A priest in Almaty has unexpectedly become a social media sensation, with his videos drawing thousands of views and lively reactions from users.
Ioann Popov, who serves at St. Sophia Cathedral of the Iversky-Seraphim Monastery, posts videos explaining church practices in simple terms. His content covers topics such as how to make the sign of the cross, approach the altar and behave during services.
Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are preparing to sign an intergovernmental agreement to develop the Middle Corridor (TITR), a trade route connecting China and Europe that bypasses Russia.
Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov made the statement at a meeting of the heads of government of the Organization of Turkic States on April 2, 2026. He said the document is expected to be signed by the end of 2026.
What is the Middle Corridor
The Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, is a logistics network connecting China and Europe through Central Asia, the South Caucasus and Turkey outside Russian...
What would a wedding between Hollywood stars Tom Holland and Zendaya look like if it followed traditional Kazakh customs?
Read also: Why Zendaya fans are convinced she’s expecting.
A Threads user, sirim.axangali, posed that question to artificial intelligence, generating a series of images depicting the couple’s wedding and related ceremonies. The results are both visually striking and surprisingly realistic.
Betashar ceremony reimagined
One of the central moments is the betashar — a traditional ceremony in which the bride is formally introduced to her husband’s family. The ritual...
Croatia will take part in the exploration and production of hydrocarbons at the Shygys site in the Aktobe region, western Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Energy reported.
The contract was signed by the ministry, KazMunayGas and Geoenergija Razvoj d.o.o — a subsidiary of the Croatian Hydrocarbon Agency — during the Geoscience and Exploration Central Asia international forum.
The project will be implemented on a parity basis (50/50), while Croatian investors will fully cover geological exploration costs.
The sides plan to conduct a 500-kilometer 2D seismic survey and drill a 3,500-meter-deep exploration well, marking...
According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Trade, Chinese company Fujian Hengwang Investment plans to build a large steel plant in the country. The announcement followed a visit to China by Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev.
The company is ready to invest about $1.2 billion in the project, with a planned capacity of up to 3 million tons of steel per year. Once fully operational, the plant is expected to create 2,500 jobs and supply steel to both domestic and international markets.
In May 2024, some media outlets reported that the Shymkent administration signed a memorandum with Fujian...
Several hours into the flight following the successful launch of the Artemis II mission to the Moon, astronauts faced minor but noticeable difficulties — their toilet malfunctioned during the long journey.
According to Space.com, the space toilet, designed for 10 days of flight, partially went out of service.
NASA said that the issue affected the urine collection. At the same time, the toilet still operated partially, allowing astronauts to use it for solid waste. Within several hours, the crew had to fix the device using instructions from the...
Hershey announced it will return to classic recipes for all Reese’s products starting in 2027, following criticism over the use of alternative ingredients in some items, The Associated Press reported.
The decision follows public criticism from Brad Reese, grandson of H.B. Reese, who founded Reese’s in 1919 and created Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in 1928. Earlier this year, Reese raised concerns about changes to the brand’s ingredients by Hershey, which acquired his grandfather’s business in 1963.
Hershey acknowledged modifying some recipes but said the adjustments were part of efforts to respond to evolving consumer preferences. The company also...
Shares of Pop Mart International Group Ltd., the Chinese toymaker whose Labubu monsters became a global sensation last year, have come under sustained pressure. Over five trading sessions following the company’s latest earnings report, its share price declined by more than 30%, continuing a broader downturn from its August peak. The company has now lost nearly 60% of its market value, or about $33 billion in capitalization, Bloomberg reported.
Investor sentiment has weakened as results highlighted the company’s growing reliance on its Labubu character. The Labubu-led Monsters series accounted for around 40% of total revenue last year, up...
A report by Euronews claiming that Irish actress Jessie Buckley has been cast as the next James Bond was nothing more than an April Fools’ article, although some might have wanted the news to be true.
The widely shared story suggested that Buckley would replace Daniel Craig as 007, marking a historic shift in the franchise. It also referenced ongoing speculation around potential successors, including several actors previously linked to the role.
However, the report was satirical and not based on any official announcement.
In 2025, Amazon MGM Studios took control of the franchise, with its longtime producers...
Igor Martynyuk, an 11th-grade student from Pavlodar, northern Kazakhstan, has developed a digital AI-powered assistant, TabAI. The service analyzes employees’ on-screen activity, helping to manage workflows and organize tasks more efficiently.
«The product addresses multitasking and overloading with information,» Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Education press service said in a statement.
Reception and recognition
Around 20,000 users worldwide already use the digital assistant. The project raised $35,000 in investment at the start without revenue. Furthermore, it received a grant from Google to develop technical infrastructure.
What’s next
Martynyuk became...
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan of 90 billion tenge (about $173.6 million) to Kazakhstan’s Otbasy Bank to expand access to mortgages, particularly for women, and to support environmentally friendly housing finance.
The funding is part of the «Promoting Inclusive and Green Housing Finance» project.
Read also: Kazakh banks face 2025 profit dip amid tax and reserve hikes.
The program is expected to finance more than 2,000 mortgages, with priority given to women through the «Umai» program.
The initiative aims to improve access to housing finance...
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed direct communication with U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff during the ongoing conflict, while firmly rejecting claims that official negotiations are taking place.
«I receive messages from Witkoff directly, as before, and this does not mean that we are in negotiations,» Araghchi said. «There is no truth to the claim of negotiations with any party in Iran.»
The Iranian official also highlighted Tehran’s lack of trust in Washington, citing negative experiences in negotiations with the U.S.
«The...
FC Barcelona’s academy has signed a new player, 15-year-old Karim Mendikanov of Kazakhstan, who is set to join the team next season, according to Spanish sports media outlet Mundo Deportivo.
Mendikanov moved to Spain in 2022. The young player began his career with Cerdanyola FC, where he attracted attention. This season, he plays for Sant Cugat FC, where he has quickly established himself as a key player.
The outlet also highlighted Mendikanov’s ability to beat defenders and his skill in one-on-one situations, noting that he is one of the league’s top assist providers.
The young player’s vivid performance didn’t go...
Kazakhstan’s National Bank will consider lowering its base rate once inflation shows a sustained decline both month over month and year over year, and if forecasts are met, Governor Timur Suleimenov said.
He noted that in the second quarter, the economy is expected to continue adjusting to the new Tax Code, as well as changes in utility tariffs and fuel prices.
Read also: Kazakh banks face 2025 profit dip amid tax and reserve hikes.
A moratorium on changes to retail prices for AI-92 gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas expired...
A video showing a camel tied to a pipe outside a five-story apartment building in Aktau, western Kazakhstan, has gone viral on social media.
The clip was shared by the public group 112_aktau, with the caption: «Whose camel is this?»
According to Lada.kz, the video was filmed near Building No. 2 in the city’s 13th microdistrict.
Local authorities responded quickly. The city administration said...
Just over a quarter of online shoppers in Kazakhstan still pay cash on delivery, with that share rising to 57.5% in Astana.
At the same time, about half of all e-commerce transactions in the country fall in the range of 25,000 to 100,000 tenge (roughly $50 to $200). Kursiv.media analyzed new data from the Bureau of National Statistics to profile the typical Kazakhstani online shopper.
On average, 32.13% of users in Kazakhstan regularly shop online.
Regions show uneven adoption
Contrary to expectations, the East Kazakhstan region — not Almaty or Astana — leads the country in...
All motor vehicles in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, must obtain eco-stickers by the end of 2026. Authorities have set a strict deadline for the first time covering vehicle marking and city zoning. Up to one million vehicles will be subject to the requirements, Autostrada.uz reported.
Until recently, the system operated on a voluntary basis. Since January, drivers have been able to obtain a sticker via the my.gov.uz portal or at vehicle inspection centers run by the Road Traffic Safety Service.
The Ecology Committee has been tasked with dividing Tashkent into three types...
Following the sale of service dogs, seven retired horses from Kazakhstan’s Border Service of the National Security Committee were auctioned on March 31. Some animals sold for up to three times their starting price.
Read also: Anxiety pills and sweet treats: Unusual gifts to Kazakhstani public servants unveiled.
Service horses in Kazakhstan are used by border guards and police, including for search operations and rapid movement across difficult terrain.
Strong demand drives up prices
The seller, Kazspecexport, an enterprise under the Ministry of Defense, listed the horses at an average starting price of...
Kazakhstan’s business activity deteriorated in March 2026, with the Freedom Holding Corp. Manufacturing PMI falling to 47.4, reflecting a solid weakening in the manufacturing sector’s health, the most pronounced since 2022.
The rate was down from 48.1 in February and remained below the 50.0 no-change mark for a third consecutive month.
The key factor negatively affecting overall business conditions in March was a sharp and accelerated decline in manufacturing output. Production decreased for the third consecutive month, at the fastest pace since January 2022.
In line with the trend in output, new orders also declined for the third month in...
Kcell JSC (operating under the Kcell and Activ brands) has deployed an advanced AI-driven solution to automate outbound communications with its subscribers. This new approach enables faster and more accurate delivery of information about tariffs and services, takes individual customer preferences into account and significantly reduces irrelevant outreach.
Built on machine learning, large language models, and Big Data, the solution addresses evolving customer expectations. Today, subscribers expect communication that is timely, relevant, and easy to understand — without intrusive calls or repetitive offers.
«We have deliberately moved away from mass outbound calling in favor of intelligent, context-aware engagement. The system...
Traffic police in Kyzylorda, southern Kazakhstan, helped a tourist from Malaysia traveling across the country in a legendary Volkswagen Transporter T1 van. The «hippie bus» of the 1950s and 1960s sparked as much interest as the traveler’s mission, Polisia.kz reported.
After arriving in Kyzylorda from Almaty, the foreigner got a little lost in the city. Patrol officer Murat Shyngyskhan came to help. Speaking fluent English, he gave directions and pointed out the needed locations.
The meeting turned out to be more than a mere formality, as the officer helped the owner of...
Scientists have reconstructed the appearance of a man who lived in the Mangystau region approximately 5,750 years ago. The reconstruction was based on a skull discovered by archaeologist Andrey Astafyev during excavations at an ancient settlement near Aktau in western Kazakhstan.
The burial site also contained the skeleton of an adult male with robust facial features, according to experts. The skull was elongated and high, with prominent brow ridges, a narrow nose and a rather sharp profile. Based on these features, scientists believe the man had a stern appearance.
Researchers also noted that, based on his anthropological characteristics, the...
The celebrated art object immortalizing the dog rescue at the Sayran reservoir has gained attention on social media beyond Kazakhstan. Kursiv LifeStyle takes a look at how the sculpture has resonated with audiences worldwide.
Art Daily Dose, with over 22 million Instagram followers, posted about the monument. The post emphasized how the sculpture recreated the moment when people formed a human chain to save the dog.
Users in the comment section...
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to halt construction of a proposed $400 million ballroom at the White House, ruling that the project cannot proceed without congressional approval, according to The Associated Press.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon granted a preliminary injunction after the National Trust for Historic Preservation asked the court to stop the construction. The lawsuit argues the administration does not have the authority to continue the project on its own.
«The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families...