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Indian destination management company Cholan Tours has introduced a new initiative aimed at reshaping the country’s tourism industry by deploying professionally trained women chauffeurs for long-distance and multi-day tours.

The Chennai-based operator said the programme marks a first for India’s tourism sector, where long-haul driving roles have traditionally been dominated by men. By opening these positions to women, the company aims to create new career pathways while promoting more inclusive travel services.

The initiative is designed to benefit both travellers and local communities. Cholan Tours said female drivers could offer greater comfort and confidence to solo women travellers, families and...

TIME has announced its 2026 Women of the Year, honouring 16 influential figures from across entertainment, sports, business and activism for their work advancing equality and social progress.

This year’s honourees include actor and singer-songwriter Teyana Taylor, actor Lucy Liu, musician Brandi Carlile, actor Sheryl Lee Ralph, filmmaker Chloé Zhao and Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. The list also recognises author and podcast host Mel Robbins, actor Mariska Hargitay and artist Amy Sherald.

Leaders from business and social impact are also featured, including Reshma Kewalramani, president and CEO of Vertex Pharmaceuticals; Kecia Steelman, CEO of Ulta Beauty; and Reshma Saujani, founder...

Uzbekistan and Canada have discussed expanding bilateral cooperation, with a focus on building a strategic partnership in the mining and geological sectors, officials said on Tuesday.

The talks took place during a meeting between Uzbekistan’s First Deputy Minister of Mining and Geology Feruza Khamidova and Canada’s Ambassador to Uzbekistan Christopher Duggan, according to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Mining and Geology.

During the discussions, Uzbek officials outlined ongoing reforms aimed at modernising the country’s mining sector. These included updates to the Law on Subsoil, the introduction of more transparent mechanisms for granting subsoil rights and the integration of Environmental, Social...

Uzbekistan has begun geological exploration operations in Afghanistan as part of a new cross-border resource cooperation initiative, officials said on Tuesday.

According to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Mining and Geology, the state-backed Uzbek Overseas Geology Company has started exploration work across several sites in northern Afghanistan, including the Muhammad-Jandagar, Shamar and Ahmadobod blocks.

The project will focus on identifying potential deposits of hydrocarbons as well as key metals such as iron and copper, the ministry said. Authorities view the initiative as part of broader efforts to expand Uzbekistan’s resource partnerships and strengthen regional economic ties.

An official launch ceremony...

Motorola has confirmed it will unveil full details of its upcoming Razr Fold on March 2, offering the clearest look yet at one of the most anticipated alternatives to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series.

The company teased the announcement in a social media post, saying «every detail» of the foldable will be revealed at the start of Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026 in Barcelona. The event is expected to mark the device’s official move from preview to full launch stage.

The Razr Fold was first teased in early January, but key specifications, including battery capacity, dimensions and pricing, have remained...

Gold remains near historic highs in early 2026, with prices rebounding above $5,000 per ounce despite recent volatility, as investors continue to seek safe-haven assets amid economic uncertainty, according Cameron Parry, CEO & Founder of Tally Money.

The precious metal briefly surged past $5,500 in late January before dipping below $4,700 in early February, prompting predictions of a reversal. However, the swift recovery has reinforced gold’s strong long-term trend, with prices still dramatically higher than a year ago when bullion traded below $3,000.

Analysts say tariffs and rising trade tensions have contributed to the latest rally, but broader...

The Taliban has enacted a sweeping new penal code that rights advocates say dramatically reshapes Afghanistan’s legal system by expanding state control, authorising corporal punishment and further stripping women and girls of legal protections.

According to reporting published on February 24, the 119-article document, titled the «Penal Principles of Taliban Courts», was signed on January 7 by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and took effect immediately, without public announcement or consultation. The code became public weeks later after Afghan human rights organisation Rawadari published the Pashto text, prompting criticism from legal experts and activists.

The regulation reportedly mandates absolute...

Nicole Kidman and John Travolta have been pulled into fresh dating speculation following a tabloid claim suggesting the two actors have reconnected after Kidman’s recent divorce from country star Keith Urban. Neither star has confirmed a romantic relationship, and the report relies on anonymous sourcing.

The rumour gained traction after Yahoo Entertainment republished a National Enquirer story citing an unnamed insider who alleged Travolta offered Kidman «a shoulder to lean on» following her split. The source claimed the pair had known each other for years, lost touch, and recently reconnected, but provided no direct evidence. Representatives for both...

Mexico’s president Claudia Sheinbaum is weighing legal action against Elon Musk after he accused her of links to drug cartels, calling his remarks «ridiculous» and baseless.

The controversy erupted after Musk wrote on X that Sheinbaum was «saying what her cartel bosses tell her to say,» responding to a resurfaced 2025 video in which she rejected a return to a militarised «war on drugs.» Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Sheinbaum confirmed government lawyers are reviewing possible legal steps, saying the claims show a «lack of understanding of the national reality.»

The dispute comes amid escalating tensions...

China may face difficulties mounting a military campaign against Taiwan as President Xi Jinping’s sweeping purge of senior officials continues to reshape the country’s armed forces, analysts say.

A new report from the China Power Project found that around 101 senior People’s Liberation Army (PLA) officers have disappeared from public view since 2022, part of a broader anti-corruption drive that has intensified in recent years. The removals have included high-ranking figures reportedly close to Xi, raising questions about the military’s readiness.

Bonny Lin, director of the Washington-based research initiative, said the scale of the purge could undermine China’s near-term operational...

The United Kingdom will host the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan for a historic summit in London on February 26, 2026, according to the press release shared with Kursiv Uzbekistan.

This gathering, hosted by British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, marks the first time since these nations gained independence in 1991 that such a joint meeting has taken place in this format.

The summit represents a strategic pivot for the UK as it seeks to deepen ties with the rapidly growing economies of Central Asia. The British government aims to bolster regional resilience and economic growth through...

The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 has cemented its reputation as a record-breaking supercar, setting the fastest lap ever at Car and Driver’s annual Lightning Lap 2026, GM reports.

At Virginia International Raceway’s 4.1-mile Grand Course, the ZR1 clocked a 2:34.2, outpacing a field of elite production cars. This run extended the Corvette’s dominance at VIR, where driver Aaron Link had already set the Grand Course production-car record last year. The ZR1 also holds production-car lap records at Watkins Glen’s Long Course, Road America, and Road Atlanta, and previously posted a 1:47.7 on VIR’s Full Course.

Link...

Sony Pictures is preparing to relaunch its live-action Spider-Man universe with a new reboot and a fresh cast, the studio’s chief executive Tom Rothman has confirmed.

Speaking on Matthew Belloni’s The Town podcast, Rothman dismissed suggestions that Sony’s broader Spider-Man universe was finished. When asked whether the studio would return to those characters, he replied «Yes,» and confirmed the next iteration would be a full reset featuring new faces.

Rothman suggested that scaling back output could help revive interest. «Scarcity has value,» he said, arguing that audiences need time away from characters before enthusiasm can return.

Sony has controlled...

South Korean authorities have reportedly obtained intelligence indicating that the daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, previously believed to be named Kim Ju-ae, is in fact called Kim Ju-hae.

According to senior government sources, intelligence agencies are also assessing reports that she has been assigned the role of «missile general director» within North Korea. Officials are closely watching developments at the ongoing 9th Workers’ Party Congress in Pyongyang.

Kim Jong-un has frequently appeared with his daughter at nuclear and missile test sites. Intelligence assessments suggest he may have positioned her in a senior role linked to missile oversight...

Russian historian and Korea specialist Andrei Lankov was detained in Riga on Tuesday and expelled from Latvia.

Lankov had travelled to the Latvian capital to deliver a public lecture titled «North Korea: What the Elite Wants and Fears.» However, the event never took place as municipal police officers arrived and escorted him to the immigration service.

It later emerged that Latvia’s Foreign Ministry had declared Lankov persona non grata on February 20, though the reasons for the travel ban have not been disclosed.

In a statement on his Telegram channel, Lankov said he was taken to the...

Finnish delivery service Wolt has announced it will cease operations in Uzbekistan from March 5, 2026.

Wolt launched in Uzbekistan in October 2024 through its local entity Wolt Texnologiyalari, owned by Wolt Enterprises Oy. The service initially operated in Tashkent and expanded to Samarkand a year later. By June 2025, it featured around 1,400 restaurants and over 200 shops in the capital.

The platform allows users to order food and goods online from restaurants and stores for home delivery or pickup via its mobile app or website. Wolt operates in multiple European and Central Asian countries, having entered Kazakhstan...

Insomniac’s highly anticipated Marvel Wolverine game now has an official release date: September 15, 2026 for PS5.

The studio, known for its successful Spider-Man games on PlayStation and PC, continues its collaboration with Sony and Marvel with this new title. Wolverine launches a few months ahead of GTA 6, due November 19, 2026, and the next Call of Duty game, expected later in the year.

The game follows Wolverine as he hunts for answers about his past, using vicious claw attacks, intense rage, and unyielding determination to uncover the mystery of the man he once was.

Wolverine’s last solo...

Katherine Short, the eldest daughter of actor and comedian Martin Short, has died in Los Angeles at the age of 42.

Law enforcement sources told U.S. media she died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police were called to her home in the Hollywood Hills shortly after 6 p.m. on Monday.

In a statement, a representative for Martin Short said the family was grieving.

«It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short,» the statement read. «The Short family is devastated by this loss and asks for privacy at this time...

The United States has imposed sanctions on Uzbek citizen Azizjon Mamashoev, accusing him of acquiring and distributing cyber tools that posed a threat to U.S. national security.

The U.S. Treasury Department also added Mamashoev’s company, Advance Security Solutions, based in the United Arab Emirates, to its sanctions list. According to the department, the firm paid for exploits, or software vulnerabilities, in American programmes.

Washington alleges that Mamashoev worked alongside Russian national Oleg Kucherov in cooperation with the Russia-based company Operation Zero, which specialises in purchasing vulnerabilities in various software systems.

U.S. authorities claim Kucherov is linked to the hacking...

Ed Skrein joined the cast of Amazon Prime Video’s live-action adaptation of God of War, taking on the role of Baldur. The series is in pre-production in Vancouver and has already been commissioned for two seasons.

Skrein will appear alongside Ryan Hurst as Kratos and Callum Vinson as Atreus. Other cast members include Max Parker as Heimdall, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor, Mandy Patinkin as Odin, Alastair Duncan as Mimir, Danny Woodburn as Brok, Jeff Gulka as Sindri and Teresa Palmer as Sif.

The drama will follow the storyline of the two most recent God of War...

Authorities in Fergana have opened a criminal investigation after children at three state kindergartens were hospitalised with suspected food poisoning, the city police department said.

On February 21, officials received reports that pupils at state preschool institutions No. 58, 2 and 61 had fallen ill. The children showed symptoms including fever, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. All were taken to the Fergana Regional Infectious Diseases Hospital, where they are receiving treatment. Doctors said their condition is under control.

The Fergana regional prosecutor’s office, regional police and other relevant agencies are investigating the incident. A criminal case has been launched under...

Uzbekistan has taken a step toward bringing flying cars to Central Asia after AIR Tashkent signed a memorandum of understanding with US aviation firm Samson Sky to introduce the Switchblade flying car to the country.

The agreement was announced during the opening of AIR Tashkent’s Easy to Fly Academy, a new training centre aimed at developing aviation professionals. Under the deal, the parties will explore the sale of at least 300 Switchblade vehicles in Uzbekistan, with a potential value exceeding $60 mln.

AIR Tashkent plans to make a bulk purchase of the hybrid road-air vehicles for pilot training and potential...

Fresh scrutiny of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has intensified after a royal biographer claimed the disgraced royal’s downfall was the culmination of years of overlooked concerns about his conduct and lifestyle.

Author Andrew Lownie, whose recent biography examines the Duke of York’s rise and fall, argues that the controversies now engulfing Andrew were long foreshadowed by warnings from officials, diplomats and insiders. According to Lownie, concerns about behaviour, finances and associations were repeatedly raised but failed to trigger meaningful accountability.

“We’ve been paying for happy endings for Andrew for years,” – said biographer.

The biographer portrays Andrew as having led...

Global markets are bracing for renewed volatility as U.S. President Donald Trump steps up rhetoric on trade after the Supreme Court struck down his emergency tariff powers, raising uncertainty over existing agreements with key partners.

The ruling dealt a significant blow to Trump’s trade agenda, prompting warnings from the president that foreign governments should not «play games» by revisiting deals negotiated under the now-invalid tariffs. The issue is expected to dominate his upcoming State of the Union address, where he may also criticise the court’s decision.

The legal setback has left U.S. allies seeking clarity. Japan is reportedly...