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Public opinion has always been uneven terrain, especially for women. In the court of celebrity culture, male stars with serious allegations often continue working with minimal long-term backlash, while women can find themselves relentlessly scrutinized over far less. This imbalance isn’t new, and it continues to shape how audiences respond to female public figures.

That context makes the case of Sydney Sweeney particularly complicated. Her rise seemed to follow a trajectory that resonated with a wide and diverse audience. She wasn’t born into industry privilege, built her career steadily, and earned recognition for her performances rather than connections...

The Plug and Play Uzbekistan Expo returns on May 6, 2026, at the Turkistan Concert Hall in Tashkent. Hosted by Plug and Play, one of the world’s leading VC firms and accelerators, in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Technologies and IT PARK Uzbekistan, this event showcases 30+ startups from Central Asia, the Caucasus, Europe, and beyond — all accelerated through the signature Plug and Play program. As a premier gathering for innovation, the Expo brings together government officials, corporate executives, startup founders, investors, and universities to explore the trends shaping Enterprise & AI, Fintech, Cybersecurity, Gaming, Creative Tech, and...

Israeli forces have gradually shifted a key ceasefire boundary in Gaza, known as the «yellow line», further west in the months since a U.S.-brokered truce, increasing the area under military control and heightening risks for civilians.

The line, established during a ceasefire agreement in October, was intended as a temporary demarcation pending further Israeli withdrawals. However, the truce has largely stalled after its initial phase, amid disagreements over the disarmament of Hamas and continued Israeli military operations.

Expanding control zone

According to analysts including Forensic Architecture, Israeli-controlled territory has expanded beyond initial expectations. By December, forces were...

Uzbekistan’s airports experienced a highly active start to 2026 by handling 30,800 flights between January and March.

According to the latest statistical release from Uzbekistan Airports, this marks a 10% increase compared to the exact same period last year.

The vast majority of this air traffic was driven by overseas connectivity. International routes accounted for more than 22,800 flights while domestic journeys within the republic made up the remaining 7,900 departures and arrivals.

By the beginning of April, the nation’s aviation hubs had processed an impressive 3.9 mln travellers. International flyers comprised 3.3 mln of this overall figure, with...

Uzbekistan has set its sights on welcoming approximately 12 mln foreign tourists by the close of 2026.

As part of this sweeping nationwide strategy, the government aims to direct up to 500,000 of these international visitors to the autonomous republic of Karakalpakstan. The national Tourism Committee confirmed these ambitious targets in a recent statement provided to Kursiv Uzbekistan.

The country’s travel sector is already experiencing substantial early momentum. Between January and March of this year, Uzbekistan recorded 2.8 mln foreign tourist arrivals. This represents a robust surge of 770,000 individuals when compared to the same first-quarter period last year.

According...

Uzbekistan’s state-owned uranium producer Navoiyuran has started commercial production at its Qizilkok deposit in the Navoi region, marking a significant step in the country’s efforts to expand uranium output.

The project, located about 600 km from Tashkent, contains an estimated 9,400 tonnes of uranium reserves and is expected to operate for 15 years. It is now the company’s third-largest producing site.

Boosting global position

The launch reinforces Navoiyuran’s standing as one of the world’s top uranium producers. The company reported output of around 7,000 tonnes in 2025, placing it sixth globally and reflecting a 35% increase year-on-year.

Uzbekistan has...

According to the latest March analysis from the Centre for Economic Research and Reforms, Uzbekistan’s passenger car sector is experiencing a period of significant acceleration. Total sales across both new and used vehicle markets surpassed 78,000 units for the month. This represents a 19% increase from February and a 20.6% jump when compared to the same period last year.

Regional performance

Market engagement rose across the vast majority of the nation. Only Jizzakh, Andijan and Samarkand reported a downturn in automotive trading.

The Surkhandarya region led the charge with a 51.4% boost in sales. The Tashkent region followed closely...

A court in El Salvador has formally opened a collective trial for 486 suspected gang members, The Guardian reports.

The judicial proceedings, which began on Tuesday, represent one of the largest mass prosecutions initiated under President Nayib Bukele’s aggressive and highly controversial crackdown on organised crime.

State prosecutors are levelling immense accusations against the alleged members of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) syndicate. The charges encompass a staggering 47,000 criminal acts allegedly committed between 2012 and 2022.

This dark decade includes a notorious weekend that stands as the country’s most lethal period of violence since its civil war. The extensive...

Dave Mason, the highly influential British guitarist, vocalist and founding member of the psychedelic rock band Traffic, has passed away at the age of 79, Variety reports.

His publicist confirmed the news but did not disclose a specific cause of death. The celebrated musician had recently battled ill health which forced the cancellation of his tour last year.

A 2004 inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside his original Traffic bandmates, Mason leaves behind a staggering musical legacy. He penned some of the group’s most enduring tracks including “Hole in My Shoe” and the universally beloved...

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held talks with World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on April 21. The high-level dialogue centred on the continued evolution of the domestic healthcare system and the enhancement of frontline medical services for the general population.

The meeting underscored a marked intensification of bilateral cooperation between Tashkent and the global health body in recent years. Backed by WHO expertise, Uzbekistan has been driving structural reforms designed to ensure medical care remains modern, high-quality and universally accessible.

Current joint initiatives are focused on upgrading the operational capacity of local polyclinics, elevating the standard of...

The music industry’s wait for Drake’s next major project has been quite literally a glacial ordeal. However, the suspense finally melted away on Tuesday when the Canadian superstar confirmed that his ninth studio album, Iceman, will officially drop on May 15.

The announcement followed a highly orchestrated and thoroughly absurd guerrilla marketing stunt in his hometown of Toronto. On Monday, Drake revealed he had frozen the album’s release date deep inside massive blocks of ice stationed across the city.

Uzbekistan has successfully brokered a new aviation agreement with Etihad Airways to establish regular passenger flights connecting Tashkent with Abu Dhabi.

This development was finalised during a high-level meeting in the United Arab Emirates between Jasurbek Choriev, the Deputy Minister of Transport for Uzbekistan, and senior executives from the major international airline.

Commencing on August 17, the UAE’s national carrier will operate a direct service running the Tashkent-Abu Dhabi-Tashkent route.

The reinstatement of these flights will offer a massive boost to international mobility for passengers departing from Uzbekistan. Travellers will gain seamless access to Etihad’s extensive global network, which...

The week ending April 21 brought a massive surprise to the global Steam charts. While industry analysts anticipated that Capcom’s highly awaited sci-fi shooter Pragmata would comfortably dominate the market, an early access pirate survival game named Windrose completely stole the spotlight, Games.gg reports.

The Rise of a New Pirate Adventure

Developed by Kraken Express, a studio founded in Uzbekistan, Windrose launched into early access on April 14 with barely any pre-release marketing. Despite the incredibly short runway between its announcement and release, the cooperative title shifted a staggering one million copies in just six days.

Peaking at...

A controversial proposal from Chip Roy is reigniting debate over the intersection of immigration, national security and political freedom in the United States. The Republican lawmaker has introduced the so-called MAMDANI Act — a bill that would dramatically expand the government’s power to exclude or remove non-citizens based on ideological grounds.

A bill aimed at «hostile ideologies»

The proposed legislation, formally titled the Measures Against Marxism’s Dangerous Adherents and Noxious Islamists Act, would allow authorities to deny entry, revoke citizenship, or deport individuals linked to or advocating for Marxist, socialist, communist or Islamist fundamentalist beliefs.

According to Roy, the...

The telecommunications market in Uzbekistan expanded at an unprecedented rate during 2025. According to a joint industry report published by Nexign and the analytical agency TelecomDaily, the sector’s total valuation reached 24.9 trln UZS ($2 bn) following an impressive year-on-year growth of 18.3%.

This rapid development firmly positions Uzbekistan as a regional leader in digital expansion. The country’s growth rate was notably higher than its neighbours and managed to exceed the global average of 2.5% by an astonishing seven times.

The dynamic upward trend is largely fuelled by rising internet traffic alongside heavy financial investments in both mobile and fixed-line...

The initial phase of constructing Uzbekistan’s first small nuclear reactors will require an investment of approximately $1 bn.

This significant financial commitment was revealed by Sukhrob Abdurakhmanov, the deputy chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, during the “Innoprom. Central Asia” exhibition held recently in Tashkent.

The ambitious power plant project is a key component of the nation’s strategy to fortify its energy security. By diversifying its power generation capabilities, Uzbekistan aims to significantly reduce its reliance on traditional electricity sources and create a far more resilient national grid.

Industry leaders and government officials view the adoption of nuclear...

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has warned that Tehran has prepared «new cards on the battlefield» and will not engage in negotiations with the United States under pressure, as tensions in the Gulf continue to escalate.

The statement comes after Donald Trump confirmed that a U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will remain in place until Iran agrees to a peace deal. Trump also cautioned that failure to reach an agreement could lead to «unprecedented problems.»

The standoff intensified after U.S. forces seized the Iranian cargo vessel Touska, accusing it of attempting to breach the blockade. Tehran condemned...

The Hong Kong government has launched a legal bid to confiscate assets worth more than HK$127 mln ($16.22 mln) from the imprisoned media tycoon Jimmy Lai, Reuters reports.

A High Court writ published on Tuesday outlines the targeted wealth which includes private company shares, small factory premises and numerous bank accounts belonging to the former billionaire.

The forfeiture hearing is scheduled to take place on July 8. Representatives for Lai’s legal team have declined to comment on the matter.

Targeted wealth and corporate assets

The most significant portion of the targeted wealth relates to Lai’s shares in two...

Malaysian firm Karex Bhd, the largest producer of condoms globally, is preparing to increase its prices by between 20% and 30%.

The company’s chief executive has warned that further hikes may be necessary if the ongoing conflict in Iran continues to severely disrupt international supply chains.

Speaking to Reuters on Tuesday, CEO Goh Miah Kiat explained that Karex is currently experiencing a massive surge in demand. Skyrocketing freight costs and significant shipping delays have left many clients with dangerously low inventory levels.

“The situation is definitely very fragile, prices are expensive,” Goh stated. “We have...

Uzbekistan is preparing to establish a specialised cryptocurrency mining hub known as the Besqala Mining Valley.

According to the Ministry of Justice, the creation of this dedicated zone in the Republic of Karakalpakstan has been officially authorised by a decree from President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

A defining feature of the new initiative is its flexible approach to power consumption. Miners operating within the valley will be permitted to draw electricity from the unified national grid alongside alternative power sources. Notably, this includes provisions for the use of hydrogen power stations to fuel energy-intensive mining operations.

Businesses granted residency in...

Italy’s tax authorities are tightening their grip on foreign athletes with Formula 1 drivers who have recently raced in the country now serving as the prime targets of a retrospective tax collection effort, RacingNews365 reports.

The Bologna division of the Guardia di Finanza (Italy’s financial police) has launched an inquiry into motorsport competitors and their respective teams. According to local newspaper Il Resto del Carlino, the probe centres on whether tax was adequately paid on earnings generated during Italian race weekends.

Under national law foreign sports professionals must pay tax on income earned while competing within Italy’s borders. Historically...

Uzbekistan has recorded a dramatic increase in international tourism during the first three months of 2026.

According to official figures provided by the Tourism Committee to Kursiv Uzbekistan, the country welcomed 2.87 mln foreign visitors between January and March. This represents a staggering year-on-year increase with 770,000 more tourists arriving than in the same period last year.

Central Asia drives the influx

Neighbouring nations provided the vast majority of international arrivals during the first quarter. Kyrgyzstan topped the list as the primary source of tourists with 807,000 citizens crossing the border. Tajikistan followed closely with 713,900 visitors and Kazakhstan...

South Africa is mourning the loss of Cynthia Philisiwe Shange, a trailblazer who famously shattered racial barriers during the height of the apartheid era, BBC reports. The revered actress and historic pageant contestant died in hospital early on Monday morning following a period of illness. She was 76.

The news was confirmed by her daughter, television personality Nonhle Thema. Taking to Instagram to share her grief, Thema posted a digital memorial celebrating her mother’s enduring legacy. She described Shange as a figure of immense grace whose presence radiated warmth, dignity and kindness to everyone she met.

Thema requested prayers...

A live-action cinematic adaptation of the massively popular fantasy video game Elden Ring is officially underway, Variety reports. Directed by Alex Garland, the project from A24 and Bandai Namco Entertainment is currently in production and is being shot specifically to be experienced on IMAX screens.

Fans of the dark fantasy epic can mark their calendars for March 3, 2028 when the film is slated to hit cinemas worldwide.

A star-studded ensemble

Alongside the release date, the studios have unveiled a massive ensemble cast and offered a glimpse into the characters they will portray. Heartstopper breakout star Kit Connor...