News

From malatang and fermentation to kazy, Aral fish and tea as an ingredient, the region’s gastronomy is increasingly striving less to invent new products and more to reimagine familiar ones through modern techniques.

Tatler Kazakhstan has identified the leading Asian and Central Asian food trends of 2026.

Malatang and the rise of customization

One of the most notable Asian food trends of 2026 is malatang, a Chinese soup with a distinct mala flavor in which diners choose their own ingredients. The trend has long since expanded beyond China and is now increasingly visible in Japan as well.

Samruk-Kazyna, Kazakhstan’s sovereign wealth fund, plans to purchase two hotels to accommodate IT specialists from countries whose citizens face difficulties obtaining visas to the U.S. and European Union, according to Nurlan Zhakupov, CEO of the fund.

«We are implementing a project called NetworkSchool. We will open a network school in Kazakhstan and purchase premises — two hotels — so that IT specialists from different countries can be based there. We plan to attract strong IT specialists with high IQs and weak passports,» he said during Astana Finance Days 2026.

According to...

World No. 2 Elena Rybakina, who will officially become World No. 1 on Monday, defeated World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the 2026 U.S. Open final.

The 2026 U.S. Open women’s singles tournament has come to an end. This final echoed the 2026 Australian Open final, with the same result.

Of their 18 matches, Rybakina and Sabalenka have played seven finals. In the opening set at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Rybakina looked more confident, especially on return. Sabalenka struggled to counter the Kazakhstani’s backhand. Rybakina consistently neutralized Sabalenka’s powerful serve...

Kyrgyzstan has, for the first time in its history, established domestic production of its national currency, the Kyrgyz som. Previously, som banknotes had been printed exclusively abroad for more than 30 years, according to the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Notably, the first banknotes were printed during celebrations marking the 35th anniversary of Kyrgyzstan’s independence.

«In recent years, pursuant to the instructions of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic has consistently and systematically worked to establish its own production of the national currency,» the...

Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, 58, has unexpectedly demonstrated his strength during a visit to a military unit. He took off his jacket, lay on a bench and completed 20 consecutive bench press repetitions. The video quickly went viral, with users discussing how much weight the president was lifting. Kursiv LifeStyle looks at how Mongolian officials surprise the internet.

The video was recorded when Khurelsukh visited Mongolian Armed Forces Unit 084. The president, dressed in semi-formal attire, put the barbell back on the stands after the set as if nothing unusual had happened.

Timur Suleimenov, governor of the National Bank of Kazakhstan, believes the country needs to move away from a rigid, bank-centric financial system in which banks account for 80% or more of the entire financial sector.

Read also: High deposit inflows meet rising credit stress in Kazakh banking.

He said brokers, dealers, insurance companies and the stock market as a whole should roughly double their share of the financial system, from the current 20% to 40% over time.

«In other words, if banks are active, then the economy...

In the Aral district of the Kyzylorda region, police officers pulled over a Toyota Land Cruiser driven by a six-year-old boy, Polisia.kz reported.

The car was spotted during a patrol of one of the district’s streets. Road police pulled it over, preventing a possible traffic accident.

During the inspection, police found that the SUV belonged to the boy’s father. Police filed administrative charges against the man for failing to properly fulfill his duties to raise and ensure the safety of a minor, as well as for allowing the child to be outside at night without a...

With midterm elections looming, the Republican Party is working to mobilize its supporters, promising a brighter future and touting economic relief. But what stood out most at the party’s gathering in Dallas this time was Vice President JD Vance’s speech, Reuters reported.

Addressing 20,000 members of the MAGA movement, Vance framed Republicans as the voice of common sense, leading many observers to view his remarks as more of a presidential nominating speech than a typical midterm rally.

The 42-year-old vice president fed off an energized crowd, some of whom broke into chants of «48, 48,» referring to the possibility...

World No. 2 Elena Rybakina, who will officially become No. 1 on Monday, defeated American Coco Gauff (No. 4) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the 2026 U.S. Open semifinal.

The head-to-head score between 27-year-old Rybakina and 22-year-old Gauff was 1-1 before this semifinal, with both matches played on hard courts in Toronto. In 2022, the American won 6-4, 6-7 (8-10), 7-6 (7-3). In 2026, the Kazakhstani won 5-7, 6-2, 6-2. The match, which took place on Sept. 10 local time, also went the full three sets. Notably, Gauff again took the first set, continuing the pattern that...

Kazakh MP Askhat Aimagambetov has drawn attention to the results of the international PISA study, which, he said, reveal more about the country’s education system than average test scores alone.

According to Aimagambetov, family involvement in children’s education has declined noticeably in Kazakhstan. In 2022, 68% of schoolchildren said their parents asked them at least once a week what they were doing at school. By 2025, that figure had fallen to 54%.

The proportion of children who discussed school-related problems with their parents at least once a week also declined, from 61% to 45%. The trend...

Companies working on complex projects in Kazakhstan will be required to gradually replace foreign specialists with Kazakhstani personnel under the Improved Model Contract (IMC).

Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov announced the requirement at a recent cabinet meeting. However, his report did not clarify whether the changes cover Kazakhstan’s three largest oil and gas projects: Tengiz, Kashagan and Karachaganak.

The program calls for companies to establish a talent pool, train and educate local specialists, and give priority to Kazakh citizens when filling positions.

«For complex projects, there is an obligation to develop and coordinate...

Many parents become alarmed when their child begins lying frequently. But does lying in childhood predict criminal behavior later in life?

Researchers from McGill University, the University of Montréal and John Jay College of Criminal Justice studied children from ages 6 to 19 to examine how lying changes over the course of development. They concluded that lying is a normal part of childhood for most children. Most either lie less frequently as they grow older or lie only occasionally.

When does lying become a warning sign?

The study found that lying itself was not associated with later...

The choice to live without roommates or family is quietly reshaping the global social landscape. A recent ranking by World Population Review highlights how greater economic independence, longer life expectancy and urbanization are contributing to the rise of single-person households in cities around the world. While some cultures embrace the shift as a symbol of personal freedom, others are grappling with the social isolation that can accompany living alone.

The European model of autonomy

Northern European countries lead the trend, with welfare systems designed to support individual self-sufficiency. In Sweden, which has one of...

A Bishkek court has announced its final decision in the criminal case against former head of Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for National Security (GKNB) Kamchybek Tashiev and seven other defendants. Instead of the nine-year prison terms prosecutors requested, the court sentenced each defendant to four years, Kloop reported on Telegram.

Along with Tashiev, the defendants include former Prosecutor General Kurmankul Zulushev, former Speaker of Parliament Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu, as well as Bekbolot Talgarbekov, Kursan Asanov, Kurmanbek Dyikanbaev, Aaly Karashev, and Emil Uzakbaev.

Although the main charge initially related to preparations for a violent seizure of power, the court dropped...

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank Kazakhstan (ADCB) Chairman Farooq Al Marzooqi announced during a meeting with Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov that the bank intends to triple financing for Kazakhstani projects over the next 18 months. The current figure stands at 2.5 trillion tenge (approximately $5.5 billion).

The parties discussed expanding ADCB Group’s participation in key initiatives in Kazakhstan. The development of the real economy and modernization of digital infrastructure were identified as priorities. The prime minister emphasized that involving ADCB Group in working with investors from the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries would help diversify...

Kazakhstani industrial company SP BKM signed an agreement with India-based International Tractors Limited to assemble and produce tractors. The agreement is worth $120 million.

During the Kazakhstan-India Business, Trade and Investment Forum, SP BKM and Indian agricultural machinery manufacturer International Tractors Limited reached an agreement to assemble and locally produce Sonalika and Solis tractors in Kazakhstan. The arrangement includes supplies, assembly, a gradual increase in local content, sales and service of tractors and other agricultural machinery.

SP BKM also signed an agreement with Indian defense startup Big Bang Boom Solutions Private Limited to cooperate on defense technologies, domestic security and...

China has marked the 50th anniversary of Mao Zedong’s death. The circumstances surrounding his passing and the farewell that followed have been recounted by renowned Sinologist Yuri Galenovich in his book “The Death of Mao Zedong.”

In this comprehensive study, Galenovich examines the decline and disastrous legacy of China’s paramount leader, whose 27-year rule ended with his death on Sept. 9, 1976. Mysticism surrounded his passing, as local rumors pointed to his security detail, Unit 8341, as an omen foretelling his 83 years of life and 41 years leading the Chinese Communist Party. In Chinese culture...

On Sept. 9, the Chess.com platform hosted a debate between candidates for president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). Kazakhstan Chess Federation (KazChess) President Timur Turlov, one of the leading candidates, presented his strategy to transform the organization, emphasizing large-scale financial investment, corporate transparency and technological development.

Investing in development

A key part of the Kazakhstani candidate’s election platform was the creation of a development fund to support national federations, reduce financial inequality and build infrastructure in developing countries.

«I expect this fund to exceed $6 million, covering the costs of hosting open tournaments and...

Construction has begun on a skyscraper that will become the tallest building in Central Asia once completed. Kursiv LifeStyle looks at the project and what will be built around it.

The skyscraper has been named Dushanbe Tower, with construction expected to take five years. Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon and his son, Dushanbe Mayor Rustam Emomali, broke ground on the project.

The counterpiece of the complex will be a 340-meter-tall tower with 77 floors. According to the plans, Dushanbe Tower will surpass Abu Dhabi Plaza in Astana in height, which is currently considered the tallest building in...

Wadim Rosenstein, a German entrepreneur and one of the key rivals of Kazakhstan Chess Federation President Timur Turlov in the race for president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), left a presidential debate early. After delivering his opening remarks in the organization’s first candidate debate, Rosenstein lost his connection to the broadcast and did not return.

The debate took place Sept. 9 on the Chess.com platform and was broadcast on YouTube. All three candidates for FIDE president — Turlov, Rosenstein and Jan Henric Buettner, another German entrepreneur and co-founder of Freestyle Chess — were scheduled to participate. Grandmaster...

Kazakhstani tennis player Elena Rybakina has commented on reaching No. 1 in the WTA rankings after defeating Qinwen Zheng in the 2026 U.S. Open quarterfinal. She admitted to experiencing intense pressure during the match but said she doesn’t want to attach much importance to her new status for now.

Rybakina beat the 2024 Olympic champion 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in three sets in 2 hours and 14 minutes. The victory allowed the 27-year-old tennis player to reach the U.S. Open semifinals for the first time and secure the No. 1 spot in the WTA rankings. She will...

National Bank of Kazakhstan Governor Timur Suleimenov expressed hope that inflation will decline significantly by the end of September or October, allowing the National Bank to cut its base rate more aggressively than previously anticipated. The recently reduced base rate stands at 16.25%.

«As long as inflation remains high and monetary aggregates grow faster than nominal GDP rather than real GDP, it is clear that we need to maintain moderately tight conditions. I very much hope that inflation data for September and October will give us grounds to move a little further...

Extreme heat could be far more damaging to global rice production than previously thought, according to a study by German scientists who analyzed hundreds of field experiments. The study was conducted by scientists from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in collaboration with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.

Existing agricultural models may significantly underestimate the effects of high temperatures on rice yields. The researchers analyzed 214 field experiments in which temperatures were artificially increased and compared the results with projections from seven agricultural models. They found that an average temperature increase of just...

Renowned Kazakh collector Azat Akimbek has showcased a rare and valuable manuscript from his collection — a Torah scroll dating to the late 18th century and believed to have been produced by the Jewish community of Bukhara. Jewish communities have existed in Central Asia for centuries, with significant migration to the region taking place between the ninth and 13th centuries.

The sacred scroll is 17.5 meters long and is written on deer parchment. The text is arranged in columns.

@azat.akimbek A Torah scroll from the...