AnewZ Morning Brief - 22 February, 2026
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 22nd of February, covering the latest developments you need to...
Russia’s Rosatom has launched the production of key reactor equipment for Uzbekistan’s first small modular nuclear power plant, marking a major milestone in the bilateral energy project, Rosatom announced.
Rosatom has officially commenced manufacturing reactor components for Uzbekistan’s first small modular nuclear power plant (SMR), as part of a major energy cooperation initiative between the two countries. At the AEM-Spetsstal metallurgical plant - part of Rosatom’s Engineering Division - a 205-ton ingot of special alloy steel has been cast. This marks the beginning of production for the RITM-200N reactor pressure vessel flange, a central component of the SMR unit.
The casting of this ingot represents the practical start of reactor development, Rosatom emphasized during its presentation at the Power Uzbekistan 2025 international exhibition. The event was attended by top energy experts and representatives from key ministries and agencies of Uzbekistan.
Once the initial metallurgical processes are completed at AEM-Spetsstal, the ingot will be transferred to other facilities within Rosatom’s Engineering Division for assembly into the full reactor vessel.
“This step toward practical implementation of the SMR project in Uzbekistan highlights the strong international interest in small nuclear technologies and the trust our partners place in Rosatom’s solutions,” said Igor Kotov, Head of Rosatom’s Engineering Division. “Our companies have the experience and capabilities needed to produce RITM-series reactor units, which are already successfully operating in Russia’s icebreaker fleet. These competencies will now support the production of all six RITM-200N units for Uzbekistan’s SMR.”
Quentin Griffiths, co-founder of online fashion retailer ASOS, has died in Pattaya, Thailand, after falling from the 17th floor of a condominium on 9 February, Thai police confirmed.
A seven-month-old Japanese macaque has captured global attention after forming an unusual but heart-warming bond with a stuffed orangutan toy following abandonment by its mother.
Ukraine’s National Paralympic Committee has announced it will boycott the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics in Verona on 6 March, citing the International Paralympic Committee’s decision to allow some Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags.
Divers have recovered the bodies of seven Chinese tourists and a Russian driver after their minibus broke through the ice of on Lake Baikal in Russia, authorities said.
President Donald Trump said on Saturday (21 February) that he will raise temporary tariffs on nearly all U.S. imports from 10% to 15%, the maximum allowed under the law, after the Supreme Court struck down his previous tariff program.
Iran announced on Saturday that it has designated the naval and air forces of European Union member states as “terrorist entities” in a reciprocal move after the EU blacklisted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
At least 10 people were killed and 50 wounded in Israeli strikes in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley on Friday (20 February), two security sources told Reuters, after the Israeli military said it had targeted Hezbollah sites in the Baalbek area.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday (21 February) dismissed U.S. claims that 32,000 civilians were killed during protests in Iran. He said Tehran has already released official figures and called for evidence to support any higher estimates.
Uzbekistan's president Shavkat Mirziyoyev has held a series of high-level meetings in the U.S. aimed at strengthening bilateral economic and strategic ties between the two countries.
Türkiye has signalled readiness to contribute to a proposed Gaza stabilisation force during the inaugural Board of Peace meeting on Thursday (19 February), but according to former Turkish diplomat Mehmet Öğütçü, the decisive factor will be whether Israel and the United States agree on Ankara’s role.
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