The capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, is hosting the III International Olympiad on Artificial Intelligence (IOAI) from August 2 to August 8. The event will bring together over 500 schoolchildren from 106 countries worldwide. This Olympiad is one of the largest international events for students dedicated to artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotics.
Participants demonstrate their knowledge and practical skills in creating artificial intelligence models, solving complex engineering problems, and programming autonomous robotic systems.
The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, participated in the opening ceremony. He emphasized that hosting such a global competition reflects the country's aspiration to build a digital economy and develop high technologies. According to the president, Kazakhstan is consistently implementing its digital transformation strategy, creating a modern innovative ecosystem where artificial intelligence plays a central role in public administration, economic growth, and business.
Tokayev noted that Kazakhstan ranks 24th out of 193 countries in the UN E-Government Development Index and is a leader in Central Asia in terms of readiness to adopt advanced digital technologies. He also highlighted the development of human capital, mentioning that the Kazakh team won three gold, one silver, and three bronze medals at last year's International Olympiad on Artificial Intelligence in Beijing.
The President stated: "Knowledge has always united people and moved humanity forward. Perhaps it is here that ideas and projects capable of changing the world for the better are born."
The International Olympiad on Artificial Intelligence is a relatively new but already well-established global educational initiative. It brings together talented schoolchildren, researchers, educators, and leading experts in the field of AI. Unlike traditional programming contests, the IOAI focuses on solving practical problems closely related to the real challenges of the modern digital economy.
Participants work with machine learning algorithms, computer vision, data analysis, and neural networks, developing intelligent models and programming autonomous robots. The goal of the competition is to assess not only theoretical knowledge but also the ability to apply it to create innovative technological solutions.
Artificial Intelligence as the Driving Force of the Global Economy
This event demonstrates the growing global significance of artificial intelligence as one of the defining technologies of the 21st century. AI-based solutions are increasingly being implemented in fields such as industry, healthcare, education, finance, transport, agriculture, environmental protection, and public administration. According to international analysts, in the coming years, AI technologies will occupy a significant share of the global economy, and the demand for AI specialists will continue to grow rapidly. As a result, many states are investing in developing youth digital skills, expanding educational programs, and supporting emerging researchers.
In addition to the competition itself, the Olympiad serves as a platform for knowledge exchange among participants, teachers, researchers, and representatives of the high-tech industry. The opening ceremony was attended by executives from Sinovation Ventures and 01.ai, Kai-Fu Lee, Chair of the International Olympiad on Artificial Intelligence Council, Elena Marinova, President of the Kazakhstan Sports Programming Federation, Bagdat Mussin, co-founder of Kaspi.kz, Mikhail Lomtadze, and CEO of Freedom Holding Corp., Timur Tyurlov. During the event, Tokayev familiarized himself with the structure of the Olympiad, the competition tasks, and demonstrations of autonomous robotic systems.
The III International Olympiad on Artificial Intelligence underscores Kazakhstan's ambitions to become one of the leading centers of digital technology and innovation in Eurasia. Organizers note that holding this global competition promotes international scientific cooperation, advances engineering education, and helps shape a new generation of specialists who will define technological progress in the coming decades. The organizers also emphasized that artificial intelligence has ceased to be a technology of the future, becoming a key factor in national competitiveness. In this context, the International Olympiad on Artificial Intelligence not only identifies talented young developers but also contributes to the creation of a global community of future leaders of the digital age.
The National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) ordered the government of the state of Paraná to immediately cease the use of biometric data of children and adolescents for attendance registration purposes in the state public network.
This determination, released on Thursday (6), prohibits any collection, consultation, comparison, use, or sharing of this information until the agency makes a new decision. The ANPD based its action on the lack of an adequate legal basis for processing this biometric data, as well as pointing out flaws in access controls to the images and the absence of proof of security.
The government of Paraná was given a deadline of ten business days to demonstrate that it had stopped using biometrics. The matter was directed to the regulatory body's sanctions area.
In response to questions from g1, the State Secretariat of Education of Paraná (Seed-PR) clarified that the system in question functioned only as a pilot project. Seed-PR declared that the system has not been in use since July 2026, after the termination of the contract with the responsible company. Furthermore, the Secretariat assured that student data was never exposed.
In response to numerous inquiries on Instagram regarding his stance on the ongoing student protests in Jharkhand, Rahul Gandhi stated on Thursday that any authority—be it the Congress government, the national government, or the Jharkhand government—should strive to reform the education system, which he described as 'dilapidated,' 'expensive,' and 'oppressive.'
He emphasized that students across the country are protesting against the imperfections of the education system. This statement is particularly significant as the Congress party is part of the ruling coalition led by JMM in Jharkhand. The Congress state unit and the NSUI youth wing have already met with the Chief Minister Hemant Soren to advocate for students' interests.
Rahul responded on Instagram, where he opened up to questions as part of a new initiative to engage with youth. He launched a page with the message: 'Students, Generation Z—I am here to listen. Ask me any questions on Instagram, and I will try to answer as many as possible.'
This initiative followed a day after Rahul held a meeting with young people who participated in the recent NEET protest in Delhi and other parts of the country, which was followed by a press conference. Among these young people were Riya Ahir, whose photo went viral due to the blocking of a police van in Mumbai, and Muskan Sharma, who was hit by a police baton in the buttocks at Janthar Mantar on July 20.
During the press conference, standing alongside the protesters, Farah Naaz stated that she was subjected to public insults during her arrest by the police, and one officer even called her an 'anti-national.' Muskan reported that she was mistaken for a Muslim, which some believe makes Indians 'easy targets,' although she is Hindu. Nutan Toppo stated that she was shot with a shotgun.
Rahul accused the ruling party of using thugs to visit students' homes and coerce them into apologies, which are then accepted by Prime Minister Modi. Rahul stated: 'They defended the Constitution and preserved the idea of India and its future... They are so young and stand before the media. But the Prime Minister and the Home Minister (Amit Shah) lack the courage to appear before the press.'
There is a significant decrease in the approval of student visas for Indian students planning to study in the US during the main admission season of 2025. According to new data, this drop was more substantial compared to the similar decline among Chinese students.
According to the 'Center for Immigration Studies' (CIS), American consulates issued only 22,149 F-1 student visas to Indian citizens between May and August 2025. This figure is significantly lower than the 58,694 visas issued during the same period in 2024, representing a 62 percent drop.
Although a decline was also noted among Chinese students, it did not reach the scale observed in India. The number of F-1 visas issued to Chinese citizens decreased by 34 percent year-on-year, falling from 61,075 to 40,034.
The period from May to August is considered the busiest time for processing student visas, as most international students receive their visas before the start of the academic semester in the US. CIS analysis indicates that the recent reduction in visa issuance may affect the future number of applicants and the quantity of international graduates integrating into the US workforce.
The report emphasizes the importance of the May to August period, as about three-quarters of all annual student visas for India and China are issued during these four months. The key role of Indian graduates in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which allows qualified international students to work in the US after completing their studies, is also discussed.
During the 2024-25 academic year, 294,253 international graduates participated in the OPT program, approximately half of whom—143,740 people—were Indian citizens, while the number of Chinese graduates was 61,981.
The Center for Immigration Studies noted that the decrease in international students will lead to a reduction in the number of international graduates participating in the American workforce through the OPT program. The decline in student visas occurred after the Trump administration significantly tightened US immigration rules, making education and career building in the country more difficult for international students.
In July, the US Department of Homeland Security approved a new rule replacing the long-standing 'status duration' policy for most F-1 student visa holders, establishing a fixed period of study. This rule will take effect on September 15. Under the new provisions, students can generally stay in the US for up to four years, and if an extension is necessary, they will need to apply for an extension.
Furthermore, the administration reduced the post-graduation grace period from 60 to 30 days and introduced stricter requirements for changing schools or academic programs. These changes do not only apply to college campuses. The Trump administration has also taken a hardline stance on the OPT program, which, although still operational, is being discussed in the context of potential measures to tighten or reduce it.
If Donald Trump decides to continue this policy, it could particularly affect Indian students, who constitute the largest portion of OPT participants, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
