News

The explosion at the Kazzinc plant in Ust-Kamenogorsk on May 5, 2026, which killed two people, has again drawn attention to the company’s environmental and operational challenges. Kazakh analyst Rassul Rysmambetov, in comments to Kursiv.media, discussed the potential sale of Kazzinc to businessman Shakhmurat Mutalip (on photo) — and why, in his view, the country should be cautious about allowing foreign investor Glencore to exit.

Ownership structure and potential sale

Glencore has been Kazzinc’s largest shareholder since 1997 and currently owns 70.2% of the company. Another 29.8% is held by Tau-Ken Samruk...

American rapper Kanye West, also known as Ye, has officially announced his first performance in Georgia. The concert is part of the Ye Live Concert Tour.

The show is scheduled for June 12 in the heart of the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, at Dinamo Arena. The concert was confirmed by organizers from Starring Georgia, and the information also appeared on the artist’s official website.

Official ticket sales are scheduled to launch on May 11.

China has called for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened as soon as possible during talks between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi in Beijing, the BBC reported.

During the meeting — Araqchi’s first visit to China since the start of the Iran war — Wang emphasized that securing a lasting ceasefire remains an urgent priority and said Beijing is ready to support efforts to reduce tensions. He also stressed the need to restore safe navigation through the strategically important waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route, has become largely...

Drilling of a 3.5-kilometer-deep well is planned at the Beles block near Kumkol oil field — the largest in the Kyzylorda region — to confirm the potential for shale oil development at the site, KazMunayGas (KMG), a Samruk-Kazyna subsidiary, said in a press release.

“The next project of strategic importance is Beles, which is focused on a fundamentally new type of hydrocarbon for the region — shale oil. The Beles site is located near Kumkol, the region’s largest oil field. The project involves drilling a 3,500-meter-deep well with core sampling from source rocks for subsequent geochemical...

Kazakhstan’s service sector returned to solid growth in April, according to the latest Freedom Holding Corp. PMI, signaling a rebound in business activity at the start of the second quarter.

Surge in new business drives growth

The Freedom Holding Corp. PMI Business Activity Index rose to 53.9 in April, up from 49.2 in March, returning to expansion territory for the first time in three months. The reading points to a strong increase in service sector output, with output growing at its fastest pace in nine months and exceeding the long-term average.

The rebound was largely driven by a rise...

One year after his election, Pope Leo XIV has emerged as a more visible and assertive leader of the Catholic Church, expanding both his public engagement and international activity, according to Reuters.

The first U.S.-born pope maintained a relatively low profile during his early months in office but has recently taken a firmer stance on global issues. During an April tour of Africa, he spoke out against war, authoritarianism and violations of international law, warning that concentrated power and ongoing conflicts threaten global stability. Vatican observers say this shift reflects growing concern within the Church about the direction...

Last year, Turkey’s financial-sector indicators grew faster than inflation, signaling a stabilization of the country’s markets after authorities abandoned an unorthodox monetary policy framework. Amid the sector’s recovery, two major Kazakh players have expressed interest in Turkish financial institutions.

In mid-2023, the experiment with a monetary policy based on the belief that high interest rates cause inflation — rather than curb it — came to an end. The financial sector began a gradual recovery, and by the end of 2025, key indicators of Turkey’s banking sector — which accounts for 90% of financial system assets — outpaced inflation...

In the early hours of May 6, esports fans gathered at Astana Airport to welcome Danil «molodoy» Golubenko with his teammates from the Brazilian team FURIA, who will compete in the upcoming PGL Astana 2026.

The fans extended a warm welcome. Dozens of enthusiasts gathered to get autographs and take photos with their idols. Golubenko received an especially warm welcome, since he has already become one of the most recognized and beloved players for the local fan base.

In April, Kazakhstan’s manufacturing industry showed the first signs of stabilization. The latest data from the Freedom Holding Corp. Manufacturing PMI shows a slight improvement in market conditions. Despite the continued contraction in production, factories reported their first influx of new orders in four months.

The PMI remains negative

The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) remained below the 50.0 no-change mark in April, posting 48.9, up from 47.4 in March. This indicates that business conditions have continued to deteriorate for four consecutive months. However, the latest decline was modest and the slowest since January.

Companies report demand returning

On May 5, Uzbekistan Railways officially launched a new high-speed train connecting the capital, Tashkent, and the historic Silk Road city of Khiva. The rolling stock — named after Central Asian ruler and military commander Jaloliddin Manguberdi — was manufactured by South Korean Hyundai Rotem, a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Group that specializes in rail systems and defense solutions, the railway operator reported.

The train is capable of reaching speeds of 250 kilometers per hour, cutting the journey of 1,220 kilometers from 14 hours to 7.5 hours. The rolling stock consists of...

Demand for data centers — especially from artificial intelligence (AI) projects — is growing faster than energy infrastructure can keep up, according to Akashi Data Center PLC Chief Operating Officer (COO) Adil Bilyalov. He made the remarks during a panel discussion at GITEX, the region’s largest tech and AI event in Almaty.

As Bilyalov noted, the key issue today is not investor interest, but whether infrastructure can deliver the required capacity.

«Today, the main question is how to provide data centers with a stable, predictable energy supply, along with choosing the right locations,» he said.

American figure skater Alysa Liu has been named a global ambassador for the French fashion house Louis Vuitton, underscoring the brand’s continued focus on high-profile athletes.

A rising star in sport

At just 20, Liu has already made history. At the 2026 Winter Olympics, she won two gold medals in figure skating, becoming the first American woman in 24 years to claim Olympic gold in women’s singles.

A new U.S. wireless provider, Radian Mobile, is launching with a model rooted in Christian values and strict network-level content controls.

Network-level filtering by default

The company’s defining feature is content filtering that operates directly on the network and cannot be turned off. Pornographic content is fully blocked for all users — not as an optional parental control, but as a core part of the service.

Read also: Top muslim body launches Imam AI app.

Additionally, the network filters material related to gender identity and transgender topics. Unlike the...

The number of billionaires worldwide continues to rise, but a key shift is underway: Europe is strengthening its position and could narrow the gap with the U.S.

According to a report by Knight Frank, the global billionaire population is projected to reach 3,110 in 2026, up from 2,723 in 2021 — a 14% increase over five years.

Growth expected to accelerate

Analysts say the upward trend is likely to continue. By 2031, the number of billionaires could climb to 3,915 worldwide.

Europe emerges as a key driver

Europe is expected to see particularly strong growth, with...

Almaty International Airport, in collaboration with the Almaty Museum of Arts, turned the arrivals area into an art space. Now, travelers are welcomed into the city with masterpieces of Kazakhstani and world art rather than from passport control.

Reproductions of works by Kazakhstani and foreign artists from the museum collection have been set along the path in the arrivals area. The idea behind the project is to introduce city guests to local art before they leave the airport.

The adult entertainment sector has historically functioned as a laboratory for innovation, preceding mainstream adoption of technologies ranging from 15th-century printing to the emergence of home video in the late 1970s. Currently, The Economist reported, the industry is experiencing a monumental transition as artificial intelligence (AI) begins to replace human-centric production with algorithmically generated media.

Evolution of the digital smut economy

Until quite recently, “tube sites” and major studios dictated the market. However, the rise of platforms like OnlyFans — which generated over $1.4 billion in 2024 revenue — shifted focus toward individual creators. AI is...

The National Bank of Kazakhstan has launched sales of collectible silver coins dedicated to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Each coin is priced at 29,000 tenge ($62).

Design and specifications

The coin is made of 925 sterling silver with gilded elements and color printing. It has a face value of 1,000 tenge `($2) and a limited mintage of 1,500 pieces, all intended for the domestic market.

On the obverse, the flags of the host countries — Canada, the U.S. and Mexico — appear at the top. A globe featuring the continents is centered, with the FIFA...

Iranian company Golrang Industrial Group is planning to construct an oil extraction plant and a broiler poultry farm totaling around $120 million, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture reported.

«As part of efforts to attract foreign investors, an agreement has been reached with the Iranian Golrang Industrial Group to implement two major projects: the construction of an oil extraction plant and a broiler poultry farm… The total investment is estimated at $120 million,» the statement said.

The agreement was reached at the meeting between Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Agriculture Yermek Kenzhekhanuly and Golrang Industrial Group CEO Mehdi...

A routine landing turned into an unexpected incident when a United Airlines aircraft struck a truck while approaching Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday, the BBC reported.

The Boeing 767, arriving from Venice, Italy, clipped the vehicle and a nearby streetlight just before touching down. Despite the impact, the plane landed safely, and none of the 231 passengers and crew on board were injured.

The truck driver was less fortunate, sustaining minor injuries after shattered glass hit his arm and hand as the aircraft’s tire smashed through the truck’s window and windscreen.

Dashcam footage from the truck captured the...

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport has taken action following the latest flooding at Almaty International Airport. In early May, heavy rains again caused part of the terminal roof to give way, leading to significant flooding inside the passenger area.

Regulatory action and accountability

The Civil Aviation Committee of Kazakhstan held the airport’s management administratively liable for...

Italy and Azerbaijan have reaffirmed their partnership in the energy sector during Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit to Baku, highlighting the importance of stable alliances amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, Euronews reported.

The visit comes as Italy seeks to diversify its energy sources following disruptions linked to regional tensions, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking alongside Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Meloni said stronger cooperation was needed amid growing instability across the Middle East. She described relations between the two countries as a «certainty» and emphasized Azerbaijan’s role in supporting Italy’s energy security since Russia’s invasion...

Amsterdam became the world’s first capital to ban outdoor advertising of meat and fossil fuel-related goods, the BBC reported. The restrictions took effect on May 1.

Advertisements for burgers, gasoline cars and even air travel have been removed from billboards, public transport stops and subway stations. Authorities justify the move with environmental goals — the city aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 and reduce meat consumption in half.

Notably, meat advertising did not account for a large share of the market, at around 0.1%. For comparison, fossil fuel-related ads accounted for...

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have settled a legal dispute linked to the production of the 2024 film «It Ends with Us,» avoiding a trial scheduled for May, the BBC reported.

The case began in 2024 when Lively, who played a victim of domestic violence in an adaptation of the Colleen Hoover novel, accused Baldoni of harassment, sexual misconduct and organizing a smear campaign during filming.

Lively’s legal team also claimed that Baldoni and his studio sought to damage her reputation through the media and social media platforms.

Baldoni denied the claims and filed a counter-lawsuit, alleging defamation...

During an informal dinner in Yerevan, the Armenian capital, the leaders of France and Armenia gave an impromptu musical performance, the video of which spread on social media.

Fransa Cumhurbaşkanı Macron'un piano başında şarkı söylediği etkinlikte, Ermenistan Başbakanı Paşinyan bateri çaldı. pic.twitter.com/bR09Dk3HNj

— Güncel Haber (@Guncelhaber360) May 5, 2026

French President, Emmanuel Macron, sang the famous song «La Bohème,» and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan accompanied him on drums.

Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan also joined in, playing the piano. Together they performed a composition by the renowned French-Armenian singer-songwriter Charles Aznavour.

Emmanuel Macron...