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The government of Kazakhstan will launch a pilot project to use the digital tenge in the social sector. The new technology will be tested in the provision of technical rehabilitation equipment (TRE) for people with disabilities, according to a response to a parliamentary inquiry by Deputy Prime Minister Aida Balayeva.

Direct funding

In the first phase, the digital currency will be used in a limited segment — providing orthopedic footwear to eligible recipients. The primary objective of introducing the digital tenge in the social sector is to establish a system of direct, targeted funding.

Iran has finalized an agreement to allocate land to Kazakhstan at the Port of Shahid Rajaee in Bandar Abbas. Once all necessary procedures are completed, the land will be transferred to Kazakhstan. The announcement followed a meeting between Serik Zhumangarin, Kazakhstan’s deputy prime minister and minister of national economy, and Farzaneh Sadegh, Iran’s minister of roads and urban development.

A central focus of the talks was the development of transport routes and port infrastructure. Iran confirmed its readiness to give Kazakhstan access to Chabahar Port, which offers direct connections to markets in South and Southeast Asia. According to Sadegh...

World-renowned Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen visited his hometown, Aktobe, to film his new music video. Among the filming locations was the Koblandy Batyr Central Stadium, local media outlet Diapazon reported.

This stadium is of particular importance to football fans, as it is home to the Kazakh ultras and the core supporters of FC Aktobe, who are known for their incredible and passionate support. This time, however, the stadium was filled with a creative atmosphere instead of sporting intensity.

Thousands of people served as...

The trial of Kamchybek Tashiev, former chief of Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for National Security (SCNS), and other defendants in the so-called “Case of 75” continued in Bishkek, with one of the first witnesses to testify being Kyrgyz lawmaker Elvira Surabaldieva.

Notably, in April, Surabaldieva told a Kazakh journalist that individuals allegedly linked to Tashiev had been preparing to seize power for an extended period, but that the alleged attempt was ultimately thwarted. According to her, those events were connected to Tashiev’s high-profile dismissal.

Dispute over “letter of the 75 aksakals”

During the hearing, Surabaldieva referred to an...

Kazakhstan is introducing a new artificial intelligence-based system to analyze the gasoline and diesel markets. The system will enable state-owned oil and gas company KazMunayGas to monitor the entire fuel supply chain — from refineries to gas stations — and forecast consumption, according to the KazService, an association of oilfield service companies.

Creating a transparent fuel market

KazService said the KazMunayGas Dispatch and Analysis Center, in cooperation with the State Revenue Committee, is consolidating data to improve transparency in the country’s fuel market.

Read also: Kazakhstan hit by...

Kazakhstan has signed an agreement with Firebird Inc. to develop computing infrastructure projects involving NVIDIA technology. The government said the initiative, known as the Data Center Valley, is expected to attract $10 billion in investment.

Read also: What you need to know about Kazakhstan’s new $16B AI strategy.

The funding will be used to build artificial intelligence-focused data centers with a combined capacity of at least 300 megawatts (MW).

Data center hub planned in Ekibastuz

The partners plan to collaborate on the large-scale Data Center Valley

Kazakhstan plans to secure financing from the World Bank to restore the North Aral Sea and rehabilitate waterways in the Syr Darya River basin. According to Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin, the projects, whose costs have already been disclosed by the government, will require nearly 80 billion tenge ($163 million).

The government aims to reduce water losses and increase the volume of the North Aral Sea to 34 cubic kilometers, Zhumangarin said.

Canal modernization plans

Authorities plan to line 15 municipal canals with concrete in the Kyzylorda region. The reconstruction projects are expected...

On the sixth day of the 2026 World Cup, France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway, Argentina, Algeria, Austria and Jordan will begin their campaigns. The day’s main storylines include France revisiting the painful memories of the 2002 World Cup, Argentina’s first match as defending champions and Erling Haaland‘s long-awaited World Cup debut.

    2026 FIFA World Cup

    Group I, Round 1, June 16, East Rutherford, MetLife Stadium

    France vs. Senegal W0 D0 L1 (0-1)

    Coaches: Didier Deschamps / Pape Thiaw

    Referee: Alireza Faghani (Australia)

France begins its tournament with a match that can...

Rolls-Royce SMR has been chosen to supply three small modular reactors (SMRs) for a nuclear energy project in Sweden, marking a significant milestone in the company’s European expansion, Euronews reported.

Project developer Videberg Kraft had been selecting a contractor since 2022. As the winner, Rolls-Royce SMR is now expected to build three SMRs on Sweden’s west coast on the Värö Peninsula. Once the project is completed, it will be Sweden’s first new nuclear power plant in more than four decades, helping ensure a stable electricity supply to the country’s southern regions.

Although no financial terms were disclosed, the...

Kazakhstan is set to purchase locomotives from the American company Wabtec for approximately $14 million each, making them much more expensive than comparable contracts elsewhere in the world. Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ) says the higher price reflects the cost of long-term maintenance.

At a briefing on railway industry development, journalists pressed KTZ head Talgat Aldybergenov on why the company pays significantly more for railway equipment than operators in other countries. In September 2025, KTZ signed a $4.2 billion contract with Wabtec, under which the American manufacturer will deliver 300 freight locomotives at roughly $14 million apiece. By comparison, India purchased Wabtec...

A Chinese company, Yueban, has unveiled an unusual development: Xiaoban, a wheeled robot toilet. The device is designed to automatically approach a person when they need to use it, RoboHorizon reported.

The new product was showcased at the 2026 Shanghai International Elderly Care Expo. Developers said the device is designed for elderly people and those with reduced mobility. However, social media users joked that its true target audience could be remote workers and gamers.

Xiaoban is equipped with a warm-water bidet, a hot-air dryer and an odor-elimination system. After use, the robot travels to a station...

According to Yerlan Zhetybayev, the official spokesperson for Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the frequent denial of U.S. visas to Kazakhstani citizens is primarily due to technical errors in their documents, rather than to political or other restrictions.

As the official explained, visa decisions are made by foreign countries based on a strict set of requirements. When application forms and supporting documents fully comply with those requirements, applications are approved in most cases.

«If something is wrong with the documents, the applicant is usually asked clarifying questions or requested to provide additional materials. As...

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has criticized U.K. authorities’ plans to prohibit social media use for people under 16. He argued that such measures would not protect teenagers but would instead push them toward using VPNs and other potentially more dangerous online resources.

On his Telegram channel, Durov said that such bans have already proved to be ineffective. He used Iran and Russia as examples where the majority of teens continued to use the messenger via VPN after it was blocked there.

«When the Russian government banned Telegram...

Yandex Qazaqstan has presented a robotaxi in Almaty. The service is currently at the preparation stage; however, driverless taxis may hit the roads of Kazakhstan’s major cities in the near future, the Ministry of Transport said in a statement.

A Hyundai Sonata modified for autonomous driving was shown to Vice Minister of Transport Damir Kozhakhmetov. The showcase was held as part of efforts to develop intelligent transport systems and to examine driverless transport capabilities in Kazakhstan.

The service is expected to be introduced gradually. Initially, the robotaxis will operate in a pilot area, allowing the technology...

In its macroeconomic forecast for 2026-2028, the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) said it expects the average exchange rate this year to be 490 tenge per U.S. dollar. According to the forecast, the rate could reach 500 tenge per dollar by year-end.

Read also: How the Iran conflict will drive the dollar in 2026.

The EDB assessed key economic indicators across Central Asian countries and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). The organization’s experts said the tenge is being supported by high yields on local-currency instruments, driven by...

Researchers have developed a new wound-treatment device that can adapt to the shape of skin injuries, potentially accelerating healing and reducing the risk of scarring. The findings were published in the journal Advanced Science and reported by Medical Xpress.

Skin serves as the body’s first line of defense against infection and external threats, making rapid wound closure critical after serious injuries. However, existing treatment methods are not always effective for complex or irregularly shaped wounds, and sutures can create additional tension on surrounding tissue.

What makes the device different?

The new technology is a programmable...

A bright, white smile is a goal for many people, which is why teeth whitening remains one of the most popular cosmetic dental procedures. In an interview with Kursiv Health, dentist Aralbek Tasbulatov discussed the mechanics of teeth whitening, its primary disadvantage, and possible alternatives.

— Manufacturers often claim whitening results can last up to two years. Is that true?

— Dental product manufacturers often state that whitening results can last up to two years, and some even claim up to six years. In practice, however, that is not always the case.

— How does the...

Just a few hours before showtime at Almaty Arena, the venue is nearly empty. Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s OVO, however, preparations are already in full swing. While some performers warm up before taking the stage, others apply makeup. Costume specialists inspect hundreds of wardrobe pieces, and musicians prepare for the live performance.

On the day of the premiere, Cirque du Soleil’s international team gave journalists rare behind-the-scenes access to the production. Kursiv LifeStyle got a firsthand look at what happens before audiences see the first acrobatic acts.

A global production...

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off in Mexico City, the tournament has already been overshadowed by a wave of scandals involving logistical failures, safety concerns and unprecedented costs. Novaya Gazeta Europe reports that the event faces a potential “catastrophe” due to issues ranging from the interrogation of players at borders to the exclusion of high-ranking officials.

Sky-high costs for fans

This tournament is set to be the most expensive ever for spectators. Under FIFA’s new dynamic pricing system, top-tier tickets for the final in New Jersey have skyrocketed to $33,000, while some resale...

Ulba-TVS, a producer of fuel assemblies (FAs) used as final nuclear fuel for Chinese nuclear power plants (NPPs), reported a profit of 11.83 billion tenge ($22 million) in 2025, compared with a loss of 16.06 billion tenge in 2024, according to the company’s financial statements.

Revenue and profitability improve

Gross profit totaled 17.64 billion tenge in 2025, up from 13.54 billion tenge a year earlier. Other operating expenses declined sharply to 820.2 million tenge from 34.2 billion tenge in 2024.

Read also: Kazakhstan eyes Russian finance, Chinese fuel for...

Chinese auto giant Changan has launched an unusual promotional campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The company has tied the promotion of its Deepal electric vehicles to the performance of one of the most popular national teams. Under certain conditions, participants in the campaign will be able to use a car for a year, according to CarNewsChina.

Portugal’s goal equals a car

The campaign comes as part of a partnership between Changan and Portugal’s national football team.

Under the campaign’s conditions, each goal by the Portugal national team in normal time adds a car...

Aktobe students who built a portrait of renowned Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen from 3,000 LEGO bricks met their idol in person. As a sign of gratitude, the artist gifted the children vouchers for stays at the Shugyla children’s camp.  

Students of School No. 82 prepared an unusual project for International Children’s Day. Five fourth-grade students worked on a 1.5-meter-by-2.5-meter portrait for nearly a week under the guidance of robotics club instructor Zhanaly Makat.

According to the instructor, the idea to dedicate the project to Dimash stemmed from the fact that he was born in Aktobe.

World Boxing President Gennadiy Golovkin has been officially inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place in Canastota, New York, The Ring reported.

Golovkin was inducted in the Men’s Modern Category, together with former world champions Antonio Tarver and Nigel Benn.

At the ceremony, Golovkin stated that boxing became his life’s work and called the Hall of Fame induction one of the main honors of his career.

«Boxing is my life … I’m truly honored to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. The...

An Osaka-based startup Valar Intelligence has developed a non-traditional process-based AI tool designed to determine whether text was written by a human, generated by AI or AI-assisted, Kyodo News reported.

According to the tool’s website, the platform, which is aimed primarily at universities, requires users to type and submit text within the system. It tracks typing speed, edits, paste actions, and other writing behaviors in the background for analysis. For instance, pasting AI-generated text would significantly reduce writing time, potentially triggering an AI-related flag.

The software was tested at Kyushu University. According...