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The build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw has become as much a political spectacle as a sporting event, with Donald Trump set to speak at Friday’s ceremony in Washington — despite being allocated just three minutes that few expect him to keep.

The draw, originally intended for Las Vegas, was moved to the Kennedy Center at the recommendation of the Trump administration. Reports suggest FIFA is paying no rental fee for the venue but has committed to a $2.4mln donation and additional sponsorship concessions worth $5mln. The move comes amid controversy over Trump’s unilateral reshaping of the Center’s...

Lando Norris opened the final weekend of the 2025 Formula One season with the fastest time in Free Practice 1 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, beating Max Verstappen by eight thousandths of a second in a closely fought opening session at Yas Marina.

The McLaren driver leads the Championship by 12 points heading into the season finale and with Oscar Piastri also in mathematical contention, the title remains a three-way fight. Piastri did not take part in FP1 as McLaren fulfilled its rookie requirement, placing Pato O’Ward in the Australian’s seat for the hour.

A bumper roster...

Meta’s market value surged by nearly $100bn on Thursday after reports emerged that Mark Zuckerberg is preparing sweeping budget cuts of up to 30% at the company’s troubled Metaverse division.

According to Bloomberg, senior Meta executives met at Zuckerberg’s Hawaii compound last month to discuss the cost reductions, which are expected to trigger layoffs as early as January. The division, responsible for virtual reality headsets, Horizon Worlds, and other immersive tech, has lost more than $70bn since 2020, including $4.4bn last quarter alone.

Investors responded enthusiastically to the prospect of tighter spending, sending Meta shares up 5.5%, their...

The road to the 2026 World Cup has delivered its first major milestone as FIFA released updated world rankings for all qualified nations, spanning global powerhouses like Spain to debutants such as New Zealand. With the expanded 48-team format, more nations than ever will take part when the tournament kicks off across the USA, Mexico and Canada in 188 days.

For traditional giants, qualification was largely straightforward: Italy, ranked 12th, were the only side in FIFA’s top 20 that had not secured their place before the March 2026 playoffs. Meanwhile, three nations outside the top 80, including Haiti...

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has unleashed a blistering critique of his successor Gianni Infantino, accusing him of politicising football, sidelining players and transforming the governing body into a tool for world leaders.

Speaking from Zurich ahead of Friday’s World Cup draw in Washington, the 89-year-old, who ran FIFA from 1998 until his 2015 resignation amid a sweeping corruption scandal, referred to Infantino only as «my successor» and «the leader», pointedly refusing to use his name. Cleared of criminal charges earlier this year, Blatter said his «conscience is tranquil» as he returned to commenting on the state of global football.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced at an energy sector launch ceremony that Uzbekistan has secured $35 bn in foreign investment in recent years to develop its energy system.

According to Mirziyoyev, these investments have helped increase electricity production to 85 bn kWh this year, 20 bn kWh higher than in 2017. He highlighted that the country is undertaking extensive reforms in the energy sector to meet the demands of a rapidly growing economy. Key objectives include ensuring reliable power supply across all regions and expanding generation from modern, environmentally friendly and renewable sources.

Recent projects include the commissioning of solar...

UNG Overseas, a subsidiary of Uzbekneftegaz, has signed a financing agreement with the US corporation Cargill worth up to $3 bn, with the option to increase it to $5 bn.

The partnership aims to advance projects in the energy sector, water management and environmental protection. Priority areas include enhancing Uzbekistan’s energy security and promoting sustainable development. The agreement also explores financial support for projects ensuring electricity supply to enterprises, modernising infrastructure and improving management of energy and water resources.

UNG Overseas will coordinate cooperation with international partners, while Cargill will provide practical solutions for project implementation.

Kursiv also...

Uzbekistan’s national team defender Abdukodir Khusanov has been placed 86th in a ranking of the best players expected to participate in the 2026 World Cup.

The list, compiled by The Athletic, assessed players across five categories, including current form, past achievements and influence on their teams. Khusanov currently plays for English club Manchester City and remains a key figure for Uzbekistan’s national side.

French star Kylian Mbappe topped the ranking, followed by Norwegian forward Erling Haaland. France has the most players in the list with 12, while Brazil has nine representatives.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance has published its draft budget for 2026, following initial approval in the first reading by the Legislative Chamber.

The consolidated budget is expected to generate over $43.1 bn in revenue, while expenditures are projected at $47.4 bn. The ministry proposes a maximum deficit of $5 bn, equivalent to under 3% of GDP. For the state budget specifically, revenues are set at $30.8 bn and spending at $33.6 bn.

The budget statement emphasises that next year the government plans to continue supporting education, healthcare, social protection and public safety, with a particular focus on...

TBC Bank has surged 18 positions in The Banker’s latest ranking, securing 51st place among banks in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). In Uzbekistan, the bank ranks 14th for Tier 1 capital.

The Banker assesses regional banks annually based on Tier 1 capital and eight additional criteria, including stability, profitability and efficiency. The updated evaluation model incorporates a broader set of data, providing a more precise comparison between banks.

TBC Uzbekistan CEO Nika Kurdiani highlighted that the bank’s appearance among the leading CIS institutions reflects the success of its digital banking ecosystem in the country.

In 2025, TBC Uzbekistan...

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) confirmed on November 4 that Israel will be allowed to participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, triggering withdrawals from Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia and igniting one of the biggest disputes in the competition’s history.

The broadcasters who pulled out cited the rising death toll in Gaza and accused Israel of violating rules designed to protect the contest’s neutrality. Israel, in turn, accused its critics of leading a global smear campaign. Following a meeting in Geneva, the EBU opted against a vote on Israel’s participation, instead introducing new rules aimed at discouraging...

The London Chess Classic has concluded with a triumph for Uzbek grandmaster Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who delivered one of the most convincing performances in the event’s recent history. His dominant run secured the championship before the final round had even been played.

Abdusattorov opened the tournament with six consecutive wins, building a comfortable two point lead over the chasing pack. His steady and assured play allowed him to stay in full control of the standings from the first rounds through to the finish.

The decisive moment came in the penultimate round when he drew against Alireza Firouzja. The half-point...

A Faberge locket adorned with diamonds and sapphires has been safely retrieved after a New Zealand man allegedly swallowed it during an attempted theft, police have confirmed.

Officers said the jewel was recovered in a “natural” way and no medical procedure was needed. The incident took place last week at Partridge Jewellers in central Auckland where the 32-year-old suspect was arrested only minutes after he is thought to have ingested the piece.

The locket, known as the Octopussy egg, is worth NZ$33,585 ($19,368) and contains 60 white diamonds and 15 blue sapphires. It opens to reveal a miniature octopus...

Skywatchers across the Northern Hemisphere are set for one of the year’s most reliable meteor displays as the Geminid shower peaks overnight on December 13–14, 2025. A waning crescent moon will rise only after midnight, so its light will not spoil the view, and Jupiter will sit close to the shower’s radiant point in Gemini, making it easier to locate.

The peak is forecast for 3 UTC on December 14. Because the radiant rises in mid to late evening, observers can watch from late evening until dawn, with the nights surrounding the peak also offering good conditions. Under a...

World No. 51 Anastasia Potapova has announced she will compete for Austria beginning in 2026, following the approval of her citizenship application. The 24-year-old tennis player revealed the news on Instagram, saying Austria has become a place where she feels «totally at home» and expressing excitement about making Vienna her second home.

Potapova becomes the fourth Russian WTA player to change nationality this year, amid ongoing restrictions and uncertainty for Russian athletes during the Russia–Ukraine war. Daria Kasatkina now represents Australia, while Maria Timofeeva and Kamilla Rakhimova have both switched to Uzbekistan.

A former world No. 21, Potapova...

Uzbekistan is enjoying a breakthrough moment in world chess, with two of its brightest young talents capturing global attention in the same week. Fresh off GM Javokhir Sindarov’s historic victory at the FIDE World Cup, the country’s top-ranked player, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, is now on the verge of winning the prestigious London Chess Classic.

Sindarov, 19, became the youngest-ever winner of the knockout World Cup in Goa, securing Uzbekistan a place in chess history. His triumph comes alongside an extraordinary run by Abdusattorov, who has dominated the elite £50,000 London tournament.

Heading into Round 8 on Thursday, the 21-year-old...

US President Donald Trump welcomed the leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda to Washington on Thursday in a renewed effort to calm eastern Congo’s conflict and secure major Western investment in the region’s mineral-rich economy.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi are expected to reaffirm commitments to an economic integration pact reached last month and a US-brokered peace agreement signed in June but still not implemented.

The summit comes amid ongoing clashes in eastern Congo, where the M23 rebel group, allegedly backed by Rwanda, captured two major cities earlier this year. Analysts...

Russia has issued a sharp warning to the European Union after Brussels proposed using frozen Russian state assets to finance Ukraine’s war effort. Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and now deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, said on Wednesday that such a move would be seen in Moscow as a casus belli — an act that could justify war.

The EU is considering transforming around £123 bn in frozen Russian assets held in Belgium into a «reparations loan» for Kyiv. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the plan would provide two-thirds of the funding Ukraine needs...

A 40-year-old Kenyan man, Nyakundi Kibiru, has gone viral online after declaring that he is the firstborn son of billionaire Elon Musk. Kibiru claimed his mother had a brief relationship with a «20-year-old Musk» in the early 1990s while working at a hotel in Kenya’s Masai Mara, and he has publicly requested a DNA test to prove his story.

However, the timeline quickly raised doubts. Based on his age, Kibiru would have been born when Musk was around 14 and still in high school in South Africa. Musk, who now has 14 known children with four women, has...

King Charles welcomed German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Windsor Castle on Wednesday evening for a glittering state banquet marking the first German state visit to the UK in 27 years.

More than 150 guests, including Claudia Schiffer, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, composer Hans Zimmer and violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, gathered in St George’s Hall, which was decorated for the season with a towering 20-foot Christmas tree.

In a speech addressed to Western allies, the King stressed the need to stand firmly with Ukraine against Russia’s invasion. President Steinmeier echoed the message, calling Germany «side by side in support...

Kylian Mbappe delivered another moment of magic on Sunday, scoring a spectacular solo goal in Real Madrid’s match against Athletic Bilbao at San Mamés. The French star opened the scoring after latching onto a pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold before bursting past defenders with his trademark acceleration and firing clinically past goalkeeper Unai Simon.

The strike, quickly labelled a golazo by fans and commentators, added to Mbappe’s remarkable run of form and silenced the home crowd. It also brings him level with Cristiano Ronaldo’s 61-goal haul from 2012, as Mbappe has now scored 61 goals for club and country...

Demi Moore is making headlines after sharing a birthday message that has divided social media. The 63-year-old actress posted that growing older is not a decline but a form of freedom, a statement that some praised as empowering, while others criticised as unrealistic.

Speaking on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Moore described entering her sixties as «one of the most liberating periods» of her life. She said she feels more at ease with herself, freed from outside expectations and scrutiny that often shape the lives of women in Hollywood.

Her comments were widely celebrated as a refreshing...

Global demand for air cargo increased by 8.5% in October compared with the same month last year, according to a new report from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), obtained by Kursiv Uzbekistan.

IATA noted that passenger traffic within Asia delivered exceptional momentum, with sharp increases on routes to and from China, Japan and Vietnam. Each of these corridors recorded annual growth above 10%.

The association added that part of the strong expansion in the Middle East reflects a low base in 2024, when geopolitical tensions and disruptions to flights held back performance. IATA also highlighted continued improvement in air...

As of early November 2025, the number of foreign students studying in Uzbekistan reached 33,200, marking a 51.5% increase compared with the previous year, according to the State Committee on Statistics.

The largest groups of students came from India, with over 14,300 arrivals, Turkmenistan with 8,300, and Tajikistan with 2,300.

In addition, students travelled from more distant countries, including Pakistan (1,600), China (1,200), and South Korea (806). Smaller groups also arrived from the Philippines (461), the United States (429), and Jordan (175).