News

Healthcare-focused private equity firm Quadria Capital has expanded into the Middle East by opening a new office in Dubai, marking a strategic move to strengthen its presence in Gulf markets.

The expansion follows Quadria’s partial exit from Nephrocare Health Services (NephroPlus) through a successful initial public offering in India. NephroPlus operates dialysis centers across India, the Philippines, Uzbekistan and Nepal. The IPO, Quadria’s first exit from its $1 bn Fund III, was oversubscribed 27 times by institutional investors and priced at a 7% premium.

Quadria said the Middle East push complements its core focus on South and South-East...

Sony Pictures is developing a live-action film based on Labubu, the popular line of round, wide-eyed, pointy-eared plush toys. Paul King, known for directing the «Paddington» films and «Wonka,» has been chosen to direct and produce, alongside Department M and Wenxin She. The project is currently in its early stages.

King’s latest movie, «Wonka,» starring Timothee Chalamet, earned $635 mln at the global box office. The «Paddington» films were also both critical and commercial successes, earning nearly $500 mln worldwide. King co-wrote the screenplay and executive produced the third «Paddington» movie.

Labubu began as a picture book series...

A Romanian court handed American rapper Wiz Khalifa a nine-month prison sentence for smoking cannabis on stage during a festival.

The court in Constanța overturned a previous fine of 3,600 lei (£619; $829) and ruled the sentence must be served in custody, though the rapper was sentenced in absentia. Khalifa, whose real name is Thomaz Cameron Jibril, performed at the Beach, Please! festival in Costinesti in July 2024 and admitted to smoking a joint during his set.

Images posted online show the ten-time Grammy-nominated artist performing with Gunna in California and sharing clips from his home on Twitch and...

Seven people died on Thursday when a Cessna 550 business jet crashed at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina, including former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, NASCAR confirmed.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol said it is believed Biffle and members of his immediate family were on board, but the intense post-crash fire has delayed formal identification. The plane was registered to a company linked to Biffle. Officials will release the full list of occupants once confirmed by the medical examiner.

The jet had been travelling to Florida but tried to return to the Statesville airport shortly after takeoff amid severe...

On December 19, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev started his official trip to Japan with a meeting with Emperor Naruhito. The Emperor welcomed him warmly, describing the visit as a key step in deepening the friendship and strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and Japan.

President Mirziyoyev thanked the Emperor for Japan’s continued support of Uzbekistan’s reform programme and highlighted the cultural and historical connections between the two countries. Despite the distance, the Uzbek and Japanese peoples share similar values, traditions, and family ties, dating back to the Silk Road era.

The leaders also noted the growing cooperation in education and culture. More...

The man suspected of carrying out a fatal shooting at Brown University that left two students dead and nine others injured has been found dead in a storage unit in New Hampshire, US authorities said on Thursday evening.

Prosecutors believe the same individual was also responsible for the killing of MIT physics professor Nuno F. G. Loureiro at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts, earlier this week, according to Leah Foley, the US attorney for the District of Massachusetts.

The suspect was identified as Claudio Neves Valente, 48, who authorities say took his own life. His body was discovered...

Uzbek racing driver Ismail Akhmedkhodjaev will participate with Rossa Racing at the 24 Hours of Dubai endurance race, according to Roman Rusinov, founder of the Rossa brand.

The team will compete in the Rossa LM GT, with the crew also including multiple endurance racing champion and Rossa founder Roman Rusinov, Emirati racing driver Amna Al Qubaisi (female) and young prospect Vyacheslav Gutak. For 21-year-old Akhmedkhodjaev, the event will mark his debut in the Dubai endurance marathon.

The Rossa LM GT made its first appearance at the 24 Hours of Dubai in January 2025, immediately demonstrating strong pace by securing...

A $4.7 bn financing agreement has been signed to support the construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, paving the way for full-scale implementation of the cross-border infrastructure project.

The agreement was concluded between the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan Railway Company and a consortium of Chinese lenders, including the China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China. Under the deal, about $2.3 bn will be provided as a 35-year loan, while the remaining funds will be injected as equity into the project company.

China will hold a 51% stake in the joint venture, with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan each owning 24.5%.

Construction of...

Providence police are searching for an individual seen near the person of interest in last weekend’s deadly shooting at Brown University, as the manhunt enters its sixth day.

The Providence Police Department released surveillance images of a man investigators say was «in proximity of the person of interest» before and after the December 13 shooting on and around the Brown University campus. Authorities said they want to speak with the individual as part of the ongoing investigation.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said on Wednesday that the suspect remains at large but expressed confidence in the investigation.

The UK has expanded its Russia sanctions regime, adding 24 new entries to its consolidated list and imposing asset freezes and additional restrictions, according to a Financial Sanctions Notice issued on December 18, 2025.

Among the newly designated individuals is Rustam Muminov, born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, who is listed under the UK Sanctions List and is subject to an asset freeze and trust services restrictions.

The notice also names several entities with addresses in Uzbekistan that have been added to the sanctions list and are now subject to an asset freeze, alongside trust services restrictions. These include:

The so-called «swag gap» has emerged as one of Gen Z’s most talked-about relationship red flags, gaining traction across TikTok, Instagram and X. The term describes couples where one partner appears noticeably more stylish, confident or put together than the other, creating a visible imbalance in public appearances.

While the concept itself is not new, social media has amplified it through viral photos and paparazzi shots. Celebrity couples such as Hailey and Justin Bieber are frequently cited, with images showing Hailey in polished outfits alongside Justin in oversized hoodies and casual wear. Similar comparisons have been drawn with...

Manchester City centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov escaped a potential red card during his side’s Carabao Cup quarter-final against Brentford on Wednesday after a contentious early challenge.

In the 16th minute, Khusanov brought down Brentford forward Kevin Schade as the German broke clear on goal. Referee Sam Barrott opted to issue a yellow card, prompting strong protests from Brentford players and staff, who argued the challenge denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

Brentford manager Keith Andrews described the decision as a «big moment,» saying the officials had not applied the rules correctly. Former City defender Andy Hinchcliffe echoed those concerns on...

Uzbekistan’s natural resource wealth is estimated at up to $79,000 per capita, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said, commenting on the country’s mineral potential amid growing global demand for strategic resources.

Speaking earlier at the Tashkent International Investment Forum, Mirziyoyev estimated the total value of Uzbekistan’s underground resources at around $3 trillion. Based on the country’s population of about 38.2 mln, this translates into roughly $78,000–$79,000 per person.

International rankings cited by local media show Uzbekistan trailing resource-rich countries such as Saudi Arabia, Canada and Australia in per capita terms, but officials stress that the country’s full potential has yet...

The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) plans to invest between $300 mln and $500 mln in Uzbekistan’s economy in 2026, Deputy Chairman of the EDB Management Board Yaroslav Mandron said at a press conference in Almaty reviewing the bank’s 2025 performance.

Mandron noted that the bank’s project pipeline in Uzbekistan through 2028 is estimated at $1.5 bn. He added that the EDB could act as a channel to boost Uzbek exports to Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries by providing investors with certain guarantees.

«Through the EDB, Uzbekistan has the potential to increase exports to...

The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has identified three priority projects in Uzbekistan for potential financing in 2026, Deputy Chairman of the EDB Management Board Yaroslav Mandron said at a press conference in Almaty summarising the bank’s 2025 results.

According to Mandron, one of the key projects is the Almalyk plant, with planned investments ranging from $100 mln to $150 mln. The initiative also предусматривает the construction of a polymer production complex. Discussions with the client have already taken place, and the bank is awaiting final documentation from the Uzbek government to obtain a full financing mandate.

The EDB...

A former anaesthetist has been sentenced to life imprisonment in France for deliberately poisoning 30 patients, 12 of whom died.

A court in Besancon found Frederic Pechier guilty of contaminating infusion bags with substances that caused cardiac arrest or severe bleeding. The victims ranged in age from four to 89. The youngest patient, a four-year-old child, survived two cardiac arrests during routine tonsil surgery in 2016.

Prosecutors accused Pechier of turning the clinics where he worked into places of death, saying his actions had disgraced the medical profession. He was first placed under investigation eight years ago over suspected poisonings...

FIFA is set to make its long-awaited return to video games in 2026, years after its split with developer EA Sports.

Unlike previous releases from major game studios, Netflix has secured the rights to the upcoming football title. The new game will be developed by Delphi Interactive, a studio yet to release a game, and will be available to play online via the Netflix app on iOS and Android, or on select TVs using a smartphone as a controller.

Electronic Arts ran the Fifa franchise for 30 years until 2023, when licensing issues prompted it to rename the series...

Uzbekistan’s economy is projected to grow 7.4% in 2025 and 6.8% next year, according to a report by the Eurasian Development Bank, cited by Kommersant.

Economic growth this year has been driven by domestic reforms, while the slight slowdown in 2026 is expected due to a modest decline in consumer activity.

The EDB predicts Central Asia’s economy as a whole will expand by 6.6% in 2025. Kyrgyzstan is expected to lead regional growth at 10.3% this year and 9.3% in 2026, while Tajikistan is forecast to grow 8.3% and 8.1% respectively. Kazakhstan’s GDP is projected to rise 5.9% in...

FIFA has approved a record $727 mln in prize money for the 2026 World Cup, journalist Ben Jacobs reports. Each national team, including Uzbekistan, is guaranteed at least $10.5 mln.

All squads will receive $1.5 mln for tournament preparations. Teams finishing 33rd to 48th will get an additional $9 mln.

Prize money rises with performance. Teams finishing 17th to 32nd will earn $11 mln, 9th to 16th $15 mln, and 5th to 8th $19 mln. Fourth place is worth $27 mln, third place $29 mln, the runner-up $33 mln, and the champion $50 mln.

The 2026 World Cup will...

Russian e-commerce platform Wildberries is planning to launch its own online cinema, RBC reports. The company had previously considered acquiring the streaming service Ivi but is now preparing to start the platform independently. The online cinema is expected to go live in 2026.

Sources say producer Arthur Janibekyan, founder of Comedy Club Production will oversee content for the streaming service.

Wildberries and its outdoor advertising operator Russ declined to confirm or deny the reports, stating they do not comment on rumours.

The marketplace has already expanded into other digital areas. It launched the social network Wibes, similar to...

The children of Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele have spoken publicly for the first time following their deaths and the arrest of their brother, Nick Reiner.

Jake and Romy Reiner said on Wednesday they are enduring «unimaginable pain» after the «horrific and devastating loss» of their parents. They did not comment on the allegations against Nick Reiner.

Nick Reiner, 32, appeared in court for the first time on Wednesday and waived his right to enter a plea to two counts of first-degree murder. Their parents were found dead on Sunday at their Los Angeles...

Rosatom has delivered a new generation of nuclear fuel for the Light-Water Research Reactor (LWRR) – Special Modernization at the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, the fuel division of Rosatom reports.

The LWRR reactor is used for research in nuclear physics and radiation materials science, mineral irradiation, and the production of radioisotopes for medical and industrial applications.

Bilateral cooperation between Russia and Uzbekistan also covers major energy projects. In May 2024, the countries signed an agreement to build a small modular nuclear power plant in Jizzakh region with Russian RITM-200N reactors. This...

Uzbekistan ranked seventh globally for tourism growth in January–September 2025, according to the World Tourism Barometer, the country’s Tourism Committee reports. The number of foreign visitors was 73% higher than in 2019.

The result also placed Uzbekistan second in Europe for the pace of tourism recovery and among the top four destinations in the region for year-on-year growth compared with 2024, up 13%.

The country set new domestic records this year. More than 10.7 mln foreign tourists visited Uzbekistan in the first 11 months of 2025, while from April monthly arrivals consistently exceeded one mln for the first time...

Max Verstappen has confirmed he will race under a new driver number in the 2026 Formula One season following the end of his championship reign.

The Red Bull driver has used the number one for the past four seasons as world champion. However, he is no longer eligible to keep it after Lando Norris secured the title earlier this month. While the champion is not required to use number one, Norris has already said he will adopt it next year.

Verstappen previously raced with number 33 from 2015 to 2021 but will not return to it. Instead, he...