Protest outside Azerbaijani Embassy in London features Iranian flags and hijab placards
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy...
Uzbekistan plans to significantly expand the use of electric vehicles (EVs), targeting a 10% share of all passenger cars by 2030.
The initiative comes as part of broader efforts to improve urban air quality and cut transport emissions, according to the updated Uzbekistan-2030 strategy.
The roadmap envisions a gradual rise in EV adoption over the next five years. Electric cars are expected to account for just under 2% of passenger vehicles in 2026, increasing to 3% in 2027, 5% in 2028, 7% in 2029, and 10% by 2030.
As of 1 October 2025, more than 86,100 electric vehicles were registered nationwide. The majority are concentrated in the capital, Tashkent, which accounts for nearly 65,000 EVs.
The government links the policy shift to environmental and public health priorities. In 2025, Tashkent regularly recorded elevated air pollution levels, particularly during winter months, driven by road traffic, fossil-fuel heating and adverse weather conditions that trap emissions.
While EVs alone are not expected to solve the problem, officials say reducing tailpipe emissions in densely populated areas could make a meaningful contribution to cleaner urban air over time.
To accelerate adoption, authorities have announced a package of financial incentives. Subsidised auto loans will be offered at 12% for domestically produced electric vehicles and 16% for imported models.
Entrepreneurs investing in charging infrastructure will be eligible for preferential loans at 10%, along with the option to purchase land for charging stations at half price through auctions.
Additional support measures include state compensation for electricity costs at public charging stations, covering the portion of the tariff above a fixed threshold.
Drivers using electric vehicles for taxi services are also expected to receive targeted benefits, although full details have yet to be published.
The measures form part of a five-year national programme to promote eco-friendly transport.
Alongside financial incentives, the programme prioritises expanding the charging network and integrating electric mobility into urban transport planning.
Officials say the strategy is designed to balance environmental goals with consumer affordability, while laying the groundwork for longer-term reductions in transport-related emissions.
The Middle East conflict remains tense as diplomatic efforts continue alongside renewed Houthi attacks. Iran says it remains open to mediation, while the Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted a ballistic missile fired towards the kingdom.
Rescuers searched the wreckage of two high-speed trains in central Spain on Thursday as the death toll rose to a provisional 74, making it the country's second fatal high-speed rail disaster this year.
Evacuations and the provision of humanitarian aid in the Russian-occupied southern Ukrainian town of Oleshky have begun, a senior Ukrainian official said on Friday. In a statement on Telegram, David Arakhamia said a six-day ceasefire was holding, and that more details would follow.
Qatari mediators returned to Tehran on Friday as part of efforts to reach a deal between the U.S. and Iran, according to an official briefed on the talks.
UN human rights experts comprising a group including Special Rapporteurs and independent experts who are part of the UN Human Rights Council, have criticised French authorities over their handling of nationwide student protests.
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan surged by 330 per cent in 2026 despite a four-year ban, the United Nations said on Thursday. Afghan authorities disputed the findings, while Japan urged continued support for farmers seeking alternative livelihoods.
Central Asia could gain up to $640 million a year from closer energy cooperation, but strained electricity grids threaten to limit those gains, with Kazakhstan particularly exposed to regional power shortages and growing pressure on its network.
Georgia and Azerbaijan are stepping up efforts to boost trade, strengthen transport links between Asia and Europe and resolve a longstanding border dispute, as both countries seek to deepen their strategic partnership.
People travelling between Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan could soon be able to pay for purchases using their usual banking apps. Central banks from the five countries are working on linking their national payment systems.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
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