Iran sends reply to U.S. peace plan as tensions persist in Strait of Hormuz
Iran said on Sunday (10 May) that it had sent its response to a U.S. proposal aimed at launching peace talks to end the war, as signs of tentative ...
The World Bank has approved $35 million in concessional credit to help Uzbekistan improve access to geospatial data and support urban development.
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a $35 million concessional credit to support Uzbekistan in strengthening its National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), which is crucial for managing the country’s rapid urbanization. The government will contribute an additional $5.7 million to the project.
Over half of Uzbekistan’s population now lives in urban areas, increasing pressure on land, infrastructure, and public services. However, the lack of reliable, detailed geospatial data limits effective planning, deters private investment, and weakens public service delivery.
To address these gaps, the project will support NSDI development through improved data collection, management, and sharing systems. It includes the creation of a national geoportal, three data centers, a national address registry, and the modernization of the land information system (UzKAD).
Regional upgrades will include 80 new GPS-based CORS stations, modern mapping tools, and a 3D city model pilot in Samarkand to help manage growth and climate risks.
“This project will improve data sharing, cadastral mapping, and infrastructure planning, helping to boost investor confidence and support sustainable development,” said Tatiana Proskuryakova, World Bank Director for Central Asia.
The initiative, to be implemented from 2025 to 2030 by the Cadastre Agency under the Ministry of Economy and Finance, aims to enhance transparency, facilitate private sector growth, and support better urban planning across Uzbekistan.
Efforts to end the U.S.-Iran war appeared to stall as the two sides exchanged fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz. A reported CIA assessment suggested Tehran could withstand a U.S. naval blockade for months despite mounting sanctions and renewed Gulf attacks.
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Russia is holding a significantly scaled-back Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May 2026, reflecting heightened security concerns and the ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year.
Indonesian rescue teams have located two Singaporeans who went missing after Mount Dukono erupted on Friday (8 May) on the island of Halmahera, though authorities say it remains unclear whether they are alive.
The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified files on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) on Friday (8 May), following an order from President Donald Trump. U.S. officials described as a push for “unprecedented transparency”.
Iran said on Sunday (10 May) that it had sent its response to a U.S. proposal aimed at launching peace talks to end the war, as signs of tentative movement emerged around the Strait of Hormuz despite renewed security incidents across the Gulf.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has cited Azerbaijan as an example of what he described as a sovereign foreign policy, recalling remarks made by President Ilham Aliyev during talks in Yerevan, where he sharply criticised resolutions adopted against his country by the European Parliament.
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A Kyrgyz–Japanese archaeological expedition has uncovered the remains of a Buddhist temple complex at the medieval settlement of Ak-Beshim, also known as Suyab, in Kyrgyzstan’s Chui Region.
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