A RUSSIAN agent lied about having a brain tumour so he could enjoy a dirty weekend away, a court has heard.

Bizer Dzhambazov, 43, told his girlfriend that he was returning to his native Bulgaria for treatment.

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Russian agent, Bizer Dzhambazov, lied about having a brain tumour so he could enjoy a dirty weekend away, a court has heard[/caption]

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But Katrin Ivanova, 33, struggled to get hold of him to see if he was OK — not realising he had been with his lover until he was collared for spying 18 months later.

She claimed the first she heard of his affair with beautician Vanya Gaberova, 30, was when the pair were found naked in bed together by police who came to arrest him.

Lab assistant Ivanova, from Harrow, North West London, told the court: “When I asked about his health, I was being told I was pressuring him.

“I understand now that he was living a double life.”

“But as we see, in October, Mr Dzhambazov was in Bulgaria, yes but he was with Ms Gaberova.

“A relationship with me and a relationship with another woman – a parallel relationship that was going on for over 18 months.”

Dzhambazov and fellow Bulgarian Orlin Roussev, 46, have admitted spying for Moscow.

Ivanova, Gaberova and Tihomir Ivanchev, 39, all Bulgarian, all deny being part of a Russian spy ring.

The trial at the Old Bailey continues.

PEP GUARDIOLA has admitted his Manchester City team have lost their fear factor.

And unless he can help them rediscover it quickly, they face missing out on Champions League football next year.

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Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City have lost their fear factor[/caption]

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Man City face missing out on Champions League football next year[/caption]

City’s mini-revival was ended by Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday — and they will be tested again when top-four rivals Chelsea visit the Etihad on Saturday.

Guardiola has noticed how more teams are now ready to go toe to toe when they visit the home of the Prem champs.

He said: “Before, teams never did man-marking. I remember everyone came here to the Etihad and stayed back.

“The first team I saw man-marking was Neil Warnock at Cardiff. And after, Gian Piero Gasperini with Atalanta.

“Now everyone does it, it doesn’t matter to them.

“You have to adapt, do it better with the ball, otherwise you are not qualifying for the Champions League.

“Chelsea are not in it this year, Manchester United are not in it — it can happen to us.”

A win over his old apprentice Enzo Maresca’s Blues would put City back in the top four.

But they will be severely tested next month as they take on Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle and Tottenham.

Pep added: “There is something I’m missing and I have to discover it quickly.

“The players run a lot but the other teams play better. They have more physicality and intensity but all the teams are better at that than us, for the age, for many things.

“The toughest and quickest players we had decided to leave.”

City will have their new signings Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis in the squad but all are likely to be on the bench.

Asked if there could be more new faces coming this window, Pep said: “Yeah, maybe.”

BRITAIN could be dragged back under the EU’s rulebook as part of Labour’s Brexit reset, the Business Secretary has admitted.

Jonathan Reynolds revealed the UK is open to joining a vast customs trade scheme spanning dozens of countries across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

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Jonathan Reynolds admitted that Britain could be dragged back under the EU’s rulebook as part of Labour’s Brexit reset[/caption]

He also claimed a separate food and farming deal – which would require dynamic alignment with EU rules – wouldn’t breach Labour’s red lines.

Mr Reynolds also described his meeting with EU trade boss Maros Sefcovic at the World Economic Forum in Davos as “incredibly positive.”

Speaking to the BBC, he said: “I think it proves that what we have always said that we can improve the terms of trade with the EU in a way which doesn’t revisit customs unions or single markets or the arguments of Brexit… and we can do that whilst pursuing closer trade links around the world.”

But furious Tories hit back, slamming the plan as a betrayal of Brexit.

Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith blasted: “This is the thin end of the wedge.

“Dynamic alignment would shackle us to EU rules, rob us of the freedom to make our own laws and trade deals, and tie us to a low-growth European economy.”

EKIN-SU Cülcüloğlu and Ronnie Vint have come to blows in the Love Island All Stars villa – and fans can’t get enough.

The pair yelled at each other across the garden in a very fiery exchange after Ronnie denied ever saying his relationship with Harriett Blackmore was a “showmance”.

Now in the villa as a bombshell, Harriett had confronted her ex-flame about the remark – but he insisted he never said it.

Furious with his denial, Ekin-Su waded in to the dispute and claimed she knew the moment Ronnie said his relationship with Harriett was a ‘showmance’.

Ronnie had insisted to his guy pals: “I didn’t say ‘showmance’ once. ‘Showmance’ literally didn’t come out of my mouth.”

But Elma Pazar told Ekin-Su and her girl mates: “I remember he said it.”

Jumping to her feet, Ekin appeared to have a lightbulb moment and claimed she could remember when Ronnie said it.

“You f***ing said it, mate, don’t lie!” Ekin yelled across the garden to him.

“It was at the red flag game, at the fire pit!”

In episode one of this year’s All Stars series, the first islanders to arrive in the villa were tasked with playing a ‘red flag game’ by host Maya Jama.

The girls were told to hand a red flag to one of the boys and give a reason why.

However, Ronnie was quick to remember that Ekin wasn’t even in the villa at the time of the game so wouldn’t even know what was said by anyone.

The Turkish actress, who found fame in the 2022 series of Love Island, had arrived later that night as a bombshell.

In Friday evening’s show, Ronnie shot back: “Ekin you weren’t even there!

“No, you weren’t! Why are you even getting involved?!”

Realising he was right, Ekin dissolved into fits of giggles with the gils.

Fans at home were on the edges of their seats during the dramatic exchange.

One wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Ekin and Ronnie are amazing TV, truly deserve their place on all stars.”

Another added excitedly: “Not Ekin Su and Ronnie fighting!!!”

And a third wrote: “Ekin su gaslighting everyone into thinking she was there when Ronnie allegedly said showmance!”

Others, meanwhile, only remember Gabby Allen blasting Marcel Somerville for saying their relationship was a “showmance”.

“Ronnie didn’t even say anything – Gabby is the one who said it about Marcel!” one viewer also posted on X.

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Ronnie pointed out that Ekin wasn’t even in the villa for the ‘red flag game’[/caption]

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Ekin laughed hysterically when she realised she wasn’t there[/caption]

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Harriett looked exasperated by the row involving her ex[/caption]

RUBEN AMORIM will not offer Marcus Rashford any guarantees over his future until the transfer window has closed.

The  striker, 27, has not played for United since December 12 and said he wants a “new challenge” away from Old Trafford.

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Marcus Rashford’s Manchester United future is currently in limbo[/caption]

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Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim will not offer Rashford any guarantees over his future[/caption]

Rashford trained at United’s Carrington  base on Wednesday.

But he then watched the following day’s 2-1 Europa League win over Rangers from the  stands.

Rashford posted “Come on the boys” on Instagram with a red circle emoji.

United boss Amorim remains in the dark over Rashford’s future with the transfer window closing on February 3.

Asked about the England forward’s future, Amorim replied: “I don’t know. I really don’t know.

“We will see in the end of the window what ­happened — and then we will talk about that in the moment.”

Rashford had hoped to join Barcelona but the LaLiga club is unable to register new players because of their financial crisis.

German outfit Borussia Dortmund were interested but have dropped out, refusing United’s demands of stumping up to pay all of Rashford’s £325,000-a-week wages.

AC Milan have also decided against trying to sign him on loan.

Amorim is refusing to budge on his current policy of leaving Rashford out of his plans while the United manager is also waiting to see if Chelsea will make a formal bid for winger Alejandro Garnacho.

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United want at least £60million for the 20-year-old, who is open to a move to Stamford Bridge.

But Amorim hinted he could be warming to the young Argentine again after his  promising 90-minute display in that victory over Rangers.

The Portuguese boss refused to commit himself on Garnacho’s future — especially as United  need to raise cash to ward off the threat of breaking Premier League profit and sustainability rules.

Selling Garnacho would register as pure profit in this season’s accounts and could unlock huge spending power as Amorim tries to reshape his squad to his system. 

Amorim said: “We don’t know what can happen until the window closes. Anything can happen. But he’s improving in every aspect of the game.

“He was better against Rangers playing inside, also outside, changing positions. He’s improving the recovering position.

“You can see it until 90 minutes he’s always there recovering and helping, sometimes showing some frustration and that is good because he wants more.

“He has potential to be so much better in every situation in the game.

“What I can say is he understood what I was trying to do, that was really clear.”

Ten-man Las Palmas had former Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj to thank for a 1-1 home draw against Osasuna in La Liga.

Tax breaks for local producers could become law if the coalition upholds its opposition to forced labour in global supply chains, an anti-slavery expert says.

Hamed Traorè has scored for the eighth time this season to help Auxerre draw at home with Saint-Etienne in Ligue 1.

A lifeguard on the hit reality TV series Bondi Rescue has revealed his next move after he was found guilty of attacking a woman in a ‘fit of alcoholic rage’.

Relegation-threatened Hull have put a dent in Sheffield United's promotion hopes with a shock 3-0 win at Bramall Lane to climb out of the bottom three.