Armenia-Election Diplomacy: Kazakhstan’s President Tokayev joined international leaders in congratulating Nikol Pashinyan after Armenia’s parliamentary election, citing preliminary assessments that the vote was lawful, while Pashinyan said he also spoke with Macron and the EU Commission reiterated support. Sports (AVC Women’s Cup): Kazakhstan kept its semifinal hopes alive in the AVC Women’s Cup, rallying after a slow start to beat Iran 3-1 in Candon City, while Vietnam also stayed unbeaten. Oil Market: OPEC+ agreed to raise output by 188,000 bpd in July, including Kazakhstan, though analysts warn the real-world impact may be limited by supply constraints and disruptions. Earthquake (Almaty region): Seismologists recorded a quake near Almaty—111 km southeast—at 9:55 pm Astana time, with light tremors reported in nearby villages. Trade/Border: Uzbekistan warned of temporary queues at the Uzbekistan–Kazakhstan border after Kazakh customs systems went offline for maintenance. Energy Data Deal: Kazakhstan’s National Geological Survey and Shell Kazakhstan signed a memorandum to digitize hydrocarbon datasets and use AI to improve exploration decisions. Regional Connectivity: The modernized Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway enters a new phase, boosting freight capacity and strengthening the Middle Corridor.