Robotaxi Service Introduced in Almaty
Images | gov.kz
A robotaxi service has been unveiled in Almaty. The autonomous ride-hailing system will be introduced in stages, beginning with a pilot phase involving limited testing before being expanded as the technology's safety and reliability are confirmed, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport said.
According to the ministry, the service will include 24/7 communication with dispatch centres and insurance coverage for all trips. The autonomous vehicles will be operated using artificial intelligence, continuous traffic analysis systems and safety-response algorithms.
The Ministry of Transport is currently preparing the regulatory framework required for the operation of robotaxis. Draft legislative amendments have already been developed to define key concepts, establish rules for the use of autonomous transport, outline the responsibilities of government agencies and introduce the necessary legal mechanisms.
The ministry noted that international experience has demonstrated the successful use of autonomous technologies in a number of countries and that their introduction in Kazakhstan could help drive the development of high-tech sectors of the economy.
Almaty and Astana are being considered as the main locations for pilot projects due to their advanced digital infrastructure and elements of intelligent transport systems.
The rollout of robotaxi services will be carried out gradually, with strict compliance with safety requirements at every stage.
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Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry Warns of New Entry System in Vietnam
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Vietnamese authorities have launched a pilot Pre-arrival Information (PAI) system for foreign nationals, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.
The new system allows travellers to submit information about their planned arrival in Vietnam online before their trip. Based on the information provided, immigration authorities can conduct the necessary checks in advance, helping to reduce border control processing times and ease congestion at international airports.
The system is currently being tested at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Vietnamese authorities plan to gradually expand its use to Noi Bai International Airport, Da Nang International Airport, Cam Ranh International Airport, Phu Quoc International Airport, and other border checkpoints across the country.
Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry stressed that participation in the PAI system is not a mandatory requirement for entering Vietnam and is not connected to the issuance or processing of visa applications. Its sole purpose is to facilitate the advance submission of travel information.
Vietnamese authorities have also advised foreign nationals to use only the system's official online portal and to exercise caution when visiting third-party websites in order to avoid potential fraud and scams.
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FlyArystan Resumes Flights from Almaty to Issyk-Kul
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Kazakh low-cost carrier FlyArystan has launched its summer flight programme on the Almaty-Issyk-Kul (Tamchy)-Almaty route. The first flight was operated on June 18.
According to the airline, the seasonal service will run until August 30, 2026. Flights will operate twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays.
Departures from Almaty are scheduled for 4:15 p.m., with a flight time of less than one hour. One-way fares start from 34,000 tenge.
FlyArystan said the route significantly reduces travel time compared with ground transportation and remains highly popular among Kazakh tourists.
In addition, the airline is launching direct flights to Issyk-Kul from Astana for the first time this year. Services on the Astana-Issyk-Kul (Tamchy)-Astana route will begin on July 3 and operate twice weekly, on Mondays and Fridays, through August 31.
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Kazakhstan Steps Up Efforts to Combat Illegal Migration
Kazakhstan is taking additional measures to reduce illegal migration, Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kosherbayev said on the sidelines of a Senate session.
Countries within the Schengen Area are tightening controls at their borders as the number of refugees increases. Naturally, there is illegal migration, and it is the right of those states to strengthen border controls," the foreign minister said.
Kosherbayev stressed that Kazakhstan is also implementing measures aimed at reducing illegal migration and strengthening migration control within the country.
Accordingly, we are taking similar steps. We are also working to reduce the level of illegal migration and, ideally, to eradicate it altogether," the minister noted.
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Growth of Kazakhstan’s Saiga Population Slows
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Kazakhstan’s saiga population has reached approximately 4.7 million animals following the spring aerial survey, although population growth has slowed, according to the Kazakhstan Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity.
Survey data show that the Ural population numbered around 2.7 million animals, up 17.4% from the previous year. The Betpak-Dala population was estimated at approximately 1.87 million animals, an increase of 16.9%, while the Ustyurt population reached about 119,000 animals, up 52.6%.
The total saiga population in Kazakhstan is estimated at 4.689 million animals, 17.9% higher than in 2025.
The slower growth rates of the Ural and Betpak-Dala populations are directly linked to population management measures, under which 196,173 saiga were removed. This level of removal did not reduce the overall population, but it acted as a limiting factor on further growth. In addition, increased mortality caused by the severe winter conditions of 2025-2026 (dzhut) must also be taken into account," experts said.
Specialists noted that aerial surveys provide an estimated population assessment with a certain margin of error and do not constitute a direct count of every animal. Nevertheless, the data make it possible to monitor population trends and support informed conservation and species management decisions.
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Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry Comments on Detention of Kazakh Citizen in U.S. Terrorism Investigation
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that it is aware of the arrest in the United States of a Kazakh citizen suspected of involvement in terrorism-related activities.
An investigation is currently underway and all circumstances surrounding the case are being clarified. Additional information will be provided as official details become available," the ministry said in response to an inquiry from a Kazakhstan Today correspondent.
According to media reports, U.S. security services detained a Kazakh citizen on June 5 in the city of Commerce, California.
The detention is reportedly linked to suspicions of connections with terrorist organisations, according to media reports.
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Lawmaker Calls for Greater Transparency on Foreign Grant Spending in Kazakhstan
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Lawmaker Calls for Greater Transparency on Foreign Grant Spending in Kazakhstan
Mazhilis deputy Magerram Magerramov has submitted an inquiry to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva, proposing an expansion of the information published in Kazakhstan’s registry of recipients of foreign funding.
The lawmaker said that many organisations receiving foreign funding have "for decades functioned as mouthpieces of hostility toward their own country, systematically undermining public trust in state institutions under the guise of human rights rhetoric and creating fertile ground for destabilisation."
According to Magerramov, the data published by the State Revenue Committee does not provide a full picture of how foreign funds are used. He noted that the registry lacks information on specific projects, funding objectives, contractors, subcontractors and ultimate recipients of the funds.
Magerramov also drew attention to the activities of international foundations, including Open Society Foundations, National Endowment for Democracy and European Endowment for Democracy. He noted that the activities of these organisations are restricted or prohibited in a number of countries.
In this regard, the lawmaker proposed expanding reporting requirements for foreign-funded entities and publishing:
• information on specific projects and programmes;
• data on contractors and subcontractors;
• information on ultimate beneficiaries;
• project outcomes, including research, media initiatives and public campaigns.
We emphasise that this is not about banning NGOs. It is about ending the practice of withholding information from the public when, through the expenditure of billions of tenge, an environment hostile to the state is systematically being created in Kazakhstan. In the context of hybrid warfare, transparency is a matter of preserving sovereignty," the inquiry states.
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Almaty Residents Concerned by Markings on Trees Along Kok-Zhailau Trail
Images | Photos from eyewitnesses
Residents of Almaty have discovered dozens of markings on trees along the hiking route to Kok-Zhailau through the Kazachka Gorge. Local residents submitted photographs and video footage of the marked trees to the news agency's editorial office.
According to eyewitnesses, various symbols, including numerical markings, have been painted on tree trunks. The markings have raised concerns among hiking enthusiasts, who fear that the trees may be slated for removal.
The markings on the trees are alarming. If the forestry authorities quietly cut down this many trees under the guise of construction work, it would be a crime. Most of the marked trees show no signs of being dead or dying," a comment sent to the editorial office said.
The images show trees marked with numbers and other symbols painted on exposed sections of their trunks. At present, however, no official explanation has been provided regarding the purpose of the markings in this area.
In response to concerns raised by residents, the agency has sent inquiries to the administration of the Ile-Alatau State National Natural Park and relevant specialists, requesting clarification on the purpose of the markings.
The editorial team is awaiting official comments.
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Puppy Rescued After Abuse in Shymkent Finds New Home with Russian Singer
Images | Фото: Instagram/iz_kletki_v_dom
A puppy that was severely abused in Shymkent has found a new home with Russian singer Anna Asti.
According to volunteers from the animal rescue community iz_kletki_v_dom, a group of children placed the puppy in a plastic bag and repeatedly threw it onto the asphalt. When the animal was taken to a veterinary clinic, it was covered in blood and in critical condition.
Veterinarians diagnosed the puppy with multiple internal injuries and bruising.
His name is Mishutka. He has been adopted by Anna Asti. He is now in Moscow," the volunteers said.
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