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Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has played down speculation linking him with a move to Manchester City, insisting he expects to remain at Stamford Bridge next season.

The Italian, whose contract with Chelsea runs until 2029, said reports suggesting he could replace Pep Guardiola at City are «100% speculation.» Speaking on Friday, Maresca stressed that his focus remains solely on his current role.

«I have a contract here until 2029. My focus is just about this club and I’m very proud to be here,» he said, adding that similar rumours had previously linked him...

Uzbekistan has expressed concern that its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) is progressing more slowly than expected. This information was shared by presidential WTO representative Azizbek Urunov.

«This perception is based on the nature, timing, and substance of some of the questions we receive within the Working Party cycles,» Urunov explained.

He added that while some protocols «regrettably remain unsigned or not formally closed due to issues unrelated to market access,» Uzbekistan fully shares the WTO’s core values of fairness and predictability in global trade and does not consider membership a «favour.»

The European Union has issued its strongest condemnation to date of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan, citing «grave and ongoing atrocities» following the paramilitary group’s capture of El Fasher, the last major city in Darfur previously held by the Sudanese Armed Forces.

In conclusions adopted after the EU Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels accused the RSF of deliberate attacks on civilians, ethnically motivated killings, widespread sexual and gender-based violence, the use of starvation as a weapon of war, and systematic obstruction of humanitarian aid. The EU said such acts may amount to war crimes and crimes against...

Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit is expected to undergo a lung transplant after her health worsened over recent months, the royal household announced on Friday.

The 52-year-old, who is married to Crown Prince Haakon, heir to the Norwegian throne, was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018. The chronic condition causes scarring of the lungs and reduces the body’s ability to absorb oxygen. According to the palace, medical examinations carried out this autumn revealed a clear decline in her health.

Officials said it has not yet been decided when the crown princess will be placed on the transplant waiting list.

Professor...

Chinese money-laundering networks (CMLNs) have become a central financial conduit for Latin American drug cartels, linking Chinese capital flight to the global drug economy, according to a new analysis published this week.

The report argues that CMLNs now function as a shadow liquidity system, enabling cartels, particularly in Mexico, to convert bulk U.S. drug cash into usable purchasing power inside China without formal cross-border transfers. This mechanism allows criminal groups to access Chinese industrial supply chains, including producers of fentanyl precursors, pill presses and consumer goods, while simultaneously facilitating offshore dollar access for wealthy Chinese clients seeking to...

France welcomed a European Union decision to raise €90 bn in joint borrowing to support Ukraine in 2026–27, describing the move as a turning point in Europe’s security policy.

The agreement, approved by EU leaders at the European Council after weeks of negotiations, will channel around $105 bn in loans to Ukraine. Unlike previous mechanisms, the plan relies on collective borrowing rather than direct transfers from national budgets, signalling a shift toward shared financial responsibility as the war with Russia continues.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the decision marks a decisive step for Europe’s security posture. In...

President Donald Trump has ordered the suspension of the U.S. green card lottery program following revelations that the suspect behind the Brown University shooting and the killing of an MIT professor entered the country through the scheme.

In a post on X, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the suspect, identified as Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national, entered the United States in 2017 under the diversity visa program. She said Trump had directed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to immediately pause the program.

Neves Valente fatally shot two students at Brown University and...

As part of the business programme of his official visit to Tokyo, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held talks with Nobumitsu Hayashi, Governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

The meeting focused on key issues related to the further expansion of Uzbekistan’s strategic partnership with the leading Japanese financial institution. Both sides noted the strong momentum in cooperation in recent years, with the total portfolio of joint projects now exceeding $5 bn. These projects cover sectors including petrochemicals, energy, telecommunications, infrastructure and light industry.

Particular attention was given to the preparation of new initiatives and improving the...

The Taliban-administered Afghan embassy in Norway has resumed issuing passports and providing consular services to Afghan nationals living in Norway, Denmark and Iceland.

Najibullah Shaheen, acting head of the Afghan embassy in Oslo, said the first batch of newly issued passports has already been distributed to applicants. Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that it accepted Shaheen as first secretary at the embassy and granted him a one-year diplomatic residence card.

Following his appointment, the embassy’s official signage was changed from «Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan» to «Embassy of Afghanistan.»

Passport services at many Afghan diplomatic...

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...