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A Swiss-based entity which tracks football history and statistics has included Ilgiz Tantashev in the list of ten best referees at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The nomination may not go down well with France fans.

At 42, Tantashev, hailing from the historic city of Bukhara in Uzbekistan, clinched the tenth spot on the World Cup Best Referee list unveiled by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).

Tantashev officiated three matches: Scotland versus Morocco, Algeria against Austria, and the high-stakes Round of 16 battle between Paraguay and France. His handling of the July 5 encounter ignited outrage...

The 2026 Venice International Film Festival has unveiled a competition lineup anchored by prestige international auteurs, countering a noticeable retreat by major Hollywood studios and a sharp decline in female representation behind the camera.

The 83rd edition of the festival runs from September 2 to September 12 on the Lido. Maggie Gyllenhaal serves as jury president for a competition slate that relies heavily on established global filmmakers.

Key entries vying for the Golden Lion include:

A coroner concluded that the sudden passing of a 29-year-old Saudi Arabian prince inside an upscale Kensington hotel was a case of misadventure resulting from combined drug toxicity.

Prince Abdullah bin Fahad bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Jalawi al Saud suffered a fatal cardiac arrest. Medical reports indicated he had consumed a deadly cocktail consisting of heavy alcohol, the illicit substance GHB, marijuana and prescription anxiety medication. Concluding the hearing at Inner West London Coroner’s Court, Assistant Coroner Jean Harkin stated there were no signs pointing to suicide.

Post-mortem examinations showed the royal’s blood alcohol level stood at...

Day three of the preliminary hearing for musician David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, brought forward chilling forensic testimony and digital tracking evidence, according to courtroom reports. The proceedings will determine if prosecutors have presented sufficient evidence to take Burke to trial for the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

The closed-door proceedings were extensively documented by internet commentator Sloan Hooks (@sloanhooks). Hooks is a popular YouTube and Instagram personality with over 1.2 mln subscribers who specializes in pop culture, internet drama, and true crime storytelling.

Forensics tie dismemberment to garage pool

LAPD trace criminalist Lisa LaHendro

Hundreds of historical artefacts have vanished from two major state museums in Uzbekistan following an ongoing nationwide inventory check of cultural institutions.

The Cultural Heritage Agency confirmed that nearly 500 exhibits are missing from the Kokand State Museum-Reserve and its regional branches, which include the Gafur Gulyam Literature Museum. An additional 16 items could not be located in the archives of the Syrdarya Regional State Museum of History and Culture.

Officials have handed all audit documents over to the prosecutor’s office. Authorities will conduct a legal assessment of the disappearances and pursue charges against individuals responsible for the missing...

On July 8, 2026, the Tashkent Republican Stock Exchange (Tashkent RSE) hosted Uzbekistan’s historic first mortgage bond placement, valued at 40.56 billion UZS. Issued by UMRC SPV LLC, the deal launched a 200 billion UZS pilot project under Presidential Decree UP-26.

In an exclusive interview with Kursiv Uzbekistan, Fayzulla Tashov, the Acting Board Chairman of the Tashkent RSE, explained how the securitisation mechanism works, why the debut deal was held in a controlled “regulatory sandbox,” and whether retail investors will eventually gain access to these securities.

— Mr Tashov, could you explain in simple terms what...

Aston Martin has introduced a comprehensive B-spec upgrade package for the AMR26 ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix as the team seeks to salvage a dismal start to the 2026 season.

Instead of delivering minor improvements race-by-race, Adrian Newey and his engineering team elected to stockpile their development. The result is a heavily revised chassis that recently broke cover in the Budapest pit lane, featuring a complete aerodynamic overhaul aimed at lifting the squad from the back of the grid.

The radical changes include a new nose, extensively reworked aerodynamic surfaces and revised rear suspension architecture. According to paddock...

The house in Braunau-am-Inn, which Adolf Hitler’s parents rented for just a few months, has been used as a library, workshop, and school to help remove its dark history. Now, a police station will keep neo-Nazi supporters away.

From July 22, the building will officially be home to the local police station and district police command, according to the Austrian Interior Ministry.

«This is a model police station … and the historical context has also been taken into account. I wish our police officers a good start,” said regional police chief Andreas Pilsl.

In...

High-resolution press renders of the upcoming Google Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL have leaked three weeks before their official August 12 unveiling.

Published by MyMobiles.com, the 36 images provide a comprehensive look at the 2026 flagship series. The leak showcases 12 distinct colourways and confirms a flat-edged design alongside the return of the signature pill-shaped camera island.

Vibrant colours and flat frames

The base Pixel 11 introduces a highly saturated hot pink named Fuchsia alongside Light Sterling, Moss and Midnight Haze. The premium Pro models feature a more muted palette including Pine, Light...

Real Madrid has reportedly set its sights on Rodri, who has longed for a return to Spain even as Manchester City tried to keep him with a long-term deal. The transfer fee could soar into the nine-figure range.

The Man City midfielder who led the Spain team to their hard-fought 2026 World Cup trophy is now waiting for Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to greenlight the transfer, the Daily Mail has learned on July 23. Rodri’s City contract ends in 2027, with the Spaniard eager to return to Madrid.

Separately, French outlet L’Equipe reported that Real Madrid had...

The upcoming Google Pixel Watch 5 will reportedly feature a significant memory upgrade to support new artificial intelligence tools despite retaining its predecessor’s core processor.

A recent Google Play Console listing reveals the wearable device, operating under the codename “godric,” will ship with 3GB of RAM. This marks the product line’s first memory increase since Google entered the smartwatch market and is expected to facilitate advanced Gemini Intelligence capabilities.

Whilst the expanded memory provides a performance boost, the listing indicates Google will reuse the Qualcomm SW5100 platform seen in the Pixel Watch 2, 3 and 4. The leak confirms...

Police in Mumbai detained actress Ayesha Khan on Wednesday as she attempted to participate in a demonstration supporting educational reforms and protesting alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test.

The “Dhurandhar” star took to Instagram to document her ordeal through a series of videos recorded inside a police van and later from Worli Police Station. In the footage, a visibly shaken Khan claimed she was taken into custody despite not actively participating in the protest or raising any slogans.

According to her account, Khan arrived in the Dadar area at around 4 p.m. to show solidarity with...

Ships were banned from traversing Novorossiysk, Russia’s largest port by volume, which handles up to 30% of the country’s grain exports, according to Reuters.

Three grain industry sources told the news agency on July 22 that a temporary ban on ship movements will be in place from midnight to 5 a.m. because of the threat of Ukrainian drone strikes. The notice was given verbally, and port authorities did not issue an official document.

The nighttime restrictions have not disrupted grain shipments, since Novorossiysk has continued normal operations outside the curfew hours. The report could not be...

Liverpool are increasingly confident they can outmanoeuvre Arsenal and Bayern Munich to secure Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola in a deal worth £100 mln.

The Gunners turned their attention to the 23-year-old France international after losing out to Chelsea for Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers. However, Liverpool have emerged as the frontrunners to land Barcola as they search for a marquee replacement following Mohamed Salah’s departure.

PSG are willing to sanction the transfer because they are close to signing RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, a player Liverpool also pursued. Diomande’s imminent arrival in the French capital paves the way for Barcola...

Architect Esen Matras made a defiant public statement against her estranged biological father during her lavish wedding to Fenerbahce footballer Ismail Yuksek.

The family feud took centre stage during the couple’s official marriage proceedings. When the registrar asked Matras for her father’s name, she deliberately omitted biological father Emre Matras, a 1990s pop singer and heir to the Matras Leather fortune. Instead, the bride provided the name of Anil Karaer, the stepfather who raised her.

The highly publicised snub exposed a deep, years-long rift between Matras and her biological father. Following the ceremony, Emre Matras publicly condemned the union...

Manchester City have secured the long-term futures of two vital first-team players. Abdukodir Khusanov and Jeremy Doku are set to sign new contracts that will keep them at the Etihad Stadium until 2031, NYT reports.

The double agreement follows Phil Foden‘s commitment to a new four-year deal last Wednesday. The reigning Premier League champions are moving quickly to lock down young talent as the club prepare for a new era under manager Enzo Maresca following Pep Guardiola‘s departure. These consecutive announcements signal the club’s determination to build a sustainable and successful future whilst navigating a major managerial transition.

According...

Apple is gearing up to unveil the new iMac and revamp the MacBook Pro and Air lines in the coming months, according to Bloomberg. Some devices will run on more powerful chips, while others will get a facelift.

One of the biggest upgrades to watch is the refreshed MacBook Neo. This refreshed model is rumoured to get the A19 Pro chip, the same as in the iPhone 17 Pro, 12GB RAM and new colour options.

The 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models are thought to join the upgrade parade with the M6 chip by...

Prime Minister Andy Burnham will slash business rates for pubs, clubs and live music venues by 20% starting in April, Downing Street announced Thursday.

The reduction aims to ease the nation’s cost-of-living crisis and will save a typical pub about £1,100 next year. The government estimates the policy will benefit nearly 32,000 hospitality and entertainment venues across the country. However, the very largest music venues will be excluded from the new discount, with specific details to be outlined in the forthcoming Budget.

To fund the £100 mln tax break, officials plan to revoke existing financial relief for enterprises deemed...

Nine individuals, including the former head of Uzbekneftegaz and senior managers from Eriell Management and Enter Engineering, face up to 10 years in prison for alleged financial crimes.

Tashkent City Court spokesman Tursunali Akbarov told a Kursiv Uzbekistan correspondent that the defendants are charged with embezzling state funds, abuse of power, forgery and money laundering.

The accused include Bakhodir Sidikov, former chairman of Uzbekneftegaz; Bakhtiyar Anarkulov, the company’s ex-deputy head; Nodirjon Boboev, director of Eriell Management; and Ulugbek Usmanov, head of Enter Engineering. Five suspects remain in custody whilst the remaining four have been released on bail as the...

Nearly six years after the passing of actor Chadwick Boseman, his family is engaged in a legal dispute over his financial legacy. Kevin and Derrick Boseman have filed a petition in a Los Angeles court to remove the “Black Panther” star’s widow, Taylor Simone Ledward Boseman, as the administrator of his estate.

The brothers allege Ledward Boseman has failed to properly distribute assets and is withholding funds rightfully owed to the actor’s parents, Leroy and Carolyn Boseman.

Chadwick Boseman died of colon cancer in August 2020 at age 43. Because he passed away without a will, a judge issued...

US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will not stop the extradition of the Tate brothers to the UK. Earlier, a federal court in Miami began the process to transfer them to UK authorities.

Court documents show the Justice Department stated that Rubio alone can stop Andrew and Tristan Tate’s extradition to the UK if there is political motivation. The Tates’ lawyers, who are challenging the extradition, said, «there’s no question about it.”

“The secretary [of state] has not spoken to the Tate Brothers or their lawyers. The State Department has no plans to act on this...

Day two of the preliminary hearing for 21-year-old singer David Burke, known professionally as D4vd, brought graphic crime scene descriptions and intense scrutiny of the artist’s financial inner circle. Burke faces charges in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose remains were found in his Tesla.

The day’s proceedings were extensively documented by internet commentator Sloan Hooks (@sloanhooks). Hooks is a popular YouTube and Instagram personality with over 1.2 mln subscribers who specializes in pop culture, internet drama, and true crime storytelling. Sitting in on the highly restricted courtroom, Hooks provided detailed observations of both the testimonies...

On July 2, 2026, international credit rating agency Moody’s Ratings upgraded Uzbekinvest’s Insurance Financial Strength Rating (IFSR) to “Ba1” with a “Stable” outlook.

According to Moody’s, Uzbekinvest is the only financial institution in Uzbekistan to hold an insurance financial strength rating at the “Ba1” level. The agency attributed the upgrade to the company’s strong position in the domestic insurance market, solid capitalisation, high-quality assets and a well-diversified investment portfolio. Moody’s also highlighted the significant contribution of the company’s international reinsurance business to its premium income.

The upgraded rating reflects Uzbekinvest’s strong financial profile, supported by consistent underwriting performance and sustainable...

Fans from around the world can now buy tickets from the Freedom Afisha page at Ticketon.kz 

Sales launch

General ticket sales for Kanye West (YE)’s concert started a day earlier than planned, on July 22 at 12:00 Almaty time, on the Freedom Afisha page at Ticketon.kz.

The decision was made to meet the high demand: seeing the rush on the first day and sales statistics (about 50% of tickets were sold on the first day), the organisers opened access to purchases to as many fans as possible. All remaining ticket categories are now available to everyone, including users with...