News

The Pentagon has released the first batch of previously classified files related to unidentified flying objects, or unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs), following a transparency directive issued earlier this year by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The documents include more than 160 files containing military reports, pilot testimonies, photographs, videos, FBI records, and NASA mission transcripts dating back decades. Among the materials are accounts from Apollo-era astronauts and military personnel describing unexplained aerial sightings.

The files were published through a new government website as part of a broader declassification initiative involving the Pentagon, NASA, the FBI and U.S. intelligence agencies...

China and India are intensifying efforts to expand their influence in Central Asia through competing regional connectivity and economic initiatives, according to a new analysis published by Eurasia Review.

The report says China has strengthened its position in the region through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), investing heavily in infrastructure, energy, and transport projects across Central Asia. Beijing’s geographic proximity and financial resources have helped it become one of the region’s leading economic partners.

India, meanwhile, is seeking to expand ties through its «Connect Central Asia» policy, focusing on trade, energy cooperation, digital connectivity, and cultural diplomacy...

Saudi Arabia reportedly refused to allow the United States to use its airspace and military bases for a planned operation in the Strait of Hormuz, creating tensions between Washington and Gulf allies amid rising regional instability.

According to multiple media reports citing U.S. officials, the restrictions affected «Project Freedom,» a U.S.-led mission intended to escort commercial vessels through the strategic waterway after attacks linked to escalating tensions with Iran.

Reports said Riyadh denied U.S. aircraft access to Prince Sultan Air Base and Saudi airspace, forcing Washington to pause the operation shortly after it was announced.

The Strait of...

Pakistan and Uzbekistan are expanding cooperation at the municipal level as work advances on the planned Babur Park project in Islamabad.

According to Pakistani media, Capital Development Authority Chairman Sohail Ashraf and Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Alisher Tukhtayev discussed new initiatives focused on urban development, beautification projects, and stronger ties between Islamabad and Uzbek cities.

The Uzbek ambassador said formal work had begun on Babur Park along Faisal Avenue, describing it as a gift from Uzbekistan to the people of Pakistan. The project is expected to become one of Islamabad’s major recreational spaces and a symbol of friendship...

In a bid to bypass traditional Hollywood platforms and engage directly with her audience, Emmy-winning actress Jaime Pressly has announced the launch of an OnlyFans profile, TMZ reports. The 48-year-old star opened the account on Thursday, describing the venture as an opportunity to operate entirely on her own terms.

Speaking to People magazine, the actress highlighted the rapidly changing landscape of the entertainment sector. Pressly noted that her decision was heavily influenced by the positive interactions she recently experienced with supporters at various comic-con events.

Seeking a digital equivalent to those face-to-face encounters, she chose the subscription...

The FIA has formally revised the regulations surrounding Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) in response to significant adjustments to the Formula 1 race calendar.

The ADUO system was implemented ahead of the current season to coincide with the introduction of the sport’s new power unit regulations. The framework is designed to provide targeted development support to engine manufacturers that fall significantly behind the benchmark performance.

Initial regulations dictated that the FIA would assess engine performance at three specific intervals during the season: after rounds six, 12 and 18. However, the cancellation of both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands...

Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc has taken delivery of a custom-built Riva 102’ Corsaro Super, expanding his maritime fleet during a private launch ceremony at the Ferretti Group’s La Spezia shipyard on Thursday.

The Monegasque racing driver already owns a Riva 82’ Diva. Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi stated that the repeat purchase underscores the Italian brand’s engineering and aesthetic appeal.

«Charles’s passion for Riva, which is of course reciprocal, is a testament to quality and beauty that we welcome with boundless joy,» Galassi said, adding that the driver’s choice highlights the vessel’s “unrivalled standards...

Indonesian emergency services have launched an urgent rescue operation to locate 20 hikers trapped on Halmahera island after Mount Dukono erupted on Friday morning, Reuters reports.

The volcano, situated in North Maluku province, erupted at 07:41 local time. According to the country’s volcanology agency, the sudden blast propelled a massive column of volcanic ash up to 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) into the atmosphere. Agency head Lana Saria confirmed in a public statement that the alert status for the mountain currently remains at its third-highest level.

Local rescue agency chief Iwan Ramdani told Reuters that dozens of emergency personnel and...

Colombian artist Shakira has partnered with Nigerian singer Burna Boy to record “Dai Dai”, the official anthem for the 2026 World Cup set for release on May 14.

The 49-year-old revealed the upcoming track on Thursday through an Instagram video filmed at Brazil’s Maracana stadium. Referencing her extensive history with the sporting event, the promotional footage showcases official match balls from three previous tournaments alongside dancers wearing various international team kits.

The 2026 competition will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.

This latest release adds to the singer’s longstanding relationship...

Joni Lamb, president and co-founder of the global Christian broadcasting giant Daystar Television Network, died on Thursday aged 65 after a recent back injury severely worsened undisclosed health conditions, .

The Texas-based ministry confirmed that Lamb had been managing private medical challenges prior to the injury. Her condition deteriorated rapidly in recent days despite medical care, leading to an unanticipated crisis.

Lamb established the Bedford-headquartered network in 1993 alongside her late husband Marcus. Over her nearly 40-year career in religious media she remained a constant on-air presence and executive leader, driving the organisation’s expansion into one of the largest Christian...

The cybercrime group ShinyHunters has breached the Canvas learning management system, stealing 3.65 terabytes of data from an estimated 275 mln users across 9,000 global educational institutions and demanding a ransom payment by May 12, the NYT reports.

The security breach culminated in a widespread global outage on Thursday, leaving thousands of schools and universities completely locked out of the platform. Students attempting to log in were instead confronted with a message from the hackers threatening to publicly leak the stolen information if the platform’s parent company, Instructure, fails to negotiate.

Widespread academic disruption

Canvas is heavily utilised...

Urumbek Yakibov, the great-uncle of Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, eliminated more than 20 German soldiers while commanding a mortar crew during the Oder River offensive in January 1945, TASS reports.

Assisting Soviet troops in crossing the river and securing a bridgehead, Yakibov’s unit repelled seven counterattacks over a two-day period. He was awarded the Order of the Red Star in the spring of 1945 for his actions during the battle.

Prior to the Oder River offensive, Yakibov was named a Hero of the Soviet Union in 1944 after helping to repel 15 enemy counterattacks during the Dnieper River...

Turkish businessman Hakan Sabanci has resumed attending public events following his high-profile separation from actress Hande Ercel. Sabanci was recently photographed at a social engagement accompanied by his mother Arzu Sabanci.

Background of the separation

Sabanci and Ercel ended their relationship in the autumn of 2025 after dating for approximately three years. During their time together the couple frequently appeared at international locations and events including Paris, London and the Cannes Film Festival.

The relationship reportedly concluded due to personal disagreements. Since the split both parties have maintained a quiet public profile regarding the matter and have removed...

Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan plan to build a new international trade and economic park at the junction of their shared borders, marking another step toward deeper regional cooperation in Central Asia.

The proposed Dostuk International Trade and Economic Park will be located in Kyrgyzstan’s Batken region and cover around 100 hectares. The project includes logistics, production, tourism, commercial, and recreational zones aimed at boosting cross-border trade and investment.

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov reviewed the project during a visit to the Dostuk («Friendship») stele at the border junction shared by the three countries. The monument was inaugurated after Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and...

The attire worn by Malaysia’s Queen during her recent visit to Uzbekistan symbolised the growing friendship and cultural ties between the two countries, Malaysian media reported.

According to the New Straits Times, Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah chose an outfit that reflected respect for Uzbek culture while also highlighting Malaysia’s national identity. The ensemble was complemented by accessories featuring Islamic symbols, underscoring shared cultural and religious values between the two nations.

The royal visit was aimed at strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in education, tourism, and cultural cooperation. Uzbek and Malaysian officials have recently expanded contacts as both countries...

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with an Austrian delegation led by Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger and Interior Minister Gerhard Karner to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation across key sectors.

According to the Uzbek presidential press service, trade turnover between the two countries has tripled in recent years. Current joint projects involve construction materials, tourism, healthcare, agriculture, banking, and the chemical industry.

During the visit, the sides also signed agreements related to labour migration, diplomatic cooperation, and taxation following a joint business forum in Tashkent.

The talks additionally covered regional security issues, including cooperation against terrorism, human trafficking...

The Netherlands will play Uzbekistan in their final warm-up match before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Dutch Football Association announced on May 7. The friendly will take place on June 8 at Icahn Stadium in New York.

The Dutch team will travel to the United States after a June 3 friendly against Algeria in Rotterdam and hold a training camp in New York ahead of the tournament. The Netherlands begin their World Cup campaign against Japan on June 14, followed by matches against Sweden and Tunisia.

Uzbekistan, which qualified for the World Cup for the first time...

Saudi energy company ACWA Power has signed financing agreements worth $226 mln for the Bash II wind farm project in Uzbekistan during the Asian Development Bank’s annual meeting in 2026.

The Bash II project will have a capacity of 300 megawatts and is part of Uzbekistan’s broader push to expand renewable energy generation and reduce dependence on natural gas.

The financing package involves international lenders and development institutions supporting Uzbekistan’s clean-energy transition. The wind farm is expected to help increase electricity supplies while lowering carbon emissions.

Uzbekistan has rapidly expanded cooperation with foreign investors in solar, wind, and energy-storage...

Uzbekistan’s natural gas production fell by 15% in the first quarter of 2026, increasing the country’s reliance on imported fuel and adding pressure to its energy system.

According to the National Statistics Committee, Uzbekistan produced 9.6 bn cubic meters of gas in January-March, down from 11.3 bn cubic meters a year earlier. Oil, coal, and gas condensate production also declined during the period.

At the same time, domestic energy demand continues to rise as Uzbekistan’s population surpasses 38 mln and industrial growth accelerates.

The production decline has pushed Tashkent to increase imports. Uzbekistan spent $360.5 million on natural...

Red Bull have singled out Oscar Piastri as their number one choice to step in if four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen decides to part ways with the team, Motorsport reports.

Multiple sources within the Miami paddock have verified this contingency plan. Although Verstappen remains firmly under contract for next season, team bosses Laurent Mekies and Oliver Mintzlaff are reportedly preparing for the unlikely yet plausible possibility of the Dutchman switching teams, taking a sabbatical or walking away from the sport completely.

A Formula 1 operation of Red Bull’s immense scale relies on a lead driver to anchor...

HBO has officially commissioned a second series of its ambitious Harry Potter television adaptation, BBC reports. Production for the next magical instalment is scheduled to commence this autumn well before the first season even hits our screens.

While the American network has kept quiet regarding an official title for the follow-up, it is universally expected to adapt the second novel in JK Rowling’s phenomenally successful literary franchise, The Chamber of Secrets. Meanwhile, the debut season covering Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is slated for a festive premiere this Christmas on the HBO Max streaming service.

A shifting...

The Republican Stock Exchange (RSE) Toshkent has officially added the Uzbekistan National Investment Fund (UzNIF) to its quotation list. According to the trading platform’s press service, active trading of these securities is scheduled to commence on May 18.

The fund’s ordinary shares have successfully entered the exchange’s Premium category and will be traded under the ticker symbol UZNF.

Subscription and trading details

Investors looking to capitalise on this offering have a limited window to participate. The subscription period for the shares will run until May 12, with the application process closing strictly at 12:00 UK time (17:00 local time...

A public dispute has emerged between federal and local law enforcement regarding the ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie. FBI Director Kash Patel recently condemned police in Arizona for allegedly blocking his agency from joining the kidnapping inquiry during its crucial initial days.

The 84-year-old mother of NBC Today programme presenter Savannah Guthrie vanished from her eldest daughter Annie’s Tucson home on January 31. She was officially reported missing the following afternoon after failing to attend a virtual church service with a friend.

Claims of stalled cooperation

During an appearance on the Hang Out With Sean Hannity podcast on Tuesday...

A viral online petition demanding the immediate departure of Kylian Mbappe has swept through the Real Madrid fanbase. Millions of supporters have reportedly added their names to the campaign over the past few days, with some estimates suggesting the figure has already surpassed four million.

However, these numbers should be treated with caution. The website hosting the poll lacks verification protocols, making it easy for frustrated individuals to cast multiple votes or for bots to artificially inflate the total.

Holiday backlash

The online uproar is a reflection of fan frustration at the tail end of 2025-26 campaign...