News

A U.S. special forces soldier has been charged with using classified information about a military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to make more than $400,000 in an online prediction market, the Associated Press reported.

Prosecutors allege that Gannon Ken Van Dyke, 38, used his access to sensitive information related to the January operation to place bets on Polymarket regarding Maduro’s removal from power. He now faces multiple charges, including fraud, theft of government information and unlawful use of confidential data.

According to officials, Van Dyke was involved in planning and executing the operation and had signed...

An internal Pentagon email outlines potential measures the U.S. could take against NATO allies it views as uncooperative during the war with Iran, according to a report by Reuters.

The proposals reflect frustration within the Trump administration over some allies’ reluctance to grant access, basing rights and overflight permissions (ABO) for U.S. operations. The email describes such support as a minimum expectation within the alliance.

Among the options under consideration is suspending certain countries from key NATO roles, with Spain specifically mentioned as a potential target. The document suggests such a move would carry symbolic weight, even if it...

The European Union has adopted its 20th package of sanctions against Russia, which includes Kazakhstan-based United Trading Group. EU officials said the company may have been involved in schemes to circumvent export restrictions, as well as in supplying products used in high-tech manufacturing.

Read also: Beyond borders: A UK lawyer’s roadmap to avoiding sanctions in Central Asia.

The sanctions package targets 16 organizations from third countries, including China, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Belarus. According to EU authorities in Brussels, these entities are suspected of supplying dual-use goods or...

An Almaty resident has launched a heartfelt challenge on Threads, offering to give away her school prom dress to 11th-grade students whose families cannot afford expensive outfits.

«Many of us have dresses hanging at home that were worn only once — for those same four to five hours… I want to give my dress to a graduate who cannot afford an outfit for that day. Let her also feel celebration, confidence and beauty,» she wrote.

Initiative spreads across cities and countries

The idea quickly gained traction, with women from other cities and even...

Platform workers should be guaranteed basic labor benefits — including the right to paid vacation and sick leave — according to Kazakh lawmaker Bibigul Zheksenbai. She has also proposed introducing a minimum hourly wage for platform workers.

Proposal targets drivers and couriers

The initiative would apply to taxi drivers and couriers, whose number has already reached more than 394,000 in Kazakhstan. Although these workers effectively operate under structured conditions — including schedules, tariffs and rating systems — they are not formally protected by employment contracts.

«To ensure adequate protection for workers in the platform...

Heartburn is a common experience — a burning sensation or chest discomfort after a heavy meal, coffee or spicy food. In most cases, it’s temporary. But when it becomes frequent, it may indicate an underlying condition.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a chronic condition caused by the repeated backflow of stomach contents into the esophagus.

What causes GERD

Between the esophagus and the stomach is a muscular valve known as the lower esophageal sphincter. Normally, it closes after food passes through. If this function is impaired, stomach acid can flow back into the esophagus, irritating its lining.

Police in the Karaganda region, Kazakhstan, have detained a man who allegedly spent five years hiding from authorities in a concealed space inside a toilet compartment at a private home.

The 43-year-old suspect had been on an international wanted list on charges of extorting 117 million tenge (about $250,000) and making threats, according to law enforcement officials.

Arrest made during operation

The man was discovered during an investigative operation. Authorities said he had managed to evade capture for years by maintaining strict secrecy about his whereabouts.

He has now been arrested and placed in a temporary detention facility. A pretrial...

Kazakhmys Copper, which consolidates the copper assets of Vladimir Kim, will not delist from the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange. The decision was made by the company’s sole shareholder.

The shareholder reversed an earlier decision, announced April 14, to voluntarily delist the company’s shares from KASE. As a result, the shares will remain listed on the exchange, although they are not actively traded.

Asset structure and ownership

Kazakhmys Copper manages assets previously held by Kazakhmys Corporation before their sale to Nurlan Artykbayev, owner of the construction firm Qazaq Stroy.

In January 2025, subsidiary Qaz Copper Group was established...

Since the beginning of 2026, 13,989 so-called temporary residence permits (TRPs) have been issued to Russians in Kazakhstan. This is a small number, even considering that it is only the beginning of the year. In 2022, the first year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, 138,259 TRPs were issued. In 2025, 69,894 TRPs were issued, indicating that over the past four years, the number of TRPs has nearly halved.

This trend could indicate several things. First, Russian residents may be physically leaving Kazakhstan. Second, they may be moving to the «next level» by obtaining a permanent residence permit (PRP). The...

The Russian Ministry of Culture has refused to issue a distribution permit for the film «Hana Korea,» which was scheduled for release in theaters on April 30.

According to distributor U Films, the ministry cited a rule allowing permits to be denied «in other cases stipulated by federal laws.» No further explanation was provided.

«We are deeply sorry that Russian audiences will not have the legal opportunity to see this touching film,» U Films said in a statement.

The film, directed by Danish filmmaker Frederik Sølberg, tells the story of Hyesun, who flees from...

The Florida mansion featured in the iconic film “Scarface” has been listed for $237 million, potentially making it the most expensive residential property ever offered in Miami-Dade County.

In the movie, the estate serves as the home of drug lord Frank Lopez. It is where Tony Montana first visits for key meetings and later meets Elvira, before ultimately killing Lopez and taking over his business.

The property is located on Key Biscayne and spans approximately one hectare. It offers direct ocean access and includes 862 meters of waterfront with views of Miami. One of its most distinctive features is...

The Kaspi.kz app has introduced a new «split bill» feature that allows users to divide payments among multiple people after a shared order at a café or restaurant, according to Finratings.

How it works

The process is straightforward: one person pays the full bill using Kaspi QR. After the transaction, a «split amount» button appears in the payment details. The payer can then send a link to others in the group. Each participant can select their portion — either specific items or a share of the total — and pay directly within the app.

Simplifying group payments

The...

A former employee of a media company founded by YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson has filed a lawsuit alleging workplace harassment and gender bias, The Associated Press reported.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in North Carolina by Lorrayne Mavromatis, names MrBeastYouTube, LLC and GameChanger 24/7, LLC as defendants. It accuses the companies of violating federal law that guarantees eligible employees unpaid, job-protected leave for family and medical reasons, including childbirth. Mavromatis also filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging discrimination based on sex, pregnancy and retaliation.

Mavromatis said she continued working immediately after giving birth, including...

The escalation of conflict in the Middle East, along with the risk of a closure of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, is putting significant pressure not only on global energy markets but also on the economic stability of countries across the region.

Amid rising geopolitical uncertainty and the potential disruption of supply chains, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised its GDP growth forecasts for Gulf states, sharply lowering its outlook.

Qatar sees sharp downgrade, followed by rebound

Qatar experienced the most dramatic revision among Gulf countries. The IMF cut its 2026 growth forecast by...

A bill banning people born after 2008 from buying tobacco in the U.K. has completed its passage through parliament, marking a major step in the government’s effort to create a «smoke-free generation,» The Guardian reported.

Under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2009, will never be legally sold tobacco products. The legislation is expected to become law next week after receiving royal assent, following its introduction in November 2024 and final approval by the House of Lords after amendments from the House of Commons.

Ministers say the policy aims to phase out...

Kazakh economist Rassul Rysmambetov has proposed increasing accountability for senior civil servants by introducing a 15-year ban on leaving the country after stepping down from office. He argued that top officials should have to live with the outcomes of the systems and policies they helped create.

Proposal to tighten accountability

Speaking on the Check Point Talk YouTube podcast, Rysmambetov said Kazakhstan needs to improve the performance of top managers in the quasi-public sector and senior government officials to curb corruption and capital flight. One of the key issues, he said, is that officials can...

A robot developed by Sony AI has defeated elite table tennis players in a notable step for robotics in competitive sports. The system, called Ace, won three out of five matches against elite opponents but lost both matches against professional players, winning only one game across those contests, The Guardian reported.

Ace operates using an eight-jointed robotic arm mounted on a movable base and relies on multiple cameras positioned around the court. By analyzing visual data, including the ball’s logo, the system estimates spin and trajectory in milliseconds.

The results, obtained under official competition rules, highlight progress in a...

Nightclubs and bars in Almaty have begun installing “smart” cameras that analyze patrons and help identify minors, law enforcement officials said. The effort is intended to strengthen oversight of teenagers amid a reported rise in youth-related incidents, according to the KTK television channel.

Police say school-age children are increasingly involved in late-night activity, including staying out after hours, getting into fights, and engaging in other risky behavior.

Facial recognition in nightlife venues

According to authorities, facial recognition cameras have already been installed in 20 entertainment venues across the city. If a minor is identified, they will be taken...

Relatives of 22-year-old Kazakh citizen Yernur Almakhan, who was sentenced to life in prison in Dubai, say they do not believe he is guilty and suspect he may have been framed, according to local outlet Ak Zhaiyk.

Yernur’s relatives were unaware of the charges for an extended period and only learned of the verdict in April 2026. The ruling was issued by a court of first instance on March 18. An appeal has already been filed, with a hearing scheduled for April 27.

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the case and said the verdict has...

Domestic trade remains one of the largest sectors of Kazakhstan’s economy, accounting for 19.2% of GDP at the end of 2025. However, the sector showed signs of cooling in early 2026, with growth slowing to 4.8% in the first quarter, down from 6.3% a year earlier.

Wholesale trade drives overall growth

Wholesale trade remained the primary growth driver. In real terms, it expanded 5.8% year over year to 10.8 trillion tenge (approx. $23 billion) by the end of the first quarter, according to the Bureau of National Statistics. The segment accounted for 67.6% of total domestic trade turnover.

Celebrated annually on April 23, National Book Day honors Kazakhstan’s literary heritage. Its mission is to foster a culture of reading, support domestic authors, and preserve the nation’s intellectual and cultural identity.

Read also: Inside the library behind bars: The most popular books in prison.

Prominent Kazakh scholar Akhmet Baitursynuly described the book as «a core instrument for knowledge dissemination» and argued that the pursuit of knowledge should come through producing books that share learning among Kazakhs.

Many thinkers across history have reflected on the enduring value of books...

More than 1,300 glaciers in Tajikistan — accounting for about 60% of Central Asia’s water resources — have completely melted, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon said at the Astana summit, warning that ecosystem degradation is fueling abnormal dust storms that now last up to seven months a year.

Accelerating glacier loss threatens water security

According to Rahmon, more than 1,300 of the country’s roughly 14,000 glaciers have already disappeared. The process is accelerating, disrupting the regional water balance and increasing the risk of natural disasters across Central Asia.

«Up to...

A video circulating on social media shows a camel wandering through a trash-strewn zhailau (seasonal pasture) in the Mangystau region. Officials said plastic bags and bottles were blown from a nearby landfill and pledged to clean up the area as soon as possible.

The incident occurred in the village of Bayandy in the Munaily district, near a solid waste landfill.

The regional Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management said...

Kazakhstan has become one of the top three countries for the Russian messaging app Max outside of Russia. Users are actively downloading the app to stay in touch with relatives and friends in Russia.

According to Izvestia, Kazakhstan is among the top three countries by number of registrations, following Uzbekistan and Belarus. Currently, around 7 million foreign citizens use the messenger, 90% of whom are CIS residents.

Uzbekistan leads the way with 2.3 million users. Belarus ranks second, followed by Kazakhstan with 1.2 million registrations. Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan round out the top five.

Users outside of Russia make approximately...