Kremlin rejects ceasefire for Ukraine referendum, calls it a 'deception'
The Kremlin on Friday dismissed proposals for a ceasefire to allow a territorial referendum in Ukraine, describing any pause in hostilities as a tacti...
Kazakhstan is set to launch a large-scale industrial expansion in 2025, with the government committing $3 billion to implement 190 new projects nationwide. These initiatives are expected to create around 23 000 permanent jobs and boost long-term economic development.
A major focus of the investment will be the mining and metallurgy sector - one of the country’s key economic drivers. Nearly $839 million will be allocated to building new production facilities across regions such as Karaganda, Turkistan, Akmola, Pavlodar, and Zhambyl. These facilities will manufacture a range of metal products, including copper, aluminum, and ferroalloys.
Looking ahead, Kazakhstan plans to double its copper ore production to 300 million tons by 2030, with new mining operations slated for Aidarli, Koksay, and Benkala. Iron ore output is also set to grow by 40%, reaching 52 million tons, supported by domestic processing and the launch of hot briquetted iron projects.
To increase the value of its industrial exports, the government is prioritizing deeper processing of raw materials. By 2025, copper refining is expected to double, aluminum processing will grow by 50%, lead production will more than double, and zinc output is projected to rise by 11%.
Metallurgy already accounts for 8% of Kazakhstan’s GDP, employs about 224 000 people, and produced over $14 billion worth of goods in 2023. Officials say the new investment wave will further accelerate the shift from exporting raw materials to producing high-value industrial goods.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Construction Olzhas Saparbekov emphasized that the strategy aims to modernize Kazakhstan’s industrial base and position it as a competitive, export-oriented economy.
Japan has lifted a tsunami advisory issued after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit the country's northeastern region on Friday (12 December), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. The JMA had earlier put the earthquake's preliminary magnitude at 6.7.
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
Iran is preparing to host a multilateral regional meeting next week in a bid to mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Kyiv has escalated its naval campaign against Moscow’s economic lifelines, claiming a successful strike on a vessel suspected of skirting international sanctions within the Black Sea.
An extratropical cyclone has caused widespread disruption across Brazil’s São Paulo state, with powerful winds toppling trees and power lines, blocking streets and leaving large parts of the region without electricity.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for a closed-door discussion on the sidelines of the International Forum for Peace and Trust in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on Friday.
Kazakhstan has begun redirecting part of its crude exports, sending oil from Kashagan to China as the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) operates at reduced capacity.
Azerbaijan’s post-conflict reconstruction in Karabakh is attracting international attention. The book by British author Graeme Wilson documents this journey, combining first-hand reporting and digital storytelling to highlight both the region’s restoration and the human stories behind it.
Tashkent is hosting the 2025 Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Annual General Assemblies, one of the most significant events in global motorsport and mobility governance, bringing together officials and delegates from around the world.
Iran’s top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, has welcomed the expansion of ties with neighbouring Azerbaijan, stating that Tehran and Baku are committed to building a ‘shared, secure and mutually respectful’ future, local media reported on Friday.
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