News

The share of Chinese car brands in total vehicle sales in Kazakhstan is not expected to increase in 2026 and will likely remain at 39%, according to Anar Makasheva, head of the Kazakhstan Automobile Union.

Chinese brands accounted for 39% of all cars sold in Kazakhstan in 2025, up slightly from 38% in 2024. The growth over the past several years has been significant: 25.6% in 2023, 10.1% in 2022, 3.7% in 2021 and 2% in 2020.

Sales figures show rapid growth

In 2025, a total of 136,714 non-Chinese passenger vehicles and 85,618 Chinese-brand vehicles were...

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) had a profound and overlooked impact on American health. The study, recently published by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), suggests that the restructuring of the U.S. economy following the 1994 agreement led to a measurable increase in mortality rates among the working-age population.

Trade shocks and health crises

The researchers found that areas with high exposure to trade competition from Mexico experienced a 2.1 percent rise in mortality among adults aged 25 to 55. For the specific “treated” population — those who actually lost their jobs due to the agreement...

A powerful winter storm swept across the U.S. East Coast on Monday, bringing heavy snowfall, widespread power outages and significant travel disruptions, the BBC reported.

Weather alerts extended from North Carolina to Maine, with some warnings also issued in parts of eastern Canada. More than 600,000 properties lost electricity as the storm intensified.

Several states imposed travel restrictions at the height of the storm. Rhode Island and Connecticut implemented bans on non-essential travel, while Massachusetts and New York City also temporarily restricted road use due to hazardous conditions.

Air travel was heavily affected. According to flight-tracking service FlightAware, more...

Authorities in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, are investigating the deaths of 72 tigers at Tiger Kingdom Chiang Mai, a well-known tourist attraction, the BBC reported.

The tigers died within less than two weeks at two facilities that together house more than 240 animals. Preliminary laboratory tests detected canine distemper virus, a highly contagious disease that affects the respiratory, digestive and nervous systems. Although officials have not yet confirmed how the outbreak began, the park has been temporarily closed for disinfection as the investigation continues.

Tests also identified a bacterium linked to respiratory illness. Earlier reports mentioned a possible...

At a wedding in Atyrau, western Kazakhstan, a guest presented the groom with a virtual butterfly knife featuring the rare Doppler Ruby («Waves») design from Counter-Strike 2.

The gift was displayed on a large screen, catching many in the audience by surprise. The video later circulated online, where it drew mixed reactions.

Some users criticized the choice of gift.

«Why would he need it? Is he going to feed his family or play games?»

«What stupidity. Are they 14 years old?»

«He’s getting more and more insane.»

«He’s still a child...

German airline Lufthansa announced the resumption of scheduled flights from Kazakhstan to Germany. Passengers are promised onboard comfort and internet access.

Operations will begin on March 29, 2026, serving the Almaty-Frankfurt route five times a week and operating four weekly flights from Astana. The options will include non-stop flights to Germany as well as flights with a stopover. The flights will be operated by Airbus A340-300 aircraft.

Three classes of service will be available: business, premium economy and economy. All of them offer meals, drinks, individual monitors and internet access via FlyNet.

Previously, the carrier halted flights to Kazakhstan last...

Arsen Tomsky, founder and CEO of inDrive and one of the richest people in Kazakhstan, has presented a brand-new Audi Q8 to Stanislav Shaidorov, the father and first coach of Kazakh Olympic figure skating champion Mikhail Shaidorov.

The black car was decorated with a white inscription reading «Thank you for the champion! From all Kazakhstanis,» written in Kazakh and Russian. The message refers to the fact that he once sold his car to support his son’s passion.

Tomsky, who met with the athlete’s family in person, said the gift is a tribute to the parents’ hard work...

A seagull flying over the pitch during a football match in Turkey went viral after it was struck by a ball and subsequently given CPR.

According to the Turkish Anadolu Agency, the incident occurred during the Istanbul 1st Amateur League playoff final between Mevlanakapı Güzelhisar and Istanbul Yurdum Spor on Feb. 22, when the goalkeeper of the latter, in an attempt to clear the penalty area, accidentally sent the ball straight at a seagull flying low over the pitch.

The bird fell after the impact, and Istanbul Yurdum Spor’s captain, Gani Çatan...

Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather will meet again in a professional boxing rematch scheduled for Sept. 19 at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The bout will be broadcast live on Netflix, the BBC Sport reported.

The fight reunites two of the most prominent boxers of their generation. Mayweather, 48, retired from professional boxing in 2017 after defeating Conor McGregor and finishing his career with a 50-0 record, including 27 knockouts. Since then, he participated in several exhibition bouts.

Pacquiao, 47, stepped away from boxing in 2021 to focus on politics but returned to the ring in...

Tickets for BTS’s comeback show in central Seoul sold out within minutes on Monday evening. Officials expect about 260,000 fans to visit the city for the group’s first full concert in almost four years, The Guardian reported.

Bookings for the free event at Gwanghwamun Square on March 21 opened at 8 pm, with more than 100,000 people attempting to access the ticketing site at the same time. Many fans went to PC cafés, which offer faster internet connections, to improve their chances of securing tickets. However, the heavy traffic caused technical problems, including devices freezing or displaying messages that...

A Kazakh couple re-created a memorable scene from one of Bollywood’s most beloved films, taking social media by storm.

The video, posted on Instagram, quickly garnered thousands of views and likes. The creators carefully staged the famous snow scene against a mountain backdrop. A woman in a red dress and a man in a leather jacket mimicked the movements and emotions of the film’s characters.

«We specifically waited for winter to film this scene. What did you think? I’m looking forward to your feedback,» the post reads.

American figure skater Ilia Malinin, who is often seen as a friendly rival of Kazakhstani gold medalist Mikhail Shaidorov, has spoken about the possibility of visiting Kazakhstan.

In a short interview with the Jibek Joly channel, Malinin said that he would like to travel to Kazakhstan with Shaidorov or other athletes. He noted that it would be a great pleasure to do so and added that he often hears positive things about the country.

Malinin praised Shaidorov’s technical preparation and said it is «an honor to share the ice with him.» He...

Remote employees in Russia may be required to return to the office amid concerns about a potential block of Telegram, according to the Telegram channel Mash.

Read also: Telegram’s Durov slams Spain’s teen tech lockdown as a blow to personal freedom.

The news outlet reported that after Russia’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, updated its threat-mitigation settings — which internet service providers use to manage traffic — remote desktop protocol, or RDP, connections began malfunctioning. These connections allow employees to access Windows desktops and corporate systems from outside the office.

Disruptions...

«The whole community is fasting. People, whose palates are dry from days of fasting and whose lips are parched, wait impatiently for sunset,» wrote Zhussipbek Aimauytuly, a prominent Kazakh writer, describing life in a Kazakh village at the start of the 20th century in his short story «Azhdaha» («Dragon»).

Read also: Fast smart: How to keep your energy up this Ramadan.

Much has changed in Kazakhstan’s villages and cities since then. But the movement of the sun has not. In the world’s ninth-largest country by land area, Muslims observing Ramadan experience...

Many Western policymakers see tariffs and anti-subsidy actions as effective ways to chip away at China’s dominance in manufacturing. That assumption may offer political reassurance, but it misreads the foundations of China’s industrial strength, argues tech entrepreneur and writer Robin Rivaton.

Industrial density over national champions

According to Rivaton, China’s leadership in manufacturing is not built primarily on a handful of state-backed giants. Instead, it rests on extraordinary industrial density. The typical Chinese factory employs roughly 10 workers and operates with modest fixed assets. Most of these small and midsize firms receive little to no direct government...

A Budapest pizzeria is turning back the clock with a limited-edition pizza inspired by ancient Rome, recreating a flatbread style from before tomatoes and mozzarella were part of European cuisine, the Associated Press reported.

At Neverland Pizzeria in central Budapest, founder Josep Zara and his team created the recipe using only ingredients from the Roman Empire without tomatoes or mozzarella.

Partly inspired by a 2023 archaeological find in Pompeii that showed a flatbread topped with pomegranate seeds and dates, Zara looked into Roman culinary history. He consulted sources such as the ancient cookbook «De Re Coquinaria,» and the...

Nemesio Oseguera, 60, known as «El Mencho,» the alleged leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), died in custody from wounds he sustained during a military operation in the western Mexican state of Jalisco. The operation was carried out with U.S. intelligence support, Reuters reported.

After news of Oseguera’s death became public, violence was reported in several parts of the country. Authorities said suspected cartel members set up highway blockades with burning vehicles and set fire to businesses in more than half a dozen states. Officials stated that no civilian deaths had been reported.

In the resort city...

Tokyo Skytree, a popular tourist attraction in Japan’s capital, has been temporarily closed following a Feb. 22 incident, when passengers were trapped in an elevator, NHK World reported.

On the evening of Feb. 22, an elevator carrying 20 passengers, including two children, was descending from the observation deck when it unexpectedly stopped at around 8:30 p.m., about 30 meters above the ground. Rescuers managed to evacuate all the people safely after five hours and 30 minutes.

The facility’s operator decided to close the tower on Feb. 23 to investigate the cause of...

Apple is testing a new, uncommon color for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, according to Bloomberg tech journalist Mark Gurman. The body of the new flagship device may turn out bright red or burgundy, MacRumors.com reported.

If confirmed, this will be the first time a Pro model has been offered in red. Previously, red was offered only for the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus in the (PRODUCT)RED lineup.

Gurman also noted that earlier reports had speculated that the iPhone 18 Pro would be available in purple and brown. However, he said that...

A new phase of the major pharmaceutical project Polpharma Santo, owned by Polish billionaire Jerzy Starak, is being launched in Shymkent. Phase one of the new facility is expected by the end of 2029, creating 300 jobs and totaling $79.5 million in investment.

The government of Kazakhstan has already approved an investment agreement between the country’s Ministry of Health and Chimpharm. The agreement was signed by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov.

The project is being implemented in line with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s instructions to reduce dependence on drug imports, strengthen the country’s drug security and attract investment into the industry...

A tourist attraction offering hot coffee and incredible photo opportunities is gaining popularity in China.

Gushi Cliff Coffee, a café in southeastern China’s Fujian Province, opened in 2024 and is gradually becoming a popular destination among tourists. It is located on a cliff approximately 70 meters above sea level in a village of the same name.

To reach the café, visitors must walk along a trail for about 30 minutes with a guide and pay approximately 400 yuan to enjoy a hot drink and beautiful views while sitting on a bench attached to a mountainside.

The price includes a...

South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor announced a collaboration with The Pokémon Company Korea to release Pokémon-themed designs for in-vehicle displays, the company said in a statement.

Two themes — “Pokémon Pikachu Quick Attack” and “Pokémon Ditto World Theme” — can be applied to the Connected Car Navigation Cockpit infotainment cluster display, featuring Pokémon-themed visuals, animations and characters.

The themes are available for installation on the all-new Palisade, Ioniq 9, the all-new Nexo, the New Ioniq 6, the 2026 Sonata The Edge and the New Staria. The company noted that it plans to...

Nurali Aliyev, the grandson of Kazakhstan’s first President Nursultan Nazarbayev, said he recently embraced a spiritual path and shared details about his journey in a series of Q&A posts on social media.

Read also: Kazakhstan’s ‘Falling Nazarbayev’ sculpture sold to Russian buyer.

Aliyev described his first steps toward what he called «greater awareness.» According to the businessman, the death of a loved one prompted him to reassess his outlook on life.

«I can say one thing: when people in your life leave us and pass on to the...

An international laboratory has been established at Utebayev University in Atyrau, Kazakhstan, in collaboration with Turkish scientists. The specialists will develop environmentally friendly packaging based on polypropylene derived from water and agricultural raw materials, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education reported.

The project is being funded through the Ministry’s 2025-2027 grant. It aims to create biodegradable composites to reduce the environmental impact of plastic. During the development process, the scientists use domestic materials: bulrush and agricultural waste products.

Biological raw materials are integrated into the polypropylene structure using specialized equipment, thereby reducing the packaging’s decomposition...