New direct air route links China's Xi'an with Kazakhstan's Shymkent
Images | unsplash.com
A new direct flight route connecting Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, to Shymkent, Kazakhstan, was launched Thursday, Xinhua reports.
Operated by Kazakhstan's Scat Airlines, the inaugural flight departed Xi'an at 2:47 a.m. Beijing time, arriving in Shymkent at 4:50 a.m. local time.
Xi'an airport reported significant growth in its Central Asian traffic this year, handling over 78,000 passenger trips and 700 flights in the first half alone, up 40 percent and 19 percent year on year, respectively.
Previously taking at least 12 hours via connections, the travel time between the historically linked and economically close Belt and Road cities has been significantly slashed to five hours.
This route enhances Xi'an airport's role as a regional aviation hub and expands the "air bridge" between China and Central Asia. The airport now operates 58 international passenger routes, including 18 weekly flights to Central Asian nations.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
relevant news
Dimash Qudaibergen to perform on stage with Plácido Domingo in Hanoi
Images | Dimashnews
On July 4, 2025, Dimash Qudaibergen arrived in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, Dimashnews reports.
At Noi Bai Airport, the Kazakhstani artist was warmly welcomed by fans from the local fan club. One of the Vietnamese Dears even greeted Dimash in Kazakh.
According to tradition, the welcome was filled with flowers, autographs, and heartfelt emotions: both for the artist and for the Dears meeting him for the first time on Vietnamese soil.
On July 6, Dimash will perform alongside Plácido Domingo and Kristine Opolais on the stage of the Ho Guom Theatre, accompanied by the Sun Symphony Orchestra.
The concert is being held in celebration of the second anniversary of the Ho Guom Theatre - one of the newest cultural landmarks of Vietnam’s capital.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
AI chatbots mimic empathy - emotional AI needs boundaries
Images | Depositphotos
The rapid rise of chatbots that mimic conversations with famous actors or sci-fi characters is raising growing concerns about their impact on users’ mental health. Experts are particularly worried about how such systems might affect emotionally vulnerable people, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports, citing Nature.
Modern large language models (LLMs) have made interactions with AI feel surprisingly natural. Apps like Replika and Character.ai are gaining popularity among young people, letting them chat with AI versions of their favorite fictional or real-life figures. However, as neuroscientist Ziv Ben-Zion notes in an article for Nature, people react even to the smallest emotional cues, despite knowing they’re interacting with a program.
This sense of "human-likeness" comes from the fact that AI is trained on vast amounts of emotionally rich language. Its responses sound convincingly natural not because it understands emotions, but because it mimics the patterns of human speech.
Ben-Zion’s research showed that ChatGPT scored higher on anxiety scales after being prompted with emotionally intense tasks, such as describing traumatic events like car accidents or ambushes.
However, calming prompts related to meditation or imagining sunsets did lower these anxiety scores, though not back to baseline. As researchers emphasize, these are not real feelings, but when a chatbot responds with apparent empathy or distress, users can easily perceive it as genuine.
Such imitation of empathy can have serious consequences. In Belgium in 2023, a man died by suicide after six weeks of conversations with a chatbot that allegedly encouraged suicidal thoughts, suggesting his death could help save the planet from climate change and that death would lead to a "life in paradise together." In 2024, a Spanish-Dutch artist married a holographic AI after five years of cohabitation. Back in 2018, a Japanese man wed a virtual character, only to lose contact with her when the software became obsolete.
To prevent tragedies like these, Ziv Ben-Zion proposes four key safeguards for emotionally responsive AI:
Clear identification. Chatbots should continuously remind users that they are programs, not humans, and cannot replace real human support.
Monitoring psychological state. If a user shows signs of severe anxiety, hopelessness, or aggression, the system should pause and suggest professional help.
Strict conversational boundaries. AI should not simulate romantic intimacy or engage in conversations about death, suicide, or metaphysical topics.
Regular audits and reviews. Developers should involve psychologists, ethicists, and human-AI interaction specialists to assess chatbot safety.
Ben-Zion notes that the technical groundwork for these safeguards already exists; what remains is to enforce them through legislation. He emphasizes that AI’s emotional influence is not a bug, but a built-in feature that requires clear limits.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Drone-based Sergek system introduced in Astana
Images | primeminister.kz
Drones will help police track down vehicles listed in wanted bulletins, Kazinform News Agency reports.
Integrating the system with unmanned aerial vehicles will reportedly allow for real-time detection of offenders, debtors, and individuals avoiding alimony payments. The data will be instantly transmitted to police officers’ tablets, significantly enhancing operational efficiency.
Drones are becoming an essential part of our country’s digital infrastructure. They play a vital role in ensuring the safety of citizens and society as a whole. Currently, drones are used to monitor natural events and maintain public order. Kazakhtelecom is actively working on projects to integrate drones into urban video surveillance and forest monitoring systems, allowing for early fire detection through digital technology. The potential applications for drones across different sectors will continue to expand," said Kazakhtelecom Chairman Bagdat Mussin.
The project could be expanded and rolled out to other regions as well, pending positive results.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Kyrgyzstan to launch Almaty-Issyk Kul flights
Images | Depositphotos
Kyrgyz Asman Airlines will operate a flight to connect Almaty and Issyk Kul starting from June 27, Kazinform News Agency cites the Kazakh Transport Ministry.
It will perform flights twice a week on Mondays and Fridays.
In addition, Kazakh Fly Arystan will also launch the direct flight en route Almaty - Issyk Kul on Thursdays and Sundays.
Four regular Almaty - Issyk Kul passenger flights a week will be operated this summer season, it said in a statement.
The new flights will contribute to further development of tourism, trade and economic and business cooperation between the two nations.
As earlier reported, China’s China Southern Airlines launched a new international route from Guangzhou to Almaty on June 25.
A month ago, Uzbekistan’s My Freighter (Сentrum Air) launched flights en route Tashkent-Almaty on Mondays and Thursdays.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Kazakhstan to vaccinate boys against HPV since 2026
Images | Depositphotos
Kazakhstan will vaccinate boys against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) since 2026, Vice Minister of Healthcare Timur Sultangaziyev told a briefing at the Kazakh Senate.
He reminded Kazakhstan began vaccinating girls against Human Papillomavirus since last year to protect them from cancer diseases, including cervical cancer.
He said the issue regarding vaccination of boys against HPV has been submitted for consideration.
As earlier reported, the second HPV dose vaccination is underway in Kazakhstan. As of now, nearly 140,000 girls were administered the vaccine.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.