News

Lando Norris has ended Mercedes’ streak of single-lap dominance this season by storming to Sprint pole at the Miami Grand Prix. The British driver delivered a blistering lap in the final moments of SQ3 to beat championship leader Kimi Antonelli and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.

Following a lengthy break after Suzuka, the paddock arrived in Florida with vastly different machinery. Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren all brought significant upgrade packages to their cars. Mercedes arrived with minimal changes, setting the stage for a dramatic shift in the pecking order on a scorching street circuit where track temperatures reached over...

Charles Leclerc has set the fastest time in an extended first practice session for the Miami Grand Prix, leading Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri in scorching conditions.

With Miami hosting the first Sprint weekend of the season, the sole practice session was expanded from 60 to 90 minutes. This gave teams crucial track time to evaluate significant upgrade packages following a lengthy April break. Track temperatures hovered above 50 degrees Celsius for most of the session, making tyre management on the hard, medium and soft compounds a key focus.

Ferrari arrived with a heavily upgraded SF-26 and the Scuderia...

Bahrain has revoked the citizenship of 69 individuals, including family members, accusing them of supporting or maintaining ties with Iran amid escalating regional tensions.

The Interior Ministry said those affected, described as being of non-Bahraini origin, lost their nationality under provisions of the country’s citizenship law allowing such measures on national security grounds. Officials stated the decision followed royal directives and targeted individuals accused of sympathising with hostile acts or contacting foreign entities.

Rights groups warn the move could have severe consequences, often leaving individuals stateless and without access to employment, healthcare or travel. Some may face detention...

Roblox will require users under 16 in Indonesia to undergo facial scanning to verify their age, as part of new government rules restricting minors’ access to digital platforms.

The changes, announced in Jakarta by Roblox’s head of public policy Nicky Jackson Colaco, are among the strictest measures the company has introduced globally. The platform will roll out age-based accounts, including «Roblox Kids» for ages 5 to 12 with no chat features, and «Roblox Select» for users aged 13 to 15 with limited communication options.

Around 23 mln Indonesian accounts identified as belonging to under-16s will be automatically transitioned...

Buckingham Palace has declined to confirm whether Zohran Mamdani raised the return of the Koh-i-Noor during a brief exchange with King Charles III at a 9/11 memorial event.

Ahead of the meeting, Mamdani, who is of Indian heritage, said he intended to encourage the monarch to return the diamond to India, which has long claimed it was taken during British colonial rule. Photographs later showed the two speaking, but neither the palace nor the mayor’s office confirmed whether the issue was discussed.

The Koh-i-Noor remains one of the most contentious symbols of Britain’s imperial past. Originally mined in...

Donald Trump has rejected an offer from Vladimir Putin for Moscow to help manage Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, instead urging progress toward a ceasefire in Ukraine during a 90-minute phone call.

According to officials, the conversation focused on easing global tensions, with Trump prioritising an end to the Ukraine war over deeper Russian involvement in the Iran crisis. The Kremlin described the call as «friendly, frank and businesslike,» while Putin reportedly suggested a temporary truce linked to upcoming World War II commemorations.

The talks come as Washington extends a fragile ceasefire with Iran and maintains a naval blockade aimed at...

Lewis Hamilton has urged Formula One to give drivers a greater say in shaping the sport’s future, insisting they should have «a seat at the table» alongside governing bodies and teams.

Speaking ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, the seven-time world champion said drivers are regularly consulted but lack formal influence over key decisions.

«We don’t have a seat at the table currently, which I think needs to change,» Hamilton said, adding that drivers want to collaborate rather than criticise the sport.

His comments come as new rule adjustments are introduced following...

A cluster of earthquakes near Area 51 has sparked widespread speculation after coinciding with rising tensions between the United States and Iran.

According to monitoring data, 17 earthquakes struck the Nevada region between 29 and 30 April, with the strongest reaching magnitude 4.4. The tremors were recorded at a relatively shallow depth of about 2.5 miles, compared to the more typical six to 12 miles in the area. More than 100 people reported feeling the shaking, including residents in nearby Las Vegas.

The timing of the seismic swarm has drawn attention online, with some linking it to potential...

Prince William is reportedly refusing to accept Prince Harry’s «half in, half out» lifestyle in the United States, with royal insiders describing the divide between the brothers as increasingly difficult to bridge.

According to former royal aide Ailsa Anderson, William views Harry’s attempt to combine royal status with independent commercial activity as «non-negotiable,» arguing that public duty cannot be mixed with private business interests. Allies of the Prince of Wales say he believes such an arrangement risks undermining the integrity of the monarchy.

Recent appearances by Harry have added to tensions. His remarks at a security forum in...

Geordie Greig, editor-in-chief of The Independent, has described Uzbekistan as «remarkably undersold as a stunningly attractive and safe destination» following his journey along the Silk Road.

In his travel feature, Greig explored key historic cities including Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and Tashkent, highlighting the country’s unique blend of ancient heritage and modern development. He described Uzbekistan as a place that «effortlessly blends the modern and ancient,» attracting growing interest from international travellers.

Greig singled out Samarkand as a city that has long captured the imagination of writers and visitors alike, calling it an «exotic, magical and mystical» destination at...

Ian Somerhalder has disclosed that a disastrous business venture left him with a massive eight-figure debt, forcing him and his family to make drastic sacrifices, Variety reports. In a recent interview with E! News, the former actor explained that severe “financial upheaval” played a significant role in his decision to walk away from a highly lucrative television career.

Somerhalder originally shot to global fame playing Boone Carlyle across four series of ABC’s Lost before becoming a household name as the vampire Damon Salvatore during an eight-season run on The CW’s The Vampire Diaries.

However, behind the scenes of his...

Uzbekistan spent $360.5 mln on natural gas imports during the first quarter of 2026, according to a recent report published by the National Statistics Committee.

This figure represents a significant 2.2-fold increase compared to the same period last year.
As the country ramps up its foreign energy purchases, its overseas sales have simultaneously taken a substantial hit. The republic saw its gas export revenues plummet to just $36.7 mln over the year, down from a previous total of $94.3 mln.

Boosting domestic extraction

In response to the shifting energy landscape, domestic producers are stepping up their operations to secure...

A 45-year-old man is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today in connection with a suspected terrorist incident in north London. Essa Suleiman faces two charges of attempted murder and one charge of possessing a bladed article in a public space, Reuters reports.

The allegations stem from a violent assault in Golders Green on Wednesday that left two Jewish men requiring emergency medical care.

Detectives have also charged the Somali-born British citizen with a third count of attempted murder relating to an entirely separate incident that unfolded in south London earlier that same afternoon.

Victim update and...

South Korean entertainment powerhouse YG Entertainment will debut a brand new boy group this September. The act will feature five members and marks the agency’s first new male band in six years.

Yang Hyun-suk, the founder and executive producer of YG, confirmed the news in a video statement released on the company’s official blog on Thursday. While addressing the long-standing speculation surrounding the agency’s autumn plans, he stated:

“We’re planning to introduce the male group in September for now. The number of its members, which many people may be curious about, is five.”

Yang...

Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr have become involved in a tungsten mining project located in Kazakhstan. The development was first reported by the Financial Times, which cited its own unnamed sources.

According to the report, the brothers invested in a construction firm named Skyline Builders in August 2025. This entity subsequently acquired a 20% stake in Kaz Resources, a mining enterprise dedicated to the extraction of natural resources.

A spokesperson for Donald Trump Jr clarified his role to journalists, stating that his involvement is strictly limited to financial investment. The representative emphasised that the president’s eldest son is...

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has confirmed that the upcoming World Chess Championship match between challenger Javokhir Sindarov and defending champion Dommaraju Gukesh will take place from November 23 to December 17, 2026.

This contest is set to make history as the youngest battle for the global chess crown. Both grandmasters will be just 20 years old when the opening moves are played on the board.

FIDE is currently accepting bids from prospective countries and cities willing to stage the event. The governing body has stipulated that the host must provide a minimum prize fund of $2.5 mln.

The disgraced American financier Jeffrey Epstein used authentic tiles from an Uzbekistani mosque and tapestries from the Kaaba to decorate a bizarre building on his private Caribbean island of Little St James. According to an investigation by The New York Times (NYT), the billionaire conceived the idea to build a personal sanctuary while serving time in prison following his first conviction.

Before his release in 2009, Epstein began communicating with architects to design a traditional hammam (bathhouse) surrounded by an elaborate Islamic garden. By 2011, he was actively sourcing materials. The NYT reports that he emailed a contact in...

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has firmly stated that Iran will play their 2026 World Cup matches in the United States, Reuters reports.

His declaration came as the football governing body opened its latest Congress on Thursday without the Iranian delegation, a striking absence that highlighted the severe political tensions surrounding the upcoming tournament.

Infantino emphasised unity as the primary reason for his stance. He confirmed that Iran would definitely participate in the tournament and play on American soil, calling it a shared responsibility to bring people together.

U.S. President Donald Trump gave his blessing to the arrangement. Speaking to reporters...

Oscar-winning filmmaker Pavel Talankin has lost his Academy Award after U.S. airport security forced him to check the prized statuette into an aircraft’s hold, BBC reports.

The director, who won the Best Feature Documentary accolade for his film Mr Nobody Against Putin, was travelling from New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport to Germany on Wednesday. He initially packed the golden trophy in his hand luggage, but staff from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) intervened and ruled that the heavy award could potentially be used as a weapon.

As the exiled Russian filmmaker did not have any hold...

Prosecutors in California have brought a criminal charge against pop icon Britney Spears following her arrest last month for suspected driving under the influence, BBC reports.

The 44-year-old singer currently faces a single misdemeanour count of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Authorities confirmed that Spears was apprehended on a Southern California motorway on March 4 after police spotted her driving her BMW erratically and at high speed.

On Thursday, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office officially filed the case against the recording artist.

Upcoming court date

Spears is scheduled for a court arraignment next Monday...

Helmut Marko has brushed off Max Verstappen‘s recent suggestions that his passion for Formula 1 might be fading, RN365 reports. Marko is entirely confident that the Dutch driver will rediscover his motivation as soon as the team transforms the struggling RB22 into a competitive machine.

The reigning four-time world champion has been highly critical of the new 2026 technical regulations. He recently described the sport’s current era as “anti-racing” and likened it to “Formula E on steroids” while openly hinting he might walk away from the grid at the end of the year.

This deep frustration has been...

The Czech manufacturing giant Škoda Transportation has secured a contract to supply 10 electric trains to the Uzbek national railway network.

According to the news portal Idnes.cz the agreement is valued at 3 bn Czech koruna or roughly $143.9 mln. First Deputy Prime Minister Karel Havlíček praised the lucrative export arrangement by describing it as the “deal of the past two decades”.

The rail agreement was officially formalised during Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš‘s recent diplomatic tour of the republic. Speaking anonymously to Idnes.cz a member of the accompanying business delegation revealed that the final outcome remained highly...

The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and the Czech Prime Minister, Andrej Babiš, have signed a declaration aimed at advancing an enhanced strategic partnership.

During the Czech leader’s diplomatic visit to Uzbekistan, the two governments formalised a comprehensive package of documents designed to foster mutual cooperation across the economy, industry, science and culture.

Key highlights of the new operational agreements include a commitment from the Czech Republic to supply electric trains to the Uzbek national railway network and provide technical assistance in establishing a modern metrological laboratory.

Tashkent and Prague have also pledged to launch joint initiatives for...

Uzbekistan is preparing to expand its renewable energy footprint with the commissioning of 13 new hydroelectric power plants this year.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was recently briefed on these developments, which are expected to add 114 MW of capacity to the national grid and generate roughly 537 mln kWh of electricity annually.

A primary focus of the expansion is the Upper Pskem hydroelectric project located in the Bostanlyk district. Representing an investment of $365 mln, it stands as one of the most significant infrastructure undertakings in the current energy cycle.

Furthermore, the 15 MW Sokh hydroelectric power plant is...