News

More than 1,600 people in Kazakhstan have been fined since the beginning of the year for wearing clothing that conceals their faces, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The ministry said the restriction is intended to enhance public safety and facilitate identification. The provision is formally codified in Kazakhstan’s law on crime prevention.

Read also: Niqab outlawed: Kazakhstan becomes latest nation to ban face-covering garments.

The law took effect in June 2025 and includes several exceptions. The restrictions do not apply when a person’s face is covered for legitimate reasons, including:

After drawing with DR Congo in its opening match, Portugal defeated Uzbekistan 5-0 in the second round of the group stage.

2026 FIFA World Cup

Group K, Round 2, June 23, Houston, NRG Stadium

Portugal vs. Uzbekistan 5-0

Goals: Cristiano Ronaldo 6’, 39’, Nuno Mendes 17’, Abduvohid Nematov 60’ (OG), Rafael Leão 87′

Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 6th minute, while Nuno Mendes doubled Portugal’s advantage in the 17th. Ronaldo then added a second in the 39th minute to complete his brace. Uzbekistan’s Abduvohid Nematov scored an own goal in the 60th minute...

Uzbekistan’s second match at its first World Cup is set to be one of the main attractions of the tournament’s 13th matchday for football fans across the post-Soviet states. The day’s schedule also includes Colombia vs. DR Congo, England vs. Ghana and Croatia vs. Panama.

    2026 FIFA World Cup

    Group K, Round 2, June 23, Houston, NRG Stadium

    Portugal vs. Uzbekistan (first meeting)

    Coaches: Roberto Martínez (Spain) / Fabio Cannavaro (Italy)

    Referee: Jalal Jayed (Morocco)

Prominent Uzbek sports photojournalist Anvar Ilyasov has shared a series of...

Kazakh mixed martial artist Shavkat Rakhmonov continues to master drifting. He made an appearance on the track again during the second round of Kazakhstan’s Gorilla Drift tournament and showed visible progress. Kursiv Cars attended the event and observed the athlete’s improvement behind the wheel.

However, Rakhmonov is not currently competing for points in the official standings. According to organizers, he continues to train and master the drifting technique. Beyond that, the martial artist could line up alongside professional drivers as early as fall.

Nearly 50 drivers took the start

The second round of Gorilla Drift, held...

Argentina’s national team defeated Austria 2-0 in the second round of the Group J stage at the 2026 World Cup. Lionel Messi scored both goals at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

The team’s captain netted the opening goal in the 38th minute, overtaking Miroslav Klose to become the all-time top scorer in World Cup history. In stoppage time, he completed his brace, bringing his World Cup tally to 18 goals.

    2026 FIFA World Cup

    Group J, Round 2, June 22, Texas, AT&T Stadium

   Argentina vs. Austria, 2-0. Goals: Messi 38’ (1-0), 90+5’ (2-0)

Construction has begun on a new Coca-Cola beverage plant in Aktobe. The project is being implemented by the Turkish conglomerate Anadolu Group, which already operates three production facilities in Kazakhstan.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the future plant site, officially launching one of the region’s largest manufacturing investment projects.

The project is being supported by the government of Kazakhstan and Kazakh Invest, the national investment promotion agency responsible for attracting and supporting foreign investors.

Project agreements were previously signed during the Kazakhstan Global Investment Roundtable and the Kazakh-Turkish Business Forum.

Total investment in...

Changan topped the ranking of Chinese automotive brands in Kazakhstan and entered the country’s top three brands in May 2026, according to Kazakhstan Automobile Union.

During the month, Astana Motors, the official distributor of Changan vehicles in Kazakhstan, sold 1,793 vehicles, giving the brand a 10.3% market share. As a result, Changan ranked third in overall sales, ahead of Kia and behind only Hyundai and Chevrolet.

Since the beginning of the year, Changan has sold 6,906 vehicles in Kazakhstan. That marks a 79.5% increase year-on-year, one of the strongest growth rates among the country’s leading automotive...

The Argentine government has provided U.S. authorities with data on 13,000 men who are behind on child support payments.

Read also: Prosecutors in Kazakhstan to use taxi app to catch alimony debtors.

Argentina has barred child support defaulters from attending football matches and public events for the past year. The restriction will now extend to all FIFA World Cup matches held in the tournament’s host countries — the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

Si no cumplen con sus hijos, tampoco entran a la cancha.

En la Ciudad hace un...

A major environmental emergency has been reported in Azerbaijan’s sector of the Caspian Sea after a ruptured underwater oil pipeline caused a significant spill.

The State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) confirmed the accident, according to local media reports. A report of pollution near the coast of Dubendi was received by the head office of the Azneft Production Association, a SOCAR division.

Oil slick discovered during aerial survey

During an emergency helicopter inspection, specialists identified a large oil slick drifting in the waters between the Dubendi shoreline and Pirallahi Island.

Divers were dispatched...

Renowned Chinese writer and Nobel Prize winner Mo Yan has arrived in Kazakhstan for his first-ever visit, prompting a flurry of reports from local Kaznet users.

Read also: The Tokayev reading list: The writers and proverbs guiding Kazakhstan’s leader.

Mo Yan has not only a devoted readership among Kazakhs but also translators who have brought his works into the Kazakh language. We recently came across a Facebook post about the fate of one such translator.

The Kazakh translator of Mo Yan

The post, titled “The Kazakh Who Translated...

The second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage continues with four fixtures: Argentina faces Austria, France takes on Iraq, Norway meets Senegal and Jordan plays Algeria.

The main attraction of the day is the race for top spot in Groups I and J. Argentina and Austria started the tournament with victories, so their meeting could define the main favorite in Group J. In Group I, France and Norway are in a similar situation, as both sides won their opening matches, while Iraq and Senegal cannot afford another defeat.

    2026 FIFA World Cup

Renowned Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen has shared footage from his new music video for a rendition of the Kazakh folk song «Aqerke.» The clip includes a risky stunt in which the artist opens the door of a moving pickup truck, steps onto the sill and remains there for some time while it is still in motion.

Supposedly, the music video was filmed in...

A team of divers, together with the administration of Kolsai Lakes National Park, carried out a clean-up operation at the lake. Over two days, they made more than 20 dives despite rain, hail and harsh mountain weather. Water temperatures ranged between 7°C and 9°C.

They retrieved over 150 kilograms of waste from the bottom of Lake Kolsai, most of which consisted of plastic and glass bottles, tin cans, wet wipes and boat debris.

Keir Starmer has announced his resignation as both U.K. prime minister and leader of the Labour Party in a statement delivered outside 10 Downing Street, BBC reported.

Reflecting on his time in office, Starmer said his actions and decisions had always been guided by what he believed was best for the country.

The outgoing prime minister also expressed gratitude to his wife, Vic, describing her as a constant source of support throughout his political career. He added that he now looks forward to spending more time with his children and focusing on his role as a father.

Attention...

Negotiations between Kazakhstan and the EU on simplifying the visa regime have entered the final stage, Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, the EU and NATO, Roman Vassilenko, said.

«We are also on the verge of completing our negotiations on a visa facilitation agreement and a readmission agreement, which should provide in fact those passengers that all those airlines will need to be flying between Kazakhstan and the European Union,» Vassilenko said.

Both documents are part of a package, in line with the EU’s standard practice in agreements with third countries.

Visa facilitation, not visa...

A major explosion at Qatar’s principal energy complex has left at least 54 people injured and 18 others unaccounted for, according to Euronews, citing the country’s Interior Ministry, which said search and rescue teams remain at the scene.

The incident occurred Sunday night at the Ras Laffan industrial area, Qatar’s main natural gas export hub, where workers had been attempting to restore operations following damage caused during the conflict between the U.S. and Israel on the one side and Iran on the other.

Authorities said the explosion and resulting fire broke out at the Barzan gas supply facility...

In just four recent months, nearly 100,000 babies were born in Kazakhstan, with official statistics recording a record number of multiple births, according to the Bureau of National Statistics.

From January through April 2026, 1,926 sets of twins and 54 sets of triplets were registered across the country.

Twin and triplet births reach record levels

“The Turkestan region was the clear leader in the number of twin births, with 263 cases. Almaty ranked second with 245 cases, followed by the Almaty region with 175,” the report said.

The Turkestan region, the Atyrau...

Japan has decided to increase the entry visa fee, marking the first revision since 1978, the BBC reported.

The fivefold hike affects single- and multiple-entry visas, raising the fees from 3,000 yen to 15,000 yen (from around $19 to $93) and from 6,000 yen to 30,000 yen (from around $37 to $186), respectively, starting July 1.

According to the BBC, in May Japan’s Upper House approved higher residence-related fees, including a jump in permanent residency applications from 10,000 yen to 300,000 yen (from around $62 to $1,856), and increases of up to 100,000 yen for changing...

Kazakhstani figure skater and Olympic champion Mikhail Shaidorov is set to launch his own ice show. The premiere is expected in December, and he plans to continue developing the project after retiring from competitive skating.

Shaidorov shared his plans during a conversation with former Kazakhstani tennis player Zarina Diyas.

«I’d like to help develop our sport. There’s so much potential and so many opportunities,» Shaidorov said.

Earlier, the figure skater found himself at the center of a controversy over delayed salary payments and a contract dispute. After...

China has launched weekend “cruises to nowhere” from Shanghai aboard the nine-deck Adora Magic City. Unlike traditional cruise itineraries, these voyages do not include stops at foreign ports. Instead, the ship sails into international waters before returning to its departure port.

A weekend at sea

The short cruises are designed for weekend travelers, with the ship returning to port early Monday morning. The format allows passengers to enjoy a getaway without the rush of a longer vacation or the need to follow excursion schedules.

To emphasize the onboard experience, operators have expanded the entertainment lineup. Guests can...

Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) commented on reports of mass layoffs that had previously circulated publicly. One employee who contacted Kursiv.media’s editorial office said he had been told that he “didn’t have to come to work anymore.” Reports also claimed that the company planned to cut 20% of its workforce and leave affected employees without benefits.

While the scale of the layoffs appears to have been overstated, the company confirmed that its workforce will be reduced.

ERG denied the reported 20% figure, stating that the changes affect fewer than 3% of the group’s total workforce in Kazakhstan and involve only...

The issue of interracial marriage remains a subject of debate and continues to generate differing opinions across society.

The discussion recently resurfaced in Kazakhstan following reports that Altynay Jakisheva, the daughter of former Kazatomprom chief Mukhtar Dzhakishev, had married a Nigerian man.

In an interview with the Zhas Alash newspaper, renowned ethnographer and historian Zhambyl Artykbayev said there is no reason to fear interracial marriage.

“After all, we are an open society. We all interact and mix with one another. Interracial marriages are inevitable. Here’s the uncomfortable truth: we want only the...

Reports have previously suggested that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio wears shoes that are noticeably too large for him.

Photos from the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, shared by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on his Telegram channel, appear to show Rubio wearing oversized dress shoes.

In these images, the back of the shoe looks like it extends beyond his heel, while his pant leg appears to have bunched up and gotten caught in the gap between his heel and the heel counter.

The origin of the oversized footwear

Insiders trace back that stylistic anomaly...

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks with Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović in Astana, marking the first such visit in the 20 years since the establishment of bilateral relations between the two countries. At the conclusion of the meeting, they issued a joint statement outlining key areas of cooperation.

During the talks, Milatović praised the political reforms and economic modernization carried out in Kazakhstan through constitutional changes. In turn, Tokayev reaffirmed Astana’s support for Montenegro’s aspiration to join the EU as a full member and expressed confidence in the successful completion of the accession process.

Transport corridors, tourism and artificial...