live Missile fire continues across the Middle East - Day 12 of the conflict, Wednesday 11th March
Iran and Israel continue to exchange missile and drone strikes across the Middle East - all the latest updates throughout the day on AnewZ...
The World Bank has approved $101 million in financing for the First Sustainable and Inclusive Growth Development Policy Operation in the Kyrgyz Republic. It will provide a budgetary support to the government in implementing a broad set of reforms.
As part of its goal to achieve an upper-middle-income status by 2030, the Kyrgyz government is advancing a bold reform agenda to drive socio-economic development. The reforms will be focused on securing a sustainable energy supply, improving the delivery of social services, and strengthening both fiscal sustainability and the overall business climate.
“This Development Policy Operation reflects our strong partnership with the Kyrgyz Republic and our shared goal – to deliver tangible results for people,” said Hugh Riddell, World Bank Group Country Manager for the Kyrgyz Republic.
“As the country advances with the landmark Kambarata-1 Hydropower Project, the reforms supported by this operation will help create jobs, build skills, and establish the right conditions to ensure the project delivers lasting and inclusive benefits for all,” he concluded.
The World Bank financing will support the Kyrgyz government’s reforms across three main areas:
Energy Sector: The reforms seek to modernize the energy sector, expand access, and support broader economic transformation. Key measures include revising electricity and heating rates while safeguarding vulnerable households, increasing transparency, and attracting private investment in renewable energy.
Social Services and Resilience: The reforms aim to ensure that economic growth benefits vulnerable populations. The focus will be on improving education outcomes, scaling up targeted social programs, and modernizing water infrastructure while addressing regional disparities and promoting equitable access to services.
Fiscal Sustainability and Business Environment: The reforms aim to strengthen fiscal stability and create a more favourable environment for private investment. Measures include modernizing key legislation to enhance transparency, competition, and investor confidence.
The First Sustainable and Inclusive Growth Development Policy Operation is financed through the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank Group’s concessional lending arm. The funding package consists of a $68 million zero-interest credit, to be repaid over 50 years, and a $33million zero-interest, shorter-maturity loan with a 12-year repayment term and a 6-year grace period during which no repayments are required.
This combination of highly concessional and low-cost financing aims to provide the Kyrgyz Republic with affordable and sustainable financial support for its development priorities.
Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
Iranian civilian and military officials have pledged their obedience to the new leader, Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, with President Masoud Pezeshkian saying his leadership “will herald a new era of dignity and authority for the Iranian nation.”.
Kazakhstan has evacuated more than 7,300 citizens from the Middle East since regional tensions escalated, using both air and land routes to bring nationals home while closely monitoring political developments and potential economic effects linked to rising oil prices.
Tensions are rising in the South Caucasus after a reported strike near Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave, fuelling fears that instability linked to Iran could spill into the region, Dr. Erik Rudenskjold speaks to AnewZ.
Iran and the U.S. exchanged threats on Tuesday, as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Tehran to expect the “most intense day" of attacks so far. Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said “anyone who entertains the illusion of destroying Iran knows nothing of history."
The Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of global concern as tensions rise following the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Tehran has threatened to block the strategic waterway, raising fears of disruption to global oil shipments and energy markets.
Reports of so-called “acid clouds” moving from Iran towards Central Asia are not supported by scientific data, national hydrometeorological services in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan say, adding there is no threat to the region.
A senior delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has been holding meetings with Georgian government officials, opposition leaders and security authorities this week, as international observers attempt to gauge the country’s political climate following last year’s contentious elections.
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