News

Ramadan in 2026 began Feb. 19. The Spiritual Administration of Kazakhstan’s Muslims published guidance explaining the procedure for making up missed fasts, known as qada.

Fasting as an act of worship

Ramadan is a holy month in which Allah’s mercy is believed to be abundant and spiritual rewards are multiplied. Fasting during this month is obligatory for every Muslim man and woman who has reached the age of maturity. Like daily prayer, fasting is considered an individual act of worship.

When missed fasts must be made up

According to SAKM, a person who was...

All Japanese airlines are set to restrict the use of power banks and in-flight charging on flights departing from and arriving at the country’s airports from April 2026, NHK World reported, citing Japan’s transport ministry.

The upcoming ban will apply to passengers using external batteries to charge their devices, as well as charging power banks through seat power outlets. However, passengers will still be permitted to carry up to two power banks in the cabin per person.

According to The Japan Times, current Japanese regulations already prohibit passengers from placing external batteries...

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev explained Kazakhstan’s decision to join the Board of Peace, an international initiative launched by U.S. President Donald Trump. In the article «Reliability Is the New Power,» published in The National Interest on Feb. 18, he said the organization differs from other dialogue platforms.

According to Tokayev, the Board of Peace is fully endorsed by the United Nations and represents a significant step forward in efforts to end multiple conflicts, particularly in Gaza and the broader Middle East.

Peace through sustainable economic development

Tokayev said the White House has proposed an innovative approach: peace through sustainable...

An unusual service – “big sister for an hour” – is being discussed on social media. A woman from Almaty has offered to help other women with a variety of everyday and emotional situations, from style advice to support during a difficult day.

The poster introduced herself as a certified “big sister” with 24 years of experience and clarified that she is referring to life experience, as she has two younger sisters, ages 24 and 15. She says she can be reached for an English lesson, help with shopping, wardrobe selection, or makeup tips.

Take a closer look at the rules and habits of the world’s richest people — perhaps some of them will find a place in your life. Ultimately, success is not just about big ideas, but also the result of daily choices that truly lead to your goals.

The rule of spending less than you earn

Investor Warren Buffett built his fortune by buying stakes in companies that make everyday products, from Coca-Cola and Duracell batteries to Apple devices.

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

Buffett bought...

Johan Eidhagen will assume the role of president of FlyArystan — a low-cost carrier subsidiary of Kazakhstan’s flag carrier Air Astana — on March 1, 2026, Air Astana Group said in a statement. He will replace Richard Ledger, who will stay in the group but in a different area.  

Ledger will be appointed as the vice president of partnerships and alliances. He will lead efforts to expand the group’s global presence through agreements with other airlines, including the recently signed codeshare agreements with Air India and China Southern Airlines.

Johan Eidhagen: Who he is

Eidhagen is an experienced senior...

Galgotias University was asked to vacate its stall at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi after its representative was accused of presenting the Unitree Go2, a commercially available robotic dog made by China’s Unitree Robotics, as a university-developed product, according to The Times of India.

The situation escalated after IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a clip featuring comments by a Galgotias University communications professor on his official social media account. The post was later deleted following backlash.

As of Wednesday morning, the university’s stall remained open, with officials responding to media inquiries. A representative said the university...

South Korea is set to send its representative to the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, scheduled for Feb. 19, The Korea Times reported, citing the country’s Foreign Ministry.

Kim Yong-hyun, a former ambassador to Egypt, will represent the country as a nonmember observer and serve as the special envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Notably, South Korea has been invited to the organization but has not yet made a final decision on membership. According to The Korea Times, several other nations that had been invited but have not finalized their status are also...

In April 2025, Scott Atkins, a 22-year-old resident of Glasgow, decided to leave a paid work-and-study design engineering program at the University of Glasgow to focus full-time on selling secondhand clothes online, reflecting a broader interest in this among Gen Z, according to Reuters.

Atkins’ business model is simple: he finds vintage and secondhand clothes from wholesalers across Britain, chooses items he likes, photographs each piece and posts them on Vinted, an online marketplace where sellers can list items without extra fees.

He first entered the resale market in 2024 as a student, hoping to earn extra money to...

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will pay a working visit to Washington, D.C., on Feb. 18-19, the Akorda reported.

During the visit, Tokayev is scheduled to take part in the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace. According to Axios, the meeting is planned for Feb. 19.

In a statement, the Akorda said that the parties are expected to discuss ways to stabilize the situation in Gaza and focus on developing practical steps to ensure peace, security, and sustainable humanitarian support in the region.

Tokayev also has meetings planned...

Humanoid robots performed coordinated dances, martial arts moves and acrobatics at China’s Spring Festival Gala this week. Their display drew widespread attention and showed how quickly the country’s robotics developers are advancing, according to The Guardian.

Several Chinese robotics firms developed these robots, which performed complex, synchronized routines without falling. This marks a clear improvement over past performances that had more limited movement. Analysts said that controlling many nearly identical humanoids with steady balance and coordination showed real progress in how these robots move and work together.

However, experts warned that stage performances do not mean the robots are...

Last week, Dimash Qudaibergen once again stopped the clock with the release of «Gashyqtyq» («In Love»), with music and lyrics written by the artist himself.

While global attention often centers on his six-octave vocal range, this track stands as a masterclass in Kazakh lyrical poetry.

Below is a translation of the lyrics to this captivating song.

You breathed a glow into autumn’s somber chill,
A spark of grace where all was dark and still.
I am a captive, bound by every ray —
Your face a sun, though deep your sorrows weigh.
While seeking joy...

A man is on trial in Austria, accused of grossly negligent manslaughter after his girlfriend died during a winter climb of the country’s highest mountain more than a year ago, the BBC reported.

The 33-year-old woman died alone of hypothermia in January 2025 after their climb up the Grossglockner was hit by severe weather and extreme cold. Prosecutors say her partner, known as Thomas P in local media, did not turn back soon enough and later left her near the summit to get help while she was exhausted and exposed.

Authorities say the defendant, as the more experienced...

Famous Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho shared a photo taken in Kazakhstan on Instagram. In the photo, the 78‑year‑old author of «The Alchemist» poses with a horse against a mountainous backdrop.

«While I walk through the world, Kazakhstan. Galloping into the Year of the Horse. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!» he wrote in the caption.

The post sparked lively reactions in the comments section. Users wondered whether the author was indeed in Kazakhstan, welcomed him and pointed out that the traditional Kazakh New Year, Nauryz, is celebrated on March 22.

The White House and the U.S. Air Force are updating the Air Force One paint scheme, changing the look of the presidential aircraft as part of a broader modernization effort, according to USA Today.

The new design will feature red, white, dark blue and gold, replacing the light blue and white colors introduced in the early 1960s during John F. Kennedy’s presidency. Officials say the update is intended to refresh the fleet’s appearance and create a more consistent look across aircraft used by senior U.S. officials.

The design is similar to one proposed by President Donald Trump

Kazakhstan’s foreign trade turnover in 2025 totaled $143.8 billion, up 1.3% from the previous year, according to data from the Bureau of National Statistics.

Read also: Ukrainian drone attack on CPC could wipe $1.5 billion from Kazakhstan’s revenue.

At the same time, the country’s exports fell 3.2% to $79 billion, while imports rose 7.4% to $64.8 billion. As a result, the trade surplus declined 33% to $14.2 billion, the lowest level since 2020.

Decline in commodity exports

«The decline in exports is primarily related to...

The messaging platform Telegram could face a full nationwide shutdown in Russia as early as April 1, according to the online outlet Baza, which cited unnamed sources.

Read also: Code, power, and exile: The untold story of Pavel Durov and Telegram.

Individuals in several government bodies reportedly told the publication that authorities may block the service entirely within about six weeks. According to those sources, the communications regulator Roskomnadzor is considering restrictions similar to those imposed on Instagram and Facebook. Any ban would apply across the country...

The automobile collection of former Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov is striking in both size and luxury. According to the Russian outlet Motor.ru, the national leader’s garage resembles a museum filled with rare hypercars and armored limousines.

An analysis by Kursiv Auto suggests the fleet’s estimated value is roughly equal to 11% of the annual budget of the city of Arkadag for 2026.

White and gold dominate the collection

Much of the collection features vehicles in Berdimuhamedov’s preferred color — white. Standout examples reportedly include an exclusive Maybach 57S limousine...

Content creators in Kazakhstan may be required to show their university degrees in order to publish online courses, the country’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said in response to a parliamentary inquiry.
 
Furthermore, the authorities continue to monitor social media and remove prohibited content.
 
Bektenov said that the work is being carried out jointly with platform administrators, including Meta and TikTok. He added that a separate cooperation has been established for TikTok, allowing the platform to remove up to 91% of prohibited content.
 
Special attention is paid to online ads. Through the CyberSupervision system, state agencies spot violations online, including Ponzi schemes, online casinos...

Singaporean photographer and model Chuando Tan has drawn worldwide attention for his remarkably youthful appearance, with many observers saying he looks decades younger than his age.

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

At 59, Tan appears closer to his 30s, thanks to his toned physique and smooth skin — features that have sparked admiration and curiosity across social media. His popularity surged online, where his account on Instagram has attracted about 1.7 million followers.

From pop music to photography

Tan began modeling in the 1980s, later...

In early 2026, Kazakhstan’s media landscape once again witnessed an attack on Freedom Holding and its founder, Timur Turlov. Since the beginning of the year, 3,200 instances of disinformation have been recorded. In 2025 alone, there were more than 72,000 such pieces of so-called «news.»

Kursiv.media examined data provided by Freedom Holding Corp. for January and early February 2026 and analyzed a large body of dark PR materials. The outlet also spoke with experts to better understand who is behind the creation of this «information tornado» in Kazakhstan, how these campaigns operate and how much they cost. One conclusion is...

MP Murat Abenov has criticized Kazakhstan’s Olympic uniform after international media named Mongolia’s outfits among the best at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

«Why was Mongolia’s Olympic uniform named the best, while ours looks like it came from a flea market?» he wrote on social media.

Style and traditions

Mongolia appointed a young, talented designer — Munkhbayasgalan Delgerbat, a graduate of the prestigious Istituto Marangoni in Milan — to create the uniform. Through an open competition, she was selected and tasked with developing the design. The...

Scientists say they have identified the type of male body women find most appealing, offering encouraging news for men who fall into the plus-size category.

According to research conducted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, women were more likely to select men whose body mass index (BMI) exceeded the traditionally defined «healthy» range. Moderately heavier men were rated as more attractive than both thinner and highly muscular men.

How the research was conducted

The study included 283 participants from China, Lithuania and the United Kingdom. Researchers presented 15 black-and-white images of men with BMIs...

A gamer couple’s wedding in Turkey unexpectedly went viral online. Instead of the usual gifts like gold or jewelry, the newlyweds received a graphics card, RAM and a CPU.

In the video, the groom is seen with a GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card hung on a red ribbon around his neck, in line with traditional wedding gift rituals. The bride, in turn, received multiple DDR5 sticks arranged as a necklace. Later, another guest added an Intel Core Ultra CPU to the set.

These unconventional gifts emerged as an alternative to traditional wedding jewelry. Commenters humorously noted...