News

Kazakhstan increased exports to France, Turkey and the United Kingdom early this year, while its trade share with Italy and Russia declined, economist Ruslan Sultanov said on his Tengenomika channel.

At the same time, the country is becoming increasingly dependent on industrial imports from China and Russia, he noted.

Strategic vulnerability concerns

Despite greater diversification in exports by product and geography, imports remain highly concentrated, Sultanov said.

«While the export basket is shifting from oil to metals such as uranium, copper and silver, and agriculture is expanding into markets like France, Turkey and the...

A Kyrgyz lawmaker has suggested that an alleged attempted coup lies behind the high-profile dismissal of former State Committee for National Security (SCNS) Chairman Kamchybek Tashiev.

In an interview with a Kazakh journalist, member of parliament Elvira Surabaldieva claimed that individuals linked to Tashiev had been preparing to seize power for an extended period, but the attempt was ultimately thwarted.

Claims of presidential leniency

Surabaldieva said Tashiev’s continued freedom may be due to what she described as President Sadyr Japarov’s «exceptional magnanimity.»

«The president is a magnanimous man. Perhaps he...

Large businesses in Kazakhstan are more likely to need workers with technical training than those with traditional higher education degrees, Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek said during a parliamentary session on Monday.

Survey highlights workforce mismatch

Nurbek said the findings are based on a survey of 73,000 enterprises across all regions of the country. The results point to systemic risks in the labor market.

On one hand, official workforce demand reflects an outdated economic structure. On the other, the evolving economy increasingly requires specialists in technology and artificial intelligence, he said.

Demand for higher education...

A waste incineration project by Junxin Environmental Protection is moving forward in Almaty, with construction planned in the city’s Alatau district.

Project scope and capacity

The facility is designed to process up to 2,000 tons of waste per day and generate as much as 60 megawatts of electricity, which will be supplied to the city’s power grid.

Total investment in the project is estimated at 130 billion tenge (more than $280 million). An arrangement has been reached with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology, along with key provisions covering waste supply and electricity distribution.

Jobs and environmental standards

The plant...

As King Charles III touches down in Washington, D.C. today, the world is watching an encounter that feels less like a routine state visit and more like a delicate diplomatic balancing act.

Coinciding with the 250th anniversary of American independence, the King’s arrival marks the first visit by a reigning British monarch in nearly two decades. However, the true spectacle lies in the meeting between two of the world’s most recognizable, yet fundamentally different, leaders: the hereditary monarch and President Donald Trump.

Forecasts for their encounter suggest a masterclass in contrasting leadership styles. In public speeches, Charles...

«Michael,» a film about Michael Jackson’s rise to fame, is now in theaters. The lead role is played by his 29-year-old nephew, Jaafar Jackson, who bears a striking resemblance to the pop icon. Even before its release, the film faced criticism for softening the singer’s troubled public image, shaped in part by longstanding allegations of child sexual abuse.

A familiar rise-to-fame story

The film spans roughly two decades of Jackson’s life, from his early years performing with the Jackson 5 to his first solo «Bad» tour in the late 1980s.

This is not the first attempt...

A mural circulating on Iranian social media has intensified uncertainty about the condition of Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, nearly two months after he was last seen in public, Euronews reported.

The mural, titled «Martyrs of the Epic Struggle,» was unveiled in Mashhad Ardehal, west of Kashan. It features prominent figures such as Qassem Soleimani, former President Ebrahim Raisi and Ruhollah Khomeini, all of whom are deceased.

The artwork also depicts Mojtaba Khamenei alongside these figures, prompting speculation that he may have been killed or seriously injured in the Feb. 28 U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran.

Mojtaba Khamenei, who...

The Michael Jackson biopic «Michael» opened strongly in North America, earning $97 million in its debut weekend and setting a new record for music biopics, according to The Associated Press.

Internationally, the film grossed $120.4 million, bringing its global opening to $217.4 million. Distributed domestically by Lionsgate, with Universal handling most overseas markets, the film exceeded earlier projections, which ranged from $50 million to $70 million. Moreover, it significantly outperformed previous genre leaders such as «Straight Outta Compton» and «Bohemian Rhapsody.»

The creators of the sequel to “The Devil Wears Prada” are facing criticism over allegations of racial stereotyping tied to a new supporting character.

Read also: Prada reunion: Anna Wintour and Meryl Streep pose for the first time together.

Critics have raised concerns about the character Jin Chao, introduced as a new assistant to protagonist Andrea Sachs. Some viewers argue the role presents unflattering and stereotypical traits associated with Asian characters.

According to international media reports, some audiences — particularly in China — also objected to the character’s name, saying it...

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov have inaugurated a memorial in Pyongyang honoring North Korean soldiers who died while fighting in the war in Ukraine, the BBC reported.

The ceremony featured military aircraft flying overhead and the release of white balloons, as the two officials unveiled a statue and opened a museum dedicated to overseas military operations. During the ceremony, Kim stated that North Korea would always support Russia’s efforts to defend sovereignty and territorial integrity.

While North Korea has not disclosed the number of its troops involved in the conflict, South Korean...

Kazakhstan’s national boxing team won seven medals, including three golds, at the opening stage of the World Boxing Cup, which concluded Saturday in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.

Gold medals were won by Sultanbek Aibaruly (85 kg), Viktoriya Grafeyeva (60 kg) and Valeriya Axenova (over 80 kg).

Final bouts

Aibaruly defeated Brazil’s Kaue Belini in the final, while Grafeyeva beat Rebeca Santos of Brazil. Axenova secured her title with a victory over Hungary’s Szófia Szira.

Team standings

Kazakhstan finished third in the unofficial team standings with a 3-1-3 medal tally. Host nation Brazil placed first with 4-5-0.

Tournament...

A French teenager has been charged in Singapore after allegedly licking a straw from an orange juice vending machine in a shopping center and placing it back in the dispenser, the BBC reported.

Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, 18, is facing charges of mischief and public nuisance. According to local reports, he recorded the act and posted it to Instagram Stories earlier this year with the caption «city is not safe.» The video was later widely shared online, drawing strong negative reactions.

The vending machine operator, iJooz, reported the matter to police and carried out sanitation procedures, including replacing...

Asiatic black bears emerging from hibernation in Japan are increasingly coming into contact with humans, with sightings already exceeding the pace recorded in 2025, a record year for attacks, The Guardian reported.

In the country’s northeast, where sightings of the animals in urban areas have been reported most often, authorities urge people to stay cautious outdoors. One possible fatal incident was reported earlier this year after a woman’s body was found in Iwate prefecture. In another incident, a bear attacked a police officer.

In Aomori Prefecture, officials issued a special warning after five bears were spotted in the...

Sabastian Sawe, a world-class professional marathon runner from Kenya, made history at the London Marathon on Sunday, becoming the first athlete ever to complete a marathon in under two hours, Euronews reported.

Sawe surged to victory in a record-breaking time of 1:59:30, cutting 65 seconds from the previous men’s world record. His performance marked a major milestone in distance running, as no athlete had officially crossed the two-hour threshold in a competitive marathon before.

Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha finished second in 1:59:41, also dipping below the two-hour mark in what was his marathon debut. Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo took third...

During an awards ceremony for the winners of the Alem.ai Battle and AI Governance Cup competitions on April 24, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev pointed to the upcoming Astana AI Film Festival, set to take place this fall.

Read also: Major US comic-con restricts AI art after creator backlash.

Tokayev said the festival is expected to be the first event of its kind globally and will showcase how artificial intelligence is reshaping the creative industry.

According to the president, AI is transforming the nature of creative work by expanding opportunities for artists...

The X Corp. has released a new messaging app called XChat. The app became available on April 24 and can already be downloaded for Apple devices via the App Store. There is no official word yet on an Android release.

According to its description, XChat offers end-to-end encryption, message editing and deletion, group chats, disappearing messages and a feature that restricts screenshots. The app is also marketed as ad-free.

Chat with anyone on X.
Completely private.
Now on your home screen.

Download for iOS: https://t.co/wBBfjJyJmu pic.twitter.com/u0QeGs1Z3D

— XChat (@chat) April 24, 2026

Early feedback...

The rise of remote work has fundamentally altered how American households consume and spend, according to a new study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Researchers utilized data from the Nielsen Consumer panel to track how the shift to working from home (WFH) has influenced shopping modalities, spending volumes, and price sensitivity.

The study found that remote work, which stabilized at approximately 25% of workdays by 2026, has triggered a significant shift toward digital convenience. Online grocery shopping surged among remote workers, with fully remote households ordering online 50% more frequently than those working entirely...

A viral social media video has uncovered a little-known detail about one of Kazakhstan’s prominent landmarks — the Miners’ Palace of Culture in Karaganda. According to the video, a single person served as the model for four of the building’s facade sculptures.

One model, multiple figures

Tour guide Svetlana Dzen, the video’s creator, said construction of the palace lasted 12 years and was completed in 1952. Six figures were installed on the ceremonial portico: a miner, a shepherd, a soldier, an engineer, a collective farmer holding a sheaf and an akyn, or traditional singer, with a dombra.

A classic car with Hollywood provenance has surfaced at auction house Iconic Auctioneers: a 1950 Mercedes-Benz 170 S (W136) once used by Marilyn Monroe during her 1956 visit to Greece.

A discovery worthy of a film script

For years, the car’s celebrity connection went unnoticed. Its history came to light only after the current owner began a restoration.

A key piece of evidence was an insurance certificate bearing Monroe’s signature, reportedly authenticated with involvement from the U.K. Foreign Office. Additional clues included suitcases with an «MM» monogram found in the trunk and a gold plaque with the actress’s...

An asteroid known as Apophis, measuring about 350 meters in diameter, is expected to pass close to Earth in April 2029, according to scientists cited by RBC.

Size and potential impact

Experts note that Apophis is roughly four times larger than the Tunguska event object. The 1908 explosion flattened forests across about 2,000 square kilometers in Siberia.

While a collision of a similarly sized object could cause significant damage, scientists stress that no such scenario is expected in this case.

No collision risk

Georgy Goncharov of the Pulkovo Observatory said the asteroid poses no threat to Earth.

He...

Tesla CEO Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are set to face off in federal court next week in a high-stakes legal battle that has exposed the private dealings of Silicon Valley’s elite, according to a report by Shira Ovide and Gerrit De Vynck for The Washington Post.

The lawsuit alleges that Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman betrayed OpenAI’s founding mission as an open-source nonprofit to enrich themselves. OpenAI has countered that the suit is a “baseless” attempt by Musk to derail a competitor to his own venture, xAI.

Court filings have...

Kazakhstan plans to compile a comprehensive catalog of cultural artifacts that have ended up abroad over time, said Berik Abdigaliuly, director of Kazakhstan’s National Museum. The project is expected to take about five years and will allow the public to identify where key historical objects are currently held.

Among the items expected to be included is the so-called «Tamerlane’s Stone,» a slab bearing an inscription ordered by the 14th-century conqueror Amir Timur to commemorate his campaign against Khan Tokhtamysh.

Artifacts from the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi

Several artifacts linked to the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed...

Spinal and respiratory conditions are the most common occupational diseases in Kazakhstan, along with vibration syndrome and hearing loss.

According to the Ministry of Labor, there are more than 740,000 people with disabilities in Kazakhstan. About 15,000 of them became disabled as a result of occupational diseases or workplace injuries.

Read also: The 4-day week is a global hit — so why aren’t Kazakh employers buying in?

Notably, the nature of work is evolving, with sedentary jobs becoming more common, digital communication expanding and workplace stress increasing. In...

Porsche has agreed to sell its holdings in sports car makers Bugatti and Rimac to an investor consortium led by U.S.-based HOF Capital, co-founded by Onsi Sawiris, former head of Egypt’s powerful Sawiris family, Reuters reported.

The deal includes Porsche’s 45% stake in Bugatti Rimac — a joint venture established in 2021 — as well as its 20.6% stake in Rimac Group. No additional details were disclosed.

The move comes as Porsche reassesses its strategy following a sharp decline in financial performance. The company reported a 93% drop in operating profit in 2025, with profit margins...