News

Grenoble INP — Phelma, UGA, one of France’s top engineering schools, will open a branch in Kazakhstan next year, in partnership with Satbayev University in Almaty. The move follows an agreement signed between the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan and the French university, as part of Kazakhstan’s initiative to bring foreign university branches into the country.

The signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Education Sayasat Nurbek and French Ambassador to Kazakhstan Sylvain Guiaugue. The agreement was signed by the vice presidents of the two institutions — Gulgen Alpan on behalf of Phelma, UGA, and Samgat Ermekbayev...

From July 14 to 20, Almaty will host an international bar event, the Almaty Bar Shift — a week that will gather industry experts and culinary enthusiasts. Mixologists and bar festival organizers from all over the world, including those from Florence, Athens and Washington, will come to Kazakhstan for the event.

Almaty Bar Shift will unite educational activities during the daytime, including lectures, discussions and workshops, and evening events in the city’s best bars. Within the guest shifts, bartenders featured in the World’s 50 Best Bars, Top 500 Bars and Michelin rankings will serve cocktails from the menus of the...

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a law banning the wearing of clothing in public that obscures a person’s face, except in limited cases defined by law. The legislation does not explicitly mention religious attire but would arguably apply to garments commonly worn by some Muslim women, such as the niqab and burqa.

Under the new regulation, face-covering garments are only allowed in specific cases: when required by law, for official duties, medical reasons, protection from severe weather, for civil defense purposes or for participation in sports and cultural events.

«Wearing items of clothing in public...

Young people are increasingly turning away from traditional dating apps like Tinder and Bumble. According to a BBC article citing Ofcom, usage of the U.K.’s top 10 dating platforms dropped by nearly 16% in 2024. Match Group Inc., the company behind Tinder and Hinge, acknowledged in a January 2024 letter to shareholders that younger users are seeking «a lower-pressure, more authentic way to find connections.» Many are choosing to meet people through shared-interest communities — such as hobby-based platforms or video games. Beyond these trends, other ways are emerging to achieve this objective both in Kazakhstan and around the...

A female team is filming a new TV series about the age-related crisis, friendship and love for life. Unlike «Sex and the City,» which explored the lives of Manhattan fashionistas, «Forever 29» is about young women from Almaty who try to meet society’s expectations — until one day, they decide to simply be themselves.

The TV series, already being called «the women’s melodrama of the year,» is produced by Freedom Media, a Kazakhstani streaming service, and Umai Production. Notably, the project is driven not just by ambitious ideas, but by personal experiences based on real women’s stories. Let’s break this...

A debate is unfolding in Kazakhstan over the future of civilian drones, balancing the goal of nurturing a tech-savvy new generation with rising concerns about the potential for misuse.

While the government plans to introduce formal training in drone design and operation at the college level, lawmakers are simultaneously calling for much stricter regulations on the public’s ability to acquire and use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Tighten regulations

On June 25, MP Yelnur Beissenbayev submitted a parliamentary inquiry to Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Defense Minister Dauren Kossanov, warning that while modern drones have civilian benefits, they could...

Kazakhstan’s National Bank has welcomed a proposal by MPs to establish a crypto-asset reserve. According to Timur Suleimenov, the bank’s chair, work is underway on the development of its formation and management concept. One option involves creating a reserve within a National Bank subsidiary whose activities are focused on alternative investments.

«International practice shows that the sources for such a reserve may include confiscated crypto-assets, as well as cryptocurrencies mined by a crypto miner partially owned by the government,» Suleimenov said in response to a parliamentary inquiry.

To effectively manage the crypto reserve, the legislation...

Three years after legalizing cannabis, Thai authorities are set to restrict its sale, allowing marijuana purchases only with a doctor’s prescription. The decision comes amid a sharp rise in cannabis-related businesses and addiction rates since the drug was legalized. Authorities have also reported an uptick in tourists attempting to smuggle cannabis across borders, according to the New York Post.

Thailand made headlines in 2022 when it became the first country in Asia to legalize cannabis. However, the move came without the passage of specific laws to regulate its sale, production or consumption, opening the door to a booming...

The beach area of Alakol, a lake situated in a narrow valley that connects the southern uplands of Kazakhstan with the arid northwest of China, has been known since ancient times for its medicinal properties. It is set to follow in the footsteps of Turkey and Egypt. Authorities aim to transform the lake into a high-quality recreational zone, with plans to attract Chinese investors interested in building hotel complexes along the Alakol coast.

The news followed a meeting between Berik Uali, the governor of the Abay region, and the authors of the general plan for developing tourism at Lake Alakol...

A growing number of communities worldwide are choosing to go alcohol-free, reflecting a broader trend toward reduced alcohol consumption and the rise of the «sober curious» movement. From dry counties in the U.S. to temperance-driven towns in India and entire villages in Kazakhstan, communities are opting out of alcohol for a range of social, cultural and public health reasons.

Alcohol-free villages in Kazakhstan

In Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is leading an initiative called «Alcohol-Free Villages,» which bans the sale of alcohol in selected rural areas. The movement is expanding: as of mid-2025, 66 villages in...

If you’ve ever dreamed of receiving a letter from Hogwarts, riding the Hogwarts Express, or sipping butterbeer in a cozy magical coffee shop, these three locations in Kazakhstan might just make your dreams come true.

Hogwarts Express in Karaganda

In the heart of Karaganda, there’s a place that’s sure to take any Potter fan’s breath away — a charming children’s railway designed to resemble the iconic Hogwarts Express. Painted in the familiar deep red, the train cars evoke the magic of the books, and the station even features a Platform 9¾.

The railway runs through picturesque areas of the...

The construction cost of the first nuclear power plant (NPP) with a capacity of 2.4 gigawatts will be at least $14 billion, according to Almassadam Satkaliyev, head of Kazakhstan’s Agency for Atomic Energy (AAE). The statement followed the official bidding process to select a contractor for the project, during which Russia’s Rosatom was chosen as the leader of an international consortium to build the country’s first NPP.  

«The final cost will be specified based on the results of a technical and economic feasibility study. All we have now are indicative values provided by the vendors...

American superstar Jennifer Lopez will perform in Kazakhstan as part of her world tour in early August. Despite the initial frenzy during the first days of ticket sales, tickets are still available on the Freedom Ticketon website for both Almaty and Astana concerts.

According to the seating chart on the website, there are still vacant spots in the VIP and fan zones, the dance floor and lower sections for the Astana concert, scheduled for Aug. 1 at Astana Arena. Ticket prices range from approximately $173 to $346.
 
It’s worth noting that earlier reports claimed the Astana concert had sold...

During the 2025 Eurasian Economic Forum in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, attended by leaders of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and various experts, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered a speech at the plenary session of the summit. As reported by Akorda, the official residence and workplace of Kazakhstan’s president, he spoke about economic cooperation and artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on modern life.

«Standing on the verge of a new stage of its development, the EEU is indeed one of the largest alliances in Eurasia, with a cumulative economic potential of $2.6 trillion...

A new case study titled «Freedom Holding: Building an Ecosystem as a Path to Scale» has been released at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Designed for MBA students, the case study reviews Freedom’s strategy, business model, management decisions, listing on NASDAQ, internal transformation, IT product launches and the development of its corporate ecosystem.

According to Timur Turlov, CEO and majority shareholder of Freedom Holding Corp., the FRHC business case at Stanford is vivid confirmation that ideas born outside global financial capitals can also be relevant on the international stage. It is entirely possible to build a successful and...

Developed countries not only intervene in the progress of specific economic sectors, but they also do so more actively than developing nations. Moreover, they tend to support established industries with strong export potential.

These conclusions are based on a recent study that measured industrial policy through the analysis of a large corpus of text-based data. The research was conducted by economist Réka Juhász of the University of British Columbia, along with Nathan Lane, Emily Oehlsen and Veronica Perez of Oxford University and Boston University. Kursiv Research has previously referenced their work when highlighting the shift in mainstream economic thought...

Sweden plans to attract labor migrants from Uzbekistan. The issue was discussed during a meeting between Behzod Musaev, director of the Migration Agency of Uzbekistan, and Johan Forssell, Sweden’s minister for migration.

«Due to demographic changes in Sweden, there is a shortage of personnel in the fields of transport, construction, industry, healthcare, education and services. Uzbekistan has significant potential to train and supply qualified specialists who can work in Sweden,» the Migration Agency of Uzbekistan said in a statement following the meeting.

The two parties agreed to create a joint digital platform and launch pilot...

Kia, a popular automotive brand from South Korean, is allegedly preparing a grand comeback to the Russian market. Insiders say that the cars are expected to be officially delivered from Kazakhstan. This was reportedly announced by brand representatives during a closed meeting with dealers.

According to car expert Oleg Moseev, Kia plans to return to Russia in 2026, with potential sales up to 100,000 cars annually. Six models are currently under consideration, including new ones not previously available in the country.

Exports are expected to come from Kazakhstan and China. However, without industrial subsidies, full recycling fees will apply and...

S&P Global Ratings has revised its outlook from “stable” to “positive” for key companies within Freedom Holding Corp., an international group controlled by Kazakh businessman Timur Turlov. The improved outlook comes as a result of strengthened risk management and compliance systems across the group.

The rating agency raised its outlook from “stable” to “positive” and affirmed the long-term and short-term credit ratings of “B+/B” for Freedom Finance, Freedom Finance Europe, Freedom Finance Global and Freedom Bank Kazakhstan.

«We affirmed our ‘B-‘ long-term rating on nonoperating holding company Freedom Holding Corp. and maintained the stable outlook...

Oil and gas companies are investing less and less in fixed assets in Kazakhstan. In 2024, capital investment by oil and gas enterprises dropped to 2.3 trillion tenge (approximately $4.9 billion), marking a 32.8% year-on-year decline in real terms. With non-residents serving as the primary investors in Kazakhstan’s oil sector, foreign direct investment (FDI) also declined. Gross FDI inflows into oil and gas production fell to $3.1 billion, a nominal decrease of 46.4% over the year.

This drop in investment activity is not a temporary dip driven by external shocks. It rather reflects the winding down of an investment cycle...

The Tajik government has adopted an Open Skies policy, lifting key restrictions on foreign carriers.

This move effectively abolishes the principle of parity between domestic and international airlines, which previously limited the number of foreign flights to match those of national carriers. Under the new rules, all restrictions on flight frequency, seating capacity, aircraft size, and tariffs for foreign airlines have been removed.

The Open Skies policy will apply at the international airports of Dushanbe, Khujand, Kulyab, and Bokhtar.

The decision is expected to promote competition, improve service quality, and expand access to air travel for passengers.

However, restrictions will...

A cableway is a popular and spectacular means of transportation in mountainous regions. However, despite being fairly widespread and generally safe, incidents still occasionally occur. On June 23, a cable car on Mount Karren in Austria got stuck for over four hours due to a thunderstorm, leaving 19 passengers and a dog stranded in gondolas suspended between the mountains and the valley over the city of Dornbirn. Fortunately, the rescue operation was successful, with all passengers safely returned to the ground, as reported by Bild.de, citing Vorarlberg.orf.at.

So, what should you do if you find yourself in a situation...

Knauf, a Germany-based manufacturer of building materials, is set to establish a $30.5 million dry gypsum mix production plant in Kazakhstan’s Zhambyl region. The parties have already signed an investment agreement, as reported by Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry.

The facility will have an annual production capacity of 225,000 tons, with 80% of the output intended for domestic distribution and the remaining 20% designated for export to Eurasian Economic Union member states and countries in Central Asia. The plant is expected to employ 100 people.

Raw materials for the plant will be sourced from the Ulken-Burultau deposit, where Knauf already holds...

The management of BNK Commercial Bank, a new financial institution in Kazakhstan’s banking sector, has announced its plans to focus on developing lending products and working with small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

This strategy is outlined in a roadmap presented by bank executives during an official ceremony marking the transformation of BNK Finance Kazakhstan, a microfinance organization (MFO), into a commercial bank.

In the first stage, set for this year, the bank will concentrate on transferring assets from the former MFO to the new bank, establishing a deposit-oriented base and implementing risk management standards.

In the second stage, planned for...