Georgia to seek facts after U.S. seizure of Russian‑flagged oil tanker
Georgia has said it will clarify the circumstances surrounding the U.S. seizure of a Russian‑flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic and is seeking...
Uzbekistan and Russia are preparing to sign a contract for the construction of Uzbekistan’s first large-scale nuclear power plant by March 2026.
The plant will be located in the Farish district of Jizzakh region and will include four reactors: two VVER-1000 (Generation III+) units and two smaller RITM-200N reactors, each rated at about 55 MW. Construction is planned to proceed in several stages.
Abduzhamil Kalmuratov, head of Uzbekistan's Directorate for Nuclear power plant construction, confirmed the plans saying, “We plan to sign the contract before the end of the first quarter of 2026. It is a long, delicate and detailed process; we must consider localisation volumes, determine who will supply what, and calculate logistics.”
Project documents state that the scheme will prioritise local participation, with up to 70% of the workforce expected to be Uzbek.
Authorities estimate the construction phase could involve around 20,000 workers and include development of supporting infrastructure such as housing, schools and public facilities in nearby communities.
The nuclear project comes as Russian gas deliveries to Central Asia have increased this year. Supply to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have risen by about 15% in the first eight months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
Also, in 2024 Gazprom delivered 5.64 billion cubic meters of gas to Uzbekistan, up from 1.28 billion in 2023.
Officials describe the nuclear project and expanded gas cooperation as complementary elements of a broader energy diversification strategy.
In the short term, gas supplies are intended to meet immediate demand; in the longer term, the nuclear station is expected to provide stable, low-carbon baseload capacity.
Open-source intelligence (OSINT) sources reported a significant movement of U.S. military aircraft towards the Middle East in recent hours. Dozens of U.S. Air Force aerial refuelling tankers and heavy transport aircraft were observed heading eastwards, presumably to staging points in the region.
Snow and ice stalled travellers in northwest Europe on Wednesday, forcing around a thousand to spend the night in Amsterdam's Schiphol airport but delighting others who set out to explore a snow-blanketed Paris on sledges and skis.
Diplomatic tensions between Tokyo and Beijing escalated as Japan slams China's export ban on dual-use goods. Markets have wobbled as fears grow over a potential rare earth embargo affecting global supply chains.
Two people have been killed after a private helicopter crashed at a recreation centre in Russia’s Perm region, Russian authorities and local media have said.
U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Iran could face a strong response from the United States if its authorities kill protesters amid ongoing unrest.
Tens of thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets in Tehran and across at least 28 cities in a wave of anti-government demonstrations, now entering their twelfth day.
Iran is now facing a near‑total internet blackout as anti-government protests sweep the country. Major cities including Tehran have seen connectivity drop sharply, leaving millions of residents isolated from online communication.
A series of statements by Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has reignited debate over freedom of speech, the role of the Orthodox Church, and the influence of the European Union.
A significant development in the complex Azerbaijan - Armenia scenario is the growing confrontation between Armenia’s political leadership and the Armenian Apostolic Church.
President Ilham Aliyev has said the opening of the Zangezur corridor is no longer in question, describing it as a strategic transport link that will connect mainland Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and carry cargo from China and Central Asia to wider regional markets.
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