News

Starting July 11, a new international flight connecting Vietnam, the Czech Republic and Kazakhstan will be launched, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport press service reported.

Vietnamese carrier VietJet Air is set to launch the service on the Hanoi -Almaty-Prague route, to be operated twice a week using Airbus A330 aircraft.

This is a significant development for Kazakhstan, as it marks the first direct flights between Prague and Almaty.

The route will operate under the Open Skies regime, which facilitates the entry of foreign carriers into the market and the launch of new routes.

Cuba’s national power grid collapsed Monday, leaving nearly the entire population of about 11 million people without electricity. The outage underscored the island’s worsening energy crisis, driven by aging infrastructure and fuel shortages.

Much of Cuba’s electricity system depends on oil-fired plants, many of them outdated. Disruptions tied to U.S. restrictions on fuel imports have contributed to recurring breakdowns and widespread outages. The situation has triggered rare violent protests, Tangle reported.

Trump weighs stronger action

Amid the turmoil, Donald Trump has publicly floated the idea of taking control of what he described as a...

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the U.S. auto safety regulator, is taking a closer look at Tesla’s driver-assistance technology after several crashes, one of which was fatal, Reuters reported.

The investigation now includes about 3.2 million Tesla vehicles, which is nearly every car sold by the company in the U.S. If a safety problem is found, this review could lead to a recall or other legal action.

The main focus of the investigation is Tesla’s «degradation detection» feature. This tool is supposed to spot poor visibility and tell drivers to take control of the car.

The regulator...

A famous story of human kindness from a decade ago has been cast in metal, with a new art installation built over the riverbed of the Big Almaty River, which flows into the Sayran reservoir.

The sculptural composition recreates the moment of a dog rescue that touched millions of social media users in 2016, when a dog fell into the reservoir and a young man climbed down to reach it but could climb back up the steep revetment. Bystanders formed a human chain by linking arms and managing to pull out both the dog and the man.

A video of...

Four-time Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus revealed the composition of her team, which includes her fiancé, Brazilian entrepreneur Georgios Frangulis, and her puppy Ash, in a short interview with the Miami Open.

«I have a huge team. I have two coaches, a fitness coach, a hitting partner, a manager, agents. I have a statistics guy. I have a physio, of course. …no mental coach, my whole team is my mental coach and I’m a coach for them. So that’s how we get stronger,» the World No...

The U.S. government registered the domain aliens.gov on Wednesday, sparking speculation about its intended purpose. While it could be tied to immigration enforcement, that explanation appears unlikely, according to reporting by 404 Media.

The domain is not yet linked to an active website. Its registration follows remarks made about a month earlier by Donald Trump, who said he planned to push for the release of government records related to extraterrestrial life and UFOs.

Read also: Trump has a ‘handsome double’ living in the Urals.

Reports of UFOs — now...

Visitors to the Eiffel Tower can now experience a new perspective of the landmark through a recently opened suspension bridge installed between its east and west pillars, as reported by Euronews.

The attraction, known as «The Vertigo of the Tower,» spans 40 meters and is located nearly 60 meters above the ground on the monument’s first floor. The structure is fully enclosed in mesh and constructed with more than 25,000 panels.

Access to the bridge is included with any Eiffel Tower ticket. Visitors must scan a QR code on-site to reserve a time slot for up to 60 minutes...

Cybersecurity researchers from Lookout, iVerify and Google have identified a sophisticated spyware tool, named «Darksword,» capable of infiltrating Apple iPhones and stealing sensitive data, including cryptocurrency wallet information, Reuters reported.

The finding follows another recent iPhone spyware case, highlighting a growing market for advanced hacking tools targeting Apple devices. Earlier this month, Google and iVerify reported a separate spyware tool called «Coruna,» with Darksword later found on the same servers.

According to Google, Darksword has been used in multiple campaigns by commercial vendors and suspected state-linked actors, targeting users in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Malaysia and Ukraine.

Researchers said...

Trainers in application development for Apple platforms will be trained in Kazakhstan. The program will be launched as part of an initiative by Astana Hub and Apple, the technology park said in a statement.

Astana Hub and Apple are launching the Training of Trainers program in Kazakhstan, based at the Apple Authorized Training Centre for Education (AATCe), with instruction taking place at the alem.ai International Artificial Intelligence Center.

The training is scheduled to begin in May 2026. Participants will take part in an intensive four-day bootcamp led by an Apple-certified international trainer.

Eligible candidates must have...

Pop Mart has announced a partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment to develop a feature film based on its popular character Labubu, marking a significant step in the company’s efforts to expand beyond collectible toys into broader entertainment ventures, Reuters reported.

The planned film will be directed and produced by filmmaker Paul King, known for «Paddington,» «Paddington 2» and «Wonka.» The movie will combine live-action and CGI elements.

Labubu, a distinctive «ugly-cute» character created by artist and writer Kasing Lung, first appeared in Lung’s 2015 picture book series «The Monsters Trilogy.» Lung will serve as an executive producer...

Kazakh lawmaker Bakytzhan Bazarbek has proposed introducing a dedicated day for civil servants’ self-development, during which they would be freed from all work-related duties.

«We are now a nation that uses social media. We are not a reading nation,» Bazarbek said. «How many times has the president said, ‘You need to read books, you need to read books’? Therefore, my personal proposal is that, in the future — whether as part of this new draft law [on civil service] or separately — Friday or any other day of the week be fully designated as a day...

History shows that economists and researchers have struggled to accurately predict how new technologies will affect jobs and workers. Even experts currently studying artificial intelligence in the workplace acknowledge that their projections are informed but uncertain, according to a recent report by The Washington Post.

Shift from blue-collar to white-collar disruption

Unlike previous waves of automation, which primarily affected factory and trade workers, the rise of AI is expected to disrupt white-collar professions first. Roles involving cognitive and administrative tasks are increasingly exposed to automation.

New approach to measuring AI risk

Researchers from GovAI, a technology policy group...

Kuanysh Amangali left his hometown of Uralsk in western Kazakhstan at 15 to study in the capital, Astana. He enrolled at the Nazarbayev Intellectual School, beginning an independent life at a young age.

As the eldest of four children, he faced early responsibility. His first years in the capital were challenging — moving from a structured boarding school environment, where housing and meals were provided, to renting accommodation while continuing his studies.

A difficult start in IT

After graduating, Kuanysh entered Astana IT University, part of its first cohort of about 600 students. He chose information technology largely because his...

Renowned British designer John Galliano has officially announced his return to fashion, partnering not with a traditional luxury house but with Spanish retailer Zara, according to Vogue.

From haute couture to mass market

Galliano is known for his dramatic, theatrical approach to design and deep ties to high fashion. He led Dior for 15 years and, more recently, redefined runway presentations at Maison Margiela, turning them into immersive artistic performances. His departure from Margiela in 2024 marked the end of a notable era.

Read also: How...

The World Cup cross-country event in Oslo featured what seemed to be one of the strangest races in the history of ski sports. British athlete Gabriel Gledhill, 23, turned the challenging 50-kilometer course into a «party.»

Around the third lap, Gledhill decided that competing was boring and began accepting «gifts» from spectators, who offered the skier all sorts of things.

These included more than a dozen bottles of beer, a few shots of strong liquor and snus — smokeless tobacco popular in Scandinavian countries. Moreover, the athlete downed mouthwash. As Gledhill told local media, he mistook it for a drink...

Shakira plans to end her «Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour» in Spain with an unusual move: performing in a temporary, purpose-built venue dubbed «Estadio Shakira,» Euronews reported.

In a recent interview with Spanish broadcaster RTVE, the Colombian singer said she intends to create a stadium for the final show, marking a departure from traditional concert venues.

The announcement comes as Shakira returns to Spain following a period of intense public scrutiny. The country had long been central to her personal life, where she built a family with footballer Gerard Piqué before they broke up in 2022.

According to Moody’s Analytics, the U.S. recession risk is near a critical point, with its model showing a 49% probability over the next year. The firm also said the risk may be even higher due to the war in Iran and surging oil prices, Euronews reported.

The firm said its forecast for higher recession risk is based on weaker job growth, fewer building permits and lower consumer confidence. Moody’s Chief Economist Mark Zandi noted that recent U.S. job reports have been revised down, indicating the job market may be softer than initially reported.

The model highlighted that sudden...

Kazakhstan and the EU are set to reach a final agreement on visa procedures during 2026, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev said on the sidelines of the Mazhilis, the lower house of Kazakhstan’s parliament.

Journalists asked Kosherbayev whether the EU is being accommodating in the negotiations. In response, the official said the issue is a matter for bilateral discussion.

«This is not about who will win, but about how the sides view reaching a consensus,» he noted.

Kosherbayev added that the issue of visa-free travel to EU countries for Kazakhstani citizens remains open.

The patent for semaglutide, the compound behind drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic, developed by Novo Nordisk, is set to expire in India on Friday, potentially opening the door to cheaper generic versions, the BBC reported.

The change is expected to allow domestic pharmaceutical companies to produce lower-cost alternatives, increasing competition and driving prices down. Analysts say dozens of branded generics could enter the market within months, reflecting India’s highly competitive generics industry. Investment bank Jefferies has described the development as a potential turning point, estimating the Indian semaglutide market could reach $1 billion with wider adoption, even...

The 2000s star Ricky Martin is set to perform for the first time in Almaty. The Puerto Rican singer’s concert is scheduled for July 18 and will feature the biggest hits of his career.

The event will take place at Spartak Stadium in Almaty’s Central Park. Organizers promise a spectacular show as part of the world tour. The set list is expected to include the artist’s most recognizable songs, such as «Livin’ la Vida Loca,» «Maria,» «She Bangs» and «Nobody Wants to Be Lonely.»

Martin has long established himself as one of the leading stars of Latin pop music. He...

Rumors that Zendaya and Tom Holland have married grew after she was seen wearing a ring that looked like a wedding band, The Associated Press reported.

At the premiere of her new film «The Drama,» Zendaya told AP that she would not confirm any marriage rumors. Instead, she explained that she likes to keep her personal life private and tries to enjoy life in public while protecting what matters most to her.

«I think there’s a balance between hiding and then also just like living your life and enjoying your life and protecting things...

A thunderous boom startled northeast Ohio on Tuesday as a meteor exploded over the Greater Cleveland area. NASA later identified it as a small asteroid breaking apart in the atmosphere, according to Cleveland.com.

Initial reports from the National Weather Service suggested a sonic boom, but further analysis indicated the object was a roughly seven ton asteroid, about six feet in diameter.

The fireball was first observed about 50 miles above Lake Erie near Lorain, traveling at approximately 40,000 miles per hour. It moved about 34 miles through the upper atmosphere before disintegrating over Valley City in Medina County. NASA...

According to several South Korean media outlets, citing the Japan-based newspaper Choson Sinbo, North Korea has allegedly developed robots for educational and public use. One was reportedly shown to diplomats during the parliamentary poll on March 15, 2026.

According to the reports, a Pyongyang university of education has unveiled robots for educational purposes referred to as Dojeon and Sujae. The first reportedly serves as an assistant for teachers, providing explanations and answering students’ questions, while the latter is designed for home learning for children aged 1 to 10 and also features a...

China’s National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Corporation (CNODC) has continued filing lawsuits in Kazakh courts seeking to invalidate an April 8, 2025, order by the Ministry of Energy that revised tariffs for transporting Russian oil through Kazakhstan to China. The development was disclosed in financial statements from KazTransOil, the national pipeline operator and a subsidiary of KazMunayGas.

Joint pipeline operations at issue

Kazakhstan-China Pipeline (KCP), a joint venture equally owned by KazTransOil and CNODC, operates the Atasu-Alashankou and Kenkiyak-Kumkol oil pipelines.

Tariff changes and key routes

The order set a...