Swedish customs board sanctioned Russian freighter off Höganäs
Swedish customs officials have boarded a Russian freighter anchored in Swedish waters after confirming that the vessel and its owners are subject to E...
S&P Global Ratings has revised Uzbekistan’s outlook to positive from stable, affirming its 'BB-/B' ratings. The change reflects steady economic reforms, resilient growth, and support from high gold prices, which are helping stabilize the country’s fiscal and external positions.
S&P Global Ratings upgraded Uzbekistan’s outlook to positive, citing ongoing structural reforms, robust domestic demand, and high gold prices as key factors boosting growth and fiscal stability. The agency affirmed the country's 'BB-/B' long- and short-term sovereign credit ratings.
Uzbekistan’s economy is projected to grow by 5.6% on average through 2028, driven by government-led investment, labor remittances, and energy sector reforms. Plans to gradually increase energy tariffs and reduce subsidies are expected to lower the fiscal deficit from 4.9% of GDP in 2023 to around 3% over the medium term.
Rising gold exports are enhancing fiscal revenues and foreign exchange reserves. While public debt is increasing due to infrastructure spending, it is expected to remain manageable, reaching 34% of GDP by 2028.
However, risks remain due to centralized governance, dependence on commodity exports, and exposure to external shocks.
S&P noted that continued reforms and efforts to strengthen fiscal discipline could lead to a rating upgrade. Conversely, slower growth or rising deficits may stabilize the outlook.
The death toll from Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades has risen to 161, after forensic analysis confirmed one more victim among the charred remains at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, more than three weeks after the blaze began, authorities said on Saturday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet President Donald Trump on 29 December in Florida, where he is expected to present a package of military options regarding Iran, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported on Saturday.
US intelligence assessments indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to seek full control of Ukraine and to expand Russia’s influence in parts of Europe formerly under Soviet rule, contradicting repeated claims that Moscow poses no threat to the continent.
The United States has proposed a potential new format for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, which could include American and European representatives, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday, December 20.
The United States seized a second merchant vessel carrying oil off the coast of Venezuela in international waters on Saturday, as part of Washington’s sanctions enforcement campaign, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced the arrival of the first rail shipment of Azerbaijani petrol on Friday, calling the delivery — the first such transfer between the two countries in decades — a sign that “peace has now become a reality”.
AnewZ has launched a new investigations unit with the premiere of The Oligarch’s Design, a long-form documentary marking the debut of AnewZ Investigations, its cross-border reporting initiative.
Iran’s renewed call for international burden sharing in hosting Afghan refugees has revived a familiar narrative - that refugees are an economic strain rather than a source of long-term value. Analysts say this framing overlooks decades of contribution by Afghan refugees across the region.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s official visit to Tokyo represents more than a strengthening of bilateral relations; it is a strategic step that broadens the economic and diplomatic horizons of the region.
AnewZ has premiered The Oligarch’s Design, a long-form investigative documentary marking the launch of AnewZ Investigations, the channel’s new editorial endeavour dedicated to cross-border investigative journalism.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
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