News

The number of remote workers in Kazakhstan declined in the first quarter of 2026, according to new data from the Bureau of National Statistics (BNS), as most companies continued pushing employees back to the office.

Read also: Why Kazakhstan’s major bank rejects remote work.

Of Kazakhstan’s 9.39 million employed residents, only 28,821 people continue to work remotely — just 0.3% of the country’s workforce. By comparison, in the first quarter of 2025, the number of remote workers stood at 45,901, or 0.5% of all employed people.

Mangystau leads in remote work

Kazakh director Aisultan Seitov found himself at the center of an online debate after posting a photo taken in Paris. In the image, he poses near the Eiffel Tower beside a «Kazakhstan» sign left on the observation deck.

Social media reactions split users

The photo sparked heated discussion on Threads. Some users mocked the improvised Paris «attraction,» while others criticized tourists for vandalism.

«It doesn’t measure up to Baiterek,» Seitov captioned the photo, referring to Astana’s iconic Baiterek monument.

In the comments, some users joked that «Paris is already ours...

The world’s leading It-girl, supermodel and Rhode founder Hailey Bieber has once again proven why her style commands global attention. Bieber is the face of Victoria’s Secret’s sultry new advertising campaign, which has already taken social media by storm.

New campaign draws attention online

The daring, atmospheric campaign was shot by renowned photographer Zoey Grossman. Through her lens, Bieber appears in a series of relaxed yet provocative looks that highlight the collection’s minimalist aesthetic.

Not all recent bear-related news — whether from Kazakhstan or abroad — has been alarming.

Some stories are simply heartwarming. One such example comes from southern Kazakhstan, where Adilet Rakhmetolla shared a video filmed in Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve showing a young bear in its natural habitat.

The footage, captured by drone, shows the bear munching on rhubarb stalks, playing in the grass and, at one point, appearing to notice the camera filming overhead. Rakhmetolla could be heard expressing excitement as the scene unfolded.

Manuel Neuer, Bayern Munich’s goalkeeper, was included in Germany’s national team squad for the 2026 World Cup, which is set to take place in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

The national team squad was announced by manager Julian Nagelsmann. The roster includes 26 players, with Joshua Kimmich appointed captain.

The upcoming tournament will be the fifth World Cup of Manuel Neuer’s career. Previously, he played in the 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments. In the 2014 World Cup final, Germany defeated Argentina 1-0.

The German Football Association noted that Neuer is one of the most experienced...

Polymet Solutions Corporation LLP, a Kazakhstani manufacturer of rubber, rubber-metal and steel linings made from chromium-molybdenum alloy, has launched construction of a new foundry in the Karaganda region.

With total investments exceeding $23 million, the project is expected to reach full operational capacity by 2029. Once completed, the facility will be capable of producing up to 10,000 tons of steel linings, grinding balls and other products used in the mining, metallurgical and mechanical engineering industries.

According to Yermek Alpysov, deputy governor of the Karaganda region, the project is expected to become one of the region’s most important industrial facilities. Authorities...

Another performance from BTS’s Arirang World Tour is set to receive a global live cinema screening. BigHit Music announced that the Busan concert on June 13 will also be broadcast in cinemas worldwide, following earlier live viewing events in Goyang and Tokyo.

Notably, the event falls on the date coinciding with BTS’s debut, making the performance even more special. According to the official screening website, several regions may experience delayed viewing due to time zone differences. Ticket sales are scheduled to launch on May 28.

According to...

Kazakhstan is considering allowing foreigners to purchase certain types of land in the city of Alatau, according to Vice Minister of Agriculture Azat Sultanov.

The government confirmed the possibility that foreigners and stateless persons may be able to acquire land plots in Alatau for the construction of industrial facilities, casinos and other commercial projects.

«We know that there were such cases, in which foreigners were offered to buy land around Alatau and Konayev. However, the law prohibits foreigners and stateless persons from owning, acquiring or operating agricultural land. In this case, we are talking about nonagricultural...

San Francisco has launched a new AI system aimed at reducing collisions between ships and whales in the Bay Area, one of the busiest waterways in North America, The Associated Press reported.  

The network, known as WhaleSpotter, uses thermal cameras and AI technology to monitor whale activity around the clock and alert mariners when whales are nearby. The effort comes amid rising gray whale deaths in the region each year.

According to marine researchers, at least 21 gray whales were found dead in the greater Bay Area last year, with many deaths linked to ship strikes. Scientists say...

The stock performance of Kazatomprom, the world’s largest uranium producer, has recently raised concerns among investors as shares in the national company continue to decline.

According to stock exchange data, Kazatomprom shares fell to 32,790 tenge (approx. $70) during the afternoon trading session at 12:12 p.m. on April 21.

Shares post steep losses

Recent exchange data shows a sharp drop in the company’s share price over a short period:

The downturn intensified after a statement from international financial giant JPMorgan, which downgraded its recommendation...

Phone scammers made an unusual video call to a senior resident from Talgar, Kazakhstan. A fraudster appeared on camera using a face resembling international action star Jackie Chan.

The victim said the scheme began with a call allegedly from an outpatient clinic. Unknown individuals told him he needed to undergo a medical examination and asked him to provide an SMS code in order to receive an appointment ticket.

«Today I received a phone call from fraudsters claiming to be from an outpatient clinic. They did not specify which one. They told me...

A severe heat wave sweeping across northern India has disrupted daily life, forcing many people to stay indoors as temperatures continue to soar, The Associated Press reported.

In New Delhi, temperatures were expected to reach around 45 degrees Celsius, while parts of Uttar Pradesh recorded highs of 48.2 Celcius earlier this week.

The India Meteorological Department warned that the extreme conditions would likely continue across several northern regions in the coming days. Officials advised residents to avoid outdoor activities during peak afternoon hours and take precautions against heat-related illnesses.

In several cities and towns, roads and markets have emptied...

An Indian national and final-year student at Karaganda Medical University died after falling from a fifth-floor dormitory window. According to police, the investigation into the death has been completed, and all necessary investigative procedures and forensic examinations have been carried out.

«A pre-trial investigation was launched. As part of the investigation, the full range of necessary investigative measures was carried out. Based on the findings of the investigation, the collected materials and the conclusions of forensic examinations, the criminal case was closed in accordance with the law,» the press service of the Police Department of the...

A debate over food safety at restaurants across Kazakhstan has erupted on social media after a recent podcast by Timur Balymbetov reignited public concern.

In the podcast, activist Sergei Snegirev and blogger Temirlan Tospayev alleged that some restaurants in Astana use dog meat, and that certain well-known establishments allegedly serve ground dog meat mixed with other meats.

Social media backlash grows

The claims triggered a wave of reactions online, with users recalling previous incidents and expressing outrage that those responsible often receive only minor fines while businesses continue operating.

One of the most widely discussed posts came...

Compared with the U.S., Canada and Europe, Kazakhstan remains among the countries with the lowest household debt burdens.

Global household debt continues to rise, but Kazakhstan’s level remains relatively low by international standards.

Read also: Kazakhstan’s external debt in 2025 and budget for 2026 visualized.

According to data from the Institute of International Finance for the first quarter of 2026, Switzerland has become the world leader in per capita household debt. On average, each resident in the country carries nearly $150,000 in household debt.

Analysts attribute this to features...

Spanish investors are considering launching a large meat project in Kazakhstan, which would involve hundreds of jobs and tens of thousands of head of cattle.

The project is valued at €132 million. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture, the initiative is planned to be jointly implemented with the Kazakh company Big Farm.

The project is planned for the Yereymentau district in the Akmola region. It implies establishing a vertically integrated meat production complex with the central focus on beef cattle farming and Angus cattle breeding.

The livestock is expected to reach 20,000 head, according to the...

Dastan Bekeshev, a member of Kyrgyzstan’s parliament, described a case in which a Kyrgyz citizen discovered several companies in Kazakhstan registered in her name with multimillion-dollar debts, 24.kg reported.

According to Bekeshev, the case involves Zarina Rakhmatova, a podiatrist from Bishkek. In late April, she traveled to Almaty, where she encountered unexpected issues while crossing the border.

Border guards allowed Rakhmatova to enter Kazakhstan but informed her that a so-called «red flag» appeared in the database, the lawmaker said.

Read also: Chile connection: How Kazakhs lost millions to a crypto pyramid.

A study published in the journal Nature Communications by physicians at a hospital in Houston, U.S., examines why chemotherapy is sometimes ineffective in cancer treatment.

Researchers found that when tumor cells die, they can release a signaling molecule that prompts the immune system to protect cancer cells rather than attack them.

According to the study, the commonly used chemotherapy drug gemcitabine can, in some cases, trigger pyroptosis — a form of inflammatory cell death in which cancer cells rupture and release the IL-1α molecule. This compound then migrates to the bone marrow and reprograms immune activity...

The Portugal national football team has announced its squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Cristiano Ronaldo, the 41-year-old striker for Al Nassr FC, was included in the final roster.

The 2026 tournament will mark Ronaldo’s sixth World Cup appearance. He made his World Cup debut in Germany in 2006 and has since competed in the 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

The Big Blue Farms company, founded by Omani Princess Sayyida Sariya Al Said, is set to invest in a shrimp farming project in Kazakhstan valued at around $50 million, according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture. The project is expected to produce 5,300 tons of shrimp annually. Part of the output is intended for export.

A memorandum for an investment project to establish a modern shrimp farming facility in Kazakhstan was signed at the Fisheries Committee. The investor side was represented by Big Blue Farms board member Marcia Favale, while the Fisheries Committee was represented by Chairman...

A New York woman died after falling into an uncovered manhole on a street in Midtown Manhattan, The Associated Press reported.

The incident happened late Monday near the intersection of Fifth Avenue and East 52nd Street. According to police, 56-year-old Donike Gocaj fell into the hole shortly after parking her car next to it in an area located near luxury stores and several blocks from Trump Tower. Firefighters pulled her out, but she was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

The manhole cover was dislodged by a multi-axle truck about 12 minutes before the accident, Con Edison, a big...

Around 48,000 workers at Samsung Electronics are expected to begin an 18-day strike on Thursday after negotiations over bonus payments failed to produce an agreement, Reuters reported.

Talks resumed on Wednesday under mediation by South Korea’s labor minister, Kim Young-hoon, raising hopes for a possible compromise. However, union representatives said one unresolved issue prevented a final deal.

Union leader Choi Seung-ho said the union accepted the latest proposal from the National Labor Relations Commission, but management had not agreed to all the union’s demands. He added that negotiations would continue during the strike.

Samsung said the union’s demands were...

A brown bear attempted to break into a guest house where tourists were staying in Zhongar-Alatau National Park. Kursiv LifeStyle learned the details.

The incident occurred on May 9 in Attapkan Gorge; however, representatives of the national park have only now provided comment. The footage shows a steel door crushed by the animal in an attempt to enter the house. No people were injured.

The park administration...

Japan is facing a widespread allergy problem linked to a post-World War Two reforestation policy that reshaped much of the country’s landscape, the BBC reported.

During the war, large areas of forest around major cities were cleared, as the country relied on wood for energy and construction materials. To quickly restore woodland and cope with the increased risk of landslides and soil erosion, Japan decided after the war to plant mainly two fast-growing tree species — Japanese cedar (sugi) and Japanese cypress (hinoki). Today, these plantations cover around a fifth of Japan’s land area.

Containing almost no wildlife, these...