News

In the heart of Almaty’s historic center, the outline of a massive new building has come into view. Rather than adding a new architectural landmark, however, the project is poised to significantly reshape daily life in the surrounding area.

The new Hilton Almaty rises on the site of the former Union of Architects of Kazakhstan building, at the corner of Kaldayakov and Kazybek Bi streets. About 200 meters away is Panfilov Park, while the long-neglected Cinema House stands across the street.

Architecture draws criticism

The hotel and business center has been criticized as architecturally unremarkable. Clad in gray-green glass...

A bill to toughen penalties for attacks on or pressure against medical workers has been published for public consideration in Kyrgyzstan, 24.KG reported.

Up to eight years in prison

According to the draft law, the punishment will depend on the consequences. Fines of 20,000 to 100,000 soms ($228 to $1,143) or correctional labor are provided for unlawful actions. If an attack results in serious consequences, the punishment may be imprisonment for up to eight years.

Administrative penalties for insults and pressure on medical personnel are also being introduced; violators will face fines of up to 10,000 soms ($114).

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) President Tamás Jakkel. During the meeting, they discussed preserving the unique gene pool of the Kazakh Tazy and Tobet dog breeds and strengthening their positions on the global stage.

Global recognition

A key point of the meeting was the international status of the Tazy, a traditional Kazakh dog breed. Tokayev expressed gratitude to Jakkel for the FCI General Committee’s preliminary recognition of the breed in September 2024.

The president emphasized that the Tazy has historically been one of the seven sacred treasures of the Kazakh people, known as...

Kazakhstan plans to introduce a horizontal promotion model in civil service. Officials will be able to receive bonuses and advance in status without an actual change of position. Interestingly, artificial intelligence (AI) will be responsible for making promotion decisions, according to Salauat Muksimov, Deputy Chairman of the Agency for Civil Service Affairs of Kazakhstan. He presented the draft law in the Senate (the upper house of parliament).

What is a «horizontal» career in the civil service?

Previously, an official’s salary increase depended directly on the availability of a higher-level position. The new model allows professionals to grow their income...

New illuminated fountains have been installed in the capital of Kyrgyzstan. The installation is at the intersection of Abdrakhmanov Street (formerly Sovetskaya) and Chui Avenue, in one of Bishkek’s central districts.

According to images circulating on social media, the fountain complex features a modern design with dynamic lighting. In the evening, the water jets are illuminated in a range of colors, from warm gold to bright blue.

According to Akchabar.kz, the new fountains are part of broader improvements to the city center. Bishkek authorities had previously announced plans to restore fountain areas along Chui Avenue. Renovation and construction...

In the Turkish city of Batman, an unusual «traffic incident» took place when a wild boar charged onto a busy road and slammed into a man crossing the street. Footage of the encounter quickly went viral on social media, with some users joking about the animal’s reckless dash.

A hit-and-run, boar style

The video shows the pedestrian unable to react as the animal barrels toward him at full speed. After the impact, the boar didn’t slow down, continuing its chaotic run and knocking into two more men who tried to get out of its way.

The animal then...

The U.S. has returned 337 ancient artifacts to Italy that were illegally removed from the country, in one of the largest recent recoveries of stolen cultural property, Reuters reported.

The artifacts include Roman sculptures as well as Greek, Etruscan and Egyptian objects. They were presented in Rome at the headquarters of Italy’s Carabinieri Art Squad following a series of investigations, many of them centered in New York.

Among the most significant items are a first-century A.D. marble head of Alexander the Great, stolen from a Roman museum in 1960, and a bronze sculpture looted from Herculaneum. The collection...

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution calling for a uniform definition of rape across the European Union, according to Euronews.

The document proposes that any sexual act without consent should be considered rape.

Clear consent as the standard

The resolution is based on the principle that only clear, affirmative, freely given and unambiguous consent is valid. It emphasizes that silence, lack of resistance or the absence of an explicit refusal cannot be interpreted as consent.

The text also clarifies that prior consent, a previous sexual relationship or marriage do not automatically constitute consent to sexual intercourse.

Push to address...

In India’s eastern state of Odisha, a man exhumed his sister’s body three months after her death and carried it about 3 kilometers to a bank branch, according to India Today.

The woman died in January after an illness, the report said. She had 19,000 rupees (about $230) remaining in her bank account, but her brother was unable to access the funds.

Read also: Kazakh woman returns home after being declared dead.

The man said he had contacted the bank several times, but employees refused to release the money without the account...

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with NVIDIA Vice President of Global AI Infrastructure Growth Nico Caprez, as well as Firebird AI co-founders Razmig Hovaghimian and Alexander Yesayan.

E-government within three years

During the meeting, the parties discussed the development of artificial intelligence and the creation of modern digital infrastructure in the country, according to the president’s press service. In particular, they explored potential cooperation in the design, construction and operation of AI infrastructure.

This follows Tokayev’s statement that Kazakhstan aims to become a fully digital state within the next three years.

The president also emphasized that the launch of...

This weekend, former UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena will face the division’s No. 5-ranked fighter, Carlos Prates. The bout is scheduled for May 2 at a UFC event in Australia.

Mixed martial arts commentator Mikhail Kraimer, author of the Vestnik MMA Telegram channel, shared his prediction in an interview with Kursiv.media.

A striking battle — or a tactical surprise?

«We should expect a spectacular matchup between two elite strikers that is unlikely to go to the judges’ scorecards, given that they’ve already combined for 30 knockouts,» Kraimer said.

«But...

Georgian-Ukrainian businessman Niki Lomia has married Ukrainian model Nika Kuznetsova in a lavish ceremony on the Côte d’Azur. Based on photos shared on social media, the celebration took place at the Château de la Croix des Gardes, a seaside villa overlooking Cannes and known for hosting high-profile events.

The two-day wedding unfolded at one of the French Riviera’s most exclusive venues, with estimates suggesting the budget may have exceeded...

Kazakhstan has no plans to change its format of participation in the OPEC+, the country’s Energy Ministry said.

«Currently, the issue of changing the country’s format of participation in the alliance is not on the agenda,» the ministry said in a statement.

Market context

Reports that the United Arab Emirates would withdraw from both OPEC and OPEC+ effective May 1 have drawn market attention, as such a move would allow the country to increase oil production.

Amid the news, Brent crude prices rose. June futures on the Intercontinental Exchange were recently trading...

Singer Dua Lipa and actor Callum Turner are planning a wedding in Palermo, according to Italian newspaper Giornale di Sicilia.

The celebration is reportedly scheduled for September and expected to span three days, from Sept. 5 to 7.

Why Palermo

The choice of location appears to be personal. The couple vacationed in Palermo last summer and, based on social media posts, formed a strong connection to the city. Lipa shared photos at the time, writing that Palermo remained «in her heart.» During the same trip, they also visited the Amalfi Coast.

Star-studded guest list

Lipa previously...

An unusual ad from a Kazakhstan-based condom brand has gone viral on social media, with the company seeking a «gandomier» — a playful Russian coinage modeled after «sommelier» — to test its products.

What the job entails

While machines handle most large-scale testing, human «condom testers» are a legitimate part of product research. According to Cosmopolitan, organizations such as the California Family Health Council recruit thousands of couples for studies on breakage and slippage.

Participants in such studies are typically required to have sex multiple times — often five to eight — and complete detailed...

The National Bank of Kazakhstan may cut its base rate at its June meeting, according to Akylzhan Baimagambetov, deputy governor of the central bank.

«A transition to a lower base rate is possible if inflation slows sustainably. Currently, the National Bank is closely monitoring the economic situation to make a balanced and economically sound decision,» Baimagambetov said. «The June meeting will be pivotal, and macroeconomic forecasts will be updated. The Monetary Policy Committee does not make decisions in advance; they are based on a comprehensive analysis and discussion of current data.»

Notably, at...

A video showing a shoe-fitting vending machine in China has gone viral. Located in shopping malls, the machines allow customers to determine their exact shoe size and save their measurements in a mobile app. Kursiv LifeStyle looked at how the system works.

To determine the correct fit, the machine measures several foot parameters, including width, instep, bunion protrusion and toe position. The app’s algorithms then use the data to recommend shoes based on the user’s individual profile.

«Once you complete the measurement process, you can order any brand, color or style — anything you want...

A Kazakh citizen has been detained in Germany on suspicion of espionage. The suspect, identified as Sergey K., may have worked for Russian intelligence, passing on details of military aid to Ukraine as well as information about Germany’s defense industry, according to Berliner Morgenpost.

German authorities believe the suspect was engaged in illegal activities for several months. He is expected to appear in court in the next few days.

What is the suspect accused of?

According to the Office of the Federal Public Prosecutor General, the Kazakh citizen had been in contact with Russian intelligence services since May...

Britain’s King Charles III, who is on a state visit to the U.S., addressed Congress, emphasizing the importance of the long-standing relationship between the U.K. and the U.S. amid current global challenges, the BBC reported.

He opened by acknowledging a period of «great uncertainty,» referring to conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, as well as threats to democratic institutions. The king noted that while the two countries do not always agree, they can achieve significant outcomes when aligned, benefiting not only their own citizens but others globally.

The king also highlighted the importance of limits on...

The Russian State Library has established a “special collection” containing thousands of Ukrainian books seized from occupied territories to study what officials term the “genesis of Russophobia,” according to a report by Novaya Gazeta.

Library Director Vadim Duda stated that the archive, known as a spetskhran, currently houses between 10,000 and 12,000 volumes. Duda characterized the works as “openly nationalistic” texts that “distort history” by downplaying Russia’s role in World War II and attributing traits such as “savagery and cruelty” to the Russian people. One specific title highlighted as “absurd” by the director is “Russia’s Wars Against Ukraine...

The revived Russian automotive brand Russo-Balt, which flourished in the late days of Tsarist Russia, has revealed details about its future flagship, the C55 crossover. The fully electric vehicle features a design clearly inspired by the Tesla Cybertruck. Representatives of the Perm-based company also shared preliminary pricing and specifications.

Base version price

The base five-seat version of the C55 is priced at 8 million rubles (about $106,500). Preorders are already open, but deliveries are not expected to begin until 2027. An official test drive is scheduled for late summer 2026.

The developers say they have created an electric...

Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ) has spent more than $218.2 million on railcars produced by Stadler Kazakhstan, an Astana-based subsidiary of the Swiss company Stadler Rail. However, the trains have not yet entered service, reportedly due to technical issues.

During a media briefing, Deputy Transport Minister Maksat Kaliakparov was asked why the Stadler railcars are not yet operational, even though their launch had been expected earlier this month.

«We have already tested Stadler railcars in pilot mode. As a result, we identified a number of technical issues and received comments from the railway operator. Stadler has committed to...

Central Asia has moved from the global periphery to the heart of a four-way geostrategy contest between the U.S., Russia, the EU, and China, according to an analysis by Hao Nan, a research fellow at the Charhar Institute.

Read also: Why Central Asia is absent from Trump’s new US security strategy.

While regional leaders are increasingly diversifying their diplomatic portfolios, Hao notes that structural realities continue to favor China and Russia as core partners.

Beijing has become the region’s dominant trading partner, with 2024 trade figures reaching $94.8 billion...

Three former high-ranking Kyrgyz officials have been officially charged in a case related to the so-called «Letter 75,» the 24.KG news agency reported.

What we know

According to lawyer Sherdor Abdykaparov, former head of the State Committee for National Security (GKNB) Kamchybek Tashiev, former lawmaker Kurmankul Zulushev and former speaker of the Jogorku Kenesh (Supreme Council) Nurlanbek Shakiyev have been formally charged. The charges are the same as those faced by other defendants in the case: organizing mass riots and actions that investigators classify as an attempted coup.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, the news agency reported...