LEGO has released an ad timed to the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, featuring football’s biggest stars.
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Jr. appear in the video alongside their LEGO mini-figure counterparts.
In the video, the footballers sit around a table, building the World Cup trophy, each attempting to place his mini-figure on top. At the end, a teenager steps in, puts his figure on top and completes the assembly.
A Kazakhstani citizen, Timur Kalin, has appealed to the Constitutional Court of Kazakhstan seeking permission to use marijuana at home, arguing that it is a private matter. The court declined to consider his claim.
Read also: Cannabis whiplash: As Thailand bans pot, Kazakhstan bets on industrial cultivation.
The case began after Kalin was fined and placed under medical supervision for cannabis use. He disputed the penalty and said he would challenge it publicly.
The man argued that he had not used marijuana in a public place, had not disturbed...
A court in Astana has heard a case filed by a citizen seeking to change his recorded ethnicity to that of his grandmother in order to participate in Germany’s resettlement program.
The man attempted to change his ethnicity from Italian to German but was denied, as his father is ethnically Italian and his mother is Russian. In Kazakhstan, ethnicity is typically determined based on parental background. As a result, he appealed the decision in court.
During the hearing, the plaintiff stated that his paternal grandmother is of German origin and argued that Kazakhstani law allows for changes in ethnicity under...
Kazakh highway operator KazAvtoZhol has started equipping toll roads with laser systems designed to reduce nighttime accident rates and help drivers traveling on long, monotonous journeys.
The installation is underway on 22 sections of major highways, including:
Astana-Shchuchinsk Almaty-Khorgos Shymkent-Taraz Uralsk-Russian borderand other heavily used routes.
Special equipment projects bright lines of light onto the road ahead of the vehicle. This is more than just decoration: lasers create clear visual cues where road markings may be difficult to see in low-light conditions, fog or snow.
The technology’s...
Murat Abenov, a member of the Mazhilis, the lower house of Kazakhstan’s parliament, has criticized an initiative to soften punishment for Kazakh citizens who fought in foreign wars as mercenaries. He described the proposal as a threat to national security.
«A mercenary is a professional killer. He does not act out of a sense of duty to his homeland, but leaves the country and may later serve hostile forces or terrorist groups that pose a threat to us,» the MP said.
What will happen when mercenaries return?
According to Abenov, individuals who fought abroad...
Pseudo-religious figures on social media are undermining national values and threatening social stability, Kazakh lawmaker Yermurat Bapi has warned in a parliamentary inquiry addressed to the prosecutor general of Kazakhstan.
Bapi said cases of propaganda linked to what he described as destructive religious movements are becoming more frequent.
He cited a recent online podcast in which a man, not affiliated with official religious institutions and identifying himself as an imam, claimed to have multiple wives and said he had «given» one of them to a student.
According to Bapi, such...
Menopause is a natural stage in a woman’s life, yet it remains surrounded by misconceptions and unnecessary fears. Here’s what you need to know — and what to ignore.
Menopause marks the end of menstrual cycles. During this time, the ovaries reduce production of estrogen and progesterone, leading to hormonal changes that can affect the menstrual cycle, body temperature, mood, sleep, skin and bone health.
In reality, menopause is preceded by a transitional phase known as perimenopause, which can last several years. During this period, cycles may...
A priest in Almaty has unexpectedly become a social media sensation, with his videos drawing thousands of views and lively reactions from users.
Ioann Popov, who serves at St. Sophia Cathedral of the Iversky-Seraphim Monastery, posts videos explaining church practices in simple terms. His content covers topics such as how to make the sign of the cross, approach the altar and behave during services.
Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are preparing to sign an intergovernmental agreement to develop the Middle Corridor (TITR), a trade route connecting China and Europe that bypasses Russia.
Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov made the statement at a meeting of the heads of government of the Organization of Turkic States on April 2, 2026. He said the document is expected to be signed by the end of 2026.
What is the Middle Corridor
The Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, is a logistics network connecting China and Europe through Central Asia, the South Caucasus and Turkey outside Russian...
What would a wedding between Hollywood stars Tom Holland and Zendaya look like if it followed traditional Kazakh customs?
Read also: Why Zendaya fans are convinced she’s expecting.
A Threads user, sirim.axangali, posed that question to artificial intelligence, generating a series of images depicting the couple’s wedding and related ceremonies. The results are both visually striking and surprisingly realistic.
Betashar ceremony reimagined
One of the central moments is the betashar — a traditional ceremony in which the bride is formally introduced to her husband’s family. The ritual...
Croatia will take part in the exploration and production of hydrocarbons at the Shygys site in the Aktobe region, western Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Energy reported.
The contract was signed by the ministry, KazMunayGas and Geoenergija Razvoj d.o.o — a subsidiary of the Croatian Hydrocarbon Agency — during the Geoscience and Exploration Central Asia international forum.
The project will be implemented on a parity basis (50/50), while Croatian investors will fully cover geological exploration costs.
The sides plan to conduct a 500-kilometer 2D seismic survey and drill a 3,500-meter-deep exploration well, marking...
According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Trade, Chinese company Fujian Hengwang Investment plans to build a large steel plant in the country. The announcement followed a visit to China by Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev.
The company is ready to invest about $1.2 billion in the project, with a planned capacity of up to 3 million tons of steel per year. Once fully operational, the plant is expected to create 2,500 jobs and supply steel to both domestic and international markets.
In May 2024, some media outlets reported that the Shymkent administration signed a memorandum with Fujian...
Several hours into the flight following the successful launch of the Artemis II mission to the Moon, astronauts faced minor but noticeable difficulties — their toilet malfunctioned during the long journey.
According to Space.com, the space toilet, designed for 10 days of flight, partially went out of service.
NASA said that the issue affected the urine collection. At the same time, the toilet still operated partially, allowing astronauts to use it for solid waste. Within several hours, the crew had to fix the device using instructions from the...
Hershey announced it will return to classic recipes for all Reese’s products starting in 2027, following criticism over the use of alternative ingredients in some items, The Associated Press reported.
The decision follows public criticism from Brad Reese, grandson of H.B. Reese, who founded Reese’s in 1919 and created Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in 1928. Earlier this year, Reese raised concerns about changes to the brand’s ingredients by Hershey, which acquired his grandfather’s business in 1963.
Hershey acknowledged modifying some recipes but said the adjustments were part of efforts to respond to evolving consumer preferences. The company also...
Shares of Pop Mart International Group Ltd., the Chinese toymaker whose Labubu monsters became a global sensation last year, have come under sustained pressure. Over five trading sessions following the company’s latest earnings report, its share price declined by more than 30%, continuing a broader downturn from its August peak. The company has now lost nearly 60% of its market value, or about $33 billion in capitalization, Bloomberg reported.
Investor sentiment has weakened as results highlighted the company’s growing reliance on its Labubu character. The Labubu-led Monsters series accounted for around 40% of total revenue last year, up...
A report by Euronews claiming that Irish actress Jessie Buckley has been cast as the next James Bond was nothing more than an April Fools’ article, although some might have wanted the news to be true.
The widely shared story suggested that Buckley would replace Daniel Craig as 007, marking a historic shift in the franchise. It also referenced ongoing speculation around potential successors, including several actors previously linked to the role.
However, the report was satirical and not based on any official announcement.
In 2025, Amazon MGM Studios took control of the franchise, with its longtime producers...
Igor Martynyuk, an 11th-grade student from Pavlodar, northern Kazakhstan, has developed a digital AI-powered assistant, TabAI. The service analyzes employees’ on-screen activity, helping to manage workflows and organize tasks more efficiently.
«The product addresses multitasking and overloading with information,» Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Education press service said in a statement.
Reception and recognition
Around 20,000 users worldwide already use the digital assistant. The project raised $35,000 in investment at the start without revenue. Furthermore, it received a grant from Google to develop technical infrastructure.
What’s next
Martynyuk became...
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan of 90 billion tenge (about $173.6 million) to Kazakhstan’s Otbasy Bank to expand access to mortgages, particularly for women, and to support environmentally friendly housing finance.
The funding is part of the «Promoting Inclusive and Green Housing Finance» project.
Read also: Kazakh banks face 2025 profit dip amid tax and reserve hikes.
The program is expected to finance more than 2,000 mortgages, with priority given to women through the «Umai» program.
The initiative aims to improve access to housing finance...
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed direct communication with U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff during the ongoing conflict, while firmly rejecting claims that official negotiations are taking place.
«I receive messages from Witkoff directly, as before, and this does not mean that we are in negotiations,» Araghchi said. «There is no truth to the claim of negotiations with any party in Iran.»
The Iranian official also highlighted Tehran’s lack of trust in Washington, citing negative experiences in negotiations with the U.S.
«The...
FC Barcelona’s academy has signed a new player, 15-year-old Karim Mendikanov of Kazakhstan, who is set to join the team next season, according to Spanish sports media outlet Mundo Deportivo.
Mendikanov moved to Spain in 2022. The young player began his career with Cerdanyola FC, where he attracted attention. This season, he plays for Sant Cugat FC, where he has quickly established himself as a key player.
The outlet also highlighted Mendikanov’s ability to beat defenders and his skill in one-on-one situations, noting that he is one of the league’s top assist providers.
The young player’s vivid performance didn’t go...
Kazakhstan’s National Bank will consider lowering its base rate once inflation shows a sustained decline both month over month and year over year, and if forecasts are met, Governor Timur Suleimenov said.
He noted that in the second quarter, the economy is expected to continue adjusting to the new Tax Code, as well as changes in utility tariffs and fuel prices.
Read also: Kazakh banks face 2025 profit dip amid tax and reserve hikes.
A moratorium on changes to retail prices for AI-92 gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas expired...
A video showing a camel tied to a pipe outside a five-story apartment building in Aktau, western Kazakhstan, has gone viral on social media.
The clip was shared by the public group 112_aktau, with the caption: «Whose camel is this?»
According to Lada.kz, the video was filmed near Building No. 2 in the city’s 13th microdistrict.
Local authorities responded quickly. The city administration said...
Just over a quarter of online shoppers in Kazakhstan still pay cash on delivery, with that share rising to 57.5% in Astana.
At the same time, about half of all e-commerce transactions in the country fall in the range of 25,000 to 100,000 tenge (roughly $50 to $200). Kursiv.media analyzed new data from the Bureau of National Statistics to profile the typical Kazakhstani online shopper.
On average, 32.13% of users in Kazakhstan regularly shop online.
Regions show uneven adoption
Contrary to expectations, the East Kazakhstan region — not Almaty or Astana — leads the country in...
All motor vehicles in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, must obtain eco-stickers by the end of 2026. Authorities have set a strict deadline for the first time covering vehicle marking and city zoning. Up to one million vehicles will be subject to the requirements, Autostrada.uz reported.
Until recently, the system operated on a voluntary basis. Since January, drivers have been able to obtain a sticker via the my.gov.uz portal or at vehicle inspection centers run by the Road Traffic Safety Service.
The Ecology Committee has been tasked with dividing Tashkent into three types...