News

Kazakhstan’s government has approved major investment projects to build four modern pharmaceutical manufacturing plants to expand domestic drug production.

The total investment is estimated at 173 billion tenge (about $340 million). The projects will be implemented by four companies: AltINFARM LLP; Nobel Almaty Pharmaceutical Factory JSC; Abdi Ibrahim Global Pharm LLP; and MSP-Romfarm LLP.

International partnerships

Several of the projects involve international partners. AltINFARM is working with China’s Sinopharm, Sinovac, and Kangtai Biological Technology. Abdi Ibrahim Global Pharm’s partner is Nobel İlaç of Turkey, while MSP-Romfarm is partnering with World Medicine of Turkey and Rompharm of...

U.S. immigration authorities detained a five-year-old boy and his father outside their home in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. The child, Liam Ramos, had just returned from school with his father when they were taken into custody in their driveway. Both were later transported to a detention center in Texas, the Guardian reported.

According to Marc Prokosch, an attorney representing the family, the father and son have an active asylum case and entered the U.S. legally. He also said there was no deportation order against them and that the father and son have remained together in detention.

In turn, Tricia McLaughlin...

The literary writings of Kazakh poet and philosopher Abai Kunanbaev may be recognized as part of the world’s documentary heritage. Kazakhstan submitted an application to add «The Book of Words» to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register, according to Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Aida Balayeva.

She said that the application is under expert review. Balayeva noted that the development is part of Kazakhstan’s efforts to promote its cultural heritage globally under the president’s instruction. Work is underway to prepare nominations for the Zharkent Mosque, the Ascension Cathedral and the petroglyphs of the Karatau...

Amid a sharp rise in Kazatomprom’s share price in early 2026, Kursiv.media calculated the increase in value of Kazatomprom and KazMunayGas shares purchased in 2023 and 2024 using money from Kazakhstan’s National Fund. The analysis shows that the combined unrealized profit has already exceeded 2 trillion tenge (about $4 billion).

The Kazakh government bought shares in both state-owned companies as part of an effort to replenish the national budget using resources from the National Fund.

How the National Fund invests

Assets held by the National Fund are not kept idle but are actively...

Kazakh citizens staying in South Korea without valid work permits may voluntarily leave the country without facing fines or re-entry bans through the end of February 2026, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Labor and Social Protection said.

The reminder applies to individuals who are currently in South Korea without legal employment status and wish to resolve their immigration situation without penalties.

Agreement reached after negotiations

The ministry said the extension follows negotiations held in 2025 between Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Labor and Social Protection and South Korea’s Ministry of Justice. The talks focused on reducing illegal migration and strengthening...

Victor Moses, the English Premier League champion and UEFA Europa League winner, will continue his career at FC Kaysar, a Kyzylorda‑based club in Kazakhstan, AmanVIBE reported.

According to an inside source, the 35‑year‑old Nigerian footballer will sign a one‑year contract with the Kazakhstani club. The official announcement of Moses as a Kaysar player is allegedly scheduled for Jan. 24.

Moses began his career at Crystal Palace, but his peak performance came at Chelsea, where he won the 2016-17 Premier League and the 2018 FA Cup. In 2013, the Nigerian player also won the UEFA Europa League...

British actor Stephen Graham revealed that he lost his Golden Globe just hours after winning it.

The actor won Best Actor in the miniseries «Adolescence» and then flew from Los Angeles to Madrid. However, it later emerged that the suitcase containing the statuette had not made it onto the flight.

«My socks, my pants, my toothbrush… and a Golden Globe,» the actor said, referring to the belongings he thought he had lost.

Fortunately, he did not have to worry for long, as his luggage — including the award — was returned to him two...

A video from snow-covered Astana, one of the coldest capital cities in the world, has gone viral on social media.

The clip, shared in a local online community, shows the roof of the Mega Silk Way shopping mall, where dozens of workers are manually clearing snow using sleds. The footage highlights the scale and coordination of the operation as workers move in synchronized lines across the massive rooftop.

During a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, U.S. President Donald Trump said he wanted strong relations with Europe and withdrew earlier tariff threats, while continuing to argue that Greenland is vital to U.S. national security, according to the Guardian.

After weeks of escalating rhetoric that included threats of tariffs and references to possible military action, Trump said he did not want to use force and announced what he called a «framework of a future deal» concerning the island.

He said he still wanted Greenland «including right, title and ownership,» but later described the proposal as only...

Musician and entrepreneur will.i.am is entering the automotive industry not with a concept vehicle, but with a production-ready product. According to Autoevolution, the former Black Eyed Peas member unveiled Trinity at the Consumer Electronics Show 2026 in Las Vegas, describing it not simply as a vehicle, but as part of the future urban landscape.

A three-wheeled electric vehicle

Trinity is a battery-powered electric tricycle with two wheels in the rear and one in front. The front wheel features a self-tilting stabilization system developed by DEKA, designed to improve balance and handling while cornering.

The vehicle is positioned as...

On Jan. 22, the comprehensive law regulating the use of AI models — the AI Basic Act — came into effect in South Korea, addressing misinformation and establishing a relevant legal framework, Yonhap reported. Notably, the country refers to the development as the first such law to be introduced globally.

Under new rules, companies and AI developers must undertake stricter obligations to address deepfake content and misinformation arising from the use of AI generative models, enabling authorities to fine up to roughly $20,400 and investigate reported violations.

Furthermore, the act introduces «high-risk AI» — models used in...

In Belarus, a man purchased a complex of abandoned buildings once used as a psychiatric hospital for just $100 and transformed it into a thriving art space.

The psychiatric hospital, located in the village of Zhodishki in the Grodno region, ceased operations after a fire in 2019. Patients were transferred to other medical facilities, and the buildings were sealed and later put up for auction. The buyer, Dmitri, acquired several structures along with roughly 3.7 acres of surrounding land.

A long and layered history

The site’s history stretches back centuries. Built in the 18th century as a...

As more people adopt short-form consumption habits, the market has responded accordingly. TikTok has launched its own «Netflix,» but in a vertical format with episode durations of around one minute, Business Insider reported.

PineDrama — the name of the app — was launched quietly, without an official announcement. It offers so-called microdramas: series broken into short, vertical episodes lasting about one minute.

According to the outlet, PineDrama provides content designed for quick consumption. The most common genres on the platform are melodrama, romance and fantasy. Dozens of shows are already available, including «The Officer Fell For...

China and Kazakhstan have begun developing a draft agreement on the apportionment of water in transboundary rivers, Kazakhstan’s First Vice Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurlan Aldamzharov reported during a briefing at the Central Communications Service.

The official said that negotiations between the countries have moved to practical matters — the parties are now preparing an intergovernmental agreement.

«We have now embarked on a crucial stage of cooperation — preparing a draft agreement between the governments of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the People’s Republic of China on water apportionment in transboundary rivers,» Aldamzharov stated.

During a match between FC Kairat and Club Brugge in Astana on Jan. 20, several Belgian fans mocked Kazakhstan by wearing bright green swimsuits associated with the film “Borat.”

According to the Astana city police department, three foreign fans were detained and taken to a police station.

«An administrative case has been opened against the individuals for public intoxication and minor hooliganism,» police said...

As in the case of U.S. President Donald Trump last year, numerous signals — both official and informal — that someone is being actively promoted for the Nobel Peace Prize do not guarantee that the award will be granted.

In 1974, the leading nominees by number of nominations were Brazilian Catholic Bishop Helder Camara, an advocate of nonviolence in the pursuit of peace and social justice, and Soviet physicist and human rights activist Andrei Sakharov. Neither received the Peace Prize that year. Sakharov was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize the following year.

Human rights and...

Kazakhstan’s top-ranked tennis player Alexander Bublik (world No. 10) defeated Hungary’s Márton Fucsovics (No. 54) 7-5, 6-4, 7-5 in the second round of the Australian Open 2026.

Despite a 1-5 head-to-head record, the 33-year-old Hungarian offered decent resistance to the 28-year-old Bublik. In the first set, the Kazakhstani athlete was forced to play catch-up as his opponent was solid on serve. At 5-5, Bublik managed to secure a break and then served out the set, 7-5.

In the third game of the second set, Bublik broke his opponent’s serve but immediately lost his own. The first-set pattern of playing catch-up...

Laramide Resources Ltd., a Canada-based uranium producer, has announced that it is withdrawing from its uranium project in Kazakhstan due to legislative amendments adopted at the end of 2025. Under the new rules, foreign investors have fewer rights, with priority given to the national uranium company Kazatomprom.

«Laramide to abandon Kazakhstan greenfield uranium effort due to newly enacted government policy changes. Laramide has elected to terminate its Option Agreement with Aral Resources for the Chu-Sarysu Project in Kazakhstan, effective immediately,» the company said in a statement on Jan. 20.

On Dec. 26, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev formalized a...

In the second round of the Australian Open 2026, Kazakhstani tennis player Alexander Shevchenko (world No. 97) lost to American Learner Tien (29) 2-6, 7-5, 1-6, 0-6.

The 20-year-old Tien is noted for his five-setters. In the first round, he stunned American Marcos Giron (51) in 3 hours 40 minutes, 7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2.

The match between Shevchenko and Sweden’s Elias Ymer (175) lasted 20 minutes shorter and one set fewer: 3-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-1. However, the Kazakhstani player also used up a lot of energy in hot conditions.

A commuter train derailed near Barcelona on Tuesday evening, killing the train driver and injuring at least 37 passengers, the BBC reported.

Multiple reports say the train derailed after hitting a retaining wall that had fallen onto the tracks between Gelida and Sant Sadurní. The wall may have collapsed because of a severe storm in northeastern Spain.

Emergency crews evacuated all passengers and rescued one person trapped inside. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals, including Moisès Broggi, Bellvitge and Vila Franca. Fire services sent dozens of teams to search the area and confirmed that no other victims were...

Kazakhstani superstar singer Dimash Qudaibergen was caught in a humorous interaction with his fans.

A video uploaded by a fan community of the singer showed Qudaibergen at Shanghai airport, waiting for his flight while browsing shops with a crowd of fans nearby.

At one point, Qudaibergen offered to buy a gift for a fan. The artist asked what she wanted, and the young woman answered, «I want you.» The artist echoed her words, embarrassing the fan with a smile and making people around laugh.

The video quickly went viral on social media and triggered fans’ emotions. Users praised the fan’s...

The design of bank cards in Kazakhstan has evolved from simple visuals into sophisticated concepts inspired by neo-futurism and cyberpunk aesthetics. Recent card series reinterpret national symbols, transforming cultural heritage into digital art objects.

Cultural heritage

Illustrations by artist Aigerim Karibayeva have helped turn Kazakhstani bank cards into collectible art pieces. Her work offers a contemporary take on steppe motifs and traditional imagery, blending national ornamentation with modern design.

Astana Bank was among the first to issue cards featuring Karibayeva’s illustrations, including flying swallows, a braided girl and original ornamental patterns. The bank’s license was revoked in 2018, making...

On Jan. 22, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will travel to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump, the Akorda reported.

While in Davos, Tokayev will take part in the signing ceremony of the Charter of the Board of Peace, an international initiative proposed by Donald Trump that aims to rebuild Gaza and strengthen global dialogue.

«On Jan. 22, Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump, will make a working visit to Davos to participate in the signing ceremony of the Charter...

On Jan. 21, Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, the man who assassinated Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022 with a homemade firearm, was sentenced to life in prison, CNN reported, citing NHK.

Yamagami fatally shot Abe on July 8, 2022, while the politician was delivering a speech at a campaign event in Nara. He was arrested at the scene and charged with murder and firearms offenses the following year.

The reported motive for the assassination is Abe’s connection to the Unification Church, a South Korea-based religious organization, which...