News

South Korea’s former first lady Kim Keon Hee faces fresh controversy after the Korea Heritage Service (KHS) said she sat on the king’s throne in Geunjeongjeon Hall at Gyeongbokgung Palace during a closed-door visit in September 2023.

The KHS said the presidential office requested the private tour while the palace was shut to the public; an official told the National Assembly that Kim «walked up the steps… and sat on the throne.» The red-and-gold seat, considered the highest symbol of Joseon-era authority, is normally off-limits; KHS noted the chair used was a replica, not the original. No past president...

Booker prize–winner Ian McEwan has criticised the modern obsession with carrying water bottles, calling it «deranged» during a talk at the Cheltenham Literature Festival.

«Thirty years ago, nobody had bottles of water… Suddenly we were persuaded you can’t go 10 minutes without being thirsty,» he said, lamenting the surge of single-use plastics and status-symbol flasks.

The comments tap into a booming hydration trend led by Gen Z and millennials, fuelled by social media movements like #WaterTok and the viral rise of Stanley cups, whose sales exploded after a 2023 video showed one surviving...

Frequent use of a widely prescribed class of drugs known as anticholinergics may accelerate physical ageing in older adults, according to new research published in JAMA Open Network.

The study, which tracked more than 4,000 adults between 1994 and 2020, found that high exposure to anticholinergic medications, used to treat conditions such as COPD, bladder disorders, and Parkinson’s disease, was linked to a faster decline in walking speed, though grip strength remained largely unaffected.

Anticholinergic drugs block acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter vital to nerve communication, which can lead to cognitive and sedative side effects. Researchers warn that prolonged use may...

Scottish consultant Sam Struan, formerly known as Sam Sung, became an internet sensation after a photo of his Apple business card went viral while he was working in Vancouver.

He recalls receiving endless calls and messages after someone posted the card online in 2012. At first, he feared losing his job, thinking Apple would see it as bad publicity.

«I was terrified,» he said. «But if Apple had fired me, it would have caused even more noise.»

Apple briefly pulled him off the shop floor and told colleagues not to confirm his identity to curious...

The European Union has published its latest sanctions list, which includes several banks from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. In total, five financial institutions have been added under the EU’s 19th sanctions package.

The measures target Spitamen Bank and Tajikistan Commercial Bank in Tajikistan. Tolubay Bank and Eurasian Savings Bank in Kyrgyzstan. As well as the Kazakh subsidiary of VTB Bank.

The sanctions will take effect on November 12, 2025 and involve the freezing of assets and a ban on financial transactions within the European Union.

Between January and September 2025, Uzbekistan registered 177,000 marriages. This is a 1.3% decline compared to the same period last year, when 179,400 couples tied the knot. Meanwhile, the number of divorces rose from 34,000 to 35,400, marking an increase of 4.1%, the National Statistics Agency reports.

The agency noted that marriage rates have been falling for five consecutive years. In 2021, 206,800 marriages were registered across the country, but by 2025 this figure had dropped by 29,800, or 14.4%. Over the same period, divorces rose from 29,100 to 35,400 — an increase of 21.6%.

As a result, the proportion...

Google has announced a major milestone in quantum computing, unveiling an algorithm that completed a molecular computation faster than any known classical supercomputer.

The company said the algorithm, developed by its Quantum AI division, marks the first time a verifiable quantum computation has surpassed traditional machines.

«This repeatable, beyond-classical computation is the basis for scalable verification, bringing quantum computers closer to practical applications,» Google said in a statement.

According to Nobel laureate Michel Devoret, Google’s chief quantum scientist, the result represents «a new step towards full-scale quantum computation.» Published in Nature, the peer-reviewed...

Kazakhstan’s Defence Ministry announced on October 23, that it was strengthening airspace monitoring after a drone of unknown origin exploded in the country’s western region near the Russian border.

According to a statement shared on Telegram, the blast took place in a remote area roughly 180 kilometres west of the Russian city of Orenburg, which had been targeted by Ukrainian drones the previous week. The ministry did not specify where the drone came from, noting only that «consultations are underway with foreign partners who may potentially own these devices.»

The incident comes as Kazakhstan faces the effects of intensified...

Lokomotiv Moscow secured a 3–0 victory over CSKA in the 12th round of the Russian Premier League on October 18.

The match, held at Lokomotiv’s home ground, saw goals from Aleksei Batrakov (17’), Dmitry Vorobyov (45+3’) and Nikolai Komlichenko (88’). Vorobyov scored the highlight goal of the match with a strike from an almost impossible angle. With 26 points, Lokomotiv lead the standings on goal difference over Krasnodar, while CSKA, on 24 points, remain third.

Lokomotiv will face Akron Tolyatti away on October 26, while CSKA host Krylia Sovetov the day before.

Match Rundown

The army side went...

Uzbekistan has extended its visa-free travel policy to citizens of six additional countries, while also lengthening the permitted stay for visitors from China.

According to a Cabinet resolution dated October 21, nationals of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan can now visit Uzbekistan for up to 30 days without a visa.

For Chinese citizens, the visa-free period has been increased from seven to 30 days, though the rule for Hong Kong residents remains unchanged.

The government has also simplified the process of obtaining business visas for 15 countries. Citizens from Austria, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain...

The VEB Research Institute has forecast Uzbekistan’s GDP to rise by 6.7% in 2025, exceeding the consensus estimate of 6.1%. Growth is expected to remain robust at around 6.0–6.2% in 2026–2027.

According to analysts, this strong performance will be supported by steady population growth, rising domestic demand, and an expanding private sector. Additional drivers include higher gold and uranium production and exports, stronger inflows of foreign direct investment, and increased cross-border remittances.

Inflation and Monetary Policy

Inflation is projected at 8.6–8.7% in 2025, slowing to 6.0–7.0% in 2026–2027. The Central Bank is expected to maintain moderately tight monetary policy...

The Centre for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) has released an updated analysis of trends in Uzbekistan’s automotive market. In September, car sales reached 84,600 units, a 6.4% drop compared with August. The sharpest declines were recorded in the Surkhandarya and Navoi regions, as well as in Tashkent city. Sales increased in the Syrdarya and Tashkent regions.

Primary And Secondary Markets

Sales of new cars saw a moderate seasonal decline, falling by 15.2% to 31,900 units in September. Domestically produced vehicles continued to dominate the market, with 27,400 units sold, but showing a 16.1% decrease from August. Sales of...

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $100 mln concessional loan to help Uzbekistan improve science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in secondary schools.

The project aims to equip young people with modern, innovation-driven skills essential for sustainable growth and supports Uzbekistan’s goal of achieving upper middle-income status by 2030.

«This project reflects Uzbekistan’s commitment to investing in human capital and empowering its youth,» said ADB Country Director Kanokpan Lao-Araya.

Around 200 schools will be upgraded with modern laboratories, ICT infrastructure, solar systems and inclusive facilities, becoming resource centres for neighbouring schools...

Oil prices rose by roughly 2.5% on October 23, extending the previous day’s gains, after the United States imposed sanctions on Russia’s leading oil producers Rosneft and Lukoil amid ongoing fighting in Ukraine.

By 03:03 GMT, Brent crude futures had increased by $1.56, or 2.49%, to $64.15 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained $1.53, or 2.62%, reaching $60.03. Washington warned it was ready to take additional measures as it urged Moscow to agree immediately to a ceasefire.

President Donald Trump, who had long resisted calls from US lawmakers to introduce energy sanctions, said he now...

The ancient Silk Road city of Bukhara has stepped onto the global culture map with the debut of the Bukhara Biennial, a contemporary art and design festival running through 20 November 2025 across its UNESCO-listed old town.

Curated exhibitions transform historic madrasas and mosques into open-air galleries: Delcy Morelos’s turmeric-scented pyramid, Antony Gormley’s brick human forms with Temur Jumaev, Jazgul Madazimova’s soaring wave of headscarves, Ruben Saakyan’s hidden floral gardens, and Laila Gohar’s rock-sugar pavilion. Uzbek designer-artist Jenia Kim (J.Kim) presents an installation inspired by the city’s whimsical stork scissors.

The Biennial opened with a candlelit gala at the...

Turkmenistan has the potential to serve as a vital link between current global energy challenges and future sustainability goals, Valérie Ducros, Executive Director of the Global Gas Centre, said at the 30th Anniversary International Conference «Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan – 2025.»

Ducros highlighted that sustainable energy development depends on a combination of innovation, international cooperation and human capital, stressing that «access to reliable and affordable energy is the foundation of national security.»

With some of the world’s largest natural gas reserves, Turkmenistan represents «a model for strategic resource management and partnership,» Ducros said.

Uzbekistan has commissioned a new gas distribution facility in the Qarshi district, aimed at improving supply efficiency and ensuring a stable flow of natural gas to consumers, the Ministry of Energy announced.

The system is divided into eight main segments, allowing for more precise monitoring and management of gas usage and account balances across different consumer categories. Officials say the upgrade will help reduce operational losses and improve reliability in regional energy delivery.

The launch comes as Uzbekistan reports strong performance in the gas sector. Between January and September 2025, the country’s gas exports rose 15.4% to $546.2 Mln...

As King Charles III prepares to meet Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican this week, the five-month-old papacy is taking clearer shape, largely in continuity with Pope Francis on migration, climate, and social justice.

Despite early stylistic departures, traditional dress, moving into the Apostolic Palace, and outreach to conservative cardinals Raymond Burke and Robert Sarah, Leo has echoed Francis’s priorities. He urged U.S. bishops to «speak strongly» on immigration after letters describing raids and deportation fears, told reporters that backing harsh treatment of migrants is incompatible with a pro-life stance, and reaffirmed the Church’s focus on the climate crisis.

UNESCO will stage its 43rd General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in 2025 — the first time in 40 years the gathering is held outside Paris. The move, adopted unanimously by all 194 member states at the 42nd session, is widely seen as recognition of Uzbekistan’s recent cultural and educational reforms.

Uzbekistan has set up an Organising Committee and plans upgrades around logistics, visas, transport and medical services. Authorities expect over 5,000 delegates. Alongside the plenary, Samarkand will host the 14th UNESCO Youth Forum and the 12th Interregional Meeting of National Commissions.

Conference side events will focus on AI in museums...

A mural of Novak Djokovic in Belgrade has been vandalised, sparking outrage from the artist who created it. The incident follows the Serbian tennis legend’s recent relocation to Greece, where he has reportedly settled with his family in the southern suburbs of Athens.

The mural, painted earlier this year by Serbian street artist Andrej Josifovski, known as The Pianist — depicted Djokovic gesturing during the 2024 Wimbledon final. Josifovski shared images of the vandalized artwork on social media, condemning those responsible and vowing to restore it.

«Imagine that great patriot… sneaking around at night and...

Chelsea FC have expanded their partnership with Vietnamese technology company FPT, naming it the club’s official sleeve sponsor across the men’s, women’s, and academy teams for the remainder of the 2025–26 season.

The two sides first partnered in April 2025, when FPT became Chelsea’s global technology solutions partner. The company, one of the Asia-Pacific region’s leading digital transformation providers, will now have its logo featured on the sleeves of all match kits.

Chelsea’s president and COO Jason Gannon and commercial president Todd Kline led the deal, which comes as the club continues to search for a front-of-shirt sponsor.

In...

An Australian man has been charged after allegedly stealing dozens of collectible Labubu dolls worth about A$9,000 ($5,839).

Victoria Police said they raided a property in Melbourne on October 21, where they recovered 43 of the sought-after dolls, including several limited-edition pieces valued at up to A$500 ($324) each. Detectives believe the items were stolen from a shopping centre during four separate burglaries carried out since July.

In a statement titled «These Labubu Are Not For You You,» Victoria Police said the 40-year-old suspect faces four counts of burglary and two counts of theft. He has been released on...

A major corruption scandal has rocked NATO’s Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), following the release of an explosive investigative report on October 21 that exposed a vast network of bribery and influence peddling.

The report, compiled by a consortium of European investigative outlets, details a «tentacular system of corruption» centered on former NSPA advisors who allegedly acted as intermediaries between defense suppliers and the agency. At least four cases involving individuals of various nationalities were uncovered, with bribes exceeding US$1 mln paid to secure contracts or access confidential tender documents, some linked to U.S. defense interests.

Between February and...

Plans to expand the 2030 FIFA World Cup from 48 to 64 teams are facing resistance from within Conmebol, despite the South American confederation standing to benefit from hosting additional matches.

According to reports, seven of Conmebol’s 10 member nations have expressed concern over the proposal, which is being championed by Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina — the three countries granted one commemorative match each for the World Cup’s centenary edition.

The trio met with FIFA president Gianni Infantino at Trump Tower in New York last month to discuss expanding the event. However, other South American federations fear the move...