Tanker carrying 1 million barrels of oil hit by explosion off Libya
An oil tanker carrying one million barrels of crude oil exploded near the Libyan coast, Bloomberg reported on 30 June....
The first-ever summit between the European Union (EU) and the five Central Asian nations—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan - began today in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
The summit brings together the Presidents of the European Council, António Costa, and the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, along with the leadership of Central Asia, including Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
The summit is seen as a key moment to intensify relations between the two regions, particularly in areas such as trade, energy, security, and environmental cooperation. The leaders are set to discuss how to enhance connectivity, boost trade ties, address regional security challenges, and cooperate on green transition efforts.
EU Special Representative Eduards Stiprais highlighted the importance of the summit, emphasizing that Central Asia, with its strategic position at the heart of Eurasia, plays a vital role in promoting East-West and North-South connectivity. He also pointed out that the EU has been a major trading partner for the region, contributing about 40% of all foreign direct investment in Central Asia.
The EU has committed €550 million through its Global Gateway initiative to improve infrastructure and facilitate smoother trade routes. Stiprais noted the focus on critical raw materials and renewable energy, which are central to the green transition. "Critical raw materials are the new critical area," he remarked, underscoring the EU’s interest in securing resources for its green economy.
Energy cooperation is another area of focus at the summit, with the EU and Central Asia exploring ways to collaborate on energy security, including nuclear energy. While nuclear power remains a debated issue within the EU, Stiprais emphasized the importance of safety and the careful handling of nuclear technology.
The summit also aligns with the broader goals set out in the EU’s 2019 strategy on Central Asia and the joint roadmap for deepening ties adopted in 2023. As relations between the EU and Central Asia continue to evolve, the summit serves as a vital opportunity to further advance multilateral cooperation and strengthen political and economic partnerships.
In addition to bilateral talks, Presidents Costa and von der Leyen are also participating in the Samarkand International Climate Forum, which aims to tackle global and regional threats posed by climate change, with an emphasis on sustainable development.
The leaders are expected to issue a joint statement at the conclusion of the summit, highlighting the key areas of cooperation and outlining the next steps for furthering EU-Central Asia relations.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
China has ramped up efforts to protect communities impacted by flood control measures, introducing stronger compensation policies and direct aid from the central government.
Severe rain in Venezuela has caused rivers to overflow and triggered landslides, sweeping away homes and collapsing a highway bridge, with five states affected and no casualties reported so far.
A malfunction in the radar transmission system at the Area Control Center in Milan suspended more than 300 flights at the weekend, across northwest Italy since Saturday evening according to Italy's air traffic controller Enav (National Agency for Flight Assistance).
Thousands of protesters rallied in Bangkok on Saturday, demanding Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra resign as political and economic tensions mount.
Two Azerbaijani brothers killed in a Russian security raid in Yekaterinburg are being returned home, sparking outrage and urgent calls for justice amid allegations of abuse and ethnic profiling.
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan will not attend the meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Foreign Ministers Council scheduled for Monday in Kyrgyzstan, according to a statement from Armenia’s Foreign Ministry.
Chinese mining giant Zijin Mining is set to acquire Kazakhstan’s Raihorodok gold deposit for $1.2 billion, a move that will transfer control of RG Gold and could significantly boost Kazakhstan’s annual gold production, pending regulatory approval.
The Kremlin on Sunday voiced regret over Azerbaijan's reaction to the recent arrests of several Azerbaijani nationals in Russia’s Yekaterinburg region, after a controversial police operation tied to a decades-old criminal case sparked diplomatic tension between the two countries.
Armenia says it is ready to discuss the place and date for signing a peace agreement with Azerbaijan, according to Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.
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