News

Uzbekistan’s grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov secured a victory in the seventh round of the Super Chess Classic Romania. The chess star defeated the tournament leader Vincent Keymer.

This result altered the tournament landscape with only two rounds remaining. Keymer’s defeat means he now shares the top spot in a tense three-way tie alongside Fabiano Caruana and Jorden van Foreest. All three leaders currently sit on 4.5 points.

Meanwhile, Sindarov has catapulted himself into the chasing pack. He now holds a 50% success rate and trails the frontrunners by a single point, placing him in a broader tie for fifth to...

Tom Hardy parted ways with the hit Paramount+ crime drama Mobland, Variety reports.

Sources have confirmed that the British actor will not be returning for the show’s third series. Production for series two recently wrapped in March but reports indicate that Hardy was not invited back for future episodes due to on-set friction. The alleged clashes reportedly involved executive producer Jez Butterworth, 101 Studios and various other members of the production team.

While representatives for Hardy, Butterworth, Paramount and 101 Studios have yet to publicly comment on the matter, the news was originally brought to light by the media...

Robert Ginyard, the visionary rapper universally known as Rob Base, has passed away at the age of 59. The Harlem-born musician died on May 22 surrounded by his loved ones following a deeply private battle with cancer. Tragically, his passing occurred just four days after he celebrated his 59th birthday.

A statement shared across his official social media channels confirmed the loss, describing him as a loving father, family man, friend and creative force. The tribute noted that his infectious energy brought joy to millions and provided the soundtrack to countless lives around the globe.

Bridging hip-hop and...

The Uzbekistan national football team began its journey to the World Cup following a farewell ceremony in Tashkent on May 22. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was in attendance to personally see off the squad, offering words of encouragement and wishing them success on the global stage.

The Central Asian nation faces a challenging group stage where they will test their mettle against Portugal, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Colombia.

The team will kick off their campaign against the Colombian squad. This opening fixture is scheduled to take place in Mexico City on June 18.

Following their time in Mexico...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev hosted a special reception for the Uzbekistan national football team and their coaching staff following the country’s historic qualification for the World Cup.

During the meeting with head coach Fabio Cannavaro and his squad, the president heaped praise on the players, officially labelling them as the “heroes of our time”. The President acknowledged the monumental achievement of reaching the global tournament and outlined a bold new vision to capitalise on this sporting success to inspire the next generation.

“Every Mahalla — a Football Pitch”

To ensure the national team’s triumph leaves a lasting legacy...

George Russell returned to form by securing Sprint pole position at the Canadian Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver edged out his championship-leading team mate Kimi Antonelli by just 0.068s in a thrilling climax to Friday’s running at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.

McLaren locked out the second row with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri while Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top five for Ferrari.

Red flags and SQ1 chaos

With Canada hosting a Sprint weekend for the very first time, the pressure was firmly on the drivers as they tackled the abridged qualifying format. The session was abruptly halted in...

Kimi Antonelli continued his imperious run of form by topping a fragmented and chaotic Free Practice 1 at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. With Canada hosting a Sprint weekend, the teams had just one hour to perfect their setups before heading straight into Sprint Qualifying but three separate red flag periods severely hampered running up and down the pit lane.

Antonelli set the benchmark with a 1m 13.402s on the soft tyres to pip his Mercedes team mate George Russell by 0.142s. The teenager arrives in Montreal riding a wave of momentum following three consecutive victories and currently holds a 20-point...

Reigning Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris is set to use a specially designed helmet for this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix. The unique livery has been created to support Race Against Dementia, the pioneering charity founded by three-time world champion Sir Jackie Stewart.

Sir Jackie established the foundation to help fund global research into a cure for the debilitating disease following his wife Helen’s own personal battle with dementia.

Visualising memory loss

The striking helmet design serves as a powerful visual representation of how dementia systematically affects the human mind.

The artwork is split down the middle to highlight...

Violence has erupted at a hospital at the epicentre of the latest Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, AP News reports. An angry crowd set fire to a section of Rwampara General Hospital in Ituri province after authorities prevented the family and friends of a suspected Ebola victim from taking his body home for burial.

Police were forced to fire warning shots to disperse the rioters as the situation spiralled out of control. Medical staff were quickly placed under military protection to restore order but not before a healthcare worker was injured by stone-throwing protesters.

According...

Thomas Tuchel has confirmed his 26-man England squad for this summer’s World Cup across Canada, Mexico and the United States. In a selection that has stunned fans and pundits alike, the German manager has issued a shock recall to Ivan Toney while firmly shutting the door on established names such as Harry Maguire, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden.

Charged with leading the Three Lions to global glory, Tuchel contacted players throughout the week before officially confirming his travelling party on Friday morning. Going against the public mood, he has shown a ruthless streak that prioritises tactical trust over past...

Tencent has expanded its cross-border payment network in Central Asia through a new partnership with Kyrgyzstan’s Eldik Bank, enabling users of Weixin Pay (WeChat Pay) to make payments across the country.

Under the agreement, international visitors and business travelers using Weixin Pay will be able to pay at merchants connected to Eldik Bank’s payment infrastructure, supporting transactions in retail stores, restaurants, hotels and other businesses. The initiative is designed to simplify payments for tourists and strengthen financial connectivity between China and Central Asia.

The partnership marks another step in Tencent’s regional expansion strategy as digital payment platforms gain...

Hong Kong is seeking to strengthen economic ties with Central Asia, with officials highlighting Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan as key partners for future trade, investment and infrastructure cooperation.

Speaking on RTHK’s BackChat programme, Hong Kong’s Commissioner for Belt and Road, Nicholas Ho, said the region offers significant opportunities in mining, natural resources, artificial intelligence and infrastructure development. He noted that Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan together account for around 80% of Central Asia’s GDP and are becoming increasingly important economic partners.

The comments come ahead of a major trade mission led by Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, who is expected...

Uzbekistan’s microfinance sector is set to face stricter regulatory oversight as authorities move to strengthen consumer protection and improve the stability of the rapidly growing financial industry.

According to Trend, new measures will introduce tighter supervision of microfinance organizations, enhanced reporting requirements and stronger standards for lending practices. The reforms are aimed at reducing risks for borrowers while increasing transparency across the sector.

Officials say the updated framework will help ensure responsible lending, improve the quality of financial services and support sustainable growth in the non-bank financial market. The initiative forms part of Uzbekistan’s broader financial sector modernization...

Uzbekistan cemented its membership in the New Development Bank (NDB). President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree ratifying the treaty for the nation to join the financial organisation established by the BRICS states.

The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis initially green-lit the accession document on April 21 of this year. Following this step the upper house of parliament gave its official approval in mid-May. The groundwork for this move was laid last year when the leadership of the NDB formally approved Tashkent’s application in mid-June.

A growing financial alliance

The formal announcement of Uzbekistan’s integration into the...

Uzbekistan’s credit reporting reforms have helped more than 678,000 borrowers improve their credit profiles, making it easier for individuals and businesses to access financing, according to government officials.

The reforms, aimed at modernising the country’s credit information system, enabled thousands of borrowers to move into lower-risk categories after inaccuracies were corrected and credit assessment procedures were updated. The initiative is part of broader efforts to improve financial transparency and expand lending opportunities.

Officials say the updated system provides banks and financial institutions with more reliable borrower data, helping to reduce lending risks while improving access to credit for...

Uzbekistan’s industrial sector continued to expand in early 2026, reflecting steady economic growth and rising business activity across the country.

According to data from the National Statistics Committee, the number of industrial enterprises operating in Uzbekistan increased compared with the same period last year. Small businesses and private enterprises remained the main drivers of growth, accounting for a significant share of industrial production.

Officials said the increase was supported by ongoing economic reforms, investment projects and efforts to modernize manufacturing industries. Growth was recorded across several sectors, including food processing, construction materials, textiles and machinery production.

Analysts note...

Two highly exclusive Birkin handbags seized from the imprisoned Vietnamese property magnate Truong My Lan have been sold by the government for an impressive combined total exceeding $535,000, BBC reports.

The auction took place at the Ho Chi Minh City Asset Auction Service Centre on Monday and formed part of a wider government initiative to sell off 1,200 confiscated assets. Bidding for the luxury accessories was incredibly fast-paced and concluded in just 30 minutes. Earlier in January authorities from the local Civil Judgment Enforcement Agency had called in specialists to accurately value the two crocodile skin Hermès Birkin bags...

After an impressive 33 years on television, The Late Show has officially drawn its final curtain. Stephen Colbert hosted the ultimate broadcast on Thursday evening, signing off alongside special guest Sir Paul McCartney in an emotional and music-filled finale, BBC reports.

Broadcasting from New York’s legendary Ed Sullivan Theater, Colbert and the former Beatle shared fond memories of the venue’s rich history and the iconic British band’s early tours across America. The evening culminated in a poignant duet of Hello, Goodbye, providing a fitting soundtrack as the dedicated cast and crew gathered on stage for a final bow.

The...

Detectives leading the investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office have issued a fresh appeal for witnesses, BBC reports. Thames Valley Police have expressed concern that the public might mistakenly believe their inquiries are strictly limited to allegations that the former Prince Andrew shared a confidential trade document with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Authorities are eager to clarify that misconduct in public office is a highly complex and broad offence. Investigators want to ensure potential witnesses understand the probe is exploring crimes that may have directly affected individuals rather than just focusing...

Kyle Busch, a generational driving talent who cemented himself as one of NASCAR’s all-time greats, died on Thursday at the age of 41.

The tragic news was announced jointly by the Busch family, NASCAR and Richard Childress Racing. The announcement has sent shockwaves through the global racing community, coming shortly after his team revealed he had been hospitalised earlier in the day with a severe illness.

In a unified statement, his family and teams expressed their profound heartbreak, describing him as a fierce competitor, a passionate advocate for the sport and a rare, once-in-a-generation talent. They paid tribute to...

Las Vegas has just become the ultimate destination for the global BTS fanbase. As an official partner of Hybe’s sprawling “The City” project, an immersive fan programme that links concerts, activations and exclusive events across host cities, the Arte Museum in Las Vegas has proudly opened its doors to “BTS The City Arirang”.

Operated by the acclaimed digital design company D’strict, the immersive exhibition launched on Wednesday. The opening was perfectly timed to build momentum ahead of the K-pop sensation’s highly anticipated weekend concert in the city.

Translating sound into spectacle

The entire digital showcase is heavily centred...

The wait is finally over for Norwegian football fans. For the first time since 1998, Norway will compete at the FIFA World Cup. The national team has officially announced its squad for the highly anticipated 2026 tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Spearheading the Norwegian attack will be Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland, who notably shares a dressing room at club level with Abdukodir Khusanov. Haaland will be eager to make his mark at his premier World Cup tournament. He will be joined in the final third by Atletico Madrid’s formidable striker Alexander...

BP has expanded its presence in Indonesia’s energy sector after signing agreements for three new oil and gas exploration blocks, strengthening its long-term investment plans in Southeast Asia.

The British energy giant secured production sharing contracts for the Bintuni and Drawa exploration blocks in West Papua, near its existing Tangguh LNG operations, and confirmed a stake in the Barong block in East Java. The agreements increase BP’s portfolio in Indonesia to 11 oil and gas blocks.

BP said the new projects could support future energy development by leveraging existing infrastructure around the Tangguh LNG complex if exploration activities...

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly considering a renewed public presence in the United Kingdom as they seek to rebuild connections after several challenging years following their departure from royal duties.

According to British media reports, the couple is exploring ways to strengthen ties with UK audiences and charitable organizations while continuing to balance their lives between the United States and international projects. The reported «fresh start» comes as both Harry and Meghan focus on new professional ventures and public engagements.

Meanwhile, Meghan’s recent solo speech in Geneva generated mixed reactions online. Supporters praised her advocacy and...