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Kazakhstan Chess Federation (KazChess) President Timur Turlov has officially announced that he will run for International Chess Federation (FIDE) deputy president.

FIDE leadership elections will be held Sept. 26-27, 2026, in Samarkand during the organization’s General Assembly. During the same period, the city will also host the 46th Chess Olympiad.

Under FIDE rules, candidates for president and deputy president run on a joint ticket. As a result, Turlov has joined the team of current FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, who is also seeking re-election.

«The results we have achieved over the past three and a half years...

UK-based mining company East Star Resources is preparing to begin drilling at the Verkhuba deposit in the East Kazakhstan region to explore its reserves. The project will be financed through to the production stage by Chinese Xinhai, with which the British company has formed a joint venture in the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). Economist Arman Batayev highlighted the development.

East Star Resources reported on the London Stock Exchange on the progress of the Verkhuba project. In March, the company formally signed an agreement to establish a joint venture with Hong Kong...

Vehicle production in Kazakhstan continues to grow. In May 2026, domestic manufacturers produced 41.7% more vehicles than a year earlier, while output for the first five months of the year rose 36.1%, the Kazakhstan Automobile Union (KAU) reported.

According to Kazakhstan’s Bureau of National Statistics, 78,580 vehicles and related equipment were produced in Kazakhstan between January and May 2026. The total includes passenger cars, trucks, buses, special-purpose vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers.

In May alone, manufacturers produced 15,178 vehicles, up 41.7% from May 2025. However, production declined by 16.3% compared with April.

Head of KAU Anar Makasheva believes the localization of...

Kazakh entrepreneur Sultan Talip has launched a construction company in the U.S. and has already begun building single-family homes for sale. As he shared on Facebook, he hopes to earn $1 billion by 2035.

«I’m that Kazakh guy who started a construction company in America and began building single-family homes here. We’re currently working in Florida, and this house has 250 square meters of covered living space. We started putting up the walls this morning, and by the end of the first day, half of them were already finished. Tomorrow, the walls will be completed...

Uzbekistan is considering introducing age restrictions on social media use for children and teenagers under 16, Gazeta.uz reported.

The country’s Minister of Preschool and School Education, Ezozkhon Karimova, said that the proposal has already been discussed with senators and members of parliament. The authorities now plan to draft a bill and submit it for public consultation.

“We have discussed it with members of parliament and senators. We want to draft a bill and submit it for public consultation. I think we should adopt a similar measure here as...

Lawmakers from the A Just Russia party have introduced a bill to the State Duma that would allow the death penalty for corruption-related crimes deemed to undermine Russia’s national security and defense capabilities, RTVI reported, citing party leader Sergey Mironov.

According to Mironov, current Russian law distinguishes between ordinary corruption and treason but does not establish a separate offense for corrupt acts by officials that directly threaten the country’s security.

“We believe such crimes should be treated the same as espionage and treason because they also constitute a betrayal of national interests,” Mironov said.

Kazakhstan has become the first Central Asian country to join Pax Silica, a U.S.-led international technology initiative focused on artificial intelligence and supply chain security that aims to strengthen economic security cooperation among allies and trusted partners.

The documents formalizing Kazakhstan’s accession to the alliance, along with the joint statement of the AI Opportunity Partnership, were signed by Zhaslan Madiyev, Kazakhstan’s deputy prime minister and minister of AI and digital development, in Washington on June 25.

Kazakhstan joins an international technology alliance that already includes Australia, the U.K., India, Israel, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, the UAE...

An international team of researchers has found that Nordic walking may have antidepressant effects, helping people with depression recover more quickly than previously thought.

Depression is one of the world’s most common mental health disorders, affecting an estimated 5.7% of adults.

Read also: New study finds ‘significant link’ between poor nutrition and depression.

The study included 64 adults with moderate to severe depression. None had previously participated in regular exercise. Participants were randomly assigned to either a Nordic walking group (48 people) or a control group (16 people).

For 10 weeks...

On the eve of Media Workers’ Day, Finprom analysts examined how the rise of artificial intelligence and the blogging boom have affected employment and wages in Kazakhstan’s media industry. Using data from the Bureau of National Statistics (BNS), they sought to determine whether AI is truly replacing professional journalists and whether aspiring media professionals can break into the industry after completing a three-month copywriting course.

Media salaries outpace the national average

As of the first quarter of 2026, average nominal monthly wages across all major media sectors exceeded Kazakhstan’s national average of 461,500 tenge (about $950).

In...

Authorities in China and the U.S. are increasingly considering new fees for electric vehicle owners as governments grapple with heavier vehicles and declining fuel tax revenue, Autoblog reported.

Electric vehicles were once promoted primarily as a cleaner alternative to cars powered by internal combustion engines. But the push for longer driving ranges has resulted in significantly heavier battery-powered vehicles.

Automakers are installing larger batteries, while consumers are increasingly opting for larger crossovers and SUVs. As a result, the average weight of new electric vehicles in China has approached 1.9 tons, with some models weighing more than...

Uzbekistan lost all matches on its World Cup debut. On matchday 17, Fabio Cannavaro‘s side fell to DR Congo 3-1, finishing the group stage without a single point.

2026 FIFA World Cup

Group K, Round 3, June 27, Atlanta, Mercedes-Benz Stadium

DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan 3-1

Goals: Eldor Shomurodov 10’; Yoane Wissa 68’ (P), Fiston Mayele 78’, Yoane Wissa 90+1′

Uzbekistan’s Eldor Shomurodov opened the scoring in the 10th minute, finishing Akmal Mozgovoy‘s assist after Uzbekistan had an earlier goal disallowed for offside.

DR Congo’s Yoane Wissa converted a penalty in...

There are several adult ballet studios in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Around the world, practicing ballet not as a professional pursuit but as a form of fitness two or three times a week has become increasingly popular. Kursiv LifeStyle visited one of Almaty’s studios to learn how classes are structured and what they offer participants who are unlikely to ever perform on a major theater stage.

From professional stage to adult instruction

Aidar Ishmukhametov studied at the Vaganova Ballet Academy, one of the most prestigious ballet schools in the world. He worked in theaters and toured internationally...

The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and AKASHI Data Center PLC have agreed on financing terms for a major infrastructure project. The parties signed a memorandum of cooperation during the EDB’s Annual Meeting and Business Forum in Almaty, the company announced.

The memorandum was signed by Sergey Ignatov, senior managing director at the EDB, and Vladislav Minkevich, head of AKASHI Data Center PLC.

First phase backed by $90 million in financing

The project will receive $90 million in financing to build the first module of a high-tech data center.

According to the company, the facility will...

The draw for Wimbledon, the third Grand Slam tournament of 2026, took place in London. Kazakhstan’s singles players have learned their opening-round opponents.

World No. 2 Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, will face France’s Lois Boisson (World No. 154) in the first round, while Yulia Putintseva (World No. 85) will face Germany’s Tatjana Maria (World No. 112).

Alexander Bublik (No. 11) will face Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis (No. 492), while Alexander Shevchenko (No. 98) will take on Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime (No. 4).

Timofey Skatov (No. 178) could have become the fifth representative of Kazakhstan in the tournament but lost in...

Seattle will host a Pride Match during the FIFA World Cup game between Egypt and Iran, as the fixture falls on the Friday before the city’s Pride Weekend, the BBC reported.

Although officials from Egypt and Iran reportedly raised concerns, local organizers say planned pride-themed events will go ahead, including drag performances, fan gatherings and rainbow flags inside the stadium.

According to Seattle’s World Cup host committee, the match is about the city itself rather than the two Middle Eastern teams. They noted that the Pride celebrations had been scheduled before the World Cup draw and would have...

The June 26 matchday of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will mark the completion of the group stage in Groups G, H and I with six matches: Norway vs. France, Senegal vs. Iraq, Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia, Uruguay vs. Spain, New Zealand vs. Belgium and Egypt vs. Iran.

In Group I, France and Norway have already collected six points each and will determine the group winner in their head-to-head meeting. In Group H, the situation remains the most open: Spain leads the standings, but Uruguay, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia still have a chance of advancing. In Group G...

South Korea plans to train around 500,000 military personnel to operate drones as part of a major shift in its defense strategy, The Guardian reported.

According to Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, soldiers should be able to use drones «like a second personal firearm» these days. The program will cover personnel across the army, navy, air force and marines.

The country’s defense ministry noted that ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have demonstrated that drones have become a defining feature of modern warfare.

To support the initiative, South Korea plans to procure around 11,000 commercial drones for training...

Toyota Motor Kazakhstan has announced a voluntary recall campaign for certain Toyota RAV4 cars manufactured between 1997 and 1998, Kazakhstan’s Technical Regulation and Metrology Committee reported.

Owners will be offered a free inspection and, if necessary, a replacement of the driver’s front airbag inflator.

The recall affects crossovers equipped with Takata (NADI) airbag inflators at the factory. According to the manufacturer, the performance of certain components may deteriorate over time. In rare cases, this could affect the proper operation of the driver’s front airbag and increase the risk of injury in a traffic accident.

Owners of...

South Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources Kim Jung-kwan met with Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov in Seoul to discuss strengthening bilateral trade ties against the backdrop of geopolitical volatility and supply chain reconfiguration, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Kim and Kudratov reiterated their commitment to cooperation in trade, investment, AI and fostering a more favorable business environment. South Korea’s minister also called for continued efforts to improve the business environment for Korean companies operating in Uzbekistan.

The meeting comes ahead of the first Korea-Central Asia Summit, scheduled...

June has long been a popular month for weddings, but 2026 is making it even more memorable. Dates such as 06.06.26 and 26.06.26 have become especially sought-after by couples planning to marry. The number 6, often associated with completeness and wholeness, is seen by many as symbolizing the union of two souls.

More than 1,700 couples in Kazakhstan are set to tie the knot on the auspicious date of June 26, 2026, according to the State Corporation Government for Citizens.

The corporation said dates featuring unusual number combinations traditionally attract heightened interest from engaged couples.

Artificial intelligence continues to expand into new fields. While concerns have long centered on AI potentially replacing designers, programmers and other professionals, it now appears that even street beggars may have some competition.

In several Chinese cities, including Beijing, Chengdu and Fuzhou, passersby have reported seeing humanoid robots apparently begging for money.

Read also: China is leading the charge to bring humanoid robots home.

The robots were deliberately positioned in poses commonly associated with street beggars. Some were kneeling with their heads lowered, while others sat on sidewalks holding...

Morning coffee is becoming increasingly expensive for consumers in Kazakhstan, although global coffee prices decline.

Coffee prices in Kazakhstan were 26.3% higher in May 2026 than a year earlier, according to EnergyProm. Data from Kazakhstan’s Bureau of National Statistics show that prices have been climbing steadily since the summer of 2025.

While the pace of growth slowed in some months, the overall trend remained unchanged. Prices continued to increase for both packaged coffee sold in stores and coffee beverages served in cafes.

Import dependence drives higher prices

As Kazakhstan relies entirely on imported coffee...

The idea that AI will replace many professions and render entire trades obsolete has become a dominant narrative across the media landscape, including social media platforms and professional networks. Translators are no exception. Like many other professionals, they face growing pressure from the assumption that their work can soon be handed over entirely to automation and neural networks.

Two recent LinkedIn posts — one by a translator and the other by a representative of a localization company — illustrate how some members of the language industry respond to the increasingly common claim that “this can be delegated to...

A Kazakh couple has sparked a lively online discussion after publicly sharing their experience seeking a vasectomy, saying a doctor tried to steer them toward female sterilization instead.

A Threads user identified as Aiym Beketayeva said she and her husband, Dias, decided to speak openly about their decision after having three children — two daughters and a son.

“We are the first Kazakh couple to publicly share our vasectomy experience. My name is Aiym, and this is my husband, Dias,” she wrote. “According to Kazakhstan’s laws, parents with three children are eligible for a...