News

A U.S. fighter jet has been brought down over Iran, with search-and-rescue teams recovering one of the two crew members who ejected, a U.S. official told Reuters. It marks the first known incident of its kind since the conflict began nearly five weeks ago.

The fate of the second crew member remains unclear, raising concerns that a U.S. serviceman could still be evading capture inside Iran.

Rescue operation under way

The aircraft is believed to be an F-15E, which carries both a pilot and a weapons systems officer. Officials have not confirmed which of the two has been recovered...

French authorities have banned the Annual Gathering of the Muslims of France in Le Bourget, citing a «major terrorist risk» amid heightened security concerns.

Police said the decision was taken due to threats from both far-right groups and Islamist extremists, as well as a tense international climate. The event, scheduled to run from Friday to Monday, typically draws large crowds.

The move follows a recently foiled bomb plot in Paris, which prompted authorities to усилить security at religious sites, diplomatic locations and key economic infrastructure.

Officials also pointed to growing global threats, including calls by the Islamic State...

Chinese company StarVision plans to launch the «Samarkand 2028» satellite as early as May, officials said at the Space Technology Conference 2026 in Tashkent.

An agreement for the hyperspectral satellite launch was signed in December between StarVision and Uzbekistan’s Uzcosmos agency. The deal also includes joint projects in satellite development, expansion of space applications, and closer scientific and technological cooperation.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said the initiative would provide a strong boost to Uzbekistan’s scientific and technological progress and help advance national development.

Uzbekistan is also preparing to send its first astronaut into space. Candidates will be...

Mark of K-pop group NCT will leave the band and end his contract with SM Entertainment, both the artist and the agency confirmed on Friday.

The decision will take effect next Wednesday and follows what the company described as lengthy and thorough discussions with the singer.

Mark debuted in 2016 as part of NCT and performed across several sub-units, including NCT 127 and NCT Dream.

He also launched his solo career last April with the album The Firstfruit, expanding his work beyond group activities.

SM Entertainment praised Mark’s contributions, describing him as an exceptional artist who has shown strong...

Formula 1 is experiencing a decline in television ratings across specific European territories following the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.

Broadcasters in France and Spain have reported the most alarming audience slumps compared to the previous season.

The viewing figures from Suzuka paint a grim picture for two of the sport’s traditional strongholds. In France viewership on Canal+ collapsed by approximately 43%. The 2026 race drew just 404,000 viewers compared to 705,000 during the prior year.

The massive drop in Spanish viewership is heavily linked to the current on-track struggles of local heroes Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz...

Formula 1 stakeholders are set to meet next week to address the biggest problems arising under the 2026 rules, with six potential solutions reportedly under discussion, The Race reports. The first three races have exposed the strengths and weaknesses of the new regulations, prompting urgent talks ahead of the Miami Grand Prix on May 3.

The yo-yo racing effect has divided fans and drivers, but Formula 1 does not see this as requiring immediate action. Paddock consensus focuses on other urgent matters that may need rule tweaks.

Safety Concerns Top Agenda

Ollie Bearman’s high-speed crash at the...

President Donald Trump abruptly dismissed Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday amidst escalating dissatisfaction with her governance at the Department of Justice.

The removal was triggered by her controversial treatment of sensitive documents relating to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the collapse of high-profile criminal cases opposing the president’s political rivals.

Todd Blanche, the current Deputy Attorney General, was immediately elevated to acting attorney general. In a social media broadcast, Trump commended Blanche as a “very talented and respected Legal Mind.” Speculation is now mounting in Washington that Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin is the frontrunner to...

American hip-hop artist Pooh Shiesty, born Lontrell Williams Jr., has been taken into custody alongside seven other individuals following coordinated police operations across Dallas, Memphis and Nashville. Law enforcement officials have confirmed that a manhunt is currently underway for a ninth suspect connected to the case.

The Dallas ambush

The arrests stem from what was supposed to be a routine business trip to Texas. Three music industry executives, a group that included the prominent rapper Gucci Mane, travelled to Dallas to finalise a contract.

However, court documents suggest the negotiations took a violent turn. The prosecution alleges that...

The wait is over for fans of the To All the Boys universe! The highly anticipated XO, Kitty season 3 just dropped on April 2, 2026, delivering all eight 30-minute episodes of chaotic drama, swoon-worthy romance and a heavy dose of sisterly love.

As Kitty Song Covey (Anna Cathcart) enters her senior year at the Korean Independent School of Seoul (KISS) after spending the summer in New York, the stakes are higher than ever. With graduation looming, the series takes a noticeably more mature turn.

If you’re ready to binge (or already have), here is everything you need to know...

Capcom has released the original Resident Evil and its second and third instalments on Steam. Previously, these titles were only available for PC through GOG.

Each game is priced at $10, but a limited-time 50% discount reduces the cost to $5 until April 15.

The updated editions feature technical improvements, including enhanced graphics options and support for modern controllers.

At the same time, Steam saw the release of another Capcom classic, Breath of Fire IV. Originally launched in 2000 for the PlayStation, the role-playing game has received similar upgrades and is available at the same price.

In February, Capcom...

An LNG carrier navigated the volatile Strait of Hormuz for the first time since the recent escalation of armed conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, Bloomberg reports.

The vessel at the center of this development is the Sohar LNG. After weeks of holding a defensive position within the relatively safer confines of the Persian Gulf, the Omani-owned ship has actively altered its course and is currently sailing eastbound.

Key details of the transit include:

Uzbekistan placed sovereign bonds denominated in its national currency on international markets on April 1, raising the equivalent of $1 bn. The yield was set at 12.25%, marking the lowest rate the country has secured for this type of borrowing.

The terms represent a notable improvement compared with previous years. In 2024, yields stood at 16.6%, while in 2025 they reached 15.5%. The decline points to strengthening confidence among international investors. Around 50 foreign investors from across multiple regions participated, with total demand nearly four times higher than the amount on offer.

The deal became the largest local currency...

Prominent Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been arrested in Tehran, her family said, raising concerns among activists about a renewed crackdown on civil society.

According to her daughter, Sotoudeh was taken from her home late on April 1, and her whereabouts remain unknown. Authorities reportedly confiscated her phone, laptops, and other electronic devices during the arrest.

Family members say there had been no prior summons or warning from security services. They believe the detention may be linked to recent interviews in which Sotoudeh criticized the government amid ongoing tensions involving Iran.

Activists warn that the arrest...

Ilham Aliyev has praised the support of member states of the Organisation of Turkic States in the ongoing reconstruction of Garabagh and East Zangilan.

Speaking at a meeting with senior officials from OTS countries in Baku, Aliyev thanked partner nations for their contributions to rebuilding infrastructure and supporting economic development in the region.

He noted that several social and educational projects have already been completed with international assistance. These include a school built by Uzbekistan, a children’s center funded by Kazakhstan, and another school supported by Kyrgyzstan. Companies from Turkey are also actively involved in major infrastructure projects...

The death toll from severe flooding across Afghanistan has risen to 51 after days of heavy rainfall, authorities said on Thursday.

According to the Taliban’s disaster management agency, at least three people were killed and 16 injured in the past 24 hours alone, as flooding continued to affect large parts of the country.

Spokesperson Yousuf Hammad said the floods, triggered by persistent rain, have impacted 18 provinces, including Kabul, Kandahar, Herat and Nangarhar.

The disaster has caused widespread destruction, with 348 homes completely destroyed and 798 others damaged. Infrastructure has also been hit, with 244 kilometres of roads...

The 2026 Great Silk Way International Boxing Tournament has officially kicked off in Baku, bringing together top athletes from across multiple continents.

The opening ceremony featured a traditional parade of participating teams, marking the start of the competition. Speaking at the event, Azerbaijan Boxing Federation advisor Samir Huseynov underlined significance of the tournament and noted the strong international lineup. The event was formally declared open following the national anthem.

Boxers from Azerbaijan, Australia, Algeria, Bulgaria, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Türkiye and Uzbekistan are taking part in the tournament, which will run through April 7.

A total of...

Uzbekistan significantly increased both exports and imports of oil and petroleum products in the first two months of 2026, according to data from the National Statistics Committee.

Exports of oil and petroleum products reached $81.8 mln in January–February, marking a 22.5% increase compared to the same period in 2025, when exports stood at $66.8 mln.

At the same time, imports rose more sharply. Uzbekistan imported $404.5 mln worth of oil and petroleum products, up 39% year-on-year from $291.1 mln.

Notably, gasoline imports surged more than fourfold to $341.1 mln, compared to $78.8 mln a year earlier.

Overall, Uzbekistan’s...

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, LEGO has teamed up with some of football’s biggest names to launch a new minifigure collection.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr have all been turned into LEGO figures as part of the ‘Editions’ series, which shifts the focus from trophies to the players who define the sport.

The sets are designed to celebrate creativity in football, allowing fans to build and display models inspired by their heroes.

In a new promotional video, the four stars compete to assemble a LEGO World Cup trophy before a young fan steps in...

A man has died near the Greek capital as a severe weather front dubbed Storm Erminio batters the country, unleashing torrential rain, gale-force winds and a thick blanket of Saharan dust that has severely disrupted daily life.

Emergency responders discovered the victim trapped beneath a vehicle in the coastal town of Nea Makri in East Attica early on Thursday. Local fire department officials confirmed the fatality but have not yet released the man’s identity or the exact circumstances surrounding his death.

Flash floods and infrastructure damage

The fierce weather system has wreaked havoc across the region. Flash floods...

Formula 1 driver Lance Stroll will use a gap in the F1 calendar to take part in his first GT race.

The Canadian racer is listed for the opening round of the GT World Challenge Europe at Paul Ricard on April 11-12. He will pilot an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 for Comtoyou Racing, sharing driving duties with ex-Manor F1 driver Roberto Merhi and Formula 3 winner Mari Boya.

Stroll, 27, has some experience in sports car racing, having competed in two Daytona 24 Hours events in the mid-2010s before focusing on his Formula 1 career with Williams and later Aston...

The long-awaited teaser for Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana was released, giving offering a first look at Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama. The teaser shows scenes from the coronation to the exile in Panchavati, as Kapoor embodies his character with grace, serenity, and divine presence.

Fans also get a brief look at Raya (Ravan) played by Yash at the teaser’s end. Before the teaser premiered, Alia Bhatt shared a video on social media, encouraging viewers to support her husband Ranbir Kapoor’s passion project.

She said: «The Ramayana unit is going to be out tomorrow. It is the...

Actress Lili Reinhart has disclosed that an unnamed male director instructed her to suck in her stomach during a film shoot, sharing the uncomfortable encounter in a recent video interview with Cosmopolitan magazine.

The 28-year-old American star was appearing alongside Lola Tung, Victoria Pedretti and Alexandra Shipp to promote their project “Forbidden Fruits” when asked about the most impactful acting note she had ever received. Reinhart recalled the incident without hesitation.

«When I had a male director come up to me and silently lean over and say, ‘Just suck in your stomach a little bit,’» she...

Comedian and voice actor Eugene Mirman sustained serious injuries after his car collided with a toll plaza in Bedford, New Hampshire, on Tuesday. He was rescued from the burning vehicle by a state trooper assigned to Governor Kelly Ayotte’s security team.

The incident occurred just before noon when Mirman’s northbound electric car struck the toll booth and ignited. The governor and her security detail arrived shortly after, and a trooper along with two others helped pull Mirman out of the vehicle through a window, New Hampshire State Police said.

«Eugene was involved in a very...

Following a crucial manual piloting test, the astronauts aboard the Artemis II mission successfully repaired a malfunction with the Orion spacecraft’s waste management system in close coordination with mission control.

The Artemis II flight marks the first crewed journey of NASA’s lunar exploration programme. Carrying three American astronauts and one Canadian, the historic mission aims to test the capsule’s life support, navigation and communication systems during a lunar flyby. It serves as a vital stepping stone for Artemis III, which plans to eventually return humans to the Moon’s surface.

The plumbing issue emerged shortly after the four-person crew...