Nikken Sekkei Ltd., a Japanese architectural, planning and engineering firm, will be the key contractor responsible for preparing a new general plan for Bishkek. Kyrgyz Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliyev has already officially approved the decision. Rumors about the Japanese company working on the master plan had been circulating since 2023.…
“Zheztyrnak,” a movie based on Kazakh ethnic folklore and made by Kazakhstani studio Clover Street Production, has made it to the semifinal of the prestigious Bloody Horror International Film Festival in Canada. This is the most renowned international platform for the best independent horror movies from all over the world.…
In an interview with the Kabar news agency, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov explained that his government had legalized casinos to attract foreign investment and promote tourism, as reported by Kaktus.media. However, the president emphasized that Kyrgyz nationals are prohibited from going to casinos. «There are three casinos in Bishkek.…
As the number of registered vehicles in Kazakhstan continues to grow, so does the number of traffic accidents. Freedom Insurance has shared data with Kursiv.media, revealing that city buses, China’s Changan and Chery crossovers and budget-friendly Chevrolet sedans are among the most accident-prone vehicles. Experts attribute this trend to high…
The Central Asia Fashion Spring 2025 international exhibition has concluded at the Atakent International Exhibition Centre in Almaty. Kursiv LifeStyle shares experts’ insights on the industry’s current state and future prospects. The future of shopping centers Considerable attention has been paid to the development of shopping centers. According to Dmitry…
The renowned Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen will release his new song «Love’s Not Over Yet» in collaboration with two-time Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Walter Afanasieff. The song is scheduled to premiere on March 7, 2025. Afanasieff is an acclaimed composer who has worked with some of the biggest names in…
Legendary Spanish tenor José Carreras will perform in Astana and Almaty in June 2025 as part of his farewell world tour. Carreras made his first public performance at the age of eight and launched his professional career in 1970 at Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona at the age of…
In 2024, Kazakhstan’s used car market reported near-zero sales growth amid a decline in used car prices. This resulted from a quantitative and qualitative expansion in the availability of brand-new vehicles. Official dealers set a historic record in passenger car sales, surpassing 200,000 units sold last year. The booming sales…
According to the Speedtest Global Index, Kazakhstan climbed one position, reaching 57th place in the global internet speed ranking. The ranking analyzed aggregated data on download and upload speeds, as well as data transfer via mobile and broadband internet. In terms of mobile internet connection speed, Kazakhstan was ranked 57th…
Yuji Beleza, a popular Japanese blogger and polyglot has once again arrived in Kazakhstan to meet his followers, enjoy the nature of the Almaty region and enhance his Kazakh language skills. The 26-year-old blogger has gained popularity in Kazakhstan thanks to his resemblance to Kazakhs and his love for Kazakhstani…
Aspan Gallery in Almaty is hosting “Prayer of a Thousand Horse Riders,” an exhibition by renowned Kazakhstani artist Said Atabekov. The artist has been documenting the ancient horse-riding sports game kokpar. A Kursiv LifeStyle correspondent attended the exhibition and reports about the artist’s work. Said Atabekov, widely recognized by art…
Uzbekistan’s cabinet will relocate to a new city, New Tashkent, which is expected to be completed by 2050, according to a statement from Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, reports Gazeta.uz. On Nov. 23, President Mirziyoyev planted a tree as part of a project to create a green belt around the capital.…
Kazakh and Uzbek language courses have been launched at the George Washington University (GW) in the U.S. The educational program is held within the Central Asia Program (CAP). The Youth Information Service of Kazakhstan, citing GW, reported on the new course. Anyone interested in learning the languages can attend either class…
Uzbekistan has implemented a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses, applying to both state-run and traveling performances. Under the new regulation, certain species of wild animals can no longer be kept in domestic settings, semi-free environments or artificial habitats. This regulation will take effect on Jan. 1,…
Almaty is hosting its first large exhibition of Afghan goods from Oct. 20 to 22, featuring over 80 companies. This is the second event aimed at strengthening economic ties between Kazakhstan and the Taliban government, which regained power in Afghanistan in August 2021. A Kursiv LifeStyle correspondent attended the exhibition,…
In the first six months of 2024, nearly 600,000 tourists visited Kazakhstan. Most of them came from Russia, China and India, according to the Bureau of National Statistics. The diversity of international tourists is growing each year, with more travelers from distant countries choosing to visit Kazakhstan. «The growing number…
The TEDx project is set to be re-launched in Almaty. The upcoming conference, the first since 2020, will center on the history of Almaty and Kazakhstan’s independence. Founded in 2009 as a branch of the global TED Foundation, the TEDx project aims to share unique ideas, experiences and knowledge through…
Kursiv.LifeSyle has found out that the Star Wine List map is now featuring locations in Almaty and Astana. Star Wine List is a guide for wine bars and restaurants that marks the best places from all over the world. Sommeliers and oenophiles have noticed that Kazakhstan is also on the…
A large painting of a nomad with a golden eagle decorates the wall of a house in the capital. Kursiv LifeStyle found that the mural was created to commemorate The 5th World Nomad Games. The mural depicts a «berkutchi» (eagle hunter) on the skyline as he releases a golden eagle…
Kazakhstani Olympic shooter Konstantin Malinovskiy proposed to his girlfriend, Arina Altukhova. Kursiv LifeStyle covers the love story progression of the Olympic athletes during the 2024 Olympics. Konstantin obtained the license for participation at the Olympic Games in Paris in November 2023 upon the results of the 2023 Asian Shooting Championships…
D Billions from Kyrgyzstan is perhaps the most well-known cultural product the country has produced in recent years. Kursiv LifeStyle has decided to explore how a group of artists from Kyrgyzstan found themselves earning hundreds of thousands of dollars per month. D Billions is a band and YouTube channel offering…
Astana Qazaqstan Team may become Chinese by 2025 now that the cycling team has signed an agreement with XDS Carbon-Tech, a prominent bicycle producer in China. According to some media outlets, the Astana Qazaqstan Team will probably be registered as a Chinese team in WorldTour. As Cyclingnews pointed out, the…
