News

Kazakhstan has begun work on a major reform of its migration legislation. A working group chaired by MP Lyazzat Zhylkybayeva held its first meeting at the Kurultai, Kazakhstan’s parliament, where a draft law introducing so-called «golden visas» for major investors and highly skilled professionals was presented.

The draft law is being developed in line with an instruction from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The reform aims to attract capital, advanced technologies and skilled professionals, while also protecting the rights of Kazakh citizens who go abroad to work.

«Special attention is given to the introduction of the ‘golden visa...

Kazakhstan’s PetroMining association said it had successfully conveyed the oil and gas industry’s concerns to the government, which has agreed not to introduce a planned increase in excise taxes on petroleum products starting Jan. 1, 2027.

The proposed measure would have increased the state’s share of any fuel price increase from 50% to 95%, PetroMining reported.

Under the current rules, oil and gas companies must pay the state 50% of any increase in petroleum product prices through excise taxes. For example, when the price of a liter of AI-92 gasoline or diesel rose by 6 tenge ($0,013) at...

Searching for a single «miracle food» for weight loss is pointless. Lasting satiety comes from combining the right foods on your plate, nutritionist and endocrinologist Yulia Gracheva explains. She recommends adding simple, affordable sources of protein to everyday meals to help curb hunger and make it easier to stick to a diet.

According to Gracheva, some foods help you feel full for longer — and lettuce leaves alone won’t do the trick. Eggs top her list.

Eggs for breakfast

«Eggs are a simple source of protein and are easy to prepare...

The historical and educational project Qalam has explored how livestock were treated on the steppe before the advent of antibiotics and modern veterinary medicine. Kursiv LifeStyle looks at some of the unconventional methods used to care for horses, sheep and other animals.

Herbs and toxic plants

Nomads most often relied on medicinal herbs to treat their animals. Elecampane, a perennial plant with medicinal properties, was particularly popular. A decoction made from it was given to camels and horses suffering from pneumonia, while crushed elecampane was added to the feed of other livestock.

Kazakh nomads also...

Donald Trump’s latest attempts to rename things are not isolated eccentricities of a single leader. A closer look at history reveals that such antics are hardly unusual — they are a favorite tactic in the arsenal of those in power. It’s just that, in Trump’s case, such renaming efforts happen far too often.

In a pivotal scene in the film “Digger,” set against the backdrop of an ecological catastrophe threatening the planet, Tom Cruise’s character does not hesitate to manipulate public opinion. Rather than calling things by their proper names, he seeks to control...

The Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation has withdrawn an administrative lawsuit seeking to forfeit to the state assets belonging to Timur Turlov, FIDE president, founder and CEO of Freedom Holding Corp., as RBC reported, citing documents from the Tverskoy District Court of Moscow.

«On Oct. 14, the court received a motion from Deputy Prosecutor General Tkachev to drop the lawsuit,» the judge announced.

The Tverskoy District Court of Moscow registered the lawsuit on Sept. 24. It was filed by Russia’s deputy prosecutor general, although the specific nature of the claims was...

The appointment of Alibek Kuantyrov as Kazakhstan’s minister of ecology and natural resources may signal the government’s intention to accelerate efforts to resolve a long-running environmental dispute with the North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC), the operator of the Kashagan oil field, according to investment firm Teniz Capital Investment Banking.

The dispute centers on a 2.356 trillion tenge (about $5 billion) fine imposed on NCOC for storing sulfur above permitted limits. Teniz Capital analysts view Kuantyrov’s appointment as a possible sign that the government is stepping up efforts to resolve the conflict.

Kuantyrov took over...

Almaty oncologists are adopting new technologies. For the first time, lung tumors have been removed using a surgical robot rather than conventional surgery, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Healthcare reported.

The innovative system gives surgeons 3D vision and highly precise instruments. For patients, this means smaller incisions, less pain and a shorter hospital stay. Almaty surgeons received training during a workshop led by Professor Xu Shidong, a leading Chinese thoracic surgeon with 35 years of experience.

The ministry said two operations were performed, each lasting 2.5 hours. During the procedures, doctors at the oncology center and the Chinese expert discussed modern surgical...

Police have opened a criminal case after a video showing two excavators digging up a Saka burial mound in the village of Taldybulak in the Zhetysu region went viral.

A local man shot the video, and it quickly spread on social media. It is unclear who is carrying out the work, why, and whether they are authorized to do so.

«The police have opened a criminal case over alleged vandalism. Investigative actions are currently being conducted,» the Zhetysu Police Department stated.

UFC CEO Dana White said a bout between undefeated welterweights Shavkat Rakhmonov and Michael Morales could take place in 2027, but noted that it has yet to be confirmed.

During the interview, White was asked whether the UFC planned to arrange a bout between the Kazakhstani and Ecuadorian fighters after Morales’ recent social media message.

«Could be, could be… We actually have a lot of cool stuff going on right now that we went over yesterday. And yeah, we got a lot of cool announcements coming up at the end of this year. It’s going to...

The International Skating Union (ISU) has moved the 2027 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, set to be hosted by Kazakhstan for the first time, from Astana to Almaty. Kursiv LifeStyle looks at the reasons behind the decision.

The ISU announced the relocation on Oct. 14, naming Almaty Arena as the new venue.

«It was also accepted that the ISU Figure Skating Four Continents Championships 2027 will be relocated to the modern, multifunctional Almaty Arena. The switch comes in agreement with the Kazakhstan Skating Union following a fire at a power station serving the left-bank area of...

Real Madrid’s striker Kylian Mbappé has become the youngest player in UEFA Champions League history to reach 100 appearances. The Frenchman played his 100th match at the age of 27 years and 298 days, according to Squawka.

Lionel Messi previously held the record. The Argentine was 28 years and 84 days old when he made his 100th Champions League appearance. Mbappé thus broke the record by almost 10 months.

Mbappé reached the milestone against Roma on matchday two of the tournament. He equalized in the 25th minute to make it 1-1. Roma later took a two-goal...

Vietnam’s ROX Living Global has proposed a mixed-use development in Almaty Downtown, the city’s new business district. Almaty Mayor Darkhan Satybaldy discussed the project with a company delegation led by CEO Tran Thi My Loc.

Under the proposed concept, the development would include residential areas, offices, retail spaces, educational and medical institutions, sports facilities and public spaces. The project also includes landscaping, pedestrian zones and site improvements.

Satybaldy welcomed the investors’ initiative. He noted that Almaty is adopting a polycentric development model that distributes business activity across several centers rather than concentrating it in one part...

Mitsubishi has unveiled the ASX VR-e, an electric crossover whose top-of-the-line GSR trim is more powerful than the most potent production version of the Lancer Evolution. Equipped with two electric motors producing a combined 459 horsepower, the vehicle can accelerate from zero to 100 kph (62 mph) in 3.9 seconds, according to Carscoops.

All-wheel drive and 459 horsepower

The Mitsubishi ASX VR-e is based on the Foxtron Bria, an electric car developed in Taiwan with input from Italian design firm Pininfarina. All versions are equipped with a 57.7-kilowatt-hour battery.

The LS, Aspire and Exceed trims feature a...

Russian government agencies and universities have begun purchasing stress-relief toys for their employees, according to the Russian Telegram channel Baza.

Journalists identified dozens of unusual government contracts under which regional agencies and universities are buying hundreds of branded anti-stress toys. Ordinary consumers are embracing the trend, too: demand for such products in Russia has surged nearly ninefold. During the summer alone, Russians purchased more than 12,000 items, spending nearly 8 million rubles (about $100,000).

Read also: Anxiety pills and sweet treats: Unusual gifts to Kazakhstani public servants unveiled.

The growing use of generative artificial intelligence to digitally «resurrect» deceased public figures has sparked ethical concerns worldwide, with families, estate representatives and fans questioning the practice. In Western media, online platforms and creators of synthetic content have used AI tools, including OpenAI’s Sora, to depict iconic figures such as comedian Robin Williams, naturalist Steve Irwin and civil rights leaders Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. speaking, joking or interacting in videos created without their families’ consent.

Critics, advocacy groups and surviving relatives have condemned some of these unauthorized deepfakes as exploitative, arguing that turning deceased people...

On Oct. 14, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians visited Almaty as part of their state visit to Kazakhstan, which ran from Oct. 11-14. Kursiv LifeStyle looks back at the royal couple’s visit to the country’s largest city.

The royal couple shared photos from Almaty on social media. They were welcomed by Mayor Darkhan Satybaldy and visited the Institute of Nuclear Physics, where they were shown a cyclotron manufactured by Belgian company IBA.

The equipment is used to produce radioisotopes for medical diagnostics, including the detection of cancer.

The visit also offered an...

Production at Kazakhstan’s three major oil and gas fields — Tengiz, Kashagan and Karachaganak — fell short of targets in the first nine months of 2026, Vice Energy Minister Yerlan Akbarov said at a recent government meeting.

Kazakhstan produced 69.4 million tons of oil during the January-September period, equal to 91.7% of the volume recorded in the same period a year earlier.

Tengiz produced 26.7 million tons, or 88% of its output in the first nine months of 2025. Kashagan produced 12.8 million tons, or 94% of the year-earlier figure, while Karachaganak produced 7.5 million tons, or 82%.

Eurasian Fashion Week will take place in Almaty, showcasing spring-summer collections. Kursiv LifeStyle looks at the event’s special guests.

Fashion shows are scheduled for Oct. 22-23 at The Ritz-Carlton, Almaty. According to the organizers, the theme of the new EFW season is «SYNERGY,» reflecting how the interaction of different cultures and generations can give rise to something entirely new.

Alongside Kazakhstani designers, including Tamyr Fashion House, Zhuman and Nurasem, the event will feature collections by finalists in the Zhas-Orken competition, as well as special guests from Europe and Asia.

Polish fashion brand Hector & Karger, which has presented its collections...

Kazakhstan’s state budget deficit will reach $10.2 billion next year, forcing the government to borrow from domestic and international markets. According to Finance Minister Madi Takiev, the country will borrow up to $2 billion abroad, focusing mainly on China.

«We are raising these funds through both domestic and foreign markets. Given current external market conditions, we could secure approximately $1.5 to $2 billion abroad. We are focusing on China. This year, we issued $1.5 billion in Panda bonds at a rate of 1.82% — a figure below the inflation rate. Servicing this debt costs us...

People in Florida’s Tampa Bay area spotted a glowing, jellyfish-like figure in the sky after a SpaceX rocket launch. Kursiv LifeStyle looks at how the phenomenon occurs.

According to FOX 13 Tampa Bay, the effect was visible in the early hours after SpaceX launched its CRS-35 cargo mission. Dozens of residents saw the glowing trail of the rocket.

The phenomenon occurs when sunlight illuminates the rocket’s exhaust plume at high altitude while it is still dark on the ground. As the trail expands, it forms a bright, jellyfish-like cloud that can be seen around sunrise or...

How does insurance help families save for a child’s education, prepare for retirement and maintain financial stability in the face of unforeseen circumstances? In an interview with FRHC Spotlight, JSC “LIC “Freedom Life” Chairman Azamat Yerdesov discusses the company’s role within the Freedom ecosystem, digital services and the responsibility that comes with running a business that makes commitments spanning decades.

— What role does the life insurance business line play in Freedom’s ecosystem today? What does life insurance add to banking and investment services?

— The ecosystem allows individuals to address various needs as their lives evolve. Initially, a person uses banking...

According to Sergey Lukyanov, chair of the board of directors at Freedom Finance Global PLC, Kazakhstan has launched a prediction market and is seeing its first deals. So far, these are rather experimental, as not all clients have access to the instrument, Lukyanov said during an interview at the Astana Finance Days 2026 forum last month.

As he noted, the new financial tool, introduced by international trading platform ITS, has already drawn attention from potential partners.

«A lot of people approached us after the presentation — they were interested in partners who want to get...

Netflix has released the first trailer for «Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew,» a new adaptation of C. S. Lewis’ fantasy novel directed by Greta Gerwig, known for «Barbie.» Kursiv LifeStyle looks at when fans can enter the magical world of Narnia and who stars in the film.

The film tells the story of how Narnia came into being. It is based on Lewis’s «The Magician’s Nephew,» the sixth book in publication order but the first chronologically in «The Chronicles of Narnia» series.

Gerwig wrote and directed the film. Her 2023 hit «Barbie» received...