News

Geri Halliwell and her husband Christian Horner have won a planning dispute with neighbours over a structure built at their countryside home in Northamptonshire, The Sun reports.

The couple faced backlash after constructing a pergola and gazebo without prior permission, with residents claiming the additions disrupted views of a nearby historic church in the conservation area.

A previous application for retrospective approval was rejected last year, with council officials describing the development as unacceptable. However, a second application to retain the pergola has now been approved, while the status of the gazebo remains unclear.

The pergola, built near the...

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday that senior Iranian figures, including Ali Larijani and a commander of the Basij paramilitary force, were killed in an air strike, Reuters reports.

There was no immediate confirmation from Iran regarding the reported deaths.

Earlier, the Israeli military said it had killed Gholamreza Soleimani, head of the Basij, a force under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps often used to suppress domestic protests, the National News reports.

Larijani, a former nuclear negotiator and long-time political figure, had recently been seen attending public events in Tehran. He previously served as speaker of...

The Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) has released an updated report on Uzbekistan’s real estate market, highlighting February 2026 trends in transaction activity, regional distribution, and housing and rental prices in the capital.

According to the analysis, nationwide housing sales rose nearly 4% in February, reaching 29.7K transactions. Compared with the same month last year, sales increased by 7.2K, a 32.4% rise.

Regional Market Activity

Navoi region recorded the strongest year-on-year growth at 53%, followed by Syrdarya at 39% and Tashkent city at 49%. Month-on-month, the highest gains were seen in Tashkent region (+25%), Navoi (+22.6%), and...

Shigeaki Mori, a survivor of the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima and famously embraced by former Barack Obama during his historic 2016 visit, has died at the age of 88.

Mori, eight years old when the bomb destroyed Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, was knocked unconscious by the blast. He later devoted decades to locating victims who had been cremated at his school playground and identified 12 Americans who died in the attack.

The image of a tearful Mori in Obama’s arms at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park became an iconic moment of the first visit by a sitting...

K-pop supergroup BTS will celebrate its return after nearly four years with a monthlong cultural festival across Seoul. The event, titled “BTS The City Arirang Seoul,” will feature riverside drone shows, media art installations and musical fountains.

The group shared details on Monday via Hybe’s fan platform Weverse. BigHit Music said the festival, running from Friday through April 19, was organised in partnership with the Seoul Metropolitan Government to let locals and tourists experience culture and art in a new way while enjoying BTS’ comeback. Related events will span the food, beverage and mobility sectors.

Media Shows and...

Uzbekistan has introduced a cashless payment system for real estate and vehicle transactions, moving settlements to an escrow model managed electronically between notaries and banks.

Under the December 10, 2025 presidential decree, the government set measures to popularise cashless payments and reduce the share of the informal economy. The system ensures secure and reliable handling of funds when registering property and vehicle sales.

The Ministry of Justice registered regulations (No. 3790, March 16, 2026) governing electronic data exchange between notaries and banks for processing transactions of real estate and vehicles.

From April 1, 2026, transactions for real estate, vehicles...

Capcom Co., Ltd. announced that Resident Evil Requiem, released on February 27, 2026, has sold more than 6 mln units worldwide, making it the fastest title in the Resident Evil series to reach this milestone.

The game offers photorealistic visuals and an immersive survival horror experience, featuring two protagonists whose interplay blends intense fear with thrilling action. Capcom plans to provide ongoing support and additional content to extend gameplay for fans.

The series will celebrate its 30th anniversary on March 22, 2026, with planned events including a collaboration with Universal Studios Japan and orchestral concerts across Japan, the U.S...

Timothee Chalamet has shared the first glimpse of Dune: Part Three, the concluding chapter of Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi trilogy. The film is scheduled for release on December 18, where it is set to compete with Avengers: Doomsday.

Chalamet posted the image on social media, confirming his return as Paul Atreides following the events of Dune: Part Two.

The sequel followed Paul and his mother, Lady Jessica, played by Rebecca Ferguson, as they aligned with the Fremen on Arrakis. Alongside Zendaya’s Chani, Paul led a rebellion against the Harkonnen forces, culminating in victory and the launch of a wider war.

New...

At least 400 people were killed and 250 injured in an air strike on a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul, a spokesman for the Taliban government said on Tuesday, marking a sharp escalation in tensions with Pakistan.

Islamabad rejected the allegation as «false and misleading», stating that its forces had targeted military sites and what it described as terrorist support infrastructure during strikes carried out late on Monday.

The attack came hours after China reiterated its willingness to help ease tensions between the neighbouring states, urging both sides to avoid further escalation and return to talks.

Witnesses and...

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan has announced that Uzbekistan has delivered a humanitarian aid shipment to the people of Iran.

The shipment included essential food supplies such as flour, rice, sugar, pasta, sunflower oil and canned goods, along with medicines and medical equipment.

Officials from the Iranian side attended the handover ceremony in the city of Daregaz. Among those present were Daregaz governor Mojtaba Bazmara, head of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Razavi Khorasan and adviser to the minister Ali Masumifar, as well as Iran’s ambassador to Turkmenistan Ali Mojtaba Ruzbexani.

During the event, Iranian...

The Vanity Fair Oscars after-party signaled a shift in red-carpet style, with celebrities favoring refined, structured looks over the revealing «naked dresses» that have dominated recent awards seasons.

Held at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the event reflected a broader trend toward minimalist, individually tailored fashion. Designers emphasized precise tailoring, rich fabrics and subtle detailing rather than sheer or highly revealing designs.

Givenchy creative director Sarah Burton’s aesthetic appeared to shape much of the evening’s style. Actress Elle Fanning wore a black satin duchesse bustier gown with a dramatic draped bow, while model Kaia Gerber chose a...

China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) has overwhelmingly approved a new law aimed at promoting «ethnic unity» and strengthening the use of Mandarin as the country’s national common language.

The Law Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress was passed with 2,756 votes in favor, three abstentions and three votes against. Around 442 representatives from ethnic minority groups participated in the vote, accounting for roughly 14% of lawmakers.

The legislation, which will take effect on July 1, seeks to «forge a strong sense of the community of the Chinese people» and support national unity, according to its first article.

China officially...

U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that media outlets reporting what he called false information about the war with Iran could face treason charges, in a series of posts on his Truth Social platform.

Writing Sunday evening, Trump accused some outlets of spreading a fabricated story originating from Iranian sources that claimed a U.S. aircraft carrier had been destroyed. He said Iran circulated the claim along with what he described as an AI-generated video of the alleged attack.

«The story was knowingly FAKE,» Trump wrote. «Those Media Outlets that generated it should be brought...

Seven members of Iran’s women’s national football team delegation initially accepted asylum offers from Australia after reportedly refusing to sing the Iranian national anthem during an international event, according to media reports.

The Australian government offered the group humanitarian visas, citing concerns for their safety following what appeared to be a political act of defiance.

However, five of the seven individuals, including team captain Zahra Ghanbari, later withdrew their asylum requests and returned to Iran.

Iranian state media hailed their return as a victory against what it described as «psychological warfare,» suggesting the players had been under significant...

The 2026 Academy Awards red carpet showcased a mix of classic Hollywood glamour and contemporary runway influences, with several clear fashion trends emerging from the night.

One of the most noticeable directions was 90s-inspired minimalism, sometimes referred to as «CBK minimalism,» influenced by the understated style associated with Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. Stars such as Emma Stone, Renate Reinsve and Gwyneth Paltrow opted for sleek, elegant gowns with minimal embellishment, proving that simplicity can still stand out on Hollywood’s biggest night.

Another standout trend was the «Jessica Rabbit» silhouette — dramatic, curve-hugging gowns reminiscent of the iconic cartoon character. Kylie Jenner drew...

Political statements took center stage on the 2026 Oscars red carpet as several actors used jewellery and lapel pins to express views on global conflicts and social issues.

Spanish actor Javier Bardem drew particular attention by wearing the same «No a la Guerra» («No to War») badge he first displayed at the 2003 Goya Awards in protest of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Bardem appeared at the Oscars wearing the pin alongside another badge depicting Handala, the Palestinian cartoon character symbolizing resistance.

While presenting the award for Best International Feature with Priyanka Chopra, Bardem told the audience:

Uzbekistan has identified major mineral reserves at the Yoshlik-1 and Qalmoqqir deposits, including about 45 mln tonnes of copper and more than 5,000 tonnes of gold, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced during the launch of a new copper processing facility.

Speaking at the opening of Copper Concentrator Plant No. 3 at Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Combine, Mirziyoyev said the deposits contain enough raw materials to support the country’s industrial needs for at least a century.

The sites also hold reserves of rare metals including molybdenum, selenium, tellurium and rhenium, which could support the development of new high-technology and innovation...

Former Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahror Burkhanov has been appointed Uzbekistan’s first consul general in Washington state, he announced on the social media platform X.

In a post, Burkhanov reflected on his years of service and thanked colleagues for their cooperation.

«The past years have been extremely meaningful and diverse for me. The initiatives we promoted together, the projects implemented, the experience gained from mentors and the work carried out shoulder to shoulder with colleagues made this period rich in unforgettable and valuable memories,» he wrote.

Burkhanov added that a shared goal united the team...

Around 87.15% of voters supported proposed constitutional amendments in a national referendum in Kazakhstan, according to preliminary results released by the Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan.

Of the country’s 12.4 mln eligible voters, about 7.9 mln took part in the vote.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev congratulated Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the successful organisation of the referendum.

The amendments mark the seventh round of constitutional changes in Kazakhstan. One of the key proposals extends a special legal regime across the entire country, whereas it previously applied only to Astana.

Other planned reforms include abolishing the post of state adviser, restoring the role of...

South Korea powered into the Women’s Asian Cup semifinals with a 6-0 demolition of Uzbekistan at Stadium Australia on Saturday. Son Hwa-Yeon and Ko Yoo-Jin put the Koreans 2-0 ahead within the first 20 minutes.

Despite Uzbekistan’s efforts to contain the damage, Park Soo-Jeong, Ji So-Yun, Lee Eun-Young and Jang Sel-Gi added four more goals in the second half in front of 12,974 fans.

South Korea will face the winners of Sunday’s Japan-Philippines quarter-final in Sydney on Wednesday. Uzbekistan will take on the losing side in Thursday’s playoff on the Gold Coast, with a win securing a place at...

Jannik Sinner claimed his first Indian Wells title, defeating Daniil Medvedev 7-6(6) 7-6(4) in a flawless display under the Californian desert sun. The Italian dominated the match with 28 winners, 10 aces and a perfect eight out of eight at the net.

With the win, Jannik Sinner became only the third player to secure all six ATP Masters 1000 hard-court titles, joining Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. He also became the first player since 1990 to win consecutive Masters 1000 titles without dropping a set, extending his winning streak in this category to 11 matches, dating back to his...

A high-ranking source close to Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, told Al-Jarida that he was transported to Moscow on a Russian military plane in a highly classified operation due to his medical and security needs. Upon arrival, Mojtaba underwent a successful surgery and is currently receiving treatment in a private hospital within a presidential residence.

The source said Mojtaba was injured during the U.S.-Israeli «opening raids» on Iran on February 28. His injuries required specialised hospital care, close monitoring, and secure conditions that could not be guaranteed in Iran amid ongoing attacks, especially after Israel indicated it would...

Formula 1 has confirmed that the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix scheduled for April will not take place due to ongoing instability in the Middle East. No replacement races will be arranged during that month, and the decision also affects Formula 2, Formula 3, and F1 Academy rounds.

The announcement was made in consultation with the FIA and race promoters. Stefano Domenicali, Formula 1 CEO, said the decision, though difficult, was necessary for the safety of all involved and expressed gratitude to the FIA and promoters for their understanding.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem emphasised that the wellbeing...

Dubai authorities said a fire caused by a drone near Dubai International Airport was brought under control on Monday, forcing a temporary suspension of flights, though no injuries occurred.

The incident is the third at the airport since February 28, amid the ongoing U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran, which has disrupted regional aviation. Most Middle East airspace remains closed over fears of missile and drone strikes, causing flight cancellations, reroutes, and surging fuel prices.

The Dubai Media Office reported that the drone affected a fuel tank, while police temporarily closed road and tunnel access to the airport. Emirates airline...