live Iran's Araghchi says Hormuz deal 'very close' but hinges on U.S. compensation
A deal on a new route for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is "very close," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said, while warning that t...
Kyrgyzstan's GDP surged 11.7% year on year in the first half of 2025, driven by gains in services, construction and production, despite a decline in external trade.
Kyrgyzstan’s gross domestic product reached more than 8.1 billion U.S. dollars in the first six months of 2025, marking a robust 11.7% year-on-year growth, the National Statistics Committee reported on Tuesday.
The expansion was underpinned by a 15% rise in commodity production and a 10% increase in the service sector. Net taxes on products also contributed, growing by 11.4% over the same period.
Particularly strong gains were recorded in hotel and restaurant services, which soared by 49.1% year on year, signalling a rebound in tourism and domestic hospitality.
The construction sector also saw notable momentum, with output rising 42.5% compared to the first half of 2024.
Between January and June, wholesale and retail trade, including car and motorcycle repair services, climbed by 12.1%, while cargo transportation registered a 12.5% increase.
However, despite the domestic growth, Kyrgyzstan’s external trade showed signs of weakness. Trade in goods during the first five months of 2025 totalled 5.77 billion dollars, representing a 14.4% year-on-year decline, according to the committee.
The data reflects a continued divergence between strong internal economic activity and pressures on the country’s trade performance amid broader regional and global economic uncertainties.
An agreement between Iran and the U.S. to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is expected "soon," a U.S. official has said. The deal would result in the resumption of commercial shipping through the sea passage and the lifting of an American naval blockade on Iranian ports.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 8th of August, covering the latest developments.
U.S. President Donald Trump said negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz are progressing and suggested an agreement with Iran could be reached “soon”.
A deal on a new route for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is "very close," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said, while warning that the reopening of the waterway depends on the U.S. meeting other conditions, including paying compensation to Iran.
Typhoon Dolphin lashed Japan’s southern Okinawa prefecture on Saturday, injuring six people, disrupting flights and leaving more than 50,000 buildings without power, as China shut ports and suspended transport services ahead of the storm’s expected arrival on its east coast.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned that soaring fertiliser prices could threaten Afghanistan’s 2027 wheat harvest despite favourable growing conditions, appealing for $38.3 million to support farmers before planting.
Kazakhstan has released an Amur tiger into the wild for the first time in more than 70 years, marking the beginning of a long-term effort to restore the species to its historic range in Central Asia.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan remarked upon progress made towards normalising relations between Baku and Yerevan in a phone call on the first anniversary of the Washington peace summit.
Tourists may soon be able to view Kazakhstan’s tourist sites by drone. Officials are planning to trial flights of between five and 30 minutes over landmarks in the country, its Ministry of Transport said.
Tashkent has begun work to open the Islam Karimov Memorial Complex to the public as part of plans for a 700-hectare green corridor linking major parks and public spaces across the Uzbek capital.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment