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Oil majors developing the Kashagan field — Kazakhstan’s largest oil and gas field on the Caspian shelf — have won a $4.2 billion environmental dispute in an Astana appeals court, according to Bloomberg.

Sulfur dispute

The case stemmed from a 2022 fine imposed by Kazakh authorities over excessive sulfur storage at the field. Kashagan’s high-sulfur crude requires safe processing and removal, and Kazakh regulators claimed that open-air sulfur storage violated environmental laws. The penalty against the North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC), the consortium operating the field, was initially 2.3 trillion tenge — about $5.1 billion at 2022 exchange...

On Aug. 3, 2025, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who arrived in Almaty on a working visit.

Tokayev thanked Guterres for his visit and emphasized its significance ahead of the upcoming 80th session of the UN General Assembly.

Regional SDG hub

The two leaders took part in a signing ceremony of the host country agreement between the government of Kazakhstan and the United Nations, establishing the UN Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and Afghanistan.

In March, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution to establish the...

Kazakh agricultural company Altyn Dan, with the participation of international corporation PepsiCo, has started cultivating a potato variety for producing Lay’s chips in the Raiymbek district of the Almaty region, as reported by the regional governor’s office.  

Altyn Dan was established as a service center in 2023. The company is currently cultivating potatoes on 150 hectares using a drip irrigation system. In addition, 1,500 hectares are seeded with cereals this season.

«The company has signed a partnership agreement with the international company PepsiCo and is conducting tests on imported seeds specifically intended for the production...

As global temperatures continue to break records, Central Asia has emerged as one of the fastest-warming regions in the world, according to recent reports from the World Meteorological Organization. In response to life-threatening heatwaves, residents are turning to increasingly inventive, and sometimes unconventional, ways to stay cool.

With traditional methods like fans and air conditioning proving inadequate or inaccessible for many, people across the region are embracing a variety of creative cooling strategies.

A video circulating on social media shows a shop assistant in Shymkent, a city in southern Kazakhstan, climbing into a beverage refrigerator to cool off...

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev believes the country has strong potential to become the leading air hub in the region. To achieve this, he emphasized the need to boost both passenger and cargo transportation.

Speaking at an event dedicated to Transport Workers’ Day, the president highlighted that the most critical task in this sector is the development of air traffic. He noted that in the past year, airports in Almaty, Shymkent and Kyzylorda have significantly expanded their capacity through the launch of new terminals. For example, the Almaty airport increased its capacity from 2.5 million to 14 million passengers per...

Forbes Kazakhstan has updated its ranking of the country’s richest people following a series of bold transactions in the banking sector. ForteBank owner Bulat Utemuratov rose from sixth to third place. The assets of Vyacheslav Kim and Timur Turlov also showed significant increases.

Kim, co-owner of Kazakh fintech giant Kasp.kz, remains first on the list. His net worth has risen from $7.1 to $7.33 billion. The company’s shares gained value after acquiring a controlling interest in the Turkish marketplace Hepsiburada for $1.127 billion. As of July 29, the closing price stood at $85.96. Furthermore, the businessman finalized

Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar has dismissed claims that the recent sharp depreciation of the tenge was caused by comments made by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov regarding the projected exchange rate of the national currency.

On July 15, during a press conference, Bektenov stated that under the cabinet’s baseline forecast for 2026, the exchange rate was projected at 540 tenge per U.S. dollar.

Following his remarks, the dollar began rising in value against the tenge, prompting the Association of Financiers of Kazakhstan to suggest the statement may have influenced market expectations.

«The prime...

The Freedom Holding Corp. Kazakhstan Manufacturing PMI (Purchasing Managers’ Index) ticked up to 49.9 in July from 49.7 in June, but remained just below the 50.0 no-change mark for the second month in a row.

The main positive from the latest survey was continued growth in new orders, which increased for the eighteenth consecutive month in July. That said, there were signs of demand softening, as the pace of expansion in new business eased for the second month running, to the weakest level in a year.

With new order growth slowing and inventory holdings sufficient to satisfy client demand, manufacturers...

Sora Rakhmonova, the three-time hand-to-hand fighting champion and a sibling of prominent UFC fighter Shavkat Rakhmonov, commented on a car accident involving her brother’s close family members. She expressed condolences to the families of the deceased.   

«May the Creator be pleased with those who call and are concerned about the situation in my brother’s family! May no one end up in this situation. Only the Creator knows what will happen tomorrow… May the Creator guard my sister-in-law! She lost two close people at once and was injured herself,» Rakhmonova posted on Instagram Stories.

Nearly every bank now offers its own mobile banking app. To compare which ones are the most convenient according to users, Kursiv.media has compiled a ranking of banking apps based on user feedback. Among the leaders are the apps of Kaspi Bank, Bank RBK, Freedom Bank and Bereke Bank.

The assessment of the convenience and popularity of mobile apps from the largest Kazakhstani banks is based on user ratings in the two most popular app stores. On Google Play, only the Bank RBK app has the highest rating — 4.9 out of 5. In the App Store, several banks share...

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on imports from Kazakhstan, part of a broader trade move affecting more than 70 countries. The order, titled «Further Modifying the Reciprocal Tariff Rates,» was published July 31, 2025, on the White House website.

Previously, imports from Kazakhstan had been subject to a 10% tariff.

At the time, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Trade and Integration stated that the new 25% tariff will not impact 95% of the country’s exports to the U.S. Most exported products — including key raw materials and strategic commodities such as oil...

Qymyz Bar, a new spot dedicated to kumys (or kymyz) — the traditional Central Asian drink made from fermented mare’s milk — opened in Almaty on Aug. 1. The bar offers 20 different varieties of kumys from 11 regions across Kazakhstan, each with a distinct level of fermentation, ranging from light to bold and well-aged.

In addition to the wide selection of kumys, visitors can explore flavors with the help of a professionally trained sommelier, who offers tasting guidance and insights into the drink’s history and production.

The food menu features a mix of traditional dishes from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan...

Kazakhstan served as a filming location for the South Korean travel show «Hit and Miss Tour 4.» Its cast has visited the country’s largest city and surrounding areas.

Filming took place from July 24 to 27. The episodes are scheduled to air on Channel S, with a later global release on Netflix. The cast features South Korean comedians Kim Dae-hee, Kim Jun-ho, Jang Dong-min, Yoo Se-yoon and Hong In-kyu.

The reality show follows the cast as they travel through a new country, taking on unexpected challenges. The losers pay for accommodation, transportation and entertainment.

A new season will feature the...

Kazakhstan’s most influential business figures have come together to form the Kazakhstan Investors Union (KIU), a new organization dedicated to promoting economic development and enhancing the investment climate.

The companies of prominent tycoons Timur Kulibayev, Vladimir Kim and Oleg Novachuk were among the latest to join the recently established group.

Journalist Oleg Chervinsky highlighted the development on his Telegram channel focused on Kazakhstan’s oil and gas sector.

The following companies were admitted to the union during an absentee meeting:

China will construct the third nuclear power plant (NPP) in Kazakhstan, according to First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar.

«The third nuclear power plant will be built by China. Currently, our colleagues from the Agency for Atomic Energy and Nuclear Power Plants LLP are evaluating potential sites. A continuous water supply near the power plant is essential,» Sklyar stated.

He also said that the government plans to announce the chosen sites for the next two nuclear plants later this year.

The first nuclear power plant is planned to be built in the village of Ulken...

Kazakhstan has officially decided to build new thermal power plants (TPPs) in Kokshetau, Semey and Ust-Kamenogorsk independently, according to First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar. Previously, the country had relied on active participation from Russia in these projects.

«Inter RAO, the Russian company that committed to building the thermal power plants in Kazakhstan, was expected to secure low-interest export financing. Unfortunately, it was unable to do so. As a result, we decided to proceed with the construction of the TPPs on our own,» Sklyar stated.

He added that construction of the thermal power plant...

The International Testing Agency (ITA) has provisionally suspended 2024 Olympic champion Lazizbek Mullajonov after he tested positive for a banned substance. The 26-year-old Uzbek boxer failed a doping test conducted a month and a half ago.

A sample collected on June 11, during an out-of-competition period, tested positive for methasterone, a synthetic steroid known for promoting rapid muscle growth and strength.

The ITA has notified Mullajonov of the positive test result. He has the right to request an analysis of his B sample. If he does not request the follow-up test, the doping violation will be considered confirmed.

A...

KMF, the largest microfinance organization (MFO) in Kazakhstan, is set to launch banking services this August, the company said in a statement. The decision followed the receipt of permission to convert into a bank from Kazakhstan’s Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market (ARDFM) in March.

On July 30, KMF temporarily suspended its operations, including:

The company announced that all scheduled payments falling within the suspension period may be...

In international diplomacy, the exchange of high-level state decorations — such as orders and medals — between heads of state is a longstanding tradition. In contrast, or perhaps as a complement, a newer practice that has lately attracted media attention is the gifting of symbolic documents, often in the form of personally significant certificates.

Traditional decorations

One of the most notable moments during Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s recent official visit to Turkey was his receipt of the country’s highest state honor, Devlet Nişanı, the Order of the State of the Republic of Turkey.

At the official ceremony in Ankara...

Foreign teachers at Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools (NIS) — a well-known network promoting an international-oriented curriculum for children — receive salaries that are 4.5 times higher than those of their local colleagues, according to the Supreme Audit Chamber (SAC) of Kazakhstan.

«In 2023, the average salary of domestic teachers was 508,100 tenge (approx. $934), while foreign teachers earned 2,281,500 tenge (approx. $4,195),» the SAC reported in its review of the government’s execution of the 2024 state budget.

The audit also noted that NIS covers a broad range of additional expenses for foreign teachers, including accommodation and...

Tour packages for the Backstreet Boys concert in Astana, scheduled for Sept. 21, are now available from Kazakh tour operators, starting at 48,400 tenge (approximately $82).

According to Kazakh Tourism, local tour companies Kompas, Skyway LTD and Sanat are offering various concert packages.

Kursiv.media reached out to the tour operators to inquire about the tour prices and what packages include.

Basic ticket options — no flight or accommodation

The most affordable option includes only concert tickets.

Sanat is offering tickets priced between $82 (sector E5, row 52) and $167 (sector N5, row 4). A ticket to the Silver Standing zone...

A trip to Charyn — a unique canyon near Almaty — feels like a short journey to Mars, thanks to its stunning and otherworldly landscape. It’s not that far from Almaty and a day trip without an overnight stay might not seem expensive. However, the price can rival that of a night in a luxury hotel. This is just one example of why many Kazakhstanis and foreign tourists are so surprised by how expensive tourism in Kazakhstan can be.

Daniyel Serzhanuly, vice chairman of Kazakh Tourism, calls things by their proper names: it is not just about overcharging driven by...

Kazakhstan’s men’s epee team has stormed into the semi-finals of the 2025 FIE Senior World Fencing Championships, pulling off a series of impressive victories in Tbilisi, Georgia. The Kazakh squad edged out Italy 45-43 in a tense quarterfinal showdown to secure a spot in the final four.

En route to the quarterfinals, Kazakhstan defeated fencing powerhouses Russia (45-35) and China (38-37). In the match against Italy, the Kazakhs led from the opening bout and surrendered the lead only once, after Matteo Galassi’s bout with Vadim Sharlaimov temporarily swung momentum in Italy’s favor.

However, as they did against China...

Kazakhstani scientists have discovered a previously unknown bacterium during their research in the West Kazakhstan region. The new species has been named Aeromonas oralensis, after the city of Uralsk, where it was found.

According to the newspaper Nadezhda, the discovery was made at a local fish farm specializing in Siberian sturgeon, which had been suffering from an unidentified disease. Initially, experts suspected the common bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila, but further testing revealed a new strain.

Serik Bakiyev, one of the scientists involved in the discovery, explained that such outbreaks are not uncommon on fish farms, as factors like hypothermia, contaminated water...