Author: Jazira Iliyaseva

The European Union announced on Friday that it will begin accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova to join the 27-member political and economic bloc starting next week. All 27 members agreed to the Ukraine and Moldova joining the European Union. Negotiations will begin for both countries on Tuesday in Luxembourg, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union said on X. The move comes at a critical time for both nations with Ukraine in the middle of an invasion by Russia and Moldova facing a Russian-led insurgence by a breakaway state. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the European Union for its “robust political…

Rustam Emomali is increasingly the face of his country on the international stage On January 29, China signed off on an agreement to hand Tajikistan the gift of $2 million to fund the construction of a conference room in a government building. As grants go, it is not a lot, but the real significance of the development lies elsewhere. As an official press release asserts, that the money was disbursed at all was the result of a visit paid to Beijing by the 36-year-old chair of the Senate, Rustam Emomali, better known to the public for being the son of President Emomali Rahmon. Common…

In a significant expansion of the AUKUS agreement, the US, UK and Australia are collaborating on a groundbreaking space surveillance initiative, signifying the bloc’s emerging space-power capabilities. This month, Air & Space Forces Magazine reported that the US, UK and Australia have agreed to establish advanced space-tracking radar sites in their countries as part of a significant new initiative that will expand the AUKUS agreement. The source notes that the three countries will host and operate the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC), a state-of-the-art ground-based radar system, by the decade’s end. It says DARC provides a way to strengthen the US…

Russian air defences have intercepted Ukrainian drones over several regions inside its territory, including Moscow, just a day after Kyiv reported the “largest drone attack” on Ukraine since Moscow invaded the country in February last year. “Air defence destroyed four Ukrainian drones over the territory of the Bryansk, Smolensk and Tula regions,” Russia’s Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Sunday. Earlier, Russia said some drones were shot down over the Moscow region. The Russian army said it had also downed two Ukrainian missiles headed for Russia over the Sea of Azov, between the two countries. Ukraine, meanwhile, said its…

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu paid first official visit to Bucharest and held talks with Romanian top officials on Dec. 12, reported the ministry’s press service. At the meeting with Romanian Foreign Minister Luminița Odobescu, the sides confirmed Astana and Bucharest’s commitment to an open and trusting dialogue. Nurtleu and Odobescu focused on expanding trade, economic, and investment ties and developing cooperation in agriculture, healthcare, education, and digitalization. Addressing the development of cultural and humanitarian exchange, the parties agreed on implementing joint projects in education, science, and culture. During the talks, Nurtleu and Odobescu…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has demanded answers for the families of soldiers killed in a missile strike during an awards ceremony on Friday. A Ukrainian unit said 19 of its soldiers were killed in a Russian attack near the front lines in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. The 128th Mountain Assault Brigade said its “best fighters have been killed”. Many have expressed disbelief that the ceremony was allowed to go ahead so near to the front line. President Zelensky said the incident “could have been avoided”. “Criminal proceedings have been initiated,” the Ukrainian leader added in a post on social media…

Kazakhstan cut interest rates for a third straight time, forging ahead with its longest stretch of monetary easing in half a decade even after the International Monetary Fund cautioned it against loosening policy prematurely. The National Bank of Kazakhstan on Friday lowered its benchmark to 15.75% from 16%. A slight majority of economists polled by Bloomberg predicted a decrease of half a percentage point. In a statement accompanying the decision, policymakers didn’t provide any clear guidance on what they plan to do next. This year’s inflation forecast was improved slightly to 9.3%-10.3%, with a slowdown expected in 2024-2025. “Further decisions…

ASTANA — The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) finalized a significant $ 36 million loan agreement on Nov. 7 for developing, constructing, and operating the Shokpar 100 MW Wind Power Plant in the Zhambyl Region, the bank’s press service reported.  This partnership signifies a collaborative effort between China Power International Holding and Visor International DMCC, further reinforced by co-financing from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The project is poised to receive significant financial support. It is slated to obtain $10 million in concessional financing from the Green Climate Fund, an entity operating under the United Nations Framework Convention…

President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that suggestions the United States should prepare for a war against Russia and China were nonsense, and warned the West that any war against Russia would be on a whole different level to the conflict in Ukraine. A bipartisan panel appointed by the U.S. Congress said on Thursday that Washington must prepare for possible simultaneous wars with Moscow and Beijing by expanding its conventional forces, strengthening alliances and enhancing its nuclear weapons modernization programme.PauseUnmute Putin, who is to visit China this week, said the United States had stoked tensions with Beijing by building the…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev underscored Kazakhstan’s strong support for China’s visionary and constructive policy, particularly the Belt and Road Initiative, during an Oct. 18 meeting with Wang Huning, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, reported the Akorda press service. Tokayev echoed Xi Jinping’s statement that “When China does well, the world will get even better,” no doubt that China is close to becoming the most advanced and leading global power. According to President Tokayev, Kazakh-Chinese relations have reached a peak of eternal comprehensive strategic partnership, with regular high-level meetings laying the groundwork for…