85% of measles cases in Zhetysu region detected among the unvaccinated

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Health has drafted amendments to the rules governing the co-payment mechanism, Qazinform News Agency reports.

The proposed changes provide for the supply of medications to patients with arterial hypertension through a co-payment system.

Under the proposed system, patients would be able to choose between receiving medication free of charge through primary healthcare organizations or obtaining it through private pharmacy chains with a co-payment option and the ability to select their preferred manufacturer.

The Ministry of Health said the proposed measures are expected to broaden access to medicines, including previously unavailable drugs, give patients more flexibility in choosing between original and generic medications, improve patient satisfaction, and enhance competition and service quality among pharmacy chains.

The document has been published on the Open NLA platform for public discussion until June 8.

 

On May 30, the "Astana" Park will host the gastro festival "Aktobe - The Capital of Millet", a celebration of traditional culture and folk cuisine dedicated to one of the oldest grain crops of the Kazakh steppe.

The festival will begin at 11:00 AM and continue until 5:00 PM. Alongside the gastronomic program, the ethno-festival "Änım Sensıñ - Aktobe" will also take place.

Guests will enjoy an exhibition featuring more than 50 millet-based dishes, a fair of traditional foods and local products, a master class on preparing zhent, as well as hot baursaks and tea served from a samovar. At a special venue, craftsmen from the Uil District will introduce visitors to traditional millet-processing methods, while the district museum’s exhibition will showcase historical artifacts related to this grain crop. Folk artisans will present handmade products crafted from leather, felt, wood, wool, and traditional jewelry.

From 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, a roundtable discussion titled "Aktobe - The Capital of Millet" will be held with the participation of leading experts in agriculture and agronomy. The discussion will focus on reviving millet cultivation traditions, promoting its nutritional benefits, and developing the region’s agro-gastronomic potential.

 

At today’s Government meeting in Astana, Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev announced that Kazakhstan will open new direct international routes to Tokyo and New York, Qazinform News Agency reports.

He said the Astana-Tokyo flight is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, while Astana-New York is planned for the second quarter of 2027.

Currently, the Kazakh capital operates 34 international routes.

Kazakhstan intends to open or resume 11 additional international routes this year, including flights from Astana to Ulaanbaatar, Guangzhou, Issyk-Kul, Larnaca, and Kashgar, from Almaty to Tokyo, Larnaca, Izmir, Warsaw, Hanoi - Almaty - Prague, and from Kostanay to Tashkent.

By the end of 2026, Kazakhstan’s airlines will add six new aircraft to their fleets.

 

The Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Federal Republic of Germany organized an event for children and representatives of the Kazakh diaspora, aimed at promoting the Kazakh language, culture, and national traditions among the younger generation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.

The Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Germany, Nurlan Onzhanov emphasized the important role of families and the diaspora in strengthening children’s connection to Kazakhstan’s historical and cultural heritage. In a warm and friendly atmosphere, the head of the diplomatic mission read to the children the Kazakh folk tale "The Animals’ Dispute over the Beginning of the Year" ("Жыл басына таласқан хайуанаттар"), accompanied by illustrations reflecting the сюжет of the story. A screening of the Kazakh animated film "Why Does the Swallow Have a Split Tail?" ("Қарлығаштың құйрығы неге айыр?") was also organized for the young participants and sparked great interest among the children.

As part of the event, the children were presented with books on behalf of the Embassy of Kazakhstan.

A diverse educational and entertainment programme was prepared for the young participants, aimed at fostering interest in Kazakhstan, its culture, language, and traditions. The children recited poems, sang songs, performed dance numbers, presented their drawings and creative works, and took part in a quiz about Kazakhstan. At the end of the competition, the children were awarded prizes and gifts.

Particular interest was shown in traditional national games - Togyzqumalak and Asyk atu, which introduced the children to elements of Kazakh cultural heritage and created an atmosphere of lively interaction and engagement.

During the meeting with representatives of the Kazakh diaspora, further cooperation was also discussed, including the organization of joint cultural and educational events aimed at supporting compatriots and preserving the national identity of the younger generation.

The event contributed to strengthening ties with the Kazakh diaspora in Germany and further promoting the Kazakh language among children and young people.

 

An anticyclone ridge will continue to influence most of Kazakhstan, bringing dry weather across much of the country. However, western, southwestern, and northeastern regions, as well as mountainous areas in the southeast, will experience rain and thunderstorms due to passing atmospheric fronts. Heavy rain is expected in the southwest during the daytime, while precipitation as rain and snow is forecast in the east, Qazinform News Agency reports.

Strong winds are expected nationwide. Dust storms are forecast in southern, western, and southwestern regions, while fog is expected overnight and in the morning in northern, eastern, and southwestern parts of Kazakhstan.

Ground frost of -2 degrees Celsius is expected in northern and eastern parts of East Kazakhstan region, as well as western areas of Abai region.

High wildfire danger remains in the northwest of Atyrau, northeast of Mangistau, center of Kostanay, west, east, south of Pavlodar, north of Kyzylorda, west, north of Turkistan, Karaganda, west of Zhambyl, Almaty, center of East Kazakhstan, south of Akmola, Ulytau, east of Abai regions.

High wildfire danger is also expected in southern parts of Atyrau region and in northern and central areas of Akmola region.

Extreme wildfire danger remains in Kyzylorda region, south of Aktobe region, Karaganda region, and southeast of Zhetysu region. Extreme wildfire danger is also forecast in east of Pavlodar region and Ulytau region.

 

Children in Kazakhstan living with rare hereditary diseases will soon have access to specialized medical care through a dedicated treatment unit, Qazinform News Agency reports.

The new department will be established at the Kazakh Scientific Center of Dermatology and Infectious Diseases (KRCDIZ), where a specialized unit for the treatment of genodermatoses - inherited disorders affecting the skin, hair, nails, and mucous membranes - is set to open in the near future. The facility will include specially equipped treatment and rehabilitation rooms for children, aimed at improving the quality of care provided to young patients.

 

Unstable weather conditions with rain and thunderstorms, hail and squall will persist across most of Kazakhstan on May 11 under the influence of a northwesterly cyclone and associated atmospheric frontal systems, Qazinform News Agency learned from Kazhydromet.

Heavy rainfall will batter eastern, southern, and southeastern regions.

Only northwestern and southeastern regions will experience dry weather under the influence of a northwesterly anticyclone.

Strong winds will hit across the country, and fog will blanket western areas at night and in the morning. Fog is also expected in the mountainous districts of southeastern parts, while southern regions will see a dust storm.

-1-6°C nighttime ground frosts are forecast in the North Kazakhstan region, in the west, north and south of Akmola region, in the west and east of Zhambyl region, in the north of Aktobe, West Kazakhstan regions, and in the west of Abai region.

High fire danger persists in Kyzylorda and Zhetisu regions, in the north and east of Almaty region, in the west and east of Zhambyl region, in the north and center of Turkistan region, in Ulytau region, in the west, north, and south of Karaganda region, in the south of Aktobe region, in the southeast of Akmola region, in the west, east, and south of Pavlodar region, in the East Kazakhstan region, and in the east of Abai region.

Extremely high fire risk is forecast in the east of Kyzylorda region, in the south and center of Abai region, in the southeast and south of Zhetisu region.

 

Antarctica's ice shelves may be collapsing faster than current climate models predict. This is stated in a study published in the journal Nature Communications, iz.ru reports.

This is the conclusion reached by scientists who have discovered a new oceanic mechanism that enhances melting even in the cold waters of East Antarctica. According to forecasts, by the end of the 21st century, the level of the world's oceans will rise by several tens of centimeters, but with high emissions, it is possible to rise to 5 m by 2150.

It is noted that the key role is played by basal channels - elongated depressions under glaciers up to hundreds of meters deep. Modeling under the Fimbulisen ice shelf has shown that even moderate intrusions of warm deep waters create self-organizing patterns of enhanced melting.

Floating warm waters, entering the channels, enhance the local destruction of ice. This means that even cold and fresh cavities under glaciers can be vulnerable, the researchers explained.