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The final of the national chess tournament «Senat Open,» which brought together more than 3,000 participants, kicked off in Astana. The opening ceremony featured a musical program and speeches by Senate Speaker Maulen Ashimbayev and Timur Turlov, president of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation (KazChess).

Turlov emphasized that the tournament has become a platform for honing skills and strengthening friendships.

«This tournament holds special significance for me. It has its own style, spirit and most importantly, a clear social mission. It has become a place where professional connections and personal friendships grow stronger. This tournament has also...

Denmark has summoned a senior U.S. diplomat after reports claimed individuals tied to President Donald Trump attempted to influence politics in Greenland, according to the Associated Press.

As some media outlets reported, at least three Americans with Trump connections sought to track local sentiment, build ties with politicians and business leaders, and undermine Greenland’s relationship with Denmark.

Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen called in Mark Stroh, deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy, for talks. The State Department confirmed the meeting but said it does not comment on the actions of private citizens, stressing Washington’s respect for Greenland’s...

Former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev has been hit with a hefty fine following a wild first-round loss in New York, the BBC reported.

The 29-year-old Russian, once the world’s top-ranked player, crashed out against France’s Benjamin Bonzi after losing his cool when a photographer stepped onto the court at a critical moment.

Tournament officials fined Medvedev nearly $42,500 in total — $30,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct and another $12,500 for smashing his racquet against a chair. That’s about 40% of the prize money he earned for reaching the first round.

«I’m getting a big...

The number of electric vehicles (EVs) in Kazakhstan continues to grow rapidly, though their overall share of the national car fleet remains small. According to Energyprom, as of early August 2025, 19,100 EVs were registered in the country, a 79% increase compared to a year earlier.

In the first seven months of 2025 alone, Kazakhstanis registered 6,900 new EVs, representing just 0.7% of all cars registered during that period. By comparison, gasoline-powered passenger cars accounted for 88% of the market, while diesel vehicles accounted for approximately 1.5%.

Where EVs are most common

Almaty leads the country in electric vehicle...

Health officials are reporting an increase in infections caused by Vibrio vulnificus, a rare but potentially deadly bacterium once mostly confined to the Gulf Coast. Scientists say warming oceans and rising sea levels are enabling the pathogen to spread farther north, with new cases appearing along the U.S. East Coast, as reported by CNN.

The bacteria, found in warm brackish water and raw shellfish, can cause mild illness but sometimes lead to necrotizing fasciitis, a severe infection that destroys soft tissue. About one in five severe cases is fatal, according to the CDC.

Louisiana has seen more than double...

A morning Mass at Annunciation Catholic School turned tragic on Wednesday when a shooter opened fire, killing two young students and leaving 17 others injured in what Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara called an act of “sheer cruelty and cowardice,” Al Jazeera reported.

The victims, just eight and 10 years old, were among dozens of students attending the service when bullets tore through the church windows. Fourteen children were among the wounded, with two fighting for their lives but expected to pull through.

Police identified the shooter as Robin Westman, who fired multiple rounds from outside the church before...

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov announced the launch of an underground gold mining project at Kumtor, Central Asia’s largest gold mine, as reported by Interfax Kazakhstan.

«The underground gold mining project is set to operate for 17 years, with geological reserves of 147 tons of gold officially added to the national balance,» Japarov said at the ceremony.  

Japarov stated that underground mining would help reduce the volume of waste rock. He added that the transition from open-pit mining to underground ore extraction will be proceed gradually.
 
The tailing pit, which contains more than 100 tons of...

Kazakhstan plans to launch direct flights to New York in 2026, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced following a meeting on preparations for an upcoming ICAO aviation security audit.

The committee noted that the start of flights depends on the results of the ICAO audit, scheduled for Sept. 2-14. The findings will determine whether Kazakhstan can organize flights to the United States.

«Negative findings from the audit could hinder the country’s strategic goals to expand international air travel and strengthen Kazakhstan’s image as a reliable aviation partner,» the CAC said.

Air Astana is expected...

Japan’s Suzuki Motor has rolled out its first battery electric vehicle, the e Vitara, at its Indian subsidiary, according to NHK World.

The commemorative ceremony was held on Aug. 26 at the company’s facility in Gujarat, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance. Modi highlighted that the India-made EVs are to be exported to 100 countries and underlined the significance of strengthening economic ties with Japan.

The car model is manufactured at a production facility in Gujarat, where EV production was launched earlier this year through Maruti Suzuki, Suzuki’s subsidiary. The automaker says the SUV is capable of traveling...

Meta says Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s joint Instagram post announcing their engagement has set a new platform record, reaching 1 million reposts in under six hours and more than 14 million likes in the first hour, as reported by Fox News Business.

According to the company, the announcement is now among the most-shared posts in Instagram’s history. It also sparked a surge in activity on Threads, Meta’s rival to X, where Swift’s name quickly became the top trending topic.

The milestone highlights Swift’s global cultural influence, Kelce’s growing popularity beyond the NFL, and Meta’s effort to position Instagram...

The already-strained U.S.-India trade relationship took another hit yesterday when President Donald Trump slapped a crushing 50% tariff on Indian imports. This comes on top of an earlier 25% penalty imposed over India’s ongoing oil and weapons deals with Russia, according to BBC reports.

These steep tariffs have pushed India into an uncomfortable position alongside other nations facing the harshest U.S. trade restrictions. The timing couldn’t be worse, as India had been making real progress in becoming a key trading partner with America.

Indian reaction

However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi isn’t backing down. He’s doubling down on his «Make in...

Matt and Maria Raine, parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in the Superior Court of California on Aug. 26, alleging that the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot ChatGPT pushed the teenager to commit suicide, marking the first accusation of wrongful death against OpenAI, the BBC reported.

The Raines enclosed chat logs between Adam, who died in April, and ChatGPT, containing messages in which he expressed suicidal thoughts. The family claimed that the chatbot reinforced the teenager’s «most harmful and self-destructive thoughts.»

In response, OpenAI told the media it was reviewing the filing and expressed its...

Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty and Scotland’s Celtic played the return match of the playoff round in Almaty, which ended 0-0, just like the first leg in Glasgow. However, the penalty shootout went in Kairat’s favor, with goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov saving three kicks and paving the way to the main Eurocup.

Among the highlights by the Almaty team was an indirect free kick near Celtic’s goal in the 52nd minute, thanks to a mistake by Celtic’s defender Cameron Carter-Vickers. However, the opportunity was wasted, as forward Jorginho’s shot lacked power. The episode concluded with the ball striking a Celtic defender’s hand...

On Aug. 6, 2025, the Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York found Ilyas Khrapunov in contempt of court. The ruling was in favor of the city of Almaty and BTA Bank JSC, which brought the case.

Judge John G. Koeltl ruled that Khrapunov had violated a previous order requiring him to regularly provide information about his assets. This is not his first violation — in an earlier case, he was also found guilty of contempt and ordered to pay $221,285.31.

Under the new ruling, Khrapunov must provide full and regular reports on his finances and activities...

Azerbaijan has announced a temporary visa-on-arrival program to facilitate entry for international visitors attending the 2025 Formula 1 Grand Prix in Baku.

From Aug. 25 to Sep. 30, 2025, travelers holding an official race ticket, FIA accreditation, or documentation from the Baku City Circuit will be able to obtain a visa directly at the country’s international airports. The measure removes the need for prior embassy appointments or standard visa applications.

The initiative is designed to streamline access for fans, media representatives, and race staff ahead of the Grand Prix, which will take place in Baku from Sep...

Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu and his Japanese counterpart Iwaya Takeshi met in Kazakhstan on Aug. 25. They agreed to accelerate preparations for a summit between Japan and the Central Asian countries, as reported by NHK World.

The media outlet noted that this meeting had initially been planned for last August, with then-Prime Minister Kishida Fumio expected to attend. However, it was canceled at the last minute due to a special advisory issued after a major earthquake in Japan.

At the meeting, Iwaya pledged that Japan would provide about $6.8 million in grant aid to supply Kazakhstan with the...

Oscar-winning director Woody Allen has found himself in hot water after participating remotely in Moscow Film Week, drawing sharp criticism from Ukrainian officials who view any engagement with Russian cultural events as tacit support for the ongoing war.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry didn’t mince words, calling Allen’s participation “a disgrace” that dishonors Ukrainian film professionals who’ve become casualties of the conflict. The controversy deepened when Ukraine’s Mirotvorets database, which tracks individuals deemed hostile to Ukrainian interests, added Allen to their watchlist.

During the online event, Allen chatted with Russian filmmaker Fyodor Bondarchuk, a vocal supporter of Moscow’s military campaign, and...

Uzbekistan’s media has been abuzz with an unusual gastronomic trend — dishes made from sparrows. A blogger filmed a video at a restaurant in the Bukhara region showing soup and kebabs prepared from the birds’ meat, even sharing the address. The post sparked a heated debate, dividing opinion between those who claim such meals are healthy and others who see it as nothing more than a marketing gimmick.

Since Aug. 15, the country has allowed the hunting of certain birds, including pigeons and sparrows, but only with licenses and in limited numbers. However, the rules do not justify large-scale killing...

The flag carrier of South Korea and its largest airline, Korean Air, has announced it plans to acquire over 100 Boeing aircraft, along with spare engines and 20-year engine maintenance, for a total value of $50 billion, Associated Press reported.

The deal covers 103 Boeing aircraft — 20 Boeing 777-9s, 25 Boeing 787-10s, 50 Boeing 737-10 passenger jets and eight Boeing 777-8F freighters — worth $36.2 billion, along with $690 million for 19 spare engines from GE Aerospace and CFM International and a $13 billion, 20-year engine maintenance contract with GE Aerospace, according to the airline.

The deal was...

The ongoing feud between Donald Trump and Chris Christie hit new levels of intensity after Christie took shots at the former president during a Sunday appearance on ABC’s “This Week.” He blasted his former ally’s approach to mixing politics with criminal investigations, CNN reported.

The timing was particularly charged, coming right as FBI agents were searching the home of John Bolton, Trump’s ex-national security adviser.

Trump wasted no time firing back on social media, reviving his “Sloppy” nickname for Christie and dredging up the 2013 Bridgegate scandal. It’s quite the turnaround from when Trump previously congratulated Christie...

A recent environmental report shows China added more coal power plant capacity in the first half of 2025 than in any year since 2016, despite having significant renewable resources, according to DW.com, citing the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) and Global Energy Monitor (GEM).

The findings suggest that in the first half of 2025, China commissioned 21 gigawatts (GW) of coal power capacity — the highest amount for this period in nine years — and is on track to exceed 80 GW for the full year. According to CREA and GEM, new and revived...

A U.S. abuse survivor, known as Zora (not her real name), has asked Elon Musk to remove links on X that share images of her childhood abuse, the BBC reports.

A family member abused her more than 20 years ago. Although he went to prison, pictures of the abuse were copied and continue to circulate online.

«My body is not a commodity. People who share this are part of the crime,» the abuse survivor told the BBC.

Activists, including the group Anonymous, claim to report these accounts, but new ones continue to appear.

Elon Musk, CEO of xAI, announced on X that an earlier version of the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) model, Grok 2.5, is now open source. In the same post, he also pledged to do same with the newer model, Grok 3 in about six months, as reported by Engadget.com.  

At that point, anyone is able not only to run but also to modify the AI model, the source code of which is available on HuggingFace.co, subject to xAI’s open-source license, which restricts users from retraining Grok or developing derivative AI models.

Engadget also noted that this is...

Russian star Daniil Medvedev fell to France’s Benjamin Bonzi at the U.S. Open after a bizarre third-set delay.

As Bonzi prepared to serve, a photographer suddenly walked onto the court, causing nearly seven minutes of confusion. Fans booed while officials tried to clear the scene.

«He wants to go home, guys. He doesn’t like to be here. He gets paid by the match not by the hour,» Medvedev mocked the umpire, shouting into an ESPN camera.

The break gave Medvedev energy — he forced a tiebreak and won the set. However, in the deciding set...