News

A fragile ceasefire in the Iran conflict appeared at risk on Wednesday as Israel launched a major wave of airstrikes in Lebanon and Iran halted oil tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, citing alleged violations of the truce.

Israeli forces hit more than 100 targets across Beirut and other parts of Lebanon, reportedly killing at least 112 people. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disputed claims by Iran and Pakistan that Lebanon was included in the ceasefire agreement reached just hours earlier.

In response, Iran suspended tanker movements through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil route...

Uzbekistan Airways plans to limit increases in ticket prices despite an expected rise in fuel costs, a company representative told Kursiv Uzbekistan.

The airline purchases aviation fuel on the domestic market and has not experienced supply disruptions so far. However, it does not rule out possible fare adjustments in the future, noting that fuel price trends remain difficult to predict.

Fuel prices on the rise

According to the International Air Transport Association, the global average price of jet fuel stood at $209 per barrel as of April 3, amid tensions in the Middle East. For comparison, the price was...

The stepmother of the late Friends star Matthew Perry is urging a U.S. judge to impose the harshest possible prison term on the drug dealer responsible for supplying the ketamine that claimed the actor’s life.

In a poignant victim impact statement presented to a California court on Tuesday, Debbie Perry condemned Jasveen Sangha, infamously dubbed the “Ketamine Queen”, for inflicting “irreversible” devastation. She implored the court to hand down the maximum penalty to prevent the dealer from destroying other families.

“The pain you’ve caused to hundreds maybe thousands is irreversible,” the grieving stepmother wrote.

She...

In March, criminals made off with a lorry containing over 12 tonnes of KitKat bars. This staggering loss of nearly 414,000 chocolate wafers rapidly captured the public’s imagination and turned a standard freight robbery into an internet sensation.

Hoping to recover the snacks, Nestle activated a tracking mechanism relying on the distinct batch numbers stamped onto individual wrappers. If scanned, these digits identify the sweets as stolen property and offer directions on how to notify authorities so the manufacturer can map where the contraband eventually surfaces.

Presidential-Style Escorts

The narrative took a highly theatrical turn when Canadian...

Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev suffered one of the most unexpected defeats of his career, losing to Italian Matteo Berrettini in the second round of the Masters at Monte Carlo Country Club with a score of 0:6, 0:6. The match lasted only 49 minutes.

Before the match, Medvedev was considered the clear favorite. At Winline, the odds for a Berrettini victory were 3.20. At the same time, the scenario with two «bagels» was priced at 7700.00 — approximately a 0.013% probability.

There was no real contest on the court. Berrettini took the initiative from the very first games and confidently...

The plug has been firmly pulled on the upcoming Wireless Festival following an intervention by the British government, Variety reports. Promoters were left with no choice but to completely scrap the three-day music showcase after border officials formally denied an electronic travel authorisation for the event’s top-billed act, Kanye West.

Authorities concluded that permitting the American artist, who legally goes by Ye, to enter the UK would not be “conducive to the public good”. This stringent border prohibition stems directly from fierce domestic backlash regarding the rapper’s extensive and highly publicised track record of antisemitic rhetoric.

Even before Festival...

Uzbekistan and the United States are preparing to launch a joint investment platform by the end of 2026, according to Saida Mirziyoyeva, head of the Presidential Administration.

The initiative was discussed during talks with Ben Black, head of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. An agreement to establish the platform was signed in February during President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to Washington.

Mirziyoyeva said the meeting focused on a broad pipeline of projects, noting that DFC will support efforts to attract American investors to Uzbekistan and share investment risks. Senior Uzbek officials, including Komil Allamjonov, Laziz Kudratov and ambassador Furkat Sidikov...

South Korean company Nongshim, one of the world’s top five manufacturers of instant noodles, is set to open a representative office in Moscow this June. According to the corporation’s official statement, the new office, Nongshim Rus LLC, will serve as the primary hub for promoting the brand across CIS markets, with a particular focus on expanding into Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

“Russia is a strategic point connecting Europe and Asia, and an attractive market with rapidly growing ramen consumption. Through our Russian subsidiary, we intend to expand our presence both within Russia itself and across the...

American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura was left searching for answers during a tense clash at the Candidates tournament in Cyprus, spending more than an hour on a single move against Uzbekistan’s rising star Javokhir Sindarov, according to WSJ.

The world No. 2 eventually faltered, walking into a trap set by the 20-year-old, who capitalised on the mistake to secure a decisive victory.

«He just thought one hour and played the wrong move,» Sindarov said. «After this, I took the advantage and played very well.»

The win strengthened Sindarov’s position at the tournament, where the winner...

Saida Mirziyoyeva has concluded a series of diplomatic engagements, high-level talks and strategic planning sessions in Washington, D.C. Her visit was primarily focused on expanding bilateral trade and culminated in the official launch of the U.S.-Uzbek Business and Investment Council.

The cornerstone of her itinerary was a meeting with Ambassador Sergio Gor, her co-chair on the newly established Council. Their preliminary discussions on vital bilateral business cooperation paved the way for the Council’s official inauguration in the U.S. capital. This new entity is designed to serve as a robust platform for cementing commercial ties between entrepreneurs from both...

On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump consented to a fortnight-long truce with Iran. This agreement came a mere two hours before his ultimatum expired, which had threatened devastating strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure unless Tehran reopened the Strait of Hormuz.

The declaration marked a sharp reversal from the president’s severe warning earlier in the day that “a whole civilisation will die tonight” should his conditions be ignored. The ceasefire was brokered with the assistance of Pakistan’s military chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Writing on X, Sharif mentioned he had extended invitations for U.S...

Pope Leo XIV has strongly criticised Donald Trump over his threats to destroy Iran’s civilian infrastructure, calling the rhetoric «truly not acceptable.»

The pope, the first American to lead the Catholic Church, said the escalation in the conflict with Iran raises serious moral and legal concerns.

«It is not resolving anything,» he said, warning that such statements only fuel «hatred throughout the world.»

Trump had earlier warned that Iran’s «whole civilisation» could be destroyed if Tehran fails to meet U.S. demands, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz. He has set a deadline...

Pakistan has appealed to Donald Trump to extend his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, citing progress in diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing conflict.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for a two-week extension, urging all sides to allow negotiations to continue. He also asked Iran to reopen the vital shipping route during the same period as a «goodwill gesture».

Sharif said diplomatic efforts were «progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully,» with the potential to deliver meaningful results if given more time.

The request came just hours before Trump’s deadline, after the US president warned of...

A United Nations Security Council resolution aimed at safeguarding commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has failed after vetoes from Russia and China.

The Bahrain-sponsored draft received backing from 11 members of the council, while two abstained. However, opposition from Moscow and Beijing, both permanent members with veto power, blocked its adoption.

The resolution called on countries to coordinate defensive measures to ensure maritime safety and urged Iran to halt attacks on merchant vessels navigating the key waterway.

Shipping through the strait, which handles roughly 20% of global oil and gas flows, has largely come to a...

TV personality Katie Price has revealed she was left barely able to speak after a recent cosmetic treatment, vowing she will not undergo the procedure again.

Speaking on The Katie Price Show podcast, the 47-year-old said a chin injection caused unexpected side effects that affected her speech.

«My mouth looks distorted… I feel like I can’t move my lower mouth,» she said, adding that the experience was «really weird» and not worth repeating.

Price, who has previously undergone multiple surgeries including breast procedures and facelifts, said the treatment was intended to smooth...

Russia and China have blocked a United Nations Security Council resolution aimed at reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, just hours before a deadline set by Donald Trump for Iran to restore shipping access.

The Bahrain-backed proposal received 11 votes in favour but failed after vetoes from Moscow and Beijing, both permanent members of the Security Council. Two countries abstained.

The vote came shortly before Trump’s ultimatum requiring Iran to reopen the waterway by 8pm Eastern Time, warning of severe military consequences if Tehran does not comply.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most...

Investors withdrew nearly £1.5 bn from equity funds in March as concerns over escalating tensions with Iran rattled global markets, according to new data from Calastone.

The report showed total outflows surged to £1.44 bn, up sharply from £927 mln in February, marking the largest monthly sell-off since November’s market turmoil ahead of Rachel Reeves’s Budget.

March’s withdrawals were the seventh worst on record and extended an unprecedented streak of ten consecutive months of outflows, highlighting persistent investor anxiety.

The sell-off was broad-based, with UK-focused funds hardest hit, losing £592 mln—slightly higher than February’s £555 mln. Meanwhile, the...

As tensions escalate between the United States and Iran, former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued stark warnings ahead of a critical deadline, casting doubt on a ceasefire proposal put forward by Shehbaz Sharif.

Here are five key takeaways from Trump’s latest statements:

1. Ceasefire proposal «not good enough»
Trump acknowledged that the Pakistan-backed ceasefire plan is a «significant step,» but said it falls short of U.S. expectations. He stressed that the proposal does not fully address Washington’s demands as negotiations continue.

2. Deadline pressure intensifies
With a deadline set for Tuesday evening, Trump warned that Iran must reopen the...

In an extensive anti-narcotics operation orchestrated by the Beykoz Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, personnel from the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Narcotics Crime Control Branch Directorate executed a series of coordinated raids that resulted in the detention of a host of famous figures.

Among those taken into custody were prominent musicians Simge Sagin, Mustafa Ceceli, Bengu Erden and Melek Mosso alongside acclaimed actor Ibrahim Celikkol.

The allegations facing these beloved public figures are incredibly serious. Authorities have levelled multiple charges that include the purchase, acceptance and possession of illegal narcotics or stimulants for personal consumption.

Furthermore they are being investigated for the...

Adrian Newey tops the off-track earnings chart among Formula 1 team principals with a distinctive gap between him and Zak Brown in the second place, according to BusinessBookGP experts, whose research was shared by Infobae.

The financial landscape of Formula 1 has always been a topic of intense fascination. As the 2026 season unfolds, the spotlight is not just on the race track but also on the staggering pay packets of the sport’s most pivotal figures.

The Aston Martin mastermind commands top dollar

Adrian Newey has emerged as the highest-paid team principal figure in 2026. Despite ongoing...

The ultimate promotional trailer for The Devil Wears Prada 2 has officially dropped, complete with a brand-new collaborative track titled “Runway” performed by Lady Gaga and Doechii.

The teaser opens with Hathaway’s Andy Sachs strolling alongside a fresh addition to the cast played by Simone Ashley. Ashley’s character appears to have taken on the daunting role of Miranda Priestly’s newest assistant at the famed fashion publication.

Reflecting on her past, Andy shares memories of attending Paris Fashion Week and wearing exclusive Chanel pieces during her tenure in the junior position. Her new colleague is visibly appalled to learn that...

Australia’s most highly decorated living veteran, Ben Roberts-Smith, is facing severe legal action after being apprehended on suspicion of committing atrocities during his deployments to Afghanistan, Australian Federal Police (AFP) reports.

Ben Roberts-Smith was taken into custody at Sydney airport on Tuesday. The 47-year-old former Special Air Service (SAS) corporal, who departed the military in 2013, will spend the night in a police cell before a scheduled bail hearing on Wednesday. Authorities have formally accused the Victoria Cross recipient of five separate war crime charges related to murder.

Details of the charges and investigations

During a press briefing...

A California courtroom has granted Grammy-winning musician Lil Nas X the opportunity to participate in a mental health diversion initiative following a chaotic altercation with law enforcement last summer, BBC reports.

The 26-year-old artist, legally named Montero Lamar Hill, faced legal jeopardy after a late-night incident in August on Los Angeles’s Ventura Boulevard. During the episode, Hill was apprehended while wandering the streets wearing nothing but underwear and cowboy boots.

Following allegations of assaulting officers and resisting detainment, authorities transported him to a local hospital due to concerns over a suspected overdose.

Legal сonditions and сonsequences

During a...

Tokyo’s famous Somei Yoshino cherry blossom trees, which were primarily planted during the rapid postwar urban expansion of the 1960s, are rapidly approaching the end of their biological lifespans.

The severity of this case became undeniable on April 2 when two prominent trees unexpectedly gave way. One massive specimen collapsed in Kinuta Park. Standing at a towering 18 meters tall with a trunk span of 2.5 meters, the tree had lived for more than six decades.

Simultaneously, another aging trunk crashed down along the Chidorigafuchi greenway, narrowly avoiding a plunge into the historic Imperial Palace moat. Neither of these...