News

Timur Turlov’s Freedom Bank has ranked among the top three banks in Kazakhstan for the highest interest rates on certificates of deposit, alongside Home Credit and Eurasian Bank, according to Ranking.kz.

Freedom Bank, part of the Freedom Finance ecosystem supervised by well-known financier Timur Turlov, became the first bank in Kazakhstan to offer an annual percentage yield (APY) of 20% on its term deposits. These terms apply to the «Capital» certificate of deposit, which requires a minimum deposit of 500,000 tenge ($1,000). The product was launched in October 2025. Since then, several other commercial banks have followed suit, offering...

Kazakhstan’s top-ranked player, Alexander Bublik, exhausted after an almost three-hour doubles match, lost to Monaco’s Valentin Vacherot 6-7 (4-7), 6-7 (7-9). Kazakhstan’s national team was defeated by Monaco 1-3 in a home Davis Cup tie.

The previous doubles match, in which Bublik partnered with Beibit Zhukayev against Hugo Nys and Romain Arneodo, lasted 2 hours 48 minutes, leaving the Kazakh player visibly exhausted at the start of his singles match.

After contesting three tiebreaks in doubles, Bublik also played the fourth and fifth tiebreaks in singles. Vacherot broke in the opening game...

Kazakhstanis Alexander Bublik and Beibit Zhukayev lost to Monaco’s Romain Arneodo and Hugo Nys in a dramatic doubles clash 7-6 (7-1), 6-7 (6-8), 6-7(5-7) in the third home match of the Davis Cup tie against Monaco in Astana, turning the score 1-2.

In the first two matches on Feb. 6, Bublik stunned Nys 6-0, 6-3, while Kazakhstani Alexander Shevchenko lost to Valentin Vacherot with the same score.

Putting Bublik on the court in the doubles match, the coaching staff hoped for his and Zhukayev’s powerful serves and some...

Monaco’s top-ranked player, Valentin Vacherot, defeated Kazakhstani Alexander Shevchenko 6-0, 6-3 to equalize the tie in the Davis Cup in Astana.

In the first match of the day, Alexander Bublik’s dominance over Hugo Nys was evident, 6-0, 6-3. As for the Shevchenko-Vacherot match, the balance of power was similar.

Vacherot poses a serious challenge — last October, he sensationally defeated Bublik at the ATP 1000 2025 Rolex Shanghai Masters. That victory (6-3, 3-6, 4-6) proved pivotal for Vacherot, who ultimately won the tournament and rose to world No. 40 after starting at...

Kazakhstan’s top-ranked tennis player Alexander Bublik defeated Monaco’s Hugo Nys in two sets in one hour in the opening match of the 2026 Davis Cup in Astana, 6-0, 6-3.

Securing a break in the first game, the leader of Kazakhstan’s national team immediately set the tone of the match. The world No. 10 was widely expected to dominate the doubles No. 17 player, who has no singles ranking. Nys did put up resistance, but in crucial moments Bublik was flawless, 6-0.

The second set unfolded in the same manner, though Nys managed to hold three serves...

Kazakh superstar singer Dimash Qudaibergen decided to delight his fans with an unusual challenge to celebrate the premiere of his new project. He uploaded a video on Instagram explaining the rules.

Qudaibergen said he is ready to meet in person the fan who attracts the largest number of followers to the «Voice Beyond Horizon» Instagram page. The winner will spend a full day with the singer. Moreover, Qudaibergen promised to travel to the fan’s location himself.

A crash in Indiana left four people dead, according to Vesti.kg. Authorities identified the driver as 30-year-old Bekzhan Beishekeev, a truck driver and citizen of Kyrgyzstan. The Feb. 3, 2026, incident has drawn attention because of the driver’s immigration status.

Details of the crash

The collision occurred on a highway at about 4 p.m. Investigators said traffic was slowing and a truck ahead had reduced speed. Beishekeev, who was driving behind it, was unable to brake in time.

Attempting to avoid a rear-end collision, he swerved into oncoming traffic and struck a minibus carrying six people...

YouTube has made an auto-dubbing option available for all creators. Videos can now be dubbed in 27 languages using AI.

The platform has also expanded its dubbing capabilities. For instance, the Expressive Speech tool replicates a creator’s emotions and tests lip-sync to give videos a more natural look.

Creators can also add their own dub or turn the AI-powered option off completely.

To showcase the tool, YouTube uploaded a demonstration video featuring the auto-dub option enabled in the «Audio track» section within the player’s settings.

The video sparked discussions in the comments section — users reacted...

The Versace brand has officially entered a new era with the appointment of Belgian designer Pieter Mulier as creative director of the fashion house.

The appointment was announced on the Prada Group website. Mulier will assume the role July 1, 2026. The company described the move as the beginning of a new phase in the brand’s development after decades of family leadership.

Career across leading fashion houses

During his career, Mulier has worked at several of the world’s top fashion houses. He was part of Raf Simons’ team and contributed to collections for Jil Sander...

Users of the 2GIS digital map service sharply lowered the rating of one of Russia’s leading universities, the Higher School of Economics, after reports claimed that the former husband of murdered Kazakh judge Aigul Sailybayeva works at the institution.

Read also: Murder of Kazakh judge in Germany: Case ‘goes cold’ as investigation stalls.

On Feb. 4, REN TV aired a report stating that a suspect in the murder case lives in Moscow and is employed at one of the capital’s prestigious universities. According to the broadcaster, he is currently on...

Almaty will host the 2029 Asian Winter Games, Kazakhstan’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) announced.

On Feb. 5, the President of the Olympic Council of Asia, Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, and Kazakhstan’s NOC President, Gennadiy Golovkin, signed the host city contract in Milan.

The committee noted that all required sports facilities and urban infrastructure are already available in Almaty, allowing the city to be considered for hosting competitions without launching large-scale construction projects. Kazakhstan’s NOC believes that using existing venues, along with the country’s experience with major international competitions, will ensure a...

Kazakhstan will introduce stricter regulations for concerts by international performers and tougher requirements for organizing tours under a new law supporting the creative industries, which the Senate passed today.

The legislation establishes rules governing concerts and allows authorities to take action in cases involving the distribution of illegal content.

Questions over prohibited content

Journalists asked officials what would qualify as prohibited content and whether shocking or provocative performances could face restrictions.

Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Yevgeniy Kochetov said there are currently no specific lists of banned performers or musical genres.

Oil and gas giant Shell will suspend investments in Kazakhstan during ongoing legal proceedings with the government, according to CEO Wael Sawan. He said multiple lawsuits filed by the republic, totaling billions of dollars, are reducing the company’s willingness to continue investing in the country.

Kazakhstan is currently involved in several major legal disputes with Western oil companies in both domestic courts and international arbitration. Two key projects are at the center of the conflict.

Karachaganak

In January, Shell and its partners — Eni, Chevron and Lukoil — lost a dispute over cost deductions. Compensation to...

Italian world second-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner took on the role of a ticket inspector at a railway station in Milan ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the official volunteer ambassador of the event checked passengers’ tickets as they boarded as part of the Olympics promotional campaign.

The 24-year-old tennis player has 24 ATP singles titles, including four Grand Slams. In the 2026 Australian Open tournament, he lost to Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in the semifinal in five sets: 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, 4-6.

Sinner has one...

World-renowned Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen presented his new original song in the first episode of the Voice Beyond Horizon show. The composition, titled «Fire,» debuted in a unique format and quickly drew significant viewership.

The performance featured multiple languages, including English and Chinese, and incorporated rapid-tempo rap elements in Kazakh.

Show highlights diverse musical styles

Throughout the program, participants performed works across a range of genres. The show included everything from operatic vocals set to modern melodies to traditional highland music from China, tender love songs and compositions featuring Kyrgyz-language

Kazakhstani artist Kamliya Kuspanova appeared in an advertising campaign for the French luxury fashion house Dior. The collection was dedicated to Valentine’s Day.

Dior posted the video featuring Kuspanova on Instagram. She can be seen writing a letter — presumably a love letter — while wearing Dior earrings and a bracelet adorned with white doves.

The collection features accessories with chamomile and four-leaf clover motifs, along with...

The draw for the Kazakhstan-Monaco tie in World Group I of the Davis Cup was held in Astana. The national team leaders, Alexander Bublik and Valentin Vacherot, will face each other on on Feb. 7, the second day of the round. Last October, the Monégasque sensationally stunned the Kazakhstani in Shanghai.

That victory (6-3, 3-6, 4-6) proved pivotal for Vacherot, who ultimately won the ATP 1000 2025 Rolex Shanghai Masters, rising to world No. 40 after starting at 204th. Currently, Monaco’s player stands 27th, while Bublik is No. 10 in the ATP...

The first official trailer for the biopic «Michael,» about the life of legendary American singer Michael Jackson, has been released.

Release date and cast

The film is scheduled to premiere in the U.S. on April 24. The lead role is played by 29-year-old Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew.

The project was directed by Antoine Fuqua («King Arthur»), with a screenplay by John Logan, who previously worked on «Gladiator» and «Rango.»

What the trailer shows

The Lionsgate trailer highlights different stages of the singer’s life, from his childhood in the Jackson 5 to his global...

The snow leopard spotted earlier near Almaty and widely filmed by city residents is now being tracked with a satellite collar.

According to Kazakhstan’s Forestry and Wildlife Committee, the predator hunted down a deer near the road in the Big Almaty Gorge. Photos and videos of the site quickly spread on social media, prompting a large number of tourists to visit the spot.

Despite specialists’ warnings, people approached too closely, made noise, and launched camera drones, disturbing the rare animal and putting themselves at risk.

In France, thousands of unexploded ordnance from the two world wars are still being discovered. Most are found in fields or at construction sites, but occasionally they turn up in the most unexpected places.

One unusual and alarming incident occurred at a hospital in Toulouse, forcing doctors to evacuate patients and call in bomb disposal experts.

Late in the evening, a 24-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department with severe discomfort. During an examination, doctors discovered an old World War I artillery shell, about 20 centimeters long, lodged in his rectum.

Medical staff immediately performed...

Tom Felton’s portrayal of the world-renowned “Harry Potter” character Draco Malfoy is going viral. Although «Malfoy» is commonly interpreted as deriving from the French «mal foi» («bad faith»), on Chinese social media, he is trending as a symbol of good luck ahead of the upcoming Lunar New Year, the BBC reported.

The trend stems from his family name: when read in Chinese, «Ma‑er‑fu» can be translated as «horse and fortune,» perfectly aligning with the sign of the upcoming Lunar New Year — the fire horse.

Users on local social media are sharing...

The Almaty City Prosecutor’s Office and Yandex Qazaqstan, Kazakhstan’s dominant taxi service provider, have signed an agreement to jointly identify habitual alimony defaulters.

Hidden income through gig work

According to the prosecutor’s office, debtors are increasingly receiving unofficial income through taxi and delivery services, allowing them to hide their true earnings and avoid paying child support.

«In 2025, 110 such cases were identified, administrative measures were taken against 57 individuals, and pretrial investigations were initiated in 10 cases,» the prosecutor’s office press service said.

Information-sharing agreement

The...

A video featuring six young Uzbek musicians has gone viral online. The group performed the theme song from the Turkish television series “Endless Love” (Kara Sevda), which is popular in Uzbekistan and neighboring countries.

The charismatic ensemble played guitar, clarinet, drums, darbuka (hand drum), violin and synthesizer. The video, posted on the Instagram account @music.glier, quickly spread across social media and has garnered more than 14 million views.

Viewers praised the musicians’ chemistry, stage presence and emotional connection to the music.

«So much fire in their eyes...

The Bashkir ethno-pop group Ay Yola was named an ambassador of the 6th World Nomad Games and will represent Bashkortostan’s culture — a republic within the Russian Federation — at the event.

Ay Yola made the announcement on Instagram. In their message, the musicians said they view tradition as a way to move forward. The group is also expected to perform at the opening ceremony.

The 6th...