Almaty Braces for Severe Traffic Congestion as School Year Begins
Almaty authorities will step up traffic control ahead of the new school year, deploying foot patrols at heavily congested intersections, Timur Nogaibayev, head of the Public Security Department of the Almaty Police Department, said.
According to Nogaibayev, numerous construction and installation projects are currently underway across the city, some of which will not be completed before the start of the school year. With traffic volumes expected to increase, police will strengthen control at the busiest locations.
"The traffic load will, of course, be enormous. Foot patrols will be deployed at intersections to ensure road safety. We often see drivers entering an intersection even when they know it is blocked and there is congestion ahead, creating gridlock. To prevent such violations, we will deploy police officers at these locations," Nogaibayev said.
Police units will also be stationed at key entrances to Almaty. They will monitor traffic arriving from the Kuldzhinsky Trakt, as well as from the Karasai and Ili districts.
Traffic congestion remains one of Almaty's most pressing problems. According to police data, more than 1.5 million vehicles, including those arriving from outside the city, travel on the metropolis's roads every day.
The city's entry points face particularly heavy traffic. According to the Almaty city administration, around 300,000 vehicles enter the city daily. One of the busiest routes is the Almaty-Kaskelen road, which carries up to 60,000 vehicles per day.
In July, work began to expand an eight-kilometer section of the Almaty-Bishkek highway from four to eight lanes. The project is scheduled for completion by December 2027.
Ongoing construction and related road restrictions are putting additional pressure on the city's transport network. In particular, a section of Tole Bi Street between Ashimov Street and Alatau Street is closed from July 14 through Aug. 25 due to road extension works.
Traffic problems are also being exacerbated by changes in traffic flows. In May, the city's Urban Mobility Department said the bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor on Timiryazev Street had reduced the street's traffic capacity. As a result, some motorists shifted to Al-Farabi Avenue, increasing congestion there. City authorities are considering changes to the traffic management scheme on Timiryazev Street.
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Air Astana Plans to Launch In-Flight Internet in October
Air Astana aircraft offering internet access could begin operating as early as October, Damir Seisembekov, chairman of Kazakhstan’s Telecommunications Committee, said at a government briefing.
"Air Astana has plans to launch internet services on its aircraft. On our side, certain legislative amendments have been adopted, and a presidential decree was issued in June. So it is now possible - there are no barriers to launching in-flight internet. We are actively working on the issue with Air Astana and expect the first aircraft with internet access to appear as early as October," Seisembekov said.
It is not yet clear whether internet access will be included in the price of an airline ticket or whether passengers will have to pay separately for the service.
According to the committee chairman, that decision falls within the airline’s remit.
"As for payment, it would probably be better to check with Air Astana. According to their statements, they have bonus programmes and loyalty schemes. That is not a matter for us," Seisembekov said.
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Kazakh State Circus performers win gold and silver at international festivals
Images | Akimat of Almaty
Performers from the Kazakh State Circus have won gold and silver awards at international circus arts festivals in St Petersburg and Moscow, the Almaty city administration’s press service said.
"During a single festival season, representatives of the Kazakh State Circus received two international awards - gold in St Petersburg and silver in Moscow," the statement said.
At the Without Borders 2026 International Circus Festival in St Petersburg, the Kazakh State Circus’s Nomad troupe won a gold medal for its equestrian acrobatic act.
The troupe also received a special prize from the Russian State Circus Company and an invitation to take part in the IDOL 2027 international festival in Moscow.
Meanwhile, the fourth Artist International Festival was held at the Nikulin Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard in Moscow, bringing together performers from 17 countries.
Kazakhstan was represented by Kazakh State Circus performer Eleonora Kanakhina with her Lunaria act, a wire-balancing performance. She won a silver award following the competition programme.
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Thailand to Cut Visa-Free Stay for Kazakh Citizens to 30 Days
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Thailand will reduce the visa-free stay for Kazakh citizens from 60 to 30 days starting on 15 September, the Kazakh Embassy in Thailand said.
The changes follow a decision by Thailand’s Cabinet, which takes effect on 15 September 2026. From that date, Kazakh citizens will be subject to the visa exemption agreement between the governments of Kazakhstan and Thailand for holders of national passports.
"Under the agreement, Kazakh citizens will be able to stay in Thailand without a visa for up to 30 calendar days from the date of entry. Their total stay must not exceed 90 calendar days within any 180-day period," the statement said.
Travellers planning to visit Thailand have been advised to take the changes to the country’s immigration rules into account. Those intending to stay for more than 30 days should obtain the appropriate visa in advance.
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No New Information on Kazakh Women Missing After Nepal Floods - Foreign Ministry
There is still no new information about the Kazakh women who went missing after flooding in Nepal, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry told Kazakhstan Today.
More than two weeks have passed since the floods. Responding to a question from the news agency about the search operation, a ministry representative said the situation remained unchanged and no new information was available.
It was previously reported that a search was under way for three Kazakh nationals who went missing in Nepal following the floods.
The devastating flooding struck border areas of Nepal and China’s Tibet Autonomous Region on 26 August.
Citizens of more than 20 countries are among those reported missing.
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Kazakhstan MP Proposes Tougher Penalties for Harmful Livestreams
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A Kazakh lawmaker has proposed introducing a legal definition of "trash streaming" and tougher penalties for livestreams featuring violence, dangerous pranks, insults and deliberate provocations.
Kurultai deputy Zharkynbek Amantayuly made the proposal in a parliamentary inquiry addressed to Culture and Information Minister Arman Kyrykbayev and Interior Minister Yerzhan Sadenov.
According to the lawmaker, social media platforms have seen a growing number of livestreams featuring obscene language, insults and humiliation, as well as dangerous pranks and provocations.
Some content creators deliberately produce such material to attract views and likes, receive donations and generate advertising revenue.
"As a result, unlawful acts in some cases become a means of making money," the parliamentary inquiry said.
Amantayuly noted that the Interior Ministry had already brought a number of social media users to administrative liability for distributing unlawful content.
The inquiry also focused on protecting people who appear in livestreams without their consent. The lawmaker said stronger mechanisms were needed to protect their honour and dignity.
"We are not proposing restrictions on freedom of speech. On the contrary, we need to clearly define the boundary between freedom of speech and responsibility," Amantayuly said.
The lawmaker therefore proposed introducing a legal definition of "trash streaming" and tougher penalties for broadcasting violence, dangerous pranks, insults and deliberate provocations during livestreams.
He also proposed working with TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and other platforms to develop a mechanism for quickly identifying and blocking unlawful livestreams and establishing the identities of those behind them.
In addition, Amantayuly called for a unified state system to monitor unlawful content on social media and for the results of this work to be published regularly.
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Kazakhstani doctors continue professional experience exchange in Türkiye
The Consulate General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Istanbul held a meeting with the management of Hisar Intercontinental Hospital in Türkiye.
During the meeting, the parties discussed further development of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Türkiye in the field of healthcare, particularly opportunities for Kazakhstani doctors to undertake internships at leading medical institutions in Türkiye.
The parties emphasized the importance of continuing cooperation in enhancing the professional qualifications of Kazakhstani medical specialists, familiarizing them with modern medical practices and new technologies, as well as facilitating the exchange of experience.
In this regard, the parties exchanged views on the procedures for Kazakhstani doctors to undertake internships, relevant medical fields and specialties, internship duration, and organizational matters.
The Turkish side expressed its readiness to support the internship opportunities for Kazakhstani doctors and emphasized its interest in continuing cooperation in the relevant areas.
A meeting was also held with Kazakhstani citizens receiving medical treatment at the aforementioned hospital.
As a result of the discussions, an agreement was reached on providing opportunities for Kazakhstani medical specialists to exchange experience at the hospital, as well as on facilitating internship opportunities for Kazakhstani students studying medicine in Türkiye.
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Almaty Pavilion Wins an Award at Malaysia’s MATTA Fair 2026
Images | gov.kz
Almaty presented its tourism potential at Malaysia's international tourism exhibition "MATTA Fair 2026." Kazakhstan was represented for the first time at Malaysia's largest tourism industry event, a country that has held a leading position in the sector over the past couple of decades.
Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Malaysia, Bulat Sugurbayev, noted in his welcoming speech the importance of expanding tourism exchanges between the two countries, stressing that Kazakhstan's participation in MATTA Fair opens up new opportunities to promote the country's tourism potential among Malaysian travelers.
The Secretary-General of Malaysia's Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Shaharuddin bin Abu Sohot, highlighted Almaty's growing role as a tourism hub that opens up opportunities for travel to other regions of Kazakhstan and Central Asia.
The "Visit Almaty" pavilion was one of the most striking at the exhibition: its design and the performances of the creative team drew strong interest from Malaysian tourists and industry representatives. Over the three days of the exhibition, the pavilion was visited by more than 10,000 registered guests who learned about Almaty's attractions, cuisine, and traditions.
Alongside the exhibition, "Almaty Tourism Day" was held in Kuala Lumpur, dedicated to promoting Almaty as one of the most attractive destinations in Central Asia. The event brought together representatives of Malaysia's Ministry of Tourism, the associations MATTA and MATA, airlines, and tourism businesses. The program included presentations, the signing of memorandums, and business meetings.
A key outcome of the day was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Almaty Akimat's Tourism Department and the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents, aimed at strengthening cooperation, information exchange, and business ties between the tourism industries of both countries.
Association President Nigel Wong noted the high level of interest in the Kazakh stand and announced that the Almaty pavilion received an award for best cultural program. On the sidelines of the event, more than 50 Kazakh and Malaysian tourism companies held talks.
The cultural program, featuring the dombra, kobyz, national dances, and tastings of traditional dishes, allowed guests to get closer to Kazakhstan's heritage and the hospitality of the Great Steppe.
"Almaty Tourism Day" continued Kazakhstan's active promotion in a key tourism market of Southeast Asia and confirmed the mutual interest of both sides in developing tourism ties.
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Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan Move to Resume Caspian Ferry Service
Images | facebook/Alim Bayel
Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have begun work to restore passenger ferry services across the Caspian Sea on the Kuryk-Baku-Kuryk route. The service was suspended in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Alim Bayel, said.
Kazakhstan proposed relaunching the ferry route, an initiative backed by Azerbaijan. The two countries’ transport authorities are now working to resume passenger services as soon as possible.
"We recently proposed that Azerbaijan resume passenger services on the Port of Kuryk-Port of Baku-Port of Kuryk ferry route. The service operated until 2020 but was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the suspension, around 1,500 passengers a year travelled across the Caspian Sea by ferry. I believe even more people will be interested in travelling along this route in the coming period," the diplomat wrote.
Bayel said restoring the ferry service would provide fresh momentum for passenger travel between the two countries, boost tourism and expand opportunities along the Middle Corridor.
"We are pleased that the Azerbaijani side has supported Kazakhstan’s proposal. The transport authorities of the two countries have now begun work to restore passenger services as soon as possible," Bayel said.
There are currently 37 flights a week between Baku and the Kazakh cities of Astana, Almaty, Shymkent, Aktau and Atyrau.
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