Mali attacks: Militants strike Bamako and regional towns as explosions and gunfire reported
Militants have staged coordinated attacks in Mali’s capital, Bamako, and several locations across the country, the army said on Saturday (...
The World Bank has approved a $100 million concessional loan to Uzbekistan to help integrate renewable energy into power grids and enhance electricity reliability in key regions. The national grid operator will contribute an additional $50 million to the five-year program.
The Executive Board of the World Bank has approved a concessional loan of $100 million to support Uzbekistan in implementing a major program focused on integrating renewable energy into the country’s distribution networks and improving power reliability in priority regions.
Uzbekistan’s national power distributor, Regional Electric Power Networks, will contribute an additional $50 million from its own funds, bringing the total investment to $150 million over the next five years.
The program aims to modernize and expand critical distribution infrastructure to facilitate the incorporation of renewable energy sources and ensure consistent electricity supply, particularly in Karakalpakstan and Surkhandarya region.
Key components of the program include:
- Construction and modernization of 6,000 kilometers of low-voltage power lines
- Replacement and installation of 1,200 distribution transformers with a total capacity of 250 MVA
- Installation of 150,000 smart meters to reduce commercial losses in RES networks
- Deployment of 4,000 data concentrators to automate and digitize the distribution system, transforming it into a modern and efficient network
By 2029, the program is expected to deliver significant results:
- Raise customer satisfaction with RES services to 90%
- Expand the network’s capacity to accept up to 50 MW of renewable energy generated by households and small to medium enterprises
- Cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 450,000 tons of CO₂ annually
- Increase the proportion of women in technical and managerial roles at JSC RES from 9% in 2025 to 14%.
The U.S. military is redirecting at least three Iranian-flagged tankers after intercepting them in Asian waters near India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, shipping and security sources said on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Tehran said U.S. breaches, blockades and threats are undermining “genuine negotiations.”
Diplomatic efforts to end the Iran war are intensifying, with the White House confirming that U.S. President Donald Trump will send special envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner to Islamabad for talks with Iran under Pakistani mediation.
Argentina has reiterated its interest in resuming talks with the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands, a disputed archipelago in the South Atlantic, after reports that an internal Pentagon email suggested reviewing Washington’s support for the UK’s claim amid tensions over the Iran war.
Russian emergency services have contained a major fire at the Tuapse oil refinery on the Black Sea coast, local officials said on Thursday, ending a four-day effort after a Ukrainian drone strike.
Slovenia’s national broadcaster RTV Slovenia has confirmed it will not air the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, joining a widening boycott over Israel’s participation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Azerbaijan for talks with President Ilham Aliyev, holding meetings in Gabala on Saturday (25 April) during a working visit to the country.
Around 14% of Central Asia’s population - about 12 million people - are facing food shortages, according to the United Nations. The issue was a central focus at the Regional Environmental Summit in Astana.
Türkiye sent six trucks carrying critical medical supplies to Iran on Thursday, reinforcing humanitarian assistance amid challenging cross-border conditions.
Afghanistan is exploring new business opportunities in cotton, tourism and minerals following trade and investment talks this week with officials from Uzbekistan and Türkiye.
Georgia is entering a pivotal economic and geopolitical phase, as talks with China to expand a free trade agreement coincide with renewed progress on the Anaklia Deep Sea Port.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment