Japan opens door to global arms market with overhaul of defence export rules
Japan on Tuesday unveiled its biggest overhaul of defence export rules in decades, scrapping restrictions ...
The inaugural Samarkand International Climate Forum will kick off on 4th April at the Silk Road Samarkand Congress Center in Uzbekistan. The high-profile forum will be held under the theme "Central Asia Facing Global Climate Challenges: Consolidation for Shared Prosperity."
"We hope that this forum will be a practical step towards creating the "Samarkand Dialogue for the Sake of the Future" to find answers to the global threats of sustainable development," stated the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
The forum will bring together the President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, alongside the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and host country Uzbekistan.
Experts say a coordinated regional response is essential, and Uzbekistan is positioning itself as a platform for dialogue and regional cooperation. In the same week, Uzbekistan is also hosting the first-ever EU-Central Asia summit, which “will solidify our commitment to work together for peace, security, and sustainable development in full respect of international law,” António Costa said ahead of the summit.
Policymakers, experts, and environmental activists will gather a strategic dialogue on climate change, renewable energy, integrated water resource management, and sustainable urban development, along with efforts to strengthen regional and international cooperation.
A key outcome of the forum will be the presentation of the Regional Green Development Concept, which outlines a unified approach to tackling climate change in Central Asia, in alignment with global best practices.
Topics of Discussion:
- The Green Economy as a Path to Sustainable Development
- Preserving Biodiversity and Natural Ecosystems in Central Asia in Response to Climate Challenges
- Clean Energy: The Foundation of Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly Development
- Integrated Water Resource Management in the Context of Climate Change in Central Asia
- Youth: Looking to the Future with Optimism
- Sustainable Cities and Climate Challenges: Integrated Planning and Management
- Scientific Approaches and Innovative Solutions to Climate Change: Global Challenges and Local Strategies
As part of the forum, a special exhibition titled "A River Flowing in the Footsteps of Women" will be showcased. This exhibition will explore the intersection of social role transformations and environmental changes during the socialist development era through an intersectional lens.
One of the key sessions, “Sustainable Cities and Climate Challenges: Integrated Planning and Management," will focus on urban development and adaptation to climate change in a region known for its continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers.
“Sustainable urban development is a cornerstone in addressing climate challenges,” said Khalilillo Khamidov, deputy director of Uzbekistan’s Institute of Macroeconomics and Regional Research. “Uzbekistan is demonstrating its commitment through projects that enhance environmental resilience and introduce innovative technologies.”
Iran accuses the United States of breaching a ceasefire after a commercial ship was seized in the Gulf of Oman, vowing retaliation, as Israel warns south Lebanon residents to avoid restricted areas.
Progessive Bulgaria, led by pro-Russian Eurosceptic Rumen Radev is on track to form Bulgaria’s next government, after official results showed a runaway victory for the coalition in the Balkan nation's parliamentary elections on Monday (20 April).
Secretly filmed footage from two UK laboratories has reignited debate over animal testing in drug development, after a former worker alleged that monkeys, dogs and other animals endured prolonged distress during safety trials for new medicines.
A powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake has struck off Japan’s north-eastern coast, triggering urgent tsunami warnings with waves of up to 3 metres expected, prompting residents to seek immediate safety.
Blue Origin, the U.S. space company of billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, successfully reused and recovered a booster for its New Glenn rocket launched from Florida on Sunday (19 April), in the latest chapter of its intensifying rivalry with Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
Communities in Mexico have taken to the streets to protest against an ongoing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that has killed wildlife and damaged coral reefs over several weeks.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that the Earth’s climate system is becoming increasingly unstable, with new evidence showing a growing imbalance in how the planet absorbs and releases energy.
China is preparing for a year of extreme weather in 2026, with authorities warning the country could face both severe flooding and widespread drought, underscoring mounting climate pressures.
Heavy rain, flash floods and lightning strikes across Afghanistan have killed 28 people and destroyed hundreds of homes in Kabul, Herat and other provinces.
Central Asia is stepping up efforts to address rapid glacier melt, following United Nations warnings of unprecedented climate pressure on mountain ecosystems.
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