Jastar Day Youth Festival Draws 3,000 Participants in Astana
The Jastar Day festival, dedicated to International Youth Day, was held in Astana, bringing together around 3,000 participants from across Kazakhstan. 🇰🇿
The event served as a platform for young people to exchange ideas, showcase initiatives and discuss opportunities in various fields. The program included educational sessions, discussions and meetings with experts and public figures.
One of the festival’s main highlights was the presentation of the Täuelsizdik Urpaktary grants. The authors of 30 projects each received 3 million tenge to help turn their ideas into reality. The grants are aimed at supporting promising youth initiatives and encouraging young people to develop their own projects.
A message from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was also read out at the festival, which featured talks by experts in media, technology, the arts and social initiatives.
Jastar Day concluded with a concert featuring performances by Kazakhstani artists.
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Vice President, New Government and Sporting Achievements: Key Events of the Week in Kazakhstan
Images | AI
The vice president’s powers, the first meeting of the newly formed government, Kazakhstan’s success at the World Nomad Games and Elena Rybakina’s historic achievement - these are the events that shaped the week from September 4 to 10, 2026, in Kazakhstan Today’s weekly digest.
Let’s start with the key political decisions. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev defined the powers of Kazakhstan’s vice president. The responsibilities will include strategic initiatives in domestic and foreign policy, participation in international events, as well as overseeing the activities of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies.
The government began its work in a new composition. At its first meeting, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov called on ministers to take proactive measures and assume full responsibility for the results of their work. The meeting also focused on training specialists in line with the needs of the economy, as well as the construction of modern colleges.
The new Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi highlighted investment attraction as a key priority. During a meeting with the leadership of the Investment Committee and KAZAKH INVEST, he outlined the main tasks - improving engagement with investors, speeding up project implementation and strengthening coordination in attracting capital to Kazakhstan’s economy.
Kazakhstan’s national team achieved its best-ever result at the 6th World Nomad Games. The team won 74 medals, including 32 gold, 20 silver and 22 bronze. Kazakhstan topped the overall standings by the number of gold medals.
Elena Rybakina reached the top of the WTA world rankings for the first time in her career. After reaching the US Open semi-finals, the Kazakh tennis player moved to first place in the live rankings. Rybakina will officially become the world’s No. 1 player after the rankings update on September 14.
Kazakhstan’s women’s boxing team surprised fans with a new image. Ahead of the Summer Asian Games in Japan, the athletes appeared in the style of steppe warriors. Social media users have already compared them to Amazons and the legendary queen Tomiris.
That was the week in Kazakhstan. Stay informed with the latest developments together with Kazakhstan Today.
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Robots take to the streets in protest in Warsaw
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Around 30 robots march along a street outside Poland’s Ministry of Digital Affairs
An unusual protest involving around 30 robots took place in Warsaw outside Poland’s Ministry of Digital Affairs. Humanoid and quadrupedal robots marched along the street carrying flags.
The performance was organised by the Democratism movement, which seeks to draw attention to the potential impact of artificial intelligence and robotics on the labour market.
The organisers fear that continued technological development could lead to people being replaced not only in physical jobs but also in intellectual work.
Representatives of the movement say Poland needs to establish an approach to regulating artificial intelligence now and prepare for the changes that new technologies could bring to the labour market.
The event also showcased the capabilities of modern robots and the current state of robotics.
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Til Schweiger Arrives in Almaty to Film Movie with Jackie Chan
Images | Kinopoisk
German actor Til Schweiger has arrived in Kazakhstan and joined the filming of the international movie Armour of God: Ultimate, which is being shot in Almaty.
Schweiger will appear alongside Jackie Chan in the new film.
He is known to audiences for his roles in Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, Inglourious Basterds and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. Over the course of his career, the actor has appeared in more than 80 films.
Filming on the international project is continuing in Almaty.
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Landslide Hits Homes in Eastern China, Killing Five
Images | Niranjan Shrestha
A landslide struck residential buildings in eastern China after several days of torrential rain brought by Typhoon Saudel. Five people were killed and seven others remain missing, China Daily reports.
Rescue teams are continuing search-and-rescue operations and clearing the debris. Residents are being evacuated from areas at risk of further landslides and flooding. The full extent of the damage and the number of homes affected are still being assessed.
Severe weather conditions persist in the region because of the typhoon. Forecasters have warned of more heavy rain, stronger winds and possible flooding. Local authorities have urged residents to stay away from slopes, riverbeds and other hazardous areas.
Earlier, on 26 August, a major flood occurred on the China-Nepal border after a glacier collapsed. The disaster claimed the lives of more than 1,300 people.
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UN General Assembly Backs Push to Rethink World Maps
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On 4 September, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution titled "Correct the Map", with 164 countries voting in favour.
However, this does not mean the UN has approved a new "correct" world map or banned the familiar Mercator projection. Instead, the resolution calls for wider use of equal-area maps, such as the Equal Earth projection, in contexts where accurately representing the relative size of countries and continents is important.
The Mercator projection, which remains widely used today, dates back to the 16th century and was designed primarily for maritime navigation. While it is useful for plotting courses, it distorts the size of land masses: the farther a territory is from the equator, the larger it appears.
For example, Greenland can appear almost comparable in size to Africa, even though Africa is roughly 14 times larger.
The African Union has been one of the leading advocates for change. It argues that conventional maps visually understate Africa’s size, affecting perceptions of the continent’s scale and its place in the world. On an equal-area map, Africa appears significantly larger in relation to Europe and Greenland.
Cartographers, however, stress that there is no perfectly accurate flat map of the Earth. Some degree of distortion is inevitable when representing a three-dimensional planet on a two-dimensional surface.
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40 Million Cubic Meters of Water Released Into Korgalzhyn Reserve to Protect Flamingo Habitats
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State water company Kazvodkhoz released 40 million cubic meters of water into the Tengiz-Korgalzhyn lake system to maintain the water balance and preserve biodiversity. The annual environmental releases are carried out in part to protect the habitats of flamingos and other birds, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation said.
Three Kazvodkhoz branches took part in the operation: the K. Satpayev Canal, Karaganda and Akmola branches.
The Tengiz-Korgalzhyn lake system is located within the Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve. It provides an important habitat for flamingos and other waterbirds and shorebirds.
The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation conducts environmental water releases in various regions of Kazakhstan each year. Water is directed to reservoirs and other bodies of water to maintain their balance and preserve local ecosystems.
During the releases, Kazvodkhoz specialists remain on duty around the clock at hydraulic facilities and reservoirs, overseeing water flows and conducting continuous monitoring.
To prevent the depletion of water bodies, the new Water Code adopted in 2025 introduced the concept of "environmental flow" for the first time. It refers to the minimum volume of water required to sustain the ecosystems of rivers, lakes and seas. The code also strengthened protections for small rivers and lakes and established a special conservation regime for wetlands and glaciers.
"Protecting water bodies from depletion and pollution is one of our most important priorities, alongside supplying farmers with irrigation water. The ministry is making extensive efforts to ensure a stable water supply to farmland without harming the environment. The introduction of water-saving technologies and modern metering tools allows us to distribute water efficiently while balancing the needs of the economy and the environment," Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Nurzhan Nurzhigitov said.
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Kurultai Session, New Government Line-up and Nomad Games Success: Kazakhstan’s Week in Review
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A Kurultai session, a reshuffled government, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, Kazakhstan’s first victories at the World Nomad Games and the country’s first Kazakh Tazy and Tobet Day were among the key events that shaped the week from August 27 to September 3. Kazakhstan Today looks back at the main developments.
The week’s biggest domestic political event took place in Astana, where the newly elected Kurultai held its first session. Aibek Dadebay was elected chairman, with Nurlan Beknazarov, Dania Yespayeva and Dinara Zakiyeva appointed as his deputies. Eight standing committees were also formed.
Another major appointment saw Yerlan Karin named Vice President of Kazakhstan after his candidacy received the backing of the Kurultai.
The government line-up was also renewed. Olzhas Bektenov retained his post as Prime Minister, while four ministries saw changes at the top. Mukhtar Tileuberdi was appointed Foreign Minister, Alibek Kuantyrov took charge of the Ministry of Ecology, Arman Kyrykbayev became Minister of Culture and Information, and Murat Mukhanov was appointed Minister for Emergency Situations.
On the international stage, the week’s main event was the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek.
In his address, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed enshrining the organisation’s key principles in a dedicated resolution of the UN General Assembly. He also called for a stronger role for the United Nations and greater efficiency in its work.
Turning to sport, Kazakhstan’s national team has delivered a strong performance at the sixth World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan.
After three days of competition, Kazakh athletes had won 34 medals - 16 gold, eight silver and 10 bronze - putting the country second in the overall medal standings.
Kazakhstan is represented by 152 athletes competing across 43 sports. The Games will continue until September 6.
We end this week’s round-up with a celebration of Kazakhstan’s national heritage.
On September 3, Kazakhstan marked Kazakh Tazy and Tobet Day for the first time, celebrating two native dog breeds that have been part of life on the Great Steppe for centuries.
Those were the key events of the week. Stay up to date with the latest developments with Kazakhstan Today.
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Kazakhstan Celebrates First-Ever Tazy and Tobet Day
Images | qr-pib.kz
Today, 3 September, Kazakhstan is celebrating Kazakh Tazy and Tobet Day for the first time.
For centuries, these breeds lived alongside people across the Great Steppe. The swift and agile Tazy accompanied hunters and could pursue prey across open terrain. The powerful and resilient Tobet guarded herds and homes, serving as a reliable protector.
The Tazy holds a special place in Kazakh culture. The breed is one of the "Zheti Kazyna" - the seven treasures of the Kazakh people - and is regarded as a symbol of loyalty, agility and strength.
The ancient breed is now gaining renewed recognition. In 2024, the Tazy received preliminary recognition from the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, while Kazakhstan was officially designated as the breed’s country of origin.
Tazy dogs from Kazakhstan are already taking part in major international dog shows. Around 4,000 dogs have been registered in the studbook alone.
Meanwhile, a National Centre for Kazakh Dog Breeds is being built in the Zhetisu Region to preserve the Tazy and Tobet for future generations.
These are not simply beautiful and powerful dogs. They are a living legacy of the Great Steppe.
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