News

Customs officials in Uzbekistan have intercepted a major drug shipment in the southern Surkhandarya Region, uncovering more than 72 kilograms of hashish concealed inside imitation potatoes.

The discovery was made at the Termez-Autonomous Border Crossing during a joint operation involving customs authorities and border troops from the State Security Service.

According to initial reports, officers inspecting a truck found 222 artificial potatoes, each packed with narcotics. In total, the seized substances weighed approximately 72.3 kilograms.

Authorities believe the shipment was intended for export to another country. An investigation has been launched to determine those responsible and trace the...

Italian football legend Fabio Cannavaro is set to lead Uzbekistan onto the global stage at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, embracing what he describes as a unique and inspiring challenge.

The former Italy captain, who lifted the trophy at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, took charge of Uzbekistan’s national team in late 2025, shortly after the country secured its first-ever qualification for the tournament.

Speaking about the experience, Cannavaro highlighted his desire to explore new football cultures and perspectives.

«I like to broaden my horizons,» he said, noting that his coaching journey across...

Wildlife experts and government officials in Tashkent have taken new steps to strengthen the care of animals rescued from illegal trafficking, following a specialised training held in February.

The two-day workshop was organised by the International Fund for Animal Welfare in partnership with the Institute of Zoology of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan under the CARE (Confiscated Animals Rescue and Enforcement) program.

Participants included representatives from the Tashkent Zoo, the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change, and other key institutions involved in handling trafficked wildlife. The training focused on improving frontline response, equipping specialists with skills...

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held separate discussions with counterparts from Uzbekistan and Cyprus, focusing on regional tensions and diplomatic coordination.

During a phone call, Bakhtiyor Saidov and Prince Faisal reviewed the latest developments in the region and ongoing efforts to address them.

On the same day in Riyadh, the Saudi minister met with Cyprus’ Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos. The talks covered bilateral relations and ways to strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Both meetings also addressed regional escalations and joint efforts aimed at easing tensions, underscoring continued diplomatic engagement between Saudi...

A major four-season resort development in Uzbekistan’s Chimgan is moving into its final stage, as French engineering group MND advances construction of one of Central Asia’s first year-round mountain destinations.

Two years after the project began, most approvals have been secured and large-scale logistics operations are nearing completion. Nearly 200 out of around 300 planned equipment deliveries have already been dispatched from France, with the remaining shipments expected in the coming months.

Despite harsh winter conditions, construction has continued steadily, with several key infrastructure components now taking shape. These include a 10-passenger gondola lift scheduled to open in...

The wizarding world is officially returning to the screen. HBO has unveiled the first trailer for its highly anticipated Harry Potter television reboot, offering fans a fresh, yet familiar, journey back to Hogwarts.

Here’s a complete, up-to-date look at everything revealed so far.

What the Trailer Reveals

The two-minute teaser retraces the earliest steps of Harry’s story, from life with the Dursleys to his arrival at Hogwarts.

We see the iconic cupboard under the stairs, where Harry lives before discovering his magical identity. Aunt Petunia is heard dismissing him as «nothing special,» just as his Hogwarts letter arrives, setting...

11-year-old Yasmina Khusniddinova from Tashkent successfully passed the audition for Britain’s Got Talent. All four judges voted for her to advance to the next round.

The young singer performed the challenging song Never Enough from The Greatest Showman. Amanda Holden praised her remarkable vocal control, while Alesha Dixon was impressed by her ability to hit and hold high notes. The show’s organisers noted:

«She may be small, but her voice is very strong!»

Yasmina studies at Tashkent Music School No. 1. She has already won Grand Prix awards at international competitions, including the Slavianski...

Dr Edna Foa, who recently passed away, was a leading expert in PTSD and the developer of prolonged exposure (PE) therapy.

PE helps patients gradually confront memories, feelings, and situations linked to trauma, allowing them to emotionally process and reduce PTSD symptoms. Studies show it is effective for 65% to 80% of clients.

Initially met with scepticism, PE is now widely taught because it is simple, logical, and effective.

Research and Impact

Dr Foa’s research, starting in 1991, demonstrated PE’s effectiveness over other therapies. Shorter sessions achieved the same results as the original long exposures. PE also reduces depression...

«Spider-Man: Brand New Day» has set a new benchmark after its trailer surpassed one bn views within four days of release, becoming the first film trailer to reach the milestone.

The trailer’s initial performance was equally historic, generating 718.6 mln views in its first 24 hours, the highest debut for any film or video game. Within eight hours, it had already amassed 373 mln views worldwide.

The new Spider-Man instalment has overtaken previous record holders, including «Deadpool and Wolverine», which reached 365 mln views in 24 hours after its Super Bowl debut in 2024. It also exceeded the launch...

Fernando Alonso will miss Thursday’s media duties at the Japanese Grand Prix after the birth of his first child. Aston Martin said the two-time world champion would arrive later than planned for «personal family reasons», with confirmation that his partner Melissa Jimenez has given birth.

The team added that Alonso will be at Suzuka in time for Friday, although he is not scheduled to take part in the opening practice session. Reserve driver Jak Crawford is set to drive the car as part of the team’s required rookie programme.

Difficult Start For Aston Martin

Fernando Alonso’s delayed arrival...

HBO has released the first look at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from its upcoming «Harry Potter» television series.

The design has been created by production designer Mara LePere-Schloop, known for her work on «Interview With the Vampire» and «Pachinko». The series is currently in production at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in the United Kingdom.

The cast includes Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, alongside Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger. Other key roles feature John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape and Nick Frost as...

Amelia Vanderhorst, 20, has been convicted of a graffiti offence after attaching googly eyes to a well-known sculpture in South Australia. She pleaded guilty at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court on Tuesday and was ordered to pay A$2,000 ($1,394) in compensation and complete 60 hours of community service.

Vanderhorst had consumed MDMA and three litres of vodka on the night of the incident last September, her lawyer Michael Hill told the court.

Charge reduced after negotiations

Originally charged with property damage, Vanderhorst’s offence was amended to a graffiti charge following discussions with the prosecution. Hill stated that since the...

Warner Bros. has announced that Stephen Colbert and his son Peter McGee are developing a brand-new «Lord of the Rings» movie. The announcement was shared on the studio’s social media accounts on Tuesday evening.

The reveal opened with director Peter Jackson providing an update on the next franchise film, Andy Serkis’ «The Hunt for Gollum,» set for release in 2027. Jackson praised Serkis’ work, saying the script was coming together well and the project looked «amazing.» He then introduced Colbert as his «very special partner» for the following film, titled «The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past.»

Manchester City and Uzbekistan centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov has become a father for the first time. The joyful news came just before his arrival in Uzbekistan, and a video from the hospital was shared on social media.

Khusanov reached Tashkent in the early hours of March 24 to take part in the FIFA Series tournament with the national team. The competition will be held in the capital later this month, with Uzbekistan facing Venezuela, Gabon, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The national team’s head coach, legendary Italian Fabio Cannavaro, named Khusanov in the starting squad. Other players selected include Utkir Yusupov...

The government of St Kitts and Nevis has launched a national biometric enrolment and passport modernisation programme, effective from April 14, 2026. The initiative is being implemented by the Ministry of National Security, Citizenship and Immigration alongside the Citizenship by Investment Unit.

The move aligns with International Civil Aviation Organization standards, which require countries to issue biometric-enabled travel documents in line with leading jurisdictions such as the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Mandatory for investment citizens

Biometric enrolment will be compulsory for all citizens who obtained nationality through the Citizenship by Investment programme, with a...

Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom is aiming to begin main construction work on a nuclear power plant (NPP) in Uzbekistan’s Jizzakh region this summer, chief executive Alexey Likhachev told TASS.

He said preparatory concrete work is already underway, with the project expected to move to the first major concrete pour for two small power units by the summer. Initial groundwork began on March 24 and is due to be completed in April, involving around 900 cubic metres of concrete to form the foundation, including waterproofing and grounding systems.

Project Design And Capacity

Moscow and Tashkent have approved...

Mohamed Salah has announced he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, bringing his nine-year spell at Anfield to a close.

The 33-year-old Egypt international confirmed the decision in a video posted on social media, calling it the «first part» of his farewell. Despite signing a new two-year deal in April 2025, he will depart on a free transfer after reaching an agreement with the club over his future.

Salah described his time at Liverpool as life-changing, saying the club and its supporters had become part of him.

«Liverpool is not just a...

OpenAI has closed its AI video generation platform Sora, less than two years after it gained global attention for producing highly realistic clips from simple prompts.

The company is also ending its content partnership with The Walt Disney Company, according to the BBC.

OpenAI said it had discontinued Sora to prioritise other areas of development, including robotics aimed at solving real-world physical tasks.

A spokesperson for Disney said the company respected OpenAI’s decision to move away from video generation and would explore other AI platforms to develop the technology responsibly without breaching intellectual property rights.

Sora launched in...

Iran has informed the United Nations Security Council and the International Maritime Organization that «non-hostile vessels» may transit the Strait of Hormuz, provided they coordinate with Iranian authorities, according to a diplomatic note seen by Reuters.

The communication, sent by Iran’s foreign ministry on Sunday and circulated among IMO member states on Tuesday, comes as the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran has severely disrupted shipments through the key waterway, which handles around one fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.

Conditions for passage

The note states that vessels not involved in or supporting actions against Iran, and...

Uzbekistan has launched construction of a nuclear power plant in the Farish district of Jizzakh region, with initial concrete works now underway, according to Uzatom.

On March 24, Uzatom and Russia’s Rosatom approved a cooperation roadmap and signed an agreement linked to the project to build an integrated nuclear facility. The plan covers construction, workforce training and the development of infrastructure, including a future town for nuclear specialists.

Uzatom director Azim Akhmedkhadzhaev said the project marked a decisive step in implementing the country’s nuclear energy programme.

«We have taken a crucial step in delivering a...

The China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway is expected to be launched by 2030, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has said.

Speaking during Nowruz celebrations in the Naryn region, Japarov said the project would transform Kyrgyzstan from what he described as a «dead-end» country into a key transit hub linking Europe and China.

According to the president, the new railway will strengthen transit connections, enhance the region’s international role and significantly expand logistics capacity across Kyrgyzstan, particularly in Naryn.

He said shorter delivery times would create broader opportunities for accessing new markets and improving trade routes across the region.

Construction of the railway began...

Organisers of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games have revealed the event’s official visual identity, a floral-inspired design system reflecting the city’s landscape, neighbourhoods and cultural character.

The branding will feature across venues, fan zones, signage, digital platforms and broadcasts throughout the Games, according to LA28 organisers.

“Superbloom” Concept

At the heart of the identity is the «Superbloom», a nod to the bursts of wildflowers that appear across Southern California after rainfall. Officials described the design as energetic and welcoming, aimed at setting the tone for the Games.

The visual system includes 13 stylised blooms representing different...

The global luxury goods market is officially transitioning from a period of rapid acceleration into a state of measured normalization.

According to Kearney’s 2026 Global Luxury Industry Outlook, the industry is projected to see a modest 2% to 4% growth this year, stabilizing at approximately $530 bn. Rather than relying on scale and speed, 2026 will require brands to actively earn their relevance through creative clarity and consumer engagement.

The shifting geographic landscape

While the traditional “big three” heavyweights — the United States, Europe, and China — continue to provide crucial scale and anchor global demand, they are...

The construction of two large and two small nuclear power units in Uzbekistan will serve as a «global showcase», Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev said in an interview with RT.

He said the project would combine large-scale and small modular reactors at a single site, describing it as a development of global significance that could attract interest from other countries in similar power plant models.

Likhachev added that the small-capacity plant, with an output of about 50 to 55 MW, represents the world’s first export contract of its kind.

In spring 2024, Rosatom and Uzbekistan’s Uzatom agency signed an...