News

Kazakhmys Copper, which consolidates the copper assets of Vladimir Kim, will not delist from the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange. The decision was made by the company’s sole shareholder.

The shareholder reversed an earlier decision, announced April 14, to voluntarily delist the company’s shares from KASE. As a result, the shares will remain listed on the exchange, although they are not actively traded.

Asset structure and ownership

Kazakhmys Copper manages assets previously held by Kazakhmys Corporation before their sale to Nurlan Artykbayev, owner of the construction firm Qazaq Stroy.

In January 2025, subsidiary Qaz Copper Group was established...

Since the beginning of 2026, 13,989 so-called temporary residence permits (TRPs) have been issued to Russians in Kazakhstan. This is a small number, even considering that it is only the beginning of the year. In 2022, the first year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, 138,259 TRPs were issued. In 2025, 69,894 TRPs were issued, indicating that over the past four years, the number of TRPs has nearly halved.

This trend could indicate several things. First, Russian residents may be physically leaving Kazakhstan. Second, they may be moving to the «next level» by obtaining a permanent residence permit (PRP). The...

The Russian Ministry of Culture has refused to issue a distribution permit for the film «Hana Korea,» which was scheduled for release in theaters on April 30.

According to distributor U Films, the ministry cited a rule allowing permits to be denied «in other cases stipulated by federal laws.» No further explanation was provided.

«We are deeply sorry that Russian audiences will not have the legal opportunity to see this touching film,» U Films said in a statement.

The film, directed by Danish filmmaker Frederik Sølberg, tells the story of Hyesun, who flees from...

The Florida mansion featured in the iconic film “Scarface” has been listed for $237 million, potentially making it the most expensive residential property ever offered in Miami-Dade County.

In the movie, the estate serves as the home of drug lord Frank Lopez. It is where Tony Montana first visits for key meetings and later meets Elvira, before ultimately killing Lopez and taking over his business.

The property is located on Key Biscayne and spans approximately one hectare. It offers direct ocean access and includes 862 meters of waterfront with views of Miami. One of its most distinctive features is...

The Kaspi.kz app has introduced a new «split bill» feature that allows users to divide payments among multiple people after a shared order at a café or restaurant, according to Finratings.

How it works

The process is straightforward: one person pays the full bill using Kaspi QR. After the transaction, a «split amount» button appears in the payment details. The payer can then send a link to others in the group. Each participant can select their portion — either specific items or a share of the total — and pay directly within the app.

Simplifying group payments

The...

A former employee of a media company founded by YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson has filed a lawsuit alleging workplace harassment and gender bias, The Associated Press reported.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in North Carolina by Lorrayne Mavromatis, names MrBeastYouTube, LLC and GameChanger 24/7, LLC as defendants. It accuses the companies of violating federal law that guarantees eligible employees unpaid, job-protected leave for family and medical reasons, including childbirth. Mavromatis also filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging discrimination based on sex, pregnancy and retaliation.

Mavromatis said she continued working immediately after giving birth, including...

The escalation of conflict in the Middle East, along with the risk of a closure of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, is putting significant pressure not only on global energy markets but also on the economic stability of countries across the region.

Amid rising geopolitical uncertainty and the potential disruption of supply chains, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised its GDP growth forecasts for Gulf states, sharply lowering its outlook.

Qatar sees sharp downgrade, followed by rebound

Qatar experienced the most dramatic revision among Gulf countries. The IMF cut its 2026 growth forecast by...

A bill banning people born after 2008 from buying tobacco in the U.K. has completed its passage through parliament, marking a major step in the government’s effort to create a «smoke-free generation,» The Guardian reported.

Under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2009, will never be legally sold tobacco products. The legislation is expected to become law next week after receiving royal assent, following its introduction in November 2024 and final approval by the House of Lords after amendments from the House of Commons.

Ministers say the policy aims to phase out...

Kazakh economist Rassul Rysmambetov has proposed increasing accountability for senior civil servants by introducing a 15-year ban on leaving the country after stepping down from office. He argued that top officials should have to live with the outcomes of the systems and policies they helped create.

Proposal to tighten accountability

Speaking on the Check Point Talk YouTube podcast, Rysmambetov said Kazakhstan needs to improve the performance of top managers in the quasi-public sector and senior government officials to curb corruption and capital flight. One of the key issues, he said, is that officials can...

A robot developed by Sony AI has defeated elite table tennis players in a notable step for robotics in competitive sports. The system, called Ace, won three out of five matches against elite opponents but lost both matches against professional players, winning only one game across those contests, The Guardian reported.

Ace operates using an eight-jointed robotic arm mounted on a movable base and relies on multiple cameras positioned around the court. By analyzing visual data, including the ball’s logo, the system estimates spin and trajectory in milliseconds.

The results, obtained under official competition rules, highlight progress in a...

Nightclubs and bars in Almaty have begun installing “smart” cameras that analyze patrons and help identify minors, law enforcement officials said. The effort is intended to strengthen oversight of teenagers amid a reported rise in youth-related incidents, according to the KTK television channel.

Police say school-age children are increasingly involved in late-night activity, including staying out after hours, getting into fights, and engaging in other risky behavior.

Facial recognition in nightlife venues

According to authorities, facial recognition cameras have already been installed in 20 entertainment venues across the city. If a minor is identified, they will be taken...

Relatives of 22-year-old Kazakh citizen Yernur Almakhan, who was sentenced to life in prison in Dubai, say they do not believe he is guilty and suspect he may have been framed, according to local outlet Ak Zhaiyk.

Yernur’s relatives were unaware of the charges for an extended period and only learned of the verdict in April 2026. The ruling was issued by a court of first instance on March 18. An appeal has already been filed, with a hearing scheduled for April 27.

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the case and said the verdict has...

Domestic trade remains one of the largest sectors of Kazakhstan’s economy, accounting for 19.2% of GDP at the end of 2025. However, the sector showed signs of cooling in early 2026, with growth slowing to 4.8% in the first quarter, down from 6.3% a year earlier.

Wholesale trade drives overall growth

Wholesale trade remained the primary growth driver. In real terms, it expanded 5.8% year over year to 10.8 trillion tenge (approx. $23 billion) by the end of the first quarter, according to the Bureau of National Statistics. The segment accounted for 67.6% of total domestic trade turnover.

Celebrated annually on April 23, National Book Day honors Kazakhstan’s literary heritage. Its mission is to foster a culture of reading, support domestic authors, and preserve the nation’s intellectual and cultural identity.

Read also: Inside the library behind bars: The most popular books in prison.

Prominent Kazakh scholar Akhmet Baitursynuly described the book as «a core instrument for knowledge dissemination» and argued that the pursuit of knowledge should come through producing books that share learning among Kazakhs.

Many thinkers across history have reflected on the enduring value of books...

More than 1,300 glaciers in Tajikistan — accounting for about 60% of Central Asia’s water resources — have completely melted, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon said at the Astana summit, warning that ecosystem degradation is fueling abnormal dust storms that now last up to seven months a year.

Accelerating glacier loss threatens water security

According to Rahmon, more than 1,300 of the country’s roughly 14,000 glaciers have already disappeared. The process is accelerating, disrupting the regional water balance and increasing the risk of natural disasters across Central Asia.

«Up to...

A video circulating on social media shows a camel wandering through a trash-strewn zhailau (seasonal pasture) in the Mangystau region. Officials said plastic bags and bottles were blown from a nearby landfill and pledged to clean up the area as soon as possible.

The incident occurred in the village of Bayandy in the Munaily district, near a solid waste landfill.

The regional Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management said...

Kazakhstan has become one of the top three countries for the Russian messaging app Max outside of Russia. Users are actively downloading the app to stay in touch with relatives and friends in Russia.

According to Izvestia, Kazakhstan is among the top three countries by number of registrations, following Uzbekistan and Belarus. Currently, around 7 million foreign citizens use the messenger, 90% of whom are CIS residents.

Uzbekistan leads the way with 2.3 million users. Belarus ranks second, followed by Kazakhstan with 1.2 million registrations. Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan round out the top five.

Users outside of Russia make approximately...

According to Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, his country incurs high costs to maintain water resources, while neighboring states use them without compensation. Speaking at the Regional Environmental Summit (RES 2026) in Astana, he proposed new water distribution mechanisms under which recipient countries would pay either in fossil fuels or money.

Global warming and melting glaciers

As Japarov noted, Kyrgyzstan has been facing the growing impact of climate change, including a threefold increase in natural disasters over the past five years. By 2060, the country could lose up to 80% of its glaciers, a development he described as potentially catastrophic...

South Korean authorities have concluded that a mid-air collision between two fighter jets in 2021 occurred after pilots attempted to take photos and videos during a flight mission, the BBC reported.

The incident took place near the central city of Daegu, according to a report by the Board of Audit and Inspection. Both pilots survived without injuries, but the aircraft were damaged, resulting in repair costs of $596,000.

The report found that one pilot, who was flying the wingman aircraft, began taking photos with his personal mobile phone while returning to base. The lead aircraft’s pilot, aware of the...

On April 13, 2026, the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan was officially recognized as the largest museum of Islamic civilization in the world by Guinness World Records.

The ceremony was attended by Guinness World Records official representative Sheida Subashi, who presented the award to members of the Center’s Scientific Council, as well as to the architects, planners, designers and builders who contributed to the implementation of this large-scale project.

The key factor behind the Guinness World Records decision was the center’s size. The three-story, Oriental-style building is 161 meters long and 118 meters wide. Its dome is 65 meters...

Kazakhstan’s Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said the country will not supply oil to a refinery in Schwedt via the Druzhba pipeline in May.

«The Russian side claims it lacks the technical capability to pump Kazakhstan’s oil via the Druzhba pipeline to Germany. This is most likely due to recent attacks on Russian infrastructure,» he stated, adding that this was his assumption.

He said that oil transit to the Schwedt refinery is not planned for May. Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry later confirmed this in an official statement. Kazakhstan typically exports oil to Germany via the Atyrau-Samara pipeline...

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered a pointed critique of the global order during the Res 2026 Regional Environmental Summit in Astana.

Tokayev said the United Nations Charter should be treated as a single, comprehensive document — not a set of principles applied selectively, particularly in the context of military conflicts.

«The UN Charter is not a menu, and it cannot be approached by cherry-picking,» Tokayev said, using a metaphor to underscore his argument.

He emphasized that a selective approach to international law is especially dangerous in matters of war and peace. When countries...

South Korean police have asked prosecutors to request an arrest warrant for Bang Si-hyuk, founder of Hybe and the executive behind K-pop group BTS, over allegations of fraudulent trading linked to the company’s stock market debut, the BBC reported.

Authorities allege Bang misled investors in 2019 by suggesting that a public listing of Hybe was unlikely, while preparations for an initial public offering were already underway. The company was later listed on South Korea’s Kospi exchange in October 2020. Investigators say the actions resulted in approximately $136 million in gains.

Bang has denied the allegations and maintains that his...

Despite the continued dominance of the state in Uzbekistan’s banking sector, private players — particularly young digital banks — are expanding more rapidly. The gradual denationalization of the economy is also expected to revive the local stock market, which currently lacks attractive instruments for investors.

Assets of Uzbekistan’s credit institutions rose 20.5% by the end of 2025 to 937 trillion sums (about $77 billion). According to Kursiv Research, that equals 50.7% of the country’s GDP, up 0.1 percentage point year over year. Microfinance organizations grew 50%, and pawnshops expanded 34.6%, but their combined share remains small...