Russian lab worker’s death triggers health response over plague fears
The death of a laboratory employee at a Russian plague research institute in Siberia has triggered a major public health response and international...
Uzbekistan has signed a major financing agreement with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), securing $500 million to support the country’s shift toward a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy.
The programme, approved in late November, is designed to strengthen environmental governance and accelerate national reforms in energy, industry and public administration.
According to AIIB, the funding will help Uzbekistan make its energy sector more transparent, introduce climate-oriented procurement standards and create clear rules for the generation and trading of carbon units.
The programme also envisages a modern reporting and verification system to ensure reliable carbon-emissions monitoring.
A key focus is the expansion of green energy and resource-efficient technologies. Broader access to such technologies could reduce energy costs for households, particularly vulnerable communities, while improving overall air quality according to the Bank.
The reform package is also expected to attract additional climate financing and encourage greater private-sector involvement in sustainability projects.
AIIB regional director Konstantin Limitovsky said the agreement marks an important step for Uzbekistan’s environmental policy.
“By advancing critical climate reforms, this programme lays the foundation for sustainable growth and broader participation in Uzbekistan’s green transition,” he said.
Implementation of the programme will begin in 2026. Officials say the reforms will support Uzbekistan’s long-term goals to reduce emissions, modernise public infrastructure and strengthen resilience to climate change.
Iran's Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad has resigned, with Hamid Bovard, chief executive of the state-owned National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), appointed as acting oil minister, according to Iranian state media.
Right-wing Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro will face leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff of the presidential election later this month, after he exceeded expectations in Sunday's first-round vote with a slight lead over the incumbent.
Candidates elected to Bosnia and Herzegovina's three-member presidency declared victory after preliminary unofficial results showed Denis Becirovic leading the Bosniak seat, Darijana Filipovic ahead in the Croat seat and Zeljka Cvijanovic likely retaining the Serb seat.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States meets seven conditions agreed under a June memorandum, as President Donald Trump signals he may soon decide whether to resume military operations against Tehran.
Uzbekistan’s grape exports have grown rapidly. In January-August 2025, the country exported 86,200 tonnes of fresh grapes worth $78.3 million to 19 countries but can it turn these crops into a recognisable international product?
Regional powers gathered in Moscow on Monday for talks on Afghanistan, focusing on security, economic cooperation and Kabul’s relations with its neighbours.
Four major German political foundations have halted their work in Georgia as tighter rules on foreign grants put pressure on a decades-old partnership and add to tensions between Tbilisi and its European partners.
The U.S. has deployed two additional Patriot missile batteries to the Gulf, protecting key energy facilities in Saudi Arabia and Qatar as Washington expands its military presence in the Middle East amid heightened tensions with Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan held talks in Tehran on Monday on bilateral ties and efforts to strengthen peace and security in the South Caucasus.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry says it has conveyed its initial position to the United States through Qatar over Washington’s response to Tehran’s seven-day plan aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment