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Seattle will host a Pride Match during the FIFA World Cup game between Egypt and Iran, as the fixture falls on the Friday before the city’s Pride Weekend, the BBC reported.

Although officials from Egypt and Iran reportedly raised concerns, local organizers say planned pride-themed events will go ahead, including drag performances, fan gatherings and rainbow flags inside the stadium.

According to Seattle’s World Cup host committee, the match is about the city itself rather than the two Middle Eastern teams. They noted that the Pride celebrations had been scheduled before the World Cup draw and would have...

The June 26 matchday of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will mark the completion of the group stage in Groups G, H and I with six matches: Norway vs. France, Senegal vs. Iraq, Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia, Uruguay vs. Spain, New Zealand vs. Belgium and Egypt vs. Iran.

In Group I, France and Norway have already collected six points each and will determine the group winner in their head-to-head meeting. In Group H, the situation remains the most open: Spain leads the standings, but Uruguay, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia still have a chance of advancing. In Group G...

South Korea plans to train around 500,000 military personnel to operate drones as part of a major shift in its defense strategy, The Guardian reported.

According to Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, soldiers should be able to use drones «like a second personal firearm» these days. The program will cover personnel across the army, navy, air force and marines.

The country’s defense ministry noted that ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have demonstrated that drones have become a defining feature of modern warfare.

To support the initiative, South Korea plans to procure around 11,000 commercial drones for training...

Toyota Motor Kazakhstan has announced a voluntary recall campaign for certain Toyota RAV4 cars manufactured between 1997 and 1998, Kazakhstan’s Technical Regulation and Metrology Committee reported.

Owners will be offered a free inspection and, if necessary, a replacement of the driver’s front airbag inflator.

The recall affects crossovers equipped with Takata (NADI) airbag inflators at the factory. According to the manufacturer, the performance of certain components may deteriorate over time. In rare cases, this could affect the proper operation of the driver’s front airbag and increase the risk of injury in a traffic accident.

Owners of...

South Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources Kim Jung-kwan met with Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov in Seoul to discuss strengthening bilateral trade ties against the backdrop of geopolitical volatility and supply chain reconfiguration, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Kim and Kudratov reiterated their commitment to cooperation in trade, investment, AI and fostering a more favorable business environment. South Korea’s minister also called for continued efforts to improve the business environment for Korean companies operating in Uzbekistan.

The meeting comes ahead of the first Korea-Central Asia Summit, scheduled...

June has long been a popular month for weddings, but 2026 is making it even more memorable. Dates such as 06.06.26 and 26.06.26 have become especially sought-after by couples planning to marry. The number 6, often associated with completeness and wholeness, is seen by many as symbolizing the union of two souls.

More than 1,700 couples in Kazakhstan are set to tie the knot on the auspicious date of June 26, 2026, according to the State Corporation Government for Citizens.

The corporation said dates featuring unusual number combinations traditionally attract heightened interest from engaged couples.

Artificial intelligence continues to expand into new fields. While concerns have long centered on AI potentially replacing designers, programmers and other professionals, it now appears that even street beggars may have some competition.

In several Chinese cities, including Beijing, Chengdu and Fuzhou, passersby have reported seeing humanoid robots apparently begging for money.

Read also: China is leading the charge to bring humanoid robots home.

The robots were deliberately positioned in poses commonly associated with street beggars. Some were kneeling with their heads lowered, while others sat on sidewalks holding...

Morning coffee is becoming increasingly expensive for consumers in Kazakhstan, although global coffee prices decline.

Coffee prices in Kazakhstan were 26.3% higher in May 2026 than a year earlier, according to EnergyProm. Data from Kazakhstan’s Bureau of National Statistics show that prices have been climbing steadily since the summer of 2025.

While the pace of growth slowed in some months, the overall trend remained unchanged. Prices continued to increase for both packaged coffee sold in stores and coffee beverages served in cafes.

Import dependence drives higher prices

As Kazakhstan relies entirely on imported coffee...

The idea that AI will replace many professions and render entire trades obsolete has become a dominant narrative across the media landscape, including social media platforms and professional networks. Translators are no exception. Like many other professionals, they face growing pressure from the assumption that their work can soon be handed over entirely to automation and neural networks.

Two recent LinkedIn posts — one by a translator and the other by a representative of a localization company — illustrate how some members of the language industry respond to the increasingly common claim that “this can be delegated to...

A Kazakh couple has sparked a lively online discussion after publicly sharing their experience seeking a vasectomy, saying a doctor tried to steer them toward female sterilization instead.

A Threads user identified as Aiym Beketayeva said she and her husband, Dias, decided to speak openly about their decision after having three children — two daughters and a son.

“We are the first Kazakh couple to publicly share our vasectomy experience. My name is Aiym, and this is my husband, Dias,” she wrote. “According to Kazakhstan’s laws, parents with three children are eligible for a...

Akmaya Tungsten, which plans to build a mining and processing plant at the Akmaya tungsten deposit in Kazakhstan’s Karaganda region, expects to export its products to the U.S., Europe, Japan and South Korea, according to a draft project report outlining potential development plans.

The company said the project would help strengthen Kazakhstan’s position in the global market for strategic minerals.

“Annual mining and processing of up to 1 million tons of ore will enable Kazakhstan to secure a strong position among the world’s leading producers and exporters of tungsten products,” the report states.

The document...

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs hasn’t ruled out potential visa-free travel with the EU, Yerlan Zhetybayev, the official spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry, said during a briefing.

Visa-free entry to the EU for Kazakhstan nationals

He urged Kazakhstanis to wait until the visa-facilitation agreement with the EU is finalized, as negotiations on a full visa-free regime can begin only then.

«Let us sign the agreement. It will be a major step forward both for our side and for the Europeans. It will facilitate travel for our citizens. After that, we will return to the issue...

The logistics corridor through Kazakhstan is experiencing unprecedented growth. In 2025, Chinese cargo transit through the country reached a record 20.2 million gross tons, up 32% from the previous year and the highest level recorded in at least 13 years.

According to Data Hub, the upward trend has continued for four consecutive years, with transit volumes increasing by an average of 31% annually. Analysts attribute the growth not only to shifting trade routes driven by geopolitical developments but also to infrastructure upgrades within Kazakhstan.

One key factor was the launch of the second track on the...

Matchday 15 on June 25 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup brings six fixtures in the third round of the group stage: Turkey vs the U.S., Ecuador vs. Germany, Tunisia vs. Netherlands, Paraguay vs. Australia, Japan vs. Sweden and Curaçao vs. Côte d’Ivoire.

    2026 FIFA World Cup

    Group D, Round 3, June 25, Los Angeles, SoFi Stadium

    Turkey vs. the U.S. W2 D1 L2 (7-7)

    Coaches: Vincenzo Montella (Italy) / Mauricio Pochettino (Argentina)

    Referee: Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)

Group D will feature a rare World Cup meeting between Turkey and the...

South Korean fashion powerhouse Matin Kim has celebrated the opening of its new flagship store in Thailand at Central Embassy, Bangkok.

To mark this major retail milestone, prominent Thai actor and lifestyle influencer “Namping” Napatsakorn Pingmuang attended the event, drawing significant attention from fans. Boasting over two million followers, Namping has become a leading face in Thailand’s modern style scene. At the opening, he seamlessly modeled the brand’s urban aesthetic, helping bridge the cultural connection between Korean street style and Thai fashion enthusiasts.

Not surprised that Matin Kim is one...

Doctors in Yekaterinburg, Russia, treated a 14-year-old girl whose wisdom tooth was growing in a sinus cavity instead of her jaw, according to EANews.ru.

The rare condition caused severe pain on the left side of the girl’s face, along with headaches, nasal congestion and persistent discomfort around her eye.

The cause was identified only after a CT scan. The examination revealed that a developing wisdom tooth was located in the girl’s sinus cavity, impairing its normal function.

Doctors opted for a minimally invasive procedure that required no external incisions or bone drilling. The tooth and its...

China is expanding its presence in the satellite internet market through SpaceSail, a government-backed project aimed at challenging Elon Musk’s Starlink, The Guardian reported.

Officially known as the SpaceSail Constellation or Qianfan (Thousand Sails), SpaceSail was launched in 2023 by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST). The project aims to provide high-speed, secure and reliable broadband internet services worldwide. Funding remains entirely domestic, with investment restricted to Chinese entities and organizations.

SpaceSail’s space ambitions

The company launched its first 18 satellites in August 2024 aboard a Long March 6A rocket, with two additional launches later that year, each...

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation plans to leverage U.S. technology to address the problem of unexpected spring flooding. The two countries are launching a joint, phased program for aerial snowpack monitoring and early flood risk assessment.

Vice Minister Aslan Abdraimov has already held talks with diplomats and senior executives from U.S. companies Dynamic Aviation and Airborne Snow Observatories Inc., which specialize in high-precision aerial surveying. Using specialized equipment, the companies will conduct aerial scans of river basins and develop detailed analytical maps.

The ministry expects the data to provide accurate estimates of meltwater volumes and support timely management...

At least 32 people were killed and more than 700 injured after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, according to Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, AP reported. Authorities warned the death toll could increase as rescue teams continue searching through collapsed structures and reach isolated communities.

The back-to-back earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, hit shortly after 6 p.m., causing widespread destruction across several regions. Rodríguez declared a nationwide state of emergency and said the official casualty count did not yet include La Guaira, the area most severely affected.

La Guaira, located north of...

Chinese technology company SuperX AI Technology Ltd. is considering building a cluster of artificial intelligence data centers in Kazakhstan with a total capacity of up to 1 gigawatt (GW). The project would be implemented in stages between 2026 and 2029.

Read also: New 1-gigawatt data center project to transform Kazakhstan’s economy.

The proposal was discussed by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and the company’s executives on the sidelines of the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as Summer Davos, hosted by the World Economic Forum in China.

Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) plans to begin fieldwork soon to explore and potentially develop chromium deposits in Afghanistan, according to a Qazba.kz correspondent who recently visited Kabul with a Kazakh delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin.

ERG may acquire a deposit in Afghanistan or form a joint venture with local partners, the publication reported.

Talks on mineral cooperation expand beyond chromium

During meetings in Kabul with Afghan Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar, officials also discussed the possibility of importing industrial aquamarine for processing in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan is among a small group of...

Certain common foods may help people with type 2 diabetes improve blood glucose control, lower LDL («bad») cholesterol, and reduce blood pressure, according to a report cited by Medical News Today.

Researchers reviewed scientific evidence on natural dietary approaches for diabetes management and identified several foods whose potential benefits are supported by small clinical studies.

Oatmeal

In a small study involving people with metabolic syndrome, a two-day low-calorie diet that included 300 grams of oatmeal per day was associated with about a 10% reduction in LDL cholesterol. The effect persisted for up to six weeks.

Researchers attribute...

A new beachwear trend has gone viral on social media: men’s burkinis. The one-piece swimsuits are being promoted as offering protection from intense sun exposure and, in some marketing claims, unwanted attention on the beach.

What a burkini is

A burkini is a modest, full-coverage swimsuit typically consisting of a long-sleeved top, leggings, and a hood. It was originally designed and marketed for women, particularly for Muslim women seeking swimwear that aligns with religious and cultural dress requirements.

The international shipbuilding company Damen Shipyards Group, a Dutch defense, shipbuilding and engineering conglomerate, will invest approximately €100 million in the construction of a shipyard on Kazakhstan’s Caspian coast, according to the authorities of the Mangystau region.

The announcement followed the Kazakhstan-EU economic roundtable in Brussels, attended by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. A framework agreement between the Mangystau region and Damen Shipyards Group was signed during the event. Under the agreement, a new shipyard will be built in Kazakhstan’s sector of the Caspian Sea with a total investment of approximately €100 million.

Authorities are hopeful that the project will enhance...