AnewZ Morning Brief – 1 July 2026
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 1 July, covering the latest developments you need to know....
Uzbekistan and the U.S. are preparing to launch a joint investment platform by the end of the year, alongside the creation of a new bilateral business council aimed at strengthening economic cooperation.
The initiatives were discussed during meetings in Washington led by Head of the Presidential Administration Saida Mirziyoyeva and senior U.S. officials, including representatives of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).
During talks with DFC Chief Executive Officer Ben Black, the sides discussed a “large portfolio” of potential projects and mechanisms to attract American investors to Uzbekistan. The U.S. development finance institution expressed readiness to help mobilise investment and share financial risks.
“We also plan to launch a joint investment platform this year,” Mirziyoyeva said following the meeting.
The discussions involved senior Uzbek officials, including Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov, Ambassador to the United States Furkat Sidikov, and representatives of the Presidential Administration. The planned platform is expected to finance priority projects and strengthen cooperation with U.S. financial institutions.
The talks followed the inaugural meeting of the U.S.–Uzbekistan Business and Investment Council held in Washington. The new structure aims to strengthen contacts between entrepreneurs and create what officials described as a solid institutional foundation for joint business initiatives. A memorandum of understanding was signed following the meeting.
According to Mirziyoyeva, the council became possible due to the high level of trust between the leaders of both countries. U.S. co-chair Sergio Gor noted that Washington has demonstrated “serious intentions” to deepen its strategic partnership with Central Asia.
The council is expected to coordinate major investment and trade initiatives and facilitate dialogue between government agencies, financial institutions and private sector representatives. Plans also include establishing a dedicated investment fund to attract capital to Uzbekistan. The DFC is expected to serve as an anchor investor, with potential participation from the Asian Development Bank and the International Finance Corporation.
Among the priorities of the new mechanism are reducing tariff barriers, diversifying Uzbekistan’s investment portfolio, and promoting products and services from Uzbek companies, including IT Park Uzbekistan residents, in the U.S. market.
The proposal to create a joint investment platform was first discussed during President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to Washington in November 2025. The sides examined steps to accelerate financing of priority projects and discussed opening a regional DFC office in Tashkent.
Officials say the new initiatives are expected to deepen economic cooperation, expand investment flows, and strengthen the long-term partnership between Uzbekistan and the United States.
Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both sides tested the interim ceasefire to end the four-month-old war.
The U.S. and Iran have agreed to 'stand down' and resume technical talks, allowing vessels allowed to move freely under the interim peace deal, a U.S. official said.
Six adults were killed in a shooting at a youth welfare facility in northern Germany on Monday, with police detaining two people, including the suspected gunman.
Morocco held their nerve to beat the Netherlands on penalties after a dramatic late equaliser, Gabriel Martinelli spared Brazil's blushes with a stoppage-time winner against Japan, while Paraguay stunned Germany in the tournament's biggest shock to reach the World Cup last 16.
Mexico ended their 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout win, while Erling Haaland sent Norway through and Kylian Mbappé fired France into the last 16.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appealed to member states to urgently help plug a $100 million funding gap facing the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, warning it is close to "breaking point" after months of deep spending cuts.
Georgia's Minister of Internal Affairs, Sulkhan Tamazashvili, has wrapped up an official visit to Armenia with a clear message: the two countries' law enforcement agencies are set to work even closer together.
Iran has ruled out direct talks with senior U.S. envoys in the Gulf, saying any contact will take place through Qatari mediators. Meanwhile, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have met in Doha with Qatar's PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
The Kyrgyz government has tightened oversight of the country's fuel market, introducing stricter monitoring measures to prevent petroleum shortages and ensure stable supplies amid continuing geopolitical uncertainty.
China and several Central Asian countries have agreed to develop a joint satellite constellation to monitor natural disasters, track environmental change and improve regional disaster preparedness through shared remote-sensing data.
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