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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed during a Foreign Affairs Committee hearing that the Trump administration supports the abolition of the Jackson-Vanik amendment for countries in Central Asia.

“We believe this would be beneficial,” he remarked to the committee members.

The top American diplomat also announced his intention to hold a C5+1 meeting. This key diplomatic gathering is expected to take place later this year in one of the Central Asian republics.

Early last year, Rubio argued that applying this outdated amendment to the region was a relic of the Cold War. He...

Uzbekistan is set to upgrade its transport network by installing 700 tourist road signs and navigation boards across its major highways. This ambitious infrastructure push was a central talking point during recent high-level discussions between the nation’s Tourism Committee and the World Bank.

Abdulaziz Akkulov, the Chairman of the Tourism Committee, recently met with Ming Zhang, the World Bank’s Global Director for Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience and Land. The two officials explored future collaborative efforts focused on expanding the tourism sector, building state-of-the-art infrastructure and strengthening the economic capabilities of local regions.

Strategic goals and international support

During...

Jennifer Aniston is reportedly weighing offers for a memoir that could be worth as much as $20 mln, as public interest in her past relationship with Brad Pitt and his subsequent marriage to Angelina Jolie continues to attract attention.

According to media reports, publishers are eager to secure a book deal with the actress, believing readers would be interested in previously untold details about her career, personal life and experiences in Hollywood. The potential memoir is also expected to address major moments in Aniston’s life, including the highly publicized end of her marriage to Pitt in 2005.

Industry...

England forward Marcus Rashford will head to the 2026 FIFA World Cup with questions surrounding his club future despite impressing during his loan spell at Barcelona.

The 28-year-old revived his form in Spain after leaving Manchester United on a temporary deal, contributing goals and assists as Barcelona secured domestic silverware and advanced deep into European competition. His performances also helped him regain a place in the England squad ahead of the World Cup.

Despite his resurgence, Rashford’s long-term future remains unresolved. Barcelona are reportedly interested in keeping the forward but have yet to reach an agreement over a...

Switzerland forward Breel Embolo was unable to travel to the United States with his national team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after his travel authorization was unexpectedly placed under review by U.S. authorities.

The 29-year-old striker was due to fly with the Swiss squad from Zurich to Los Angeles on Tuesday before joining the team’s training camp in San Diego. However, the Swiss Football Association said Embolo’s ESTA authorization, which allows visa-free travel to the U.S., was flagged for further review shortly before departure.

According to Swiss media, the review is linked to a court ruling...

Following the dramatic reveal of God of War Laufey at the latest Sony State of Play presentation, many fans assumed they were in for a lengthy wait. The complete absence of even a tentative release window led to widespread speculation that the highly anticipated Santa Monica Studio project was still in its infancy.

However, prominent Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier has stepped in to quash these concerns. Sharing his thoughts shortly after the broadcast concluded, he strongly hinted that the gap between the game’s initial announcement and its eventual launch will be surprisingly short.

“Unlike...

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose new tariffs on imports from 60 countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, the European Union, India and Japan, arguing that they have failed to do enough to prevent goods made with forced labour from entering their markets.

The proposal, announced by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), would introduce additional duties of 10% on some countries and 12.5% on others. Washington says the measures are intended to protect American workers from unfair competition linked to forced labour practices in global supply chains.

The move follows a Section...

Melissa Sloan, widely known as the world’s most tattooed woman, has revealed that she regularly travels overseas to undergo extreme body modification procedures that are illegal or heavily restricted in the United Kingdom.

Sloan, who has become a social media sensation for covering nearly her entire body in tattoos, said she has flown to countries including Spain to receive procedures that are difficult or impossible to obtain legally at home. The modifications reportedly include cosmetic alterations that fall outside standard medical regulations.

The 48-year-old has gained international attention for her unconventional appearance and claims to have received hundreds...

A French museum has filed a criminal complaint after the banana used in Maurizio Cattelan‘s famous artwork Comedian was stolen from an exhibition at the Centre Pompidou-Metz in eastern France. The conceptual artwork, which consists of a banana taped to a wall, gained worldwide attention after one edition sold for $6.2 mln at auction in 2024.

Museum officials said a security guard discovered the banana missing over the weekend. The institution subsequently alerted police and filed a complaint against unknown persons, describing the theft as an issue of respect for the artwork.

Despite the high valuation of the...

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan reduced its gold reserves by one tonne in April this year. The latest figures were published by the World Gold Council (WGC) as part of its regular monitoring of global precious metal movements.

Despite this recent sale, the Uzbek regulator remains a net buyer of the precious metal on an annual basis. Over the measured period, the central bank has added a total of 24 tonnes to its national reserves.

Looking at the wider international market, Poland emerged as the largest buyer among global central banks in April by acquiring 14 tonnes.

China followed...

YouTube star and musician KSI has confirmed that his departure from the Sidemen is genuine, addressing growing concern among fans following recent announcements that suggested he was leaving the popular content creator group.

Speaking in a video message, KSI acknowledged that many supporters were upset by the news and described the reaction as similar to a period of “grieving” among the group’s fanbase. However, he stressed that his decision was not a publicity stunt and that he remains on good terms with the other members.

The 31-year-old, whose real name is Olajide Olatunji, said he felt it was...

Ivanka Trump has publicly confirmed plans to develop a luxury resort on Albania’s Sazan Island alongside her husband, Jared Kushner, as opposition to the project grows across the Balkan country. The €1.4 bn development is being led by Kushner’s investment firm, Affinity Partners, and would transform the former military island into a high-end tourism destination.

The confirmation comes as thousands of protesters gathered in the Albanian capital, Tirana, demanding that the government halt the project over environmental concerns. Demonstrators argue that construction could damage protected coastal ecosystems near the Vjosa-Narta landscape, home to flamingos, sea turtles and other...

A catastrophic fire at a hotel in the Indian capital of Delhi has resulted in the deaths of at least 21 people, Reuters reports. The tragic incident, which occurred on Wednesday, is being described by local police as one of the deadliest blazes the city has witnessed in recent years.

Eyewitnesses reported distressing scenes as desperate guests leapt from the burning four-storey building to escape the advancing flames and billowing smoke. In a frantic bid to save lives, quick-thinking residents dragged mattresses from a nearby shop and spread them across the pavement below to break the fall of those...

Sir David Beckham is officially cementing his legacy in Los Angeles. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has announced that the global sporting icon will be honoured with the 2,849th star on the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The ceremony is scheduled to take place on Friday June 12, 2026 at 6819 Hollywood Boulevard. Beckham will receive his star in the Sports Entertainment category. Radio personality Ellen K will serve as the event’s emcee with guest speeches expected from Hollywood heavyweight Tom Cruise and his wife Victoria Beckham.

Perfect timing for a football legend

The recognition arrives at a...

Scuderia Ferrari have officially confirmed a new multi-year contract for Charles Leclerc that guarantees the Monegasque driver will continue to race in red for several seasons to come, F1 reports.

The 28-year-old first stepped up to a Formula 1 race seat with the Italian outfit in 2019 following an impressive debut campaign with Sauber. However, his deep-rooted relationship with the Maranello team actually stretches back a decade to when he joined the prestigious Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016.

Chasing the ultimate dream

During his lengthy tenure with the iconic brand, Leclerc has provided the passionate tifosi with numerous unforgettable...

In a candid new cover story for GQ magazine, Tom Holland confessed that securing his role in Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated historical drama The Odyssey required some serious Hollywood diplomacy.

The British actor was forced to initiate a highly “uncomfortable conversation” with Sony Pictures chairman Tom Rothman after realising that the filming schedule for Nolan’s latest project directly clashed with the start date for Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

When the acclaimed director offered Holland the part of Telemachus, the son of Odysseus, the actor knew he could not pass up the opportunity. However, accepting the role meant convincing Sony...

Santa Monica Studio announced God of War Laufey, a brand new mainline entry in the critically acclaimed franchise. In a historic first for the series, players will step into the shoes of Faye, the wife of Kratos and mother of Atreus.

The reveal took place during the June State of Play broadcast. Alongside a cinematic debut trailer, the development team treated fans to roughly 20 minutes of gameplay footage that detailed the upcoming storyline and showcased a revamped combat system.

The narrative shifts away from the familiar Norse realms and transports players to Eternity. This enigmatic afterlife dimension serves...

Uzbekistan has maintained a rapid pace of economic expansion during the first quarter of this year. According to fresh data released by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the republic’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 8.7% year-on-year in early 2026.

Domestic demand drives expansion

The primary catalyst for this robust financial performance was a significant surge in consumer demand. A steady increase in financial remittances from abroad and rising domestic wages have directly bolstered the country’s developing services sector.

Further economic support came from other heavy-hitting areas of the economy:

Psy, the global music icon renowned for his 2012 smash hit “Gangnam Style”, has been referred to South Korean prosecutors, The Korea Herald reports. The singer is facing allegations that he instructed his manager to illegally collect psychotropic drugs on his behalf.

According to local media reports published on Tuesday, police formally transferred the case to the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office on Monday. The investigation currently involves Psy, his manager, a professor at a Seoul university hospital and one other unnamed individual. All are suspected of breaching the country’s Medical Service Act.

Alleged regulatory breaches

The core...

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan has firmly dismissed recent media reports suggesting that the country is in talks with the European Union to establish migration centres on its territory.

The clarification was provided directly to Kursiv Uzbekistan by the ministry’s press service. Officials categorically denied that any such diplomatic discussions are currently taking place.

“Currently, negotiations on the issue under consideration with the institutions of the European Union are not being conducted and are not planned,” a spokesperson for the ministry emphasised.

The official denial follows a recently published article by Politico...

Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov played the full 90 minutes as Uzbekistan suffered a 2-0 defeat to Canada in an international friendly, one of the team’s final preparations before its historic FIFA World Cup debut.

The match was part of a series of warm-up fixtures ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Despite the loss, Uzbekistan’s coaching staff viewed the encounter as valuable preparation against one of the tournament’s co-hosts.

Khusanov, who became the first Uzbek player to join Manchester City and the Premier League, is expected to play a...

Eco Expo Central Asia 2026 opened in Samarkand on June 2, bringing together government officials, investors, businesses and environmental experts as Uzbekistan seeks to attract financing for green development projects. The exhibition is being held alongside the Eighth Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), one of the world’s largest environmental finance forums.

The three-day event is expected to attract around 10,000 participants from Uzbekistan and abroad, featuring more than 68 exhibition pavilions and 20 startup showcases from Central Asian countries. Discussions will focus on renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, water management, waste recycling, green finance and climate adaptation.

Uzbekistan has shipped its first commercial consignment of fresh apricots and peaches to Malaysia, marking a new step in the country’s efforts to expand fruit exports into Southeast Asia. The shipment follows months of negotiations between Uzbek exporters and Malaysian importers aimed at opening the market for seasonal produce.

The breakthrough comes after a fruit promotion event held in Kuala Lumpur, where Uzbek officials and exporters showcased locally grown cherries, apricots and peaches to major Malaysian retailers and import companies. Several Malaysian firms expressed interest in sourcing Uzbek fruit, citing its quality and competitive pricing.

To support exports...

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has signed separate memorandums of understanding with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Central Bank to strengthen cooperation in financial reporting, auditing and professional education.

The agreements aim to expand the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), improve professional qualifications and provide greater access to internationally recognized accounting certifications for specialists in Uzbekistan.

Under the partnership with the Finance Ministry, ACCA will support the training of finance and audit professionals, accreditation of university programs and integration of ACCA qualifications into the national education system. The renewed agreement also...