News

Kazakhstan has completed a key stage in laying the Trans-Caspian Fiber Optic Cable across the seabed of the Caspian Sea. Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are now connected by a direct digital link.

The submarine cable reached Kazakhstan’s coast, marking the completion of the most challenging phase of the project implemented by Kazakhtelecom and AzerTelecom International. The new Aktau-Sumgait route will provide a direct high-speed data corridor between Asia and Europe. The project is expected to improve the reliability of international communications and strengthen the transit potential of both countries.

Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial...

Nearly a year after receiving its banking license, KMF Bank reported a decline in profit on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE). In the first half of 2026, the financial institution posted net profit of 4.3 billion tenge (approximately $9 million), down from 4.7 billion tenge a year earlier.

According to its financial statements, KMF Bank’s net profit fell 8.4% despite growth in both interest income and its loan portfolio.

Core business continues to expand

KMF Bank’s core business continued to grow during the reporting period. Interest income increased to 60.7 billion tenge from 52.1 billion tenge a...

It turns out that sheep teeth are a time capsule, helping scientists track how medieval Kazakhs altered their lives to match a merciless climate. An international team of researchers led by scientists at the University of Michigan analyzed the enamel of sheep molars recovered from the archaeological site of Zhankent.

Ancient tooth enamel offers clues

The study found that the inhabitants of the ancient city of Zhankent carefully managed their flocks to ensure a year-round supply of milk and dairy products.

Located in southern Kazakhstan, Zhankent was an important city on the northern branch of the Silk...

Sweets are not the only factor behind tooth decay. According to Kazakh dentist Aralbek Tasbulatov, the bacteria that cause cavities can be transmitted through saliva, including through kissing.

What causes cavities?

Q: What causes cavities, and are there any lesser-known risk factors?

Tasbulatov: There are several causes of tooth decay. One is excessive consumption of carbohydrates, particularly sugary foods. Bacteria in the mouth feed on leftover carbohydrates and produce acid. Over time, that acid depletes the tooth enamel of minerals such as calcium and phosphorus, causing it to break down.

Another contributing factor can be autoimmune disease...

The real-life inspiration for Princess Turandot, the legendary heroine of the opera by Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, lived in what is now the Almaty region, according to Kazakh historian Zhaksylyk Sabitov, who has proposed making her part of the city’s cultural brand.

Sabitov believes the historical figure behind the legendary princess was Khutulun, also known as Khutulun-Chakha, the daughter of Kaidu Khan. She lived in the area of present-day Almaty and the Chu-Ili Mountains.

Medieval sources documented her story

“An entire Princess Turandot legend was created around...

Kazakhstan has made measurable progress in its fight against cancer, with mortality declining and five-year survival rates improving. The country now leads Central Asia on both indicators, according to the Ministry of Health.

The ministry reported that the share of cancers detected at an early stage has increased by 6.1 percentage points over the past three years, reaching 36.8%. During the same period, the number of advanced-stage cancer cases fell by 7.5%.

“Five-year patient survival has reached 65%, while mortality has decreased by 26.6%,” the ministry said.

Kazakhstan closes gap...

People in Kazakhstan were alarmed by a photo purporting to show a tiger recently released into the wild in the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve coming dangerously close to people. However, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources said the image was fake.

What happened

A photo claiming to show a female tiger recently released into the wild has been circulating on social media.

Comic Con Astana 2026 will once again host an international cosplay competition offering a prize pool of 20 million tenge (about $42,562). Kursiv LifeStyle explains who will serve on the judging panel and what prizes are on offer.

This year, the competition will once again bring together cosplayers from different countries. Their entries will be judged by an international panel comprising German duo Kamui Cosplay, European cosplayer Leon Chiro, winners of international cosplay competitions Sazura, Zakos Crowman, Tais Tukanova and Anna Brickus, as well as Emilia Grafomanka, winner of the Comic Con Astana 2025 Grand Prix.

The competition’s total prize...

At the beginning of the third quarter, Kazakhstan’s services sector Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 54.1, reaching its highest level in 13 months. Despite a significant increase in new orders, the sector recorded a slowdown in business expectations and continued job cuts.

Activity trends and demand factors

According to a survey by Freedom Holding Corp., the PMI rose for the second consecutive month, up from June’s reading of 53.5. The indicator has remained steadily above the baseline level of 50, signaling monthly expansion in the services sector since April.

The inflow of new orders became the main driver...

Aug. 12 will be a special day for astronomy enthusiasts. People in Kazakhstan will be able to witness two rare celestial events — a planetary parade and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. Kursiv LifeStyle explains the best time to observe them and what makes the event so special.

The six-planet parade

Just before sunrise — which now comes very early in Almaty: six planets in the Solar System will be visible in the sky at the same time: Mercury, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

The first four planets will be visible to the naked eye. Uranus...

Renowned Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen has released a new original song, “Yazgı” — the artist’s first composition in Turkish. He announced the release on social media, thanking fans around the world for their longstanding support.

«We were taught from childhood that an artist must win the love of their audience. But no one told me that sometimes that audience is on the other side of the world. That’s why my new original song in Turkish, ‘Yazgı’ is being released today,» Qudaibergen wrote in a social media post.

He also thanked the fans who have stood...

Kazakhstan’s first licensed cryptocurrency exchange, Pax Finance, has announced its integration with the mobile app of Alatau City Bank, which is owned by the country’s richest businessman, Vyacheslav Kim. The integration allows the bank’s clients to fund their Pax Finance accounts directly from their bank cards through the banking app.

Read also: Visualizing Kazakhstan’s dollar billionaires: Who joined the global elite?

According to the company, users will no longer need to visit third-party websites or manually enter their payment details. Account funding will take place through an...

To avoid creating the impression that only bloggers and journalists face criminal prosecution in Kazakhstan, more corrupt officials should be jailed, according to Daniyar Ashimbayev, a Kazakh political analyst.

Ashimbayev argued that Kazakhstan has concluded that extensive media coverage of anti-corruption efforts harms the country’s image. As a result, corruption investigations and prosecutions are no longer receiving the same level of public attention, he said.

“To prevent the public from getting the false impression that only bloggers and journalists are being jailed, corrupt officials need to be jailed more often...

Many people believe exercising on an empty stomach is the fastest way to lose weight. But skipping a pre-workout meal may not help you burn more fat — and it could leave you with less energy and increase the risk of muscle loss.

That’s according to Lera Logunova, a fitness trainer who addressed the topic on her Telegram channel.

Does fasted exercise burn more fat?

“Should you eat before a workout? This is one of the questions I’m asked most often,” Logunova said.

Many people avoid eating before exercise because they believe...

In late July, Kazakhstan issued its first official missionary documents to an imam and his deputies, marking a significant shift in the legal regulation of religious discourse in the Central Asian nation. The certificates, awarded to religious scholar Imam Nurlan Baizhigituly and his assistants, officially authorize them to preach and engage in missionary work under current legislation that requires specific state-issued credentials for spreading religious teachings.

While some nations have established strict state-sanctioned monopolies and mandatory licensing for preachers, others rely on secular hate-speech laws or provide near-total constitutional protection for religious expression.

Certification as a...

Paris Saint-Germain announced the opening of a PSG Academy in Kazakhstan. The football training center will open in Astana in September 2026 and is expected to welcome around 300 young footballers in its inaugural season. Kazakhstan will become the 24th country to join the Parisian club’s international network of academies.

Training sessions will be held at the indoor Air Arena sports complex, which features a FIFA-compliant football pitch. The facility will allow year-round training regardless of weather conditions.

Who can join the academy

The program is open to boys and girls aged 6 to...

Kazakhstan’s total public and publicly guaranteed debt reached 40.9 trillion tenge (approximately $86 billion) as of July 1, 2026. During the second quarter, the total increased by 1.84 trillion tenge, or 4.7%.

Public and publicly guaranteed debt stood at 39.1 trillion tenge as of April 1, according to the Ministry of Finance.

Public debt drives the increase

Public debt continued to account for the largest share of the country’s liabilities. During the quarter, it increased from 36.8 trillion tenge to 38.5 trillion tenge, a gain of about 1.65 trillion tenge, or 4.5%.

Central government debt posted the largest increase...

Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have begun implementing administrative and technical measures to exchange land plots as part of the demarcation of their shared state border, Kyrgyz National News Agency Kabar reported.

What is changing and where

A meeting of the two countries’ joint working commission was held in Kyrgyzstan’s Kadamjay district. Experts and government representatives began resolving property, administrative and legal issues.

As part of the border demarcation process, the villages of Chongara and Tash-Tobo, formerly administered as part of Uzbekistan’s Fergana region, were transferred to Kyrgyzstan. The majority of the villages’ residents are ethnic Kyrgyz.

Kazakhstani JET Group, one of the country’s largest scooter-sharing operators, is increasingly shifting its focus to Latin America. Brazil accounted for 92.3% of the company’s total revenue in the first quarter of 2026. At the same time, the company issued two-year green bonds denominated in UAE dirhams totaling 10 million dirhams (about $7.2 million) under a bond program of up to 50 million dirhams ($13.6 million), which remains in effect until 2036.

Economist and Finmentor.kz Telegram channel author Arman Batayev noted this development.

According to JET Group’s first-quarter 2026 financial results, cited by the economist, the...

Actor and stunt performer Jackie Chan has arrived in Baku, Azerbaijan, for filming. Kursiv LifeStyle looks at where in Azerbaijan the filming will take place.

Those visiting the capital’s main landmarks may catch a glimpse of Asian Hawk. These include Icherisheher (the Old City), Highland Park, the Baku Funicular, the Green Theatre and Fountain Square. Jackie Chan is expected to film in Baku for about 10 days, Kazinform reported.

Filming has already taken place in Kazakhstan’s Mangystau and Almaty regions, as well as in the city of Almaty. Jackie Chan is likely to return to Kazakhstan...

A sequel to the blockbuster film “Barbie” is in jeopardy as Warner Bros. has yet to reach new agreements with stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, as well as director Greta Gerwig, according to The Sun.

The report says the negotiations have stalled over financial terms. Robbie, Gosling and Gerwig are seeking higher salaries and a share of the sequel’s box office revenue. Gosling is reportedly willing to return as Ken for $20 million.

Negotiations have been further complicated because the cast and director did not sign sequel options following the release of the original film...

A female Amur tiger named Umit was released into the wild in the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve, becoming the first tiger to return to Kazakhstan’s natural habitat since tigers disappeared from the country more than 70 years ago. Freedom Holding Corp. sponsored the animal’s transport. Kursiv LifeStyle explains why the event is considered the beginning of the revival of Kazakhstan’s tiger population.

According to the press service of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the female Amur tiger was released on July 31. Before the release, she had spent several months in a special enclosure...

U.K.-based Ferro-Alloy Resources, which is developing the Balasausqandiq vanadium deposit in Kazakhstan’s Kyzylorda region, has submitted applications for funding from U.S. government agencies and has begun exploring the extraction of the rare earth element yttrium as a potential byproduct. The company disclosed the plans in a strategic update published on the Astana International Exchange (AIX).

U.S. funding and strategic partnerships

The company said it is in discussions with several U.S. government agencies interested in securing supplies of critical minerals. Ferro-Alloy Resources has submitted initial applications for grant funding, as well as preferential debt financing and...

State-guaranteed deposits at Kazakhstani banks undergoing resolution with support from shareholders and, where applicable, the government will remain fully protected, according to Dauren Salimbayev, deputy chairman of the Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market (ARDFM).

Salimbayev outlined the country’s proposed framework for resolving insolvent banks during a briefing on the new bank resolution mechanism.

“One of the key priorities of the new model is ensuring the continuity of customer service, even during a bank resolution,” he said. “Regardless of the resolution tool used — whether the transfer of assets and liabilities, the creation...