Direct Flights Launch Between Izmir and Almaty

Kazhydromet has released the weather forecast for May 24, 2026, Qazinform News Agency reports.

Unstable weather conditions are expected across most of Kazakhstan on May 24, with rain and thunderstorms forecast in many regions. In eastern parts of the country, precipitation in the form of rain and snow is expected overnight, while heavy rain is forecast during the daytime. Fog is also expected across Kazakhstan during the night and morning hours.

Light overnight frost, with temperatures dropping to around -1°C, is expected in eastern parts of East Kazakhstan region and mountainous areas of Zhetysu region.

A high wildfire risk is expected in Atyrau, West Kazakhstan, Aktobe, and Ulytau regions, as well as in parts of Mangistau, Kostanay, Akmola, North Kazakhstan, Pavlodar, Karaganda, Turkistan, Kyzylorda, Zhambyl, Almaty, Abai, and Zhetysu regions.

Extreme wildfire conditions are forecast for parts of Kyzylorda, Mangistau, Aktobe, Karaganda, Pavlodar, Zhetysu, Ulytau, and Abai regions.

 

Kazakh school students won six medals at the Open International Biology Olympiad (OIBO-2026), held from May 15 till 22 at the Sirius Federal Territory in Russia, Qazinform News Agency reports, citing Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Education.

Kazakhstan’s national team was represented by six students and delivered a perfect performance, winning two gold, three silver, and one bronze medal.

Gold medals were awarded to Yersultan Kairken, an 11th-grade student at the Bilim-Innovation specialized boarding lyceum in Pavlodar region, and Sofya Zheltova, an 11th-grade student at NIS Medeu district in Almaty.

Silver medals went to Nurali Bilyalov, a 10th-grade student at the Bilim-Innovation specialized boarding lyceum in Pavlodar region, Daryn Mukashev, an 11th-grade student at the Bilim-Innovation specialized boarding lyceum in East Kazakhstan region, and Nurasyl Adilgali, a 9th-grade student at the Bilim-Innovation boarding lyceum in Mangistau region.

The bronze medal was won by Yevgeniya Mezhenina, a 10th-grade student at NIS in Karaganda.

The team was led by Dinmukhammed Urazbayev, a prize winner of national and international Olympiads and currently a fourth-year student at Astana Medical University.

The prestigious intellectual competition brought together more than 100 young biologists from 17 countries and included theoretical, practical, and team project rounds. Participants took on advanced challenges in molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, and physiology, while also carrying out laboratory work in botany, zoology, and bioinformatics.

The Olympiad assessed not only students’ theoretical knowledge but also their research abilities, analytical skills, and capacity to apply interdisciplinary approaches.

 

As part of scheduled activities by the Air Defense Forces of Kazakhstan’s Armed Forces, a demonstration flyover of fighter jets will take place over Astana on May 28, Qazinform News Agency reports, citing the Ministry of Defense.

In preparation for the event, military aviation training flights will begin in the capital’s airspace starting May 24.

According to the ministry, both the demonstration flyover and training exercises will be conducted at safe altitudes and are not expected to disrupt the city’s normal routine.

The Defense Ministry stressed that all flights will be carried out in full compliance with safety requirements and do not pose any risk to the public. It also noted that the use of colored smoke is solely for demonstration purposes and has no harmful impact on the environment.

 

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.

 

Since the beginning of the year, 126 measles cases were registered in Zhetysu region, with 82.5% of patients being children under 14, Qazinform News Agency reports.

Of which 85% were unvaccinated against measles.

Measles remains one of the most contagious viral infections, transmitted via airborne droplets, the sanitary and epidemiological control department reports.

Almost all unvaccinated individuals are susceptible to infection.

Symptoms include high fever up to 40.5°C, inflammation of the respiratory tract and oral mucosa, conjunctivitis, a characteristic rash, and general intoxication.

The department stressed that refusal of vaccination is the main driver of the outbreak.

Weekly monitoring of measles cases is underway in the region. Each case triggers an epidemiological investigation. Health workers conduct door-to-door checks to detect new measles cases and prevent its further spread.

According to sanitary doctors, there is no specific treatment for measles, stressing that timely vaccination remains the most effective protection.

Specialists urge residents not to refuse preventive immunization and to seek medical help immediately at the first symptoms, avoiding self-treatment.

 

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.