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New Constitution Officially Enters into Force in the Republic of Kazakhstan

01 Jul. 09:20

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Effective July 1, the new Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, ratified during the nationwide referendum on March 15 of this year, has officially entered into force. Concurrently, the previous Basic Law, which had been operational since August 30, 1995, has completely lost its legal validity. This transition also marks the formal expiration of the mandate of the former bicameral parliament, which comprised the Mazhilis and the Senate.

The updated Constitution fundamentally restructures the state apparatus by introducing the executive office of the Vice President. The legislative branch shifts to a unicameral parliament known as the Kurultai, consisting of 145 deputies elected exclusively through political party lists. Furthermore, a new supreme advisory body named "Khalyk Kenesi" (People's Council) is established with full rights of legislative initiative, while the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan is officially dissolved.

Under the newly instituted constitutional guidelines, the President must officially call for elections to the Kurultai within one month of the Constitution's effective date and execute the voting process within two months. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev previously announced that the balloting would take place in August. The newly established position of Vice President is to be filled within two months following the opening session of the new parliament, subject to the formal approval of the Kurultai.

The initial framework of the reform package was originally intended only to transition the country toward a unicameral parliamentary structure. However, the designated constitutional working group subsequently introduced more extensive structural revisions, resulting in the comprehensive adoption of a brand-new Constitution. Consequently, Kazakhstan’s official Constitution Day will now be celebrated annually on March 15, marking the date of the historic referendum, instead of August 30.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated the citizens on the implementation of the new Basic Law, declaring the commencement of a completely new era in the history of sovereign Kazakhstan. The Head of State emphasized that the nation is embarking on a path of sustainable growth, political and economic transformation, and comprehensive modernization. He noted that this milestone signifies a profound overhaul of the political framework and the modernization of core state and civil institutions.

This comprehensive constitutional transition is systematically engineered to balance the distribution of power among governing branches while fostering active civic engagement. The modernized legal architecture serves as the foundation for long-term political stability and institutional development across the republic.

















Singapore Pledges Up to $55,000 Per Child to Boost Falling Birth Rates

24 Aug. 12:48

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Facing a record drop in fertility rates, Singapore is significantly expanding its family support framework. According to Bloomberg, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced increases in direct financial assistance alongside enhanced housing benefits for young families.

Under the updated policy, every Singaporean child up to the age of 17 will be eligible to receive up to 70,000 Singapore dollars (approximately $55,000 USD) in total support, which includes cash payouts, educational grants, and related benefits. The government is also expanding paid parental leave and capping monthly out-of-pocket costs for government-subsidized childcare at 150 Singapore dollars.

These interventions aim to reverse a severe demographic decline, marked by last year's fertility rate drop to 0.87 children per woman, while over 20% of the country's population is currently aged 65 or older.