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The National museum of Kazakhstan A close-up view of an ornately decorated horse bridle with gold and bronze embellishments is displayed at the Kazakhstan National Museum in Astana. 2026-08-23 21:08:51 -
People of Kazakhstan vote for future ASTANA, Kazakhstan, Aug. 23 (AJP) — Kazakhstan is holding its first parliamentary election today for the newly launched unicameral legislature, the Kurultai, which replaces the country's former bicameral parliament. The morning in Astana, Kazakhstan, looked much like any other. But outside polling stations scattered across the capital, an unusual tension hung in the air. It was Aug. 23, election day for the Kurultai. A group of young athletes in matching yellow tracksuits filed through the entrance of a polling station. The venue, a converted sports facility, had been transformed for the day into a space for citizens' voices. Beneath its high ceilings, blue voting booths stood in a numbered row. Beside them sat a transparent acrylic ballot box bearing the emblem of Kazakhstan. Inside, the polling station was busy but orderly. Voters lined up before officials checking identification, received their ballots and stepped into the booths. Behind drawn curtains, each person had a brief moment alone. Those who emerged folded their ballots and carried them toward the clear acrylic box . The box was already filling with folded papers. Ballots bordered in blue piled one atop another, a quiet record of choices made throughout the day. Some voters slid their ballots in carefully. Others lifted their hands high and let the paper drop from above. On the walls hung boards outlining the platforms and policies of the country's political parties. One citizen paused there for a long while, reading closely. The scene repeated itself throughout the station. No one seemed to be in a hurry. Elsewhere, a child waited for his father. His eyes followed the curtain of the booth, watching for it to part, quietly observing a world that belonged to adults. What this space would mean to him later, in memory, was impossible to say. Election officials sat behind empty tables, waiting for the next voter. Even in the quieter moments, they remained composed. Large screens, signage, the vests worn by volunteers — every element of the space had been carefully arranged for a single procedure. As the afternoon wore on, people kept arriving. Athletes in yellow uniforms, families dressed casually, individuals who came alone and quietly. Whatever brought them there, each followed the same steps and stood before the same ballot box. The papers gathering inside it had come from many different hands, yet they had all arrived in the same place. For one day, this polling station in Astana became a site where countless individual choices converged. 2026-08-23 21:07:40 -
The National museum of Kazakhstan Ancient human remains found alongside gold artifacts are displayed at the Kazakhstan National Museum in Astana. 2026-08-23 21:07:31 -
The National museum of Kazakhstan Visitors enter the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Astana. 2026-08-23 21:05:39 -
Choi Chan Wins KPGA Tour Dong-A Membership Open, Secures Second Victory of the Season Choi Chan claimed victory at the KPGA Tour Dong-A Membership Group Open, the first event of the second half of the Korean professional golf season, after a two-month break.On August 23, at the Sol Course of the Solago Country Club in Taean, South Chungcheong Province, Choi shot a 3-under-par 69, with four birdies and one bogey, in the final round of the tournament, which had a total prize purse of 700 million won.With a total score of 20-under-par 268, Choi edged out amateur national representative Yoo Min-hyuk, who finished at 19-under-par 269, by one stroke to lift the winner's trophy. This marks Choi's second victory of the season, following his win at the Woori Financial Championship in April.Choi earned 140 million won in prize money, bringing his season total to 511,651,620 won, placing him third in the prize money rankings. He also added 1,000 points to his Genesis Points total, elevating him to second place with a cumulative score of 3,116.67 points.Choi's path to victory was challenging. The previous day, strong winds accompanied by lightning forced 72 players to abandon the third round, which was postponed to the final day. Choi began the day early, completing the remaining 13 holes of the third round starting from the sixth hole, before finishing all 18 holes of the fourth round, totaling 31 holes in one day to secure his win.Yoo Min-hyuk achieved his best finish in a professional tournament, surpassing his previous fourth-place finish at the Gunsan CC Open in June.Jung Jae-hoon and Park Jung-hoon tied for third place with a total score of 18-under-par 270.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-23 20:32:00 -
Lee So-hee and Baek Ha-na Defeat World No. 1 to Win Korea's First Women's Doubles Gold in 31 Years Badminton women's doubles world ranking No. 3 Lee So-hee and Baek Ha-na secured South Korea's first gold medal at the World Championships in 31 years.The duo triumphed on August 23 in New Delhi, India, defeating world No. 1 Liu Shengsu and Tan Ning of China 2-0 (21-15, 21-15) in the final of the 2026 BWF World Championships.This marks the first time a South Korean women's doubles team has won the championship since Gil Young-a and Jang Hye-ok in 1995 in Lausanne, Switzerland.Lee and Baek lifted the trophy about eight months after winning their second consecutive title at the World Tour Finals, a prestigious event in badminton. This victory also ended a four-match losing streak against the top-ranked Chinese pair.This is the first time Lee and Baek have medaled together at this tournament.Lee previously won a bronze medal in 2014 and a silver medal in 2021 while partnering with Shin Seung-chan. With this gold medal, she has now collected medals of all three colors at the World Championships.Despite facing a formidable opponent, the South Korean pair dominated the match with consistent and precise play.Baek solidified the front of the net, disrupting the opponents' rhythm, while Lee showcased extensive defense and sharp attacks from the back court.The South Korean team seized the momentum right from the start, scoring five consecutive points and never allowing a tie in the first game.In the early stages of the second game, they faced a strong counterattack from the Chinese team but regained control with three consecutive points at a 4-4 tie.At 7-5, Lee executed a surprise half-smash that landed perfectly, adding three more points to extend their lead to 10-5.Although they allowed the Chinese team to close the gap to 13-12, they maintained remarkable focus during a lengthy rally of 67 exchanges, scoring five consecutive points to solidify their lead at 18-12.The Chinese team, losing their concentration, made several errors, and the final shot from China hit the net, confirming the victory for the South Korean pair.The South Korean team now looks to Ahn Se-young, the world’s top women's singles player, to continue their success as she aims for her second championship title.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-23 20:32:00
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Police Investigate Motive of Officer Arrested for Falsifying Missing Person Case Jeju police are intensively investigating the motive of a sergeant arrested for allegedly falsifying a missing person case on August 23.As he left the Jeju Eastern Police Station in the afternoon, the sergeant, identified as A, did not respond to reporters' questions about the reasons for the false conclusion and bowed his head as he entered a transport vehicle.According to Yonhap News, a police official stated, "We are investigating the motives behind the sergeant's false conclusion of the missing person case," adding that the location of the investigation could not be disclosed.Another police official mentioned, "We may apply for a warrant after conducting the investigation by the deadline for emergency arrest on the afternoon of the 24th."The police plan to conduct a swift investigation and hold a media briefing next week.On the previous afternoon, the sergeant was urgently arrested on charges of neglect of duty, falsifying public records, and obstructing official duties.He is accused of lying to the reporter that he had made contact with Jang Mi-ran, 37, who was reported missing in May, and subsequently closing the case while deleting her information from the missing person profiling system.Additionally, he is suspected of falsely concluding another missing person case on July 2 using a similar method.Jang has been missing for about three months, prompting extensive search efforts, while another missing person was found dead in Jeju the previous day.The sergeant's actions have revealed systemic shortcomings in how the police handle missing person cases.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-23 19:48:10
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58 Indicted, Major Allegations Remain Unresolved as Special Investigation Ends The second comprehensive special investigation team, led by Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-young, concluded its 180-day investigation on August 23. The team indicted a total of 58 individuals, including former President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Geon-hee.According to the special investigation team, seven of those indicted were taken into custody, while 51 others, including corporations, were indicted without detention. Following a 'Heavy Tail Strategy' focused on case resolutions in the final stages of the investigation, over 40 individuals were referred to trial in the last two weeks.Notable outcomes include the investigation into allegations surrounding the relocation of the presidential office during Yoon's administration. The team first indicted former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, former Chief of Staff Kim Dae-ki, former Secretary for General Affairs Yoon Jae-soon, and former Secretary for Management Kim O-jin in June for illegally diverting and executing state funds. They later indicted Kim Geon-hee, National Assembly member Yoon Han-hong, and 21Gram CEO Kim Tae-young.Also indicted were Yoo Byeong-ho, a member of the Board of Audit and Inspection, and other officials accused of attempting to suppress investigations by the Board. The team expanded its inquiry into allegations of illegal diversion of state funds by the presidential office and the Ministry of the Interior, as well as claims of leniency in audits by the Board.Former President Yoon, former National Security Office head Shin Won-sik, and former Deputy National Security Advisor Kim Tae-hyo were indicted for allegedly directing the dissemination of messages justifying the 12.3 martial law to allied nations, including the United States.Indictments were also made against former Presidential Office Secretary for Public Discipline Lee Si-won, who is accused of leaking information related to the 'Chae Sang-byeong incident,' and former Army Counterintelligence Command head Hwang Yu-seong, who allegedly concealed the 'VIP anger theory,' along with former Marine Corps Command Counterintelligence Unit head Moon Yeon-cheol.However, the investigation did not reach conclusions on significant allegations, including the Noh Sang-won notebook and the involvement of the Suwon District Prosecutor's Office in the Yoon administration's investigations, as well as the allegations surrounding the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway.Despite being the largest and longest-running special investigation team in history, the team left many unresolved cases, leading to criticism in the legal community that the investigation was ultimately incomplete.The expressway route change allegations saw the special investigation team impose a travel ban on former Minister Won and summon him twice, even conducting mobile phone forensics, but they ultimately could not establish any charges and decided to hand the case back to the National Police Agency.In the case of the Noh Sang-won notebook, the special investigation team conducted on-site verifications at facilities noted as 'collection points' in the notebook, including the Yeonpyeong base, and investigated former Minister of Defense Kim Yong-hyun as a suspect in conspiracy to commit insurrection. However, they could not secure testimony from former Commander Noh, which hindered their ability to substantiate the allegations.Allegations of interference by the Yoon administration's presidential office in the Suwon District Prosecutor's Office investigation were also noted. In March, the team confirmed indications of presidential office involvement in the investigation of the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case and requested the Seoul High Prosecutor's Office's Human Rights Violation Task Force to take over the case. In April, they classified it as a 'suspected massive state corruption incident' but reported no significant progress and indicated plans to transfer it.Concerns were raised regarding the reversal of decisions related to key figures involved in insurrection. The special investigation team indicted Hong Jang-won, former first deputy director of the National Intelligence Service, who revealed former President Yoon's directive to 'capture everyone,' and Jo Sung-hyun, former commander of the Army's Capital Defense Command, who received a commendation for instructing troops not to cross the Seogang Bridge while moving to the National Assembly during martial law, on charges of insurrection.Both individuals were key witnesses who assisted in proving the insurrection allegations against former President Yoon and others during the insurrection special investigation team's inquiry. Given the conflicts between the two special investigation teams during the indictment process, disputes are expected to continue during the maintenance of charges.The comprehensive special investigation team is scheduled to hold a final briefing on the investigation results on the morning of August 24 at their office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-23 19:40:00
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Weather Forecast: Heat Continues Monday with Showers in Southern Regions 월요일인 24일은 전국 대부분 지역에서 무더위가 이어지는 가운데 남부지방을 중심으로 돌풍과 천둥·번개를 동반한 소나기가 내리겠다. 일부 지역에서는 낮 최고기온이 36도까지 오를 전망이다.23일 기상청에 따르면 24일 오후 충남 남동 내륙과 충북 남부, 제주도에 소나기가 내리겠다. 오후부터 저녁 사이에는 경기 북동부와 강원 중·북부 내륙, 전북 내륙, 광주·전남, 대구·경북 남부 내륙, 경남 서부 내륙에도 소나기가 예상된다.예상 강수량은 △경기 북동부·강원 중·북부 내륙 5~20㎜ △충남 남동 내륙·충북 남부 5~40㎜ △광주·전남·전북 내륙 5~50㎜ △대구·경북 남부 내륙·경남 서부 내륙 5~50㎜ △제주도 5~20㎜다.소나기가 내리는 지역에서는 돌풍이 불고 천둥·번개가 치는 곳이 있겠다.무더위도 계속된다. 당분간 기온은 평년(최저 19~23도, 최고 27~31도)보다 높을 것으로 예상된다. 전국 대부분 지역에 폭염특보가 발표된 가운데 최고체감온도는 33도 안팎까지 오르겠다. 일부 경기 남부와 남부지방을 중심으로는 35도 안팎까지 치솟겠다.소나기가 내리는 동안에는 기온이 일시적으로 내려가겠지만 비가 그친 뒤 높은 습도 속에 다시 기온이 오르면서 무더위가 이어질 전망이다. 밤사이 최저기온이 25도 이상 유지되는 열대야가 나타나는 곳도 있겠다.아침 최저기온은 22~26도, 낮 최고기온은 31~36도로 예보됐다.주요 지역의 아침 최저기온은 △서울 25도 △인천 25도 △수원 25도 △춘천 24도 △강릉 26도 △청주 25도 △대전 25도 △전주 25도 △광주 24도 △대구 24도 △부산 25도 △제주 27도다.낮 최고기온은 △서울 32도 △인천 31도 △수원 32도 △춘천 32도 △강릉 33도 △청주 33도 △대전 33도 △전주 35도 △광주 35도 △대구 35도 △부산 34도 △제주 33도로 예상된다.바다의 물결은 동해·서해·남해 앞바다에서 0.5~1.0m로 일겠다. 안쪽 먼바다의 파고는 동해 0.5~1.5m, 서해 0.5~3.0m, 남해 0.5~2.5m로 전망된다.미세먼지 농도는 전 권역에서 '좋음'~'보통' 수준을 보이겠다. 부산·울산·경남은 '보통', 그 밖의 지역은 '좋음' 수준으로 예상된다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-23 19:08:00
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42% of High-Value Corporate Homes Used by Owners, Tax Agency to Investigate 국세청이 고가 법인주택을 전수 점검한 결과 5채 중 2채꼴로 사주 일가가 거주하거나 사적으로 사용하는 것으로 나타났다. 국세청은 법인주택을 사적으로 사용하고 탈세한 혐의가 확인된 법인을 상대로 세무조사에 나설 방침이다. 임광현 국세청장은 23일 자신의 엑스(X·옛 트위터)에 '비정상의 정상화, 황제사택 관행 바로잡겠습니다'라는 제목의 글을 올려 점검 결과와 향후 조사 방침을 공개했다. 국세청은 국민주택 규모 이상이면서 공시가격 9억원을 초과해 종합부동산세가 부과되는 법인주택 2639채를 전수 점검했다. 이 가운데 임대용 1157채와 직원 기숙사 등 업무용 385채를 제외한 1097채(약 42%)를 사주 일가가 거주하거나 사적으로 사용하는 것으로 파악했다. 이들 주택의 평균 공시가격은 20억원을 넘었다. 공시가격 30억원 초과 주택은 453채, 100억원 초과는 12채였으며 최고가는 200억원을 웃돌았다. 일부 기업은 서울 강남·용산의 초고가 아파트를 사주나 자녀에게 사택으로 제공했다. 다주택 규제를 피하려고 개인 소유 고가주택을 법인에 넘긴 뒤 사용하거나, 직원 복지용으로 취득한 100억원대 콘도를 오너 일가와 일부 임원만 이용한 사례도 확인됐다. 현행 세법상 출자 임원과 그 친족이 사용하는 사택의 이익과 유지비는 과세 대상이다. 다만 사적으로 사용된 1097채가 모두 탈세 사례에 해당하는 것은 아니다. 국세청은 신고 누락 등 구체적인 혐의가 확인된 법인의 세금 신고·납부 내역 전반을 조사할 계획이다. 임 청장은 "봉급생활자 입장에서는 사주의 법인자산 사적 유용을 납득하기 어렵다"며 "혐의가 확인된 법인의 성실도 전반에 대한 엄정한 세무조사를 할 예정"이라고 밝혔다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-23 18:16:00