Author: Aneesa al-Molla

ASTANA — The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) affirmed its commitment to expanding and strengthening cooperation with Kazakhstan to promote sustainable infrastructure development during a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan Nurlan Baibazarov on Sept.19 in Astana, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Baibazarov, who also serves as AIIB governor, signed a joint declaration with AIIB Vice President Konstantin Limitovskiy on the intent to develop a three-year investment plan that identifies potential sectors and projects for financing. “We appreciate the prospects for further cooperation with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. I would like to…

Kazakhstan aims to boost output of metals needed for electric vehicle (EV) batteries and is issuing hundreds of new exploration licences to attract fresh investment in the sector, the country’s industry minister told Reuters. The former Soviet republic promotes itself as a dependable supplier of the majority of critical materials outlined by the European Union, at a time when Russia has threatened to curb exports and China is tightening control over rare earths. Kazakhstan has signed deals with the European Union and Britain on the supply of critical minerals. “People know that Kazakhstan is very reliable… We’ve been supplying markets for a very long time,”…

Russia has reportedly lost a staggering amount of troops over the past 24 hours along with dozens of tanks and armoured vehicles as bloody fighting takes its toll on Vladimir Putin’s men. Russia lost a staggering 1,740 troops in a single day, the highest tally of casualties for Moscow since the start of the invasion in 2022, according to Ukraine. In the previous 24 hours, Ukraine also claimed Russia had lost 30 tanks and 42 armoured vehicles. Death toll and military hardware statistics are difficult to assess with both sides giving different or little information. However, Ukraine’s armed forces have claimed Russia has so far lost an eye-watering…

HONG KONG, Dec 14 (Reuters) – Every day, nearly 60 fully loaded very large crude-oil carriers sail between the Persian Gulf and Chinese ports, carrying about half of the oil that powers the world’s second-largest economy. As the vessels enter the South China Sea, they ply waters increasingly controlled by China’s growing military, from the missile batteries and airfields at its bases on disputed islands to its stealthy Type 055 destroyers. But when crossing the Indian Ocean, joined by others headed to China from Africa and Brazil, these tankers lack protection in a naval theatre dominated by the U.S. A dozen military…

An Australian warship has sailed through the Taiwan Strait, the sensitive and narrow waterway that separates Taiwan from China, provoking a warning from Beijing. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence did not name the ship in a statement released on Friday but said it entered the strait the previous day and sailed through in a southerly direction. Taiwan’s military kept watch throughout, the statement added without giving details. An Australian official, quoted by the Reuters news agency, confirmed that the Toowoomba frigate had transited the international waters of the Taiwan Strait as part of a regional deployment. China’s Ministry of Foreign…

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received Minister of Investment of the United Arab Emirates Mohamed Hassan Al Suwaidi. The head of state extended congratulations on the successful holding of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai. Mohamed Hassan Al Suwaidi delivered greetings from President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to the Azerbaijani leader. Expressing gratitude for the greetings, President Ilham Aliyev requested to pass on his own greetings to the President of the United Arab Emirates.…

The Philippines has delivered a significant blow to China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by opting to exit the trillion-dollar infrastructure project of President Xi Jinping. The announcement followed a recent collision between a Philippines boat and a Chinese coastguard vessel in the South China Sea. Furthermore, China’s military alleged that a Philippines military ship entered waters near Scarborough Shoal without permission. The Philippines’ decision comes on the heels of the grand Belt and Road Initiative Summit in Beijing where President Xi welcomed leaders and delegates from over 140 nations to commemorate the project’s decade-long journey. The Philippines’ Department of Transportation has announced…

Marriages might be made in heaven, but the perfect venue is what makes a wedding special. The United Arab Emirates has recently cinched the enviable position of becoming the perfect spot for weddings. With a number of striking locations in the Emirates, including the crowd favourite Ras Al Khaimah, the UAE has undoubtedly become a hub of luxury weddings. Nestled on the Arabian Peninsula, the UAE, with its gorgeous scenery and many exotic properties accentuated by golden deserts and rugged peaks, has recently become a favourite amongst couples when it comes to hosting their special day. Couples often choose the…

The Global Faith Summit on Climate Action, scheduled for 6-7 November in Abu Dhabi, is set to bring together leading religious figures ahead of the COP28 climate summit in early December. Hosted by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, the event aims to highlight the pivotal role of faith communities and religious institutions in addressing the climate crisis. Religious leaders and representatives from over 30 faiths, along with experts, youth, female leaders, and indigenous constituencies, have been collaborating to produce a unified faith declaration on climate action. The declaration will be signed during the…

The United Nations General Assembly elected China to the Human Rights Council in an uncontested vote on Tuesday and denied Russia a seat in the wake of its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The election to the 47-member council had been seen as a showdown between democracies that favour individual rights and authoritarian states that have redefined those rights to embody state-led governance and social order. “China came in last place in the Asia group. That suggests that if there had been competition in the Asian slate, China would have lost,” said Louis Charbonneau, UN director at civic group Human Rights…