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Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said Kazakhstan does not support transforming the Organization of Turkic States into a military alliance or geopolitical bloc. He made the remarks during an informal summit of the organization in Turkestan.

«Recently, there have been opinions expressed about a military alliance. Their negative intentions are clear to us. We also understand that their goals are not related to reconciliation. Kazakhstan believes such a position should be rejected,» Tokayev said.

He emphasized that strengthening unity among Turkic nations remains a key priority for Kazakhstan.

The light rail transit (LRT) line in Astana is scheduled to launch on Sunday, May 17, 2026, according to the press service of the Astana akimat, the city’s local executive authority.

«The launch was announced for the weekend, and it was clarified today that it will take place on Sunday,» the press service told Kursiv.media.

High anticipation

Previously, Astana LRT operator City Transportation Systems said it had prepared for a large influx of passengers in the first days after launch. Station capacity and ticket barriers were designed with a safety...

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is accelerating construction of a new oil pipeline to increase export capacity through the port of Fujairah by 2027, as it seeks to reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.

The decision was directed by Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, who instructed the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) to fast-track the West-East Pipeline project. The pipeline is already under construction and is expected to begin operations in 2027.

The move comes as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have constrained global oil flows. The waterway, a key route for...

Kazakhstan and Turkey are preparing to launch new large-scale projects with total investments exceeding $920 million, which are expected to create thousands of jobs in Kazakhstan.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan presented joint investment projects worth over $920 million between Kazakhstan and Turkey, the Akorda press service reported.

The projects are expected to create more than 3,100 jobs in Kazakhstan. New production and infrastructure facilities are planned across several regions, including Astana and Almaty.

In particular, Turkish Miryıldız is set to establish a mining and processing plant in the...

The U.S. is preparing to indict Raúl Castro, a former leader of Cuba, according to Reuters, citing a U.S. Department of Justice official.

The timing of the indictment remains unclear, though officials indicated it could come soon. The case is expected to focus on the 1996 downing of two unarmed aircraft operated by the humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue, an incident that resulted in multiple deaths.

At the same time, Washington and Havana appear to be exploring possible negotiations. The Cuban government recently confirmed a meeting with CIA Director John Ratcliffe, during which U.S. representatives reportedly signaled...

Bear encounters have been widely reported in Japan, with a surge in sightings making headlines in 2025, and continued reports into 2026, which has already seen one confirmed fatal case linked to bear activity. The media called last year a record year for bear attacks on humans. Japan had to deploy troops to Akita, a mountainous northern prefecture on Honshu Island, to address the problem. Therefore, Japan has resorted to unusual yet creative measures — frightening wolf animatronics, according to...

Colombia plans to reduce its wild hippo population, which originated from animals brought to the country in the 1980s by Pablo Escobar. Officials now classify the hippos as an invasive species that threatens local ecosystems and nearby communities, The New York Times reported.

The population has grown from four animals at Escobar’s Hacienda Nápoles estate to about 200 living in the wild. Scientists warn that, without intervention, the number could exceed 1,000 by 2035.

Efforts to control the population through relocation and sterilization have had limited success. These methods are costly, difficult to carry out and sometimes dangerous...

U.S. authorities are reportedly moving toward dropping criminal fraud charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, following progress in a related civil case and discussions about his planned investments in the U.S., Reuters reported.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) had accused Adani of involvement in a bribery scheme to secure approvals for a major solar power project in India. Prosecutors said about $265 million in bribes were offered to Indian officials and that the Adani Group raised more than $3 billion from investors without disclosing the alleged misconduct. The company has consistently denied the allegations.

The potential shift comes...

Some professions will remain in demand despite the rapid advance of AI, Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Labor and Social Protection Yerbol Tuyakbayev told journalists at a Senate briefing yesterday.

According to Tuyakbayev, technical and skilled-trades jobs continue to be «timeless» professions in the country.

«Certainly, it is very difficult to find a qualified dentist, a good electrician, a flooring installer or an engineer. There is still strong demand for these professions,» Tuyakbayev said.

Government campaign to boost blue-collar jobs

The vice minister also recalled that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared 2025 the Year of...

South Korean automotive giant Hyundai Motor Group announced the launch of a pilot vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology project for private electric vehicle (EV) owners on Jeju Island, the group said in a release.

This technology allows EVs to return electricity back to the grid, effectively functioning as mobile energy storage systems. According to the release, the company conducted a V2G pilot program in partnership with mobility platform Socar in the second half of 2025 and is now expanding access to private owners. In collaboration with Jeju authorities, 40 owners of V2G-compatible Hyundai Ioniq 9 or Kia EV...

Georgia’s banking system expanded in 2025 with the addition of two new players from the microfinance sector. The total assets of the country’s second-tier banks exceeded 100% of GDP by the end of the year, while net profit reached a record 3.3 billion lari (about $1.2 billion).

As Georgia’s largest lenders — TBC Bank and Bank of Georgia — continue expanding into the markets of Armenia and Uzbekistan, smaller domestic digital and microbanks are still struggling to gain significant market share.

The banking sector remains the dominant segment of Georgia’s financial system, accounting for 89.9% of total financial-sector...

The International Monetary Fund has upgraded its forecast for Kazakhstan’s economy in 2026. According to the IMF’s latest review, Kazakhstan’s nominal gross domestic product is expected to reach approximately $360 billion, which would rank the country 49th among the world’s largest economies.

Read also: Kazakhstan’s richest people and their assets visualized.

By comparison, the IMF’s October 2025 forecast projected Kazakhstan’s GDP at $320 billion, placing the country 50th globally.

Kazakhstan projected to surpass several European economies

According to the updated estimates, Kazakhstan’s economy is now projected to be larger than...

Drivers in eastern France faced an unexpected threat, leaving even the most modern ADAS systems ineffective. Law enforcement authorities in Saône-et-Loire have raised the alarm and warned of «intoxicated» deer prone to running onto the road.

In early May, authorities posted videos of deer behaving strangely. In this state, deer can run onto the road and literally freeze. They are not afraid of emergency lights or signals, ignoring engine sounds and «falling asleep,» prompting patrol officers to carry the antlered troublemakers to the roadside.

«Ladies and gentlemen… not all road users are...

French football star Kylian Mbappé is featured on the new cover of Vanity Fair. In an extensive interview, the Real Madrid forward discussed pressure, criticism, politics and expectations ahead of the next FIFA World Cup.

Read also: A class act in Almaty: Mbappé’s heartwarming meeting with young wheelchair-bound fan.

In the magazine’s photo shoot, Mbappé appears in looks from...

An unusual dessert combination is gaining popularity on social media and quickly becoming a viral favorite: ice cream topped with olive oil.

While the pairing may sound surprising, it has long been enjoyed in southern France, particularly in the sunny region of Provence.

Olive oil gives traditional ice cream a silky texture while adding new layers of flavor. Instead of the usual chocolate or caramel toppings, the dessert offers subtle...

Kazakhstan’s gross international reserves reached $67.78 billion, up 3.62% since the beginning of 2026, according to preliminary data from the National Bank as of May 1.

Monetary gold emerged as the main driver again. Its volume over the first months of 2026 increased by 11.55% to $52.69 billion.

At the same time, assets in convertible foreign currency fell nearly 17% to $15.08 billion.

Despite the decline in the foreign currency portion of reserves, Kazakhstan’s net international reserves still posted growth. From January to April, the figure rose 4.18% to $65.77 billion.

Kazakhstan’s National Fund also recorded...

Georgia’s GDP grew by 7.5% in 2025, reaching 105 billion lari ($38.1 billion). The role of migrant inflows and foreign capital in driving economic growth has gradually diminished, while more advanced sectors — including information technology, finance and logistics — are emerging as key contributors to the country’s long-term economic potential.

Post-relocation boom begins to normalize

For several years, Georgia experienced unusually rapid economic growth fueled by external factors. In 2022 and 2023, the economy was significantly affected by relocation flows following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to research by The Bell, about 112,000 people...

Kazakhstani company Alatau Advance Air Group is going to test its first air taxi, based on electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technology, at the end of May.

Alatau: A special environment for the development of Urban Air Mobility

On May 8, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a law granting special status to the city of Alatau. According to the company, this is why Alatau is particularly attractive for developing Urban Air Mobility (UAM). Unlike other cities, it does not require changes to existing urban infrastructure.

A master plan for Alatau, which is being designed from scratch, could include:

During Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan‘s state visit to Astana, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev warmly welcomed the Turkish leader and thanked him for accepting the invitation. He emphasized that Erdogan’s visit is of exceptional significance for Kazakhstan and described it as a historic event.

Erdogan said the Turkish delegation was impressed by Kazakh Air Force jets escorting the presidential plane as it entered the country’s airspace.

«Your Excellency, Mr. President, my dear brother, I am very pleased to see you in the capital of Kazakhstan. Your current visit will give a powerful boost to cooperation between...

The chairman of the Respublica political party, Aidarbek Khojanazarov, on the sidelines of the Mazhilis, shared details about the upcoming filming of Jackie Chan’s «Armour of God,» which will take place in Kazakhstan. He said the film will cost $50 million.

Part of the budget, Khojanazarov said, will go toward salaries for the Kazakhstani film crew, venue rentals, local actors, accommodation and transportation.

«That is, money will come [into Kazakhstan’s economy] from external investors investing in Jackie Chan,» he clarified.

Khojanazarov also added that Chan plans to shoot two more films...

Kazakh blogger Medet Zhanatuly traveled to China’s Shaolin Temple and spent nearly a month there, studying kung fu and meditation. He posted videos of his training sessions with the monks on Instagram.

The videos garnered millions of views, with followers comparing the blogger to characters from Bruce Lee and Jean-Claude Van Damme movies.

In his posts, Zhanatuly showed grueling training sessions with sticks, punching bags and sparring on the monastery grounds. In one video, he admitted that he intentionally leaves his comfort zone to rediscover himself and regain his inner peace.

Judging by the footage, the blogger trained...

For the first time in its history, the FIFA World Cup final will feature a halftime show. The upcoming 2026 World Cup final will include performances by prominent pop singers Madonna and Shakira, and the globally recognized K-pop group BTS, FIFA and an international education and advocacy organization, Global Citizen, announced.

The initiative also aims...

Federal authorities have arrested a tourist accused of hurling a large rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal, an incident that sparked outrage after it was captured on video, The Associated Press reported.

Officials said agents with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration took 38-year-old Igor Lytvynchuk into custody near Seattle. He is expected to appear in a local district court on Thursday and is accused of harassing a protected animal. If convicted, Lytvynchuk could face up to one year in prison for each charge, along with fines of up to $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act and...

South Korea’s semiconductor giants are riding a powerful wave of demand driven by artificial intelligence (AI), pushing SK Hynix, a South Korean manufacturer of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) chips and flash memory, close to a historic valuation milestone of $1 trillion, Reuters reported.

Investor enthusiasm has been fueled by surging demand for both traditional memory chips and high-bandwidth memory (HBM), which are essential for AI servers. SK Hynix shares have climbed more than 200% this year, following an even steeper 274% gain in 2025.

If SK Hynix crosses the trillion-dollar threshold, South Korea would become the first country...