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Vernon and The8 of K-pop boy group Seventeen are forming a new unit and plan to release an album in June, a music industry source told Yonhap News Agency on Thursday.

«Vernon and The8 are working on a unit album with the goal of releasing it in June,» the source said, adding that both members are actively involved in production.

The duo is Seventeen’s sixth unit project, following BSS with DK, Hoshi and Seungkwan; Jeonghan and Wonwoo; Hoshi and Woozi; S.Coups and Mingyu; and DK and Seungkwan.

Vernon, a rapper for Seventeen, has written...

Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet has been cast as the female lead in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, sources told Deadline, though her exact role has not been revealed.

Andy Serkis and Peter Jackson spent much of last year persuading Winslet to join the production, which will be filmed in New Zealand from late May to October. Winslet is familiar with the country, having previously worked there on Jackson’s 1994 film Heavenly Creatures.

She joins returning stars Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins, Ian McKellen as Gandalf, and Serkis as Gollum, reprising their roles from Jackson’s original...

A new French visa centre operated by TLScontact has opened in Tashkent, according to the Telegram channel of the Embassy of France in Uzbekistan.

The opening ceremony was attended by French ambassador Walid Fouque.

The centre aims to provide improved services for visa applicants from Uzbekistan. It is located on the fourth floor of the Inco business centre on Fidokor Street.

Detailed information about opening hours and application procedures is available on the embassy’s website.

Uzbekistan and France established diplomatic relations in early March 1992, signing the protocol in Tashkent.

From economics and politics to business, technology and...

Jamshid Khodjaev said Uzbekistan is determined to finalise its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) this year, the organisation reports.

Speaking at the 12th meeting of the Working Party on Uzbekistan’s accession on March 9, Khodjaev thanked WTO members for their support and said Tashkent remains committed to constructive engagement with all participants in the negotiations.

He noted that ongoing economic reforms are designed to meet accession requirements and prepare Uzbekistan to become «a responsible and predictable participant in the global trading system».

Negotiations and reforms

Uzbekistan’s delegation included senior officials such as Azizbek Urunov, Akhadbek Khaydarov

Nintendo said that more than 2.2 mln copies of Pokémon Pokopia have been sold in the four days since its release.

The strong launch comes as industry analysts have raised concerns that the Nintendo Switch 2 lacks major titles to drive hardware sales, while rising memory chip prices have also fuelled worries about potential pressure on profit margins.

The new life simulation title, a spin-off from the Pokémon series, has received positive reviews and currently holds a Metascore of 89 on Metacritic.

In the game, players control a Pokémon that restores a wasteland by farming land and building homes...

A man originally from Uzbekistan was killed during a rocket attack in Israel, the Uzbek embassy in the country said.

The incident occurred on March 9 in Yehud, where 62-year-old Rustam Gulomov died during the bombardment.

According to the embassy, Gulomov renounced his Uzbek citizenship in 2017 and had lived in Israel for the past 14 years, where he later obtained Israeli citizenship.

As of March 11, the diplomatic mission said it had not received information about any other victims among Uzbek citizens.

The embassy also urged Uzbek nationals in Israel to pay close attention to air raid alerts and...

Ahmad Donyamali said Iran is currently unable to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup following escalating conflict in the region.

The tournament, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, begins on June 11. Iran national football team are scheduled to face New Zealand national football team and Belgium national football team in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21 before playing Egypt national football team in Seattle on June 26.

However, Donyamali said participation is uncertain after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed the country’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. Iran subsequently launched missiles and...

Three commercial vessels have been struck by drones in the Strait of Hormuz, raising the number of ships attacked in the area to 14 since the start of the current conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

According to reports from Tehran, the latest incidents occurred on Wednesday as ships attempted to pass through the key global oil transit route.

A Thai-flagged vessel was hit by two drones, causing a fire and significant damage to its engine room. Three crew members are missing and are believed to be trapped inside the damaged compartment, while the remaining...

An Israeli airstrike hit the southern suburbs of Beirut on 10 March, as regional tensions continue to escalate amid the widening conflict involving Israel, Iran and the United States.

The strike targeted areas in Dahiya, a district in southern Beirut considered a stronghold of the militant group Hezbollah. Thick smoke was seen rising above residential buildings following the attack, according to photographs published by Reuters.

The bombardment comes as Israel intensifies military operations across the region during the ongoing confrontation with Iran. Analysts say the strikes on Beirut are part of a broader strategy aimed at weakening groups...

A free comeback concert by BTS in central Seoul next week could attract as many as 260,000 people, according to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety of South Korea.

The performance on March 21 will celebrate the group’s first new album in more than three years ahead of a global tour scheduled to begin in April. The one-hour event will take place between Gwanghwamun Square and City Hall and will be streamed worldwide on Netflix to audiences in 190 countries.

Around 22,000 people holding free tickets will attend inside the main concert area, but the surrounding...

The United States on Wednesday carried out a deportation flight to Uzbekistan, returning 72 Uzbek nationals who were found to be in the country without legal status.

The flight forms part of ongoing enforcement measures aimed at strengthening U.S. border security. Authorities said that since Donald Trump took office, more than 1,000 Uzbek nationals have been deported as part of efforts to curb illegal immigration.

U.S. officials warned that individuals who enter the country unlawfully may face detention and removal.

Washington also expressed appreciation to the government of Uzbekistan for its cooperation in facilitating the deportation operations.

Kursiv also...

Meta has acquired Moltbook, a platform where artificial intelligence bots communicate with each other.

The Moltbook team will join Meta’s Superintelligence Labs to explore «new ways for AI agents to work for people and businesses,» the company said. The platform began in January as an experimental Reddit-like site allowing AI programs to hold their own discussions, including commenting on their human users.

Tech experts have praised Moltbook for its computer-led dialogues, while others have raised cybersecurity and ethical concerns about AI autonomy. Meta described the platform’s approach as «a novel step in a rapidly developing space.» The company did not...

Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday highlighted Europe’s reliance on Russian uranium and called for new supply sources from Central Asia and other countries.

Speaking at an international nuclear energy summit in Paris, Macron said, «In the case of uranium, our dependence on Russia is real. But other countries produce uranium, and we must cooperate internationally to diversify and secure our supplies.»

He specifically named Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Canada and Australia as potential alternatives to reduce Europe’s exposure to Russian imports.

Macron described nuclear energy as crucial for energy sovereignty, decarbonisation and economic growth. He also...

BYD is reportedly in discussions to enter Formula 1 and compete with teams such as Ferrari and McLaren, Bloomberg reports.

The Chinese EV and battery producer aims to raise global brand awareness as it expands international sales. BYD stopped producing internal combustion engine-only cars in March 2022, focusing solely on battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.

If BYD joins F1, it would follow recent newcomers such as GM-backed Cadillac, which debuted on March 8. F1 cars have used hybrid drivetrains for over a decade, and the 2026 regulations have increased the role of electric power, making...

Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan has approved new rules governing the issuance of IT visas in Uzbekistan. Under the updated regulations, foreign investors must invest at least $30,000 in Uzbek IT companies or hold a share in a company worth the same amount to qualify for the visa.

The same requirement applies to founders of companies registered as residents of IT Park Uzbekistan, who must also maintain a stake of at least $30,000 in their business.

The IT visa programme is available to foreign IT specialists, founders and shareholders of resident companies in the tech park, creators and employees...

Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan announced that from March 10, 2026, two-way passenger flights between Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will resume, lifting previous passenger restrictions.

Flights to Saudi Arabia must consider the end of the Umrah season, with all pilgrims leaving before Hajj 2026. Uzbekistan Airports will check passengers hold return tickets and submit daily lists of those who do not to Uzaviatsiya Agency.

Only licensed tour operators may transport pilgrims, ensuring each passenger receives return tickets, accommodation vouchers, transfers, meals and insurance copies. Airlines will remind travellers during flights to keep documents and...

Boeing has signed a contract worth $289 mln with Israel to supply up to 5,000 air-launched smart bombs, Reuters reports.

The deal is not linked to the current U.S.-Israeli air strikes on Iran, with deliveries expected to begin in about 36 months, according to an earlier report by Bloomberg.

The order includes Boeing’s Small Diameter Bomb, a precision-guided munition designed to be launched from aircraft at targets more than 40 miles, or about 64 kilometres, away.

Last year Boeing secured an $8.6bn contract from the U.S. Department of Defense to manufacture and deliver F-15 fighter jet aircraft to Israel...

Uzbekistan is planning to integrate its tourism services with the platform of Expedia Group as part of efforts to expand international promotion of the country’s travel industry.

Officials discussed joint public relations campaigns aimed at promoting Uzbekistan as a tourist destination by using Expedia’s global marketing network. Participants also noted that visa-free entry for U.S. citizens could help increase the number of visitors from the United States.

Talks were also held with Jan Tisserg of Amadeus IT Group. The discussions focused on using booking system data and aviation analytics to analyse tourism flows and support the development of inbound tourism.

Heeseung will leave K-pop group ENHYPEN, his agency Belift Lab announced on Tuesday.

In a statement posted on the fan platform Weverse, the company said it had held extensive discussions with the group’s members about their future plans and the direction of the band.

«Through deep conversations about each member’s vision for the future and the team’s direction, we confirmed that Heeseung has a clear musical path he wishes to pursue,» the agency said. «After careful consideration, we decided to respect his aspirations.»

Belift Lab, a subsidiary of HYBE, said the 24-year-old singer would...

Bitcoin climbed above $71,500 on Tuesday, reaching its highest level of the week as cryptocurrency markets followed a broader rebound in global stocks. However, analysts say the rally could face resistance in the near term.

Data from market trackers showed BTC gaining around 4.5% in a day, briefly trading above $71.5K during early Wall Street trading. The move mirrored a relief rally in equity markets, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also posting modest gains.

Despite the upward momentum, traders are warning that liquidity conditions could trigger a short-term correction. Some analysts point to a significant liquidation...

Uzbekistan and Chinese telecommunications company ZTE have signed a memorandum of cooperation to develop telecommunications infrastructure and modernize data center facilities, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Digital Technologies said.

The agreement was signed during a meeting between Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov and a ZTE delegation led by Senior Vice President James Zhang on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress.

According to the ministry, the memorandum focuses on expanding mobile communication networks, developing broadband infrastructure, introducing next-generation telecom technologies, and upgrading Uzbekistan’s data center ecosystem.

During the talks, the two sides also discussed cooperation on innovative telecom solutions...

Uzbekistan has repatriated 21,712 citizens from several Middle Eastern countries as of 07:00 on March 9, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, as evacuation efforts continue amid regional instability.

Most of those returned came from Saudi Arabia, with 17,963 Uzbek citizens brought home. Additional repatriations included 3,290 people from the United Arab Emirates, 378 from Qatar, 47 from Iran, 27 from Bahrain, and seven from Oman.

The foreign ministry said the return of citizens is being carried out «systematically and in stages,» with authorities coordinating flights and logistics for those wishing to return. Many evacuation flights are...

French President Emmanuel Macron has emphasised France’s military support for Cyprus during a visit to the island, as tensions in the eastern Mediterranean rise following attacks linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

During the trip, Macron met Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in Paphos and stressed that Cyprus could «count on France» for support. In a video shared on social media, the French leader appeared alongside military personnel and equipment, including France’s Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, while praising the strength of French forces.

Macron said that «an attack on Cyprus is an attack on all of Europe...

A senior Iranian security official has issued a direct warning to U.S. President Donald Trump, further escalating tensions as conflict between Iran and the United States and its allies intensifies.

Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, warned the U.S. leader in a statement on Tuesday:

«The Ashura-loving nation of Iran does not fear your paper threats. Even those greater than you could not eliminate the Iranian nation. Watch out for yourself — lest you be eliminated.»

Larijani’s remarks came after Trump warned Iran against blocking the Strait of Hormuz...