first trip to China in over seven years. The visit comes after deadly 2020 border clashes and as the two Asian powers pursue a fragile détente.

«Xi will want to use the summit...