News

The draw for the Kazakhstan-Thailand Davis Cup tie, scheduled for Sept. 18 and 19, took place in Astana. The National Tennis Center Beeline Arena will host the event on hard court.

The Kazakhstan-Thailand tie on the road to World Group I will open on Friday with a match between Alexander Shevchenko and Maximus Jones, the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation reported. Then, Timofei Skatov will face Kasidit Samrej.

Saturday will open with doubles. Denis Yevseyev and Beibit Zhukayev will face Thanapet Chanta and Pruchya Isaro. If the first three matches do not determine a winner, Shevchenko will play...

World No. 3 Jessica Pegula of the U.S. praised Elena Rybakina’s performance this season after Rybakina won the 2026 U.S. Open title. She said that Rybakina fully deserved to become world No. 1.

Pegula suggested that the uncertainty over Rybakina’s participation in the tournament could have helped her psychologically.

«She’s had an amazing year. And the fact that she didn’t even know if she was going to play this tournament, it seems like that almost helped, relaxed her in a way, because she was — that’s what she said afterwards,» Pegula said

Freedom Telecom is one of the most ambitious projects in Kazakhstan’s telecommunications market. It is the country’s first operator to be built not from scratch, but on the foundation of Freedom Holding’s established financial ecosystem, which includes a bank, SuperApp and a media company. The holding has already invested more than $200 million in infrastructure to create the technological foundation for Freedom Telecom. But why is a financial holding company building telecommunications networks from scratch? Why does fear of radio-frequency radiation remain a major barrier to the development of communications infrastructure outside major cities? And when will a new mobile...

Kazakhstan-based Shin-Line, Central Asia’s largest ice cream producer, plans to launch a joint venture with South Korean logistics giant Lotte Global Logistics worth 1 billion tenge (about $2.2 million), expected to deliver goods to online and chain stores.

Shin-Line and Lotte Global Logistics signed a memorandum of understanding on Sept. 15 in Seoul. The joint venture will be called Shin-Line Lotte Global Logistics. Lotte Global Logistics will own a 51% stake and Shin-Line will own 49%. The initial investment is valued at around 1 billion tenge.

The company will operate as a 3PL provider, offering businesses a full range of...

Almaty-based photographer Dmitry Dotsenko captured a rare and striking image of the Progress MS-35 spacecraft against the backdrop of Almaty’s landmark Kok-Tobe TV Tower.

The shot is particularly remarkable given that Almaty is about 1,000 kilometers from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the spacecraft’s launch site. The Progress MS-35 cargo spacecraft launched from Baikonur on Sept. 16, 2026.

Catching the right moment

With the right launch timing — after sunset — clear weather and a carefully chosen vantage point, however, it is possible to catch a glimpse of a spacecraft in...

A proposal in Kazakhstan would allow digital asset owners to resolve tax liabilities arising from past transactions by disclosing their assets and transferring them in full from foreign or other unregulated platforms to licensed Kazakhstani digital asset service providers. The proposal is included in amendments to the Tax Code.

Tax relief for digital asset owners

Under the proposal, if an individual transfers all of their digital assets from unlicensed platforms to licensed digital asset service providers by Dec. 31, 2028, any outstanding taxes associated with those assets would not be treated as tax debt.

The...

Fear of a cancer diagnosis and belief in medical myths often prevent people from seeking treatment in time. Kazakh oncologist Yerlan Kabdolov shared his professional perspective on the importance of early cancer detection.

Early detection improves survival

According to Kabdolov, chronic gastritis that remains untreated for years can increase the risk of stomach cancer.

«The survival rate for stage 1 stomach cancer is 90%. At stage 3, it is 30%. At stage 4, it is less than 10%. The stage is the deciding factor,» he said.

Kabdolov said patients often...

The global shift toward remote work is undergoing a major reversal as employers around the world mandate a return to physical offices. A recent ranking by World Population Review highlights how corporate policies, regional cultures and employee resistance are reshaping the modern workplace.

Read also: Why Kazakhstan’s major bank rejects remote work.

While some regions are aggressively filling office buildings, others are negotiating flexible hybrid compromises. For professionals planning career moves, proximity to major urban business hubs is becoming a critical factor for long-term career advancement.

Corporate mandates and...

More than half of Kazakhstani men believe providing financial support for their children is more important than being directly involved in their upbringing. At the same time, 60.4% of men surveyed said they do not have enough time to spend raising their children.

The findings come from a study by the Institute of Fatherhood and were announced by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Culture and Information, according to Kazinform.

Financial support prioritized over involvement

Kairat Kambarov, chairman of the Committee on Youth and Family Affairs, presented the findings at a «Youth and Family Day» roundtable held last...

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Defense plans to conduct underwater surveys and explosive ordnance disposal operations in the country’s sector of the Caspian Sea to clear planned routes for subsea oil pipelines for the Kalamkas-Sea and Khazar project. The plans are outlined in the rationale for proposed amendments to Kazakhstan’s Tax Code, published on the Open Legal Acts portal.

Military to clear pipeline routes

The operations will focus on Area No. 200 in Kazakhstan’s sector of the Caspian Sea, where the planned subsea oil pipeline routes will pass.

Military personnel will conduct the mine-clearing operations. To facilitate...

Kazakhstan-based Shin-Line, Central Asia’s largest ice cream producer, plans to launch ice cream production using South Korean technology. In addition, the company plans to establish a food industry cluster modeled on South Korea’s Jeonbuk State.

Shin-Line reported on the agreements reached during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state visit to South Korea. In particular, the company signed a trilateral memorandum with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture and Sungwon Machinery Co., a manufacturer of equipment for ice cream and dairy production.

Shin-Line and Sungwon Machinery Co. plan to launch a joint project to produce South Korean-style ice cream using advanced technologies. The companies plan...

Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after being convicted of war crimes committed during the 1998-1999 Kosovo conflict, Euronews reported.

The Kosovo Specialist Chambers established under Kosovo law and staffed by international judges in The Hague found Thaçi guilty of murder, torture, cruel treatment and illegal detention during and shortly after Kosovo’s war for independence against Serbia.

The 58-year-old Kosovo politician, who served as prime minister and later president, was tried alongside three other senior former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) — Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. The...

Kazakhstani nationals are expected to become the first in Central Asia and the South Caucasus to be able to visit Israel visa-free. Kursiv LifeStyle looks at the details.

Israel’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan Yoav Bistritsky told journalists at a meeting in Astana that such an arrangement was already in place and that Israel was ready for the change. The process is expected to begin after Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi visits Israel to sign the relevant documents.

«There is no exact date yet, but we expect this to happen in early 2027,» Bistritsky...

Kazakhstan’s national team is guaranteed to remain in at least League C after the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League. UEFA has changed the promotion and relegation system because the tournament will be reduced from four leagues to three starting with the 2028-29 season.

For Kazakhstan, the key change is the abolition of League D. Under the transition system approved by UEFA, all teams finishing third or fourth in the four League C groups in the current edition will remain in the division for the 2028-29 season.

Previous regulations provided for a different system. The two lowest-ranked fourth-placed...

Applications from Kazakhstani nationals for legal employment in South Korea will open in 2028. Until then, a specialized Employment Permit System (EPS) center will be established in Kazakhstan, a testing system will be introduced and pre-departure training will be provided to candidates.

During President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to South Korea, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population and South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor signed a memorandum on sending and hiring workers under the EPS.

The two countries’ government agencies will formalize employment through a direct employment contract.

Program conditions

Under the EPS, Kazakhstanis will...

Kazakhstan’s world No. 1 Elena Rybakina topped the 2026 women’s prize money rankings. She earned $10.88 million. Including men, she ranked third, according to Sportico.

With $10.88 million in tournament prize money, Rybakina trails behind Germany’s Alexander Zverev, who won $14.71 million, and Italy’s Jannik Sinner, with $11.58 million.

Among women, Rybakina took first place. Her closest competitor, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, earned $8.07 million, $2.81 million less than Rybakina, followed by Czechia’s Linda Nosková with $7.49 million.

The ranking takes into account only prize money earned from...

Plans are underway to tokenize the Iconic Tower complex, valued at up to $50 million, and the Birlik logistics center, valued at up to $10 million, in the new city of Alatau, Kazakhstan’s flagship urban development project, by the end of 2026. The initiative aims to turn ownership rights in these future projects into digital assets that can be offered to investors.

During a recent government meeting on the development of digital assets, National Bank Governor Timur Suleimenov said one of the objectives outlined in the presidential decree on developing the digital asset industry is to launch...

The work of Kazakh hairstylist Xenia Volodina of Atyrau ranked among the top five entries in the international #ONESHOT Hair Awards 2026. For the competition, she created an intricate hairstyle incorporating elements of traditional Kazakh design.

Volodina owns a beauty salon in Atyrau and is a six-time braiding champion. She also specializes in various Afro-style hairstyles.

A blend of braids and Kazakh motifs

For the competition, Volodina created a complex composition of braids and twists, incorporating traditional Kazakh ornaments into the design. Her entry was submitted in the Intricate Braids & Twists category...

Dogs’ extraordinary sense of smell has long been used by police, customs officials and search-and-rescue teams. Now, researchers in India are exploring whether the same ability could be used to help detect cancer.

Read also: The bittersweet retirement of Kazakhstan’s national security animals.

Indian startup Dognosis is developing an unusual approach to cancer screening: Instead of relying solely on blood tests or imaging scans, researchers are using specially trained dogs. In the lab, about 15 dogs analyze human breath samples, while artificial intelligence translates their responses into data.

At the 78th Emmy Awards, the spotlight was on more than just the nominees and winners. Their red-carpet looks took center stage, too. Metallic finishes, pastel hues, feathers, bows and unconventional silhouettes defined the evening’s fashion. Kursiv LifeStyle highlights some of the most memorable looks from the ceremony.

Zendaya

Zendaya once again opted for a show-stopping look. The actress appeared in a crystal-embellished Prada gown with a plunging neckline. The sheer fabric and abundance of sparkling details made the ensemble one of the most talked-about looks on the red carpet. She...

Air Astana could offer satellite internet from Viasat and OneWeb on its aircraft. Meanwhile, the price of service has yet to be announced.

Damir Seissembekov, chairman of the Telecommunications Committee of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of Kazakhstan, told journalists about the launch of internet access on board Kazakhstan’s airlines. He said the necessary legislative work had already been completed, and amendments were drafted and adopted by presidential decree in June.

«We are actively working on this issue jointly with Air Astana. We expect the first aircraft with internet...

The U.S. has confirmed for the first time that it has deployed a weapon in Earth’s orbit, the BBC reported, as major powers expand their military capabilities in space.

According to U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink, the «on-orbit» system was intended to protect U.S. forces against potential threats. Officials have not disclosed details about the weapon, including how it operates or when it was deployed. That said, some experts believe it might be a form of electronic warfare that doesn’t create debris in space and could effectively disrupt rivals’ critical equipment.

In 2019, the U.S. established...

Astana will host the 2028 UEFA Super Cup. The UEFA Executive Committee has chosen Astana Arena as the venue.

The committee made the decision today, Sept. 15, during its meeting in Thessaloniki. Kazakhstan will host the UEFA Super Cup for the first time. The 2027 match is set to take place at Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, with Astana hosting the following year.

The Super Cup traditionally opens the new season of European club competitions. In a single match, the previous season’s Champions League winner faces the Europa League winner. Since 2013, the venue has changed...

Aidyn Rakhimbayev, a prominent Kazakh businessman and major shareholder of BI Group, Kazakhstan’s largest construction company, has bought the house where he spent his childhood. According to Forbes, Rakhimbayev is Kazakhstan’s ninth-richest person, with a fortune estimated at $1.1 billion.

According to the 2009 census, Kulynzhon (formerly known as Kaznakovka), the village in the Samara district of the East Kazakhstan region where Rakhimbayev grew up, had a population of 823.

«We recently bought a house in my home village of Kulynzhon, where I was born and raised. My father built this house with his own...