News

The Tamil cinema industry is mourning the loss of legendary actor, director and screenwriter K. Bhagyaraj who passed away on Saturday June 27, 2026. Widely celebrated for his masterful screenplays and his ability to craft deeply relatable characters, the 73-year-old auteur succumbed to a massive heart attack.

According to sources he was rushed to Apollo Hospital in Chennai but extensive resuscitation efforts proved unsuccessful. He is survived by his wife Poornima Bhagyaraj alongside their children Shanthanu and Saranya.

A Protege who became a master

Hailing from Vellakoil in the Tiruppur district Bhagyaraj began his cinematic journey as an...

Uzbekistan plans to reduce its shadow economy by half and push the share of cashless payments to 75% by 2030. These targets were presented to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during a briefing focused on combating the country’s unregulated economic sectors.

According to the Central Bank the republic is already making steady progress. By early May of this year the proportion of cashless transactions had risen to 47% compared to 43% during the same period last year. Over the past two years the country’s unobserved economy has also shrunk from 35% down to 23%.

Despite these recent improvements the...

Uzbekistan national team manager Fabio Cannavaro confirmed his squad will push hard for a victory against the Democratic Republic of Congo in their final World Cup group stage fixture.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference the Italian coach explained that the upcoming clash would present a completely different challenge compared to their earlier encounters against top-tier nations. Uzbekistan currently shares Group K with footballing heavyweights Colombia and Portugal who dominate the top two spots.

“Tomorrow’s match will be different because we have already played with two opponents of the highest level. The last game also...

920 people are confirmed dead and over 3,360 have been injured following the devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday. With at least 172 individuals still believed to be trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings the nation is facing a desperate race against time.

The second of the two tremors registered at a magnitude of 7.5 making it the most powerful earthquake to hit the South American country in a century. The coastal state of La Guaira, home to the nation’s primary international airport, suffered the most catastrophic damage alongside heavy impacts in the capital Caracas...

Abdukodir Khusanov has been recognised as one of the most financially successful athletes at the current World Cup. According to a new ranking published by Forbes Russia the 22-year-old Uzbekistan international secured the 38th position on a comprehensive list detailing the tournament’s 48 highest-paid players.

The financial breakdown reveals that Khusanov earns an impressive $5 mln annually from his on-field activities. Furthermore his growing commercial appeal generates an additional $1.2 mln per year off the pitch.

His financial portfolio is bolstered by significant commercial partnerships and entrepreneurial ventures. The young athlete currently holds a major sponsorship deal with sportswear...

China’s energy and chemicals giant Sinopec has secured a key engineering role in a major sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) project in Uzbekistan valued at approximately $6.1 bn.

The company will participate in the development of the large-scale SAF facility being advanced by Allied Green Ammonia. The project aims to produce sustainable aviation fuel and other low-carbon products using renewable energy, supporting global efforts to reduce emissions in the aviation sector.

The planned complex is expected to become one of the largest green fuel projects in Central Asia and forms part of Uzbekistan’s broader strategy to attract foreign investment...

A four-year project funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has helped improve education, skills development and economic opportunities for Afghan citizens living in Uzbekistan’s Surkhandarya region.

The initiative, launched in 2021, focused on empowering Afghan women and youth through vocational training, language courses and professional education. Hundreds of participants gained new qualifications and practical skills aimed at improving employment prospects and supporting long-term economic inclusion.

According to project organisers, the programme also strengthened regional cooperation and demonstrated Uzbekistan’s role as a platform for supporting Afghanistan’s human development. Graduates of the...

The organisers of the Golden Globe Awards have announced plans to hold a special ceremony in Uzbekistan, marking a significant milestone for the country’s growing international profile in culture and entertainment.

According to reports, the event will bring together representatives of the global film and television industry, offering Uzbekistan a unique opportunity to showcase its cultural heritage, tourism potential and modern infrastructure to an international audience.

Officials say the initiative reflects increasing international interest in Central Asia and highlights Uzbekistan’s efforts to position itself as a destination for major global events. The ceremony is expected to attract filmmakers...

Uzbekistan’s historic qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is more than a sporting achievement — it is a symbol of the country’s growing international profile and the peaceful development of Central Asia, according to a new analysis published by The Conversation.

The article argues that Uzbekistan’s first-ever appearance at football’s biggest tournament reflects years of investment in youth development, sports infrastructure and national reforms. The national team’s success has generated pride across the country and attracted attention from football fans worldwide.

Researchers note that Uzbekistan’s rise comes amid a period of increasing regional cooperation in Central Asia...

Colombia and Portugal will face off in a highly anticipated FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K clash on 28 June, with top spot in the group potentially on the line.

Both teams enter the match in strong form. Portugal opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against DR Congo before producing a dominant 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan. Colombia, meanwhile, secured back-to-back wins, defeating Uzbekistan 3-1 and edging DR Congo 1-0.

The encounter is expected to be one of the most competitive matches of the group stage. Portugal will rely on their attacking quality and tournament experience, while Colombia...

DR Congo and Uzbekistan will meet in a crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K match on 28 June, with both sides still fighting for a place in the knockout stage.

Neither team has managed a victory so far in the tournament. DR Congo opened their campaign with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Portugal before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia. Uzbekistan, meanwhile, lost 3-1 to Colombia and endured a difficult 5-0 defeat against Portugal.

Football analysts see the match as one of the most evenly balanced fixtures of the group stage. DR Congo enter the game as slight...

Police in India have arrested eight people over the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The case was filed after a complaint by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and followed preliminary findings by a Special Investigation Team.

Six of the accused are reportedly temple employees involved in counting cash offerings. Investigators said CCTV footage allegedly showed the accused stealing money from donation collections.

The suspects have been booked under charges including theft, criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal conspiracy. The case has drawn political attention, with opposition figures criticising the handling...

The group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is approaching its conclusion, and several nations have already seen their tournament dreams come to an end. With the expanded 48-team format allowing the top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed sides to progress, competition has been fierce across North America.

Among the first teams eliminated were Haiti, Turkey and Tunisia, all of whom failed to collect enough points from their opening matches to remain in contention for the Round of 32. Haiti became the tournament’s first officially eliminated nation after defeats to Scotland and...

Uzbekistan is preparing to reduce or entirely abolish customs duties on a wide range of American industrial and agricultural goods. The trade shift was announced following a recent official visit to Tashkent by U.S. Ambassador Jamieson Greer.

In response to the proposed tariff reductions Washington is prepared to evaluate more favourable market conditions for goods exported from Uzbekistan. Both nations intend to fast-track their negotiations to finalise a new mutual trade and investment agreement. Officials anticipate that these collaborative measures will significantly strengthen economic ties and boost the overall volume of bilateral trade.

The expanding partnership extends beyond basic...

The Supreme Court has finalised the acquittal of Squid Game star O Yeong-su regarding sexual harassment charges dating back to 2017. Friday’s ruling definitively brings an end to a high-profile legal dispute that has spanned more than three years since the 82-year-old actor’s initial indictment.

Judicial officials confirmed that the top court dismissed the prosecution’s final appeal and opted to uphold the lower court’s decision to clear the veteran actor of all sexual assault charges.

A protracted legal battle

O was originally indicted without physical detention in 2022. The allegations stemmed from an incident during a regional theatre...

A Saudi doctor has been handed a life sentence for murdering six people and injuring hundreds more after deliberately driving a rented vehicle into a bustling Christmas market in Germany.

The devastating attack took place in the eastern city of Magdeburg just days before Christmas in 2024. The defendant, named under German privacy laws as Taleb A., rammed a rented BMW into a crowd of festive shoppers. Prosecutors revealed that the deadly rampage lasted exactly one minute and four seconds but had been meticulously planned over a period of several weeks.

The horrific incident claimed the lives of a...

Uzbekistan has established the rules for conducting repurchase agreement (REPO) transactions involving securities. The newly approved regulatory document governing these financial operations were registered by the Ministry of Justice of the republic.

A REPO transaction essentially functions as a short-term loan. It involves the initial sale of shares, bonds or other financial securities with a binding obligation for the seller to buy them back at a pre-agreed price at a later date.

Under the new national guidelines these specific deals will be executed exclusively through the electronic platforms of the official stock exchange and over-the-counter trade organisers. The digital...

Uzbekistan’s recent credit rating upgrade by Moody’s will allow the republic to attract foreign investment on far more favourable terms and secure much-needed jobs for its citizens according to Saida Mirziyoyeva, the head of the presidential administration.

Taking to her official Telegram channel to address the financial milestone Mirziyoyeva highlighted the government’s ongoing national ambitions and the path forward.

“There is still a lot of work ahead. Our goal is to build a strong, open and competitive economy that will provide a worthy future for the citizens of Uzbekistan,” she wrote.

In late June...

Uzbekistan national team player Bekhruz Karimov has caught the attention of several major European football clubs. According to reports from Championat.Asia scouts from four different European teams are closely monitoring the promising young athlete.

Representatives from two English clubs alongside one German and one French side travelled to watch Karimov perform live during Uzbekistan’s World Cup match against Portugal. The specific names of the interested teams remain undisclosed at this stage.

Karimov was called up to the senior national squad in the spring of this year specifically to participate in the World Cup. He featured in two matches during...

Apple has abruptly raised prices across its Mac, iPad, and smart home lineups. The tech giant cited unprecedented component cost increases, dubbed “RAMageddon” by industry insiders, driven by memory manufacturers prioritising lucrative AI datacentre contracts over consumer electronics.

According to Apple, the company could no longer absorb the soaring costs of memory and storage chips. While the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods remain unaffected for now, analysts warn that smartphone price hikes are highly likely later this year.

Updated price list

The sudden increases impact 14 major products. Here are the key pricing adjustments:

A double seismic strike has brought unprecedented destruction to Venezuela, flattening neighbourhoods in the capital of Caracas and leaving an untold number of citizens trapped beneath heavy concrete rubble.

The catastrophe began on Wednesday evening during a public holiday when an initial 7.2 magnitude earthquake erupted roughly 160 kilometres west of the capital. Within sixty seconds, a second and even more violent 7.5 magnitude tremor convulsed the region. Records from the United States Geological Survey confirm that this second shockwave stands as the most powerful to hit the country since 1900.

The timing could not have been worse for the...

HoYoverse has sent the Genshin Impact community into a frenzy with the sudden release of a brand-new teaser trailer for the highly anticipated Snezhnaya region.

Moving away from the sunny landscapes of recent updates this latest cinematic plunges players straight into the frigid, politically charged and deeply philosophical heart of the Tsaritsa’s domain.

Packing an incredible density of dialogue the video introduces a massive cast of new figures alongside returning Fatui Harbingers and drops significant hints about the endgame of the Teyvat storyline.

Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the characters, the emerging lore and everything we know so far.

Ann Blyth has passed away at the age of 98 due to natural causes according to recent media reports. The celebrated actress enjoyed a prolific career during the Golden Age of Hollywood and was renowned for her remarkable versatility across melodramas, musicals and comedies.

Blyth is perhaps best remembered for her spellbinding performance in the 1945 cinematic classic Mildred Pierce. At just 16 years old she earned an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress by portraying Veda, the malicious and deceitful teenage daughter of Joan Crawford‘s titular character.

Directed by Michael Curtiz the film featured a dark dynamic...

Timur Tillyaev and Lola Karimova were married for more than two decades. Photo: Getty Images / Christopher Polk

Former son-in-law of Uzbekistan’s first president, Islam Karimov, Timur Tillyaev remains one of the least public figures in major Uzbek business. Although his name has been linked for more than two decades to the country’s largest wholesale market, Abu Sahiy, international logistics operations and high-value real estate abroad, the businessman has rarely spoken to the media and has disclosed little information about his assets.

Interest in Tillyaev has increased again following reports of his divorce from Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva, the younger...