live NATO Summit: Secretary General backs new U.S. strikes on Iran
Mark Rutte, Secretary General of NATO, has described fresh U.S. strikes on Iran as "absolutely necessary," in remarks at the start of the second day o...
Kazakhstan will begin routing selected government expenditures worth more than 100 million tenge ($190,000) through its digital tenge platform, expanding the use of the central bank digital currency to strengthen oversight of public spending.
The government says the system will improve transparency by allowing funds to be tracked throughout the payment process and preventing them from being used for purposes other than those originally approved.
The new rules will apply to road construction and reconstruction projects, purchases of medicines and medical equipment, fuel procurement, vehicle acquisitions, selected repair works and the maintenance of national roads. The mechanism will also cover spending from the Special State Fund, budget loans issued to local authorities and specialised organisations, and grants aimed at commercialising scientific research.
The digital tenge can be programmed for specific purposes, meaning funds allocated to one project cannot be diverted elsewhere. Money earmarked for a road project, for example, cannot later be used for unrelated goods or services.
To support the system, each expenditure item will receive a unique identifier during budget planning or the public procurement process. The identifier will follow the transaction throughout the payment process, allowing authorities to track the movement of funds and verify that spending matches its intended purpose.
Payments will only be released after goods have been delivered or work has been completed. Completion certificates, electronic invoices and other supporting documents will be required before payment can proceed.
Once obligations have been verified, the Ministry of Finance and the National Bank will convert conventional non-cash tenge into digital tenge and execute the transaction.
Under the new framework, the National Bank will operate the digital tenge platform and oversee the issuance and redemption of the currency. The Treasury Committee will process budget payments and manage conversions into digital tenge, while central and local government bodies will confirm funding requirements and verify contractual obligations.
Deputy Finance Minister Asset Turysov said nearly 339 billion digital tenge (about $645 million) has already been issued.
The expansion comes as governments around the world explore central bank digital currencies as tools for improving the management of public finances. Turysov said Kazakhstan has no plans to use the digital tenge to monitor citizens' personal finances and that the initiative is limited to the administration of state spending.
The U.S. says it has launched strikes on Iran after alleged attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington described the action as a response to threats against civilian shipping and a breach of the ceasefire.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran to end the conflict was "over", adding he did not want to engage with Tehran, calling the Iranian leadership "sick people".
NATO leaders are unveiling multi-billion-dollar arms deals in Ankara as President Donald Trump joins the summit, highlighting Europe's increased defence spending amid tensions over Russia and Iran, and following years of U.S. criticism of the alliance.
Mark Rutte, Secretary General of NATO, has described fresh U.S. strikes on Iran as "absolutely necessary," in remarks at the start of the second day of the alliance's sumit in the Turkish capital Ankara.
Massive crowds are gathering in the streets of Tehran on Monday for the funeral procession of Iran's slain former supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, as part of a week-long farewell. His son and designated successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, has yet to make a public appearance.
A United Nations inquiry has called for the immediate release of prominent Palestinian doctor Hussam Abu Safiya, who has been detained by Israel, saying reports of his treatment in custody raise serious concerns about possible violations of international law.
Pakistan is tightening enforcement of its Illegal Foreigners' Repatriation Plan ahead of a 10 July deadline, after which Afghan nationals living in the country without valid visas face immediate arrest under an Interior Ministry directive.
The countdown is on for the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026), taking place in Antalya, Türkiye, from 5–9 October 2026.
Kazakhstan's Constitutional Court ruled that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is eligible to seek a new presidential term under the country's newly adopted constitution. It's after a referendum on the constitution in March reset presidential term limits - a move that could extend his time in power.
Pakistan's military on Monday linked cross-border militancy, hybrid threats and water security during the 276th Corps Commanders' Conference, reaffirming continued intelligence-based counterterrorism operations and support for the government's position on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
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