News

Kazakhstan has launched its first tenge-pegged stablecoin for use in cryptocurrency exchanges and crypto card payments.

The pilot project was rolled out under the National Bank’s regulatory sandbox. National Bank Chairman Timur Suleimenov announced that Intebix, one of the sandbox participants, will issue the tenge-backed stablecoin in partnership with Solana, Mastercard and Eurasian Bank.

The regulator states that the stablecoin aims to facilitate crypto trading and enable transactions with payment cards linked to digital assets.

Stablecoins are a class of cryptocurrency whose value remains relatively stable, unlike highly volatile tokens such as Bitcoin. They...

Kazakhstani IT company TrustExam.ai, locally known as Qylyq.kz, has reached an agreement with the U.K.’s Driving Instructors Association (DIA) to introduce its AI for driving tests in the country. The deal was finalized following the company’s participation in London Tech Week in June 2025.

Supported by Astana Hub and the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the U.K., TrustExam.ai showcased its product at an exhibition in London. Their AI solution will now make driving tests for car drivers and motorcyclists in the U.K. simpler, fairer and faster. Applicants will be able to take tests without long waits, while exam...

A surge of social media posts, mainly on TikTok, has reignited debate over predictions regarding the Christian doctrine of the Rapture, especially relating to 2025.

Understanding the Rapture
The Rapture is a belief among some Protestant groups, particularly American evangelicals. According to this teaching, when Christ returns, believers — living and resurrected — are taken up to meet Jesus in the air in «the twinkling of an eye.»

While «rapture» is not in the Bible, it stems from the Latin rapiemur in the Vulgate translation of the Greek harpazō, meaning «to seize» or «caught up.» The idea is...

Authorities in the South Korean city of Suwon, the capital of Gyeonggi Province south of Seoul, have launched an initiative to give the city a more «Korean» look by announcing a subsidy program to encourage small business owners to prioritize signboards in the Korean alphabet Hangul, rather than in foreign languages, The Korea Times reported.

Authorities plan to allocate up to $1,450 per shop to cover expenses for redesign and installation, with approximately 18 businesses to be chosen in the first round. Applications are open until Oct. 10. The initiative also allows shops to keep foreign words if...

The Backstreet Boys shared photos from Kazakhstan’s capital after their concerts in Almaty and Astana. One of their activities was unwinding in a local steam bathhouse.

Photos of four group members wearing sauna hats, steaming and plunging into a pool were uploaded to the boy band’s Instagram.

«Found some time to kick back and relax in between our shows in Kazakhstan,» the caption read.

Earlier...

Kazakhstan aims to become one of the top three global sunflower oil exporters by 2028, according to Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov.

At a recent government meeting, Saparov said that the industry targets $1 billion in annual revenue by 2028 and seeks to rank among the top three global suppliers of sunflower oil.

The ministry has developed a new industry roadmap designed to boost the oilseed sector. The plan calls for scaling up production and making fuller use of existing processing capacity.

According to Saparov, Kazakhstan has harvested approximately 700,000 tons of oilseed crops so far this...

Disney announced Monday that «Jimmy Kimmel Live» will return to ABC on Tuesday. The show faced a six-day suspension after controversy over the remarks Kimmel made about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination at Utah Valley University. During his monologue, Kimmel suggested that conservatives tried to frame Kirk’s accused killer in political terms, according to Reuters.

The decision to suspend the show sparked backlash from both political parties and consumer groups. Some Disney+ subscribers canceled their service in protest. Prominent Republicans and Democrats also criticized threats of regulatory action from Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr, who...

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres is nearing the end of his tenure with a mixed record, as questions mount over his effectiveness in addressing some of the world’s most pressing crises, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

Guterres, who took office on Jan. 1, 2017, will step down next year after eight years in the role. Critics say his time in office has been defined less by bold achievements than by stalled diplomacy and a U.N. Security Council often paralyzed by geopolitical divisions.

Some of his most high-profile decisions have frustrated member states. At the start...

Crocs has prepared a surprise for horror movie fans, announcing the limited Classic Clog Horror Pack 2025 to celebrate Halloween. The line consists of three pairs referencing iconic characters from classic horror films.

The new collection pays tribute to three legendary antagonists. White clogs with blood splatters reference Jason Voorhees from «Friday the 13th» — the infamous maniac in a hockey mask. A model designed to resemble denim overalls with bright stripes and weapon-themed Jibbitz charms honors Chucky, the killer doll from the «Child’s Play» franchise.

A pair featuring a creepy clown face, red rosettes, and «bloodstains» unmistakably resembles Pennywise

Muscovites are buzzing about one of this fall’s biggest openings: a North Korean restaurant called Pyongyang. It is the first such venture from the DPRK in Moscow in 15 years.

Singing for Kim Jong Un

Locals say the restaurant occupies the space of the former Verba eatery. The name isn’t displayed in neon but handwritten in marker on a piece of paper taped to the counter. Inside, the atmosphere is distinct: North Korean television plays on screens, Pyongyang magazines are scattered on tables, and each evening the soundtrack features Russian pop singer Shaman performing for Kim Jong Un.

Super Typhoon Ragasa, the strongest storm of 2025, battered the northern Philippines with winds of up to 285 kilometers per hour, prompting mass evacuations and nationwide shutdowns of schools and offices, according to the BBC.

The government warned of deadly surges, floods and landslides as the storm tore through the Babuyan Islands on Monday, ripping roofs and toppling trees. The danger remains, officials said, even as Ragasa slightly weakens.

Currently, Ragasa races toward southern China, where authorities warn of potential infrastructure damage, power outages and transportation disruptions. Shenzhen will evacuate 400,000 people, while Hong Kong braces for...

On Sept. 22, Uzbekistan Airways signed an agreement with Boeing worth more than $8 billion to acquire up to 22 Boeing 787 Dreamliners — 14 firm orders and options for eight more, Reuters reported.

According to the U.S. Commerce Department, the deal was concluded on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York. The department described it as «the largest commercial aircraft agreement of its kind in Central Asia» and valued it at $8.5 billion.

U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that the transaction would create over 35,000 jobs in the...

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before the 80th session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.

The two leaders focused on advancing economic and humanitarian cooperation. Zelenskyy stated his primary goal is a just and lasting peace with strong security guarantees for Ukraine.

They also addressed trade and economic ties, including interest from Kazakh companies in contributing to Ukraine’s recovery. Zelenskyy thanked Kazakhstan for its support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, has chosen Kazakhstan as the first country to roll out its next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) designed to train teachers and students, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek announced in New York.

According to the official, OpenAI has been developing a new version of ChatGPT specifically for teachers, designed to serve as a full-fledged assistant that handles routine tasks such as analyzing, collecting and searching for materials, preparing courses and checking homework.

Nurbek added that a separate version of ChatGPT will be available for students, serving as a mentor to help structure...

On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump urged pregnant women and mothers to avoid Tylenol, saying the pain reliever might contribute to autism. At a White House news conference, he reiterated this warning several times and stated that the Food and Drug Administration could soon alert doctors to a possible link. However, he did not provide any new evidence, according to the Associated Press.

Studies on acetaminophen, the main ingredient in Tylenol, have shown mixed results. Some research has questioned its use during pregnancy, but other studies have found no link. Experts point out that autism develops in the...

Kursiv Research ranked Kazakhstan’s IT companies by taxes paid in 2024, a method chosen since developers in the country aren’t required to disclose their financial statements publicly.

Unlike developed markets, Kazakhstan has few medium and large IT firms, none listed on an exchange, and the sector remains early-stage.

The ranking divides participants into two distinct groups, based on their tax regimes.

The first group consists mainly of IT divisions of major corporations that operate under the general tax regime. These firms, often established as separate legal entities, now face incentives to relocate or qualify for the Astana Hub

The world faces an urgent risk of nuclear apocalypse. Experts and world leaders warn that this danger is more acute now than it has been in decades.

Likewise, many Ukrainians fear the war could end with a nuclear strike at any moment, Novaya Gazeta reported.

Preparing for the worst

After years of war, Ukrainians have developed distinct ways to cope with shelling. Despite these strategies, the threat makes true adaptation impossible. Some hope to survive until morning; others prepare for the worst.

Igor, a resident of western Ukraine, hears a siren, grabs his backpack, and rushes out...

Kazakh horseman Ernar Zhasuzak from the Top Zhargan national arts center set a world record by riding two horses simultaneously for 2 kilometers at a speed of 60 kilometers per hour at the Almaty Hippodrome.

The spectacular stunt, performed before a live audience, was officially recorded by representatives of the Global Book of Records.

The Top Baige team congratulated the athlete, emphasizing that his achievement stands as a vivid...

On Monday, airports across Europe continued to experience delays after a cyberattack disrupted automated check-in systems from Collins Aerospace, a division of RTX Corporation. The attack began on Friday, causing flight disruptions and impacting thousands of travelers, according to Reuters.

ENISA, the EU cybersecurity agency, confirmed that the disruptions were caused by a cyberattack and stated that law enforcement had launched an investigation. Although ENISA did not disclose the origin of the attack, the event is part of a larger pattern, as similar incidents have hit European companies in recent months, including Jaguar Land Rover, which was...

Brazilian legislative initiatives that could grant amnesty to former President Jair Bolsonaro, recently sentenced to 27 years in prison, sparked massive protests across the country on Sept. 21, Reuters reported. The Associated Press noted that demonstrations were held in all 26 states as well as the federal district.

According to Reuters, the conservative-led lower house of Congress voted last week to accelerate review of a bill that may grant amnesty to Bolsonaro and his supporters convicted for the 2023 assault on government buildings, while lawmakers also passed a constitutional amendment that gives Congress new power to block...

The Taliban rejected Donald Trump‘s call for the U.S. to retake Bagram Air Base, abandoned in 2021, according to the Associated Press.

Speaking on Saturday, Trump stated that the U.S. should seek to regain control of Bagram Air Base, emphasizing its strategic importance. He suggested, without offering details, that efforts or discussions could be underway to regain control of the base, possibly involving the Taliban. On Sunday, however, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid rejected the idea, urging the U.S. to respect Afghanistan’s sovereignty and commitments made under the 2020 Doha Agreement, the AP reported.

Taliban defense officials backed up this...

Nick Carter, one of the vocalists of the Backstreet Boys, caught the attention of Kazakhstani fans with an unusual detail in his outfit. In an Instagram Stories post from aboard an aircraft, Carter was sitting next to his groupmate Kevin Richardson while watching a video on a smartphone.

What drew fans’ eyes, however, was the musician’s T-shirt — emblazoned with the logo of Kazakhstani brand Qazaq Republic. How the global star came to own the locally branded garment remains unknown.

Founded in 2017, Qazaq Republic has quickly become one of Kazakhstan’s most recognizable clothing brands, with dozens of retail outlets...

A tiger handler was killed Saturday in an attack while working at Growler Pines Tiger Preserve in Hugo, Oklahoma, according to NBC News.

Described by the preserve as a dedicated caretaker with a deep commitment to wildlife conservation, the victim was identified as Ryan Easley.

«This tragedy is a painful reminder of both the beauty and unpredictability of the natural world,» the center said in a statement on Facebook.

All tours and animal encounters have been suspended until further notice.

Growler Pines is a private preserve that offers guided tours and educational...

Kazakhstan’s bank loan portfolios are expanding much faster than deposits. New minimum reserve requirements taking effect in September are designed to cool this growth.

Kursiv Research reviewed the latest statistics (as of Aug. 1, 2025) to assess banks’ preparedness for the new rules and identify which are most and least vulnerable.

How will tighter MRR affect banks?

The National Bank of Kazakhstan raised minimum reserve requirements (MRR) starting in September 2025, making it a major market issue. The new rules will freeze part of commercial banks’ funds, inevitably affecting their liquidity and profitability.

When the...