Politics
Kazakhstan puts transport and water security on SCO agenda
At a meeting in Dushanbe, governments discussed trade corridors, water security and payments in national currencies.
Politics
Diplomacy — analysis on Shanraq.org
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UN sees movement in Libya’s political talks, but elections remain distant
A 14 October Security Council briefing described an agreement on institutions and new border-security coordination.
Politics
UN proposes a $3.302bn 2027 budget: why two headline totals differ
Secretary-General António Guterres proposed a $3.302 billion UN programme budget for 2027. Including major capital projects takes the total to $3.408 billion, $40.8 million below the approved 2026 budget. The two figures cover different items; neither means the proposal has already been adopted.
Politics
Kazakhstan and Belgium Set Priorities in Minerals, AI and Transport
Kazakhstan and Belgium issued a joint statement after October 12 talks, naming critical minerals, the Trans-Caspian route, cloud computing and data centers. The document sets cooperation priorities; it does not announce completed commercial deals.
Politics
Belgian royals arrive in Astana: what could the historic visit deliver?
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde have arrived for a state visit. Business and university meetings are on the agenda. Here is why the trip matters for Kazakhstan–Belgium relations, and which outcomes still await official confirmation. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev welcomed Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde at Astana airport on the evening of October 11.
Politics
Lukashenko arrives in Turkmenistan for CIS meetings: what is confirmed so far
Turkmenistan’s foreign ministry confirmed the Belarusian president’s arrival. Outcomes of the high-level events have yet to be reported in that announcement. Turkmenistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko arrived on 8 October to attend high-level events held during Turkmenistan's chairmanship of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
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Kazakhstan’s Afghan trade grows, but Moscow talks end without a joint statement
Kazakhstan joined new consultations on Afghanistan. Trade reached $581.1 million in January–July, while differences between the Afghan and Pakistani sides prevented a joint concluding statement.
Politics
Kazakhstan and the OSCE look ahead to Lugano: what was discussed in Astana?
Kazakhstan’s deputy foreign minister met a special representative of the OSCE chairperson. They discussed the December ministerial council in Lugano and ways to build trust. This was a diplomatic exchange, not a newly agreed peace deal.
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Nuclear risk returns to the center of the UN agenda at 29 September high-level meeting
The UN General Assembly closed its High-Level Week with a meeting on the total elimination of nuclear weapons. Against wars and strikes on nuclear infrastructure, states returned to safeguards, arms control and the principle that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.
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UN debates action against racism on 28 September, 25 years after Durban
The UN General Assembly is holding a high-level meeting in New York for the 25th anniversary of the Durban Declaration. The central question is how to turn promises of racial equality into working measures against discrimination, xenophobia and hate speech.
Politics
Kazakhstan at the UN General Assembly: Talks with Cyprus, Georgia, and Romania
Kazakhstan’s foreign minister held talks with counterparts from Cyprus, Georgia, and Romania during the 81st UN General Assembly. Energy, investment, transport, logistics, and the Middle Corridor were on the agenda. Here is what the official record confirms and which practical steps are still needed before the meetings produce measurable results.
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How wars end: scenarios and lessons of history
Wars rarely end the way they begin. Historians identify a few standard endings: decisive victory, which happens less often than people think; exhaustion, when both sides sit down at the table out of tiredness rather than generosity; and a freeze, as in Korea after 1953 — a border exists, a peace treaty does not.