News

The United Kingdom has expanded its anti-Russian sanctions list, adding 240 companies, seven individuals and 50 ships, including three entities linked to Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom and two employees of its subsidiaries.

Read also: Why Russia’s Rosatom is the undisputed pick for Kazakhstan’s first nuclear plant.

The updated sanctions list includes Rosatom Energy Projects, REIN Engineering and Rusatom Overseas, as well as Rosatom Energy Projects CEO Andrey Rozhdestvin and Rusatom Overseas President Ilya Vergizayev.

Sanctions tied to overseas nuclear projects

According to a statement from the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth...

Kazakh lawmaker Askhat Rakhimzhanov has called for an investigation into possible contacts between Kazakh officials and Jeffrey Epstein, as well as an assessment of potential national security risks.

Read also: Twisted artifacts found in Epstein files: Russian lullaby & Bill Clinton in drag.

According to Rakhimzhanov, publication of the so-called «Epstein files» has triggered international scrutiny. He said the released documents reference members of Kazakhstan’s political elite associated with what is often described as «Old Kazakhstan.»

Concerns over national reputation

The MP said ignoring the issue would...

Andorra could become a partner of the Eurasian Mountain Resorts Alliance in the future, and cooperation with Grandvalira Resorts may be established.

For now, the development remains an preliminary: the parties have signed a memorandum of cooperation expressing their readiness to discuss joint projects and share expertise. No specific timelines or cooperation models have been announced.

A reciprocal skiing program is in effect among resorts in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Russia within the alliance. Season pass holders receive benefits at partner resorts, subject to accommodation requirements.

If cooperation with Grandvalira develops, the alliance’s geography may expand beyond its initial borders.

An entire village in Belarus has been listed for sale, the local outlet Minskaya Pravda reported.

The village of Veselukha in the northwest of the country was listed for sale for 30,000 Belarusian rubles (roughly $10,463), and is located 20 kilometers from the Lithuanian border and five kilometers from the town of Pastavy.

Although the settlement consists of only three houses, it is considered a separate administrative unit. The closest village, with 55 residents, is called Savichi and is 1 kilometer away.

The lot is connected to electricity and features a well and stove heating, but...

American streetwear brand Supreme has unveiled its Spring/Summer 2026 collection, led by a leather jacket and matching shorts featuring Spider-Man emblems.

Spider-Man collaboration takes center stage

The standout piece is a leather jacket emblazoned with the Spider-Man insignia. Rather than a simple print, the design features a bold graphic composition in vivid red and blue with racing-inspired details.

The jacket was created in collaboration with American leather...

Rompetrol Rafinare, a subsidiary of KMG International, will carry out scheduled maintenance at two refineries in Romania. To ensure all contracted deliveries are met on time, KMG International will rely on its oil reserves, according to a statement from KazMunayGas (KMG), Kazakhstan’s national oil company and the parent company of KMG International.

The planned maintenance will take place at Petromidia Refinery in Năvodari and Vega Refinery in Ploiești. Both facilities will be shut down for approximately 20 days.

The work will include inspecting and recertifying production units, cleaning equipment and replacing components such as catalysts. The company said these...

Xiaomi plans its UltraThin Magnetic Power Bank to the global market. The product’s main feature is its size — just six millimeters thick and weighing 98 grams — making it almost unnoticeable in your hand and easily attachable to the back of a smartphone.

The device supports magnetic wireless charging and can attach to a phone like MagSafe accessories. Its 5,000 mAh capacity is enough to charge an iPhone, and when needed, a USB Type-C cable can be connected to charge two devices simultaneously.

The presentation is scheduled for Feb. 28 at a Xiaomi event in Barcelona...

Kazakhstan is awaiting an official position from participants in the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline (TAPI) regarding its potential involvement in the project, the country’s Ministry of Energy told Interfax-Kazakhstan.

«As part of a preliminary exchange of views, an official letter expressing interest in exploring possible forms of Kazakhstan’s participation in the project was sent. To date, no response has been received from the project initiators,» the ministry said in response to a request from the news agency.

Proposal for stake in the project

In October 2024, during the Kazakhstan-Afghanistan Business Forum...

A Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed shortly after taking off from Balıkesir early Wednesday, and the pilot did not survive, Euronews reported.

The jet took off from the 9th Main Jet Base Command at about 1 a.m. local time. Turkey’s National Defense Ministry said it lost contact with the aircraft shortly after it left the ground.

Search and rescue teams later found the wreckage near the Istanbul-İzmir motorway with debris scattered across a wide area near the crash. The motorway was temporarily closed as security forces, firefighters and medical crews were dispatched to the scene.

The Defense...

Turkish company Coca-Cola İçecek A.Ş. is set to begin construction of its fourth soft drink plant in Kazakhstan, worth roughly $84 million, in April. The facility is scheduled to start operations in 2027, according to the Aktobe regional administration.

Coca-Cola İçecek Kazakhstan representative Veli Dinçel discussed the project’s implementation stages with Aktobe region Gov. Askhat Shakharov. The plant’s annual capacity is expected to reach 280 million liters of soft drinks, with commissioning planned for 2027.

A 25-hectare land plot has been allocated for the facility, and design and preparatory work are currently underway. The plant is expected to create...

In 2025, Tajikistan’s banking sector expanded at a double-digit pace: assets rose 36.6%, while the loan portfolio grew 47.2%. The expansion was driven by strong GDP growth, a surge in remittances, a stable national currency and the rollout of new digital services.

Assets

The sector’s performance reflected a favorable macroeconomic environment. By the end of 2025, Tajikistan’s GDP had increased 8.4%. Key drivers included rising gold exports amid record-high global prices and a sharp increase in remittances, which climbed 50% in the first nine months of 2025 to $5.8 billion — more than half of GDP.

U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a record-long State of the Union address marked by patriotic themes and sharp political messaging, using the speech to rally supporters and defend his policies ahead of midterm elections later this year, the BBC reported.

In his address to Congress, Trump said the United States is «back,» calling it the «hottest» country in the world. He pointed to rising incomes, a stronger stock market, lower gas prices, fewer undocumented migrant crossings at the southern border and easing inflation as proof that «our country is winning again.»

The speech included several symbolic moments, such as...

On Feb. 24, 2026, Kyoto University researchers presented their AI-powered humanoid Buddhist monk robot, trained on precepts and capable of giving advice based on them, Kyodo News reported.

The presentation took place at Shoren-in Temple in Kyoto, where reporters could ask the robot for guidance. According to the report, the bot provided answers and moved its palms in a prayer gesture.

Notably, the research group’s Prof. Seiji Kumagai, who is a Buddhist monk himself, said the development could help sustain the work of monks amid Japan’s shrinking number of temples.

The robot operates on a custom...

Recent cartel violence in Jalisco and its capital, Guadalajara, has raised questions about whether the city can safely host matches during the upcoming FIFA World Cup, which Mexico is co-hosting with the U.S. and Canada, the Associated Press reported.

The violence followed a military operation in Jalisco that killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as «El Mencho,» leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Authorities said the operation and subsequent clashes left 70 people dead. Cartel gunmen set vehicles on fire to block roads and fought with security forces in several states, particularly in Jalisco.

President Claudia Sheinbaum

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić will pay an official visit to Kazakhstan at the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Akorda press service reported.

High-level negotiations are scheduled during the visit.

The parties will discuss the current state and prospects of bilateral cooperation, the strengthening and expansion of political dialogue, and the development of trade and economic ties, as well as cultural and humanitarian cooperation.

Kazakhstan and Serbia boost agricultural trade turnover

The agricultural sector remains one of the main areas of cooperation between the two countries. In the first half of 2025, agricultural trade turnover...

World-renowned Kazakhstani singer Dimash Qudaibergen delighted fans with a new photo shoot. The artist uploaded a series of atmospheric pictures on Instagram and social media, sparking reactions and comments.

Dimash is seen posing on a camel in a picturesque location near the ancient mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi in Turkestan. The artist is wearing a light image consisting of light jacket and pants. The camel is adorned with in a bright saddlecloth featuring traditional patterns. The shots turned out warm and almost magical.

Judging by the caption, the photo shoot is linked to the...

Russia will transfer four Amur tigers to Kazakhstan to help restore the species in the wild, Sergei Aramilev, director of the Amur Tiger Center, told TASS.

When will they arrive?

The transfer is planned for spring 2026. The group will include tigers of different sexes and ages as part of an international program to reintroduce the Amur tiger to Kazakhstan.

Read also: Asia’s lost king: The story of the Turan tiger.

Amur tigers are the closest relatives of the Caspian tiger, which once roamed Central Asia and became extinct...

The development of a long-anticipated light rail transit (LRT) line in Almaty has gotten off the ground. The timeline for the project’s start and completion has been set. Kursiv LifeStyle explains where the first route will run.

The discussion of the feasibility study for the line took place on Feb. 17. According to published documents, the depot will be established in the industrial zone of the Alatau district. The route will start there and run along Bauyrzhan Momyshuly Street southward, then along Tole Bi Street eastward to Abylai Khan Ave, where it will turn north toward...

The share of Chinese car brands in total vehicle sales in Kazakhstan is not expected to increase in 2026 and will likely remain at 39%, according to Anar Makasheva, head of the Kazakhstan Automobile Union.

Chinese brands accounted for 39% of all cars sold in Kazakhstan in 2025, up slightly from 38% in 2024. The growth over the past several years has been significant: 25.6% in 2023, 10.1% in 2022, 3.7% in 2021 and 2% in 2020.

Sales figures show rapid growth

In 2025, a total of 136,714 non-Chinese passenger vehicles and 85,618 Chinese-brand vehicles were...

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) had a profound and overlooked impact on American health. The study, recently published by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), suggests that the restructuring of the U.S. economy following the 1994 agreement led to a measurable increase in mortality rates among the working-age population.

Trade shocks and health crises

The researchers found that areas with high exposure to trade competition from Mexico experienced a 2.1 percent rise in mortality among adults aged 25 to 55. For the specific “treated” population — those who actually lost their jobs due to the agreement...

A powerful winter storm swept across the U.S. East Coast on Monday, bringing heavy snowfall, widespread power outages and significant travel disruptions, the BBC reported.

Weather alerts extended from North Carolina to Maine, with some warnings also issued in parts of eastern Canada. More than 600,000 properties lost electricity as the storm intensified.

Several states imposed travel restrictions at the height of the storm. Rhode Island and Connecticut implemented bans on non-essential travel, while Massachusetts and New York City also temporarily restricted road use due to hazardous conditions.

Air travel was heavily affected. According to flight-tracking service FlightAware, more...

Authorities in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, are investigating the deaths of 72 tigers at Tiger Kingdom Chiang Mai, a well-known tourist attraction, the BBC reported.

The tigers died within less than two weeks at two facilities that together house more than 240 animals. Preliminary laboratory tests detected canine distemper virus, a highly contagious disease that affects the respiratory, digestive and nervous systems. Although officials have not yet confirmed how the outbreak began, the park has been temporarily closed for disinfection as the investigation continues.

Tests also identified a bacterium linked to respiratory illness. Earlier reports mentioned a possible...

At a wedding in Atyrau, western Kazakhstan, a guest presented the groom with a virtual butterfly knife featuring the rare Doppler Ruby («Waves») design from Counter-Strike 2.

The gift was displayed on a large screen, catching many in the audience by surprise. The video later circulated online, where it drew mixed reactions.

Some users criticized the choice of gift.

«Why would he need it? Is he going to feed his family or play games?»

«What stupidity. Are they 14 years old?»

«He’s getting more and more insane.»

«He’s still a child...

German airline Lufthansa announced the resumption of scheduled flights from Kazakhstan to Germany. Passengers are promised onboard comfort and internet access.

Operations will begin on March 29, 2026, serving the Almaty-Frankfurt route five times a week and operating four weekly flights from Astana. The options will include non-stop flights to Germany as well as flights with a stopover. The flights will be operated by Airbus A340-300 aircraft.

Three classes of service will be available: business, premium economy and economy. All of them offer meals, drinks, individual monitors and internet access via FlyNet.

Previously, the carrier halted flights to Kazakhstan last...