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Air Astana has introduced new limitations on lithium battery transportation, making it more difficult to travel with external batteries and electronic smoking devices on its flights. All batteries with a rating exceeding 160 watt-hours (Wh) are banned from transport.

«In accordance with effective policy and rules, spare batteries, including external batteries (power banks), and electronic smoking devices are allowed for transportation only in carry-on baggage. If the carry-on baggage should be transported in the cargo compartment, the passenger should take out all spare batteries beforehand,» the company stated on Telegram.

Air Astana emphasized that each...

The distribution of domestic films in Kazakhstan’s movie theaters generated approximately $47 million in 2024, according to Alexander Aksyutits, CEO of the Top Pro Cinema production center. He shared the news at a recent government meeting.

«The number of domestic films at the box office has almost doubled, from 65 to 107. In 2024, Kazakhstani movies grossed more than 22 billion tenge ($47 million) in theaters, a 30% increase in revenue year-on-year,» he said.

Aksyutits noted that Kazakhstani directors are not only producing more films but also attracting a wider audience. Out of the...

According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), labor migrants from Central Asia have increasingly reported prejudice and violence following the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall last year.

A survey conducted by human rights activists primarily covered citizens of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, who reported unjustified detentions and other forms of pressure by Russian authorities and individuals, including far-right nationalist groups.

In its survey, HRW reported that after the attack, which left 144 dead and 551 wounded, Russian authorities introduced the following measures:

On March 17, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Energy Almassadam Satkaliyev held talks with General Director of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) Nikolay Gorban. During the meeting, the two parties discussed the current workflow of the pipeline.  

Gorban reported that between Jan. 1 and March 11, 2025, 13.5 million tons of oil had been shipped through the CPC stretching from the Tengiz oil field to the port of Novorossiysk, where the oil was loaded onto 118 oil tankers. In 2024, the marine terminal processed 63 million tons of oil, generating $2.3 billion in revenue. During the same period, CPC shareholders received...

The free trade agreement between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) will take effect on May 15, 2025, according to Andrey Slepnev, minister in charge of trade at the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), the EEU’s executive body.

Slepnev said Tehran has informed the commission that it is ready to join the free trade organization fully.

«Under the terms of the agreement, 60 days are required for the document to take effect. Thus, it will enter into force on May 15, 2025,» he said.

The new free trade agreement will replace the interim agreement between...

Kazakhstan has the capacity to become a reliable source of critical raw materials and meet the growing global demand driven by the energy transition, according to the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). Experts at the center believe that nine commodity groups stand out for their export potential, including metals that Kazakhstan already exports, whereas others still have untapped potential.

According to a review by AIFC, the energy transition and the rapid development of the electric vehicle market are expected to significantly increase global demand for critical minerals, and Kazakhstan has all the necessary resources that are important for low-carbon development.

Uzbekistani President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has approved an agreement on strategic partnership with Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in the field of green energy transition and development, which was initially signed during the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Baku, as reported by Interfax Kazakhstan.

In 2023, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy stated that Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan were set to export green energy to markets in Europe and Central Asia. In May 2024, it was reported that the countries intended to lay a deep-sea cable along the seabed of the Caspian Sea to pursue this goal.

Centro Elettrotecnico Sperimentale Italiano, an Italian...

Kyrgyzstan is set to select a new national anthem by April 2025. The country’s Ministry of Culture announced the contest on Feb. 7, and so far, 564 entries have been submitted, with 91 shortlisted. The author of the winning anthem will receive 1.5 million soms (nearly $17,500), according to the Kaktus.media news portal.

Applicants may submit multiple versions of the anthem. So far, 388 individuals have submitted a total of 564 entries. The Ministry of Culture noted that even foreigners have participated in the contest.

Musicians, poets and songwriters are encouraged to participate in the competition. The new anthem must...

An international center for industrial cooperation, called Central Asia, will be built at the border between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan near the Atameken border crossing in Kazakhstan and the Gulistan border crossing in Uzbekistan.

According to Alisher Satvaldiyev, a member of the Senate, the upper house of Kazakhstan’s parliament, approximately $53.8 million is needed to implement the project.

He also revealed that both countries will allocate 50 hectares of land each. The land will have the status of a regional industrial zone. The new enterprise will focus on integrating, processing and distributing regional cargo flows. In addition, it will oversee the...

In 2024, Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s national airline, and its low-cost subsidiary FlyArystan generated $1.3 billion in revenue, a 12.4% increase year-on-year (YoY), according to the company’s statements posted on the Astana International Exchange (AIX) website. The growth was driven by passenger and cargo revenues, as well as an aircraft engine leaseback operation.

Passenger service revenue totaled $1.2 billion, up from $1.1 billion in 2023, while cargo revenue rose to $26.3 million from $22.5 million the previous year. The group also earned $25 million from its aircraft engine operations. According to financial statements for the first six months of 2024, Air...

Orano, a French nuclear fuel company, and Navoiyuran, Uzbekistan’s state-owned uranium mining enterprise, have signed an agreement to advance the industrial development of the South Djengeldi uranium deposit, Orano announced in a statement. Under the deal, uranium production is expected to ramp up to 700 tons per year within the next decade.

«Orano and Navoiyuran announce an agreement laying the foundations for the industrial development of the South Djengeldi uranium mining project of their joint venture Nurlikum Mining,» the company said in its statement.

Under the agreement, the South Djengeldi project will be integrated into...

Radio Azattyk, the Kazakhstani subsidiary of Radio Liberty, continues to operate despite the funding cut by the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), according to Torokul Doorov, the media service’s director.

«Radio Azattyk has endured many difficulties and pressure from various totalitarian regimes throughout its mission to spread democratic values and honest information! It has become a lone beacon of truth for millions of people living in these countries. No one can say how this situation will affect us. However, our board has made its positions clear and we will continue our work,» he posted on...

Kazakhstan’s national women’s boxing team achieved historic success at the Women’s World Boxing Championship in Niš, Serbia, held on March 9-16, 2025. The competition featured top athletes from 51 countries, with significant prize money awarded: $100,000 for gold medalists, $50,000 for silver medalists, $25,000 for bronze medalists and $10,000 for quarterfinalists.

Kazakhstani boxers won three gold, two silver and one bronze medal in the following weight classes:

48 kg – Nazym Kyzaibay (gold).

50 kg – Alua Balkybekova (gold).

63 kg – Aida Abikeyeva (gold).

60 kg – Viktoriya Grafeyeva (silver).

+81 kg – Eldana Talipova (silver).

70 kg...

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is convinced that local authorities and community activists do not pay enough attention to domestic violence prevention. He also added that the situation is worsened by religious radicals. The president made this statement during the National Kurultai, a large gathering of public figures and officials aimed at discussing social and economic initiatives in Kazakhstan. This time, the Kurultai was held in Burabay, North Kazakhstan, while the three previous gatherings took place in Ulytau, Turkestan and Atyrau, respectively.

«Unfortunately, local authorities and social activists remain idle when it comes to preventing domestic violence. Even...

Kazakhstan’s fintech giant Kaspi.kz plans to acquire the Turkish subsidiary of the Dutch Rabobank, according to Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter. As reported by the media company, the negotiation process is underway, and no final decision has been made. Any potential deal must be approved by Turkish regulators.

This transaction could become Kaspi.kz’s second purchase in Turkey over the past several years. In January, the company announced the acquisition of a 65.41% stake in Hepsiburada, Turkey’s largest marketplace, for $1.1 billion. Under the arrangement, Kaspi.kz paid $600 million in cash, while the remaining...

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Defense reported on the achievements of the country’s peacekeepers currently deployed on a mission in the Golan Heights. Over the past year, the military prevented the seizure of the Fawar base and assisted in evacuating UN personnel.

In 2024, Kazakhstan’s national peacekeeping contingent was dispatched to Syria as part of the UN Disengagement Observer Force.

«This mission marks the first independent operation of peacekeepers under the flag of Kazakhstan. During their deployment at the Fawar base, the peacekeeping contingent completed 557 tasks, including monitoring compliance with the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Syria...

Air travel between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan has resumed. The two countries had no air connection since May 2021, when a bloody armed conflict erupted at the state border.

The first airline to resume regular flights between the two capitals was Tajikistan’s Somon Air, whose aircraft arrived at Manas International Airport in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, from Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

«The regular frequency has been restored thanks to joint efforts and the personal support of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon,» emphasized Alena Khomenko, an official representative of Manas Airport.

The Somon Air aircraft is expected...

Kyrgyzstan’s parliament suggested that school students should graduate with a driver’s license as part of their education. The Ministry of Education immediately responded to the initiative and pledged to explore the proposal, as reported by the Kyrgyzstani media outlet Kaktus.media.

«During a meeting of the Mekenchil deputy group, MP Bekmurza Ergeshov noted that many high school students today want to obtain driver’s licenses. To achieve this goal, they attend private driving schools, but the quality of training they receive is uncertain,» the media outlet said.

Ergeshov proposed introducing driving training in high schools so that...

Galiaskar Sarybayev, a member of the Senate, the upper chamber of Kazakhstan’s parliament, warned the cabinet about risks to biological safety in the country. He urged executive authorities to enhance safety measures at old laboratories and testing grounds that still contain biological materials left from the Soviet biological program.

He claims that even though the country has already adopted necessary legislation, Kazakhstan’s biosafety system needs updating. The senator believes that from a technical point of view, Kazakhstani laboratories are outdated, while the training level of specialists in virology, microbiology and biotechnology does not meet modern standards.

Aksai, March 03, 2025 – Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V. (KPO) and its shareholders are pleased to announce the achievement of another milestone in the maturation of the 4BCMA Karachaganak Gas Plant (KGP). The Consortium led by Hyundai Engineering Co. will commence Early Engineering work.

The KGP project is a strategic initiative that is important to Kazakhstan’s energy self-sufficiency and to the longevity of the KPO’s production operations. It reaffirms KPO shareholders commitment to contribute to the development of Kazakhstan energy sector, economic growth and sustainable benefits for all stakeholders.  

KPO and its shareholders remain dedicated to close cooperation...

Samruk-Kazyna, Kazakhstan’s state-owned investment and development fund, reported a net profit of 1.795 trillion tenge (approximately $3.8 billion) in 2024, according to its CEO Nurlan Zhakupov. The fund projects a decline in net profit to nearly $2.8 billion in 2025. For comparison, in 2023, it reported a net profit of approximately $3.7 billion.

Samruk-Kazyna’s revenue totaled nearly $37 billion in 2024, up from approximately $34 billion in 2023. However, revenue for 2025 is expected to decrease to $33.6 billion. Meanwhile, the fund’s debt continues to rise, climbing from $17 billion in 2023 to $19 billion in 2024, with an estimated...

Kazakhstani MP Murat Abenov believes that videos on TikTok may have a destructive effect on children’s health, causing focus and memory issues along with depression. Therefore, he urged parents to limit their children’s access to social media.

Abenov’s comment followed a Facebook post by journalist Gulmira Abykai, who claimed that a seven-year-old girl no longer recognized her relatives after watching videos on TikTok. Moreover, according to the post, the girl’s personality changed.

«You feel admiration, fear, overexcitement, or sadness on TikTok every 15 seconds, which can lead to depression. Research on the issue has shown that...

Belarus might see its second nuclear power plant (NPP) as its President Alexander Lukashenko made such a plea to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

According to Kommersant.ru, during talks with Putin in Moscow, Lukashenko suggested that Rosatom — Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy corporation — build another NPP in Belarus. However, no details, including construction costs and the timeline, have been disclosed.

The first NPP cost Belarus $5.36 billion. The first reactor was officially launched in 2020, with Lukashenko attending the ceremony in person. Russia’s Atomstroyexport was the key partner of the country in that project.

Kazakhstan also seeks to build...

Armenia has accepted Azerbaijan’s proposals on the two previously unresolved articles of a peace agreement, according to DW.com.

On Thursday, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov announced that negotiations with Armenia on the text of the peace deal have been completed.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry confirmed that both countries are now prepared to sign an agreement establishing peace and interstate relations.

Previously, Armenia and Azerbaijan had agreed on 15 of the 17 articles in the proposed treaty, with only two points left unresolved: renouncing mutual claims in international courts and prohibiting the deployment of third-party forces along the border.

Armenian Prime...