News

For the first time, Almaty will host a major exhibition of works by American artist Bill Viola, one of the most well-known and influential representatives of contemporary video art. The exhibition is scheduled to open on July 1 at the Almaty Museum of Arts, marking the first large-scale presentation of his work in Central Asia.

The exhibition is titled «Bill Viola: The Space of Time.» Visitors will be offered 16 video installations created by the artist over 40 years, ranging from his early works of the late 1970s to large-scale projects of the 2000s. The selection...

Freedom Holding Corp. is eliminating qualifying prefixes such as Bank, Broker and Insurance to consolidate its business lines under the unified Freedom brand, the company said in a statement.

The transition to a single visual identity and communications framework will be gradual across the 21 countries where the company operates. The primary objective is to strengthen Freedom’s market position, improve brand recognition and create a more seamless customer experience.

It is expected that, once the transition is completed, customers will be better able to navigate the company’s integrated products and services.

According to Freedom Holding Corp. CEO Timur Turlov, the...

Economic conditions for Kazakhstani manufacturers remained challenging in May 2026. The Freedom Holding Corp. Kazakhstan Manufacturing PMI registered 49.0 in May, broadly in line with April’s reading of 48.9 and signaling a modest monthly deterioration in business conditions. The sector’s health has now weakened for five consecutive months.

Production contracts as inventories hit record lows

After a brief increase in April, the new orders index returned to contraction. Survey participants cited declining demand and financing constraints as key factors. The renewed drop in new orders led manufacturers to reduce output for the fifth consecutive month. However, the pace of...

Last week, Kazakhstani Olympic figure skating champion Mikhail Shaidorov stated he had not received his salary for several months following his victory at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. After around a week of silence, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports provided an official comment on the situation.

At the beginning, Vice Minister of Tourism and Sports Serik Zharasbayev noted that Shaidorov is a legend in Kazakhstan’s sport, and that the ministry supports him in all his endeavors and wishes him great victories.

In addition, the ministry said that the athlete signed a widely discussed contract...

A court in Karaganda ruled that the sale of common stairwells in a multi-story building is illegal. The case began when office owners on the second and third floors realized in 2015 that the staircases they had used for years had turned out to be someone’s private property. A new owner had restricted access to them.

Staircases for sale

It turned out that the common stairwells of the first, second and third floors had been sold as separate property units and had hands several times.

«Investigating the case, the property designated in the disputed sales...

The U.S. and Iran reported new military actions over the weekend, marking the latest exchange of hostilities as negotiations continue to seek an end to the conflict that began nearly three months ago, Reuters reported.

The U.S. military said it carried out strikes on Iranian military targets along the country’s Gulf coast after what it described as aggressive actions by Iran, including the downing of a U.S. MQ-1 drone operating over international waters. According to U.S. Central Command, the operation targeted Iranian air defense systems, a ground control station, and two attack drones considered threats to maritime traffic...

Japan’s Nikkei share average surpassed the 67,000 mark for the first time on Monday, driven by gains in AI-related stocks, Reuters reported.

SoftBank Group, a Japanese multinational investment holding company, was the largest contributor to the Nikkei’s advance, with its shares rising 10.3%. The increase added 618 points to the index’s overall gain of 709 points. Following the rally, SoftBank’s market capitalization climbed to approximately $296.0 billion, surpassing Toyota Motor Corp.’s valuation of around $286.5 billion after Toyota shares fell 4.8%.

The move came after SoftBank announced over the weekend that it plans to invest about $87.3 billion...

Fans of renowned Kazakhstani singer Dimash Qudaibergen united to save forests in Latin America.

According to DimashNews, Qudaibergen turned 32 on May 24. To mark the occasion, his fans in North and South America organized environmental campaigns in his honor.

Fans are now raising funds to restore forests and plant trees in Qudaibergen’s name.

One of the main initiatives was a campaign to support Patagonia’s forests. Fans from Argentina, Uruguay and Mexico donated 82 trees to the Friends of Patagonia Association. The trees will be planted in the area around the Correntoso River, where efforts are...

Planned maintenance work at Kazakhstan’s giant Kashagan oil field could be postponed, according to industry sources cited by PetroCouncil.kz and the energy publication Upstream.

The 35-day maintenance campaign, covering both offshore and onshore facilities, was scheduled to begin June 1.

Shareholders reportedly weighing postponement

According to Upstream’s sources, shareholders in the North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC), which operates the field, are considering delaying the work, which would allow Kashagan to maintain production of about 400,000 barrels per day through June and July.

The reported discussions come amid heightened uncertainty in global oil markets...

Turkish mining company CoreX Holding plans to increase explored resources at the Manka gold deposit in East Kazakhstan from 195,000 ounces to more than 400,000 ounces of gold, according to the company’s annual report cited by qazba.kz.

The company plans to begin mining operations at the deposit in 2026 and targets annual production of up to 187,000 ounces of gold.

Exploration program expands resource estimates

In its annual report, CoreX Holding said it completed a comprehensive underground drilling program to define reserves and estimate resources at the Manka deposit.

In addition to the 3,000 meters...

Kazatomprom, the world’s largest uranium producer, reported net profit of 13.9 billion tenge (approximately $27.9 million) in the first quarter of 2026, according to the company’s unaudited financial statements. The figure represents a 56% decline compared with the same period in 2025.

Read also: Why KazMunayGas and Kazatomprom are Kazakhstan’s ultimate cash cows.

The company’s revenue declined 28% year over year to 154.2 billion tenge, driven by a 40% drop in sales volumes.

At the same time, the average price of natural uranium increased 12% in January-March to...

Two Indian students died at the Fedorov Reservoir in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, after attempting to save each other while swimming in a prohibited area, authorities said.

The incident occurred on the afternoon of May 30 at an unequipped section of shoreline where swimming is not permitted.

Rescue attempt ends in tragedy

According to the Department of Emergency Situations of the Karaganda region, the victims were young men born in 2004 and 2005.

Read also: Indian student fatally falls from dormitory window in Karaganda.

Preliminary findings indicate that one of the students entered the...

For Kazakhstan’s SME sector, the end of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026 marked a period of adaptation not only to tight monetary conditions, but also to a series of fiscal and regulatory changes. On one hand, business activity was constrained by high borrowing costs as inflationary pressures persisted. On the other, small businesses were preparing for the replacement of simplified taxation systems with a unified Special Tax Regime. Together, these factors significantly affected SME operations and business behavior.

Monetary tightening and lending slowdown

Throughout 2025, the National Bank of Kazakhstan gradually tightened monetary...

Mikhail Shaidorov commented on the controversy surrounding delayed salary payments, an unsigned contract and questions about his preparations for the new season. The Olympic champion thanked the people of Kazakhstan for their support and said he did not want the situation to become a public conflict, but could not allow his name to be «dragged through the mud.»

Honors certificate still not received

According to Shaidorov, he still has not received his Honored Master of Sports certificate, despite meeting the requirements in 2025 by winning a silver medal at the World Figure Skating Championships.

Daterao Jugal Sudhir, a senior manager at The Walt Disney Company, was sentenced to prison after cannabis-infused gummies were found in his possession at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport, according to TASS.

The Indian citizen was convicted of narcotics possession and drug smuggling.

Prosecutors requested a prison sentence of 6 1/2 years and a fine of 500,000 rubles. The court, however, handed down a lighter sentence of 2 1/2 years in prison and a fine of 30,000 rubles.

Defense cites medical use

The defense said Sudhir had been prescribed the THC-infused gummies following brain surgery. In...

A dog of the Kazakh Tazy breed named Akbakai came into the spotlight at the international Ethnosport Culture Festival in Istanbul. The dog from Balkhash attracted the attention of attendees, received a medal and even drew interest from visitors who wanted to buy it. Kursiv LifeStyle explains how the Kazakh Tazy captured the hearts of guests at the ethnofestival in Turkey.

According to the press service of the Karaganda regional administration, participants from nearly 20 countries spent four days in Istanbul competing and showcasing their traditions. Kazakhstan was represented at the festival...

Chile’s Atacama Desert, widely regarded as one of the darkest places on Earth, is facing rising levels of light pollution that could threaten its status as a leading location for astronomical research, the BBC reported.

The remote desert is home to some of the world’s most advanced observatories, including the Paranal Observatory, where exceptionally dark skies, clear weather and high-altitude conditions have enabled major astronomical discoveries.

However, astronomers report a noticeable increase in light pollution around the Atacama in recent years, warning that even small increases in sky brightness can affect observations at facilities designed to detect faint...

A famous bull mosaic in Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is being restored after years of wear caused by a long-standing tourist tradition, the BBC reported.

The mosaic, which depicts a prancing bull surrounded by a coat of arms, has become a popular attraction due to a local legend that promises good luck to visitors who place a heel on the bull’s testicles and spin three times. The ritual, which dates back to the 19th century and remains popular with tourists today, has gradually worn away the pink tiles in the area, leaving a visible crater.

Restoration work began...

On May 28, a ferry route between Taiwan and Japan resumed operations after being discontinued in 2008, Kyodo News reported.

The route connects Japan’s Ishigaki Island to the Taiwanese port city of Keelung. According to the website of Taiwan-based operator Yaima Line, the journey covers 270 kilometers and takes about eight hours. From May 28 to June 29, one round trip per week is scheduled, while from July 2 to July 31, two round trips are planned. The vessel operating on the route is the Yaima Maru, which can accommodate about...

BMW plans to introduce humanoid robots into vehicle production at its Leipzig factory in Germany, marking the first use of such robots in its European operations, the BBC reported.

The Aeon robots, developed by Sweden-based Hexagon Robotics, are currently being tested and are expected to begin production work this summer.

Unlike traditional industrial robots, humanoid robots can operate in existing workspaces designed for people, reducing the need for costly factory redesigns. BMW intends to use the Aeon robots for tasks such as supplying parts to manufacturing equipment and handling components during battery assembly.

The robots are trained using...

On May 26, Freedom Holding Corp. CEO Timur Turlov addressed MBA students at Stanford University, where the Stanford Graduate School of Business (Stanford GSB) dedicated an academic study to the corporate strategy of a Central Asian company for the first time.

According to Professor Howard Rosen, who broke down the case, Kazakhstan is an excellent example for studying international entrepreneurship thanks to its vast territory and economy.

In turn, the fintech group’s CEO Timur Turlov revealed that Freedom Bank issues online mortgages in just four hours and that the bank became the leader in Kazakhstan in Mastercard payment volume within...

Argentina’s national team manager Lionel Scaloni announced the squad for the 2026 World Cup, which is set to take place in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

The squad includes 26 footballers, including the national team’s captain Lionel Messi, marking the sixth participation in the World Cup in the 38-year-old forward’s career. 

Scaloni retained the majority of the championship core, including Emiliano Martínez, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Lautaro Martínez, and Julián Álvarez. At the same time, Ángel Di María, who retired from international football after the 2024 Copa América, is absent from the...

Kazakhstan’s Prosecutor General’s Office is introducing artificial intelligence (AI) into the law enforcement system. Neural networks are set to forecast crime, automate the processing of service documents and conduct continuous observation and analysis of information.

Big data

The Criminal Threat Forecasting Center under the Committee on Legal Statistics and Special Accounts has already sent 192 advisory letters to government agencies with recommendations on threat prevention. Access to 38 fraudulent websites has been blocked, and 16 public alerts have been issued warning of new fraud schemes.

“The Center’s implemented solutions include systems for monitoring the media...

The U.S. stock market could deliver significantly weaker returns over the next 10 years, according to Aman Alimbayev, an economist and former analyst at the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE).

Read also: Kazakhstan launches its first S&P 500-style index funds.

As an example, Alimbayev cited the distribution of 10-year U.S. stock market returns from 1880 to 2026, based on data from economist Robert Shiller and Goldman Sachs analysts.

He noted that the average annual return of the U.S. market over the past 146 years has been approximately 9.3%. However, the most recent...