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Japan-based entertainment company Sanrio — famous worldwide for its Hello Kitty and other character brands — is set to establish a permanent museum dedicated to its history and to its founder, Shintaro Tsuji, in Yamanashi Prefecture, southwest of Tokyo, in April, NHK World reported.

The exhibition will focus on Sanrio’s history and its characters, with one exhibit recreating Tsuji’s office; he was born in the prefecture. The museum will be called Yamanashi Ichigo no Osama Museum: Sanrio Sogyosha Tsuji Shintaro Kinenkan (English: Yamanashi Strawberry King Museum: Shintaro Tsuji Hall).

Entry will be...

Central banks around the world continue to actively purchase gold, with Kazakhstan remaining one of the leaders in the trend. According to the World Gold Council (WGC), the National Bank of Kazakhstan increased its gold reserves by another 8 tons in November.

In total, the National Bank purchased 49 tons of gold over the first 11 months of the year, placing Kazakhstan second among global gold buyers. Poland ranked first, having purchased 95 tons of gold during the same period.

Overall, central banks purchased a net 45 tons of gold in November. This was slightly lower than in October...

Kazakhstan’s No. 1 tennis player, Elena Rybakina (World No. 5), advanced to the quarterfinals of the WTA 500 2026 Brisbane International. In the round of 16, Rybakina defeated Spain’s Paula Badosa (No. 25) 6-3, 6-2. With her victory following the WTA Finals in Riyadh, the Kazakhstani athlete has now won seven consecutive matches in official tournaments.

Badosa, 28, is no easy opponent. She reached a career-high ranking of World No. 2, a milestone Rybakina has yet to achieve. Last year, the Spanish player reached the semifinals of the Australian Open.

Before the new season began, Rybakina...

Two people were killed and three others seriously injured in a road accident that occurred on Jan. 6, 2026, on the outskirts of Almaty, according to the Indian Embassy in Kazakhstan.

The group — four students from the South Kazakhstan Medical Academy (SKMA) and one Indian tourist — was traveling from Shymkent to Almaty when the accident occurred. Two students, Karan Parmar and Rishiraj Baraith, both natives of Rajasthan, died at the scene.

The three survivors were hospitalized with severe injuries and are currently in intensive care. Doctors are working to save the lives of students Manjeet Singh Solanki

Forbes Kazakhstan named millionaire Nurlan Smagulov «Businessman of the Year.» According to the outlet, he does not plan to leave his entire inheritance to his children.

«Our family does not want to leave large sums of money to the children — that is not always a blessing. It is more important for us to leave institutions, something that will continue to function after we are gone,» Forbes Kazakhstan cited the businessman as saying. 

Smagulov ranks eighth among the richest people in Kazakhstan, with...

An unidentified trader earned about $410,000 by betting that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro would be removed from office, Reuters reported.

The trader placed the bets on Polymarket, a platform that allows users to wager on real-world events. Initially, the bets were valued at around $34,000, reflecting low expectations of Maduro’s removal. However, their value surged after reports emerged that the U.S. military had captured Maduro over the weekend, according to Polymarket data.

Prediction markets such as Polymarket offer yes-or-no contracts tied to real-world events, including political and economic outcomes. These contracts can cost just a few cents...

Kazakh national postal operator Kazpost has resumed sending parcels to the U.S. The service was previously halted due to restrictions imposed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

The operator stated that international shipments can now be handled under a new procedure with the Zonos service — approved by CBP. Customers should file a customs declaration in advance via the Zonos app for iOS and Android before visiting the post office.

To do this, the sender needs to sign up via the app, confirm their email, choose the type of shipment — either a regular parcel or a gift worth...

Kazakhstan ranks 50th among the world’s largest economies, with a GDP of approximately $300 billion. The country also ranks among the top five globally in terms of average annual economic growth over the past 25 years, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Between 2000 and 2025, Kazakhstan’s economy grew at an average annual rate of 5.6%, according to the IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook. This places the country fifth worldwide in long-term growth among major economies.

Only China (8%), Vietnam and India (6.4% each), and Bangladesh (5.9%) reported higher average annual growth rates over the same period.

Clicks — a tech company originally known for its physical QWERTY keyboard accessories for iPhone smartphones — has unveiled its first standalone smartphone, the Clicks Communicator. This device is a perfect fit for those feeling nostalgic for feature phones and tired of endless touchscreens.

The smartphone is equipped with a physical, touch-sensitive QWERTY keyboard and a 4-inch AMOLED display, and is powered by Android 16 with the custom Niagara Launcher, allowing users to display only the most needed apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Gmail and Slack. The concept is simple — less visual noise and more focus...

A touching story about a good deed done nearly two decades ago and unexpectedly returned has gone viral in Kazakhstan.

According to Innabat Yakubova, the events date back to 2006, when she was 22 and working as a waitress at a bar. At the time, three students would come in almost every evening, always carrying the same small amount of money. Obviously, on a tight budget, they would order modestly, and Yakubova would often treat them at her own expense.

She never thought that her kindness was particularly important — or that anyone would remember it years later.

The satellite internet connection is set to be available on Air Astana aircraft and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (Kazakhstan Railways) trains in 2026, Minister of AI and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev announced during a government session.

He said that there are three satellite internet providers currently operating in Kazakhstan, with two international companies expected to enter in the near future. Pilot trials are expected to be conducted this year.

Regional authorities are tasked with bringing satellite internet to tourist and remote locations using local budgets.

Furthermore, Madiyev said that the project to provide mobile coverage along roads is...

Kazakhstan plans to produce five to six Earth observation satellites in the coming years, according to Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry Zhaslan Madiyev.

«The Ministry of Digital Development operates a manufacturing facility designed for domestic satellite production. Active work is already underway to fully utilize this capacity. In the coming years, at least five to six remote sensing satellites will be produced at this facility, including export contracts valued at $75 million,» Madiyev said.

He noted that this would mark the first time in Kazakhstan’s history that the country exports such technologically...

In Q3 2025, gross inflow of foreign direct investment in Kazakhstan totaled $4.7 billion following $3 billion in Q2, according to statistics from Kazakhstan’s National Bank.

More than $1 billion was invested in the manufacturing sector, along with vehicle retail and repairs; $997 million — in the mining industry; $772 million — in transportation and storage; and $697.4 million — in the finance and insurance sector.

Kazakhstan’s primary investors in Q3 were as follows:

According to the Bureau of National Statistics, the population of Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital, increased by 6.6%, or 101,900 people, from January to Dec. 1, 2025. This represents the highest growth rate among cities in the country.

During the first 11 months of 2025, Almaty reported a 2.31% population increase (52,900 people), followed by Shymkent with 2.77% (34,800 people) and the Almaty region with 2.08% (32,500 people).

In contrast, several regions experienced both population outflow and natural decline. These include the North Kazakhstan region (-7,400 people), the Abay region (-6,800), the Zhambyl region (-6,500) and the Zhetysu region (-6,400).

The...

Egypt is set to eliminate paper arrival cards for passengers arriving at and departing from the country’s airports, Al Raya reported, citing Egypt’s Civil Aviation Minister Sameh El-Hefny.

According to him, the move aims to streamline travel procedures and allow passengers to save time. The new system is expected to begin on Feb. 1. The decision was made in coordination with the Ministry of Interior, relevant authorities and technology companies.

Upon arrival in Egypt, passengers are currently required to fill in the cards manually, often causing long lines at airports. The initiative aims to replace the...

U.S. President Donald Trump has invited Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to attend the G20 summit in Miami in December 2026, along with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Political analyst Rafael Sattarov explained the reasons behind the decision.

China factor

According to the expert, competition with China is a key driver of Washington’s move. The U.S. does not want Central Asia to become overly dependent on Beijing, particularly in areas such as rare earth metals, uranium, lithium and other critical resources used in batteries, defense industries and advanced technologies.

«This is why Washington is rebuilding relations...

Everyone knows that New York never sleeps. Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev wants Almaty — the country’s largest city — to follow the same model. In an interview with the Turkistan newspaper, he said he had instructed Almaty Mayor Darkhan Satybaldy to transform the city into one that «never sleeps.»

«I instructed the mayor to turn Almaty into a city that, like New York, Moscow and Paris, ‘never sleeps,’ operating around the clock for the benefit of its guests. There is still much work to be done, including improvements to infrastructure, landscaping and lighting,» Tokayev said.

Novak Djokovic (world No. 4), a winner of 24 Grand Slam titles, has announced that he is leaving the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), which he co-founded, citing concerns over «transparency and governance.»

«After careful consideration, I have decided to step away completely from the Professional Tennis Players Association. This decision comes after ongoing concerns regarding transparency, governance and the way my voice and image have been represented,» Djokovic wrote on X.

The Serbian tennis player founded the alternative professional players’ union alongside Canadian Vasek Pospisil in 2021. The mission of...

Reports of the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro stirred not only the world’s media but also the shelves of a popular brand. Kursiv LifeStyle explains how the tracksuit became the first fashion trend of 2026.

According to media reports, mentions of the «Nike Tech Fleece» garnered tens of millions of views on social media, with the highest interest in the U.S., Brazil, Germany and the U.K.

The surge in Google searches led Nike stores to run out of stock. Several sizes sold out within hours. The hype was sparked by a...

The Freedom Holding Corp. Kazakhstan Manufacturing PMI moved back above the 50.0 no-change mark in December, rising to 51.0 from 49.0 in November. The reading signaled the first improvement in the health of the manufacturing sector in seven months. That said, business conditions strengthened only slightly, with business confidence reaching its lowest level since April 2020.

Growth drivers

Renewed increases in output, new orders, employment, purchasing activity and stocks of inputs were all recorded in December. A rise in new orders helped support the sector’s return to growth, with firms linking this improvement to higher production, increased hiring and greater...

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing today to improve relations between the two countries. China is South Korea’s largest trading partner, but ties have faced challenges in recent years due to security and political issues. As a close U.S. ally, South Korea is now seeking to balance its security relationship with Washington and its economic ties with China, according to the BBC.

The two leaders are expected to discuss economic cooperation, regional security issues in East Asia and restrictions affecting South Korean cultural exports to China. Lee said...

On Jan. 5, the Toyosu Market in Tokyo, Japan — renowned for its large-scale fish trade and regular auctions — sold a 243-kilogram bluefin tuna for roughly $3.2 million at the first auction of the year, setting a new record at the annual New Year’s auction, The Associated Press reported.

According to the market’s official website, the record-holding fish was caught off Oma, Aomori Prefecture, at a cost of roughly $13,400 per kilogram, compared to $4,800 last year. In total, the wholesale tuna market received 270 fresh tuna...

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the U.S. could take control of Greenland unacceptable, according to the BBC.

Her comments came after Katie Miller, the wife of Trump adviser Stephen Miller, posted an image on social media showing Greenland in U.S. flag colors with the word «soon.» Trump also reiterated that Greenland is essential to U.S. national security because of its location and natural resources.

Frederiksen said discussing the annexation of any part of the Danish kingdom is unreasonable. She emphasized that both Denmark and Greenland are NATO members and already collaborate...

At a Jan. 4 meeting, OPEC+ decided to adhere to plans to pause production increases in the first quarter of 2026, according to Bloomberg. The decision comes against the backdrop of an oversupplied global market. Coalition members are also awaiting greater clarity on whether the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro will have any impact on oil supply volumes.

According to Bloomberg sources, key members of the agreement, led by Russia and Saudi Arabia, are set to maintain cumulative production levels at current rates until the end of March.

At the same...