News

The driverless taxi project is set to kick off in Astana in 2026. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, the Ministry of Transport, the city governor’s office and the company inDrive have signed a memorandum to begin work on the initiative.

At the first stage, the parties plan to create a testing ground and a so-called regulatory sandbox to address legislative issues and assess the city’s infrastructure readiness. The initial phase is scheduled for early 2026.

The preliminary route will run from Astana International Airport to Abu Dhabi Plaza and will be served by vehicles already in use...

Rumors about a «Pretty Woman» sequel have surfaced online after fake posters supposedly promoting the film’s second part on Netflix appeared on the internet, the Daily Mail reported.

It later turned out to be fake, as there was no official announcement.

«Pretty Woman” depicts a romance between the financial tycoon Edward Lewis and a prostitute, Vivienne. The couple meet each other when Lewis gets lost while driving through the city at night and asks Vivienne for directions. Later, he hires her to be his escort for business events and eventually falls in love with her.

The film starred Richard...

A drone delivery project is set to be launched in Almaty. The Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development has signed a first-of-its-kind memorandum in Kazakhstan with Freedom Lifestyle on the development of drone delivery services.

The document outlines the joint launch of pilot projects and testing of unmanned couriers in real urban conditions. The focus is on the delivery of food, everyday goods and medicines, emphasizing safety and convenience for residents.

Freedom Lifestyle is set to handle the organization and partial funding of the project, as well as the integration of drone delivery into its...

A Kyrgyz blogger known as Akuma has been held accountable for posting a doctored photo on Threads in which she appears to be embracing President Sadyr Japarov.

In the image, the blogger depicts Japarov as «her boyfriend,» caressing his face, while the president appears to be holding her by the thigh in an intimate manner. Authorities later determined that the photo had been digitally manipulated.

Court imposes fine

A court in Kyrgyzstan ruled that the blogger violated the law by publishing the fake image and imposed a fine of 5,500 soms, or about $60.

Kazakhstan’s National Bank has approved the launch of three pilot projects involving digital assets, including a pilot that would allow cryptocurrency payments via QR codes, the regulator’s press office said.

Three areas selected for testing

According to the National Bank, the pilot projects will focus on three key areas:

The regulator did not provide a timeline or additional details on how or when the pilot projects will be implemented.

Industry...

Residents of the Kostanay region, in northern Kazakhstan, helped make the dream of a young fan of Dimash Qudaibergen from Mexico come true. Kursiv LifeStyle covers how a Kazakh dombra — a two-stringed plucked musical instrument central to Kazakhstan’s folk music — set off on a 11,000-kilometer journey.

Writer Abylai Maudan said that following the release of his book Daididau, the mother of a teenager from Mexico reached out to him. The young fan of Dimash was inspired by the works of the Kazakh singer and wanted to learn to play the...

If you thought you’d seen everything in the world of motorhomes and campers, Zenith may prove you wrong. This $5 million, two-story palace on wheels combines luxury, cutting-edge technology and 115 square meters of living space. The project was developed by former race car driver Michael Andretti and his wife Jody, according to Autoevolution.

History and uniqueness

Zenith was commissioned in 2020 as an upgraded version of an older motorhome for the IndyCar racing season. The project was developed by Andretti in collaboration with the Bouchard Design Collective. The trailer is currently owned by TWG Global, a...

In recent years, Kazakhstan has emerged as one of Eurasia’s key transit hubs for high-technology goods. Alongside rising trade volumes, however, new risks have intensified: counterfeit components, opaque origins, and supply-chain disruptions. As a result, the authenticity of electronic components is no longer a routine operational issue – it has become a matter of technological and industrial security.

The rapid growth of high-tech transit flows through Central Asia has pushed the problem of component authenticity to the forefront. Counterfeits, fragmented logistics, and limited traceability are transforming electronic component supply chains into a critical risk domain. An industry-level analysis of these...

Cryptocurrencies cannot be used to pay for goods and services in Kazakhstan, according to Madina Abylkassymova, head of the Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market, who spoke at a recent parliamentary hearing.

Her comments came as Kazakhstan’s Senate reviewed a new law on banks and banking activities that introduces formal regulation of digital financial assets, including cryptocurrencies.

Crypto allowed for investment, not spending

«For the first time in Kazakhstan, we will allow the creation of cryptocurrency exchange points, which will be regulated by the National Bank,» Abylkassymova said. «The use...

On Dec. 29, one of South Korea’s the largest restaurant franchise groups, Genesis BBQ, which specializes primarily in fried chicken, announced it had signed a master franchise agreement with Kazakhstan-based Restopark KZ LLP, Yonhap reported, citing the company’s press release.

The development marks the company’s entry into the Central Asian market, with further plans to expand to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Under the agreement, the franchisee is authorized to open and operate outlets and to grant subfranchise rights to other parties.

The franchise is reportedly expected to cover Almaty and other major cities...

Cristiano Ronaldo’s remark at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai — that if he avoids injury and continues playing, «Inshaallah,» he will score 1,000 career goals — sparked widespread discussion among fans.

Following the comment, some social media users began to speculate about whether Ronaldo had converted to Islam. However, neither the player nor his representatives have made any official statement regarding his religious beliefs.

Honored at Globe Soccer Awards

The Al-Nassr striker was named the Best Middle East Player at the Globe Soccer Awards, recognizing his impact since joining the Saudi Pro League club. While...

To celebrate the New Year — a major holiday in Kazakhstan — residents and local authorities usually decorate homes and public spaces with festive lights and evergreen trees. In Ust-Kamenogorsk, in eastern Kazakhstan, they went a step further by organizing a dog parade.

On Dec. 27, the Pet Dog New Year festival was held on the new Ulba embankment, according to YK-News.kz. More than 50 costumed dogs, accompanied by their owners, took part in the event.

The parade featured both purebred dogs and mixed breeds adopted from city shelters. Entire families attended, and some guests even traveled from other...

The husband and mother-in-law of former Kazakh judge Aigul Sailybayeva, who was found dead in Germany, have been detained in Moscow, according to her family and legal representatives.

The detentions were confirmed by lawyer Murat Adam and Sailybayeva’s brother, Kanat Sailybayev.

Detentions reported on Dec. 23

According to the sources, Alexander Dontsov, Sailybayeva’s husband, and Natalia Dontsova, her mother-in-law, were taken into custody on Dec. 23, 2025.

Authorities are now considering whether the two could be extradited to Kazakhstan. Legal experts note that the process could be lengthy due to diplomatic considerations and the fact that the...

A season’s greetings video by London’s Chelsea FC went viral on Instagram. Uploaded to the official social media page, it achieved millions of views and more than 200,000 likes within 24 hours.

In the video, footballers take turns congratulating fans, wishing them a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and warm celebrations among their loved ones. The formula of short personal addresses resonated with Chelsea enthusiasts all over the world.

Over the past four decades, deer numbers in the U.K. have increased sharply, creating growing challenges for farmers, drivers, landowners and conservationists. The situation worsened after the COVID-19 pandemic, when culling levels fell significantly, according to the BBC.

Although exact figures remain uncertain, estimates from the Forestry Commission and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) suggest Britain’s deer population may now be around two million — a steep rise from roughly 450,000 in the 1970s.

The expanding population has contributed to an increase in vehicle collisions, crop losses, woodland damage and pressure on natural ecosystems. Although...

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has published an updated edition of its «worst of the worst» list of foreign residents arrested for serious crimes and immigration violations. Three nationals of Kazakhstan are included in the list.

According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Zhafar Dadayev was arrested in Brookwood, Alabama, and charged with assault and receiving stolen property.

Islomdin Iskandarov was arrested in Tampa, Florida, and charged with larceny.

Yury Korotkikh was arrested in Oregon City, Oregon, on a weapons-related offense.

ICE regularly releases the list to inform the public. It includes foreign nationals...

Internet users have found new favorites in Uralsk, a city in western Kazakhstan, where a group of stray animals has become an unexpected local sensation.

Unlikely friendship spotted near shopping center

Users on the social media platform Threads drew attention to an unusual pair — a young cat and a dog — frequently seen near the Shkolnik shopping center. According to the original post, the two animals are almost always together and rarely leave each other’s side.

Japan has approved its largest-ever defense budget, allocating more than ¥9 trillion ($58 billion) for the next fiscal year. The figure represents a 9.4% increase from the current period and marks the fourth year of Japan’s five-year plan to raise defense spending to 2% of GDP, according to The Guardian.

The new budget prioritizes counterstrike capabilities and coastal defenses, with investments in surface-to-ship missiles and unmanned systems. As part of the plan, Japan will spend about ¥100 billion to deploy air, surface and underwater drones for surveillance and coastal protection. Authorities say the program, known as «Shield,» is expected...

A Lufthansa-operated flight made an emergency landing at Almaty International Airport after a passenger fell ill, Qazinform reported, citing the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan.

LH 0722, en route from Munich to Beijing, made an emergency landing after the passenger lost consciousness during the flight.

The airport’s medical service and the city’s ambulance crew promptly responded, but it was determined that the man had died while in the air.

The plane was refueled in Almaty and departed for Beijing at 7:56 a.m. local time.

The police press service stated that a criminal case has been opened. The...

A newly released episode from the second volume of «Stranger Things» Season 5 includes a tense, emotional sequence centered on fan-favorite characters Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers, Daily Mail reported. Facing what appears to be a life-or-death situation, the pair share a brutally honest exchange that quickly sparked speculation online about a possible engagement.

That assumption was later addressed by the show’s creators, who said the moment was never meant to signal an engagement but rather to reveal the couple’s unresolved tensions.

Confessions and un-proposal

During the scene, Nancy admits she dislikes the band The Clash. Jonathan counters...

South Korean actress Kim Ji‑eun has been spotted in Almaty and has already been sharing her impressions on social media. On Instagram, she posted a set of photos taken in the winter mountains, presumably at Shymbulak Resort.

The post went viral among Kazakhstani users, who are actively welcoming Kim and sharing positive reactions to her arrival in Kazakhstan.

The K-drama actress is best known for her role...

A group calling itself Anna’s Archive claims it has copied a large portion of Spotify’s music catalog and compiled what it describes as the largest open music database, totaling about 86 million songs.

The group says the archive contains nearly 300 terabytes of data.

Scope of the collection

According to the group, the archive includes music from more than 15 million artists and about 58 million albums. Members say they plan to release the tracks gradually for public access, beginning with the most popular titles.

Anna’s Archive estimates that the 86 million tracks account for about...

As people around the world enjoyed their Christmas trees decorated with lights and garlands, the universe appears to be joining in the festive spirit.

Scientists at NASA have released a stunning image of the star cluster NGC 2264, nicknamed the «Christmas Tree» because of its striking shape and glowing lights.

The image shows a scattering of young stars shining like garlands, while the surrounding clouds of gas and dust resemble soft, fluffy branches. The result looks like a giant Christmas tree carefully decorated deep within the Milky Way.

These young stars are true «cosmic teenagers» — energetic, unpredictable and...

Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva announced that a new Tax Code will authorize inspections of organizations that receive foreign funding.

Inspections to begin in 2026

Starting Jan. 1, 2026, tax authorities will be permitted to conduct inspections of organizations receiving international funding. The inspections are intended to verify how funds are spent and whether recipients are properly paying taxes to the state budget, Balayeva said.

According to the minister, the measure is aimed at increasing transparency in the activities of non-governmental organizations and individuals that receive funding from foreign...