News

Long-running animated sitcom The Simpsons has once again been drawn into online speculation, with fans claiming the show hinted at the existence of Jeffrey Epstein’s private island years before it became widely known.

The theory centres on a season 12 episode that aired in 2000, in which Homer Simpson launches a gossip website under the alias «Mr X». In one deliberately fabricated headline, Homer claims that «some crazy creeps on an island somewhere are secretly running the world». Social media users have recently linked the line to allegations surrounding Epstein’s island and his connections to powerful figures.

The...

Health experts in the UK have warned against so-called «jab hacks» involving weight-loss injections, after new data suggested a growing number of users are taking risks to cut costs.

The warning follows comments by Nina Wadia, the EastEnders star, who has spoken publicly about the dangers of misusing weight-loss jabs. Her remarks come amid wider concern from doctors and regulators about unsafe practices linked to the drugs.

A survey by LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor found that almost half of the estimated 1.6 million people using weight-loss medication in the UK have either experimented with «microdosing», taking smaller-than-prescribed amounts, or...

China continued to add to its gold reserves in January, extending a steady accumulation streak even as global prices surged, according to official data released over the weekend.

Figures from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange show that China’s gold reserves rose to 74.19 million ounces at the end of January, up 40,000 ounces from the previous month. The increase marks the country’s 15th consecutive month of net purchases.

While the monthly addition is modest, analysts say the persistence of buying is significant. The central bank resumed gold purchases in November 2024, and holdings have risen by a...

Spiritual author and wellness advocate Deepak Chopra has publicly addressed his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein following the release of newly unsealed federal records in the United States.

The documents, unsealed by the U.S. Department of Justice and the House Oversight Committee, include millions of pages of emails, contact logs and scheduling records linked to Epstein’s estate and investigations. Chopra’s name reportedly appears more than 3,000 times in records dated between 2016 and 2019.

According to the documents, Chopra met Epstein multiple times after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. The interactions...

The opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics set an attendance record on February 6 night, with more than 61,000 tickets sold at Milan’s San Siro stadium.

Around 10,000 additional spectators followed the ceremony from other venues as events unfolded across a wide stretch of northern Italy. Organisers said operations at the iconic football stadium ran smoothly, though it was too early to release broadcast figures.

«It was a major challenge and we are very proud of what we achieved,» said Andrea Varnier, chief executive of the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation. «From an...

Swiss skier Franjo von Allmen claimed the men’s Olympic downhill title, securing the first gold medal of the Milan Cortina Winter Games.

Racing under clear skies in Bormio, von Allmen mastered the demanding course to post a winning time of 1 minute 51.61 seconds.

Italy’s Giovanni Franzoni mounted a strong challenge but settled for silver, while his teammate Dominik Paris delivered a quick run to take bronze. Paris’ finish pushed Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt off the podium.

From economics and politics to business, technology and culture, Kursiv Uzbekistan brings you key news and in-depth analysis from Uzbekistan...

Indie developer Sandfall Interactive has been formally «knighted» for their work on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, receiving the prestigious French Order of Arts and Letters in recognition of the game’s cultural and artistic impact.

The accolade marks a historic achievement for the small studio, whose game has already become the most awarded title ever, surpassing Elden Ring and Baldur’s Gate 3.

In a LinkedIn announcement, Sandfall expressed gratitude to their team and players, saying the honour recognises their creative achievements and hopes to inspire others to pursue ambitious projects.

«From Expeditioners to Knights! We were...

Kazakhstan will host the 2029 Asian Winter Games after Saudi Arabia withdrew as the original host. Almaty was confirmed as the new venue by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) during the Winter Olympics in Italy.

OCA President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani expressed gratitude to Kazakhstan for its dedication to winter sports, saying,

«We have no doubt we will build on this legacy and deliver an unforgettable Games in 2029.»

The Games had initially been scheduled for Trojena resort in the new Saudi city of Neom but were postponed last month. No...

Google revealed that YouTube brought in more than $60 bn in revenue in 2025, combining advertising earnings and paid subscriptions. The figure exceeds Netflix’s $45 bn revenue and marks the first time Google has publicly broken out YouTube’s annual revenue since acquiring the platform in 2006.

Midia Research analyst Hanna Kahlert said the announcement reflects YouTube’s deep integration into daily digital life, with over 70% of global consumers using it weekly and more than half using it daily. Its diverse revenue streams allow the platform to capitalise on its large audience.

Despite ad revenue in the last quarter of...

Manchester City midfielder Abduqodir Khusanov has been named the club’s Etihad Player of the Month for January, according to the results of the fan vote.

The 21-year-old played seven matches during the month, regularly starting and maintaining a high level of performance. Coaches praised his reliability, tactical awareness and composure in duels.

Khusanov beat teammates including goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and captain Bernardo Silva to claim the award. The young player has quickly become a favourite among fans for his discipline and calm presence on the pitch. January’s recognition marks Khusanov’s first individual Etihad award.

Kursiv also reports that...

South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb accidentally distributed over $40 bn in bitcoin to customers as part of a promotional event, sparking a sharp selloff on the platform.

The error occurred when the exchange intended to send small cash rewards of 2,000 Korean won ($1.37) or more. Instead, each winner received at least 2,000 bitcoins, media reports said. Bithumb restricted trading and withdrawals for the 695 affected accounts within 35 minutes and has recovered 99.7% of the 620,000 bitcoins, worth roughly $44 bn.

The company stressed that the incident was not caused by hacking or security failures and that customer...

President Donald Trump condemned but declined to apologise on February 6 for a video shared on his social media account that depicted former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes, triggering swift bipartisan outrage.

The White House initially defended the post before deleting it about 12 hours later. The video, shared late February 5 on Trump’s Truth Social platform, promoted false claims that his 2020 election defeat was due to fraud and included what appeared to be an AI-generated clip featuring dancing primates with the Obamas’ faces.

Trump told reporters he had not watched the entire...

The acclaimed fantasy video game franchise Baldur’s Gate is being adapted into a television series, with Craig Mazin, the creator of HBO’s The Last of Us and Chernobyl, attached as showrunner.

The move follows the huge success of Baldur’s Gate 3, which launched in 2023 to widespread critical praise, sold more than 20 mln copies and became the first game to sweep all five major Game of the Year awards.

The plot

The series will be set after the events of the latest game, drawing on the world’s established lore while introducing new storylines and characters grappling with...

The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games officially got under way on February 6 night following an ambitious opening ceremony staged across four Italian venues.

Milan’s San Siro stadium served as the centrepiece, while additional segments unfolded simultaneously in Cortina, Livigno and Predazzo. Organisers had faced questions over the complexity of such a format, but the event ran smoothly and delivered a polished spectacle.

Dual cauldrons and a celebratory parade

Two Olympic cauldrons were ignited, one in Milan and another in Cortina, as Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli performed Nessun Dorma while the torch arrived at San Siro. The ceremony culminated with...

Snoop Dogg may have grabbed early attention at the Cortina Curling Stadium, but it was Team GB’s mixed doubles pair who delivered where it mattered, extending their unbeaten run at the Winter Olympics.

The U.S. rap star, in Cortina as a Team U.S.A. hype man and self-styled honorary coach, even took to the ice for a light-hearted practice session after the morning games, watched by a curious crowd.

His appearance followed Britain’s hard-fought 7-4 victory over Sweden, their rivals from the 2022 bronze medal match. Snoop Dogg later asked British curlers Jen Dodds and Bruce Mouat for a selfie...

At least 31 people were killed and 169 others injured after a powerful explosion struck an imambargah during Friday prayers in Pakistan’s federal capital.

The blast occurred at Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra in the Tarlai area of Islamabad. Police and Rescue 1122 teams rushed to the scene and began rescue and evacuation efforts.

The attack took place during the official two-day visit of Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Islamabad Capital Territory Police spokesperson Taqi Jawad said it was too early to determine the exact nature of the explosion, but initial indications suggested a suicide attack. Security forces sealed off...

Winter Olympic anti-doping officials say they will be alert to any evidence that male ski jumpers are artificially enlarging their private parts in an attempt to exploit competition rules and gain an aerodynamic advantage.

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Director General Olivier Niggli said the issue would be reviewed if it fell within the agency’s definition of doping. Speaking at a press conference in Milan ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, Niggli said WADA currently has no indication the practice is taking place.

«I am not aware of the details of ski jumping and how this...

Toyota has appointed finance chief Kenta Kon as its next chief executive, replacing Koji Sato from April 1. Kon, a close ally of Chairman Akio Toyoda, will take over as the world’s largest automaker faces intensifying competition from Chinese rivals.

Sato, who has led Toyota for three years, will become vice chairman and take on a new role as chief industry officer, focusing on broader industry matters while Kon concentrates on internal management and finances.

Known for strict cost control, Kon also spearheaded the planned buyout of forklift subsidiary Toyota Industries, a deal opposed by minority shareholders for being...

Russian authorities have banned stand-up comedian Nurlan Saburov from entering the country for 50 years. He was detained at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport after arriving on a Fly Dubai flight from the United Arab Emirates, where he had been filming a commercial project, according to Telegram channel SHOT.

During passport control, Saburov was taken to a separate room and served with the entry ban. He previously faced cancellations of concerts in several Russian cities including Yekaterinburg, Omsk, Nizhny Tagil, Kurgan, Ryazan and Obninsk. Organisers cited «unforeseen circumstances» and pledged to refund tickets within 180 days.

In May 2025, Saburov was...

Arrow McLaren has officially opened its new North American headquarters and unveiled the three Chevrolet-powered cars set for the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series.

The McLaren Racing Center on Zionsville Road, formerly home to Andretti Global, has undergone six months of renovation, expanding from 30,000 to 86,000 square feet. The upgraded facility includes a new gym, an extended mezzanine and an immersive lobby showcasing the team’s history.

Team Principal Tony Kanaan presented the 2026 driver lineup, continuing the team’s strong momentum from 2025. Pato O’Ward returns in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, Nolan Siegel drives the No. 6, and...

China’s TBEA Co., Ltd. has signed an agreement with Uzbek state company Uzgidroenergo to upgrade three hydroelectric stations in the Lower Bozsu cascade in Tashkent region.

Following the modernisation, the combined capacity of the plants will rise from 27.4 MW to 32.4 MW. An additional 5 MW of power will be installed, and annual electricity generation is expected to increase by 52.8 mln kWh.

The project is expected to supply electricity to more than 21,000 households, reduce natural gas consumption by 17 mln cubic metres and save over 40,000 tonnes of coal each year.

Kursiv also reports that...

Inflation in Uzbekistan rose by 0.7% in January 2026, bringing the annual increase to 7.2%, according to the National Statistics Committee.

Regionally, the highest annual inflation was recorded in Fergana at 7.7%, followed by Bukhara and Khorezm regions at 7.5%. The lowest price growth occurred in Jizzakh at 6.7% and the capital region at 6.8%. In Tashkent, inflation reached 7.2% over the year.

Food prices increased by 5.4% and healthcare costs rose by 5.2% year-on-year. Education services saw a moderate increase of 1.6%, while transport costs surged by 12.1%. Utilities became 17% more expensive and insurance services jumped 40%.

Mercedes’ new F1 engine design has been approved by the FIA, but it has stirred concern among rival teams over a potential competitive advantage.

According to reports, the Brixworth six-cylinder engine features a second micro combustion chamber that remains inactive when cold to comply with the 16:1 compression limit, but activates when hot, effectively reaching 18:1 compression during racing. The FIA confirmed the design is legal, while Mercedes insists the power unit is fully compliant.

Theoretically, the innovation could give Mercedes a measurable gain of around 10 horsepower, with additional advantage from optimised sustainable fuel chemistry. Rival teams...

BTS has unveiled the Official Light Stick Ver.4, an upgraded version of its fan light stick with new features and an enhanced wireless control system. The Ver.4 release comes nearly six years after the previous Map of The Soul Special Edition.

The new Light Stick offers a refreshed design and comes with compatible accessories, including a cradle and replaceable parts in BTS and ARMY versions. A new app and improved wireless system enhance usability and allow more sophisticated stage effects during concerts.

Key upgrades include: