Page 2 - Kazakhstan

India, Kazakhstan to conduct 13-day military exercise starting Monday

India and Kazakhstan will begin on Monday a 13-day mega wargame in the Kazakh military base of Otar with a focus on boosting their counter- terror cooperation. The Indian contingent comprising 120 personnel from the Army and the Indian Air Force left for Kazakhstan on Sunday to participate in the seventh edition of the exercise 'Kazind-2023'. "In this edition of the exercise, both sides will practice conduct of counter terrorism operations in a sub-conventional environment under United Nations mandate," the defence ministry said. It said the two sides will rehearse various tactical drills such as "search and destroy operations, small team insertion and extraction operations etc." "The scope of the exercise also includes conduct of counter unmanned aerial system operations," the ministry said. "Exercise Kazind-2023 will provide an opportunity for both sides to gain an insight into the tactics, battle drills and procedures of each other, which is a prerequisite while operating under

Coal mine fire in Kazakhstan kills 28 workers, investigation underway

A coal mine fire in central Kazakhstan killed at least 21 workers while another 25 remained unaccounted for on Saturday, the operating company ArcelorMittal Temirtau said in a statement. Some 252 people were working at the Kostenko coal mine at the time of the blaze, believed to have been caused by a pocket of methane gas, the company said. ArcelorMittal Temirtau is the local representative for Luxembourg-based multinational ArcelorMittal, the world's second-largest steel producer. It operates eight coal mines across the Karaganda region and a further four iron ore mines in central and northern Kazakhstan. The fire is the latest in a string of workplace deaths at sites operated by ArcelorMittal Temirtau. In August, four miners were killed after a fire erupted at the same mine, while five people died following a methane leak at another site in November 2022. In the statement, the company conveyed pain at the lives lost and said their efforts are now aimed at ensuring that affected .

IndiGo to start flights from Delhi to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan next month

No-frills airline IndiGo on Wednesday announced the launch of its direct air services to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan in Central Asia from Delhi next month, subject to regulatory approval. The four times a week air services between Delhi and Tashkent in Uzbekistan will commence from September 22, while Almaty in Kazakhstan will be connected with Delhi from September 23 with three flights per week, IndiGo said. With the launch of flight services to these two new cities, IndiGo will be operating to a total of 111 destinations, including 32 in the international markets, the airline said. The introduction of this new route aims to improve India's connectivity to Kazakhstan, Central Asia's prominent financial centre, the airline said. This direct connectivity will not only promote trade but also foster stronger economic and cultural ties between India and Uzbekistan, IndiGo said, adding, the connectivity to Kazakhstan will further foster trade and commerce, given its status as the wealthi

Kazakhstan seeks investments from Indian entrepreneurs, offers incentives

Kazakhstan on Thursday urged Indian entrepreneurs to invest in the central Asian country for which incentives would be given to them. Kazakhstan's ambassador to India Zhalgasbayev Nurlan said that the country has already introduced single-window support for investors, and also providing incentives such as import duty exemption and subsidy. Speaking at a session organised by the Merchants' Chamber of Commerce & Industry, he said that there are 36 Special Economic Zones in Kazakhstan. In the previous financial year, bilateral trade between India and Kazakhstan grew 17 per cent to USD 2.4 billion, he said. The priority sectors identified by the Kazakhistan government are food processing, machinery and engineering, pharmaceuticals, information and communications technology (ICT) and green and renewable energy, Nurlan said. "There are immense prospects for cooperation in the fields of natural resources, logistics, transportation, digital economy and information technology," he ...

Bhavani Devi become first Indian fencer to win medal in Asian Championships

Olympian C A Bhavani Devi on Monday created history by progressing to the semifinal of the women's sabre event at the Asian Fencing Championships in Wuxi, China, assuring India its maiden medal at the event. Bhavani stunned reigning world champion Misaki Emura of Japan 15-10 in the quarterfinals to script history. Misaki had won the women's sabre gold medal at the 2022 World Fencing Championships held in Cairo. In the semifinal, Bhavani will be up against Uzbekistan's Zaynab Dayibekova and will look to better the colour of her medal. The 29-year-old Bhavani had received a bye in the round of 64 before beating Dospay Karina of Kazakhstan in the next round. Bhavani then upset third seed Ozaki Seri 15-11 in the pre-quarterfinals. Fencing Association of India secretary-general Rajeev Mehta congratulated Bhavani on her historic achievement. "It is a very proud day for Indian fencing. Bhavani has achieved what no one could achieve before. She is first Indian fencer to win a medal at t

India, Kazakhstan start joint military drill in Meghalaya

The armies of India and Kazakhstan on Thursday began a fortnight-long joint exercise in Meghalaya, a senior defence officer said here. The sixth edition of 'Kazind-22', a joint training exercise aimed at enhancing the level of defence cooperation and fostering bilateral relations between the two nations, started at Umroi, 25 km from Shillong, and will conclude on December 28, he said. "This joint exercise will enable the two armies to train, plan and execute a series of combined tactical drills for neutralising likely threats that may be encountered during UN peacekeeping operations," the Army officer told PTI. The two countries instituted a joint annual training exercise in 2016 as 'Exercise Prabal Dostyk', which was later upgraded to a company-level exercise and renamed 'Exercise Kazind' in 2018. The Kazakh soldiers were drawn from their South-based Regional Command while the 11 Gorkha Rifles will be participating in the exercise representing the Indian Army, the officer said. A

5 dead after methane leak at ArcelorMittal coal mine in Kazakhstan

Five people died and four others were hospitalised after a methane gas leak at an ArcelorMittal coal mine in Kazakhstan

Gas leaks from Russian pipelines to Europe raise sabotage fears: Report

But it remained far from clear who might be behind any foul play, if proven, on the Nord Stream pipelines that Russia with European partners spent billions of dollars building.

SCO Summit 2022 kicks off in Uzbekistan today: All you need to know

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is considered one of the most important conclaves in the Central Asian region

Top headlines: Byju's FY21 losses widen; India's Aug trade deficit doubles

The wholesale price-based inflation eased to 11-month low of 12.41 per cent in August, on softening in prices of manufactured and fuel products, even as food items remained expensive.

Pope visits Kazakhstan, asks Russia to stop 'senseless' Ukraine war

Pope Francis begged for an end to Russia's senseless and tragic war in Ukraine as he arrived Tuesday in the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan to join faith leaders from around the world in praying for peace. Francis flew to the Kazakh capital of Nur-Sultan to meet with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for an official state visit portion of his three-day trip. On Wednesday and Thursday, he participates in a government-sponsored triennial interfaith meeting, which is gathering more than 100 delegations of Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Shinto and other faith groups from 50 countries. The 85-year-old Francis made the trip despite what appeared to be an aggravation of the strained knee ligaments that have greatly reduced his mobility all year. Francis struggled to walk through the aisle of the aircraft during the 6.5-hour flight from Rome, and he appeared tired and in pain as he limped heavily with his cane, ceding to a wheelchair for most events once in town. Doctors have told

Ties with China, Russia-Ukraine war the backdrop to Pope's Kazakhstan visit

Russia's war in Ukraine and the Holy See's strained relations with China are the backdrop to Pope Francis' visit this week to the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan, where he is ministering to a tiny Catholic community and participating in an interfaith conference aimed at promoting peace and dialogue. Francis was flying Tuesday to the Kazakh capital of Nur-Sultan to meet with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the state visit portion of the three-day trip. On Wednesday and Thursday, he participates in an interfaith meeting with more than 100 delegations of Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Shinto and other faith groups from 50 countries. The most noteworthy aspects of Francis' visit might be missed opportunities: Francis was supposed to have met with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church on the sidelines of the conference. But Patriarch Kirill, who has justified the war in Ukraine, cancelled his trip last month. Francis is also going to be in the Kazakh capital at the

Why Chinese Prez Xi Jinping's Central Asia trip is important: An explainer

Chinese President and head of the ruling Communist Party Xi Jinping is expected to meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during a visit the neighbouring Central Asian nations of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan this month, in what would be his first overseas visits since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in late 2019. Xi, 69, has participated in global gatherings by video link, but his physical absence and those of other top Chinese leaders has thrown a shadow over Beijing's global political and economic ambitions. Xi has only left mainland China to make a one-day visit to the semi-autonomous city of Hong Kong on July 1 to speak at a ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of its handover from British to Chinese rule. Xi has overseen a sweeping crackdown on civil rights in the city since pro-democracy protests in 2019, with opposition voices either imprisoned, forced into exile or intimidated into silence. According to Russian media, Xi will attend a summit of the Shanghai

Chinese President Xi to visit Kazakhstan in first foreign trip since Covid

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Kazakhstan on September 14, his first tour abroad in over two and half years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and may attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit scheduled to be held in neighbouring Uzbekistan the next day. At the invitation of Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, a state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Republic of Kazakhstan is planned for September 14 this year, Kazakh Foreign Ministry spokesman Aibek Smadiyarov told a media briefing. During the visit, the two countries planned to sign a number of cooperation agreements, Russian news agency Sputnik quoted him as saying. There is no confirmation in Beijing about Xi's plans to fly out of China for the first time since January 2020. Myanmar was the last country Xi visited on January 17-18, 2020. Just days after his return, China announced the massive outbreak of the coronavirus in Wuhan, which later spiralled into a massive global ...

Wildfire scorches tens of thousands of acres in Kazakhstan; 2,000 displaced

A huge forest fire has burned tens of thousands of acres in northern Kazakhstan, displacing almost 2,000 people, the head of the crisis management office said Saturday.The wildfire broke out in the Kostanay Province on Friday and spread quickly over a large swath of land, scorching 9,400 hectares (23,230 acres) by Saturday night, Aybol Akbarov told reporters.Four villages have been evacuated and the entire region placed on the extreme emergency level. Hundreds of firefighters and more than 50 fire engines are battling the blaze.Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will go to the region on Monday to inspect the operational headquarters, his press office said. Tokayev has told the government to unlock emergency funds needed to deal with the crisis.

Russia claims credit for Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina's Wimbledon title

The Russian Tennis Federation was quick to claim Elena Rybakina as our product on her run to the women's title at Wimbledon. They then praised her training program in the country after she won the Venus Rosewater Dish as Wimbledon champion while representing Kazakhstan. It's the Russian school, after all. She played here with us for a long time, and then in Kazakhstan, Russian Tennis Federation president Shamil Tarpishchev told sports website Championat on Saturday after Rybakina beat Ons Jabeur 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 on Centre Court. The 23-year-old Rybakina was born on Moscow and played in the Russian system until 2018, when financial issues led to her nationality switch. There's been no official reaction from the Kremlin on Rybakina's Wimbledon success, but some commentators have claimed her victory as a Russian achievement and a symbolic snub to the All England Club's ban on players representing Russia and Belarus. Players from those countries were banned from the Wimbledon tournament

Wimbledon 2022: Elena Rybakina beats Jabeur to win maiden Grand Slam title

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan fought back brilliantly after losing the first set to defeat third seed Jabeur 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in a final between two first-timers.

Meenakshi Lekhi reaches Kazakhstan, 1st visit to India's strategic partner

Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi on Monday arrived in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, on her first visit to the Central Asian country

India to host Regional Anti-Terror Structure talks under SCO today

All members of the SCO will be attending the meeting which will include a three-member delegation from Pakistan

Foiled new assassination plot against Zelenskyy, claims Ukraine official

According to The Kyiv Post, a group of 25 people led by the Russian special services was captured near the Slovakia-Hungary border.