News

A humanoid robot developed by Honor has outpaced the human half-marathon world record at a robot race in Beijing, highlighting rapid advances in China’s robotics sector.

The robot completed the 21-kilometre course in 50 minutes and 26 seconds at the Beijing E-Town Robot Marathon on Sunday, according to organisers. The time surpasses the current human world record set by Ugandan runner Jacob Kiplimo, who clocked approximately 57 minutes earlier this year.

The achievement marks a dramatic improvement from the inaugural event last year, when the fastest robot finished in over two hours and 40 minutes. This year’s competition...

Bloomberg has released its latest Billionaires Index, highlighting the overwhelming financial dominance of the United States technology sector. Nine of the world’s ten wealthiest individuals are American tech leaders, leaving just one spot for a European representing the luxury goods market.

Here is the updated breakdown of the ten richest people on the planet:

Elon Musk ($656 bn): The driving force behind electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla and private aerospace firm SpaceX. His staggering wealth is further supported by his ownership of the social media platform X and the neurotechnology startup Neuralink.

Larry Page ($286 bn): The Alphabet co-founder has...

International investment and technology firm Freedom Holding Corp has announced the acquisition of ChessBase, one of the world’s oldest and largest platforms dedicated to chess software, analytics and data.

The takeover aims to strengthen the company’s market position through the widespread implementation of artificial intelligence and its integration into the wider Freedom corporate ecosystem. The firm expects to invest approximately €5 mln into the project’s future development.

A new era for a historic brand

Timur Turlov, chief executive of Freedom Holding Corp, highlighted the significance of the deal for the global chess community.

“ChessBase is...

The Uzbek private cargo carrier My Freighter has officially expanded its aviation park with the arrival of a new Boeing 767. The aircraft, which landed on April 17 and carries the tail number UK67022, marks the tenth addition to the company’s growing fleet.

Continuing a recently established corporate tradition of honouring the nation’s most outstanding historical figures, the airline has named the new freighter after Abdulla Qodiriy.

Qodiriy is widely celebrated as one of the principal founders of modern Uzbek literature, a brilliant playwright and a dedicated public figure. He is best known for authoring the masterpieces Bygone Days and...

Uzbekistan is set to implement sweeping legislative changes aimed at bolstering child protection and increasing state support for vulnerable families. The new initiatives, recently presented to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, outline a dual approach focusing on digital safety and comprehensive care for children with disabilities.

According to the press service of the children’s ombudsman, the republic will introduce targeted punishments for the possession of child pornography with the intent to distribute. First-time offenders will face administrative charges, while any repeat offences will automatically trigger criminal liability.

The state is also toughening the penalties for any depraved or predatory acts directed...

Kanye West will no longer be performing in Poland after the venue cancelled his upcoming show amid mounting political pressure regarding his history of racist, antisemitic and pro-Nazi statements, BBC reports.

The controversial American rapper, who also goes by the name Ye, was set to take the stage at the Silesian Stadium in Chorzow on June. It would have marked his first Polish performance in 15 years, but venue officials confirmed on Friday that the event had been scrapped citing unspecified “formal and legal reasons”.

The cancellation follows strong condemnation from the Polish government. Marta Cienkowska, the country’s culture...

The Trump administration has extended a crucial sanctions waiver that permits nations to purchase Russian oil at sea for approximately another month, Reuters reports. The decision comes despite fierce criticism from U.S. lawmakers who argue the government is adopting a soft stance on Moscow while the war in Ukraine continues.

The U.S. Treasury Department’s updated exemption allows countries to acquire Russian crude and petroleum products loaded onto vessels from Friday until May 16. This replaces a previous 30-day grace period that expired on April 11. Transactions involving Iran, Cuba and North Korea remain strictly prohibited under the terms of...

The Association of Umrah Pilgrimage Travel Agencies has signed a strategic memorandum with the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (HUURSAD) to facilitate dedicated tours to Uzbekistan for Turkish citizens.

The initiative, officially titled “Umrah Plus Uzbekistan”, was recently unveiled to 50 tourism industry representatives during a special presentation in Istanbul. The showcase was coordinated by the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan alongside the Organization of Turkic States, the Uzbek Consulate General in Istanbul and various Turkish travel coalitions.

Extending the spiritual journey

Under this new travel framework, Turkish pilgrims completing their religious duties in Saudi Arabia will be encouraged...

Uzbekistan Airports has formalised a strategic partnership with JPMorgan Chase following the signing of a memorandum at the Uzbekistan Investor Day forum in the United States.

This agreement is set to provide the company with critical access to international capital markets, paving the way for the issuance of Eurobonds and the utilisation of other sophisticated financial tools.

The forum was held across two major U.S. financial hubs, taking place in Boston on April 13 and New York on April 14. The event focused on showcasing Uzbekistan’s investment potential and the various economic reforms currently being implemented to attract foreign capital.

Uzbekistan’s chess sensation Javokhir Sindarov has returned to a hero’s welcome in Tashkent after a triumphant performance at the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament. Following his historic victory, the 20-year-old grandmaster was awarded the prestigious “Mehnat shuhrati” (Glory of Labour) order.

Upon landing at the capital’s airport, Sindarov was greeted by a high-profile delegation that included Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, officials from the Uzbekistan Chess Federation, coaches and his close relatives.

A presidential tribute

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev formally presented the state honour to the young champion while congratulating him on becoming the first player from Uzbekistan to secure...

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz following a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Lebanon, Reuters reports.

The U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism that a comprehensive deal to end the war with Iran could be finalised soon.

Taking to social media platform X, Araqchi confirmed the vital waterway is now open to all commercial vessels for the duration of the 10-day truce agreed between Israel and Hezbollah. Shortly after, Trump echoed the announcement on Truth Social, declaring the strait “fully open and ready for passage”.

Shipping resumes under a cloud of caution

Uzbekistan has placed Vladimir Dobrynin, the founder and chief executive of the technology company Humans, on the international wanted list. An official notice regarding the search for the businessman has been published on the Interpol website.

Domestic authorities are seeking Dobrynin on serious criminal charges encompassing the organisation of illegal gambling activities and money laundering.

Escalating corporate clashes

These criminal allegations mark the latest development in an increasingly bitter conflict between the tech executive’s business empire and the Uzbek state. The situation began to deteriorate significantly in June 2025 when Singapore-based Humans Mobile Ltd launched a lawsuit against...

The international policing organisation Interpol has officially placed Uzbek national Ravshan Mukhitdinov on its global wanted list. Details of his fugitive status have been published on the agency’s official portal.

Mukhitdinov, who is widely known in criminal circles by the alias Ravshan “Zolotoy” (Ravshan the Golden), is facing a string of serious allegations in his home country. Law enforcement agencies in Uzbekistan have accused him of malicious property damage, acts of hooliganism and orchestrating a major criminal syndicate.

A history of international arrests

This latest development is simply the newest chapter in a long-running saga between Mukhitdinov and...

The powerhouses of the South Korean music industry, Hybe, YG Entertainment, SM Entertainment and JYP Entertainment, have confirmed they are pooling their resources to launch a major joint venture, Yonhap reports.

The move is a strategic bid to establish a massive global music festival that would showcase their world-famous artists on a single, unified stage.

Known as the “Big Four”, these agencies are currently working within the music division of the Presidential Committee for Popular Culture Exchange. On Thursday, they revealed that preparations are underway to form a legal corporation dedicated to launching an event titled “Fanomenon”.

The...

Errol Musk has sparked fresh controversy after claiming that disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein is still alive, repeating conspiracy theories during an appearance on Russian state television.

Interview triggers backlash

Speaking in a primetime broadcast, Musk dismissed the official ruling that Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019. He described the conclusion as «absurd» and alleged a cover-up involving prison guards and malfunctioning surveillance cameras. Despite apparent scepticism from the audience, Musk insisted Epstein was «alive and well.»

Timing raises attention

The remarks came during Musk’s visit to Moscow, where he reportedly attended...

Two of Europe’s biggest airlines, Lufthansa and KLM, have cancelled hundreds of flights as soaring jet fuel costs triggered by the Iran conflict disrupt the aviation sector.

Fuel surge forces cuts

Lufthansa said it will ground its CityLine regional fleet of 27 aircraft by the weekend and reduce capacity on international routes after the summer season. KLM announced it would cancel around 160 flights over the coming month, though this represents less than 1% of its schedule. Both carriers cited sharply rising kerosene prices linked to instability in the Middle East.

Shortage fears intensify

International Energy...

Red Bull Racing has confirmed a major reorganisation of its technical hierarchy in an attempt to stabilise the team following a period of unprecedented upheaval.

The Milton Keynes-based outfit has seen a steady stream of senior talent depart in recent years, including the architect of its modern success, Christian Horner, and the long-standing motorsport advisor Helmut Marko.

With the team looking to protect its long-term competitive edge, several internal promotions and external recruitments have been fast-tracked. The most significant shift sees Ben Waterhouse step into an expanded leadership role as Chief Performance and Design Engineer with immediate effect. Waterhouse...

The Department of Homeland Security has moved to deport Iranian academic Yousof Azizi, accusing him of lying on his U.S. visa application about past ties to a group linked to Iran’s security apparatus.

Allegations tied to IRGC-linked group

U.S. authorities claim Azizi failed to disclose his alleged membership in the Student Basij Organisation between 2006 and 2010. The group is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which Washington designates as a terrorist organisation. Officials say Azizi entered the U.S. on a student visa in 2013, later terminated after he failed to re-enrol in late 2025. No...

The United States Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, has found himself at the centre of a bizarre theological blunder after he inadvertently quoted a Quentin Tarantino screenplay while leading a formal prayer at the Pentagon, Variety reports.

Intending to offer spiritual support for an American pilot currently missing in Iran, the former Fox News host instead recited the “Ezekiel 25:17” monologue famously delivered by Samuel L. Jackson’s hitman character in the 1994 cult classic Pulp Fiction.

The incident took place during a Wednesday worship service within the Department of War. Hegseth introduced the passage as “CSAR 25:17”, a reference...

The Russian luxury brand Caviar has launched a bespoke series of the iPhone 17 Pro dedicated to the memory of Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the late founder and long-time leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR).

This high-end collection seeks to celebrate the politician’s legacy, focusing on his distinctive charisma, political intuition and legendary foresight.

The design of the handset is heavily influenced by the LDPR’s official branding, with the titanium body finished in a deep blue hue synonymous with the party. The focal point of the device is a meticulously hand-painted enamel profile of Zhirinovsky himself.

According...

Uzbekistan has introduced a dedicated legal “sandbox” to regulate the issuance and circulation of stablecoins.

This framework, approved jointly by the Central Bank of Uzbekistan and the National Agency of Prospective Projects, is designed to modernise the country’s financial landscape. The primary objective is to cultivate innovative payment systems and attract international investors while ensuring a high level of protection for those participating in the digital asset market.

Within this controlled environment, entities are permitted to issue digital tokens backed by either the national soum or foreign currencies. These stablecoins can be utilised as a valid means of payment...

A series of smash-and-grab raids has struck independent hobby shops across the UK, as criminals increasingly target high-value Pokémon trading cards, BBC reports.

Celestial Collectibles in Warrington is the latest victim in a nationwide spree that has seen similar thefts reported in Nottingham, Bristol, Rugby, Peterborough, Bournemouth and Gloucester.

The surge in crime follows a dramatic rise in the market value of the collectibles. While the hobby has existed for 30 years, interest exploded during the pandemic, turning rare cards into serious alternative assets.

Specialist auction house Stanley Gibbons Baldwins recently reported over £1.5 mln in Pokémon sales, with...

Neukgu, the two-year-old wolf whose dramatic escape from a South Korean zoo captivated the entire nation, has finally been caught after a relentless nine-day pursuit, BBC reports.

The Daejeon city government confirmed that the runaway animal was secured near an expressway at 00:44 local time on Friday. Following a prompt veterinary assessment, officials reported that his pulse and body temperature were completely normal.

A game of cat and mouse

Hundreds of emergency workers had been dispatched to track down the missing canine over the past week. Rescuers came agonisingly close to securing him on several occasions, but the...

The U.S. R&B singer known as D4vd has been taken into police custody on suspicion of murdering a 14-year-old girl, BBC reports. The teenager vanished in 2024 before her severely decomposed body was discovered inside the recording artist’s vehicle in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) confirmed on Thursday that heavily armed officers arrested the 21-year-old, whose real name is David Anthony Burke. He was detained at approximately 4:30 pm and led away with his hands behind his back. Burke is currently being held without bail with authorities planning to present their case to the District Attorney’s...