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The introduction of new rules for importing goods from foreign online stores, which was due to take effect on July 1, 2026, has been delayed, Kazakhstan’s State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance announced.

The changes concern new customs regulations for e-commerce goods that will affect purchases from foreign marketplaces, including Amazon, AliExpress and Temu.

Initially, the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) planned to implement the new rules starting in July 2026. However, one of the EEU member states has not yet completed the domestic procedures required to ratify the amendments to...

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received Air Astana CEO Ibrahim Canliel, who briefed him on the airline’s financial performance. During the meeting, the president also addressed several ongoing issues, citing public dissatisfaction with the carrier’s services.

Tokayev spoke candidly about the airline’s frequent flight delays and last-minute aircraft substitutions, describing the public criticism as justified. He instructed the company to improve its flight schedule while expanding air connections with countries that represent promising tourism markets for Kazakhstan.

Fleet expansion plans

Canliel presented the airline’s development strategy, which aims to transform Kazakhstan into a regional aviation hub. A key part of the...

Kazakh chess player Bibisara Assaubayeva has reached the top five in the women’s world rankings for the first time in her career. In the updated July rankings published by FIDE, she placed fifth.

The 22-year-old grandmaster has 2,538 rating points, climbing two places from the previous edition of the rankings. In addition, Assaubayeva became the youngest player in the women’s world top five.

China’s Hou Yifan tops the rankings. Also in the top five are her compatriots Zhu Jiner, Lei Tingjie and reigning world champion Ju Wenjun.

The high ranking continues the Kazakh grandmaster’s successful season...

Freedom Finansal Hizmetler A.Ş., a subsidiary of Freedom Holding Corp., has obtained approval from the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) and the Turkish Competition Authority. The regulators approved the acquisition of a 99.32% stake in the share capital of Turkish Bank A.Ş.

New chapter for Freedom in Turkey

Freedom Holding Corp. CEO Timur Turlov said that Turkey is a strategic market for Freedom and that the holding company is entering it with a clear understanding of what it wants to build.

«In Kazakhstan, we have already demonstrated that a digital ecosystem can become an integral...

Founded by a Russian and a Ukrainian, Heliex.AI was built on the belief that mental wellness support must transcend border – and that the most meaningful technology is created when people unite around a shared mission

Heliex.AI, a US-based technology startup developing hybrid wellbeing infrastructure, has formally announced its entry into the Kazakhstan market. The platform is designed to serve employers, sports organizations, and individual users seeking accessible, professional-grade emotional support – available at any time, without waiting lists or appointments.

The announcement is backed by concrete local traction: Heliex.AI has signed Letters of Intent with four Kazakhstan sports organizations:

Kyrgyzstan’s financial sector expanded at a record pace in the first quarter of 2026, driven largely by government spending on housing and infrastructure projects, according to data from the country’s central bank, stock exchange and commercial banks.

Bank assets reach record high

Total assets of Kyrgyzstan’s banking sector climbed to nearly 1.5 trillion soms (about $17 billion) during the first three months of 2026, an increase of 23%, or 278 billion soms, from the previous quarter.

According to historical data published by the National Bank, this was the fastest quarterly asset growth in at least...

Buying sushi, rolls and other Japanese dishes from unofficial vendors or through private Instagram accounts could put consumers at risk of hospitalization, Kazakhstan’s Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Control has warned.

Health risks linked to unregulated food sales

The committee said sushi is considered a high-risk food because it is often prepared with raw, lightly salted or marinated fish, seafood and other perishable ingredients that may not undergo heat treatment.

Health officials warned that products made with ingredients of unknown origin, prepared without proper temperature control or handled by cooks without valid health certificates pose a serious...

One of WhatsApp’s most highly anticipated features is finally on the way: Users will soon be able to message each other without revealing their phone numbers. Instead, they will exchange unique usernames, similar to how users connect on Telegram and Instagram.

Read also: Durov calls out WhatsApp: ‘You’d have to be braindead to believe it’s secure.’

The feature will be rolled out gradually worldwide over the coming months. Beginning in July, users will have the option to reserve a username in advance, though doing so will not be required.

The income of the wealthiest 10% of Kazakhstanis is 5.7 times higher than that of the poorest 10%, according to first-quarter 2026 data released by the Bureau of National Statistics.

Read also: Forbes publisher explains why Nazarbayev’s relatives vanished from rich list.

The bureau measured income inequality using the decile ratio, which compares the average income of the richest 10% of the population with that of the poorest 10%.

Nationwide, the ratio stood at 5.66, meaning the highest-income decile earned nearly six times as much as the lowest-income decile.

The largest...

Cate Blanchett has unveiled the free Human Consent Registry (HCR), a new online service designed to help people control how their personal identity is used by artificial intelligence systems.

Blanchett introduced the project at the European Parliament in Brussels, saying that as AI technology advances, individuals should have the right to decide whether their identity can be used to train AI models.

Users can grant or deny AI access

The HCR allows users to authorize, restrict or prohibit companies from using their name, voice, likeness, movements and other personal attributes for AI applications.

According to...

Almaty akimat has announced new projects aimed at attracting tourists to the mountains. Kursiv LifeStyle takes a look at the attractions planned for the city.

Galiya Tokseitova, head of Almaty’s tourism department, said that the Old Japanese Road, a popular destination for both locals and tourists, will be renovated. The project includes the construction of a new eight-kilometer trail, as well as the installation of wayfinding signs, rest areas, information boards, benches, gazebos and other visitor amenities. Construction is scheduled to take place between 2026 and 2027.

A new Alma-Arasan visitor center is also planned, with construction scheduled to begin...

According to Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the country must accelerate the development of its transport and logistics infrastructure as regional competition intensifies. Speaking at the latest joint session of parliament, he announced a major new infrastructure project for the capital.

«In the aviation sector, we are rapidly expanding our route network and developing full-fledged air hubs. From this perspective, the construction of a new airport in Astana is a task that brooks no delay. Construction must begin as soon as possible,» Tokayev said.

Another strategic initiative aimed at strengthening Kazakhstan’s position in international markets...

Masdar, a renewable energy company based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has officially kicked off construction of a 1-gigawatt wind farm in the Zhambyl region, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy reported.

The groundbreaking ceremony, which included the placement of a commemorative time capsule, was held via teleconference. In particular, Vice Minister of Energy Sungat Yessimkhanov, Samruk-Kazyna CEO Nurlan Zhakupov and Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi sent out a signal from Astana to begin work at the construction site.

“Our partnership with Masdar is driving the development of renewable energy and supporting...

Freedom Holding Corp. has announced the appointment of Valeriy Kim as its chief financial officer (CFO). He previously served as vice president of finance at Freedom Holding Corp. and chief executive officer of Freedom Holding Operations LLP, a subsidiary of Freedom Holding Corp.

Kim assumes the role from Evgeny Ler, who had served as the holding company’s chief financial officer since 2015. Ler will remain with the company as a special advisor to Freedom Holding Corp. CEO Timur Turlov. In his new role, he will oversee financing and M&A deals.

«As Freedom continues to explore innovative...

Paraguayan President Santiago Peña has signed a decree declaring June 30 a national holiday following the country’s national football team’s victory over Germany in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

«June 30 is declared a national holiday to celebrate the epic triumph of Paraguay’s national team over four-time world champions Germany and its historic advance to the round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup,» the decree, posted by the president on X, reads.

Peña also thanked the players for bringing immense joy and for once again uniting millions of Paraguayans...

The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) has presented President Donald Trump with a custom ring featuring 321 natural diamonds to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States, the organization announced.

Ring inspired by Super Bowl championship jewelry

The ring was designed and created by Antwerp jeweler and diamond master David Gotlib. Inspired by Super Bowl championship rings, the design incorporates elements that reference the upcoming U.S. semiquincentennial.

Read also: The art of soft power: How ‘certificate diplomacy’ is changing foreign policy.

Crafted from 18-karat gold, the ring is set...

Researchers in the U.S. have identified a protein that helps cancer cells resist some of the most commonly used chemotherapy drugs, potentially contributing to treatment resistance and disease relapse. The findings were published in the Cell Reports journal.

Scientists at Michigan State University investigated how ovarian cancer and other types of cancer develop resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy.

Protein linked to chemotherapy resistance

The researchers identified a protein known as TPPP3 as a key factor in the process.

According to the study, cancer cells with elevated levels of TPPP3 are better able to stabilize their internal...

Kazakhstan’s Senate has approved amendments that would allow citizens to transfer up to 100% of their pension savings to private asset management companies for trust management. Under current rules, contributors may transfer no more than 50% of their pension assets to private managers.

The changes were announced by MP Askhat Aimagambetov on his Telegram channel.

If the bill is signed into law, Kazakhstanis will be able to choose whether to keep their pension savings under the management of the National Bank of Kazakhstan or transfer all of their assets to licensed private investment managers.

More...

Astana is home to an unusual representative of the legendary Akhal-Teke horse breed: a mare named Akzhan, meaning “Pure Soul.” The daughter of the purebred Akhal-Teke horses Ganatly and Tabys, Akzhan is being celebrated not only for her rare beauty but also as a potential new cultural symbol of Kazakhstan’s capital, Kazinform reported.

Read also: Are these the most beautiful horses on Earth? Meet the ethereal Akhal-Teke.

Akzhan has an isabella coat color, one of the rarest among Akhal-Teke horses. Because of the unique structure of her coat, her hair reflects...

Members of former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s family were removed from the Forbes Kazakhstan rich list when the publication could no longer verify information about their wealth using publicly available sources, according to Armanzhan Baitassov, entrepreneur and owner of the Forbes franchise in Kazakhstan and Georgia, who shared the insight in a recent interview with journalist Dmitriy Shishkin.

Read also: Nazarbayev’s billions remain untouched after January 2022 uprising, journalist says.

Shishkin pointed to cases involving Dariga Nazarbayeva and Kairat Satybaldy, Nazarbayev’s eldest daughter and nephew...

Although Grand Theft Auto VI is still about five months from release, the game is already being credited with a record-breaking milestone. According to media reports citing industry insiders, more than 39 million copies have been preordered worldwide, generating more than $3 billion in revenue for Rockstar Games.

Costs reportedly recovered

According to the reports, Rockstar Games spent about $2 billion developing and marketing Grand Theft Auto VI, making it the most expensive video game ever produced.

If the reported preorder figures are accurate, the game would have recouped its entire development and marketing budget...

The Almaty Museum of Arts (ALMA) is preparing to open the first major exhibition of video art in Kazakhstan, “Bill Viola: The Space of Time.” Kursiv LifeStyle attended a preview ahead of the public opening and explains why the exhibition is both significant and worth seeing.

The Uly Dala hall on the first floor houses the exhibition. The project has been prepared together with Bill Viola’s studio in California and is curated by Kira Perov, executive director of Bill Viola Studio, as well as the artist’s wife and longtime artistic partner.

The exhibition brings together 18 works created between...

Kazakhstan Chess Federation (KazChess) President Timur Turlov has officially announced that he will run for International Chess Federation (FIDE) deputy president.

FIDE leadership elections will be held Sept. 26-27, 2026, in Samarkand during the organization’s General Assembly. During the same period, the city will also host the 46th Chess Olympiad.

Under FIDE rules, candidates for president and deputy president run on a joint ticket. As a result, Turlov has joined the team of current FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, who is also seeking re-election.

«The results we have achieved over the past three and a half years...

UK-based mining company East Star Resources is preparing to begin drilling at the Verkhuba deposit in the East Kazakhstan region to explore its reserves. The project will be financed through to the production stage by Chinese Xinhai, with which the British company has formed a joint venture in the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). Economist Arman Batayev highlighted the development.

East Star Resources reported on the London Stock Exchange on the progress of the Verkhuba project. In March, the company formally signed an agreement to establish a joint venture with Hong Kong...