AnewZ Morning Brief – 4 July, 2026
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 4 July, covering the latest developments you need to know....
Uzbekistan will significantly expand its small hydropower capacity through a new $150 million World Bank project, aiming to enhance electricity access and boost renewable energy production nationwide.
The project, approved by the World Bank, will be implemented by Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy between 2025 and 2030. It focuses on developing small hydropower plants (SHPPs) across the country, with strong involvement from local developers and banks. The goal is to provide clean, reliable electricity to households and businesses -especially in remote or underserved regions - while also supporting the country’s transition to a low-carbon energy system.
By 2026, the government plans to establish up to 3,000 SHPPs, bringing total installed capacity to 160 megawatts. The new World Bank-funded project will directly support this goal by financing investments in SHPPs with a combined capacity of up to 150 megawatts, expected to generate over 520 gigawatt-hours of green energy each year.
In addition to boosting power supply, the project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 430,000 tons of CO₂ annually. Around 270 potential SHPP sites have already been identified, mostly along existing irrigation canals. The majority of these locations are suitable for plants ranging from 100 to 1,000 kilowatts in capacity - ideal for small-scale, decentralized electricity generation.
Electricity generated under the project will be purchased by Regional Electric Power Networks and fed into the national grid. This will help diversify Uzbekistan’s energy mix and improve energy security in rural areas.
By facilitating private sector participation and access to finance, the project also strengthens Uzbekistan’s green investment ecosystem and contributes to job creation in clean energy development. It reflects the government’s broader strategy to meet growing energy demand sustainably and fulfill its international climate commitments.
India is investigating a data breach at Tata Electronics that exposed sensitive documents linked to Apple's unreleased iPhone 18 Pro, marking the government's first public comments on the incident.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has raised its forecast for the rapid emergence of a strong El Niño, warning the climate pattern is likely to drive higher global temperatures and intensify extreme weather in the months ahead.
Iran and the U.S. have concluded indirect talks in Doha without a major breakthrough, with discussions focused on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and frozen Iranian funds. Both sides are expected to meet again after the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
International politicians and religious leaders have paid respects to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei throughout the day, ahead of his six day funeral ceremony which begins on Saturday. His casket is currently on display at the Iman Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran.
Eight Buddhist monks were killed and more than 20 others injured after an 11-year-old boy driving his parents' pickup truck ploughed into a religious procession in north-eastern Thailand, police said.
Armenia's parliament has passed a new law raising the requirements for citizens living abroad to vote in national elections, following concerns over alleged efforts to influence last month's parliamentary vote through Armenian citizens residing in Russia.
International politicians and religious leaders have paid respects to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei throughout the day, ahead of his six day funeral ceremony which begins on Saturday. His casket is currently on display at the Iman Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran.
Georgia’s only oil refinery will stop using Russian crude oil by September to preserve access to Western markets, its operator has said.
Iran has begun talks with Japan about selling oil to Japanese companies, according to Iranian and Western sources. The discussions come less than a month after the U.S. eased decades-old sanctions on Iranian oil as part of efforts to secure a final peace deal with Tehran.
At least 40 people were killed after a passenger bus plunged off a highway into a ravine in southwestern Pakistan, officials said on Friday (3 July).
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