News

South Korean singer and actress IU celebrated her birthday this Saturday by making a substantial charitable donation of 300 mln won ($200,160).

According to her management agency Edam Entertainment, the financial contribution was made under the moniker “IUaena”. This portmanteau proudly combines the beloved artist’s stage name with the official title of her dedicated fan club, Uaena.

The funds have been strategically divided to assist various demographics across the country. Edam Entertainment confirmed that 100 mln won was directed to the Asan Medical Center in Seoul. The remaining 200 mln won was distributed evenly, with 50 mln won granted to...

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced a $200,000 reward for information that could lead to the capture and prosecution of a former U.S. Air Force intelligence specialist. Monica Witt was indicted in 2019 on charges of committing espionage on behalf of the Iranian government.

In a recent public appeal, the FBI confirmed it is still actively searching for the 47-year-old, Monica Elfriede Witt, who is believed to have defected to Iran in 2013. The agency firmly stated that she “likely continues to support their nefarious activities”.

Daniel Wierzbicki, the special agent in charge...

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has voiced his dismay over the intense security measures now deemed necessary for members of the country’s highest court, CNN reports. Speaking to an audience of lawyers and judges in Florida on Thursday, the conservative justice explained that participating in public life outside the courthouse has become increasingly difficult.

This observation comes as the court requests millions of dollars in extra security funding from the U.S. Congress to combat a rising tide of physical and cyber threats directed at the judiciary.

“The security concerns now are much different from...

The stage is set for a historic moment in women’s mixed martial arts. Pioneers Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano have both successfully weighed in for their highly anticipated clash, headlining Netflix’s first-ever live MMA event this Saturday.

The legendary fighters tipped the scales in Inglewood, California on Friday morning. The 39-year-old Rousey (12-2) weighed in comfortably at 142 pounds. Her opponent, 44-year-old Carano (7-1), registered at 141.4 pounds for the bout, which was officially contracted at a 145-pound featherweight limit. The milestone event, promoted by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, will take place at the Intuit Dome in...

American and Nigerian military personnel have successfully eliminated a high-ranking ISIS commander. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the news on Friday, stating that the targeted strike has significantly weakened the militant organisation’s global capabilities, CNN reports.

Taking to his Truth Social platform late on Friday evening, Trump confirmed he had ordered the lethal operation. He described the mission as a flawlessly executed and highly complex joint effort between brave American troops and the Nigerian Armed Forces aimed at removing “the most active terrorist in the world” from the battlefield.

What do we know about the target?

The president...

Regular scheduled flights are set to connect Tashkent with Tamchy, the main gateway to Kyrgyzstan’s famed Issyk-Kul resort region. The new route was finalised during a high-level meeting between Uzbekistan Airports and Kyrgyz carrier Asman Airlines.

The inaugural flight is provisionally scheduled to take off on June 24, 2026. Flights will be operated using De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 turboprop aircraft, which are well suited for regional routes. Looking ahead, Asman Airlines intends to expand its presence in the Uzbek capital by introducing additional routes from Tashkent to other key Kyrgyz destinations, including Osh, Karakol and the capital city...

U.S. President Donald Trump responded to remarks attributed to Chinese President Xi Jinping describing the United States as a «declining nation» during their summit in Beijing.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Xi was «100% correct» only in reference to the period under former President Joe Biden, blaming the previous administration for what he described as economic and social decline in the U.S.

«Two years ago, we were, in fact, a Nation in decline,» Trump wrote, adding that the United States is now «the hottest Nation anywhere in the world.»

The...

British pop star Dua Lipa has filed a $15 mln lawsuit against Samsung Electronics, accusing the tech giant of using her image without permission to market television sets in the United States.

According to the lawsuit filed in a California federal court, Samsung allegedly used a copyrighted backstage photo of the singer taken at the 2024 Austin City Limits festival on TV packaging boxes, creating the impression that Lipa endorsed the products.

Lipa claims Samsung continued using the image even after her legal team sent cease-and-desist requests last year. The singer accuses the company of copyright infringement, trademark...

A powerful earthquake struck northern Japan on Friday, prompting emergency warnings across several regions and raising fresh concerns over seismic activity in the country. Authorities said there was no immediate tsunami threat.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the quake measured a preliminary magnitude of 6.3 and occurred off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture at a depth of about 50 kilometers. Tremors were reportedly felt across multiple northeastern regions.

Emergency authorities issued safety warnings and urged residents in affected areas to remain alert for possible aftershocks. Train services and local transport systems were temporarily disrupted while inspections were...

Deepening tensions between Iran and the United Arab Emirates prevented BRICS foreign ministers from agreeing on a joint statement during a summit in New Delhi, exposing growing divisions within the expanded bloc.

According to officials and diplomats, Iran pushed for a stronger condemnation of the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Tehran, while disagreements with the UAE blocked consensus on the final communiqué.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the UAE of involvement in military operations against Iran, escalating already strained relations between the two countries. Abu Dhabi has denied direct participation in the conflict.

Instead of a unified...

The FBI has intensified efforts to locate former U.S. Air Force intelligence specialist Monica Witt, announcing a $200,000 reward for information leading to her arrest and prosecution on espionage charges linked to Iran.

Witt, a former counterintelligence officer and special agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, was indicted in 2019 for allegedly transmitting classified US national defense information to the Iranian government after defecting to Iran in 2013.

According to U.S. authorities, Witt had access to highly sensitive intelligence, including the identities of undercover American operatives. Prosecutors allege she later helped Iranian intelligence services target...

The 9th Kharibulbul International Music Festival has opened in the Azerbaijani city of Shusha, bringing together performers, musicians and cultural groups from several countries to celebrate music and cultural heritage.

The festival, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture, officially began on May 14 with an opening concert on the Jidir Duzu plain in Shusha. Artists and ensembles from the United States, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye and Japan are participating in this year’s event.

Organisers say the festival aims to strengthen cultural dialogue, support young musicians and promote Azerbaijan’s musical traditions, including mugham and...

Etihad Airways and Uzbekistan Airways have announced a new codeshare agreement aimed at expanding connectivity between the Middle East and Central Asia.

The partnership will allow passengers to book combined itineraries across both airlines’ networks, improving travel options between Abu Dhabi, Tashkent and other destinations linked to the historic Silk Road region. The agreement is expected to strengthen tourism, trade and business ties between Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates.

The deal comes as Etihad continues its rapid international expansion strategy. Earlier this year, the UAE carrier announced new routes to Tashkent and several other Eurasian destinations as...

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed creating a «Digital Turkic Corridor» and a joint cybersecurity alliance during the informal summit of the Organisation of Turkic States in Turkestan.

According to Mirziyoyev, Turkic countries should establish a shared cooperation network in artificial intelligence and jointly develop modern digital technologies.

The proposed corridor would connect regional data centers through high-speed communication channels. Mirziyoyev said Uzbekistan has already attracted around $6 billion in investments for the construction of data centers.

The Uzbek leader also proposed forming a Turkic Cybersecurity Alliance aimed at protecting digital infrastructure and coordinating efforts against cyber threats.

In...

Uzbekistan earned $1.6 bn from the export of tourism services between January and April 2026. Compared to the same period last year, the figure increased by 40%.

This was announced during a press conference held by the Tourism Committee on reforms in the sector, attended by Committee Chairman Abdulaziz Akkulov.

Since the beginning of the year, Uzbekistan has welcomed 4 mln foreign visitors, which is 29.9% more than during the same period last year.

The number of visitors from China increased 3.5 times. Tourist arrivals from Malaysia grew 2.2 times, from Japan 1.6 times, and from the United States...

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited a new mosque in Turkestan built by Uzbekistan as a gift to Kazakhstan.

The mosque complex covers more than seven hectares and can accommodate over 5,000 worshippers at the same time. The site includes four 70-meter minarets and a three-story main building with a large prayer hall and traditional iwans.

The architecture of the complex follows eastern and Islamic design traditions, featuring national ornaments, domes, calligraphy and decorative elements.

A 4.2-hectare landscaped area was also developed around the mosque, including green spaces, walking paths, fountains and recreation areas.

Elizabeth Olsen has joined Kristen Stewart and Oscar Isaac in the upcoming vampire thriller Flesh of the Gods, directed by Panos Cosmatos, best known for the cult horror film Mandy.

The film is described as an «’80s-set vampire thriller» following a married couple drawn into a dark and glamorous underground world in Los Angeles. The project is being produced by filmmaker Adam McKay and has attracted attention at the Cannes market.

Industry reports later suggested that production plans evolved, with Wagner Moura replacing Oscar Isaac due to scheduling conflicts, while actress Esmé Creed-Miles reportedly took over Olsen’s role...

Uzbekistan will allocate an additional 450 bn soums ($35 mln) to develop tourism infrastructure in the country’s regions, officials announced during a press conference on tourism sector reforms.

According to Tourism Committee Chairman Abdulaziz Akkulov, the government plans to create 24,000 new jobs in tourism and related industries, while another 16,000 jobs are expected to be brought out of the shadow economy.

Authorities also plan to introduce a new management system for the sector based on the chain «tourist destination — project — infrastructure — entrepreneur — promotion — tourist» to improve coordination and efficiency.

As part of the initiative...

British energy giant BP’s return to Uzbekistan is a strong signal for global investors, according to Alexander Smotrov, head of the international department at London Politica, speaking to Kursiv Uzbekistan.

«This will be BP’s first major project in Uzbekistan. The company has revised its strategy and is returning to traditional oil and gas production. Ustyurt fits perfectly into this direction, it is a region with untapped resources, government support and reliable partners such as SOCAR, with whom BP has long cooperated. All the conditions for success are there, now everything depends on implementation,» Smotrov...

The GSMA has announced new details for M360 Eurasia 2026, which will take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on May 20–21, bringing together policymakers, telecom leaders and technology companies to discuss the region’s digital future.

The event will focus on artificial intelligence, sovereign digital infrastructure, satellite connectivity and cybersecurity as Eurasia positions itself as one of the world’s fastest-growing digital hubs. Organisers said the summit reflects Uzbekistan’s ambitions to become a regional center for IT, AI and digital innovation under its «Digital Uzbekistan 2030» strategy.

The conference follows last year’s M360 Eurasia forum in Tashkent and marks the second...

The stage is set for one of the most gruelling motorsport events on the calendar. Max Verstappen’s highly anticipated foray into the legendary Nurburgring 24 Hours has already delivered high drama, with his #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 securing fourth place on the grid ahead of tomorrow’s marathon race.

During today’s intense Top Qualifying shootout, the immense pressure of the final flying lap fell to seasoned GT specialist Dani Juncadella. The Spaniard masterfully navigated the notoriously unforgiving 25.3-kilometre Nordschleife circuit, dragging the Verstappen.com Racing entry onto the second row of the grid.

A formidable alliance

Competing in the...

The ancient city of Samarkand is set to become the focal point of the global chess community this year as it prepares to host the International Chess Federation (FIDE) presidential elections. The vote will be held during the organisation’s General Assembly between September 26 and 27.

This electoral event forms part of the wider FIDE Congress which is scheduled to take place in the Uzbek city from September 20 to 27.

FIDE has established a strict timeline for prospective leadership candidates. The deadlines are structured as follows:

A woman who was trafficked from Uzbekistan as a vulnerable teenager delivered powerful public testimony detailing the horrific abuse she endured at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein. Speaking publicly for the first time, the survivor, identified only by her first name, Roza, revealed that the late sex offender repeatedly raped her whilst he was supposedly serving a sentence under house arrest, BBC reports.

Roza delivered her harrowing account alongside other victims during a special field hearing organised by House Democrats in West Palm Beach, Florida. The location was deliberately chosen by Democratic lawmaker Robert Garcia as the area where...

Uzbekistan’s transition towards a sustainable energy grid has gained significant momentum this year, with “clean” electricity production rising by 29% compared to the same period in 2025. According to the Ministry of Energy, the republic has already generated 4 bn kWh of renewable energy by the middle of May.

Current infrastructure and capacity

The country now operates 20 large-scale green power plants with a combined capacity exceeding 5.5 GW. This growing portfolio is currently dominated by solar energy, though wind power is becoming an increasingly vital component of the national mix. The current breakdown of these facilities includes...