News

Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 has become one of the biggest controversies surrounding this year’s competition, with several countries boycotting the event over the ongoing war in Gaza and criticism of the European Broadcasting Union’s decision to allow Israel to compete.

Countries including Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland and the Netherlands have either withdrawn from the contest or refused to participate competitively in protest against Israel’s inclusion. Critics argue the EBU has applied double standards by banning Russia following its invasion of Ukraine while allowing Israel to remain in the competition.

The controversy has also triggered...

The UK has reiterated its commitment to defending the Falkland Islands as Argentine President Javier Milei renewed calls for Argentine sovereignty over the disputed territory. British officials stressed that the Falklands’ status remains unchanged and that the islanders’ right to self-determination will continue to be protected.

The renewed tensions come after Milei stated that Argentina was making «unprecedented progress» on its claim to the islands, known in Argentina as Las Malvinas.

Falkland Islanders have also rejected Argentina’s claims, reaffirming their support for remaining a British Overseas Territory. In a 2013 referendum, an overwhelming majority voted to remain under...

Manchester City W.F.C. has revealed its new state-of-the-art training facility through a drone tour video released on Wednesday. The footage offers an aerial look at the club’s upgraded training complex, designed to support the continued growth of Manchester City Women.

The new center includes modern training pitches, recovery and fitness areas, and player development facilities aimed at enhancing performance and preparation for the upcoming season.

Manchester City continues investing heavily in women’s football infrastructure as clubs across Europe expand support for professional women’s teams and youth development programs.

From economics and politics to business, technology and culture, Kursiv Uzbekistan...

Uzbekistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Bakhromjon Aloyev arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday to participate in the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, which begins on May 14.

The two-day meeting will be chaired by India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and will bring together foreign ministers and senior officials from BRICS member and partner countries.

According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, participants are expected to discuss global and regional issues, reforms of global governance institutions, and cooperation under the BRICS framework. The meeting is being held under India’s 2026 BRICS chairmanship theme: «Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.»

Uzbekistan plans to increase its food exports to $10 bn and expand export geography to an additional 100 countries by 2030, according to government targets reported by Trend.

The initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen the country’s agricultural sector, boost food processing industries and increase the global presence of Uzbek food products.

Authorities are also working on improving food safety standards, logistics infrastructure and export certification procedures to help local producers access new international markets.

From economics and politics to business, technology and culture, Kursiv Uzbekistan brings you key news and in-depth analysis from Uzbekistan...

Uzbekistan and China have agreed to expand cooperation on poverty reduction and employment through a series of new bilateral initiatives, officials said during the 8th meeting of the Uzbekistan-China Intergovernmental Committee in Beijing.

The two sides signed a Joint Action Plan on Poverty Reduction Cooperation for 2026–2027, outlining key areas of collaboration over the next two years. The agreement also includes plans for a technology transfer center in Uzbekistan and closer cooperation between research institutions focused on labor markets and poverty alleviation.

Officials also discussed joint rural development and job creation projects under the China-FAO Trust Fund framework...

Uzbekistan has not recorded any cases of hantavirus, and the country’s epidemiological situation remains stable, according to health authorities.

Nurmat Atabekov, First Deputy Chairman of Uzbekistan’s Sanitary and Epidemiological Control Committee, said the virus has not been detected in the country and that specialists continue monitoring the public health situation.

Hantavirus is a rare infectious disease primarily spread through contact with infected rodents. Officials said Uzbekistan’s sanitary and epidemiological services are maintaining preventive measures and ongoing surveillance to ensure early detection of potential health risks.

From economics and politics to business, technology and culture, Kursiv Uzbekistan...

Business conditions in Uzbekistan improved across all major sectors of the economy in recent months, according to the country’s Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR).

The report said the business climate index showed positive trends in industry, agriculture, construction and services, reflecting growing economic activity and stronger business confidence.

Uzbekistan has been implementing broad economic reforms aimed at supporting private enterprise, reducing bureaucracy and attracting foreign investment. The government has also introduced measures to expand exports and modernize infrastructure.

Analysts say the improving business environment could strengthen investor interest in Central Asia’s largest population market as the...

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing for a high-stakes two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Accompanied by a delegation of prominent corporate executives including Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang and tech billionaire Elon Musk, Trump aims to aggressively push for broader American business access to the world’s second-largest economy.

Marking the first presidential visit to China in almost a decade, the diplomatic mission comes at a critical juncture. The U.S. leader is seeking to secure lucrative trade agreements and preserve a fragile economic truce while battling declining domestic approval ratings exacerbated by the ongoing American conflict with...

Hollywood star Jamie Foxx is preparing to expand his family once again. Multiple reports have confirmed that the actor’s partner Alyce Huckstepp is pregnant with their first child together.

According to insiders with direct knowledge of the situation the couple are already several months along in the pregnancy. However specific details regarding the exact due date or the sex of the baby remain securely under wraps at this time.

The news marks a joyful new chapter for the pair whose high-profile relationship has seen its share of public developments. The couple were first romantically linked in August 2022 when Huckstepp...

The Memphis Grizzlies have announced the tragic death of their 29-year-old forward Brandon Clarke. The franchise confirmed the news of his passing, though the exact circumstances and cause of death have not yet been made public, BBC reports.

Heartfelt tributes

The Grizzlies organisation released a statement expressing that they are “heartbroken” by the sudden loss of the Canadian-born player. The team praised him for his extensive contributions both on the hardwood and within the local area.

“Brandon was an outstanding team-mate and an even better person whose impact on the organisation and the greater...

British energy giant BP has acquired a 40% participating interest in a production sharing agreement covering six oil and gas exploration blocks in Uzbekistan’s Ustyurt region, the company announced on Wednesday.

The deal marks BP’s return to upstream energy investments in Uzbekistan after the company exited exploration activities in the country in 2021. At the time, BP was pursuing an aggressive low-carbon strategy under former chief executive Bernard Looney, who pledged to cut the company’s oil and gas production by 40% by 2030.

Since then, the London-listed company has shifted its strategy back toward traditional fossil fuel development...

Sean Gathright took to the witness box in tears this week to offer a desperate apology for his involvement in the fatal ambush of drill rapper Julio Foolio. The 20-year-old is currently navigating the death penalty phase of his trial after a jury convicted him of first-degree murder last week, Tampa Bay Times reports.

Gathright was found guilty alongside Rashad Murphy, Davion Murphy and Isaiah Chance. The prosecution successfully argued that the June 2024 assassination in Tampa was a targeted hit fuelled by a bitter gang rivalry within the Jacksonville drill rap community. While his three accomplices were identified...

JSC National Investment Fund of the Republic of Uzbekistan (UzNIF) has officially announced the results of its initial public offering (IPO), the company told Kursiv Uzbekistan.

Key results of the offering:

Medical authorities officially discarded the name Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Following a 14-year international consultation process the condition will now be known as Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS).

The previous terminology was heavily criticised for being clinically misleading. It suggested the presence of ovarian cysts was the primary health issue when patients with the condition do not actually develop abnormal cysts. This medical inaccuracy has been blamed for decades of delayed diagnoses, limited research funding and poor clinical understanding of the illness.

The new PMOS classification accurately reflects the systemic nature of a disease that currently affects 170 mln...

A fatal collision between a commercial passenger jet and a pedestrian on an active runway at Denver International Airport was a deliberate act according to local medical examiners, NYT reports. The victim has been formally identified as 41-year-old Michael Mott.

Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday, Denver’s chief medical examiner Sterling McLaren announced that a post-mortem examination concluded Mott died by suicide. He suffered massive blunt force trauma after being drawn into the aircraft’s right engine on Friday evening.

The tragic incident has cast a harsh spotlight on the vast transport hub’s security protocols. Phillip Washington, the airport’s...

Max Verstappen is preparing to make his debut at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring this weekend. The event runs from May 14 to 17 and will see the driver compete for the overall win at the Nordschleife.

He will share a Mercedes GT3 with co-drivers Jules Gounon, Dani Juncadella and Lucas Auer.

The track schedule involves a multi-stage qualifying format before the main endurance event begins. By rearranging the standard race weekend structure, organisers have built a schedule that demands consistency across both day and night sessions.

Action gets underway on Thursday with two practice segments. The first runs from...

The Uzbekistan Under-15 national football team claimed the UEFA Development Cup title under the expert guidance of head coach Miraziz Mirzaakhmedov.

The youth squad secured their triumph by defeating their Moldovan counterparts 2-1 in a decisive final fixture. This victory allowed the Uzbek side to finish at the very top of the tournament table with a total of six points.

The winning goals that sealed the championship were slotted home by Roman Aizattulov and the team’s captain Kamronbek Kakhramonov.

Taking to the pitch from the first whistle, the starting eleven consisted of Botir Bakhtiyorov, Abduvoris Kudratov, Ilkhom Mirzaev, Kamronbek...

Donald Gibb, the colossal character actor who parlayed his imposing physical stature into a string of beloved 1980s film roles, has died at the age of 71.

According to U.S. entertainment outlet TMZ, his son Travis confirmed that the actor passed away on Tuesday at his home in Texas following recent health complications. Recognised instantly by his massive frame and booming voice, Gibb carved out a wholly unique niche in Hollywood that spanned four decades.

From the Gridiron to the silver screen

Born in New York City in August 1954 and raised in California, Gibb’s path to acting...

South Korean music phenomenon BTS successfully attracted roughly 150,000 fans across three fully booked concerts in Mexico City.

The highly anticipated shows took place on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday as part of the group’s global “Arirang” tour. Tickets for the events vanished immediately upon release, marking the band’s first solo concerts in the country since July 2015.

Stadium crowds and Suga’s reaction

The immense demand for the septet spilled out onto the surrounding streets. While local authorities initially estimated that 35,000 people gathered outside the Estadio GNP Seguros over the weekend, widespread reports and fan accounts claimed the...

A brand new television series adapted from the phenomenally successful Fast & Furious cinematic universe is currently in development for the Peacock streaming platform.

NBCUniversal confirmed the news on Monday following a high-profile presentation to advertisers at Radio City Music Hall.

The project was unveiled by Vin Diesel, the actor famously known for portraying the street-racing patriarch Dominic Toretto. Interestingly, while the 58-year-old star excitedly told the crowd that four separate programmes were in the pipeline, a subsequent press release from NBCUniversal clarified that only a single Fast & Furious show is officially in the works.

From initial hesitation...

The upcoming Nurburgring 24 Hours experienced an unprecedented surge in fan interest thanks to the debut of Max Verstappen. Organisers have confirmed that multi-day passes for the legendary endurance race have completely sold out for the first time ever.

Taking advantage of a rare weekend off from his standard Formula One duties, the four-time world champion is swapping his Red Bull machinery for a Mercedes-AMG GT3 sportscar. The 28-year-old Dutch racing star will tackle the famously unforgiving German circuit, widely known as the “Green Hell”, sharing driving duties for Team Verstappen Racing alongside Spaniard Dani Juncadella, Frenchman Jules Gounon

The concept of streamlining everything situated between the fuel tank and the gearbox of a Formula 1 car brings a wealth of potential benefits. Chief among these are the creation of a power unit tailored to pure racing demands and a crucial reduction in overall costs.

However, the true game-changer arguably lies elsewhere. A less complex engine architecture could pave the way for independent engineering projects to return to the pinnacle of motorsport.

The cosworth model as a safety net

For over two decades, private constructors like Cosworth were a central pillar of Formula 1. Introducing less convoluted engine...

Following months of gruelling live performances and intense public voting, Hannah Harper has been crowned the winner of American Idol season 24.

The 25-year-old from Missouri claimed the prestigious title during a spectacular Monday night finale. Overcome with emotion as the result was announced, Harper closed the television broadcast through tears with a powerful rendition of Chris Tomlin‘s worship anthem “At The Cross (Love Ran Red)”.

In traditional reality television fashion, the triumphant moment saw her fellow season 24 competitors rush the stage to embrace the newly minted champion. Harper secured the public’s backing to defeat formidable runners-up Jordan McCullough...