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Throughout the 2010s, the Ballon d’Or was defined by the rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who won the award nine times between them. The closest challenger during that period was Franck Ribery, who finished third in 2013 despite leading Bayern Munich to a historic treble.

That year, Ronaldo claimed the trophy with 27.99% of the vote, edging Messi (24.72%) and Ribery (23.36%). The result sparked controversy, with several international managers later alleging discrepancies between their submitted ballots and FIFA’s published results. Kuwait coach Jorvan Vieira and Fiji’s Juan Carlos Buzzetti were among those to question the process...

China’s exports to Uzbekistan have doubled since the start of the war in Ukraine, reaching almost $1.5 bn between January and August 2025, according to senior Brookings fellow and former chief economist of the Institute of International Finance (IIF) Robin Brooks. He cited official figures from China’s customs authority.

Brooks explained that the bulk of these shipments are not intended for Uzbekistan itself but represent transit flows to Russia via Central Asia. He has long tracked unusual spikes in exports to the region and argues that the trend cannot be explained by domestic demand, pointing instead to re-exports to Russia...

France and Saudi Arabia are convening dozens of world leaders in New York on Monday to rally support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with several countries expected to formally recognise a Palestinian state.

Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal announced recognition on Sunday, with France and others set to follow. Germany and Italy have held back, warning that unilateral recognition could be «counterproductive.»

Israel and the United States are boycotting the summit. Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon dismissed the gathering as a «circus» and officials in Jerusalem signalled potential retaliation, including annexation of parts of the...

Katie Price has finished filming the music video for her upcoming single as she enjoys a renewed wave of success in her long-running music ambitions.

The mother-of-five, who has made several attempts at breaking into the music industry, was taken aback earlier this month when her 2017 dance track I Got U went viral on TikTok. The song climbed the download charts and unexpectedly reached number one on iTunes, sparking calls for her to make a return to the recording studio.

Building on that momentum, Katie is now preparing to release a follow-up single, Best Of Me, created in collaboration...

EastEnders actor Shane Richie is set to take a brief break from the soap after securing a festive stage role away from Walford.

The 60-year-old, who plays Alfie Moon, will star in Theatre Royal Plymouth’s Christmas production of Dick Whittington, running from December 12 until January 10. His absence from Albert Square will be short-lived, with filming schedules arranged so Alfie remains present on screen.

A source explained: «Shane will be taking a short break from the soap but it won’t affect Alfie’s time on screen.»

Richie is not the only EastEnders star heading to...

A Manchester United fan who has pledged not to cut his hair until the team secures five consecutive wins was attacked by another supporter at Old Trafford.

Frank Ilett, 29, launched «The United Strand» challenge on October 5 last year, letting his hair grow past 18cm while raising money for charity. His unusual vow has made him a viral figure among United fans.

During the Chelsea match at Old Trafford, a video captured him interacting with fellow supporters in the concourse before one fan suddenly grabbed his hair and shook it violently. Others quickly intervened to restrain the aggressor, who...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a decree approving a nationwide population and agricultural census, according to the official legal portal Lex.uz.

The census will take place from January 15 to February 28 next year, overseen by a national commission that includes the State Statistics Committee. It is expected to gather up-to-date information on Uzbekistan’s population of 38 mln people and provide insight into the use of 25.6 trln soums allocated annually to support the agro-industrial sector.

The document also highlights that the census will help improve the efficiency of spending 25.2 trln soums each year on social infrastructure...

On World Cleanup Day, environmental activists in Uzbekistan collected 55.7 tonnes of waste in a nationwide campaign organised by the Ministry of Ecology and the Waste Management Agency, with support from Coca-Cola, Yandex Uzbekistan and O‘zsanoatqurilishbank.

At Tashmore Lake alone, volunteers gathered 962 kilogrammes of waste, including 200 kilogrammes of plastic bottles which were sent for recycling.

A competition was held as part of the campaign, with the Forestry Agency team taking first place, followed by the Young Ecologists group in second and the Tashkent regional enterprise Toza Hudud in third.

Sharifbek Khasanov, Director of the Waste Management Agency, noted...

Authorities in Los Angeles have identified the body of a teenage girl discovered inside an abandoned Tesla reportedly registered to the rising singer-songwriter d4vd.

The remains, confirmed by the county medical examiner as those of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas, were found on September 8, at a tow yard in Hollywood. Rivas, who went missing in April 2024 at the age of 13, is believed to have been dead inside the car for an extended period. Police are treating her death as a homicide, although the exact cause has not yet been determined.

Her body was wrapped in plastic and was so badly...

Spanish company Feeding Systems S.L. has announced plans to introduce Uzbekistan’s first cluster fish farming project with an annual output of up to 1,000 tonnes, Dunyo reports.

The agreement was reached during a meeting in Madrid between Uzbekistan’s ambassador Farrukh Tursunov and Francisco Vilor, co-founder and technical director of the company. Feeding Systems S.L. specialises in automated feeding systems as well as monitoring and management solutions for fish farms. The company has implemented projects across Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa.

At the meeting, the Spanish side expressed interest in working with Uzbekistan in fisheries, livestock...

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has said he is open to renewed talks with the United States if Washington abandons demands for denuclearisation, though he ruled out giving up his nuclear weapons to secure relief from sanctions. His remarks were reported by state media on September 22, following a speech at the Supreme People’s Assembly.

«Personally, I still have fond memories of US President Trump,» Kim was quoted as saying.

The two leaders met three times during Trump’s first term, but negotiations collapsed six years ago over sanctions and nuclear dismantlement. Kim’s reference...

Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal formally recognised a Palestinian state on September 21, citing frustration with the ongoing Gaza conflict and renewed backing for a two-state solution. The move, which aligns them with over 140 nations that already support Palestinian statehood, drew fierce criticism from Israel.

Britain’s decision carried added weight given its historical role in the creation of Israel after the Second World War. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the recognition aimed to revive hopes for peace.

«Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution, the...

Oxford and Cambridge have failed to reach the top three in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide for the first time in its 32-year history, fuelling debate about admissions policies in higher education.

The 2026 edition ranked the London School of Economics in first place for the second year running, with the University of St Andrews second and Durham University third. Oxford and Cambridge tied for fourth.

Durham was also named University of the Year 2026, praised for improvements in teaching quality and student experience. Editor Helen Davies said its performance had «outdone both Oxford and Cambridge.»

Kursiv Uzbekistan has gathered everything you need to know about the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony:

What is the Ballon d’Or?

The Ballon d’Or, presented annually by France Football since 1956, is football’s most prestigious individual honour. It recognises players for outstanding talent, decisive performances and achievements across the season.

Since 2024, UEFA has partnered with Groupe Amaury, the owner of France Football and L’Équipe, to co-organise the event. The partnership aims to expand the award’s global reach while keeping...

The US President Donald Trump described conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a «martyr for American freedom» during an emotional memorial service on September 21, pledging to continue his work while again blaming the «radical left» for his murder.

Trump’s remarks stood out for their sharply partisan tone.

«The violence comes largely from the left,» he declared without providing evidence, downplaying political violence from the right and contrasting with the more restrained tributes of other speakers. He added, «He did not hate his opponents. That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponents.»

Uzbekistan and Kenya have taken a significant step in expanding bilateral engagement by signing an agreement to establish formal diplomatic relations.

The accord was finalized by Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov and Kenya’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi. Saidov shared the development on his official Telegram channel, emphasizing Kenya’s role as «one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies and a hub for innovation and technology.»

Kenya, which achieved independence from Britain in 1963, has a population of more than 52 mln people. In 2024, its economy was valued at $402 bn, with per capita income exceeding $2,400. The capital...

Uzbekistan’s trade volumes continued to climb this year, with the country reporting $51.4 bn in turnover for the January–August 2025 period. The figure represents a nearly 20% increase from a year earlier, official statistics show.

Export growth outpaced imports, with overseas shipments rising more than 31% year-on-year to $22.9 bn. Imports, meanwhile, expanded by almost 12%, totaling $28.4 bn.

China strengthened its role as Uzbekistan’s primary commercial partner, with bilateral trade valued at $9.7 bn. Russia followed closely at $8.3 bn, while Kazakhstan held third place with $3 bn. Turkey and South Korea also remained among the top five...

Uzbek wrestler Aytzhan Khalmakhanov has written his name into the country’s sporting history, claiming gold at the 2025 World Wrestling Championships in Zagreb, Croatia. Competing in the 63 kg division, the 19-year-old defeated South Korea’s Chung Han-jae in the final bout.

The result ends a 24-year wait for Uzbekistan to see one of its athletes crowned world champion in Greco-Roman wrestling.

Uzbekistan’s national team also added to its medal tally in other weight categories. In Greco-Roman wrestling, Alisher Ganiev (60 kg) earned silver, while Abdullo Aliyev (72 kg) took bronze. In freestyle events, Gulomjon Abdullaev (57 kg) and Umidjon...

Max Verstappen delivered another masterclass as he cruised to victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, extending Red Bull’s resurgence. The Dutchman controlled the race from pole position, surviving early drama and later pit stop phases to seal his fourth win of the season and back-to-back triumphs following Monza.

Behind him, George Russell executed a long first stint to climb into second for Mercedes, while Carlos Sainz held his nerve to secure a landmark podium for Williams.

Early chaos as Piastri crashes out

The drama began immediately when Championship leader Oscar Piastri jumped the start, triggered anti-stall and tumbled...

Uzbekistan produced 28.9 bn cubic meters of natural gas between January and August 2025, according to new figures released by the State Statistics Committee. The volume is down from 30.1 bcm recorded during the same period last year.

The energy sector also saw a decline in gas condensate production, with 760,500 tons generated over the eight-month period — an 8.3% year-on-year drop. Oil output followed the same trend, falling from 485,100 tons in 2024 to 434,500 tons this year.

Despite lower production, Uzbekistan’s natural gas exports grew in value. Shipments abroad reached $494.7 mln, representing an annual increase of...

Conor McGregor is preparing for one of the most unusual fights of his career — a UFC bout staged at the White House grounds next summer.

The Irish fighter is set to meet American contender Michael Chandler in June 2026. The event will be part of nationwide celebrations marking 250 years of U.S. independence. The announcement followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks earlier this year, when he revealed plans to host the UFC on presidential property.

Trump, a longtime supporter of UFC President Dana White, said the idea was simple: «We’re bringing UFC to the White...

Uzbekistan has submitted diplomatic notes to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry and the Office of the Prosecutor General following reports that 13 of its citizens were subjected to forced labor under degrading conditions at farms in the Kyiv region.

What Happened

Thirteen Uzbek nationals, aged 22 to 42, were lured to Ukraine with promises of high salaries. Upon arrival, their passports were confiscated, and they were forced to work at two agricultural enterprises with severe restrictions on movement.

Authorities say the operation was organized by a Chinese national with assistance from individuals from Thailand, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. A criminal...

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to the Taliban after the group rejected Washington’s demand to hand over control of Afghanistan’s Bagram Airbase.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: «If Afghanistan does not return the Bagram Airbase to those who built it — the United States of America — there will be serious consequences!»

The remarks follow Trump’s earlier statement in mid-September, when he announced Washington’s intention to reclaim the facility, which once hosted American forces. He argued that the base is strategically important, given its proximity to sites in China...

Pfizer has announced plans to begin clinical trials later this year for a once-daily version of its weight-loss pill danuglipron, following the abandonment of a twice-daily version last year due to high dropout rates and side effects such as nausea and vomiting.

The new formulation is part of the second generation of weight-loss pills being developed by major drugmakers, including Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, aimed at offering patients a more convenient alternative to injectable treatments. Analysts predict that the global weight-loss drug market could surpass $150 bn in annual sales by the early 2030s, with Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy...