U.S.-Kazakhstan Call: President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke by phone with Donald Trump, congratulating him on US independence and inviting him to visit Kazakhstan; Tokayev also reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s stance against nuclear weapons proliferation and the importance of cooperation with the IAEA. Fuel-Security Pressure: Russia’s Rosselkhoznadzor asked Kazakhstan to suspend food sunflower exports to Russia until Jan. 1, 2027, alleging illegal shipments of planting seeds disguised as food. Border Crackdown: Kazakhstan has deployed 59 checkpoints along its border with Russia to curb fuel smuggling as the wider regional fuel squeeze deepens. Rare Metals Push: Kazakhstan and South Korea will set up a joint rare-metals research and technology center in Almaty at Satbayev University to train specialists and develop processing for rare and rare-earth materials. Energy/Industry Deal: Chevron entered a licensing agreement with ZL Chemicals to commercialize Chevron’s surfactant technology for shale and hard-to-recover deposits. Space Milestone: NASA astronaut Anil Menon, launching from Baikonur on July 14 for an eight-month ISS mission, will join research including ultrasound studies and new medical tech. Sports Note: Kazakhstan’s Olympic boxing champion Daniyar Yeleussinov received 20 days’ administrative detention and a seven-year driving ban after an intoxicated crash in Astana.