News

North Korea has tested a modernized rocket engine, according to the Korean Central News Agency.

The test was personally overseen by leader Kim Jong Un. The engine uses solid fuel and incorporates carbon-based materials. Its reported maximum thrust reached 2,500 kilonewtons, exceeding levels seen in previous tests.

Read also: North Korean leader’s daughter appears in military drill photos.

Authorities in Pyongyang said the development is part of a broader effort to strengthen the country’s military capabilities and modernize its strategic weapons systems.

According to Associated Press, solid-fuel...

Japan’s INPEX has signaled its readiness to redirect part of its oil production in Central Asia to the domestic market, according to Yomiuri Shimbun.

Focus on Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan assets

INPEX holds stakes in the Kashagan oil field and the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli oil fields. Until now, oil from these projects has largely been sold on the spot market, primarily to Europe.

Particular attention is being paid to Kashagan, where production is about 430,000 barrels per day.

Read also: Caspian Sea security: Iran’s ambassador vows safe trade routes.

Profits at microfinance organizations (MFOs) in Kazakhstan fell by nearly half in 2025, while the volume of loans overdue by more than 30 days rose by more than a quarter.

Read also: Kazakh banks face 2025 profit dip amid tax and reserve hikes.

The sector has grown to a scale where, if combined into a single entity, Kazakhstan’s 215 MFOs would rank 11th among the country’s banks by assets. Total assets reached about 1.7 trillion tenge (roughly $3.5 billion) at the start of 2026 — placing the sector between Freedom Bank...

The em dash — a single punctuation mark that has long divided writers and grammar purists — has recently taken on a new reputation, one tied less to style than to suspicion.

Read also: The birth of 🙂 : How the first digital smiley was invented.

«I love the em dash — too bad AI does too,» journalist Mihika Agarwal wrote, pointing to a growing online perception that the punctuation mark has become a telltale sign of machine-generated text.

Recently, she noted, internet discourse has increasingly framed frequent use of em...

Kazakhstan emerged as one of the largest buyers of Russian-made potato chips in January 2026, importing more than $7 million worth of products from its neighbor.

At the same time, construction of a major potato chip plant backed by PepsiCo is nearing completion in Alatau, a flagship new city development in the Almaty region.

Read also: New Post-Soviet standards define the perfect potato chips.

Russian daily Vedomosti, citing Agroexport, reported that Russia’s potato chip exports rose 1.5 times year-on-year in January to reach $22 million. In volume...

After several days of rescue efforts, a humpback whale freed itself from a sandbank near Lübeck, a city on Germany’s Baltic coast, according to the BBC.

The mammal was first spotted stranded near Timmendorfer Strand earlier in the week, after becoming stuck on a sandbank. Several rescue attempts followed.

On Thursday, rescue teams worked extensively to create a channel to deeper water and continued operations into the evening under floodlights. According to local officials, the whale became more active and later regained its strength, eventually freeing itself.

On Friday morning, several vessels, including the coast guard, monitored the whale...

Life expectancy at birth in Kazakhstan has increased, reaching 75.9 years in 2025, up slightly from 75.4 years in 2024.

Life expectancy also varies by place of residence, averaging 76.6 years in urban areas and 74.8 years in rural areas.

The traditional gender gap persisted, with average life expectancy at 79.8 years for women and 72.1 years for men, marking a slight increase compared to 2024.

Across regions, the highest life expectancy was recorded in Almaty and Astana, at 78.8 and 78.7 years, respectively. The lowest figure, 73.5 years, was recorded in the Ulytau region.

Previously...

KazMunayGas (KMG), the national oil company in Kazakhstan, has suspended work on the Kalamkas-Sea and Khazar fields in the Caspian Sea, which it has been developing in conjunction with Russia’s Lukoil, a company targeted by Western sanctions, Interfax reported.

The news was officially confirmed by KMG CEO Askhat Khasenov.

«We completed the design stage of the Kalamkas-Sea and Khazar joint project last year. However, due to a new factor — sanctions — further implementation of the project has been suspended,» he said.

Both fields, with estimated reserves of 8.5 million tons of oil and...

The world’s narrowest house was erected in the district of Aucallama in Huaral Province, Peru. Its width is only 63 centimeters, yet it contains everything necessary for living.

The house was designed by local resident Fabio Moreno, who wanted to show that comfort does not always depend on floor size, but rather on how the space is used. The unusual building has already drawn the attention of tourists and has become a local landmark.

Despite its size, the house includes functional zones — a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, study and even a laundry area — all within a space barely large...

A 25-year-old woman in Spain has died by euthanasia following a prolonged legal dispute with her father over her decision to pursue assisted dying, the BBC reported.

Noelia Castillo of Barcelona became paraplegic after a suicide attempt in 2022. In 2024, the Catalan government approved her request for euthanasia, but the procedure was paused when her father challenged the decision in court with support from the conservative legal group Christian Lawyers.

He argued that Castillo had a personality disorder and said the state should protect vulnerable people, particularly those with mental health issues. Castillo’s mother said she disagreed with...

Police arrested a man in Astana suspected of stealing more than 100 sauna whisks.

According to Polisia.kz, the 46-year-old resident repeatedly broke into a stranger’s lodging, where the door was unlocked, and stole property, taking 140 sauna whisks in one incident.

The following day, the man returned to the same address but was spotted by the owner; however, the suspect managed to escape. He was later located and arrested at his home.

«The suspect is currently being held in a temporary detention facility. Investigative actions are underway prior to the initiation of...

Japan’s cherry blossom season, marked by the blooming of sakura, is one of the country’s most celebrated natural events. These delicate flowers, which come from various species of Prunus trees, bloom briefly each spring and draw widespread attention across the nation.

Most cherry trees flower for only a short period — typically one to two weeks. In Tokyo and much of central Japan, peak bloom usually occurs between late March and early April. Further north, in regions such as Hokkaido, blossoms appear later, often beginning in early May. Some varieties, such as shikizakura, bloom twice a year. In...

The International Olympic Committee has introduced new eligibility rules stating that only biological females may compete in women’s categories. The restrictions apply to the Olympic Games and all other IOC-sanctioned events, covering both team and individual competitions.

Read also: ‘World’s Strongest Woman’ stripped of title after reveal she was born male.

Under the new policy, eligibility will be determined through genetic analysis. Athletes will be tested for the presence of the SRY gene; those who test positive will not be eligible to compete in the women’s category.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s signature will be added to future dollar bills, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced.

This will mark the first time in history that U.S. paper currency will bear the signature of a sitting president. Traditionally, banknotes are signed by the U.S. Treasury Secretary and the Treasurer.

The Department noted that the decision is timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the United States.

«Under President Trump’s leadership, we are on a path toward unprecedented economic growth, lasting dollar dominance, and fiscal strength and stability. There is...

Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, to discuss the current situation in the Middle East and bilateral cooperation, the ministry’s press service reported.

Kazakhstan offers venue for peace talks

During the conversation, the Kazakh side expressed concern about developments surrounding Iran and reaffirmed its readiness to host peace talks in Turkestan, in southern Kazakhstan.

«The Kazakh side is ready to provide a venue for peace talks in the city of Turkestan,» the Foreign Ministry said.

The two sides also agreed to continue dialogue on...

Hong Kong-based Chinese company Jiaxin International Resources reported a profit of $40 million, reversing a $22.5 million loss in 2024. The turnaround follows the launch of a tungsten ore processing plant at the Boguty deposit in southern Kazakhstan — the world’s fourth-largest tungsten reserve — according to Interfax, citing the company’s AIX filing.

Major tungsten facility opens in Almaty region

In November 2024, Kazakhstan’s first tungsten processing plant began operations at the Boguty deposit in the Almaty region. The project, valued at $300 million, is operated by Aral Kegen, a subsidiary of Jiaxin International Resources Investment.

The name of Kazakhstan’s first president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, continues to appear on streets, schools and monuments in several countries, even as references to him decline at home. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the details in response to an inquiry from Kursiv.media.

Turkey leads in number of tributes

Turkey has the highest number of locations named after Nazarbayev. Streets, avenues and boulevards bearing his name can be found in six cities: Ankara, Gebze, Kirsehir, Nevsehir, Adana and Izmir.

Read also: Goodbye Lenin: Central Asia’s Soviet-era monuments — some demolished, others endure.

A prank in Semey, eastern Kazakhstan, took an unexpected turn when a staged «social experiment» about a child abduction prompted a real-life intervention.

Bystander steps in to help

As part of the setup, a young girl approached passersby, shouting that a man was holding a knife and trying to take her. One of those nearby, a woman identified as Nurai, immediately stepped in.

Read also: Meet ‘Granny Schwarzenegger,’ the 67-year-old bodybuilder taking over TikTok.

She confronted the man, who claimed the child was his sister, and demanded proof. Nurai insisted he...

The saying, «Don’t ever lend money to a friend,» exists for a reason. Financial ties between friends can be tricky, with generosity on one side and the risk of damaging the relationship on the other. Here’s how to help someone you care about while minimizing the impact on your wallet.

Credit of trust

The safest approach is simple: Only lend what you can afford to lose. If the amount would strain your budget or leave you feeling resentful, it’s better to say no upfront.

Consider alternatives to lending

Sometimes people ask for money not because they’re in a crisis, but...

World No. 1 tennis player Aryna Sabalenka shared her expectations for ahead of another match against Kazakhstani Elena Rybakina (World No. 2). The players will compete in the semifinals of the 2026 Miami Open.

Sabalenka said that this rivalry helps her progress and is not alarming. She noted that matches against Rybakina do not make her nervous, as she sees them as an opportunity to grow.

«I, to be honest, enjoy our rivalry and I enjoy our battles. I really enjoy because I feel like we both push each other to the...

Belarus and North Korea have signed a new «friendship and cooperation» treaty in Pyongyang, marking closer ties between the two countries, Euronews reported.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko met North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a two-day visit, where both sides described the agreement as a step toward strengthening bilateral relations. Lukashenko called the deal «fundamental» and said cooperation between the countries is entering a new phase.

During the visit, Lukashenko also attended a ceremony at a monument honoring Soviet soldiers, laying flowers on behalf of Vladimir Putin in gratitude for North Korea’s assistance in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Both...

A Taiwanese court has sentenced former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je to 17 years in prison after convicting him of corruption and misuse of political donations, the BBC reported.

He was found guilty of accepting more than $535,000 in bribes linked to a real estate deal during his term as mayor. He was also convicted of misreporting campaign finances during his presidential bid in January.

Ko, the founder of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), has denied all allegations, while the party’s chairman Huang Kuo-chang described the charges as politically motivated.

In the 2024 presidential election, Ko secured more than...

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution recognizing the enslavement of Africans during the transatlantic slave trade — when an estimated 12 to 15 million Africans were forcibly transported to the Americas between 1500 and 1800, with more than two million dying during the journey — as the «gravest crime against humanity,» the BBC reported.

The resolution, introduced by Ghana, also encourages member states to consider issuing formal apologies and contributing to a reparations fund, though it does not specify financial amounts. It passed with 123 votes in favor, while the U.S., Israel and Argentina...

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB), a full-service commercial bank from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has received permission from Kazakhstan’s Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market (ARDFM) to establish a subsidiary bank in the country.

ADCB is one of the largest banks in the UAE and holds an A+/F1 rating with a stable outlook from Fitch Ratings. It is controlled by Mubadala Investment Company, which is owned by the government of Abu Dhabi. At the end of 2025, the bank’s assets exceeded $210 billion, with $24 billion in equity and $3 billion in net profit.

ADCB...