News

Iran is facing growing international scrutiny following reports that minors are being recruited for wartime-related activities as part of a nationwide mobilisation campaign.

According to information published on March 30, the effort is reportedly being coordinated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and includes children as young as 12. The initiative is said to involve tasks such as surveillance, neighbourhood patrols and assisting at checkpoints, with sign-ups allegedly taking place in mosques and public areas across Tehran.

The issue gained urgency after reports that an 11-year-old boy was killed in a drone strike while assisting at a...

US tech giant Oracle Corporation has begun a major round of layoffs affecting thousands of employees worldwide, as the company accelerates investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Workers across several countries, including the United States, India, Canada and Mexico, reported receiving termination notices on Tuesday. Internal accounts and media reports suggest that between 10,000 and 30,000 jobs could be cut, potentially impacting up to 18% of Oracle’s global workforce of around 162,000 employees. In India alone, as many as 12,000 roles may be affected.

The company has not officially confirmed the full scale of the layoffs. In regulatory filings...

Jack Doohan has confirmed he will compete in the 2026 European Le Mans Series, marking a shift to endurance racing following his departure from Formula 1.

The Australian, now a reserve driver for Haas F1 Team, will race for Nielsen Racing in the LMP2 category. He is set to share the team’s No. 24 Oreca 07 with Britain’s Ed Pearson and Israel’s Roy Nissany.

«I’m really excited to be back racing in 2026 and to be joining Nielsen Racing for my first season in LMP2,» said Doohan.

He highlighted the opportunity to learn quickly and...

Sebastian Vettel is set to take part in this year’s London Marathon, marking a new challenge for the four-time Formula 1 world champion since his retirement in 2022.

He will run the 26.2-mile race through the British capital alongside Tom Clarkson, a Formula 1 journalist and host of the Beyond The Grid podcast.

The pair will raise funds for the Grand Prix Trust, which supports current and former Formula 1 personnel, and the Brain & Spine Foundation. The charity was established by Sid Watkins and focuses on helping people affected by neurological conditions.

Since stepping away from racing, Vettel...

Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan is preparing new rules to compensate passengers for delays on high-speed trains. The move follows 51 complaints filed by passengers last year.

Under the proposal, compensation will depend on how long the delay lasts and must be paid when the disruption is the carrier’s fault.

Passengers will receive 15% of the ticket price if a train is delayed by 15 to 30 minutes. Compensation will rise to 25% for delays of 31 to 60 minutes.

For longer disruptions of 61 to 120 minutes, passengers will be refunded half the ticket cost. If a delay exceeds...

Lipton Ice Tea has offered a reward for information regarding the recent theft of 12 tonnes of KitKat chocolate.

In a social media post formatted as an official statement, the beverage company offered condolences to the chocolate manufacturer. Lipton pledged 1,000 bottles of iced tea to anyone providing materially valuable information about the missing cargo.

The shipment of 413,793 KitKat bars disappeared in transit between a factory in...

The International Air Transport Association has published its global aviation market figures for February 2026. The data reveals a 6.1% year-on-year increase in total passenger demand. Domestic travel expanded by 6.3% while international journeys rose by 5.9%.

Aviation capacity saw a 5.6% boost, pushing the load factor to a record February high of 81.4%. Overall, the growth in demand remains stable and closely aligns with capacity increases.

The Asia-Pacific and Latin American regions experienced robust performance, but geopolitical tensions led to softer outcomes in the Middle East. International routes between Europe and Asia surged by 14%, driven notably by travel...

The countdown to the grandest football spectacle in history has officially begun. Following a thrilling round of final intercontinental and UEFA playoffs on Tuesday, the full 48-team lineup for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the United States, is now complete.

This summer’s tournament introduces a groundbreaking structural shift, organizing the global competitors into 12 distinct groups of four. Here is a look at the qualification drama, the final group draws, and the key dates to watch.

Heartbreak and Elation in Final Qualifiers

The concluding qualification matches provided fans with incredible highs and...

India has begun the largest census in the world, asking over a billion residents 33 questions about housing, household members, education, internet access and more. With a population of more than 1.4 bn people, India overtook China in 2023.

The exercise, the first in over 15 years, will take place in two phases over the next year. More than three mln officials, including schoolteachers and local government staff, will visit households across 36 states and territories, over 9,700 towns and nearly 640,000 villages.

For the first time, India’s census will be largely digital. Enumerators will use mobile apps to collect and upload...

Tiger Woods has announced he will step back from his professional and public commitments after a recent DUI charge linked to a car crash in Florida. The golfer said he intends to focus on his health and enter treatment to ensure long-term recovery.

«I recognise the seriousness of this situation,» Woods wrote on X. «I need to take time to prioritise my well-being and work toward a stronger, healthier future. I ask for privacy for myself and my family during this period and appreciate the support of everyone who understands.»

Authorities reported that Woods...

Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a decree allowing public sector employees in Uzbekistan to switch to remote work or adjust their schedules when air quality deteriorates.

Authorities also plan to introduce a rapid alert system to keep the public informed. The mechanism will deliver updates via SMS, news outlets and online platforms, enabling residents to quickly assess air quality conditions and potential risks.

Medical professionals will develop tailored recommendations for vulnerable groups during periods of poor air quality. In more serious cases, people may be advised to remain indoors until conditions improve.

Schools and kindergartens will also adapt to...

National Committee on Statistics of Uzbekistan reports that 1,159 people moved to Uzbekistan for permanent residence in 2025.

The majority of newcomers arrived from the CIS. Russia accounted for 39.9% of arrivals, followed by Kazakhstan at around 20% and Tajikistan at 10%. Smaller shares came from Kyrgyzstan with 4.3% and Turkmenistan with 3.1%, while the remaining 22% arrived from other countries.

The largest number of new residents settled in Tashkent, which received 698 people. A further 275 moved to the surrounding Tashkent region, while Karakalpakstan recorded 101 arrivals.

Other regions saw significantly lower figures, including Syrdarya region with...

Ghana Football Association has dismissed head coach Otto Addo with just 72 days remaining before the start of the 2026 World Cup.

The move was confirmed on Tuesday, hours after a 2-1 defeat to Germany in Stuttgart during preparations for the tournament, which will be staged across North America next summer. Ghana had also suffered a heavy 5-1 loss to Austria days earlier.

Addo, a former Borussia Dortmund player, returned for a second stint in March 2024 but struggled to deliver results. Despite having Premier League talents including Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus available, Ghana failed to qualify for...

Scott Mills was interviewed by police in 2018 as part of an investigation into alleged serious sexual offences involving a teenage boy, it has emerged. The Metropolitan Police said the claims related to incidents reported to have taken place between 1997 and 2000.

The inquiry began in 2016 following a referral from another force. A man in his 40s at the time was questioned under caution in July 2018. A full case file was later submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which decided there was insufficient evidence to pursue charges. The investigation was subsequently closed in May 2019.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a decree outlining plans to introduce a «green ticket» system aimed at reducing environmental impact and promoting ecological awareness. Funds generated from the initiative will be directed towards tree planting projects.

The system will enable users to calculate the carbon footprint of journeys made by air, rail, metro and taxi. Travellers will then have the option to voluntarily offset their environmental impact by purchasing a «green ticket».

A similar approach will be applied to goods, with emissions measured across the entire lifecycle, from production to delivery. Consumers will also be able to compensate for...

A new SARS-CoV-2, a COVID variant, BA.3.2, has been detected in 23 countries since it was first identified in South Africa in November 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports. The strain, nicknamed the «cicada» variant, saw rising detections from September 2025.

The CDC monitors COVID-19 variants globally through digital public health surveillance. Since the start of the pandemic, new variants with changes to the spike protein have regularly emerged. Mutations in this protein can influence how easily the virus spreads and how well it evades immunity, prompting periodic updates to COVID-19 vaccines.

BA.3.2 represents a...

Parents and educators are raising concerns after students across the U.S. began playing a controversial online game called Five Nights at Epstein’s.

In the web-based game, players role-play as sexual assault victims trapped on Jeffrey Epstein’s island, navigating dark rooms, avoiding surveillance cameras and trying to survive five nights without being found by Epstein.

Viral Spread Through Social Media

The game has spread rapidly through schools, from Utah to North Carolina, boosted by viral videos on platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Some clips have attracted millions of views and even include tips for bypassing school security systems.

Three paintings by French artists Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cezanne and Henri Matisse have been stolen from a museum in northern Italy, police said on Monday. The works are reportedly worth a combined $10 mln.

The theft occurred at the Fondazione Magnani Rocca, on the outskirts of Parma, during the night of March 22-23. According to the Carabinieri police, thieves forced entry through the main door and took Cezanne’s Tasse et Plat de Cerises (Cup and plate of cherries), Renoir’s Les Poissons (The fish), and Matisse’s Odalisque sur la Terrasse (Odalisque on the terrace). Italian broadcaster Rai reported the works were...

Lisa has announced her first Las Vegas residency, Viva La Lisa, at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The shows will take place over two weekends: November 13-14 and November 27-28, making Lisa the first K-pop artist to hold a residency in Las Vegas.

Fans can register for the presale from April 1 at 10 a.m. PT until April 19 at 10 p.m. PT. The artist presale begins on April 22 at 10 a.m. PT and runs through 10 p.m. PT the same day. No presale code is required for Ticketmaster users. General tickets go on sale on April...

Pop star Taylor Swift is being sued by a Las Vegas performer who claims the title of Swift’s latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, infringes on her trademark. The complaint alleges the album’s branding risks overshadowing the performer’s long-running stage project, Confessions of a Showgirl.

The plaintiff argues that Swift’s use of a similar name could create confusion among audiences and dilute her established brand. Her lawyer said they respect Swift’s success, but stressed that trademark law exists to protect creators at all levels.

Claims of Brand Confusion

According to the filing, the performer began developing her...

Uzbekistan were held to a 0-0 draw by Venezuela before securing a 5-4 win on penalties to lift the FIFA Series trophy. The side showed resilience throughout and held their nerve in the decisive shootout.

The Uzbek side looked to control possession early, with captain Eldor Shomurodov leading the line. He made several intelligent runs and tried to link play, but Venezuela’s defence prevented any clear chances.

Solid Defence Holds Firm

At the back, Uzbekistan remained organised and disciplined. Abdukodir Khusanov won key duels, while Rustam Ashurmatov provided crucial cover, including a vital intervention to deny a one-on-one chance.

China Eastern Airlines has expanded its presence in Uzbekistan with the launch of a new regular passenger route connecting Shanghai and Tashkent.

The inaugural flight, MU6037, arrived at Tashkent International Airport on March 30 at 6 pm local time, carrying 265 passengers. The aircraft was welcomed with a traditional water salute, while the crew were greeted with flowers. Departures from Tashkent to Shanghai were also marked by a ceremonial check-in for the first passengers.

The new route creates a direct air link between China’s largest city and Uzbekistan’s capital, opening up fresh opportunities for tourism and business ties. Flights...

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly aiming to appoint Roberto De Zerbi as their new permanent head coach following Igor Tudor’s departure. Tudor left the club by mutual consent after just 44 days in charge, with CEO Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange tasked with finding a replacement.

The decision to part ways with Tudor had been settled after Tottenham’s 3-0 defeat by Nottingham Forest left them just one point above the relegation zone. Sources indicate the club delayed the announcement to allow Tudor to grieve his father’s recent death.

Roberto De Zerbi, recently departed from Marseille, has emerged as...

Mary Beth Hurt, a celebrated stage and screen actress nominated for three Tony Awards and known for roles in films such as Interiors and The World According to Garp, has died at the age of 79 following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Her death was confirmed in a joint Facebook statement from her daughter, Molly Schrader, and her husband, writer-director Paul Schrader.

«She was an actress, a wife, a sister, a mother, an aunt, a friend, and she took on all those roles with grace and kind ferocity,» the post read. «Although we’re all grieving...