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Kazakhstan’s national mining company Tau-Ken Samruk — a subsidiary of the sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna — is set to develop deposits of rare and rare-earth metals in Rwanda jointly with the country’s Ngali Holdings, Samruk-Kazyna reported.

«Nurlan Zhakupov, the head of the fund, met with the management of the Rwanda Development Board, the Rwanda Mining Board and Ngali Holdings in Kigali (Rwanda)… Following the meeting, Tau-Ken Samruk JSC and Ngali Holdings signed the Term Sheet. The document provides for joint development of deposits of rare and rare-earth metals in Rwanda,» the fund said in a statement.

The doll art exhibition titled «From East to West» opened March 4 at the National Central Museum of Kazakhstan.

The exhibition features 140 works by 21 artisans from cities across Kazakhstan. According to organizers, each doll in the collection is unique. Even when a particular design becomes popular, artisans do not produce replicas for sale.

Read also: Stitches of the steppe: The forgotten art of traditional Kazakh dolls.

Exhibition organizer Tatyana Fisenko said she has been involved in the craft for nine years.

Prices reflect time and craftsmanship

Prices for...

World-renowned Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen and actress Samal Yeslyamova received awards from the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY), Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Culture and Information reported.

The awarding ceremony took place in Astana. Qudaibergen was recognized for his contribution to the development of Turkic culture. The artist received the Order of Cultural Ambassador of the Turkic World — the organization’s highest award.

Actress and Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Samal Yeslyamova, was honored with the organization’s special prize in the «Best Artist of the Turkic World» category for her contribution to the development of Turkic and global cinema.

TURKSOY Secretary General...

The U.S. granted India temporary permission to acquire Russian oil that is already aboard tankers at sea, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated.

He announced that the Treasury Department provided a 30-day exemption for Indian refineries.

«To enable oil to continue flowing into the global market, the Treasury Department is issuing a temporary 30-day waiver allowing Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil. This deliberately short-term measure will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government, as it only authorizes transactions involving oil already stranded at sea,» Bessent wrote on X.

According to the official...

For the first time since the military conflict in the Middle East began, Iran has launched a drone attack on Azerbaijani territory. The incident left civilians injured, while Tehran has not yet commented on the strike.

According to reports from Deutsche Welle, two Shahed-136 drones crashed near the airport in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, an Azerbaijani exclave bordering Iran, and near a school in the village of Shakarabad.

Read also: Ghost drones: Unexplained crashes in Kazakhstan’s west prompt urgent safety tips.

Two civilians were injured in the strikes, and...

Kazakhstani flagship carrier Air Astana announced an extension of cancellation of scheduled flights to Dubai, Jeddah, Medina and Doha up to March 10 inclusive. The ticket sales for these routes are suspended until March 17.

«Passengers may rebook their tickets free of charge until April 30 inclusive, or request a refund until March 11 inclusive,» the company said in a statement.

According to the Foreign Ministry, more than 9,000 Kazakh citizens remain in Middle Eastern countries affected by the conflict involving Iran, the U.S. and Israel

On March 4, the committee...

The United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) property sector is facing new uncertainty after Iranian missile strikes hit airports, ports and residential areas in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, raising investor concerns and testing the region’s reputation as a safe haven for global capital, Reuters reported.

Shares of major developers fell on Wednesday following the attacks. Aldar Properties and Emaar Properties both dropped about 5%, while bond prices of several large developers also declined. Bond markets, a key funding source for the sector, have largely closed to new issuance amid rising borrowing costs.

The UAE property market has experienced a strong...

A Kazakhstani vehicle registration plate was spotted at the «end of the world» — the world’s southernmost city of Ushuaia, Argentina.

A tourist from Almaty shared on Threads that she arrived in the city and noticed a familiar vehicle registration plate on the wall of a local shop. The plate was issued in Kazakhstan, precisely the Abai region (18th region).

Ushuaia is considered the world’s southernmost city and is a point of departure for expeditions to Antarctica, located around 1,000 kilometers from the continent. The city lies roughly 17,800 kilometers from Kazakhstan, thus the find surprised...

A U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed, according to the BBC.

Hegseth said the vessel was hit by a torpedo on Tuesday and sank quickly. He did not initially identify the ship. However, Sri Lanka later said it had responded to a distress call from an Iranian vessel, the Iris Dena, which went down about 40 kilometers off the country’s southern coast.

Sri Lankan officials said rescuers recovered 80 bodies from the frigate and rescued 32 survivors, who were taken to a hospital in the southern port of Galle...

On March 5, BTS revealed the poster and trailer for the “BTS The Comeback Live | Arirang” concert. The video was uploaded on the group’s official social media channels.

The trailer opens with loud screams from the fan base, ARMY, filling the concert venues. The group members say that they promised the fans they would be back.

The video also features Gyeongbokgung Palace. Against the historic backdrop, the phrase, «the world’s biggest band is back,» appears.

The trailer highlights all seven members: RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook, with dedicated frames for each.

China has set its annual economic growth target at 4.5% to 5%, the country’s lowest goal since 1991, reflecting challenges such as weak domestic spending, a property crisis and a shrinking population, according to Reuters.

The target was announced at China’s main annual political meetings, known as the «two sessions,» where the country’s top officials shared early details of the 15th Five-Year Plan. Once approved at the end of the week-long meeting, the document will set economic goals for the nation through 2030.

China last changed its growth target in 2023, setting it at «around 5%.» In...

Valve, developer of the cult shooter Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, has unexpectedly restored the game page on its online game marketplace Steam, which had been replaced by the most recent installment in the series, Counter-Strike 2. CS:GO is now available for download without complicated instructions or workarounds.

However, the game does not offer the full-fledged previous experience. Servers remain disabled, leaving users only with offline mode against bots. Nevertheless, fans have returned to the game for nostalgia.

Even with these limitations, interest has proven significant, with 8,500 gamers simultaneously launching the older installment. Notably, in its prime...

Robinhood Markets Inc., a California-based provider of an electronic trading platform, has announced a new premium product — the Platinum card — aimed at high-income users, Reuters reported.

The company’s Platinum card carries a $695 annual fee and offers cashback and other perks. Robinhood said these benefits could total up to $3,000 per year, putting it in line with premium cards from American Express and JPMorgan Chase. The American Express Platinum card costs $895 annually, while JPMorgan’s Chase Sapphire Reserve has a $795 annual fee. Both cards offer benefits valued at about $3,500 and $2,700, respectively.

Robinhood, which...

Samsung’s latest unveiled flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, won the industry’s prestigious «Best in Show» award at the Global Mobile Awards (GLOMO) during Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026, currently being held in Barcelona, Spain, the company said in a release.

The awards ceremony took place on March 4. The GLOMO Awards are held annually during MWC and are organized by the GSMA. The «Best in Show» award is granted following judging by over 200 industry experts and analysts.

Samsung said the device was recognized for its seamless combination of cutting-edge hardware...

Last year, when I came across an old photo online of Tom Cruise in a gray jacket standing next to an elderly Russian woman outside a private home with carved wooden window frames, I assumed it was AI-generated. It looked too improbable to be real. It wasn’t.

In the summer of 1987, Cruise made a private visit to the Soviet Union — a trip documented in the memoirs of the Russian filmmaker who accompanied him, along with a series of rare photographs taken at the time.

Hollywood stars — reimagined in 1990s Russia

The pictures below, however, are...

A satirical online campaign suggesting that Barron Trump, the youngest son of President Donald Trump, should be drafted into the military has emerged after the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran, Euronews reported.

The campaign centers on a website called DraftBarronTrump.com, created by former «South Park» writer Toby Morton. The site humorously suggests that the president’s 19-year-old son should join the military as the U.S. becomes involved in the conflict. The hashtag #SendBarron has spread widely on social media as part of the campaign.

Morton, who is known for purchasing internet domain names...

Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka announced her engagement to Georgios Frangulis, a businessman of Greek origin. Kursiv LifeStyle explains what is known about the couple. 

The athlete posted a video of a touching ceremony on Instagram. Sabalenka knelt on one knee to propose as they were surrounded by candles and huge flower arrangements.

«You & me, forever 3.3.26,» the caption read.

They...

The U.S. is considering new ways to protect oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating conflict with Iran. President Donald Trump said that these could include government-backed insurance and naval escorts for tankers, Reuters reported.

According to the president, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has been instructed to offer political risk insurance and financial guarantees to shipping companies working in the Gulf. He also said the U.S. Navy could escort commercial ships through the area if needed for security.

These measures are meant to keep oil moving through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway...

On March 3, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) unveiled the official Tournament Poster, with 100 days remaining until the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will take place in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

Canadian artist Carson Ting, Mexico’s Minerva GM and American Hank Willis Thomas contributed to the creation of the poster.

«The Official Tournament Poster celebrates the collaborative spirit, excitement and unity of this unique moment in time,» FIFA wrote in a release.

The central figure in the poster’s composition is a...

The latest Freedom Holding Corp. PMI indicated a renewed decline in service sector activity across Kazakhstan midway through the first quarter of 2026. Companies attributed the drop in new orders to January’s value-added tax (VAT) increase, which led to further sharp rises in both input costs and output prices in February. In response, firms reduced staffing levels, reversing the marginal job gains recorded in the opening month of the year.

The headline Freedom Holding Corp. PMI Business Activity Index fell below the neutral 50.0 mark midway through the first quarter. A reading of 48.0, down from 50.5 in January, signaled...

BTS, the globally recognized K-pop band, revealed the tracklist of its upcoming album «Arirang,» the group’s first in six years, scheduled for release on March 20, Billboard reported.

The album will consist of 14 songs. BTS posted the list on Instagram and Weverse. The release opens with «Body to Body.» Then follow «Hooligans,» «Aliens,» «FYA,» «2.0,» «No. 29» and «SWIM.» The second part of the album will bring fans «Merry Go Round,» «NORMAL,» «Like Animals,» «they don’t know ’bout us,» «One More Night» and «Please.»

Fans have already...

«Love Story» star Sarah Pidgeon, who portrayed Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, has been named the new face of the Rhode brand.

Read also: Asian models steal the spotlight on the Louis Vuitton and Dior runways.

The actress appears in the company’s first beauty campaign and introduces new spring makeup shades.

Focus on Rocket Blush

The launch centers on Rocket Blush. The line debuts...

Kazakhstan’s population reached 20,518,005 as of February 2026. Since the beginning of the year, the country has added 18,100 residents.

Natural increase remains the primary driver of growth. More than 15,800 babies have been born in Kazakhstan since Jan. 1. Net migration has also remained positive, totaling more than 2,300 people.

Read also: Meet Constitution: The unusual Kazakh names reflecting a nation in transition.

Urban areas are accounting for most of the growth. The urban population increased by 21,200 and now exceeds 13 million residents.

Meanwhile, the rural population declined by 3,000 people...

Chinese electric compact crossover SUV BYD Atto 3 ended up at the epicenter of a missile strike in Jerusalem, Israel, on March 1. The vehicle’s cabin remained structurally sound, and the high-voltage battery did not catch fire, despite being close to the explosion and the resulting crater, CarNewsChina reported.

According to Israeli emergency services, five people were in the car. The driver sustained moderate injuries, while the passengers escaped with minor injuries and shock.

Body intact, battery remains safe

The hit was not direct; as military experts note, most civilian vehicles would likely not survive a...