News

New Delhi has strongly condemned a fatal American military intervention off the Omani coast that resulted in the deaths of three Indian maritime workers. The fatalities occurred when U.S. forces attacked a commercial oil tanker accused of breaching Washington’s ongoing blockade on Iranian shipping.

The incident marks the first confirmed casualties since the United States launched its aggressive maritime embargo on April 13.

Escalation in the Gulf

The fatal strike targeted the Settebello, a Palau-registered tanker navigating the Gulf of Oman. According to statements from U.S. Central Command (Centcom), the vessel was actively attempting to transport sanctioned Iranian petroleum.

The highly anticipated World Cup group-stage fixture between Uzbekistan and Colombia is on track to become one of the most highly attended matches of the tournament so far, with preliminary data revealing that more than 74,700 tickets have already been sold.

According to figures published by the football-focused Telegram channel Futbolium, current sales for this specific clash have surpassed every other match at the tournament. This includes the high-profile opening game between hosts Mexico and South Africa which drew 73,373 spectators, as well as the heavy-hitting encounter between Brazil and Morocco which recorded an attendance of 73,719.

The...

Uzbekistan has officially secured the fifth spot in global tourism growth for the first quarter of 2026. According to the latest World Tourism Barometer report, the Central Asian nation experienced a remarkable surge in international visitors that far outpaced the global average.

During the first three months of the year, the number of foreign tourists arriving in the republic increased by 37% compared to the same period last year.

Global Tourism Growth Leaders (Q1 2026)

Uzbekistan shares its impressive growth rate with Palau, placing it among a diverse group of surging global destinations.

Affordability and Expanding Horizons

Iran’s armed forces have once again shut down all maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, severely disrupting one of the world’s most critical energy choke points.

According to a statement published by the state-linked Tasnim News agency, the restriction applies unconditionally to all sea traffic.

“The Strait of Hormuz is declared closed to the movement of any vessels, including oil tankers and commercial ships, and any movement will be restricted,” the military command announced.

Escalation triggered by helicopter crash

The latest flare-up in hostilities between Washington and Tehran was ignited by the...

Uzbekistan national team manager Fabio Cannavaro has secured a place among the top five highest-paid head coaches competing at the 2026 World Cup.

According to data compiled by Finance Football and reported by Championat, the legendary Italian defender commands an annual salary of €4 mln. This puts his earnings on par with Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez.

Cannavaro’s lucrative contract with the Uzbekistan Football Association places him ahead of several of the most prominent names in international football.

The ranking reveals that the Italian out-earns France’s World Cup-winning manager Didier Deschamps, who receives €3.8 mln per year. He also sits...

A star-studded crowd at Madison Square Garden witnessed the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history on Wednesday evening as the New York Knicks overcame a staggering 29-point deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106.

The dramatic victory gives New York a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. The franchise is now just one win away from securing its first national championship since 1973.

Last-second heroics

The feverish Game 4 clash was decided in the final moments. With a mere 1.2 seconds remaining on the clock, OG Anunoby sank a decisive three-pointer that flipped the game on...

Pakistan confirmed its readiness to collaborate with Uzbekistan on a new short film exploring the life of the renowned statesman and military commander Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur.

The announcement was made by Pakistan’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar. He confirmed that the cinematic project will chronicle the historical figure’s early journey and his enduring regional influence.

Chronicling a historical legacy

“The film will tell about Babur’s childhood, his arrival in this region and the foundation of his own empire,” the Pakistani minister highlighted.

To set the project in motion, cultural representatives from both...

Alisher Usmanov, Anton Zlatopolsky, Eduard Iloyan and Olesya Gidrat received the prize for Best Series Producer at TEFI Awards for the television drama Chronicles of the Russian Revolution.

The critically acclaimed programme also secured the title of Best Historical Series while its creator Andrei Konchalovsky was named Best Director.

Filming for the ambitious project took place between the autumn of 2022 and the summer of 2023. Production utilised dedicated film studios as well as on-location shoots across Moscow and St Petersburg. The sheer scale of the historical drama frequently required up to 1,000 cast and crew members to work on...

The FIA has outlined the regulatory changes for Formula 1 power units in 2027, paving the way for a gradual transition to a 60-40 power distribution by 2028. Following intense negotiations, a sensible compromise has been reached that will see a 58% internal combustion and 42% electric split next year.

Rather than jumping straight to the originally proposed 60-40 ratio, logic has prevailed. The fuel flow rate will only increase by 5% in 2027 instead of the requested 13%. The larger increase will be deferred until 2028 when power unit development is strictly frozen.

Revised power output figures

South Korean entertainment mainstays Jung Kyung-ho and Choi Soo-young have called it quits following a 14-year romance. The couple, who were widely regarded as one of the most enduring and beloved celebrity pairings in the industry, had their split confirmed by their respective management agencies on Tuesday.

Jung’s representatives released a brief statement acknowledging that the pair recently parted ways. Meanwhile, Choi’s agency echoed the sentiment by stating that the two stars have chosen to remain good colleagues moving forward.

A decade in spotlight

The actor and the singer first crossed paths at a church gathering in...

Taiwan’s military fired U.S.-made HIMARS rocket systems during a major live-fire exercise on Wednesday, simulating strikes against an invading Chinese force and showcasing the island’s growing defense capabilities.

The drill took place near the central city of Taichung on Taiwan’s west coast, the area considered most vulnerable to a potential amphibious assault from China. It marked the first time Taiwan has used the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) in exercises facing the Taiwan Strait.

Military officials said the exercise demonstrated the system’s “shoot-and-scoot” capability, allowing launchers to fire rockets and quickly relocate to avoid enemy counterattacks. The...

A sign bearing the message «Kill a Tourist» has sparked controversy in Spain as anti-tourism sentiment continues to grow ahead of planned protests in several holiday destinations.

The slogan was reportedly spotted in Mallorca, one of Spain’s most popular tourist islands, where activists are preparing new demonstrations against mass tourism. Protest organizers argue that soaring visitor numbers are worsening housing shortages, driving up living costs and putting pressure on local infrastructure.

The latest incident comes amid a broader anti-tourism movement that has spread across the Balearic and Canary Islands, as well as cities including Barcelona and Malaga. Residents...

A growing backlash is emerging ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as supporters complain about soaring costs associated with attending the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Fans and supporters’ groups have criticised FIFA’s ticketing system, which uses demand-based pricing that can significantly increase prices for high-profile matches. Tickets for some games, including the final, have reached thousands of dollars, sparking concerns that ordinary supporters are being priced out.

The cost of attending the tournament extends beyond match tickets. Supporters face expensive flights, accommodation and local transport across the vast host region, making the...

President Donald Trump to stop using popular characters from Japanese franchises in his social media posts, arguing that the content is being used without permission and in inappropriate political contexts.

More than 20,000 people have signed an online petition titled «Protect Japanese Manga,» which criticizes the use of characters and imagery from series including Naruto, Dragon Ball, and Yu-Gi-Oh! in content shared by Trump and official White House accounts. The campaign gained renewed attention after Trump posted an image portraying himself as Naruto Uzumaki, the protagonist of the globally popular manga series.

The petition was originally launched earlier...

Iran fired missiles at a military base in Jordan hosting U.S. forces on Wednesday, escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington after American airstrikes targeted Iranian military sites near the Strait of Hormuz. Jordanian air defences intercepted several incoming missiles, and authorities reported no casualties.

The attack came a day after the United States struck Iranian air defense systems, radar installations, and command facilities, which Washington described as a response to recent threats against U.S. forces and commercial shipping in the region.

Iran said the missile launch targeted the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, a facility used by...

The Uzbekistan national football team faced an unexpectedly hostile reception upon their arrival in the United States, raising fresh concerns over the strict border protocols being enforced ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Managed by Italy’s legendary World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro, the squad touched down in New York to prepare for a warm-up friendly match against the Netherlands. However, their arrival was quickly overshadowed by severe security measures that left the team feeling singled out by U.S. customs officials.

According to Cannavaro, the entire travelling contingent was subjected to a highly unusual and intense level of scrutiny at...

Kazakhstan is fully prepared to facilitate a significant increase in the transit of Russian natural gas to Uzbekistan, potentially raising the annual volume to 11 bn cubic metres.

According to the Russian state news agency TASS, senior Kazakh Energy Ministry official Erlan Akkenzhenov confirmed that his country has the necessary capacity to handle the increased flow.

“We have such an opportunity, it all depends on the transport infrastructure,” Akkenzhenov stated. “Everything is ready on the Kazakh side. Now, as far as I know, the Russian side is holding independent negotiations with Uzbekistan.”

The potential...

The New York Knicks maintain a 2-1 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, but their recent defeat in Game 3 has caused the secondary ticket market to crash.

As the prospect of the Knicks securing their first championship in over half a century on home soil this Wednesday vanished, demand for Game 4 tickets sharply declined.

Plummeting entry prices

Earlier in the week, the cheapest available ticket to enter the New York arena had peaked at roughly $13,500. By Monday the entry price sat at $8,600, but following the Spurs’ crucial victory it...

South African police initiated a major manhunt following a mass shooting that left 12 people dead and several others injured at an informal settlement in Gauteng.

The attack occurred at the Jumpers Informal Settlement in Cleveland on Tuesday 9 June. Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) responded to reports of an active shooting at approximately 23:10 local time.

Preliminary investigations indicate that a group of more than 10 suspects arrived near a local petrol station in a white Toyota Quantum minibus.

The armed men allegedly entered the informal settlement using both main entrances. According to police reports...

NASA has unveiled the four-man crew tasked with executing the Artemis III mission. Rather than heading to the moon, the late 2027 flight will serve as a complex dress rehearsal in low-Earth orbit to test competing lunar hardware developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced the roster during a special presentation in Houston on Tuesday. The high-profile crew blends extensive experience with fresh faces and international collaboration.

The Artemis III Crew:

American military forces are bracing for further escalation in the Middle East after an Iranian unmanned aerial vehicle struck a U.S. Army Apache helicopter. The mid-air collision in the Strait of Hormuz forced the aircraft down, though a pioneering autonomous rescue mission ensured both pilots survived, Reuters reports.

In the immediate aftermath of the crash, President Donald Trump publicly insisted that a retaliatory strike against Tehran is absolutely necessary. The incident arrives on the heels of a highly volatile weekend marked by direct military exchanges between Israel and Iran.

Autonomous ocean rescue

The destroyed Apache was conducting routine...

At least 13 people have lost their lives following a series of Pakistani military airstrikes across three provinces in Afghanistan, Reuters reports. The aerial bombardment, which reportedly killed 11 children, threatens to reignite a deadly cross-border conflict that has already claimed hundreds of lives this year.

Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the attacks on Wednesday. He stated that the Pakistani military violated Afghan airspace to bomb civilian residences across the provinces of Kunar, Khost and Paktika.

Alongside the 13 confirmed fatalities, Mujahid reported that at least 14 other individuals sustained injuries during the strikes. According to the spokesperson...

A man accused of perpetrating one of Australia’s deadliest mass shootings has been hit with 19 additional criminal charges, Reuters reports. The horrific attack at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach last December claimed the lives of 15 people and was reportedly inspired by the Islamic State terror group.

Naveed Akram, 24, was initially hit with 59 charges in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. During a court appearance in Sydney on Wednesday, his defence lawyer Leonie Gittani confirmed that authorities had filed a further 19 offences against her client.

According to official court records, the newly filed allegations include:

Severe anti-immigration riots have swept through Belfast, resulting in widespread property damage and the deployment of armoured police units. The violent street protests erupted on Tuesday in direct response to a horrific stabbing in the north of the city that left a man fighting for his life, Reuters reports.

Tensions boiled over when groups of masked youths began gathering at various flashpoints across the Northern Irish capital. The demonstrations rapidly deteriorated into aggressive rioting, with crowds targeting local infrastructure and residential properties.

In east Belfast, rioters set a public bus on fire and initiated a campaign of vandalism. Media...