Why Pakistan became a key mediator in U.S.-Iran talks
Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary in U.S.-Iran diplomacy after months of shuttle talks, draft revisions and regional coordination involving G...
Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have begun upgrading cross-border electricity transmission lines to increase regional power capacity, a move announced after high-level meetings in Tashkent and confirmed by officials in Bishkek.
The project, supported by the World Bank, aims to strengthen energy security ahead of major hydropower developments and rising demand. Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Energy, Taalaibek Ibraev, said the three states are expanding transmission capacity in border areas with the support of the World Bank’s Regional Electricity Market Integration in Central Asia (REMIT) programme.
Ibraev confirmed the initiative, noting that upgrades are essential to ensure reliable energy exchange between neighbouring countries.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with Minister Ibraev in Tashkent, where both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deeper cooperation in electricity trade, hydropower development and the stability of the regional grid. According to the President’s Office, Uzbekistan prioritises long-term collaboration with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in “green energy and cross-border infrastructure.”
Kambarata HPP-1 Project
A central element of future cooperation is the Kambarata Hydropower Plant-1, one of Central Asia’s largest planned hydropower projects.
According to official information, the plant is expected to have a capacity of 1,860 MW and a reservoir volume of 5.4 billion cubic metres. Officials from all three countries have stated that the project will additionally power industrial clusters and support agricultural production.
Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have previously announced plans to attract funding from international financial institutions for Kambarata-1, with discussions ongoing since 2023.
Upgrading existing transmission lines is expected to reduce bottlenecks and improve the stability of electricity flows, particularly during winter shortages. The World Bank’s REMIT programme aims to strengthen regional market integration, reduce technical losses and support the shift towards renewable energy.
Energy experts note that regional grid modernisation is a prerequisite for hydropower expansion and for meeting rising consumption across Central Asia. With cross-border upgrades now under way and Kambarata-1 progressing in the planning stage, governments expect a more resilient, interconnected electricity system in the coming years.
One person was killed and dozens injured after two passenger trains collided near Bedford in central England on Friday, prompting a major emergency response, British Transport Police said.
Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire, a senior U.S. official has said. Hezbollah has released a statement saying Israel must leave southern Lebanon. Israel has said it agrees to the ceasefire, but has said its armed forces won't leave Lebanon and will resume hostilities if attacked.
U.S. President Donald Trump sought a deal with Iran "out of deperation," Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has said, in a statement on social media. Khamenei added that he himself "held a different view," to Trump, but allowed the agreement after receiving assurances from Iran's President.
Jorge Messi, the father of football star Lionel Messi, is under medical supervision and is "progressing favourably" while recovering from an undisclosed health condition, according to a family statement.
Russia's defence ministry says its forces have captured the village of Yurkivka in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, according to the Interfax news agency. The claim could not be independently verified.
Russia is seeking to expand cooperation with Central Asian countries in the exploration, extraction and processing of rare earth metals, underlining the region's growing importance in the global race for critical raw materials.
Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary in U.S.-Iran diplomacy after months of shuttle talks, draft revisions and regional coordination involving Gulf states and China. An interim understanding has been reached, but officials warn the most difficult phase of negotiations still lies ahead.
Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire, a senior U.S. official has said. Hezbollah has released a statement saying Israel must leave southern Lebanon. Israel has said it agrees to the ceasefire, but has said its armed forces won't leave Lebanon and will resume hostilities if attacked.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze arrived in Dushanbe on 19 June 2026 for the first official visit by a Georgian head of government to Tajikistan, concluding a trip that produced a joint communiqué, multiple bilateral agreements and a new commission to deepen economic cooperation.
A territory-wide shutdown has brought daily life in Pakistan-administered Kashmir to a standstill following the deadliest unrest in years, which has left at least 24 people dead over nearly two weeks of protests.
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