Author: Nazim Nurlaneva

The head of the European Commission has called for action to bring Western Balkan countries closer to the European Union. “We need decisive action, right now, to bring Western Balkan partners closer to us. The new growth plan for the Western Balkans is all about this. It has the potential to double the size of the region’s economy, within a decade,” Ursula von der Leyen said after a one-day EU-Western Balkans Summit in Brussels on Wednesday. Von der Leyen said the EU is ready to open accession negotiations on Cluster 1 – fundamentals of the bloc – with both Albania…

A half-hearted counterattack by the Russian army’s 37th Separate Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade, targeting Ukrainian positions east of Urozhaine in southern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast, ended in a Russian defeat on Thursday after the 37th Brigade ran into the Ukrainian 3rd and 58th Brigades. The brief fight was unremarkable at a time when an entire Russian field army with several brigades and regiments has been hurling thousands of vehicles at the Ukrainian garrison in Avdiivka, just outside Donetsk in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region. Russian losses in the Avdiivka operation total hundreds of tanks and fighting vehicles and potentially thousands of troops. But the Russians…

International contractors face a major setback in Kazkahstan as the Western-led ventures behind the country’s three leading oil and gas projects — Tengiz, Kashagan and Karachaganak — prepare to reduce their investments in the developments. Tengizchevroil, Karachaganak Petroleum Operating and Kashagan’s North Caspian Operating Company continue to dominate the country’s oil and gas services sector, despite authorities increasing turning to investors from Russia and China. The trio all have Western oil majors as partners, including Chevron, Eni, Shell, TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil and have used mostly international contractors in recent years. And they accounted for more than 76% of all services…

BRUSSELS/LONDON, Nov 6 (Reuters) – The European Union executive will recommend on Wednesday that the bloc open membership negotiations with Kyiv once it meets outstanding conditions, two EU officials said on Monday, more than 20 months since Russia invaded Ukraine. In Kyiv, a senior government official said Ukraine expected the European Commission to deliver a “positive” appraisal of its membership bid, a coveted prize as troops face battle fatigue and concerns swirl over the future of vital U.S. military aid. The Commission will assess Ukraine across seven reform areas in a report that will inform a key decision in December at a summit of…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has provided asylum for 325 refugees from five countries, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Labor and Social Protection on Nov. 24.   Refugees from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Syria, and China are protected by the principle of non-expulsion from the country. Foreigners who received asylum in Kazakhstan are supported by the state structures following the country’s obligations under the signed United Nations (UN) 1951 Refugee Convention on Dec. 15, 1998. The ministry formed a working group focused on facilitating access to health care, education, and social assistance for refugees to fulfill international commitments related to refugee protection. It includes…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan faced the challenge of returning its citizens from the Gaza Strip, as the evacuation of foreigners and wounded persons through the Rafah checkpoint has been temporarily suspended since Nov. 4, Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov said at a Nov. 6 briefing. The evacuation of foreign citizens and Palestinians with dual citizenship commenced on Nov. 1, but three days later, it was suspended due to specific requirements set by Egyptian and Israeli authorities. According to them, each country is given a designated date for their citizens to pass through the Rafah checkpoint, considering the daily throughput capacity…

Speaking at Conservative Party conference in Manchester, UK Defense Minister Grant Schapps on Sunday announced the finalization of a £4 billion ($4.9 billion, €4.6 billion) contract with BAE Systems to commence work on a new nuclear-powered AUKUS attack submarine. Plans for the ambitious international defense project between Australia, the UK and the US were initially announced in March. As part of the so-called AUKUS (Australia-UK-US) security pact, the partners will supply nuclear submarines to Australia beginning in the early 2030s in an attempt to counter growing Chinese military ambitions across the Indo-Pacific. “This multi-billion-pound investment in the AUKUS submarine program will help deliver…

Brussels (3/11 – 34) Dubai is calling for a united front to spur the development of generative artificial intelligence to maximise its potential and reap economic benefits, the chief executive of the Dubai Future Foundation has said. Countries need to come together to prepare society for the innovation and to help bridge the gap between policies and the advancement of the emerging technology, which has a reported business opportunity of as much as $4.4 trillion, Khalfan Belhoul said at the Dubai Assembly for Generative AI conference on Wednesday. The industries with highest AI potential include banking, software and platforms, energy, communications and media, and health, according to the DFF.…

ASTANA – On the second day of the Digital Bridge Forum in Astana, foreign investors outlined the growing potential and emerging challenges in attracting capital for Kazakh entrepreneurs in a global venture market. The Oct.13 panel session gathered well-established venture companies to address Kazakhstan’s prospects.    The discussion was moderated by Adil Nurgozhin, the founding partner of Big Sky Capital, the Astana-based venture capital company. Managing Partner at Quest Ventures James Tan provided statistics on the venture capital invested into Central Asia startups, noting that “for the last four years, the region has received only $150 million, which is a drop in…

Ukraine’s military says it has recaptured oil and gas platforms in the Black Sea from Russia, describing the breakthrough as a crucial step in regaining Crimea. Ukrainian fighters have also made significant progress toward taking back Bakhmut, a besieged city lost to Russia last May. Since it captured the offshore rigs in 2015, Russia has used them as launchpads for military helicopters, bases for troops, and high ground for long-range missiles. Historically, Russia has aimed its missiles at freighters transporting grain and other vital cargo to Ukraine. “Russia has been deprived of the ability to fully control the waters of…