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With the landmark Kairat vs. Real Madrid match just days away, visiting fans are urged to prioritize their safety while in Almaty. A new official portal and mobile app, Safetravel.kz, is now the go-to resource for all travelers.

Key features

What to do in case of…

Robbery or theft of belongings

Amid the excitement surrounding the Champions League match between Kairat and Real Madrid, Almaty residents and visitors are searching for every possible way to watch the game. Kursiv LifeStyle reports on the best view of Central Stadium.

Ticket sales for the anticipated match started at 5:00 p.m. on Sept. 23. Within hours, all 23,000 seats at the stadium were sold out, according to Ticketon.kz, the service responsible for ticket sales.

It wasn’t a big surprise, though, as even sales began, there were several times more people wanting to attend the match than there were tickets. At one point, the number...

Almaty is Kazakhstan’s largest city and was once its capital. It’s rich in culture, natural beauty and modern conveniences. With tree-lined streets, lively cafés and mountain views close by, Almaty is a great place to visit. If you’re coming for the first time, here’s what you need to know about getting there, getting around and settling in.

Getting to Almaty from Europe

Almaty International Airport (ALA) is the primary gateway to the city, offering direct and connecting flights from numerous European countries.

Former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev once sought to buy a villa (previously owned by Mobutu) on the French Riviera, Russian businessman Shalva Chigirinsky said in an interview with journalist Yuri Dud.

Chigirinsky originally purchased the property in 2001 for $14.5 million. After leaving Russia, he sold it to Gazprom Neft, one of Russia’s largest state-owned oil producers, for $70 million, a price he said reflected extensive renovations.

“I was offered much more for it, even half a billion,” Chigirinsky said. “Nazarbayev’s people came. They wanted to buy a summer residence for him in...

Kazakh national postal operator Kazpost announced that it is temporarily suspending shipments of parcels containing goods to the U.S., citing guidance issued on Aug. 26 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

According to the statement, the American side introduced limitations on postal shipments from most countries. The operator noted that, at present, only five nations out of 192 member states of the Universal Postal Union are able to send parcels containing goods to the U.S.

Kazpost noted that shipments of letters and documents to the U.S. continue as normal.

«Kazpost is in constant contact with...

Kazakhstan has authorized the industrial production of 218 hemp varieties originating from 20 countries, including Russia, the U.S., Canada and Ukraine.

The country permits industrial cultivation of cannabis only for uses unrelated to producing or manufacturing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances.

The approved list includes varieties categorized by country of origin:

U.S. President Donald Trump claimed he faced «three very sinister events» during his visit to the UN General Assembly, asserting that the Secret Service would review the incidents, according to the Associated Press.

Delivering his speech, Trump lashed out at the UN, European allies and their immigration policies, also pointing to a series of mishaps he called «triple sabotage.» First, Trump claimed an escalator carrying him and his team «screeched to a halt,» accusing unnamed individuals of deliberate interference. In response, U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said a U.S. delegation videographer may have accidentally triggered the stop mechanism.

In...

Digital nomads don’t seem to be rushing to Kazakhstan. Only 27 foreigners have obtained a Neo Nomad Visa since 2024.

Kazakhstan does not appear to be among the most attractive destinations for foreign tourists with remote jobs.

«Since the launch of the Neo Nomad Visa last year, 27 foreign nationals from 14 countries have had the opportunity to live in Kazakhstan for up to one year,» Kazakh Tourism said.

Most visas went to citizens of the U.S., Canada and France. Others receiving the Neo Nomad Visa include nationals of New Zealand, the U.K., Ireland...

On Sept. 25, flights, businesses, transportation services and several schools resumed operations in China’s Special Administrative Region Hong Kong after being hit by Typhoon Ragasa, described as the most powerful storm, Reuters reported.

According to authorities, around 100 people were injured in the region. On Sept. 24, the Hong Kong Observatory initially issued the highest typhoon warning, Signal No. 10, but later lowered it to Signal No. 8 the same day. By Sept. 25, the signal remained at No. 3 until morning, when it was further reduced to No. 1.

Separately, in Taiwan, authorities initially reported...

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has opened its case against Amazon, accusing the company of tricking millions of shoppers into signing up for unwanted Prime subscriptions, according to Reuters.

FTC argues that Amazon executives avoided making the sign-up and cancellation process easier to protect their revenue. Government attorney Jonathan Cohen described it as the «more members, more money» principle, claiming that the company prioritized growth over consumer choice.

Prime costs up to $14.99 per month and offers fast shipping and streaming. The FTC contends Amazon enrolled many shoppers without clear information and required them to navigate a...

Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen gave a wide-ranging interview to the YouTube channel «Business Pod Kapotom» («Business Under the Hood»), where he discussed contacting the producer of «Borat» and coping with the loss of a loved one.

The singer said he never doubted his career path. From childhood, he had only wanted to sing and never considered any other option. He credited his parents for shaping his future: His mother, despite poor health, carried him on her back to music school each day while his father, aunt and uncle were at work.

Confronting Sacha Baron Cohen

During the interview...

The Backstreet Boys’ official Instagram account uploaded a photo of Kevin Richardson wearing a shapan (a traditional Kazakh coat) with a golden eagle perched on his hand, set against the backdrop of the Almaty mountains.

The photo appeared as a kind of answer to the ultimate question: «Where was Kevin while the other band members walked around Astana?» The caption to the photo read:

«You were asking where Kevin was…»

Four group members visited Baiterek, planted trees and relaxed in a local steam bathhouse. However, Richardson was not present at these events.

The Backstreet...

NephroPlus, an Indian chain of dialysis clinics specializing in treating patients with kidney failure, plans to invest $10 million to $15 million in projects in Kazakhstan, according to the country’s Foreign Ministry. The agreement was reached during a meeting with Kazakhstan’s ambassador to India, Azamat Yeskarayev.

NephroPlus aims to launch joint projects in Kazakhstan and introduce its dialysis technologies to the country.

In addition to NephroPlus’s initiatives, another major Indian health care provider, Apollo Hospitals, also intends to expand into Kazakhstan.

Through its Apollo Medskills division, the company plans to open a dialysis center, establish...

Appearing on the National Mall this weekend, a satirical statue depicting Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein holding hands — titled «Best Friends Forever» — received much attention. An anonymous artist installed the piece, which was permitted to remain until Sunday night. Notably, a plaque accompanies the statue, lampooning the connection between Trump and Epstein.

This statue is part of a series of guerrilla art projects criticizing Trump, which includes works like the golden «Dictator Approved» statue crushing the Statue of Liberty’s crown. The series collectively addresses political commentary through provocative installations.

Meanwhile, the White House dismissed the display...

An investigation led by Privacy Commissioner of Canada Philippe Dufresne and privacy protection officials found that short-video platform TikTok collected sensitive personal data from children and stated that the platform takes inadequate measures to prevent them from using the app, the BBC reported.

The Canadian investigation also found that hundreds of thousands of children gain access to TikTok every year, despite the company stating the app is intended for users over 13, while the personal information of many of them is used for marketing and content targeting purposes.

In turn, TikTok said it welcomed the investigation and added...

Israel has avoided immediate expulsion from European football thanks to U.S. support, according to the Israeli daily Israel Hayom.

Earlier this month, Israel Hayom reported, without citing sources, that UEFA’s Executive Committee might consider suspending Israel’s national team and clubs on Sept. 23. According to the outlet, this push, allegedly fueled by Qatar after its capital was attacked on Sept. 9, followed in the wake of escalating tensions.

In a later article, the newspaper said Israel’s UEFA position was preserved “following heavy pressure from diplomats, football association officials and other senior figures in the sport.” The...

Super Typhoon Ragasa, said to be the strongest storm of 2025, has claimed at least 14 lives in eastern Taiwan, with Sky News reporting at least 152 people missing, while Reuters puts the figure at around 129. Fatalities were also reported in the Philippines, according to Sky News.

The fatalities in Taiwan were concentrated in Hualien County, a popular tourist destination. The town of Guangfu in Hualien was reportedly engulfed by floodwaters after a barrier lake burst its banks on Sept. 23. According to Taiwan’s authorities, cited by media outlets, about 60 million tons of water were...

Kazakhstan has appeared on the global map of China Mobile International (CMI) for the first time, as its Akashi Data Center has been chosen as a strategic platform for developing digital infrastructure in Central Asia.

According to CMI, it plans to utilize Akashi’s Tier IV capacity (100 megawatt) as a backbone platform for servicing AI systems used by communication operators and government agencies.

During the recent CMI conference in Astana, Akashi Data Center CEO Vladislav Minkevich revealed why the partnership with CMI is vital for Kazakhstan.

«Today we made a decisive move. Akashi has received its...

FIFA is considering expanding the 2030 tournament to 64 teams, according to the Argentine sports outlet Olé. The organization is expected to back a proposal from the South American football confederation, CONMEBOL, to increase the number of participants.

The World Cup, marking the 100th anniversary of the first tournament, was originally set to be hosted mainly by Spain, Portugal and Morocco. To commemorate the centenary, FIFA awarded one match each to Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay — the nations associated with the inaugural 1930 World Cup.

But South American officials want more than a symbolic role. Their proposal...

A study out of Japan may disappoint die-hard ramen fans. Researchers in Yamagata Prefecture, the region where ramen is consumed most frequently, found that eating the dish too often is associated with a higher risk of death.

The findings, recently published in the Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, showed that people who ate ramen once or twice a week had the lowest risk of developing the condition. But those who indulged three or more times a week faced a 1.5 times higher likelihood of dying.

An elevated risk also appeared among people who ate ramen less than...

The General Services Administration (GSA), which manages federal property and procurement, is asking hundreds of its former employees who lost their jobs earlier this year to return to work. These workers, let go under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk, are expected to decide by the end of the week. If they choose to come back, they will resume work at GSA on Oct. 6. The move follows significant workforce reductions earlier in the year, according to the Associated Press.

Starting in March, the GSA reduced its staff by thousands through layoffs...

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered a speech at the General Debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York and called for a deep reform of the United Nations Security Council.

Strategic necessity

According to the president, the crisis of trust in multilateral institutions calls for urgent changes.

«In this regard, comprehensive reform of the United Nations is a strategic necessity, not a subject for endless contemplations… A central pillar of this bold effort to renew the UN should be a reform of the Security Council,» Tokayev stated.

The...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during a visit to the U.S., emphasized his readiness to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kazakhstan, as stated in an interview with Fox News.

Responding to a question about a neutral meeting location, Zelenskyy listed several options — including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Austria and Switzerland — and reiterated his openness to such an idea.

«Even if you want somewhere like Kazakhstan. We are ready. That’s it,» he said.

This willingness to consider Kazakhstan follows earlier reports this month that Zelenskyy declined an invitation to meet Putin in Moscow...

Kazakhstani online therapy service Sezim and international ride-hailing company inDrive have announced their partnership. From now on, inDrive users can consult with psychologists for free via Sezim.

Sezim is Kazakhstan’s first anonymous online psychotherapy service, with more than 80 mental health professionals on the platform conducting around 1,500 consultations each month.

Starting in September, inDrive users who have experienced incidents can contact the company’s support service and will then be granted access to free consultations via Sezim.

inDrive is the first company to partner with Sezim not to support its employees, but its customers. Previously, Sezim has worked with over...