News

Pop music icon Britney Spears will serve a much-reduced probation period after her legal team successfully downgraded a recent driving under the influence (DUI) charge, Reuters reports.

In a brief session at Ventura County Superior Court on Monday, lawyers acting for the 44-year-old entered a guilty plea to a lesser count of reckless driving.

Because the charge is classified as a misdemeanour under U.S. law, the singer was not obliged to attend the hearing in person.

The March incident

The legal saga stems from a dramatic traffic stop earlier this spring. In March, California Highway Patrol officers...

A catastrophic blast at a fireworks manufacturing site in China’s Hunan province has claimed the lives of 21 people and left a further 61 injured, Reuters reports.

The explosion tore through the Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company in Liuyang on Monday at approximately 16:40 local time. Liuyang is situated within the jurisdiction of the provincial capital Changsha and is widely recognised as a major global hub for pyrotechnics production.

Coordinated rescue efforts

Following the disaster, emergency services launched a massive recovery operation. According to state media, authorities deployed five rescue teams comprising nearly 500 responders alongside three...

A highly anticipated concert by Uzbek singer Yulduz Usmanova has been officially cancelled by a Brooklyn theatre following a wave of political protests and accusations of antisemitism.

The controversy ignited when a video circulated online showing Usmanova making what critics described as harsh and derogatory remarks about Jewish people.

The footage prompted immediate action from New York State Assemblyman Michael Novakhov who, alongside more than 40 other lawmakers, submitted a formal request to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding the cancellation of the singer’s visa.

Refusal to apologise

Ahead of the performance scheduled for May 9 at the...

The first Monday in May has once again turned the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art into a breathtaking gallery space. Celebrating the launch of the newest Costume Institute exhibition, the 2026 Met Gala challenged its illustrious guest list with a delightfully ambitious directive: “Fashion is Art”. As anticipated, the world’s most photographed figures fully embraced the concept, blurring the boundaries between traditional tailoring and fine art.

A canvas on the carpet

The carpet itself served as a blank canvas for a spectacular array of bespoke creations. Red carpet host Emma Chamberlain set a vibrant tone early in...

Diplomats sent to the UK by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are living quietly in west London, where neighbours say they spend their free time playing basketball and ordering takeaway curries.

Residents near the North Korean embassy in Ealing describe the staff as polite but reserved, rarely engaging in conversation beyond a greeting. The diplomats are most often seen when collecting food deliveries or visiting a nearby curry shop.

«They’re generally very nice people, they don’t cause trouble,» one neighbour said, adding that interaction is limited.

Behind the high walls of the embassy...

GameStop has launched a takeover bid worth about $55.5 bn to acquire eBay, aiming to transform the platform into a major rival to Amazon.

The video game retailer said it is offering $125 per share in a mix of stock and cash, representing a 46% premium over eBay’s average share price since it began building a stake earlier this year.

GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen said the company sees significant untapped potential in eBay. «eBay should be worth, and will be worth, a lot more money,» he told The Wall Street Journal, adding he envisions turning the platform into...

A 47-year-old man has been charged with the murder of five-year-old Indigenous girl Kumanjayi Little Baby, in a case that has triggered violent unrest in Alice Springs.

Police said the suspect, Jefferson Lewis, was taken into custody after being beaten unconscious by local residents. He faces a murder charge along with two additional undisclosed offences.

The child’s death has sparked protests and riots across the central Australian town, with hundreds gathering outside the local hospital where the suspect was treated. Clashes resulted in injuries to police officers and medical staff, while emergency vehicles were damaged.

Authorities said the...

King Charles III and Queen Camilla made a high-profile state visit to the White House on 28 April 2026, as both the United Kingdom and the United States navigate a period of political and global uncertainty.

The visit, hosted by Donald Trump, brought together senior political figures, business leaders and media personalities, highlighting the enduring symbolism of the «special relationship» between the two nations despite mounting geopolitical tensions.

Diplomacy amid crisis

The meeting took place against the backdrop of ongoing conflicts and economic instability, including tensions in the Middle East and concerns over global energy supplies. Analysts...

Authorities in London said they will not remove a newly installed statue by elusive street artist Banksy, welcoming the work as a striking addition to the capital’s public art scene.

The sculpture, which appeared near The Mall in central London, shows a suited man stepping off a plinth while a flag billows across his face, obscuring his vision. One foot hangs in mid-air, suggesting imminent fall, in a dramatic pose that echoes nearby historic monuments.

The piece was first spotted on Wednesday in an area known for its royal landmarks and statues of figures such as Florence Nightingale...

Harry Styles is reportedly being advised by his inner circle to sign a prenuptial agreement following his engagement to Zoe Kravitz, after he spent an estimated $1 mln on her engagement ring.

Lavish proposal sparks caution

The couple’s engagement, confirmed in April 2026, has drawn widespread attention, particularly for the oval-cut diamond ring. While the gesture has been seen as a sign of commitment, sources say it has also prompted friends and advisers to raise concerns about financial protection, given the relationship’s rapid progression.

Wealth gap drives prenup discussions

Styles, whose net worth is estimated at...

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on 7 May, in a one-on-one meeting that notably excludes Vice President JD Vance.

According to Vatican sources, Rubio will also hold talks with Pietro Parolin. The meeting comes nearly a year after Rubio and Vance jointly attended the pope’s inaugural Mass in 2025 and were received together in a private audience.

Diplomatic signal in Vance’s absence

Vance’s absence from this year’s meeting has drawn attention in Washington, with no official explanation provided. The development follows recent tensions between the vice...

Iran has executed a man convicted over a killing during the 2022 protests, despite mounting criticism from international organisations and rights groups who say the case was marred by torture and flawed evidence.

Contested case of protester’s execution

Mehrab Abdollahzadeh, 29, was put to death after being found guilty of killing a member of the Basij militia during the nationwide «Woman, Life, Freedom» protests that followed the death of Mahsa Amini. Activists argue Abdollahzadeh was forced into a confession under torture and point to video footage they say places him away from the scene. His conviction was...

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a new initiative, dubbed «Project Freedom,» aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping amid heightened tensions with Iran. The move is framed as a humanitarian effort but carries significant military and geopolitical implications.

Humanitarian framing meets military deployment

Trump described the operation as support for «neutral and innocent» nations affected by disruptions to global trade. The plan reportedly involves deploying guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft, and around 15,000 U.S. personnel to secure shipping routes. However, Tehran has criticised the initiative as a violation of the fragile ceasefire...

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has become the first non-European leader to attend a summit of the European Political Community, as discussions about closer ties between Canada and Europe gain momentum.

Carney arrived in Yerevan on Sunday ahead of the gathering of around 45 leaders, where he met Roberta Metsola. The forum, launched by Emmanuel Macron following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, aims to strengthen political coordination across the continent and beyond.

Growing geopolitical pressure

The summit comes amid rising tensions with the United States under Donald Trump, whose recent policies, including trade tariffs on European countries and...

Five countries have withdrawn from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in protest against Israel’s participation amid the ongoing Gaza conflict, exposing deep political divisions within the event.

Spain’s high-profile withdrawal reverberates

Spain, one of Eurovision’s «Big Five» nations with automatic qualification for the final, announced its exit after public broadcaster RTVE voted against taking part if Israel remains. RTVE president Jose Pablo Lopez said the decision reflects a «collective responsibility,» arguing the contest cannot be viewed as apolitical and accusing Israel of using the platform for political visibility. Spain’s withdrawal is seen as particularly significant due to...

LEGO has announced its latest addition to the Star Wars lineup with a brand new Darth Vader buildable figure. The detailed dark side model will retail for $100 when it hits store shelves this summer.

Model features and design

Comprising 1,028 individual pieces, the completed Sith Lord boasts a range of articulated elements for dynamic display options.
Key features of the new set include:

Uzbekistan Airports has launched an online auction to find a private operator for several parking facilities at Tashkent International Airport. The starting bid for the annual lease agreement has been set at 48.7 bn soums ($4 mln).

The commercial offering covers six specific car parks: P1, P3, P4, P5, P7 and P8. Combined, these zones span an area of more than 40,000 square metres and provide approximately 1,500 individual parking bays. The successful bidder will be awarded a three-year management contract.

Auction details and fees

The official tender is scheduled to take place on May 19 this year. Under...

Uzbekistan plans to increase its share of green energy from 30% to 54% by 2030. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced the ambitious target during the Asian Development Bank Board of Governors meeting.

The head of state revealed that the country has already launched 5,600 megawatts of alternative energy capacity in collaboration with international partners.

Mirziyoyev highlighted the region’s massive renewable energy potential and praised the bank for backing a new green energy corridor linking Central Asia to Europe. Work on this major export project is scheduled to begin shortly.

This initiative builds upon a joint venture signed last summer...

Uzbekistan’s economy expanded by a robust 8.7% in the first quarter of 2026 despite ongoing global financial instability.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev revealed the latest economic figures during his address to the Asian Development Bank Board of Governors in Samarkand. He stressed that improving the quality of life for citizens remains the core focus of ongoing state reforms.

These initiatives have successfully increased the incomes of 8.5 mln vulnerable citizens. Consequently, the national poverty rate has dropped dramatically from roughly 35% down to just 5.8%.

The president noted that over the past decade Uzbekistan has ranked among the top...

A fatal hantavirus outbreak has struck the MV Hondius cruise liner off the coast of Cape Verde, leaving three people dead and a further three severely unwell, Reuters reports.

Carrying 150 passengers, the Dutch-operated vessel set sail from Argentina three weeks ago and visited Antarctica before heading towards West Africa.

Authorities in the Netherlands confirmed two of the fatalities are Dutch citizens. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) verified at least one hantavirus case via laboratory testing. A separate patient, reportedly a British national, is currently undergoing intensive care in South Africa.

Local officials in Cape Verde have refused...

Uzbekistan’s gas and oil production fell sharply in the first quarter of 2026, according to the National Statistics Committee.

Gas output reached 9.6 bn cubic metres between January and March. This is down from 11.3 bn cubic metres during the same period last year.

Oil production dropped to 157,300 tonnes, down from 179,100 tonnes in Q1 2024. This marks the third consecutive year of declining oil extraction for the country.

Despite the drop in raw materials, domestic refined fuel production increased. Petrol output rose to 313,200 tonnes and diesel jumped to 280,900 tonnes over the past year.

Falling domestic...

Two decades after Miranda Priestly first terrified assistants on the big screen, the highly anticipated return to the offices of Runway magazine has proved an irresistible draw for cinema-goers.

Disney’s The Devil Wears Prada 2 has smashed industry forecasts, securing a spectacular $233.6 mln in global ticket sales during its opening weekend, Variety reports. The massive turnout proves that the appetite for high-stakes fashion drama is stronger than ever.

Shattering original records

In North America alone, the fashion-forward sequel strutted away with $77 mln. This phenomenal debut vastly outshines the $27.5 mln domestic launch of the 2006 original...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev hosted a high-level delegation from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) led by its president Masato Kanda in Samarkand. The primary focus of the meeting was the continued expansion of full-scale cooperation between the Central Asian republic and the prominent financial institution.

During the talks, Kanda expressed his sincere gratitude to the Uzbek government for its invaluable assistance in hosting the 59th annual meeting of the bank’s Board of Governors.

Kanda highlighted the exceptional level of mutual engagement between the two parties, noting that over the course of 30 years the ADB has evolved into a...

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is set to channel $70 bn into the development of transnational energy grids and digital infrastructure across the Asia-Pacific region by 2035.

Masato Kanda, the president of the bank, unveiled these ambitious plans during a press conference at the organisation’s annual meeting in Samarkand. According to Kanda, widespread access to modern energy and digital technologies will serve as the primary catalyst for regional growth.

Merging national power systems and digital networks is expected to drastically cut operational costs, enhance infrastructure resilience and provide millions of citizens with vital electricity and internet connectivity.

A two-pronged...