Trump says Iran cancelled over 800 planned executions
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Thursday that Iran had cancelled more than 800 executions that were scheduled to take place....
Uzbekistan plans to establish production facilities in Qatar as part of a strategy to expand exports and strengthen its presence in Gulf markets.
The initiative aims to help Uzbek companies move beyond one-off exports and establish long-term market positions in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a region with a combined population of around 60 million and high import demand.
Qatar offers attractive conditions for foreign manufacturers, including free economic zones with tax incentives and subsidies covering 20–30% of electricity, water and utility costs.
Officials say locating production in these zones would allow Uzbek companies to access Gulf markets with minimal customs barriers and faster logistics.
Diplomatic missions have been instructed to work directly with businesses to identify projects suitable for relocation or joint production and to assist with regulatory, legal and logistical procedures.
The production initiative forms part of a wider push to strengthen economic diplomacy. In 2025, Uzbekistan signed investment agreements and trade contracts worth $160 billion during bilateral and multilateral engagements.
Foreign direct investment exceeded $43 billion, reflecting growing international interest in the country’s economy.
Officials say embedding Uzbek enterprises in Gulf supply chains would not only boost exports but also attract new investment and technology, while creating stable demand for domestically produced raw materials and intermediate goods.
Uzbekistan’s trade turnover with Gulf countries exceeded $10 billion in 2025, while exports to the region continued to grow, driven mainly by textiles, construction materials, food products and chemical goods.
The government believes localising production in Qatar could significantly increase these volumes over the medium term.
Authorities stress that the focus is on long-term cooperation rather than short-term trade gains.
By producing goods closer to end markets, Uzbek companies are expected to improve competitiveness, reduce transport costs and meet regional standards more efficiently.
The approach reflects a shift toward deeper economic cooperation, with diplomatic missions and export-promotion mechanisms supporting companies at every stage.
The project is expected to support export growth, attract investment and strengthen Uzbekistan’s integration into regional supply chains.
At least four people were injured after a large fire and explosions hit a residential building in the Dutch city of Utrecht, authorities said.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said on Wednesday that Denmark was unable to change the U.S. position on Greenland after talks with American officials in Washington.
A crane collapse at a construction site near Bangkok has killed two people and injured five others on Thursday, Thai police said, a day after a separate crane accident derailed a train in northeastern Thailand, killing dozens.
Ukraine has declared a state of emergency in its energy sector after sustained Russian attacks severely damaged power and heating infrastructure, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he has been informed the killing of anti-government protesters in Iran has stopped and that planned executions would not go ahead, though details remain unclear.
Kazakhstan has begun recalibrating its oil export logistics amid ongoing restrictions affecting the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), a vital conduit for the country’s crude supplies to global markets.
Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, has called for support for protesters seeking to overthrow Iran’s government. Speaking at a press conference in Washington on 16 January, Pahlavi outlined plans to return to Iran and called for action against the country’s Revolutionary Guards.
The Turkish Defence Ministry has voiced its support for recent military operations by Syrian government forces against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which enjoy the support of the United States.
Georgia’s ruling party has launched a formal legal challenge against the BBC, accusing the British public broadcaster of spreading false, defamatory, and politically charged allegations.
An AnewZ documentary exposes the informal, illicit, and semi-legal trade networks operating beyond official markets.
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