News

Kazakhstan’s services activity rose markedly in May and at one of the strongest rates in the series history which stretches back to March 2019. The Freedom Holding Corp. PMI® signaled a fifth successive monthly rise in business activity.

The uptick was underscored by a sharper rate of expansion in new business. However, service

providers remained reluctant to renew their hiring activity, with job shedding recorded for a third straight month. This reluctance could in part be explained by a more cautious outlook for activity in May. The level of optimism weakened notably from April.

The headline figure is the Business...

One in every three new nuclear reactors worldwide is currently being built or designed by Rosatom, Russia’s national nuclear corporation. As the undisputed leader in global nuclear power plant (NPP) construction, Rosatom plays a key role in Moscow’s broader geopolitical strategy. Where Russia once sought to entangle its neighbors with gas pipelines, the Kremlin is now using Rosatom to extend similar influence, according to independent energy analyst Yana Fortuna in a recent article for Novaya Gazeta Europe.

Kremlin’s soft power

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Rosatom expanded its international footprint, particularly in Africa, South America and...

Bayan Alaguzova, a well-known Kazakhstani movie producer, has announced plans to make the final movie in her trilogy — following the acclaimed “Baqyt” (Happiness) and “Zhauap Ber” (Give an Answer) — about strong women fighting male-driven injustice. She offered a sneak peek at her plans via Instagram Stories.

Even though Alaguzova refused to dive deep into details, she revealed that the plot is based on real events, with production already underway.

The producer also mentioned two new projects she is working on. The first is a new musical group she is producing with plans already set for their debut music...

The Almaty Zoo recently shared the inspiring story of Diana, a jaguar who overcame life-threatening injuries and has been living at the zoo for 18 years.

As a cub, Diana was seriously injured in an attack by an adult jaguar — her own father. The incident, which occurred in 2007, left her with severe wounds, resulting in the loss of one of her front paws and part of her tail. In most zoos, such trauma would lead to euthanasia, a common practice for animals with such extensive injuries. However, in Diana’s case, the veterinary team chose a different path.

Till Lindemann — German musician, poet and actor, best known as the frontman of Rammstein, Lindemann and Na Chui — is set to perform in Almaty on Jan. 7, 2026, as part of his solo tour Meine Welt across Central Asia.

Lindemann is also recognized for his collaborations with a variety of artists and bands, including Apocalyptica, Phantom Vision, Puhdys, Knorkator and Emigrate, as well as individual artists such as Kovacs and Zaz.

Fans can purchase tickets through Ticketon.kz, a leading online platform for movie and event tickets in Kazakhstan. According to the service, the upcoming concert promises to be...

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck near the coastal town of Marmaris early Tuesday, shaking parts of southwestern Turkey and prompting concern as far away as Kazakhstan.

According to ABC News, citing the Associated Press, the quake occurred at 2:17 a.m. local time and was centered in the Mediterranean Sea, just off the resort town’s coast. Though no structural collapses were reported, a teenage girl died after suffering a panic attack during the tremor.

Authorities said around 70 people sustained minor injuries, many of them after leaping from balconies and windows in panic. The shaking was felt in neighboring regions...

KamaTyresKz — a joint venture between Kazakhstan’s Allur and Russia’s Tatneft — has produced more than 300,000 passenger car tires since its launch in July 2024, according to Olzhas Saparbekov, Kazakhstan’s vice minister of industry and construction. He noted that the factory plans to expand its product range from the current 37 sizes for passenger car tires to over 100 various types, explore other segments and types and begin exporting Kazakhstan-made tires.

However, Saparbekov admitted that the producer still heavily relies on several types of imported raw materials.

Previously, the ministry reported that 30,000 Kazakh-made tires were produced in the...

Birdwatchers from Europe, the U.S. and Russia are increasingly flocking to Kazakhstan to observe its diverse avian species. While birdwatching or avitourism is a popular form of ecotourism in Europe and North America, it remains relatively unknown among most Kazakhstanis.

Both local and Russian ornithologists organize expeditions and photo tours across Kazakhstan.

Kursiv.media takes a closer look at the species that attract foreign birdwatchers and how enthusiasts can join a birdwatching tour in Kazakhstan.

When to watch birds

International visitors prefer to come during the «golden hour» of birdwatching season, i.e. late spring to early summer. This is when birds...

Chevron, Eni, Shell and other global oil majors are being pushed to increase their reliance on local suppliers as Kazakhstan moves to strengthen domestic economic participation in its multibillion-dollar energy projects.

Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has called on operators of the country’s three largest oil and gas fields — Tengiz, Kashagan and Karachaganak — to raise the share of goods, services and labor sourced from Kazakh companies. Currently, only 23% of their procurement comes from local suppliers, leaving the majority dependent on imports.

«This sector still holds enormous potential,» Bektenov emphasized at a recent government...

Vietnamese Sovico Group, which recently acquired a 51% stake in QazaqAir, has delayed its plans to assume management of an airport in Kazakhstan, as reported by Informburo.kz, citing Kazakhstan’s Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin.    

This isn’t about acquiring the airport. The investor’s intent was to take over management in order to establish a base airport, but they’ve put that on hold for now, as significant capital is currently being allocated to airline development. In the next stage, the company will consider purchasing or managing the airport. But overall, if you have an airline, you...

Construction has officially begun on a new electronic device manufacturing plant in Semey, eastern Kazakhstan, according to the akimat (local administration) of the Abay region.

The $50 million project, led by the Kazakh-Chinese joint venture Suto Kazakhstan, will be carried out in three phases from 2025 to 2028. Products from the facility will be sold domestically and exported across the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Europe.

The plant will manufacture a wide range of electronic components, including microchips, optoelectronic modules, smart host controllers, power supply units, energy-efficient lamps and digital displays.

«This marks the first...

Timur Turlov, founder of Freedom Holding Corp., has increased his ownership in the Kazakhstani IT startup CTOgram to 41%, after buying out shares from early-stage investors, the company announced.

According to CTOgram CEO Zhandos Tursumbayev, consolidating shares with a strategic investor opens new opportunities for scaling the company, which is set to play a key role in the development of the Freedom Auto ecosystem. He also expressed gratitude to the early investors who supported the project’s launch.

«We’re grateful to Timur Turlov for his trust and productive partnership, which has been ongoing for two years now...

Alexander Bublik, Kazakhstan’s top player (ATP ranking No. 62), stunned Britain’s Jack Draper, the world No. 5, in four sets (5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4) to reach the quarterfinals of the 2025 French Open, marking his first appearance in a Grand Slam quarterfinal.

McEnroe was half-right

Bublik continues to deliver surprises at this year’s Roland Garros. In the second round, he staged a dramatic comeback against world No. 9 Alex de Minaur of Australia, winning in five sets: 2-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. Against Draper, Bublik needed only four sets to eliminate another top-10 opponent.

Few expected Bublik to win either...

Russia-administered Baikonur, a city in Kazakhstan famous for its spaceport, is unlikely to see new hotels unless tourists begin visiting the site more often, according to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, citing the city’s mayor Konstantin Busygin.

According to him, the recent launch of the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft attracted around 2,500 tourists, setting a new visitor record. All the hotels in both the city and the spaceport were sold out two months before the launch, forcing several guests to stay in the nearby villages of Toretam and Akay, or even in the more remote Zhosaly.

However, tourists visit the...

Air Arabia has launched direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Almaty. The first flight from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) successfully landed in Almaty today at 10:20 a.m. local time.

Travel between the two cities has become much easier, with a flight time of just 4 hours and 15 minutes. Passengers can now book flights three times a week: on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

One-way tickets start at 42,000 tenge (about $82.30). Passengers purchasing the cheapest basic fare are allowed a carry-on up to 10 kilograms. Those wishing to check heavier luggage will need to pay an additional 21,000 tenge...

Kazakhstan’s men’s volleyball team lost 0–3 to Iran in the first match of the semi-final group at the Central Asian Nations League, currently underway in Uzbekistan.

Although the Iranians — Asia’s vice-champions — brought a reserve squad to Fergana, they have now won four matches in a row. Against Iran, Kazakhstan had a real chance to take the second set but ultimately fell short in all three: 15–25, 28–30 and 15–25.

In another semi-final group match, India left Pakistan no chance, winning 3–0 (25–15, 25–19, 25–23). Remarkably, the match proceeded despite the strained political relations between the two countries, proving...

The Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market (ARDFM) has approved Vyacheslav Kim’s bid to acquire Jusan Bank, according to Interfax Kazakhstan, citing the press service of Kaspi.kz. Kim is a well-known businessman, co-owning Kaspi.kz, a fintech giant in Kazakhstan.

He submitted his application in February to purchase 97.5% of Jusan Bank shares. The regulator was initially expected to review the bid by April but extended the review period by two months, citing the need to «establish factual circumstances» important for evaluating the application.

Kim emphasized at the time that this potential acquisition was unrelated to Kaspi.kz, where...

Kazakhstan will introduce a 5% duty on goods valued over €200 purchased on marketplaces beyond the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). The move follows a decision made by the presidents of EEU member states, as reported by Kazakhstan’s State Revenue Committee.   

The corresponding amendments to the agreement on the EEU customs code were adopted in December 2023. In line with these changes, goods purchased by individuals on foreign online marketplaces are classified as e-commerce goods, which are subject to taxation at a unified rate of 5% on the goods’ value. At the same time, orders not exceeding the €200 duty-free...

Chinese-linked companies have emerged as major winners in Kazakhstan’s latest online auction of hydrocarbon blocks, securing rights to half of the available sites, according to the country’s Ministry of Energy.

Four blocks for hydrocarbon exploration and production were awarded in the subsoil use rights auction. The winning companies are as follows:

Russian Telegram channels accused Kazakhstan of importing drones that Ukraine used to carry out a large-scale attack on Russian airbases on June 1. The Kazakh government has not yet commented on the accusations.

On June 1, Ukrainian drones struck several Russian military facilities, including four airbases of the Russian Armed Forces in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur regions. According to some open-source data, more than 40 aircraft were damaged in the attack, including an A-50 reconnaissance aircraft, a Tu-95 strategic missile carrier and a Tu-22M3 supersonic bomber. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed the operation codenamed «Spiderweb» was carried...

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a speech expressing his congratulations on the 70th anniversary of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, calling it a symbol of space achievements and Kazakh-Russian partnership.

In his video address, Putin addressed Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Russian and Kazakhstani peoples, as well as Baikonur’s employees and long-serving staff.

«The creation of Baikonur, along with the entire space programme, stands as a true feat, a testament to courage, determination and heroic spirit. We honour the monumental, selfless labour of the hundreds of thousands from all the republics of the Union who envisioned, designed...

Continued success in securing new orders helped lead to a further improvement in the health of Kazakhstan’s manufacturing sector in May. While new order growth remained solid, there were slowdowns in the rates of expansion of output, employment and purchasing activity, according to Freedom Holding Corp.

On the price front, unfavorable currency fluctuations led to a sharp rise in input costs, while competitive pressures limited the pace of output price inflation. The Freedom Holding Corp. Kazakhstan Manufacturing PMI® (Purchasing Managers’ Index™) registered 51.3 in May, broadly in line with the reading of 51.2 in April.

«As...

The Freedom QJ League is set to hold its first full-fledged football tournament for girls. The total cost of organizing this inaugural women’s season is estimated at 308 million tenge ($604,619), according to the Freedom QJ League press service.

According to the organization, its top priority this year is launching the first tournament for girls. This is especially important, as the QJ League has significantly transformed the landscape of youth football for boys in Kazakhstan over the past few years, while the situation in girls’ football has largely remained unchanged.

«These include competitions using the one-round-per-month...

Kazakhstan’s Ex-President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s recent visit to Moscow was personal and informal. According to the ex-president’s press secretary Aidos Ukibay, Nazarbayev shares a longstanding and friendly relationship with Vladimir Putin that remains strong regardless of whether he holds state authority.

According to him, Nazarbayev keeps in touch with various world leaders via phone calls, private correspondence and separate meetings. This applies not only to Russia, but also to Turkey, China, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Belarus and other nations.

«Interactions like this are common in international relations, reflecting personal bonds built over the years. Therefore, personal...