News

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Health said alcohol consumption in harmful amounts has declined, while the number of people adopting a healthier lifestyle has increased. According to national surveys, more people in Kazakhstan are eating fruit and doing sports.

«A significant reduction in the consumption of alcohol in harmful amounts has been recorded. In 2015 the figure stood at 4.1%, falling to 1.6% in 2024,» the ministry’s press service said in a statement.

At the same time, the number of people participating in recreational sports is growing. The share of those who spend...

The term «bitch» is a linguistic shape-shifter, moving easily between references to animals and people, and applied to both women and men. Linguist Karen Stollznow notes that its widespread use in phrases like «boss bitch,» «perfect bitch» or «psycho bitch» has diluted any single, fixed definition.

Read also: How hip-hop is helping rural Kazakh students learn English.

For some, the word has been reclaimed and worn with pride. For others, it still lands as a sharp and deeply offensive insult.

From literal term to insult

Despite its modern edge, the word...

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has approved the principle of financial independence for the National Academy of Sciences, as well as national scientific and research organizations under the Cabinet, state agencies and universities.

According to the document, all these institutions will be granted the right to profit from scientific research, educational and consulting services, business, and other activities permitted by law.

The entities will also be encouraged to manage their income independently, using it to pay salaries and incentives and to invest in infrastructure development.

The document will take effect 10 days after its official publication. Meanwhile, the Cabinet is...

Lewis Hamilton, a British racing driver and seven-time Formula 1 champion, has fallen in love with American celebrity Kim Kardashian. The couple confirmed their romantic relationship on Instagram, USA Today reported.

The announcement came in a video titled «Tokyo Drift,» in which 41-year-old Hamilton is seen racing a red Ferrari F40 through the streets of Tokyo, where he arrived for the Japanese Grand Prix. At the end of the video, as the tire smoke clears, viewers can see Kardashian, who had been sitting in the passenger seat the entire time.

«That’s insane,» she says at...

Melvin Benn, Wireless Festival’s managing director, has defended the decision to include rapper Kanye West, also known as Ye, as a headliner in the festival’s program, the BBC reported.

West’s possible performance at the London festival in July has drawn criticism from British politicians, sponsors and Jewish organizations due to his past antisemitic and pro-Nazi remarks. These included releasing a song titled «Heil Hitler» and selling swastika-themed merchandise.

Benn acknowledged that West’s previous comments were offensive but said he believes in offering second chances, referring to West’s apologies. He stressed that the festival is providing a platform...

South Korea’s chief of staff will visit Kazakhstan and other oil-producing countries to negotiate raw material supplies. The country is suffering difficulties due to delays in oil transit through the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.

Kang Hoon-sik will arrive in Astana as a special representative of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung. His goal is to negotiate the supply of crude oil and naphtha. He will also visit Saudi Arabia and Oman to hold talks with government officials, oil companies, and vessel operators. The aim is to develop alternative oil supply routes.

South Korea depends on the...

Timofei, a popular Pallas’s cat at Moscow Zoo, remains without a breeding partner after multiple international zoos declined to provide a suitable mate, The Moscow Times reported.

To support healthy breeding and maintain genetic diversity, zoo officials have been searching for a genetically compatible female, according to zoo director Svetlana Akulova. However, several zoos across Europe and Asia have refused to cooperate, citing specific reasons.

Japan’s Higashiyama Zoo, for example, said its Pallas’s cats are currently on loan and cannot be relocated. The Warsaw Zoo declined to transfer its female cat, Jessie, citing her participation in the European Endangered...

TikTok has summarized the work in Kazakhstan in 2025 and revealed that some content items had to be removed due to violations. In total, the platform restricted access to over 5.5 million videos.

At the same time, the majority of these videos are blocked before users report them. According to the company, 99.9% of content is proactively identified and deleted and 98.5% of videos are removed within the first 24 hours after upload.

Similar figures are reported worldwide. In 2025, TikTok deleted more than 780 million videos that violated its regulations. The bulk of these were...

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) continues to help Kazakhstan attract private investment, diversify its economy and improve its infrastructure and financial systems, according to Lisa Kaestner, IFC director for Turkey, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

«Kazakhstan remains attractive for foreign investment due to its strategic location and resource base,» she told Kursiv.media, noting, however, that the state still plays a significant role in key sectors of the economy, accounting for around 40% of GDP.

Boosting infrastructure and connectivity

One of IFC’s main goals in Kazakhstan is to improve regional trade and connectivity, particularly through the Trans-Caspian...

On April 6, the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) launched trading in the currency pairs involving the Arab dirham, the exchange said in a statement.

In particular, since April 6, 2026, the official KZT/AED exchange rate has been set on KASE. However, market participants can trade both the AED/KZT pair and the USD/AED pair.

Trading is conducted with different settlement terms: same-day settlement (T+0, TOD); settlement on the next business day (T+1, TOM); and settlement two business days after the trade (T+2, SPT).

KASE expects the launch of the new instruments to boost liquidity in the currency market, expand market participants...

In 2025, Turkey moved from an «aggressive stabilization» phase to a more sustainable, long-term economic model. The country succeeded in easing extreme inflationary pressures, which peaked at 75.5% year over year in May 2024. However, inflation remains elevated, standing at 30.9% in December 2025, well above sustainable levels.

Moderate growth driven by services and construction

GDP grew by 3.6% year over year in 2025. Growth was supported primarily by the expansion of the services sector and continued strength in construction. The government is still rebuilding housing and infrastructure following the devastating 2023 earthquakes.

The services sector posted solid growth of...

As four NASA astronauts are traveling to the Moon for the first time in 50 years, photographers in Kazakhstan are capturing striking images of how the Moon appears from Earth — a vivid and colorful spectacle.

A pink Moon over Almaty

Dmitry Dotsenko, a photographer based in Almaty, captured the April full Moon rising over Shymbulak Peak. This full Moon is commonly known as the «Pink Moon» or «Easter Moon.» The name, however, does not describe its actual color; the Moon’s hue depends on atmospheric conditions.

In this case, the Moon appears...

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Healthcare reports that life expectancy in the country has reached 75.97 years — the highest level since independence. Despite this milestone, Kazakhstan still ranks outside the global top 100 and trails the leading country by nearly 11 years.

Where Kazakhstan stands globally

According to Worldometer, Kazakhstan ranks 116th worldwide in life expectancy at 75.97 years. The global average stands at 73.8 years, meaning Kazakhstan performs above average.

The leader remains Monaco, where life expectancy reaches 86.73 years.

Read also: The 20.5 million mark: Kazakhstan’s population growth shows no signs...

In February 2026, the mummified bodies of a woman and her father were discovered in the village of Maikaiyn, Pavlodar region. Authorities said the woman’s daughter and the man’s wife had been living in another part of the same house during that time.

Read also: The haunting case of a vanished family in western Kazakhstan.

Investigators are working to determine how long the bodies remained in the home and the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Criminal cases have been opened on charges of fraud and abuse of corpses. Forensic psychological and psychiatric...

Despite the body positivity movement — and society’s stated embrace of «natural» beauty — attractive people continue to achieve greater career success. Why does appearance remain an unspoken requirement for employers? And why hasn’t remote work reduced the pressure to look good?

Read also: Big boy summer: Why larger men are 2026’s biggest trend.

As Business Insider reports, corporate culture rarely acknowledges the role of appearance in career advancement. Still, numerous studies show that attractive people are more likely to be trusted, hired and promoted more quickly.

The rise of the...

A Hungarian national named Daniel was rescued from a life-threatening situation during a trip in Kazakhstan, as his journey took an unexpected turn and nearly ended in hypothermia on a deserted road, Polisia.kz reported. The incident occurred at the 231st kilometer of the Shetpe-Say-Otes highway near the Manat Pass.

Help at the Manat Pass

The lone traveler was spotted by highway patrol officers walking under heavy rain toward Aktau. Traveling on foot in this area is a risky venture, so Captains Yerbol Zhalgassov and Abish Taimanov pulled up immediately.

As it turned out, Daniel decided...

Cheng Li-wun, chair of Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, is set to travel to China this week, describing the visit as a «peace mission.» Meanwhile, Beijing is intensifying efforts to promote what it calls «reunification,» and it remains unclear whether Cheng will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, Reuters reported.

China, which considers Taiwan its territory, calls the island’s current government «separatists» and continues to mount military pressure in the region. In turn, the KMT is trying to ease tensions with its powerful neighbor. It has effectively delayed a government proposal for $40 billion in additional defense spending, a move...

Kazakhstan ranks first among Central Asian countries in per capita military spending. According to the 2026 Global Firepower findings cited by Energyprom, the figure stands at $288.10 per person annually, outpacing its regional neighbors.

By comparison, Turkmenistan spends $254.7 per capita, Uzbekistan $170, while Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan trail with $106 and $43.3, respectively.

Globally, military expenditures continue to rise. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reports that the world’s defense budget has surpassed $2.6 trillion, increasing steadily amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

When measured per capita, countries with a strong focus on defense top the ranking...

Ringo Starr, the 85-year-old former member of legendary British rock band The Beatles, has shared a surprisingly simple tip for staying energetic: eat more broccoli, Euronews reports.

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, he joked that many of his good qualities come down to the vegetable, adding his own twist to his famous phrase: «peace and love and broccoli.»

The vegetable is widely praised for being rich in calcium, vitamin K and fiber while remaining low in calories. These qualities support bone health, digestion and overall metabolism.

For many longtime Beatles fans, Starr’s advice may...

A video has gone viral showing a person in white socks and a white hoodie — not looking like a shepherd — walking into a body of water to help a foal reach the shore. According to the caption, the incident occurred along the Bayanaul-Pavlodar highway.

In the comment section, users praised the man’s actions and thanked him for his empathy.

“A herd grazing freely? Where are the shepherds? Bravo to the man! After all, an unfamiliar mare protecting her foal could easily kick. What a brave guy,” a Threads user commented.

Bioparque Buinzoo, a private zoo in Santiago, Chile, held an annual «Easter egg» hunt for its animals on Easter Sunday, April 5, The Associated Press reported.

The event serves both as entertainment for visitors and environmental enrichment for the animals, encouraging them to engage in natural hunting and foraging behavior.

The «Easter eggs» were packages decorated to look like eggs and filled with food appropriate to each species. They were also placed in ways designed to trigger natural behaviors. For instance, treats for felines were hung from tree branches to encourage climbing...

Chinese blogger Tao Mingxiu, known online as Tao Tao, has been awarded Kazakhstan’s Dostyk Order, 2nd Class, for promoting the country abroad.

The award was presented by Aida Balayeva, Kazakhstan’s deputy prime minister and minister of culture and information.

Tao Mingxiu received the honor for promoting Kazakhstan in the Chinese media space, showcasing its cultural heritage and tourism potential, and strengthening humanitarian ties between Kazakhstan and China.

Read also: China’s panda diplomacy meets its Kazakh twin — ‘Saiga diplomacy.’

Balayeva highlighted the significance of the blogger’s work, saying the...

Kazakhstan has delivered its first batch of halal-certified products to Saudi Arabia after receiving official accreditation, becoming the first country in Central Asia to obtain such certification from the kingdom.

Access to a demanding market

Saudi Arabia is one of the most stringent markets for halal products, according to KazStandard. Gaining certification opens the door not only to the Saudi market but also to broader opportunities across the Persian Gulf region.

Read also: How Ramadan is reshaping global retail.

In November 2025, the Kazakhstan Institute of Standardization and Metrology...

Kyrgyz authorities are considering putting the construction of a nuclear power plant to a nationwide referendum, according to local media reports.

Preparatory phase underway

Bishkek is not yet launching the project itself but is focusing on preliminary steps, including infrastructure development and workforce training.

Read also: Why Russia’s Rosatom is the undisputed pick for Kazakhstan’s first nuclear plant.

Negotiations are ongoing with Rosatom on building necessary infrastructure and preparing specialists. The cabinet said only after these discussions are completed will the issue of actual construction be considered.

Public vote planned

Authorities...