live Trump warns Netanyahu against renewed Iran war as Israel, Iran halt attacks
Iran and Israel said on Monday (8 June) they had halted attacks on each other following an appeal from U.S. President Donald Trump, as Axios reported...
Kazakhstan has reassigned three CHP plant projects to a Kazakh-Singaporean consortium, formally ending Russia’s involvement, the energy ministry confirmed.
Kazakhstan has reassigned the construction of three combined heat and power (CHP) plants in Kokshetau, Semey and Ust-Kamenogorsk to a Kazakh-Singaporean consortium, formally ending Russia’s participation after a prolonged period of uncertainty.
The decision, confirmed by Vice Minister of Energy Sungat Yessimkhanov, signals a shift in how large-scale energy infrastructure projects in the country are financed and delivered.
EPC contracts for the Semey and Ust-Kamenogorsk plants were signed in early 2026, allowing work to move into an active phase in the coming months. Orders for key equipment are expected to be placed in May, while engineering surveys and site preparation will proceed in parallel.
Deliveries are scheduled from the third quarter of 2027, with commissioning targeted for the fourth quarter of 2029. The projects will incorporate modern technological solutions, including Chinese components.
The scale of investment remains substantial. The plant in Kokshetau is estimated to cost around $750 million, while the facilities in Semey and Ust-Kamenogorsk are expected to reach roughly $850 million each.
Officials have emphasised that the projects will proceed without direct budget financing, pointing instead to alternative investment structures.
The three plants were initially conceived as joint projects with Russia within the framework of bilateral energy cooperation. In November 2023, Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin announced plans to formalise the arrangement through an intergovernmental agreement, which envisaged Russian involvement in design, equipment supply and concessional financing.
However, implementation stalled as key financial terms remained unresolved. Although a ratification bill was introduced in parliament in late 2024, progress was repeatedly delayed amid ongoing discussions over subsidised financing mechanisms.
By mid-2025, the government had begun to consider alternative investors. First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar stated that the primary obstacle lay in securing export financing, stressing that the issue was not linked to sanctions but rather to financial arrangements.
By the end of 2025, uncertainty persisted. Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said Kazakhstan had not received a response from the Russian side regarding concessional financing for two of the projects.
In response, the government moved to implement the Kokshetau plant independently through the state-owned company Samruk-Energy, while continuing to reassess options for the remaining facilities.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's Civil Contract party has won the Armenian elections, picking up nearly half the vote. With a majority in parliament, Pashinyan is set for a third term as Prime Minister. But an opposition politican has said he will challenge the election results.
The results of Armenia’s parliamentary elections will determine the makeup of the National Assembly and shape the country's political direction for the foreseeable future. But in Armenia, the final result is not decided by vote percentages alone. Here's how it works.
Barcelona is preparing to mark a historic milestone in the legacy of architect Antoni Gaudí as Pope Leo XIV visits the city this week to inaugurate the Tower of Jesus Christ at the Sagrada Família basilica, almost exactly 100 years after the visionary architect’s death.
A Sudanese man has been arrested over a knife attack in Belfast that left a man seriously injured and prompted calls online for a protest after footage of the incident circulated widely on social media.
Iran and Israel have halted strikes on each other, but Tehran has warned it will recommence attacks if Israel continues military action in Lebanon. U.S. President Donald Trump and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun have meanwhile made pleas for peace.
The United Nations has warned that Afghanistan's relative stability may not be sustainable unless the country's current authorities change policies affecting women, the economy and regional security.
Iran and Israel said on Monday (8 June) they had halted attacks on each other following an appeal from U.S. President Donald Trump, as Axios reported that Trump had privately told Benjamin Netanyahu “be careful, or you will be on your own very soon”.
Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Georgia signed the Istanbul Declaration on Monday, reaffirming their commitment to stronger regional cooperation, connectivity and stability across the South Caucasus.
Uzbekistan and Russia have agreed to deepen cooperation in agriculture, energy and food security following high-level meetings held during the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2026.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that the U.S. would bear direct responsibility for any escalation in West Asia after Iran and Israel resumed strikes for the first time since the April ceasefire.
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