News

Lionel Messi reached a landmark 900 career goals on Wednesday, becoming only the second player in elite men’s football to achieve the feat after Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 38-year-old Argentine World Cup winner scored with a left-footed strike in Inter Miami’s 1-1 draw with Nashville SC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Messi’s milestone came 21 years after his first senior goal for Barcelona at age 17 in 2005.

Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano described Messi’s tally as «insane».

«I’ve been lucky enough to see most, or many, of the goals he’s scored, much closer than you all...

The Philippines have earned a spot at the 2027 Women’s World Cup following a 2-0 victory over Uzbekistan in a Women’s Asian Cup play-in match on the Gold Coast, ESPN reports.

Angela Beard was a standout performer as the two quarterfinal losers from the Asian Cup clashed for a World Cup qualifying spot in Brazil next year.

Under former A-League Women coach Mark Torcaso, the Filipinas controlled the game and, after a first half of near misses, delivered a rapid double in the second half.

Beard narrowly missed twice in the opening 45 minutes, including a close-range tap-in, before...

Uzbekistan will select its first cosmonaut through an open contest, available to any citizen who meets the eligibility requirements.

This was announced by Muhiddin Ibragimov, deputy director of the agency «Uzbekcosmos,» during a roundtable with agency officials and deputies of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, according to a Kursiv Uzbekistan correspondent. Candidates will be evaluated on age, height, weight and education, and selection will focus on technological expertise. Participants must also speak at least two languages.

«If the mission is planned for the International Space Station, knowledge of Russian and English is mandatory. For...

Disney has officially announced release dates for two highly anticipated sequels, «Incredibles 3» and «Lilo & Stitch 2,» set for summer 2028, Variety reports.

During Wednesday’s shareholder call, incoming Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro revealed that the live-action «Lilo & Stitch» sequel will premiere on May 26, followed by the third installment of «The Incredibles» on June 16.

Incredibles 3

The upcoming «Incredibles» film will be directed by Peter Sohn, known for «Elemental,» marking the first time the series will continue without franchise creator Brad Bird directing. Bird will, however, remain involved as a screenwriter and producer. Returning voice...

The official turnover of crypto assets in Uzbekistan at the end of 2025 amounted to more than $2 bn. This was reported on March 18 by the First Deputy Director of the National Agency for Advanced Projects (NAPP) Vyacheslav Pak during a press conference, in response to a question from Kursiv Uzbekistan. For comparison, in 2023 this figure was at the level of $1 bn, indicating a twofold growth of the legal market.

«By the end of 2025, officially it [crypto asset turnover] is more than $2 bn,» he said.

Control over the «grey...

Afghanistan has agreed to suspend military operations against Pakistan following mediation efforts by Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, Afghan officials said according to RBC.

Government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid announced in a post on X that the truce will run from the night of March 19 until midnight on March 24. Pakistan had earlier confirmed a similar pause in hostilities, with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar saying the decision was taken at the request of the same mediators.

The ceasefire coincides with Eid al-Fitr, one of the most important Islamic celebrations marking the end of Ramadan, observed this year from the...

A powerful spyware tool known as «Darksword» has been discovered targeting Apple iPhones through compromised websites in Ukraine, Reuters reports.

The malware was analysed by Google, Lookout and iVerify, marking the second major iPhone exploit identified this month. Experts say it reflects a growing market for advanced hacking tools capable of stealing sensitive data and cryptocurrency assets.

Google linked the spyware to campaigns in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Malaysia and Ukraine, with some activity tied to Turkish firm PARS Defense.

The attacks targeted iPhones running older iOS versions released in 2025. While Apple has patched the vulnerabilities, researchers estimate that up...

For years, Timothee Chalamet was the internet’s undisputed prince of alternative Hollywood. Bursting onto the scene with a waifish charm and a head of unruly curls, he was quickly dubbed a cinematic “twink” and the ultimate “ballet kid”.

His early red carpet appearances reflected this youthful, boundary-pushing energy. He famously shunned traditional tuxedos in favour of floral prints, sequinned Louis Vuitton harnesses and bare chests underneath Haider Ackermann tailoring. He was the poster boy for soft masculinity, redefining what a young leading man could look like on a global press tour.

Wardrobe transition

However, as Chalamet has transitioned into...

Tom Holland is back in the Spider-Man suit in Disney and Sony’s latest MCU adventure, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, with the film set to premiere in cinemas on July 31.

This will be Holland’s first solo Spider-Man movie since the 2021 hit Spider-Man: No Way Home, which grossed over $1.9 bn worldwide and introduced Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s versions of the web-slinger into the MCU. Brand New Day resets Spider-Man’s world while giving Holland a new red-and-blue suit for his fourth standalone film and seventh overall Marvel appearance.

At the end of No Way Home, Peter Parker made...

Uzbekistan delivered a humanitarian aid shipment to Afghanistan on March 18, 2026, in a gesture marking Eid al-Fitr.

The assistance, totalling more than 290 tonnes, included flour, rice, wheat, vegetable oil, instant food, pasta, confectionery and other essential goods. The initiative was aimed at supporting the Afghan population while reinforcing neighbourly relations and long-standing ties between the two countries.

The official handover ceremony took place in the border city of Hairatan.

During the event, local officials including Balkh Province Deputy Governor Mawlawi Abu Idris and representatives of the regional foreign ministry office expressed appreciation to Shavkat Mirziyoyev for...

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) anticipates that global air passenger demand will more than double by 2050. According to the organisation’s newly released Long-Term Demand Projections, a midrange scenario forecasts passenger demand reaching 20.8 trln revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) by mid-century.

This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1% from the 9 trln RPKs recorded in 2024. Alternative models suggest demand could reach up to 21.9 trln RPKs under a high-growth scenario or 19.5 trln RPKs in a lower-growth forecast.

These varying projections rely on several factors, including long-term economic expansion, population shifts, aviation fuel costs, supply-side...

A meteor streaking across Ohio caused a powerful boom that rattled residents as far as Pennsylvania on Tuesday morning, Nasa confirmed.

The space rock entered the atmosphere around 9 a.m. local time, generating a sonic boom that was reported across northern Ohio, Cleveland, and as far east as Pittsburgh and parts of New York state.

Bill Cook, a Nasa spokesperson, told News5 Cleveland that the meteor was first seen near Medina.

«I woke up this morning, and the sky fell, so I feel like Chicken Little right now,» he joked.

Nasa’s meteoroid office estimated...

Confederation of African Football has declared Morocco winners of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after upholding an appeal that overturned Senegal’s victory in the final.

Senegal were judged to have forfeited the match, played in Rabat on January 18, after walking off the pitch in protest at a late penalty decision. Although they returned 14 minutes later and went on to win 1-0 in extra time through Pape Gueye, CAF’s Appeal Board has now awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory.

The ruling adds to the controversy surrounding the final, which was marred by disorder on and off the pitch...

Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the Islamic Civilisation Centre in Tashkent, a landmark complex set to become one of the world’s largest hubs dedicated to Islamic history and culture.

Located within the Hazrati Imam Complex, the centre spans 10 hectares. The three-storey building measures 161 metres in length and 118 metres in width, with a dome rising to 65 metres. Covering more than 42,000 square metres, it is expected to be recognised by the Guinness World Records.

The architecture blends traditional and historic design elements. Entrances are positioned on all four sides, while arches are decorated with Quranic verses and...

Uzbekistan is demonstrating a significant acceleration in economic growth according to the March 2026 Macroeconomic Review published by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB). Following a solid performance in recent years, the nation’s GDP increased by 7.7% in 2025 which marks a notable rise from the 6.7% growth recorded the year before.

This robust economic expansion was primarily supported by active domestic demand and a steady influx of investments. The sectors experiencing the most dynamic development were trade, services and construction.

The positive momentum has firmly carried over into the new year. In January 2026 economic activity remained high due...

Tom Holland is back as Spider-Man in an early glimpse of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, set to arrive in cinemas on July 31 from Sony Pictures. The actor confirmed on Instagram that the film’s full trailer will be released on Wednesday, with brief teaser clips rolling out across fan social media accounts worldwide in the lead-up.

The initial footage shows Spider-Man swinging between buildings as he rescues someone, accompanied by a voice saying «rebirth». The darker, slow-motion tone marks a stylistic shift from Holland’s earlier outings, drawing comparisons to the work of Zack Snyder.

The film also represents a...

Denis Villeneuve joked that the unveiling of Dune: Part Three felt more like a premiere than a trailer launch as he introduced the film’s cast at a packed AMC theatre in Los Angeles just after the Oscars.

Returning stars Zendaya and Javier Bardem were joined by newcomers Anya Taylor-Joy and Robert Pattinson to preview the final chapter of the sci-fi trilogy. Timothee Chalamet, who plays Paul Atreides, appeared via video message rather than attending in person.

In his message, Chalamet praised Villeneuve as a «master of cinema» and thanked him for bringing the trilogy to life, calling the...

According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the train will operate from March 20 to 25, linking Almaty, Turkistan, Samarkand, Dushanbe and Tashkent before returning to Almaty.

The маршрут is designed to give travellers a compact journey through some of the region’s most important cultural and historical centers. Stops include Turkistan, a spiritual hub of the Turkic world, and Samarkand, one of the most iconic cities of Islamic civilization.

The program will feature guided excursions, cultural events and visits to heritage sites, offering passengers an immersive experience across Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

The initiative aims to boost...

Large parts of Cuba were left without electricity on Tuesday following a major blackout, the third in four months, highlighting the island’s worsening energy shortages and economic strain.

Authorities said power was gradually being restored to hospitals and parts of the country, but warned the fragile grid could fail again. Cuba’s aging electricity system has deteriorated in recent years, leading to frequent outages and large-scale disruptions.

The government has blamed the crisis on U.S. pressure, including warnings from Donald Trump about tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba. Reduced fuel imports, including disruptions from Venezuela, have further strained the island’s...

Japan’s Metaplanet to invest in Bitcoin ecosystem

Tokyo-based investment firm Metaplanet plans to invest roughly 4 bn yen (about $26 mln) into Bitcoin-related infrastructure and startups in Japan.

The company said it will launch a dedicated venture arm targeting sectors such as lending, payments, custody, stablecoins and derivatives. It has also signed a preliminary deal to invest up to 400 mln yen in JPYC, a regulated yen-backed stablecoin issuer.

A U.S. subsidiary based in Miami will focus on Bitcoin capital markets and cross-border investment flows between Asia and Western markets.

South Korea orders partial...

Global digital operator VEON Ltd. has announced a series of senior leadership appointments aimed at accelerating its digital transformation and strengthening operations across key markets.

As part of the changes, Yevgeniy Nastradin will become Chief Executive Officer of Beeline Uzbekistan, subject to regulatory approvals. He brings over a decade of experience within VEON and most recently led Beeline Kazakhstan, where he oversaw strong growth and digital expansion.

Current CEO Andrey Pyatakhin, who has headed Beeline Uzbekistan since October 2024, will transition to the role of Chief Operating Officer. The move is intended to enhance operational efficiency while supporting...

The global economy continues to expand in early 2026, driven largely by strong performance in Asian countries, according to the latest macroeconomic review by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB).

Global GDP grew by 3.3% in 2025, supported by emerging markets, particularly in Asia. China and India remained key growth engines, while economic activity in the eurozone showed signs of recovery. At the same time, the US economy began to slow, with growth expected to ease further in 2026.

Inflation in the U.S. and eurozone declined in 2025, prompting central banks to gradually ease monetary policy. However, this trend...

The head of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, has resigned in protest over the ongoing conflict with Iran, triggering sharp divisions within political circles and among supporters of President Donald Trump.

Kent announced his resignation in a letter published Tuesday, saying he could not «in good conscience» support the war. He argued that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States and warned that the country risked repeating past military mistakes in the Middle East.
Appointed by Trump in early 2025, Kent had been a close political ally of the president, making his departure...

Veteran character actor Matt Clark, best known for his roles in classic Hollywood Westerns, has died at the age of 89.

Clark passed away on Sunday in Austin, Texas, his daughter, producer Amiee Clark, confirmed. He had suffered a broken back several months prior.

Over a career spanning more than five decades, Clark became a familiar face in Western films, appearing in titles such as The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean, The Cowboys, and The Outlaw Josey Wales. He also featured in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, Hearts of the West, and numerous other films...