News

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...

Chinese Huawei Technologies Kazakhstan and the Astana city administration have signed an agreement to launch a pilot project for testing ultra-fast 10G internet connection using 50G PON technology, as reported by Kazakh Invest. 

The signing ceremony took place today during the China-Central Asia Industrial and Investment Cooperation Forum in Astana. The agreement envisions the introduction of cutting-edge telecommunication solutions in the capital.

10G is a wired broadband service designed for homes and offices, offering speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second. Unlike 4G or 5G, the «10» refers to speed, not a generational standard. This type of internet delivers...

June 14 brought the long-anticipated news – Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom will lead the construction of Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant (NPP), according to the country’s Agency for Atomic Energy (AAE).

China’s bid

Rosatom was selected from a shortlist of four international technology providers, which also included China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), South Korea’s Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and France’s Électricité de France (EDF).

Kazakhstan conducted an integrated assessment of proposed reactor technologies and vendor proposals using a methodology co-developed by the AAE and Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plants (KNPP) – an entity...

Xcalibur Smart Mapping, a Madrid-based global leader in the airborne and mapping geophysics industry, offers Kazakhstan the opportunity to conduct large-scale mapping of its territory. According to Xcalibur CEO Andres Blanco, the process could take up to six years, providing exploration companies with up-to-date data.

In Kazakhstan, the head of Xcalibur believes the project’s potential budget could be around $250 million. In this case, the company may use 10 of its aircraft and complete the project within 5 to 6 years. As a result, Kazakhstan would receive geophysical mapping data comparable to that of Australia, one of the global leaders...

According to Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the country has opened its border crossings to allow the safe transit of foreign diplomats, their families, and other citizens currently in Iran.

«As of today, around 120 people from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Romania, and other countries have crossed the state border of Turkmenistan through official checkpoints,» the ministry said in a statement.

The evacuees have been provided with transportation, food, accommodation, and essential supplies. Turkmenistan’s authorized agencies are working closely with foreign diplomatic missions and international organizations to ensure the process runs smoothly.

In early June...

BCC Invest, a Kazakhstani brokerage company, has raised its valuation of KazMunayGas (KMG) shares following the company’s Q1 2025 financial results. Analysts set a new target price at approximately $35 per share.

BCC Invest’s projection increased by more than 9%, compared to its previous forecast from April 2025. As a result, the broker has issued a buy recommendation.

Currently, KMG’s common shares are trading at around $31. Thus, BCC Invest anticipates a potential upside of 14.5% or roughly $4. During the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) trading session on June 13, the share price reported a 3.32% increase.

The KMG stock...

Kazakhstani startup Metaclinic, which provides online medical consultations, has closed a $150,000 funding round at a $2 million valuation, Digitalbusiness.kz reported. The investment came from a multi-specialty clinic chain.

The Metaclinic team plans to allocate the raised funds toward further developing and scaling the service through B2B partnerships. While the startup will focus primarily on operations in Kazakhstan, it doesn’t rule out expanding into other countries in the future.

According to Metaclinic founder and CEO Nurali Ismagulov, the startup has seen more than a tenfold increase in revenue in under a year. He added that a patient seeking medical...