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Over the past decade, football’s global governing body, FIFA, and its regional affiliates have faced increased scrutiny over safeguarding protocols and institutional accountability. A series of widely reported sexual abuse and harassment cases has exposed significant vulnerabilities within the sport’s governance structures.

The following 10 widely cited cases outline some of the most prominent investigations and disciplinary actions of the past decade.

Luis Rubiales and the 2023 Women’s World Cup (Spain)

Following Spain’s victory at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, the president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, kissed player Jenni Hermoso

On Matchday 14 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the group stage will conclude in Groups A, B and C, with six matches on the schedule: Switzerland vs. Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar, Morocco vs. Haiti, Scotland vs. Brazil, South Africa vs. South Korea and Czechia vs. Mexico.

In Group A, Mexico is in a strong position after two victories, but South Korea, Czechia and South Africa remain in the race for the second qualifying spot. In Group B, Canada and Switzerland head into their meeting with four points each, while Bosnia and Herzegovina and Qatar still retain theoretical...

The Shenzhen-based LineShine supercomputer has overtaken the American El Capitan, which now ranks second in the latest Top500 supercomputer rankings, The Guardian reported.

Unlike its U.S. rivals and many other modern supercomputers designed for AI, LineShine runs entirely on conventional CPUs rather than GPUs.

According to the Top500 project, LineShine achieved 2.198 exaflops of performance, enabling it to perform more than two quintillion calculations per second. The machine is located at China’s National Supercomputing Center and requires around 42.2 megawatts of electricity to run.

Supercomputers are used for a variety of purposes, including medical research, climate modeling and nuclear...

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations has introduced a new way to improve water safety. From now on, drones capable of broadcasting voice messages and AI-powered surveillance cameras will monitor the country’s beaches.

The ministry said that the «speaking» drones are primarily deployed in areas with the largest crowds. Lifeguards fly them directly over recreation areas to broadcast safety guidelines and warn visitors about potential risks.

Solar panels and artificial intelligence

In addition to drones, the ministry is actively introducing smart cameras. In Almaty, Qonaev, and the Abai and Zhetysu regions, 101 AI-assisted surveillance systems have already been deployed. The...

Technip Energies is set to conduct a technical and economic feasibility study for Kazakhstan’s fourth oil refinery, with an annual capacity of 10 million tons of oil, according to the Energy_Monitor Telegram channel.

“Samruk-Kazyna is set to sign an agreement with engineering company Technip Energies to carry out the technical and economic feasibility study for constructing the fourth oil refinery in the country,” Energy_Monitor reported.

According to preliminary estimates, the new refinery will be capable of processing 10 million tons of oil annually. The major oil fields...

The EU-Kazakhstan Business Roundtable took place in Brussels on June 23. During the event, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced the signing of new commercial agreements worth nearly $1 billion.

The president said that the agreements reflect expanding economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and the EU and further strengthen the practical dimension of their partnership.

Tokayev highlighted that the EU remains Kazakhstan’s largest trade and investment partner, accounting for nearly half of all foreign direct investment in the country. Trade turnover between Kazakhstan and the EU exceeded $45 billion in 2025. According to the president, around 4,000 European companies operate in Kazakhstan, including...

A child under age 12 in the Netherlands underwent euthanasia for the first time since new regulations took effect expanding access to the procedure for younger minors, according to Dutch News, citing the country’s health minister.

National broadcaster NOS reported that the procedure was carried out late last year on a terminally ill child. Authorities did not disclose the child’s age, diagnosis or other identifying details.

Investigation conducted

According to the health minister, a special review committee examined the circumstances of the case, interviewed the physician who performed the procedure and submitted its findings to...

The case involving NCOC, the operator of the Kashagan oil field, is still under review by Kazakhstan’s Supreme Court. However, Zhomart Aliyev, Kazakhstan’s vice minister of ecology and natural resources, said he believes the government will ultimately recover 2.356 trillion tenge (about $5 billion) in environmental fines from the consortium.

«The final cassation hearing in the Supreme Court is still ahead of us. However, given that the case has been in the courts for two years and has already gone through all lower court instances, there is already a high probability and a strong...

One of the most common questions doctors hear from patients is whether severe stress can directly trigger the development of cancer. A leading oncology center in Kazakhstan has published an expert explanation addressing the issue.

“Currently, there is no scientific evidence that stress directly causes cancer. Strong emotions, life challenges, or emotional upheaval do not, by themselves, transform healthy cells into cancerous ones,” the center said in a statement.

How chronic stress affects the body

While stress itself is not considered a direct cause of cancer, oncologists say chronic stress...

More than 1,600 people in Kazakhstan have been fined since the beginning of the year for wearing clothing that conceals their faces, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The ministry said the restriction is intended to enhance public safety and facilitate identification. The provision is formally codified in Kazakhstan’s law on crime prevention.

Read also: Niqab outlawed: Kazakhstan becomes latest nation to ban face-covering garments.

The law took effect in June 2025 and includes several exceptions. The restrictions do not apply when a person’s face is covered for legitimate reasons, including:

After drawing with DR Congo in its opening match, Portugal defeated Uzbekistan 5-0 in the second round of the group stage.

2026 FIFA World Cup

Group K, Round 2, June 23, Houston, NRG Stadium

Portugal vs. Uzbekistan 5-0

Goals: Cristiano Ronaldo 6’, 39’, Nuno Mendes 17’, Abduvohid Nematov 60’ (OG), Rafael Leão 87′

Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 6th minute, while Nuno Mendes doubled Portugal’s advantage in the 17th. Ronaldo then added a second in the 39th minute to complete his brace. Uzbekistan’s Abduvohid Nematov scored an own goal in the 60th minute...

Uzbekistan’s second match at its first World Cup is set to be one of the main attractions of the tournament’s 13th matchday for football fans across the post-Soviet states. The day’s schedule also includes Colombia vs. DR Congo, England vs. Ghana and Croatia vs. Panama.

    2026 FIFA World Cup

    Group K, Round 2, June 23, Houston, NRG Stadium

    Portugal vs. Uzbekistan (first meeting)

    Coaches: Roberto Martínez (Spain) / Fabio Cannavaro (Italy)

    Referee: Jalal Jayed (Morocco)

Prominent Uzbek sports photojournalist Anvar Ilyasov has shared a series of...

Kazakh mixed martial artist Shavkat Rakhmonov continues to master drifting. He made an appearance on the track again during the second round of Kazakhstan’s Gorilla Drift tournament and showed visible progress. Kursiv Cars attended the event and observed the athlete’s improvement behind the wheel.

However, Rakhmonov is not currently competing for points in the official standings. According to organizers, he continues to train and master the drifting technique. Beyond that, the martial artist could line up alongside professional drivers as early as fall.

Nearly 50 drivers took the start

The second round of Gorilla Drift, held...

Argentina’s national team defeated Austria 2-0 in the second round of the Group J stage at the 2026 World Cup. Lionel Messi scored both goals at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

The team’s captain netted the opening goal in the 38th minute, overtaking Miroslav Klose to become the all-time top scorer in World Cup history. In stoppage time, he completed his brace, bringing his World Cup tally to 18 goals.

    2026 FIFA World Cup

    Group J, Round 2, June 22, Texas, AT&T Stadium

   Argentina vs. Austria, 2-0. Goals: Messi 38’ (1-0), 90+5’ (2-0)

Construction has begun on a new Coca-Cola beverage plant in Aktobe. The project is being implemented by the Turkish conglomerate Anadolu Group, which already operates three production facilities in Kazakhstan.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the future plant site, officially launching one of the region’s largest manufacturing investment projects.

The project is being supported by the government of Kazakhstan and Kazakh Invest, the national investment promotion agency responsible for attracting and supporting foreign investors.

Project agreements were previously signed during the Kazakhstan Global Investment Roundtable and the Kazakh-Turkish Business Forum.

Total investment in...

Changan topped the ranking of Chinese automotive brands in Kazakhstan and entered the country’s top three brands in May 2026, according to Kazakhstan Automobile Union.

During the month, Astana Motors, the official distributor of Changan vehicles in Kazakhstan, sold 1,793 vehicles, giving the brand a 10.3% market share. As a result, Changan ranked third in overall sales, ahead of Kia and behind only Hyundai and Chevrolet.

Since the beginning of the year, Changan has sold 6,906 vehicles in Kazakhstan. That marks a 79.5% increase year-on-year, one of the strongest growth rates among the country’s leading automotive...

The Argentine government has provided U.S. authorities with data on 13,000 men who are behind on child support payments.

Read also: Prosecutors in Kazakhstan to use taxi app to catch alimony debtors.

Argentina has barred child support defaulters from attending football matches and public events for the past year. The restriction will now extend to all FIFA World Cup matches held in the tournament’s host countries — the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

Si no cumplen con sus hijos, tampoco entran a la cancha.

En la Ciudad hace un...

A major environmental emergency has been reported in Azerbaijan’s sector of the Caspian Sea after a ruptured underwater oil pipeline caused a significant spill.

The State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) confirmed the accident, according to local media reports. A report of pollution near the coast of Dubendi was received by the head office of the Azneft Production Association, a SOCAR division.

Oil slick discovered during aerial survey

During an emergency helicopter inspection, specialists identified a large oil slick drifting in the waters between the Dubendi shoreline and Pirallahi Island.

Divers were dispatched...

Renowned Chinese writer and Nobel Prize winner Mo Yan has arrived in Kazakhstan for his first-ever visit, prompting a flurry of reports from local Kaznet users.

Read also: The Tokayev reading list: The writers and proverbs guiding Kazakhstan’s leader.

Mo Yan has not only a devoted readership among Kazakhs but also translators who have brought his works into the Kazakh language. We recently came across a Facebook post about the fate of one such translator.

The Kazakh translator of Mo Yan

The post, titled “The Kazakh Who Translated...

The second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage continues with four fixtures: Argentina faces Austria, France takes on Iraq, Norway meets Senegal and Jordan plays Algeria.

The main attraction of the day is the race for top spot in Groups I and J. Argentina and Austria started the tournament with victories, so their meeting could define the main favorite in Group J. In Group I, France and Norway are in a similar situation, as both sides won their opening matches, while Iraq and Senegal cannot afford another defeat.

    2026 FIFA World Cup

Renowned Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen has shared footage from his new music video for a rendition of the Kazakh folk song «Aqerke.» The clip includes a risky stunt in which the artist opens the door of a moving pickup truck, steps onto the sill and remains there for some time while it is still in motion.

Supposedly, the music video was filmed in...

A team of divers, together with the administration of Kolsai Lakes National Park, carried out a clean-up operation at the lake. Over two days, they made more than 20 dives despite rain, hail and harsh mountain weather. Water temperatures ranged between 7°C and 9°C.

They retrieved over 150 kilograms of waste from the bottom of Lake Kolsai, most of which consisted of plastic and glass bottles, tin cans, wet wipes and boat debris.

Keir Starmer has announced his resignation as both U.K. prime minister and leader of the Labour Party in a statement delivered outside 10 Downing Street, BBC reported.

Reflecting on his time in office, Starmer said his actions and decisions had always been guided by what he believed was best for the country.

The outgoing prime minister also expressed gratitude to his wife, Vic, describing her as a constant source of support throughout his political career. He added that he now looks forward to spending more time with his children and focusing on his role as a father.

Attention...

Negotiations between Kazakhstan and the EU on simplifying the visa regime have entered the final stage, Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, the EU and NATO, Roman Vassilenko, said.

«We are also on the verge of completing our negotiations on a visa facilitation agreement and a readmission agreement, which should provide in fact those passengers that all those airlines will need to be flying between Kazakhstan and the European Union,» Vassilenko said.

Both documents are part of a package, in line with the EU’s standard practice in agreements with third countries.

Visa facilitation, not visa...