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Gonçalo Pires has been appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Kazakhstan’s flag carrier Air Astana, the company said in a statement. He will assume the role on March 1, 2026. Previously, Pires served as CFO of Portugal’s largest airline, TAP Air Portugal.

At Air Astana, he will replace Ibrahim Canliel. Last October, the company announced that Canliel will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective April 1, 2026. As a result, the outgoing and incoming CFOs will have one month for the transition.

What the new top manager is known for

Pires has...

Everyone is discussing the latest batch of documents released in the Epstein case. One Threads user, posting under the name bibossynovv — a tutor who prepares students for language exams — suggested an unconventional way to use the materials: studying English.

He uploaded nearly 900 pages of case documents to an AI tool and asked how they could be used for language learning. The result, he said, showed that the files are an ideal resource for IELTS Reading practice.

The documents are written in dense, formal legal language — the kind of...

The 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo begin today with alpine skiing. Downhill skiers are participating in official training runs, with results used to determine the starting order for the main competition.

Mixed doubles curling matches are also scheduled for today: Sweden vs. South Korea, Great Britain vs. Norway, Canada vs. Czechia and Estonia vs. Switzerland. Later, men’s singles luge official training will take place.

Kazakhstan has no athletes competing in these events. The country is represented by 36 athletes across 10 sports.

The official Opening Ceremony of the XXV...

A 13-year-old boy is being called a hero after he swam for hours through rough seas to save his mother and two younger siblings off the coast of Western Australia, the Associated Press reported.

The family from Perth was kayaking and paddleboarding when strong winds and large waves pulled them out to sea. As conditions worsened, Austin Appelbee decided to swim to shore for help. He swam about four kilometers through cold, rough water, leaving behind his inflatable kayak and life jacket to keep going. When he finally reached land, completely exhausted, he was able to alert rescuers.

In a recent interview, Kazakh lawmaker Aidos Sarym explained why Kazakhstan is considering licensing fortune tellers.

Asked whether he had ever consulted a fortune teller himself, Sarym said no, adding that he does not even believe in fairy tales, much less fortune telling. Still, he acknowledged that some members of society use such services. In his view, introducing reasonable restrictions and state oversight would be preferable to leaving the industry unregulated.

«At least let it stay within reasonable limits so that it does not lead to tragic consequences,» Sarym said. «Let them...

A U.S. F-35C jet, launched from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, destroyed an Iranian drone identified as a Shahed-139. The incident occurred approximately 800 kilometers from Iran’s southern coast. U.S. Central Command stated that the drone was «aggressively» approaching the carrier, even after U.S. forces attempted to de-escalate the situation in international waters, according to Associated Press.

This incident was not an isolated one. On the same day, Iranian forces allegedly “harassed” a U.S.-flagged commercial vessel, the Stena Imperative, in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to seize it. The vessel safely cleared the area...

Today is World Cancer Day, an international observance dedicated to raising awareness about cancer and promoting its prevention, early detection and treatment. In some countries, cancer is expected to surpass cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death.

Cancer is not a modern disease. It is an ancient illness that has accompanied humanity for thousands of years.

What cancer is

Cancer occurs when changes in a group of normal cells lead to uncontrolled, abnormal growth, forming a lump known as a tumor.

As American oncologist Siddhartha Mukherjee writes in «The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of...

Amid concerns about car safety, China will become the first country to prohibit hidden door handles on all vehicles, with the ban taking effect in 2027, Reuters reported.

The new regulation will require manufacturers to equip cars with both interior and exterior mechanical door handles, with interior handles required to be clearly visible to occupants. According to The Guardian, the handle recess must measure at least 6 centimeters by 2 centimeters by 2.5 centimeters.

New vehicle models will be required to comply with the regulation starting Jan. 1, 2027, while models already...

Plans for a new landmark in the Charyn Canyon system — a glass bridge over the Black Canyon — have been revealed.

The project was showcased at a meeting between Almaty Region Gov. Marat Sultangaziyev and construction companies, held to review investment projects for the region’s tourism development. The glass bridge project is estimated at a total value of approximately $3 million, with the facility expected to welcome between 400,000 and 600,000 tourists annually once fully operational.

Preparatory work is already underway. In 2024, the site was connected to the electric power grid. Site leveling for...

China’s Hong Kong–based Sino-Science Oil and Gas Co. Ltd., also known as Geo-Jade Petroleum, plans to produce up to 1 trillion cubic meters of natural gas from the Sozak field in southern Kazakhstan, according to Sultangali Kinzhakulov, CEO of Kazakh Invest.

Kinzhakulov said the project involves reinvesting profits earned by the Chinese company back into Kazakhstan. Development of the Sozak field is expected to continue through 2045.

Based on the investor’s projections, total tax and fee revenues from the field over its full life cycle could reach $5 billion by 2045. Geo-Jade Petroleum plans...

Modern electric cars tend to resemble smartphones on wheels; however, Kia has decided to oppose the all-touchscreen control trend. The manufacturer will retain physical buttons in the interiors of its new models, guided by safety considerations and customer demand, according to The Drive.

Why classics beat touchscreens

Tom Kearns, chief designer at Kia Design Center America, confirmed that the company does not plan to assign all controls to touchscreens. Models such as the EV9 will continue to be equipped with physical switches for controlling volume and heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

The primary reason is...

On Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, conversations tend to focus more on gifts for women than for men. Each year, social media fills with debates over what to buy for a boyfriend or husband.

Why it’s hard to choose a gift for men

There is no universally accepted «default» gift for men, especially in the early stages of a relationship. Women traditionally receive flowers, sweets or jewelry. Men, by contrast, are less likely to spell out what they want and rarely make wish lists.

How to figure out what to give

Even if you want...

Federal prosecutors in Chicago have indicted two Kazakh citizens in connection with a large-scale health care fraud scheme involving private insurance and Medicare. Investigators estimate that losses to public and private insurers exceeded $1 billion.

Case against Anuar Abdrakhmanov

One indictment centers on Anuar Abdrakhmanov, a Kazakh citizen accused of conspiring to launder proceeds from Medicare fraud.

According to court records, Abdrakhmanov gained control of Priority One Medical Equipment, a Kentucky-registered company, and allegedly used it to submit fraudulent claims for durable medical equipment.

Between March and August 2024, the company submitted roughly $666 million in false reimbursement...

Kanye West, now known as Ye, has given new momentum to antisemitic voices worldwide. Calling him simply a rapper or hip-hop artist understates his influence, as he remains one of the most consequential cultural figures not only in the U.S. but across the globe, according to Isaac Saul of Tangle.

A public apology amid controversy

Last week, West purchased a full-page ad in The Wall Street Journal in which he apologized for antisemitic remarks and rejected accusations that he is a Nazi. He attributed his behavior to a manic episode, writing that he had lost touch...

Vietnamese carrier VietJet Air is considering launching regular flights on the Hanoi-Almaty-Prague route in 2026.

The plans were discussed at a meeting between Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Hoa Binh.

Moreover, the establishment of a nonstop flight between Astana and Hanoi is being discussed, along with the reintroduction of the Almaty-Ho Chi Minh City flight.

If the plans are implemented, travel to Vietnam will become significantly easier, eliminating transfers and complex routes.

Previously, Air Astana announced nonstop flights to Cyprus departing from Almaty and Astana.

Kazakhstani UFC fighter Shavkat Rakhmonov held second place in the welterweight (up to 77 kilograms) division ranking. However, following a recent update, he was removed from the list, sports journalist John Morgan reported.

He wrote on X that in the previous rankings cycle, Rakhmonov was included among the athletes eligible to participate in tournaments. However, due to news of his injury, the athlete’s name is absent in the latest version.

Shavkat Rakhmonov has been pulled from the welterweight rankings.

He was listed in the eligible pool of athletes during last rankings cycle, but with...

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the U.S. will lower tariffs on Indian goods to 18%. This decision comes after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to stop buying Russian oil and work on improving trade relations with the U.S., according to Euronews.

Trump also said that India agreed to buy $500 billion in American goods and will reduce import taxes on U.S. products to zero. He shared the news about the tariff cut on Truth Social, calling the agreement a potential step toward ending the war in Ukraine.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, India...

Xinhua, a prominent Chinese news agency, reported that on Feb. 5, the Olympic Council of Asia and Kazakhstan will sign an agreement to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games in Almaty.

In 2022, Saudi Arabia was designated to host the Games; however, the ambitious project to run a winter sports event in the desert was abandoned in January. The reason lies in a significant construction delay of the planned modern city of Neom, which was meant to host the Games. In particular, the Trojena ski resort will definitely not be commissioned by 2029.

Almaty has already...

Kazakhstan’s Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market and the National Bank have approved new rules allowing banks with universal licenses, as well as Islamic banks, to operate with digital financial assets.

Three categories of digital assets

Under the regulations, banks may conduct transactions involving three types of digital financial assets:

Limits for Islamic banks

Islamic banks and...

Amid growing global anticipation surrounding the return of the globally recognized K-pop group BTS with a world tour and upcoming album “Arirang,” Netflix announced it will livestream the group’s first concert in three years and nine months.

BTS X NETFLIX

BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG @ March 21 8pm KST / 4am PST 🎤 BTS will perform at historic Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. LIVE worldwide exclusively on Netflix.

BTS: THE RETURN, DOCUMENTARY FILM @ March 27 🎥 BTS: THE RETURN, a documentary film showcasing the… pic.twitter.com/x36DC1KSZ9

— Netflix (@netflix) February 3, 2026

In January, shares of Kazatomprom traded on Kazakhstan’s KASE and AIX exchanges rose 49.5%. The uranium giant led all Kazakhstani firms in both share price growth and trading volume, economist Arman Batayev said on his Telegram channel.

Policy shifts boost nuclear outlook

Batayev attributed the rally to foreign policy and economic factors, including simplified U.S. licensing rules for nuclear fuel production and increased investment in the nuclear sector as Western countries seek alternatives to Russian fuel. The European Union has also announced plans to stop purchasing uranium from Russia starting...

Kazakhstan is set to restrict access to surrogacy services to its own citizens. Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said an initiative to bar foreigners from using Kazakhstani surrogacy programs will soon be submitted to parliament for consideration.

«There is a pressing need to amend legislation to establish a provision under which surrogacy services in Kazakhstan would be available exclusively to citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan,» Bozumbayev said.

Legal amendments under review

According to Bozumbayev, the proposed changes to the Code on Marriage and Family were drafted by the Ministry...

Travelers who enjoy spotting rare and striking bird species may want to add Kazakhstan to their list of destinations. The country’s diverse landscapes, from urban green spaces to mountain gorges, make it an unexpected draw for birdwatchers.

Beauty hidden in plain sight

Online, it is easy to find the work of local photographers who document birds often overlooked in city environments. Their images reveal a side of urban wildlife that rarely captures public attention.

The bird shown in the first image, captured by photographer Galym Baitimbetov, is one of the most endearing species found in the...

Kazakhstan’s second nuclear power plant (NPP), to be built by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), will also be located in the Zhambyl district of the Almaty region, according to a government decree dated Jan. 26.

Russia awarded first nuclear project

Kazakhstan’s first NPP will be built by Russia’s state-owned nuclear company, Rosatom, which won the consortium tender on June 2025. That project is designed to have a total capacity of 2.4 gigawatts, consisting of two VVER-1200 reactors rated at 1.2 gigawatts each.

China leads additional projects

Following that decision, the...