Jimmy Lai sentencing approaches as Hong Kong court hears final arguments
Hong Kong’s High Court has concluded mitigation hearings for media tycoon and China critic Jimmy Lai, bringing his high-profile national security ca...
The Board of Directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved a new country strategy for Azerbaijan to build a diversified, inclusive and sustainable economy.
For the next five years, the Bank will seek to help Azerbaijan harness its untapped solar and wind power potential, including by strengthening the electric grid and supporting renewable energy exports, and further enhance the country’s sustainability and climate resilience. Additionally, it will continue to focus on supporting greater economic diversification and private sector development by providing financial assistance to the non-extractive sector and SMEs, encouraging exports and strengthening regional connectivity to foster sustainable growth, the Bank’s press-release said.
According to the strategy, EBRD will channel investment and advisory support to small and medium-sized enterprises in non-oil sectors such as agribusiness, manufacturing and services, information and communication technology, and infrastructure.
It will also focus on empowering female- and youth-led enterprises, supporting innovation and expanding export capabilities through greater competitiveness, while continuing to work with government entities to strengthen corporate governance, advance reforms to state-owned enterprises and improve the overall business climate.
The EBRD will help Azerbaijan to capitalise on its geographical location between Europe and Asia as the government is pursuing a number of multimodal projects to better connect the country to international transport networks. The Bank will invest in sustainable transport networks, municipal infrastructure and digital connectivity, with a particular focus on projects linked to the Middle Corridor.
Nataly Mouravidze, the EBRD’s Head of Azerbaijan, said: “Over the course of the next five years, we will work with Azerbaijan to build a diversified, inclusive and sustainable economy that is driven by innovation and private-sector growth. By tapping into Azerbaijan’s renewables potential and enhancing its regional connectivity, we can unlock long-term opportunities for the country and its people. We already have a strong foundation to build on.”
The EBRD is the largest institutional investor in Azerbaijan. To date, the Bank has invested over €4 billion in Azerbaijan across 195 projects in sectors including renewables, connectivity and sustainable infrastructure.
Real Madrid have parted ways with coach Xabi Alonso, appointing former defender Álvaro Arbeloa as his replacement.
Timothée Chalamet won the Golden Globe for best male actor in a musical or comedy on Sunday for his role in Marty Supreme, beating strong competition in one of the night’s most closely watched categories.
Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano is showing increased activity, with lava flowing from two summit craters and flames, smoke and ash rising from the caldera.
Israel has sharply escalated its warnings to Lebanon amid rising regional tensions linked to Iran, according to a report by the Lebanese newspaper Nida Al Watan.
Iranian authorities have taken steps to disrupt access to Starlink satellite internet, according to users and digital-rights groups, in what appears to be the latest effort to tighten control over people’s access to the internet inside the country.
U.S. oil major Chevron and private equity firm Quantum Capital Group are reportedly preparing a joint bid to acquire Lukoil’s international assets, as the sanctioned Russian energy company seeks to divest its overseas operations.
The U.S. dollar's share of global reserves fell to nearly 40% at the end of 2025, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which says it's 10% lower than at the start of 2024. However, gold has risen and overtaken the dollar to be above 50% in global reserves according to the IMF data.
The U.S. dollar has strengthened against major peers on Tuesday, while the euro fell following slower-than-expected inflation in Europe. Market movements were relatively subdued as investors focused on upcoming U.S. economic data.
Wall Street closed higher on Tuesday, boosted by optimism over artificial intelligence (AI) and a strong rally in Moderna shares, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average approaching a record high.
India’s largest oil refiner, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), has taken a significant step towards diversifying its crude oil supply by purchasing Colombian crude, from state oil company Ecopetrol, for the first time.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment