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South Korean music sensations BIGBANG have celebrated their 20th anniversary with an electrifying comeback at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Yonhap reports.

Taking to the stage on Sunday the iconic trio performed as a complete group for the first time in nine long years.

Comprising G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung the band closed out the Outdoor Theatre stage in Indio with a dynamic 50-minute set. The highly anticipated performance featured a string of their most famous anthems including “Bang Bang Bang”, “Fantastic Baby” and “Loser”.

Nostalgia and solo showcases

The Californian crowd erupted into loud cheers as...

Uzbekistan has announced a major initiative to attract global academic talent by launching the New Uzbekistan Scholarship. Under this programme the state will award up to 500 university grants every year to gifted foreign citizens.

These students will be able to study at public higher education institutions across the republic. The financial backing for these international scholarships will be drawn directly from any unallocated domestic grant quotas for bachelor’s degree courses during that specific academic year.

To accommodate the anticipated influx of international scholars the government is simplifying the application process. Starting in the 2026/2027 academic year foreign candidates...

Following a recent arrest for drink driving in California, pop superstar Britney Spears has reportedly admitted herself into a rehabilitation centre to be treated for substance abuse, The Sun reports.

The 44-year-old singer is believed to have voluntarily entered an undisclosed facility within the United States. While the decision was her own, U.S. media reports suggest that her inner circle had been actively encouraging her to seek professional assistance.

An insider revealed to the entertainment website TMZ that the singer finally understands she has reached rock bottom. Furthermore, legal strategy appears to have played a significant role in the...

Australia has unveiled a major restructuring of its highest military echelons which includes the unprecedented appointment of a woman to head the army. Starting this July Lieutenant General Susan Coyle is scheduled to take over the role.

This move shatters a 125-year glass ceiling and marks a pivotal shift for the nation’s armed services.

Currently acting as the chief of joint capabilities the 55-year-old commander will officially take the reins from the outgoing Lieutenant General Simon Stuart in the coming months.

Coyle began her military career back in 1987 and has since navigated through various demanding senior command positions. Her...

South Korean authorities are preparing to purchase crude oil from Kazakhstan as ongoing military conflicts in the Middle East threaten traditional supply routes, Reuters reports.

A South Korean delegation travelled to the Central Asian nation in early April to negotiate the delivery of crude oil and naphtha. Seoul is currently highly vulnerable to Middle Eastern geopolitical shifts as up to 70% of its hydrocarbon imports originate from the region.

South Korea’s Industry Minister Kim Chong Kwan announced that the government is prepared to disclose specific volumes for the Kazakh oil imports next week. He also sought to address any...

Interpol has confirmed that a body discovered on the island of Gran Canaria in the spring of 2025 belongs to Annabella Lovas.

The deceased was a well-known figure in her home country following her appearance on A Nagy Ő, the Hungarian equivalent of the popular reality television franchise The Bachelor. Hungarian media outlets have reported that the identification brings a tragic conclusion to a drawn-out missing persons case.

The events leading up to the discovery were marked by a series of unsettling developments. Annabella Lovas initially vanished in November 2024 while travelling in the Canary Islands. She ceased all...

Javokhir Sindarov has taken a massive stride towards winning the Candidates tournament and earning the right to challenge Gukesh for the world title.

Entering the latest round with a comfortable two-point advantage, the grandmaster opted for a highly pragmatic approach to secure a swift draw against American star Hikaru Nakamura.

With only two rounds remaining, Sindarov’s strategy is clear: avoid unnecessary risks, conserve energy and maintain his grip on the leaderboard.

“Every draw gets him miles nearer to the end goal,” observed commentator Peter Svidler during the live broadcast, correctly predicting that Sindarov would steer...

Viktor Orban’s 16-year grip on power has spectacularly collapsed, BBC reports. The architect of a political system frequently condemned as an “electoral autocracy” has been ousted by Peter Magyar, a 45-year-old former party insider who successfully mobilised the nation for change.

Addressing jubilant crowds on the banks of the River Danube opposite the magnificent parliament building in Budapest, Magyar declared an end to the era.

“Together we overthrew the Hungarian regime,” he told cheering supporters.

A landslide victory and record turnout

Following a record-breaking turnout where 79.5% of the electorate cast their ballots...

Hungarians headed to the polls on Sunday in a closely watched election that could unseat Prime Minister Viktor Orban after 16 years in power.

The vote is widely seen as one of Europe’s most consequential this year, with Orban, the European Union’s longest-serving leader, facing his strongest challenge yet from opposition figure Peter Magyar.

Polling stations opened early across the country, with turnout in the first hour reaching a record level for the post-socialist era, according to election officials.

Speaking after casting his ballot in Budapest, Orban said he was «here to win,» while thanking supporters for their...

Justin Bieber made a high-profile return to the stage as a headline act at the Coachella festival, delivering a nostalgia-driven performance that revisited his early career and biggest hits.

The 32-year-old pop star opened his set with tracks from his recent albums before shifting focus to fan favourites such as Baby and Never Say Never. In a nod to his rise to fame, Bieber incorporated YouTube videos, including early home recordings from his teenage years, projecting them on a large screen during the show.

The performance marked his first major live appearance in four years after he cancelled...

Italy’s Yemaneberhan Crippa claimed victory at the Paris Marathon on Sunday with a personal best performance, while Ethiopia’s Shure Demise set a new course record in the women’s race.

Crippa, 29, completed the race in 2:05:16 after a tightly contested men’s event, finishing just five seconds ahead of Ethiopia’s Bayelign Teshager. Kenya’s Sila Kiptoo secured third place to complete the podium.

In the women’s race, Demise delivered a dominant performance, crossing the finish line in 2:18:33 and breaking the previous course record by more than a minute. Fellow Ethiopian Misgane Alemayehu finished second, followed by Kenya’s Magdalyne Masai in third.

Business delegations from Afghanistan and Uzbekistan have called for deeper economic cooperation, increased exports and the removal of trade barriers following a joint meeting in Kabul.

According to the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, discussions focused on expanding bilateral trade, boosting joint investment and addressing key challenges facing businesses, particularly visa restrictions and transit issues.

The Uzbek delegation was led by Shukhrat Abdurakhmanov and included senior officials and around 60 traders and investors. Representatives highlighted Uzbekistan’s industrial capacity across sectors such as transport manufacturing, textiles, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and construction materials, expressing readiness to increase exports to Afghanistan.

The city of Samarkand hosted the international education exhibition World Edu 2026 on April 10–11 at the SOF EXPO venue, bringing together universities and education providers from across the globe.

Organised by SOF EXPO, the event featured leading universities, consulting agencies and training centres from Uzbekistan and more than 10 countries, including European nations, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Turkey.

The exhibition served as a key platform for applicants, students and parents, offering information on university admissions, scholarships and grants, as well as international exams such as IELTS, SAT and GMAT. Visitors also explored modern academic programmes and career...

The United States and Iran have failed to reach an agreement following marathon negotiations in Islamabad, marking a setback in efforts to end the ongoing Middle East conflict.

After 21 hours of talks, JD Vance said Washington had presented its «final and best offer» but had not received the key assurance it sought from Tehran — a commitment to abandon nuclear weapons development.

«We leave here with a very simple proposal… We’ll see if the Iranians accept it,» Vance told reporters, adding that discussions would continue as the US gives Iran time to respond.

British actor John Nolan, known for his roles in blockbuster films and television, has died at the age of 87, his family has confirmed.

Nolan, who appeared in major productions including Dunkirk and the Batman trilogy, passed away on April 11. His widow, Kim Hartman, paid tribute to him as «a free spirit» and «the kindest person I ever knew,» praising his intelligence, wit and devotion to family.

Born in 1938, Nolan enjoyed a long and varied career as an actor, director and lecturer. He was also the uncle of acclaimed filmmakers Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan, with...

The United States and Iran have concluded their first round of direct talks in more than a decade, pledging to continue negotiations despite major unresolved issues. The 14-hour meeting, held in Islamabad, marks the highest-level contact between the two countries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The discussions come against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire following a six-week conflict and rising global oil prices. Both sides signalled cautious optimism, agreeing to pursue further dialogue on key disputes, including regional security and control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Strait of Hormuz at centre of dispute

A central issue...

The Irish government has convened an emergency Cabinet meeting as it prepares to approve a package of measures aimed at ending nationwide protests over soaring fuel costs.

The demonstrations, led by hauliers, farmers and agricultural workers, have entered a sixth day, severely disrupting fuel distribution. Protesters staged coordinated actions including slow-moving convoys, motorway blockages and the shutdown of key infrastructure such as oil depots and Ireland’s only refinery at Whitegate in County Cork.

Police from An Garda Siochana have intensified enforcement, clearing several blockades in Dublin, Cork and Galway. Clashes were reported at Whitegate, where officers used pepper...

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has officially backed the “Clean Air” initiative proposed by his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev. According to the Akorda presidential press service Tokayev has suggested merging their environmental efforts to tackle the region’s growing ecological crisis together.

During their recent talks Tokayev highlighted that severe air pollution is a pressing issue that extends far beyond Tashkent. He pointed out that major Kazakh urban centres are also suffering with Almaty recently ranking among the most polluted cities in the world. The Kazakh leader stressed that the implementation of urgent environmental measures can no longer be delayed.

To...

The presidents of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have held a strategic meeting in Bukhara to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation and launching new joint ventures. Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev used the regional summit to outline ambitious economic targets and explore emerging high-tech sectors.

Opening the formal talks Mirziyoyev congratulated his Kazakh counterpart on the successful constitutional referendum. Both leaders praised the format of regular regional meetings as a highly effective platform for addressing key bilateral issues.

Economic ties took centre stage during the negotiations. Trade turnover between the two Central Asian nations reached $5 bn last year and the presidents...

Lance Stroll has admitted that Aston Martin’s woeful start to the 2026 Formula 1 season is not solely down to engine unreliability but also stems from flaws in Adrian Newey’s highly anticipated chassis design, RacingNews365 reports.

The Canadian driver has endured a miserable opening three rounds to the championship. He has yet to see a conventional chequered flag this year having suffered consecutive retirements in China and Japan.

His Australian Grand Prix was equally disastrous where a mid-race stoppage resulted in a rare ‘not classified’ finish, eventually crossing the line a staggering 15 laps behind race winner George Russell.

Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is reportedly still recovering from devastating facial and leg injuries sustained during the initial airstrikes that killed his father, Reuters reports.

Despite being physically disfigured in the bombing of the supreme leader’s compound in central Tehran the 56-year-old remains mentally sharp. Sources close to his inner circle revealed to Reuters that he continues to participate in high-level meetings via audio link and is actively guiding critical state decisions.

This includes steering Iran through its most perilous period in recent history as high-stakes peace negotiations with the United States commence in the Pakistani...

Jimmy Kimmel used his late-night platform to mercilessly mock Donald Trump after a controversial photograph featuring First Lady Melania Trump and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein resurfaced, Variety reports.

During his opening monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live! the comedian delighted in dissecting the image. The photo reportedly shows the First Lady posing alongside the late billionaire at a high-society event years prior to her husband’s return to the Oval Office as the 47th U.S. president.

Kimmel was quick to highlight the awkward timing of the photo’s reappearance and did not hold back in his assessment of the administration’s likely reaction...

An attack at a popular recreational area in western Afghanistan has left several civilians dead after unidentified gunmen opened fire on Friday afternoon, BBC reports.

Reports regarding the exact number of casualties in Herat province’s Enjil district currently remain conflicting. While a spokesperson for the Taliban interior ministry stated that seven individuals lost their lives, a provincial official recorded four fatalities. However a medical professional working at a regional hospital told the BBC that the death toll was significantly higher with 12 killed and another 12 injured.

At present no militant organisation has stepped forward to claim responsibility for...

San Francisco police have arrested a 20-year-old man suspected of hurling a Molotov cocktail at the home of OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman and issuing threats outside the artificial intelligence firm’s headquarters, Reuters reports.

According to a statement released on X by the San Francisco Police Department, an unidentified male threw an incendiary device at a property in the North Beach neighbourhood at 4:12 am before fleeing the scene on foot. Officers detained the young suspect approximately an hour later following reports of a man threatening to set fire to another building.

Investigators examining the aftermath of the blaze...