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Domestic manufacturers in Kazakhstan are facing a sharp decline in demand as Chinese online marketplaces gain market share, according to Inna Apenko, founder of local brands Mimioriki and Global Nomads.

Read also: Chinese e-commerce giants Temu and Pinduoduo expanding partnerships with Kazakhstan.

Speaking during a discussion on the impact of tax reforms, Apenko — who also serves as vice president of the Light Industry Association of Kazakhstan — said the challenges began even before recent policy changes.

She pointed to a noticeable drop in retail demand, driven by both...

This year marks 38 years since the revival of Nauryz, the traditional spring equinox holiday in Kazakhstan. Deeply rooted in the country’s cultural identity, the celebration symbolizes renewal, unity and the arrival of spring. Yet for much of the 20th century, it was absent from public life — returning only in the final years of the Soviet era, on the eve of independence.

From recognition to repression

Nauryz was first recognized as an official holiday on March 20, 1920, following a decree signed by Turar Ryskulov, then chairman of the Executive Committee of the...

When spring arrives and the Nauryz holiday — marking the spring equinox — approaches, one song is almost guaranteed to be heard in every Kazakh home: «Nauryz Duman.»

Performed by renowned Kazakh singer Roza Rymbayeva, the song has become a defining symbol of the national celebration. But its origins include surprising details that many listeners may not know.

Read also: Samal: Dimash captures a gentle breeze of love in his latest song.

In a recent interview with the Zamandas podcast, Rymbayeva shared how the song was created — and...

Work on launching the long-anticipated light rail transit (LRT) line in Astana continue to attract attention from both capital residents and social media users. Kursiv LifeStyle takes a look at how a video of rolling stock turned into a source of jokes about barge haulers and Ancient Egypt.

A video showing several workers in uniform pulling two LRT cars spread across social media. The footage shows cars being moved by hand using a rope. It is unclear exactly why the train had to be pulled in this way.

@janbolat158

Chuck Norris, a martial arts champion, action film star and pop culture icon known for his role in the TV series «Walker, Texas Ranger,» has died at age 86, CNN reported.

Medical emergency in Hawaii

Norris experienced a medical emergency Thursday while in Hawaii, media reports said. Further details about the incident were not immediately disclosed. His family expressed gratitude for the support and prayers he received during his hospitalization.

Family remembers his legacy

In a statement shared Friday on Instagram and Facebook, the family described Norris as a man guided by faith, purpose and devotion...

Many job seekers view salary negotiations as an uncomfortable exercise in haggling — something they must either push for or defend against. In reality, the most successful outcomes are built on a win-win approach. When negotiations are framed as a partnership rather than a competition, both sides benefit.

Read also: How to think like a millionaire: A guide to handling wealth.

Employers gain more than just a filled role — they secure a motivated employee whose goals align with the company’s objectives.

How to answer the salary expectations question

Recruiters often ask...

On March 20, Air Astana officially announced a collaboration with Sandyk, a restaurant serving authentic Kazakh cuisine, unveiling a new in-flight menu dedicated to the Nauryz holiday.

Among the guests at the event, hosted by actor Sanjar Madi in Almaty, were prominent Kazakh journalists Aigul Mukei and Dina Tolepbergen; popular bloggers Aizhuldyz Adaibekova and her husband, Saken Kagarov; Artur Askaruly; and interviewer Timur Balymbetov and his wife, among others.

Guests were welcomed by Air Astana CEO Peter Foster and Ibrahim Canliel, who will assume the role of the group’s CEO on April 1. A key highlight of the evening was...

According to the latest World Happiness Report, Kazakhstan placed 33rd among 147 surveyed countries, climbing 10 notches from last year and marking its best result to date. The report was conducted by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

Finland topped the ranking for the ninth consecutive year, followed by other Nordic countries — Iceland in second place and Denmark in third. The top 10 then includes Costa Rica (4th), Sweden (5th), Norway (6th), the Netherlands (7th), Israel (8th...

The International Energy Agency (IEA) outlined a set of measures to ease pressure on consumers from rising energy prices, including working from home and limiting air travel, Reuters reported.

The recommendations come amid a surge in global energy costs linked to the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, which has raised concerns about inflation worldwide.

According to the IEA, the proposed steps are actions that governments, businesses and households can take to reduce oil demand and help offset the impact of higher prices. Suggested measures include working remotely where possible, lowering highway speed limits, and choosing less fuel-intensive forms of...

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump compared recent American strikes on Iran to Japan’s 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Washington, Reuters reported.

At the White House, Trump highlighted the importance of surprise in military strategy and said Japan would understand, referring to the attack that brought the U.S. into World War II. He made the remarks after being asked why allies were not informed in advance of the strikes on Iran.

Takaichi, who sat next to Trump during the meeting, appeared visibly uncomfortable as he made the comparison. The...

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s teenage daughter was shown driving a tank during a public inspection, according to Reuters.

The girl, believed to be about 13 years old and often called Kim Ju Ae, was photographed looking out of the tank’s driver’s hatch.

She has appeared with her father more often in recent months, leading some observers to speculate that she may be getting prepared for a future leadership role. North Korean authorities have not officially confirmed her name or age.

Earlier in March, she took part in military activities, such as aiming a rifle at...

The World Boxing Executive Board approved the applications of nine national boxing federations to join the organization. Now, 168 countries hold membership, including Russia and Belarus, accepted under particular conditions.

World Boxing, headed by Gennadiy Golovkin, officially confirmed the endorsement of new members from Europe, Africa, and Oceania.

«The Executive Board of World Boxing has endorsed nine new applications to join the organization from the National Federations for boxing in Belarus, Cyprus, Mozambique, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Tanzania, Tonga and Zambia. The endorsements mean that World Boxing now has 168 member...

Significant shifts have occurred in the leading causes of death in Kazakhstan, according to the Bureau of National Statistics. Deaths from diseases of the nervous system now exceed those caused by cancer.

Circulatory diseases remain No. 1

In 2025, diseases of the circulatory system remained the leading cause of death, accounting for 22.5% of all fatalities.

Diseases of the nervous system ranked second, making up 17.8% of deaths.

Cancer falls to third place

Neoplasms, or cancer — traditionally considered one of the most serious health threats — ranked third, accounting for...

Kazakhstani travel content creator Dastan Mukhamedrakhim came into the spotlight of the global film industry, as Tom Holland, star of the «Spider-Man» film series, noticed and liked his post.

Mukhamedrakhim became an official partner of Sony Pictures and Marvel in a global promotional campaign for the new film «Spider-Man: Brand New Day.» The culmination of the collaboration was Tom Holland’s personal video message.

Prior to the release...

An Astana resident allegedly promised 13 people a Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca but instead collected money under false pretenses, according to Polisia.kz.

Authorities said the suspect, who worked for a travel company, claimed he would arrange visas and airline tickets. However, he never organized the trip.

Read also: A pilgrimage on wheels: Kazakh man cycles 8,000 km to Medina.

Police have launched a pretrial investigation and detained the suspect, a 27-year-old travel company employee.

«Currently, 13 incidents have been identified. The total financial damage amounts to...

On March 20, BTS, the globally recognized K-pop band, returned with the long-anticipated album «Arirang,» announced on Jan. 4, marking the group’s first full-length album since «Be» was released in 2020.

The album’s 14 tracks, led by the single «SWIM,» are already available on major streaming services, including Apple Music and Spotify. Prominent producers were involved in the album’s production, including Diplo, Kevin Parker of Tame Impala, Mike WiLL Made-It and Ryan Tedder.

However, the hype is set to continue on March 21 with the BTS The Comeback...

Kazakhstan is seeing its largest influx of immigrants from China in eight years. In 2025, about 2,600 people from China relocated to the country for permanent residence, a 29% increase year-on-year, according to the DataHub Telegram channel, citing the Bureau of National Statistics.

Ethnic Kazakhs dominate arrivals

Nearly all, about 99%, of those arriving from China are ethnic Kazakhs. However, most are choosing not to apply for official «kandas» status.

Read also: High demand for Kazakhstani citizenship after Ukraine war: What’s the cost?

That designation, which is intended for ethnic Kazakh...

A member of Kazakhstan’s lower house of Parliament, Abutalip Mutali, has raised concerns about the environmental impact of packaging used by large online marketplaces. He outlined the issue in a parliamentary inquiry addressed to Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov.

Read also: E-commerce marketplaces begin to phase out sellers.

Mutali said the growing volume of deliveries has led to increased use of non-eco-friendly materials, creating additional strain on the environment.

Rising waste and emissions

According to the lawmaker, large amounts of plastic, film and cardboard used in packaging are often discarded immediately after delivery, contributing...

Halyk Bank, Kazakhstan’s largest bank by assets, has not completed its planned acquisition of a 49% stake in Uzbek payment service Click within the expected timeframe, according to materials prepared for the bank’s upcoming annual general meeting of shareholders scheduled for April 23.

Deal terms and timeline

The bank announced the transaction in summer 2025 as part of its expansion into Uzbekistan’s financial sector. The agreement included plans for Halyk Bank to acquire a 49% stake in Click for $176.4 million, while also selling a 49% stake in its Uzbek subsidiary, Tenge Bank, to...

Scientists in Kazakhstan are working on a low-cost dietary supplement derived from tomatoes, aimed at supporting cancer prevention. The project also incorporates pumpkin seed powder and safflower oil, according to the Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture.

The research is being conducted by the Kazakh Research Institute of Processing and Food Industry.

Focus on affordability and prevention

The team’s goal is to produce an accessible supplement with strong antioxidant properties that may help reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Read also: Can we truly end cancer as we know it?

An individual was arrested after entering the enclosure of well-known pygmy hippo Moo Deng, which went viral on social media in 2024, at Khao Kheow Open Zoo, the Bangkok Post reported.

The incident occurred on March 17. The man, later identified as a Thai national, entered the enclosure of Moo Deng and her mother Jona while holding a tablet. He remained there briefly before being noticed by zoo staff.

According to a statement posted by the zoo on Facebook, the intruder used a restricted staff-only area while employees were busy with animal...

A moderate-to-strong geomagnetic storm, classified as G2 to G3, is expected today, according to astronomers at the Laboratory of X-Ray Astronomy of the Sun.

The forecast follows confirmation that a plasma cloud from an M-class solar flare on March 16 is approaching Earth.

Understanding storm intensity

Geomagnetic storms are measured on a five-level scale. A G1 storm is considered minor, G2 is moderate, and G3 is strong. Higher-level storms can disrupt communications, navigation systems, and power infrastructure.

Potential health effects

Experts note that people who are sensitive to changes in weather or geomagnetic conditions may experience discomfort during...

OpenClaw, a new open-source AI agent, has quickly gained popularity in China. People of all ages, from students to retirees, are using it, according to a Reuters report.

Created by Austrian developer Peter Steinberger, the tool was first introduced in November under a different name before being renamed OpenClaw. It allows users to connect different software and hardware systems and learn from data with limited human input, and has since become one of the fastest-growing projects on GitHub.

In China, users often refer to their AI agents as «lobsters» and use the tool to organize information, build applications...

Starting July 11, a new international flight connecting Vietnam, the Czech Republic and Kazakhstan will be launched, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport press service reported.

Vietnamese carrier VietJet Air is set to launch the service on the Hanoi -Almaty-Prague route, to be operated twice a week using Airbus A330 aircraft.

This is a significant development for Kazakhstan, as it marks the first direct flights between Prague and Almaty.

The route will operate under the Open Skies regime, which facilitates the entry of foreign carriers into the market and the launch of new routes.