News

Driverless taxis are quickly becoming a fixture in some major cities, but not without unexpected consequences. Tigran Khudaverdyan, a former top executive at Russian tech giant Yandex, claims the U.S. is already facing a surprising side effect: passengers are increasingly using autonomous taxis for sex, according to the RBC.ru news agency.

«Fake taxi»

Speaking at a session during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Khudaverdyan cited San Francisco as a prime example of how autonomous vehicles are being repurposed in ways no one anticipated. Previously, taxi drivers could stop passengers from doing all sorts of things. Now that the...

Vakisasai Ramany, senior vice president of Électricité de France (EDF) met with top managers of Kazakhstan’s Agency for Atomic Energy (AAE) to discuss the possibility of French participation in the nuclear power plant (NPP) project in Kazakhstan.

«The two sides discussed the possibility for EDF to participate in the nuclear power plant construction project in Kazakhstan as part of an international consortium,» the AAE said in a statement.

The primary focus of the discussions was on the issues of scientific and technical cooperation, as well as possibilities for collaboration in the area of low...

Magnum Cash & Carry, a well-known retail chain headquartered in Almaty, Kazakhstan, has shut down four of its supermarkets in Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s capital. While the company still operates three stores in the city, their product assortments are reportedly shrinking, according to Frank.uz.

The first closure occurred in February 2024. This was followed by two more stores closing in May 2025, allegedly due to relocation plans. Most recently, in early June, social media users noted that Magnum had shuttered its branch at the Samarqand Darvoza shopping center. Meanwhile, the remaining outlets have been seeing a gradual reduction in inventory.

This...

The finals of Miss Qazaqstan 2025, the 27th national beauty pageant in Kazakhstan, will take place in the Almaty Metro. According to the Regional Communications Service, the station chosen to host the event is Auezov Theatre. However, the exact date of the event remains unknown.

That said, the very idea of hosting the final stage of Kazakhstan’s most prominent beauty pageant in a metro station is astonishing. According to Aizhan Ruzayeva, the contest director, Miss Qazaqstan simply wants to be closer to the people.

«The Almaty Metro is not just a means of transport. It is...

A criminal network involving local residents, Altynalmas employees and the company’s security service has been uncovered at Kazakhstan’s Akbakai gold deposit. The group illegally mined, processed and exported gold from the site, according to the country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The scheme caused more than $770,000 in damages to the enterprise, Kuandyk Alpys, a spokesperson for the ministry’s department for combating organized crime, said in a statement.

Authorities detained the alleged organizer and his accomplices in coordinated operations across four regions. Overall, more than 50 people were taken into custody. Police also seized approximately six kilograms of gold and shut...

China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), which was involved in the construction of the light rail transit (LRT) system in Astana, is now considering launching a modular housing plant in Kazakhstan’s capital, renovating dilapidated housing across the country and participating in the development of the city of Alatau in the Almaty region, according to Samruk-Kazyna Construction.

«JSC Samruk-Kazyna Construction and China State Construction Engineering Corporation International (CSCEC International) signed a memorandum of cooperation. This strategic document, signed during the second meeting of the Central Asia–China Business Council in Astana, paves the way for the joint implementation...

The Miss Qazaqstan 2025 pageant will not be open to transgender contestants, according to pageant director Aizhan Ruzayeva.

In a recent social media video, Ruzayeva walked back remarks she made during a June 18 press conference. At the time, she stated that both transgender and plus-size women could participate in the beauty contest, which was themed «Freedom of Choice» for 2025.

«Absolutely everyone is welcome. Let it be transgender — it’s freedom of choice. If a girl feels that way, she can, by default, participate in the pageant. We are loyal to everyone,» Ruzayeva said...

According to the annual financial report of Freedom Holding Corp. for the 2025 fiscal year, the company spent $11.2 million to support the Kazakhstan Chess Federation (KazChess).

«The Kazakhstan Chess Federation is an organization in which Timur Turlov holds the leading position. The group continues to support the development of chess as a sport in Kazakhstan,» the holding said in the report.

All of these funds were spent on supporting chess championships, tournaments, training camps and other events related to the development of chess in the country.

According to the results for the...

China may complete Kazakhstan’s second nuclear power plant (NPP) faster than Russia finishes the first, according to the country’s First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar, who made the remarks during a recent press briefing.

«We don’t rule out this possibility. Everything will depend on the technology used by the company [CNNC] that builds it,» Sklyar said.

According to him, the government does not intend to delay the timeline for the second NPP. He added that the cost of both nuclear plants will be finalized after the completion of feasibility studies.

During talks with Chinese...

Kazakhstan aims to develop its film tourism industry, positioning itself as an attractive destination for international filmmakers. Potential filming locations include the forests of Eastern Kazakhstan, the outskirts of Ridder and Ust-Kamenogorsk and the Burabay National Park, according to Kazakh Tourism.

What is film tourism?

Film tourism is a form of travel centered around visiting locations featured in films and TV shows. Tourists are drawn to recognizable settings and often recreate scenes from their favorite movies.

What international films are planned for shooting in Kazakhstan?

Kazakhstan is seen as a promising filming destination thanks to its diverse landscapes — ranging...

In addition to cementing political and economic ties, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Kazakhstan was marked by another charm offensive from the host nation — this time through cultural diplomacy, arguably modeled on China’s «panda diplomacy» and complementing Kazakhstan’s previously launched «Tazy diplomacy.»

Saiga diplomacy

On June 17, Kazakhstan officially announced that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev had proposed transferring 1,500 saiga antelope to China to help restore the country’s dwindling saiga population. Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed gratitude for the initiative, as China plans to reintroduce the species into its natural habitat.

Once on the brink of extinction...

On June 17, Kazakhstani startup 1Fit, which offers fitness services under a single-membership model across various fitness centers, announced its exit from Malaysia. The company’s CEO, Murat Alikhanov, who was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2020, explained to Kursiv.media the reasons behind its misfortune in another overseas market.

In late April, the company announced it was shutting down operations in the Mexican market, citing significant financial strain after operating for less than a year in the country. A month and a half later, 1Fit cut operations in Malaysia — notably, for the same reasons...

Kazakhstan’s oil production remains heavily reliant on its three flagship megaprojects. In 2024, the country’s top three producers — Tengizchevroil (TCO, operates the Tengiz and Korolevskoye fields), the North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC, manages the Kashagan, Kairan and Aktokty fields) and Karachaganak Petroleum Operating (KPO, oversees the Karachaganak field) — accounted for 66% of total crude oil output. To put the scale of oil producers in context within the broader economy, Kursiv Research has compiled a ranking of the country’s largest oil companies.

Tengiz

In 2024, Tengizchevroil reduced production to 27.8 million tons, a 3.7% decrease year-on-year (YoY). After completing...

According to Timur Turlov, the founder and majority shareholder of Freedom Holding Corp., the Freedom SuperApp will offer users the option to buy and sell crypto assets by the end of this year. He made this statement during a broadcast on the Freedom Broker Kazakhstan YouTube channel, presenting the company’s financial results for the past fiscal year.

Commenting on the question of whether Freedom Finance would cooperate with crypto exchanges, Turlov said that the company already has an agreement with Binance Kazakhstan, a cryptocurrency exchange registered with the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). As part of this cooperation, a fiat...

Kazakhstani superstar Dimash Qudaibergen recently shared memories of his first meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the show “Idei Menyayut” (Ideas Change the World), filmed at Nazarbayev University. According to Dimashnews.com, the meeting took place in 2017, when Dimash performed at a special event in Astana in honor of Xi’s visit.

«In 2017, while I was in Beijing for filming and events, I received an invitation: ‘President Xi Jinping will visit Astana as our guest of honor.’ At that time, I was asked to prepare one or two songs – one in Kazakh and...

China Road and Bridge Corporation has been modernizing Kyrgyzstan’s largest airport, Manas International Airport in Bishkek, since April. It will also upgrade the country’s second-largest airport in Osh and plans to build a completely new airport in Jalal-Abad within two years. The most interesting part is that this is being done at China’s own expense, as reported by Asia Today.

«By the end of 2025, we plan to completely replace and upgrade the runway, apron and lighting equipment at Manas International Airport,» said Manasbek Samidinov, CEO of Airports of Kyrgyzstan JSC, which manages the airport.

1Fit, a Kazakhstani startup that offers fitness services under a single-membership model in different fitness centers, is winding down its operations in Malaysia, as Murat Alikhanov, the company’s CEO, announced on the company’s official Instagram page.

«When we launched 1Fit in Malaysia, we had big dreams. We wanted to make fitness more accessible, flexible and exciting — not just for users, but for gyms and studios too. And in many ways, we succeeded. Over the past year, our community in Malaysia completed more than 356,000 workouts using the 1Fit app,» Alikhanov said.

According to...

According to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kazakhstan will build several nuclear power plants. The statement was made during talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Astana.

«We have decided to build several, at least two or three, NPPs in Kazakhstan. Currently, we are negotiating with renowned companies in this area to ensure their involvement in this important project. The Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Atomic Energy has been created, and I’d like to highlight that we’re considering the Chinese company CNNC as a reliable strategic partner in the NPP construction project. CNNC is well-known worldwide...

Oral smokeless tobacco products pose a complex and widespread challenge to public health but have received limited global attention. The World Health Organization’s 2018 report highlights two populations with longstanding traditions of smokeless tobacco use: people in Scandinavian countries — particularly Sweden, where snus is commonly consumed — and populations in Central Asia, where nasvay is the most widely used form.

Cheaper than cigarettes

In Kyrgyzstan, nasvay plays a significant role in the fragile economy of the country’s southern regions. According to the campaign group Kyrgyzstan Without Tobacco, the unregulated production of this addictive product supports up to...

Kazakhstan, once a part of the ancient Silk Road, has a long history of bazaars. These traditional marketplaces have played an important role in the economic and social life of locals for many years. Even though bazaars aren’t that important these days, they still offer something unique that modern malls can’t.

The most frequently recommended place in Almaty to experience the market atmosphere and authenticity is the Green Bazaar in the city’s historical center. However, there is a larger venue locals visit more often. This is Altyn Orda, or «Golden Horde» in English, a popular name for restaurants and...

Freedom Holding Corp. has released its report for the 2025 fiscal year, which ended on March 31. According to the report, the holding’s revenue amounted to $2.1 billion — an increase of $384.2 million (23%) compared to the previous year.

The growth was primarily driven by a surge in contracts for pension annuities and accident insurance. In addition, derivative financial instruments had a positive impact on revenue, contributing $12.4 million (+112%) in net profit. Commission income increased by 15%, reaching $505 million, due to a rise in the number of retail clients and their activity on brokerage platforms.

More broadly...

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports has proposed the launch of a special program aimed at attracting more tourists from China. Minister Erbol Myrzabosynov presented the idea on June 16, during the official opening ceremony of the Year of China’s Tourism in Kazakhstan, held in Astana.

Specifically, the minister suggested introducing a «Welcome Chinese» program to create more favorable conditions for Chinese tourists. According to the ministry, the initiative would support hotels, travel agencies and tourist attractions in adapting their services to better meet the needs of Chinese visitors.

Myrzabosynov also proposed organizing bilateral events at the nexus of tourism...

Kazakhstan has marked the 90th anniversary of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), the world’s most widespread peer-support program for alcohol addiction, founded in the U.S. in 1935.

Anniversary in Almaty

AA has been active in Kazakhstan since 2012, bringing together hundreds of people who have chosen a life free from alcohol. A recent anniversary event in Almaty gathered members of the community, their families and newcomers just beginning their recovery journey.

Ironically, but symbolically, the event took place in a former bar. A space once associated with drinking has now become a haven of sobriety and support.

The gathering followed...

China Energy International Group (Energy China) will actively participate in the construction of cross-border power grids between Central Asian countries, as well as in the development of a «green» energy corridor in Kazakhstan, according to CEO Lyu Zexiang.

Energy China has already taken part in preparing Uzbekistan’s energy development plan through 2030. In cooperation with O`Zenergoinjiniring, an Uzbek energy engineering firm, it has established a consulting company focused on planning and designing the Silk Road energy sector. The Chinese company also plans to play an active role in building cross-border energy infrastructure in Central Asia and will accelerate the planning...