News

Commercial banks in Kazakhstan are confronting a sharp deceleration in credit expansion alongside accelerating credit risks, as non-performing loans surge three times faster than healthy loan books. The aggregate sector net profit dropped 14.9% year-over-year to 1.40 trillion tenge (about $3 billion) over the first seven months of 2026. Profitability pressures intensified in July, compounded by higher minimum reserve requirements and fiscal adjustments.

Toxic loans outpace healthy credit growth

The banking sector’s overall loan portfolio expanded by just 0.5% in July to 44.6 trillion tenge (about $100 billion), marking a sharp growth slowdown compared to...

Kazatomprom, the world’s largest uranium producer, has obtained a subsoil use license to explore the Kyzyltu block in the Kyzylorda region, reserves of which are estimated at around 10,000 tons of uranium.

Kazatomprom reported on the Astana International Exchange (AIX) that it had obtained the right to conduct exploration on the block under a six-year license.

The company plans to commence exploration work on the block in the near term.

«Obtaining the uranium exploration license for the Kyzyltu block represents another consistent step in implementing our strategy to expand the company’s mineral resource base,» Kazatomprom CEO...

South Korean carmaker Hyundai Motor Co. will launch the all-new Tucson SUV in South Korea this October, the company said in a news release.

The fifth-generation Tucson is a fully redesigned model arriving six years after its predecessor. Hyundai said it would announce the vehicle’s pricing in October but did not specify when sales would begin in overseas markets.

Compared with its predecessor, the all-new Tucson is larger and features a bolder design based on the company’s «Art of Steel» design language. Its dimensions have also increased: the wheelbase is 2,785 millimeters...

The EU is set to attract up to €12 billion (around $13.8 billion) to develop the Middle Corridor, which runs through Central Asia and the Caucasus to Europe, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. Kazakhstan is one of the key points along the route.

In her 2026 State of the Union address to the European Parliament, von der Leyen said that Europe’s prosperity and security cannot be ensured solely within the EU and stressed the need to develop trade. She said the EU has trade deals with more than 80 countries, while businesses are...

After a period of rapid expansion, soaring valuations and a rush toward initial public offerings, the Chinese robotics industry is entering a more cautious phase as regulators move to slow some listing plans, Reuters reported.

Beijing has promoted «embodied intelligence» — AI systems capable of perceiving and acting in the physical world — as an important emerging technology. The policy push has encouraged private investment and local-government support while helping more companies commercialize humanoid robots.

The trend has also been visible on the stock market, with leading robotics companies seeking IPOs. Despite the initial enthusiasm, however, investor optimism...

From Sept. 21 to 25, the U.S. is conducting an International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) in Kazakhstan. The assessment marks a crucial milestone in two years of talks on launching direct flights between the two countries.

U.S. inspectors will assess how aviation safety is overseen in Kazakhstan. The assessment will examine aviation legislation, pilot training and whether aircraft meet ICAO safety standards.

«The expert team includes specialists in international aviation law, aviation personnel licensing, airworthiness and flight operations,» Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport said.

Who will connect Kazakhstan with the U.S.?

In addition, U.S. specialists...

Presley Gerber, a model and the son of American supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, has died at 27, CNN reported.

According to CNN, citing the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, Gerber died on Sept. 20 while at a rehabilitation facility. Crawford’s representative also confirmed the news and said the family was asking for privacy. The cause of death has not been disclosed.

Gerber entered the modeling industry as a teenager, signing with IMG Models at 15 and making his runway debut for Italian fashion label Moschino at its Los...

Kazakhstanis are being lured into supposedly lucrative investment schemes using deepfakes of well-known figures and fake investment platforms. Over the past month and a half alone, 119 cases of fraud involving this scheme have been recorded in Kazakhstan, according to the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Scammers place advertisements on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and other online platforms. In AI-generated videos, celebrities appear to promote investment opportunities, often in trading, that promise exceptionally high passive returns.

Fake platforms and celebrity endorsements

The Prosecutor General’s Office cited several examples, including fake projects such as «Kaspi AI,» featuring Kaspi.kz CEO...

Asking your spouse to «walk» on your back to relieve tension after a hard day may be a popular ritual, but it can be extremely risky. Rehabilitation specialist and physiotherapist Vladimir Karasenko explains the potential consequences and suggests safer alternatives.

«As a rehabilitation specialist, I can say only one thing about the habit of having someone walk on your back to make it ‘crack’: It is best avoided. Stepping on the spine creates leverage-based stress that the spine isn’t designed to handle,» Karasenko said.

According to Karasenko, a single awkward movement could result...

Major U.S. automakers are pushing back against President Donald Trump’s openness to Chinese automakers building factories in the coutry. The American Automotive Policy Council (AAPC), which represents Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, has warned that Chinese manufacturers could gain an unfair competitive advantage, Carscoops reported.

Trump recently said he would not oppose Chinese automakers establishing manufacturing plants in the U.S., provided they employ American workers. He compared the potential arrival of Chinese manufacturers with Japanese automakers, which have built extensive production operations in the U.S.

Read also: Ultimate insider: BYD hires Hungary’s...

Around the world, the cherished daily ritual of preparing meals at home is quietly disappearing as fast-paced lifestyles, modern technology and convenience redefine global dining habits. A recent ranking by World Population Review highlights how urbanization, demanding work schedules and digital delivery services are turning home cooking from an essential domestic necessity into an optional lifestyle choice.

Researchers project that by 2035, more than half of all urban meals globally will be prepared outside the home.

The convenience revolution across Western nations

In the U.S., severe time scarcity and long work hours have reduced...

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has told foreigners who violate Thai laws or exploit Thai people to leave the country, using unusually blunt language in response to a request to establish a private cemetery.

Speaking at an Interior Ministry briefing with provincial governors on Sept. 17, Charnvirakul said foreigners who come to Thailand should work legally and contribute to mutually beneficial cooperation. He also warned against establishing religious sites without proper authorization and using Thai nationals as nominees in business arrangements.

‘Go die back home’

Charnvirakul said he had recently learned that foreigners...

Kazakhstani tennis player Timofey Skatov defeated Thailand’s Maximus Jones 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the decisive match of the Davis Cup tie in Astana.

The hosts had a straightforward first day, winning both singles matches. Alexander Shevchenko defeated Jones 6-4, 1-6, 7-5, while Skatov edged Kasidit Samrej 6-4, 7-6(7-4).

In turn, the second day started with the doubles loss from Beibit Zhukayev and Denis Yevseyev against Pruchya Isaro and Jones 4-6, 6-3, 5-7. Shevchenko then fell to Samrej 6-1, 2-6, 3-6.

The tie was level...

Kazakhstan’s Alexander Shevchenko lost 6-1, 2-6, 3-6 to Thailand’s Kasidit Samrej in the second match of the World Group II Davis Cup tie in Astana. Thailand’s national team leveled the tie at 2-2.

The second day of the tie in Astana started with Beibit Zhukayev and Denis Yevseyev losing 4-6, 6-3, 5-7 to Thailand’s Pruchya Isaro and Maximus Jones.

Yesterday, the Kazakhstani players won both singles matches. Shevchenko defeated Jones 6-4, 1-6, 7-5, while Timofey Skatov edged Samrej 6-4, 7-6(7-4).

To win the tie, Kazakhstan needed to win...

Kazakhstani tennis players Beibit Zhukayev and Denis Yevseyev lost 4-6, 6-3, 5-7 to Thailand’s Pruchya Isaro and Maximus Jones in the opening match of the second day of the World Group II Davis Cup tie in Astana. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan leads the tie 2-1. 

Yesterday, Kazakhstan won both singles matches. Alexander Shevchenko defeated Maximus Jones in a hard-fought battle, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5. Timofey Skatov also prevailed in a closely contested match against Kasidit Samrej, winning 6-4, 7-6(7-4). 

Thailand’s initial doubles lineup featured Thanapet Chanta alongside doubles specialist Isaro. However, Thailand captain Thiansit Srichaphan

Kazakhstan’s tax reform has had only a limited impact on strengthening the state’s revenue base, according to the National Bank of Kazakhstan’s August 2026 Monetary Policy Report.

Budget deficit widens

In the first half of 2026, the overall state budget deficit rose to 3.2% of gross domestic product (GDP), exceeding the 2% target. The increase came despite a reduction in transfers.

At the same time, the non-oil deficit narrowed to 7.1% of GDP, falling below levels recorded in previous years. According to the National Bank, the improvement reflects a structural strengthening of the fiscal position rather than...

Hollywood star Michael B. Jordan is on the cover of Vogue’s October 2026 issue. At 39, the actor is at the height of his career, balancing a growing slate of film projects with his work as a producer and director. Kursiv LifeStyle takes a look at what Jordan is working on now.

Jordan’s schedule is packed. On March 15, 2026, he won the Oscar for actor in a leading role for his performance as twin brothers Smoke and Stack in Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners.”

Timofey Skatov of Kazakhstan secured the second point for the national team in their Davis Cup tie against Thailand in Astana, defeating Kasidit Samrej 6-4, 7-6 (7-4). Kazakhstan leads 2-0 after the first day of play.

Skatov made a strong start, breaking Samrej in the opening game and not giving his opponent a chance to break back.

After winning the first set 6-4, Skatov broke Samrej in the opening game of the second set in almost exactly the same fashion. The only difference was that this time, Samrej managed to break back. Breaking Skatov’s serve in the sixth game, the...

Over a million Kazakhstanis have registered to participate in the national Reading Nation initiative, launched as part of efforts to implement President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s decree on measures to develop reading culture and foster a reading nation.

Participants can choose from seven competition categories. After registering, they will have six months to read 15 books and advance through several qualifying rounds at the organizational, district, city and regional levels. At the regional stage, participants will compete as teams.

Kazakhstan’s Minister of Culture and Information, Arman Kyrykbayev, highlighted strong interest in the project and stressed that developing a reading culture is a...

Kazakhstani tennis player Alexander Shevchenko edged past Thailand’s Maximus Jones 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 in a hard-fought opening Davis Cup match in Astana.

After losing three consecutive ties to Argentina, South Korea and Monaco, Kazakhstan’s national team dropped to in World Group II, the Davis Cup’s third tier. Notably, Alexander Bublik led the team in the last two ties.

The Shevchenko-Jones match showed that Kazakhstan won’t have an easy time against Thailand. After taking the first set 6-4, Shevchenko lost three points in a row at the start of the second. His return...

The U.S. government has introduced a narrower interpretation of protections for endangered wildlife, under which accidental or indirect deaths of protected species generally would not constitute an illegal «take» unless the animals were intentionally targeted, The Associated Press reported.

The new interpretation was outlined in a Sept. 14 directive from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik. The directive provides guidance on how the agency will enforce a rule finalized in July and effective Sept. 14 that removed the longstanding regulatory definition of «harm» under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Under the new approach, activities such as...

A man has been arrested in South Korea over allegations that he resold 8,967 tickets to concerts, performances and sporting events at inflated prices between September 2018 and April 2026, The Korea Times reported.

According to the Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial Police Agency, the scalper faces charges of obstruction of business. Police said the ticket sales totaled around 2.4 billion won ($1.73 million). He used the proceeds to acquire one apartment and two commercial properties. Authorities froze the two commercial properties and financial assets held in his name, preventing him from disposing of them pending a potential...

A Minnesota woman was arrested on suspicion of stealing two sets of power-tool batteries worth about $580. But it was her mugshot, rather than the alleged theft, that quickly went viral on social media because of her resemblance to Jennifer Lopez.

Read also: Trump has a ‘handsome double’ living in the Urals.

The woman, identified as 35-year-old Cyrena Anne Quast, was arrested Aug. 30 in Monticello, Minnesota. According to police, she allegedly walked out of a store with two sets of batteries worth a total of about $580. A...

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources said the country will hold large-scale environmental cleanup events on Sept. 19 as part of World Cleanup Day activities.

Scope

Volunteers, young people, residents, government officials and business employees will take part in cleanups of parks, public gardens, waterfronts and other recreational areas.

Locations

Cleanup events will be held across all regions of Kazakhstan. In Astana, for example, the campaign will be part of an environmental month running from Sept. 12 to Oct. 10. In the Turkestan region, cleanups will be combined with tree planting.

The ministry...