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Chinese investment in Uzbekistan soared from $284 mln in 2016 to $10.7 bn in the first half of 2025, according to a report by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB).

The bank noted that since 2022, Uzbekistan has become the second-largest recipient of Chinese investment in Central Asia, behind Kazakhstan, which received $11.4 bn. Of the $10.7 bn invested in Uzbekistan, $5.5 bn went to the energy sector and $3.3 bn to manufacturing.

In 2024 and the first half of 2025, China strengthened its investment presence in Uzbekistan through projects in petrochemicals, energy and gas infrastructure. The largest project is...

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan has denied reports suggesting that data from the country’s road surveillance cameras is accessible online.

Earlier, TechCrunch reported that information from Uzbekistan’s traffic camera network, including vehicle registration numbers, violation locations and descriptions, could be found on the internet. The ministry clarified that cameras are installed by private operators and all violation data is sent to the central system, Maʼmuriy Amaliyot.

Officials stressed that all systems undergo cybersecurity checks and that citizens’ personal information does not appear on photos or videos.

Fines can only be viewed through official links or dedicated...

The FIA has signalled there will be no compromise, allowing Mercedes and Red Bull Powertrains to continue with their current engine concepts, Motorsport reports. According to sources, the governing body has accepted that the combustion chambers in the disputed power units would be considered legal if inspections carried out at room temperature show a compression ratio of 16:1. It would not matter if the figure rises when the engine is running hot.

The principle mirrors the long-running debate over flexible wings, which remain within limits during static tests but deform under increasing aerodynamic load. Should the engines reach...

A Dunfermline grandmother, Agnes, known online as EpicGamerGrandma, died in hospital on Sunday surrounded by her family after suffering a stroke in October.

Her TikTok account attracted 2.4 mln followers and more than 81 mln likes, with videos showing her gaming, using soundboards and experimenting with face filters.

Her death was confirmed by her grandson, Dylan King, in an Instagram post on Tuesday. He said she proved that age was never a barrier. In a statement shared online, he said the family was proud of who she was long before her online fame and of the way she spent...

Three people were killed by a bomb in Moscow on Wednesday after two police officers approached a man behaving suspiciously. It was near the location where a senior Russian general was killed by a car bomb two days earlier, investigators said.

Russia’s State Investigative Committee said the officers were killed when an explosive device detonated as they approached the man. A third person also died, though officials did not identify who that was. Criminal cases were opened into the killing of law enforcement officers and the illegal handling of explosives.

The blast occurred close to the site where Lieutenant...

At least five people were killed in a bomb explosion inside a crowded mosque in Nigeria’s north-eastern Borno state, according to BBC.

Police spokesman Nahum Daso said a further 35 people were injured in the blast, which struck the Gamboru market area of Maiduguri, the state capital, during evening prayers.

Unverified videos shared on social media appeared to show the scene after the explosion, with dust hanging in the air as people gathered in the market.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, armed groups in the region have repeatedly targeted mosques and busy public spaces using...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a draft peace plan discussed by Ukrainian and US negotiators could involve Kyiv withdrawing troops from parts of eastern Ukraine claimed by Russia, marking a significant, though contentious, shift in negotiations to end the war.

Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said the proposal envisions the Donbas region becoming a demilitarized «free economic zone,» with neither Ukrainian nor Russian forces present. Most of the territory is currently occupied by Moscow’s troops.

Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine opposes withdrawal but acknowledged the pressure to explore alternatives to continued fighting. He said the updated plan preserves security guarantees...

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi held phone talks on Wednesday focused on strengthening bilateral relations and recent developments surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme.

According to a statement from Egypt’s Foreign Ministry, the two sides agreed on the importance of continued consultation and coordination between Egypt and Iran in a manner that serves their mutual interests.

The discussion also addressed the status of Iran’s nuclear file, with Abdelatty stressing the need to de-escalate tensions and resume dialogue aimed at reaching a comprehensive agreement that safeguards the interests of all parties and supports regional security...

Thousands of people gathered in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, marking the city’s first full celebration after two years of subdued observances during the war in Gaza. Families filled Manger Square with music and festivities as the city’s iconic Christmas tree returned after being absent throughout the conflict.

The celebrations were led by Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who arrived in Bethlehem in the traditional procession from Jerusalem. Calling for «a Christmas full of light,» he said the holiday symbolized hope after years of hardship.

Bethlehem, revered by Christians as the birthplace of Jesus, saw muted celebrations during the conflict, with tourism...

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said the end of Syria’s long-running conflict and the lifting of international sanctions were the country’s most significant achievements over the past year, speaking during talks with Russian officials in Moscow.

Meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, al-Shaibani said the conclusion of the 14-year war and the fall of the previous regime marked a turning point for Syria, opening the way for reconstruction and renewed diplomatic engagement.

«The most important success we have achieved over the past year is the lifting of sanctions against Syria,» he said, adding that the transitional government is...

Fabio Cannavaro, head coach of Uzbekistan’s national football team, has taken part in the Olympic torch relay in his hometown of Naples, CGTN reports.

The event also featured several prominent Italian athletes, including Olympic rowing champion Giuseppe Abbagnale and former footballer Ciro Ferrara, alongside other sports figures. Citywide celebrations were held in Piazza del Plebiscito, the largest square in Naples.

The relay will pause until December 26 for Christmas celebrations. A day earlier, on Dec. 23, the Olympic flame was carried through the ruins of Pompeii, with actor Jackie Chan among the participants. It marked his third appearance...

Top-flight clubs across the Premier League are lining up to sign Antoine Semenyo in the January transfer window, with Chelsea FC becoming the latest side to show interest in the 25-year-old Ghanaian winger.

Semenyo, who has scored eight goals and provided three assists in 16 league matches this season, has a £65 mln release clause in his Bournemouth contract that becomes active at the start of January. Clubs including Manchester City FC, Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC have already registered interest, with City reportedly emerging as favourites and potentially Semenyo’s preferred destination.

Tottenham Tottenham Hotspur FC

A private jet carrying Libya’s army chief of staff and members of a senior military delegation crashed shortly after takeoff from Turkey’s capital, Ankara, on Tuesday, killing all eight people on board, Libyan and Turkish officials said.

Libya’s Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah confirmed the death of Gen Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, describing the incident as a «tragic accident» and a «great loss» for the country. Four other Libyan officers and three crew members were also killed.

Turkish authorities said the Falcon 50 business jet departed from Esenboga Airport and later issued an emergency signal after reporting a technical...

Newly released documents from the so-called Epstein files have revealed emails sent from the British royal residence of Balmoral that appear to reference Prince Andrew and his connections to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

The US Department of Justice on Tuesday published nearly 30,000 pages related to Epstein — the largest single document release so far. Among them are emails written in 2001 by an individual identified only as «A,» using the address «The Invisible Man,» sent from Balmoral Castle.

In the correspondence, «A» asks Maxwell whether she had found any «new inappropriate friends» and discusses travel plans...

UN experts and more than 400 prominent women have called on Iran not to execute Zahra Tabari, a 67-year-old engineer and women’s rights activist.

Tabari was arrested in April and accused of collaborating with the banned People’s Mujahideen Organisation of Iran. In October, a Revolutionary Court in Rasht convicted her of «armed rebellion» after a trial lasting less than 10 minutes via video link. Her family said the verdict relied on limited and unreliable evidence. Iranian authorities have not commented.

UN special rapporteurs said the case shows «serious violations of international human rights law,» noting she was detained without...

Korean stars Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung face off in the crime thriller «Made in Korea,» which debuts on Disney+ on December 24 with a two-episode premiere.

Hyun Bin, known for «Crash Landing on You» and «Confidential Assignment,» plays Baek Kitae, a KCIA agent in 1970s South Korea who balances a perilous double life. By day he works for the government, by night he runs an illegal operation, leveraging criminal connections to protect his brother, expand his power, and generate funds for the agency. Jung Woo-sung, of «Tell Me That You Love Me» and «12.12: The Day,» stars as...

Kevin Arkadie, the American television producer best known for co-creating the police drama «New York Undercover» with Dick Wolf, has died at the age of 68.

Born on December 10, 1957, in Maryland, Arkadie earned a BFA in acting from Southern Methodist University in Dallas before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment. He began as a staff writer on NBC’s drama «I’ll Fly Away.»

In 1994, he teamed up with Dick Wolf to launch «New York Undercover,» starring Malik Yoba and Michael DeLorenzo. The show made history as the first US cop drama to feature...

Gold surged past $4,500 an ounce on Wednesday, hitting a record high as investors sought safe-haven assets amid expectations of lower US interest rates next year. Spot gold rose 0.1% to $4,492.51 per ounce, after earlier climbing to $4,525.19. US gold futures for February delivery reached $4,520.60, Reuters reports.

Silver and platinum also hit historic peaks. Silver gained 1.2% to $72.27 an ounce, following a high of $72.70. Platinum jumped 3.3% to $2,351.05 after reaching $2,377.50. Palladium rose nearly 2% to $1,897.11, its highest level in three years.

Ilya Spivak, head of global macro at Tastylive, expects the trend...

Uzbekistan operates a nationwide network of high-resolution roadside cameras that scan vehicle number plates and occupants to detect traffic offences, but a major security lapse has left the system publicly accessible online, TechCrunch reports.

Security researcher Anurag Sen discovered that the licence plate tracking platform was exposed without password protection, allowing unrestricted access to its data. While it is unclear how long the system has been open, records suggest the database was created in September 2024, with monitoring beginning in mid-2025.

The exposure provides an unusually detailed look at how national vehicle surveillance systems function. In one case, a...

Uzbekistan national football coach Fabio Cannavaro will carry the Winter Olympics torch through Naples on December 24, NBC News reports.

Former footballer Ciro Ferrara will also take part in the ceremony. NBC News noted that both athletes are natives of Naples. The torch relay will then pause for the Catholic Christmas celebrations.

The day before, actor Jackie Chan joined the relay. He has previously served as a torchbearer at both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games held in Beijing.

The relay began in Rome on December 6 and will conclude on February 6, the day of the opening ceremony...

Uzbekistan will introduce a package of measures to simplify customs procedures and reduce costs for businesses from March 1, 2026, according to a decree signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Under the new rules, the customs clearance fee will be cut by 20% when goods are declared in advance before arriving at border checkpoints. In addition, no interest will be charged during the first 14 days when customs duties are paid in instalments or with a deferred payment.

Further easing will take effect from May 1, 2026. Goods cleared under a periodic declaration will be allowed to have customs...

US President Donald Trump has said Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan will be invited to the Group of Twenty summit in 2026, which is set to take place in Miami Florida. He made the announcement in a post on his Truth Social platform.

Trump said he held separate phone calls with Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The discussions focused on resolving ongoing conflicts as well as boosting trade and expanding bilateral cooperation.

«We discussed the importance of bringing peace to ongoing conflicts and increased trade and cooperation between our nations. The relationship with...

The Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) released an updated assessment of housing and rental market trends in Uzbekistan for November, showing strong growth in sales alongside mixed price dynamics.

According to the report, nationwide housing transactions increased by 13.2% year-on-year to about 25,000 deals. The fastest growth was recorded in the Bukhara, Kashkadarya and Samarkand regions, while Tashkent accounted for nearly 30% of all transactions, with sales rising 8.8% compared to last year.

On the secondary housing market, average prices across the country rose by around 7% year-on-year, with the sharpest increases, about 17%, seen in the Surkhandarya...

Amazon blocked more than 1,800 individuals linked to North Korea from applying for jobs, citing efforts by Pyongyang to place IT workers in overseas firms to generate and launder funds.

In a LinkedIn post, Amazon’s Chief Security Officer Stephen Schmidt said North Korean operatives were attempting to secure remote IT roles with companies worldwide, particularly in the United States. He noted that applications from suspected North Korean workers had risen by nearly one-third over the past year.

According to Schmidt, many of the applicants used so-called «laptop farms», in which computers physically located in the US are operated...