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The nominations for the 98th Academy Awards were unveiled on Thursday, kicking off the final phase of the 2026 Oscars race. Ryan Coogler’s vampire thriller Sinners emerged as the most nominated film of the year with a record-breaking 16 nominations, while Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another followed with 13. Chloe Zhao’s Shakespeare-inspired drama Hamnet earned eight nominations, securing its place among the Best Picture contenders alongside titles such as F1, Frankenstein and Marty Supreme.

The nominations were announced by Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman, with the ceremony set for 15 March at the Dolby Theatre in...

Geologists have identified what is being described as the world’s largest-ever iron ore deposit in Western Australia, a discovery that could significantly influence global commodity markets. The find, located deep beneath the remote Hamersley region in the Pilbara, is estimated to contain around 55 bn metric tons of high-grade ore with iron content exceeding 60%, potentially valuing the resource at about £4.5 trillion.

Researchers, including scientists from Curtin University, say the unusually high purity of the ore would allow more efficient extraction with less waste than typical deposits. Beyond its economic significance, the discovery has also prompted a...

Senior figures in Venezuela’s ruling elite secretly assured US officials they would cooperate with Washington after the removal of President Nicolas Maduro, according to sources cited by The Guardian. Delcy Rodriguez, who was later sworn in as acting president, and her brother Jorge Rodriguez, head of the national assembly, are said to have conveyed through intermediaries that they would accept Maduro’s departure, though they stopped short of actively helping to topple him.

The backchannel contacts, which also involved Qatari officials, took place months before the U.S. military operation that led to Maduro’s capture earlier this month. Sources said...

France’s navy has seized a suspected Russian «shadow fleet» oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea following intelligence provided by the UK, authorities said on Thursday.

The vessel, named Grinch, was intercepted in a commando-style operation off the southern coast of Spain and is suspected of operating under a false flag to evade Western sanctions on Russian oil exports.

French officials said the tanker is linked to Moscow’s sanction-busting network used to keep oil revenues flowing despite restrictions imposed over the war in Ukraine. The ship is now being escorted to port for inspections.

President Emmanuel Macron

Uzbekistan formally joined the Board of Peace on Gaza after President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed an accession agreement. The initiative was launched by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The agreement was signed in Davos, Switzerland, during the World Economic Forum.

According to CNN, representatives from fewer than 20 countries attended the ceremony, despite earlier reports that 35 participants were expected.

«We have a great group of people and incredible young people that are leading it from within,» he said during the announcement of the board in Davos.

The U.S. president added that the new organisation...

World leaders meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos have warned that the global order is «in the midst of a rupture,» amid growing fears that international law is being undermined and great-power politics are returning. The comments come as U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed push to annex Greenland, alongside tariff threats and rhetoric over Venezuela’s oil, dominates discussions in Switzerland.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the world was shifting toward an era «without rules,» where economic tools such as tariffs and supply chains are increasingly used as weapons. French President Emmanuel Macron warned that «imperial ambitions are...

Mercedes released the first images of its 2026 Formula 1 car, the W17, which sports a revised silver and black livery.

The team, which climbed back to second in last year’s Teams’ Championship, will retain George Russell and Kimi Antonelli for the upcoming season.

Like its rivals, the W17 is smaller, narrower and lighter than its predecessor, built to meet sweeping new aerodynamic rules introduced for 2026.

«Formula 1 will undergo significant change in 2026, and we are prepared for that transition,» said team principal and CEO Toto Wolff.

He added that the...

French food group Lactalis announced a global recall of six batches of Picot baby formula amid concerns they may contain a toxin.

The recall affects products sold in Australia, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, the Czech Republic, Ecuador, France, Georgia, Greece, Kuwait, Madagascar, Mexico, Monaco, Spain, Peru, Taiwan and Uzbekistan.

Lactalis said the batches were being withdrawn because tests found cereulide in an ingredient supplied by a third party. The company did not identify the supplier.

Cereulide, a toxin produced by bacteria, can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, the statement said. Lactalis provided a list of six lot numbers and insisted...

Uzbekistan’s gold exports reached $9.9 bn in 2025, marking a 32.3% increase compared with the previous year, according to the country’s foreign trade report.

In November, the Central Bank of Uzbekistan became one of the world’s top three buyers of gold, purchasing 10 tonnes in a single month. Only Poland and Brazil bought more, with 12 tonnes and 11 tonnes respectively. By early December, central banks globally had acquired more than 290 tonnes of the precious metal. Although this was below the record highs seen in previous years, demand for gold remained strong.

Uzbekistan’s foreign exchange and gold reserves also...

Hong Kong’s High Court began a landmark national security trial on January 22 involving three former leaders of the now disbanded Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China. The group organised annual vigils commemorating Beijing’s 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square.

The public commemorations, once legal in Hong Kong, were widely seen as a symbol of the city’s relative freedoms compared with mainland China.

«Justice resides in the hearts of the people, and history will bear witness,» said Tang Ngok-kwan, a former senior member of the group, as he...

Uzbekistan’s energy system recorded a winter peak load of 13 gigawatts (GW) on January 20 at 17:42, the Ministry of Energy said. The figure is 500 megawatts (MW) higher than the previous winter record of 12.5 GW set last year.

The increase in demand was linked to cold weather and higher electricity use during evening hours, mainly for heating and household needs.

The ministry said the energy system was operating normally and that specialists were monitoring the situation closely.

Kursiv also reports that in 2025, Uzbekistan fully renovated 787 km of main power transmission lines.

Firefighters in Karachi recovered the bodies of as many as 25 people from the wreckage of a shopping mall fire on January 21, raising the death toll to about 50. The blaze, the largest the port city has seen in more than a decade, erupted late on January 17 and quickly engulfed the vast Gul Plaza shopping complex.

Gul Plaza was known for its 1,200 family-owned shops selling wedding clothes, toys, crockery and other items. Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso told reporters that authorities had found between 20 and 25 bodies, which had been taken to a hospital for...

Taylor Swift will become the second youngest songwriter ever inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame at age 36. The pop star will join the likes of Stevie Wonder, who was 33 when he was inducted in 1983.

Swift will be inducted alongside Alanis Morissette, Kenny Loggins, and Kiss band members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons. The ceremony is set for June 11 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City, the organisation said on CBS Mornings.

«They’ve literally written the soundtrack to our lives. The songs we dance to, cry to and rock...

U.S. President Donald Trump stepped back from threats to impose tariffs on Europe, Reuters reports. He said a deal was in sight to resolve the dispute over Greenland.

Speaking in Davos, Switzerland, Trump ruled out the use of force and said allies could agree on a plan that meets U.S. security needs and blocks Russian and Chinese influence.

«It’s a deal that everybody’s very happy with,» Trump said. «It’s a long-term deal. It’s the ultimate long-term deal.»

After meeting NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump said the issue of Greenland’s status within Denmark did...

Netflix confirmed the release date for season 8 of its Formula 1 documentary series, Drive to Survive, with the new episodes arriving on the streaming platform on February 27.

The latest instalment will follow the 2025 F1 season, offering viewers a behind-the-scenes look at a campaign that delivered drama both on and off the track.

The fight for the Drivers’ Championship shifted throughout the year, with Oscar Piastri emerging as an early front-runner before Max Verstappen staged a strong comeback in the second half of the season. While Piastri endured a difficult spell, his McLaren team mate Lando...

A charter flight carrying Uzbek citizens deported from the United States arrived in Tashkent on the evening of January 21, Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry said.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Akhror Burkhanov said 44 people who had been residing illegally in the United States were returned to Uzbekistan. He noted that the flight was organised jointly with relevant U.S. agencies to ensure the safe and timely return of Uzbek nationals.

«Cooperation on ensuring the safety of our citizens abroad, protecting their legal rights and returning them home is continuing,» Burkhanov said.

According to aviation tracking services, the...

A Moscow military court sentenced Ahmadjon Kurbonov, a citizen of Uzbekistan, to life imprisonment for carrying out a terrorist attack in 2024.

The ruling was handed down by the Second Western District Military Court. Kurbonov pleaded guilty to the attack, which killed Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, head of Russia’s Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Troops. He was also fined 1 mln roubles (about $12,900).

Investigators said Kurbonov acted on instructions from Ukraine’s Security Service. According to the prosecution, he placed an electric scooter fitted with a remotely controlled explosive near the general’s residence and livestreamed the operation to Ukraine...

In an exclusive interview with Kursiv Uzbekistan, the young grandmaster spoke about his emotions ahead of the Candidates Tournament, his plans for the future, and key games against the world’s strongest players.

— You won the World Cup in India and became the youngest champion in history. How did you maintain a psychological edge in the final against Wei Yi?

— Honestly, the tournament was extremely difficult and the opponents were very strong. But I came into the competition in excellent form, so I tried to stay calm and play my best chess until the very end.

In the...

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has said Elon Musk would be blocked from taking over the airline because EU rules prevent non-European citizens from owning a majority stake in European carriers. O’Leary made the remarks after Musk suggested buying Ryanair following a public spat between the two executives.

While ruling out a takeover, O’Leary said Musk would be welcome to invest in the company, adding that Ryanair would be «a very good investment.» The exchange follows criticism by O’Leary of Musk’s Starlink in-flight Wi-Fi system, which he said was too costly and could increase fuel consumption.

The...

The European Parliament has formally suspended the ratification of a U.S.–EU trade deal in response to President Donald Trump’s threat to impose 10% tariffs on EU exports unless the bloc agrees to his demand to take control of Greenland. The move marks the EU’s strongest response so far to what several European leaders have described as political blackmail.

Bernd Lange, chair of the parliament’s trade committee, said there could be no compromise on ratification while the threats remain, although the EU’s separate commitment to purchase $750 bn in US energy would stand. The decision comes amid worsening transatlantic...

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has warned that artificial intelligence could move «too fast for society» and risk civil unrest unless governments and businesses work together to support displaced workers. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Dimon said AI would deliver major benefits, from productivity gains to medical breakthroughs, but argued its rollout may need to be phased in to avoid social disruption.

Dimon said JPMorgan is likely to have fewer employees within five years as AI adoption accelerates, and urged policymakers to expand retraining, wage support and relocation programmes, citing U.S. truck drivers as a...

Manchester City’s captains have paid nearly £10,000 to refund ticket costs for all 374 supporters who travelled to Norway for the club’s Champions League match against Bodo/Glimt. Hundreds of fans made the long journey to the Arctic Circle only to witness a disappointing 3–1 defeat, a result that leaves City at risk of slipping into the competition’s play-off places.

Captains Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Erling Haaland and Rodri agreed collectively to reimburse supporters, calling it a small gesture in recognition of the sacrifice fans make when following the team. City now face a crucial run of fixtures, including...

U.S. President Donald Trump said he would not use force in his bid to control Greenland, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, but insisted that no other country could secure the autonomous Danish territory.

The comments prompted a mix of relief and concern among political leaders and analysts in attendance. California Governor Gavin Newsom dismissed the speech as «insignificant» and warned it had unnerved markets and allies, while former U.S. vice president Al Gore said Trump was dangerously undermining alliances.

Others, including Brookings expert Philip Gordon, said there was a «big sigh...

Newly unsealed court documents have revealed that a senior Sony Pictures executive referred to Blake Lively as a «f***ing terrorist» during the troubled production of It Ends With Us, as the actor’s legal battle with co-star and director Justin Baldoni moves closer to trial. In a September deposition, Sony executive Andrea Giannetti testified that the remark was made amid concerns Lively would walk off the film unless a list of demands was met, with the studio having already invested about $28 mln in the project.

Giannetti described the set as chaotic, citing ongoing conflicts between Lively and...