News

Following a wave of criticism from the grid, Formula One’s governing body has confirmed a “constructive dialogue on difficult topics” took place during a Thursday summit in London. The meeting brought together technical experts from the FIA, competing teams and power unit manufacturers to evaluate potential tweaks to the controversial 2026 regulations.

While the opening rounds of the new regulatory era have successfully delivered closer racing through high-speed corners, the heavily revised power units have drawn intense scrutiny. Acknowledging the problem, the FIA released a statement confirming that all stakeholders have committed to refining the energy management regulations.

Following the death of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne last year, the historic Los Angeles estate he shared with his wife Sharon has returned to the property market with a $17 mln price tag.

Property records show the couple purchased the 1920s Hancock Park residence for $11.85 mln in 2015. They had previously considered selling the home prior to the Black Sabbath frontman’s passing, initially listing it for $18 mln in July 2022.

The asking price was later reduced to $17.5 mln before the property was withdrawn from the market entirely.

At that time, the couple were weighing up a...

Uzbekistan has placed sovereign international bonds at 12.25% per annum, which is lower than current rates on global financial markets. According to the Central bank, this indicates high investor confidence in the country’s reforms and economic policy.

For comparison, on March 31 three-year government treasury bonds worth 300 bn soums ($24.6 mln) were placed on the domestic market at 12.39%.

“In conditions of limited opportunities to attract large volumes of funds on the domestic market, attracting financing on the external market at a lower rate reflects the positive expectations of international investors,” the regulator commented.

Uzbek Grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov defeated India’s Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa in the 10th round of the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament in Cyprus, cementing his position at the top of the leaderboard and extending his lead.

While the game began with careful manoeuvring, it quickly transitioned into a sharp and complex battle. Playing with the black pieces, Sindarov allowed Praggnanandhaa to win a piece in exchange for two pawns. However, the Uzbek grandmaster seized the initiative and launched a dangerous attack.

The critical moment arose around move 22 when Sindarov capitalised on his opponent’s exposed king. Facing relentless pressure and an inescapable...

To mark the 690th anniversary of Amir Temur‘s (Tamerlane) birth, Uzbekistan has released commemorative pure silver coins, the republic’s Central Bank reports. Their face value is 100,000 soums.

The obverse of the coins depicts Amir Temur, the mausoleum built in his honour in Samarkand and the Ak-Saray Palace in Shakhrisabz. On the reverse are quotes from the Sahibqiran:

A senior delegation from Azerbaijan’s state energy company SOCAR held talks with Uzbekistan’s national oil and gas firm Uzbekneftegaz on April 9 to deepen bilateral cooperation.

SOCAR Vice President Arzu Javadova met with Uzbekneftegaz Chairman Abdugani Sanginov during a visit to Uzbekistan, where both sides reviewed current collaboration and explored opportunities for expansion.

The companies highlighted the «dynamic» development of their relationship, linking it to the broader strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

Discussions also covered progress on a joint geological exploration project in the Ustyurt region, alongside other areas of mutual interest in the energy sector.

From...

Uzbekistan’s National Investment Fund (UzNIF) has announced plans to publish a registration document and is considering an initial public offering on both the London Stock Exchange and the Tashkent Stock Exchange.

The proposed IPO would involve the sale of ordinary shares and global depositary receipts by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which is currently the fund’s sole shareholder. UzNIF said it would not receive any proceeds from the share sale.

The fund was created under a presidential decree in 2024 and is designed to manage stakes in major state-owned enterprises while improving their governance, transparency and market...

Central Bank of Uzbekistan reported that the country’s gold and foreign exchange reserves stood at $68.9 bn at the start of April 2026, down by $8.1 bn over the previous month.

The volume of gold holdings increased from 13.1 mln to 13.4 mln troy ounces. However, the value of those reserves fell sharply by $6.82 bn to $60.85 bn, reflecting a decline in global prices.

Foreign currency reserves also dropped by $1.27 bn to $7.57 bn, marking their lowest level since January 1, 2025.

According to analysts at the World Gold Council, gold prices fell by 12% in...

Uzbekistan and Afghanistan have signed 20 trade agreements worth more than $400 mln during a business forum in the Fergana Region, according to the Dunyo news agency.

The deals cover a range of sectors including textiles, raw material supplies and pharmaceuticals, along with other areas of production.

The Afghan delegation was led by Zalgai Azimi, deputy chairman of the country’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry for investment. The group also included business figures Abdulla Rahimi, Said Ahmad Nurzad and Ubaidullah Hotak.

The agreements follow the creation of a joint Afghan-Uzbek business council in late March, aimed at strengthening economic...

The developers behind the popular Chinese gacha game Genshin Impact have officially pulled the plug on the PlayStation 4 version of the game.

While the decision to terminate support was first announced back in August 2025, the transition became absolute on April 8, rendering the title inaccessible on Sony’s previous-generation console.

HoYoverse has released a statement advising dedicated fans to migrate their adventures to the PlayStation 5, PC or mobile devices. The developer reassured players that all account progress is safely stored and can be retrieved simply by logging into the same account on a supported platform.

The move...

South Korean music phenomenons BTS are preparing to ignite the global stage once again as they kick off their highly anticipated “Arirang” world tour.

Beginning this Thursday with a spectacular three-night residency at Goyang Stadium just northwest of Seoul, the monumental trek is officially slated to become the largest and most ambitious concert tour ever undertaken by a K-pop act.

Redefining the live experience

The Goyang concerts will serve as the opening chapter for a staggering 85 performances spanning 34 major cities worldwide. The meticulously planned international itinerary includes stops in major cultural hubs such as Tokyo, Los Angeles...

South Korean singer and actor Cha Eun-woo announced on Wednesday that he has fully settled the outstanding taxes at the centre of recent large-scale tax evasion allegations.

Currently undertaking his mandatory military service, the star used social media to update the public and offer a fresh apology regarding the financial scandal.

“I sincerely apologise for causing disappointment and confusion to many people, including my fans, with the recent tax controversy surrounding me,” Cha shared online.

He added that he fully respects the procedures and findings of the National Tax Service and has cleared the...

The Formula 1 paddock is abuzz with fresh speculation that Aston Martin has successfully negotiated a reduction in Jonathan Wheatley‘s gardening leave, independent accounts on X report citing As-Web Japan. According to recent social media reports, the highly respected motorsport executive is poised to join the Silverstone-based outfit immediately after the sport’s traditional summer break.

If true, the move would secure a rapid return to the pit wall for Wheatley, who unexpectedly stepped down from his role as Audi’s Team Principal last month.

A swift return to the paddock

The latest development stems from paddock chatter and...

As they prepare for their journey back to Earth, the Artemis II crew members say they possess a wealth of unreleased photographs and untold stories to share with the public, BBC reports.

Having successfully navigated around the Moon, the four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft are scheduled to splash down near the coast of San Diego at approximately 20:00 U.S. EST on Friday (00:00 GMT).

Eager to Share the Experience

Addressing the press from the vacuum of space, mission pilot Victor Glover expressed the team’s immense eagerness to reveal what they have witnessed. This virtual press conference marked...

Uzbek grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov remains firmly in control at the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus after nine rounds, maintaining a comfortable lead in the race for the world title, RIA News reports.

In the latest round, Sindarov settled for a draw against Germany’s Matthias Blubaum, bringing his tally to seven points. The result keeps him well ahead of the chasing pack.

Closest rival Anish Giri strengthened his grip on second place after defeating Fabiano Caruana, moving to 5.5 points. Caruana now sits third on 4.5 points.

Elsewhere, the remaining matches ended in draws. R Praggnanandhaa shared the point with Wei...

Red Bull is set to lose another key figure, with Max Verstappen’s long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase expected to join McLaren after his current contract ends, De Telegraaf.

Lambiase, 45, remains under contract with Red Bull until 2027 and is not expected to leave before then. However, multiple reports indicate he will move to McLaren in 2028 after accepting a lucrative offer.

Major move in the paddock

The British engineer, who also serves as Red Bull’s Head of Racing, had attracted interest from several teams, including Aston Martin and Williams. Sources suggest McLaren secured his services with a significantly...

Uzbekistan will introduce new rules requiring SIM cards to be registered in the user’s name for those signing up to payment services from April 22, the Central Bank said.

The requirement will not affect users already registered in banking apps or payment platforms.

New verification rules

Under the updated system, new users must pass a three-way verification check. Their phone number, personal identification number and bank card must all be registered to the same individual.

If the data does not match, registration may be denied or access to services restricted. Users attempting to link bank cards to numbers...

Jasveen Sangha, a British-born socialite turned drug supplier, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for her role in the ketamine-related death of Matthew Perry.

Sangha was convicted on multiple federal charges, including supplying the drug that led to the Friends star’s death in 2023. Prosecutors said she sold dozens of vials of ketamine, including the fatal dose, through an intermediary.

Once part of Hollywood’s elite social scene, Sangha, dubbed the «Ketamine Queen», was described by acquaintances as driven by access to celebrity circles rather than money. Authorities, however, said she ran a significant drug operation catering to high-profile...

Martin Brundle has confirmed he will return to coverage for the Miami Grand Prix after missing the previous two Formula 1 races in China and Japan.

The 66-year-old Sky Sports pundit and former F1 driver explained that he no longer attends every race weekend, now covering 16 events per season. His reduced schedule means he typically skips long-haul races, particularly those held early in the morning UK time.

«I do 16 races a year, so I have to miss some,» Brundle said, adding that he particularly regrets missing races at Suzuka, one of his...

A suspect in the notorious Gilgo Beach serial killings is expected to plead guilty to the murder of an eighth victim, marking a major development in one of the most disturbing criminal cases in recent U.S. history.

Rex Heuermann, an architect from New York arrested in 2023, is set to change his plea on Wednesday in connection with the death of Karen Vergata, who disappeared in 1996. Her remains were discovered years later and identified in 2023.

Heuermann had previously pleaded not guilty to seven murders linked to a string of killings on Long Island between 1993 and 2011. According...

A fragile ceasefire in the Iran conflict appeared at risk on Wednesday as Israel launched a major wave of airstrikes in Lebanon and Iran halted oil tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, citing alleged violations of the truce.

Israeli forces hit more than 100 targets across Beirut and other parts of Lebanon, reportedly killing at least 112 people. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disputed claims by Iran and Pakistan that Lebanon was included in the ceasefire agreement reached just hours earlier.

In response, Iran suspended tanker movements through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil route...

Uzbekistan Airways plans to limit increases in ticket prices despite an expected rise in fuel costs, a company representative told Kursiv Uzbekistan.

The airline purchases aviation fuel on the domestic market and has not experienced supply disruptions so far. However, it does not rule out possible fare adjustments in the future, noting that fuel price trends remain difficult to predict.

Fuel prices on the rise

According to the International Air Transport Association, the global average price of jet fuel stood at $209 per barrel as of April 3, amid tensions in the Middle East. For comparison, the price was...

The stepmother of the late Friends star Matthew Perry is urging a U.S. judge to impose the harshest possible prison term on the drug dealer responsible for supplying the ketamine that claimed the actor’s life.

In a poignant victim impact statement presented to a California court on Tuesday, Debbie Perry condemned Jasveen Sangha, infamously dubbed the “Ketamine Queen”, for inflicting “irreversible” devastation. She implored the court to hand down the maximum penalty to prevent the dealer from destroying other families.

“The pain you’ve caused to hundreds maybe thousands is irreversible,” the grieving stepmother wrote.

She...

In March, criminals made off with a lorry containing over 12 tonnes of KitKat bars. This staggering loss of nearly 414,000 chocolate wafers rapidly captured the public’s imagination and turned a standard freight robbery into an internet sensation.

Hoping to recover the snacks, Nestle activated a tracking mechanism relying on the distinct batch numbers stamped onto individual wrappers. If scanned, these digits identify the sweets as stolen property and offer directions on how to notify authorities so the manufacturer can map where the contraband eventually surfaces.

Presidential-Style Escorts

The narrative took a highly theatrical turn when Canadian...