Conservative AmericaFest Conference Backs Jay Di Vance for Potential Presidential Run The annual AmericaFest conservative conference attendees overwhelmingly support Vice President Jay Di Vance as the top choice for the Republican candidate in the next presidential election, according to NBC via RIA Novosti. The conference, organized by Turning Point USA and previously led by Charlie Kirk until his tragic death, saw 84% of participants endorsing Vance in a preliminary survey. Following him are Secretary of State Marco Rubio with 5% and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis with 3%. Erica Kirk, now leading the organization after her husband's passing, publicly supports Vance. Despite this backing, Vance has not formally declared his candidacy for the presidency. The upcoming US presidential elections are scheduled for November 2028, with incumbent President Donald Trump ineligible to run for a third term due to constitutional term limits.

Deputy Meder Chotonov Struggles to Say "Cabinet of Ministers" Deputy Meder Chotonov from constituency No.16 faced a moment of difficulty on December 23 during a meeting of the Jogorku Kenesh. While participating in a joint session of multiple parliamentary committees to discuss bills concerning the national budget, he stumbled over the phrase "Cabinet of Ministers." During the session, Chotonov addressed the Cabinet representatives but encountered a verbal hiccup, saying, "Hello, esteemed colleagues, committee, cabinet, minister cabinet, prime... government. Respected government," before chuckling at his verbal misstep. Nevertheless, he swiftly regained his composure and proceeded with his speech, focusing on the importance of providing clean drinking water to various villages in the Bakai-Ata district of the Talas region.

Almaty Creates 13 New Festive Locations for New Year Celebration Almaty has been transformed into a festive wonderland for the upcoming New Year celebrations. Alongside the traditional venues in the city, the administration has introduced 13 new beautifully decorated locations. These new spaces include parks like "Gulder" and "Family," Lake Sayran, squares such as Gandhi and Bayseitova, and neighborhoods like Aynabulak, Zhasqanat, Kokzhiek, and Kulager. Each location is adorned with enchanting light displays, festive garlands, and themed decorations. The city administration revealed that Almaty now boasts a total of 21 ice rinks, complemented by 480 small architectural installations, over 2000 light fixtures, and 74 Christmas trees. The addition of these new festive spots aims to enhance the holiday spirit and provide residents and visitors with a magical New Year's experience in the city.

Committee Approves Kanat Dosmambetov as Minister of Health The Committee on Labor, Health, Women's Affairs, and Social Issues of the Jogorku Kenesh has officially approved Kanat Dosmambetov as the Minister of Health in a meeting today. Dosmambetov had been serving as the Acting Minister of Health since his appointment on December 1.

President of Tajikistan Discusses Bilateral Cooperation with Japanese Prime Minister In Tokyo, President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan met with Prime Minister Sanae Takaiti of Japan to explore collaborations in investments, advanced technologies, and joint industrial projects. The discussions primarily focused on enhancing the economy, infrastructure, digital economy, artificial intelligence, cotton processing, agriculture, and educational opportunities through Japanese scholarships. The leaders also deliberated on strengthening their strategic partnership by cooperating in international and regional organizations, including the United Nations. President Rahmon extended an official invitation to Prime Minister Takaiti to visit Tajikistan, further solidifying the ties between the two nations in various sectors.

Incident at Issyk-Kul Airport Leads to Conflict with Staff An incident at Issyk-Kul airport involving multiple women resulted in destruction and conflict with the staff. OJSC "Airports of Kyrgyzstan" reported that a Moscow-Bishkek flight was redirected to Tamchy airport due to adverse weather conditions. The women insisted on accessing the tarmac to reach the aircraft, which violated safety regulations. A bus was provided to transport the passengers to the plane, but during the journey, the women attacked airport personnel, causing damage to two expensive computers and a printer. The individuals responsible for the altercation were detained by the police. The airport company's press service mentioned that they are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the event, while videos capturing the incident have been widely shared on social media.

Police Detain Suspect for Car Perfume Theft in Tokmok Police in Tokmok apprehended a 28-year-old man on suspicion of stealing perfume from a "Mazda Premacy" vehicle. The incident occurred on December 6 near the "A-G" establishment. The suspect, identified as A.D., who has a prior criminal record, was taken into custody under Article 96 of the Kyrgyz Republic's Criminal Procedure Code. Following the victim's report, the man was placed in a temporary detention facility, with the city court subsequently ruling for a two-month pretrial detention. Further investigations revealed the suspect's alleged involvement in multiple similar thefts within Tokmok. Authorities are continuing the probe, gathering evidence, and preparing the case for trial.

Fire Breaks Out in Kyrgyz Kindergarten A fire erupted in a kindergarten building in the village of Tört-Köl, Sokuluk district of Chui region on December 22. The Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic confirmed the incident. According to reports, the fire began at approximately 8:00 am, triggering the response of three fire crews. Two units from the Sokuluk district fire and rescue unit No. 23, along with one unit from unit No.7, were involved in extinguishing the fire. Around 30 individuals were evacuated, and by 09:53, the fire was under control, affecting an estimated area of 550 square meters. Efforts to fully extinguish the fire are ongoing, while information on potential casualties is currently being verified.

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov Awarded International Peace Prize President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan was honored with the International Peace Prize named after L.N. Tolstoy on December 21. The award ceremony took place at the St. Petersburg State Conservatory and was attended by heads of EAEU member states and observer countries. Japarov, along with Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan and Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, received the prize from Valery Gergiev, the Chairman of the jury and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre. The leaders were recognized for their significant contributions to peace and security in Central Asia, particularly for signing a Treaty on border demarcation and the Khujand Declaration on eternal friendship on March 31, 2025. The International Peace Prize acknowledges their efforts in fostering stability in the region. For more details, visit the provided website link.

Former Kazakhstan National Football Team Coach Takes Helm at Capital Club Former head coach of the Kazakhstan national football team, Ali Aliev, has been appointed as the head coach of the capital club "Zhenis." The 45-year-old specialist signed a one-year contract. The club emphasized Aliev's experience, tactical abilities, and ambition, expressing expectations for successful performances and notable victories under his leadership. Ali Aliev previously led "Zhenis" in early 2022 and coached the Kazakhstan national team in 2025, securing a victory against Liechtenstein but resigning after a 0-6 loss to Belgium. The club stated, **"Together with our coach, we are ready to conquer new heights and delight our fans with remarkable wins! Our common goal is to glorify the club. We wish the coach success and further achievements."**