Kazakhstan's constitutional referendum: Voter turnout at 19.21% as of 10:00 am
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Voter turnout in the republican referendum on the adoption of the new Constitution of Kazakhstan was at 19.21 percent during the first three hours of voting, the country’s Central Referendum Commission reported, Qazinform News Agency reports.
According to the Commission, a preliminary voter turnout stood at 19.21% as of 10:00 am local time in the vote on the draft of Kazakhstan’s new Constitution.
At a briefing, member of the Central Referendum Commission Lyazzat Suindik said that by 10:00 am, 19.21% of citizens included on the voter lists, or 2,393,844 people, had received ballots.
In total, 12,461,796 citizens across the country are eligible to participate in the vote.
Voter turnout ranking by regions as of 10:00 am:
- Karaganda region - 26.64%
- Kyzylorda region - 24.02%
- Aktobe region - 21.80%
- Shymkent city - 21.36%
- Turkistan region - 21.21%
- Zhetysu region - 21.01%
- Astana city - 20.68%
- East Kazakhstan region - 20.64%
- Ulytau region - 20.31%
- Akmola region - 19.82%
- Atyrau region - 19.44%
- Kostanay region - 19.24%
- West Kazakhstan region - 18.80%
- North Kazakhstan region - 18.72%
- Mangystau region - 18.53%
- Zhambyl region - 18.49%
- Almaty region - 18.10%
- Abai region - 17.98%
- Pavlodar region - 16.36%
- Almaty city - 9.54%
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Kazakhstan weather forecast for May 2
Fronts will sweep across the nation on Saturday and cause rains and thunderstorms, hail, and squalls in most parts, Qazinform News Agency reports, citing the National Weather Service Kazhydromet.
The country will also expect strong winds, kicking up a dust storm in the southwest.
Temperatures near or below zero degrees Celsius are set to grip the north, east of West Kazakhstan, northeast of Aktobe, west, north of Kostanay, Akmola, west of North Kazakhstan regions at night.
Forecasters predict high fire danger in the west, north, east of Pavlodar, center, west, east of Zhambyl, west, north, south of Karaganda, south of Aktobe, west of East Kazakhstan, North Kazakhstan, east, south, center of Kyzylorda, south, east, center of Abai, west, north of Zhetysu, east of Ulytau regions.
The south and east of Zhetysu region are to brace for extreme fire danger.
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Soyuz-5/Sunkar rocket completes maiden flight from modernized Baiterek launch site
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The Soyuz-5 (Sunkar) completed its inaugural launch late Thursday night, marking the operational debut of the modernized Baiterek launch infrastructure, Qazinform News Agency reports.
The Soyuz-5 rocket, carrying a mock payload, had been transported on March 31 via the Baikonur Cosmodrome’s railway from the assembly and testing facility at Site 42 and installed vertically on the launch pad at Site 45. For nearly a month, comprehensive tests of the ground complex and the new rocket were conducted at the Baiterek launch site.
The first test launch was carried out along a suborbital trajectory, without placing the mock payload into Earth orbit. The main objective was to test the performance of the launch complex equipment, rocket engines, onboard systems, and software.
The Baiterek space rocket complex is a joint project between Kazakhstan and Russia to develop ground-based space infrastructure at the Baikonur Cosmodrome for launches using rockets powered by environmentally friendly fuel components.
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Rains and thunderstorms to hit most of Kazakhstan Friday
Forecasters say a northwestern cyclone and associated fronts are likely to lash most parts of Kazakhstan with rains and thunderstorms, hail, and squalls, Qazinform News Agency cites the National Weather Service Kazhydromet.
According to Kazhydromet, northern and eastern parts are to expect dry weather. Strong winds are set to sweep over Kazakhstan, stirring dust across northern, southern, and eastern parts.
Forecasters warned that -1C frost could grip the north and east of West Kazakhstan at night, with the east of East Kazakhstan region expected see a touch of ground frost.
A high fire danger is set in place in the west, north of Pavlodar, center of Zhambyl, south of Karaganda, Aktobe, west of East Kazakhstan, North Kazakhstan, east, south, center of Kyzylorda, south, east, center of Abai regions.
A severe fire threat is expected to unfold in the south, east of Zhetysu region.
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Astana Hosts Traditional "Friendly Breakfast" with Diplomatic Corps
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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Alibek Bakayev took part in the annual "Friendly Breakfast" meeting attended by heads of diplomatic missions and representatives of international organizations accredited in the country, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
In his remarks, he outlined Kazakhstan’s key foreign policy priorities and ongoing domestic reforms. It was noted that Kazakhstan remains committed to developing cooperation with all partners and advocates for resolving conflicts exclusively through peaceful means - via dialogue and in accordance with international law and the UN Charter. Kazakhstan also reaffirmed its readiness to provide a platform for peace negotiations in the city of Turkestan.
The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Ambassador of Palestine Montaser Abu Zeid, highlighted the importance of such meetings for an open exchange of views on pressing international issues and informal communication.
The event brought together more than 60 representatives of the diplomatic corps and international organizations, including the UN, CICA, and the World Bank.
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Kazakhstan to see weather with no precipitation in most parts on Thursday
An anticyclone spur is to cause the weather without precipitation in most parts of Kazakhstan on April 30, Qazinform News Agency cites the National Weather Service Kazhydromet.
The Mets said rains and thunderstorms are set to persist in the west, northwest, south, and mountain areas of the southern region, with the southwest and northwest to expect hail, and northwest and south - squalls. Strong wind and fog are also predicted across the country.
The north and east of West Kazakhstan region is to brace for lingering frost risk with temperatures to fall as low as -2C.
Fire danger is set to be high in the center, south of Abai, east, south, center of Kyzylorda regions.
Kazhydromet also warns of an extremely high fire risk in the southeast of Atyrau, west of North Kazakhstan, north of Pavlodar, south, east of Zhetysu regions.
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Tengizchevroil fined KZT 53.7M over excess emissions
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Tengizchevroil LLP exceeded pollutant emission standards, authorities said, Qazinform News Agency reports.
In light of this finding, the Atyrau Regional Environmental Department initiated administrative proceedings against Tengizchevroil under the Administrative Offenses Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The department referred the cases to the Zhylyoi District Court.
Following the court proceedings, a ruling on April 20, 2026, found Tengizchevroil guilty and imposed an administrative fine of 53.7 million tenge.
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Kazakh universities to close nearly 700 educational programs
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Kazakhstan plans to close nearly 700 academic programs at the universities due to their outdated content, Kazakh Science and Higher Education Minister Sayasat Nurbek told the Government Hour at the Majilis, Qazinform News Agency reports.
The ministry surveyed over 73,000 enterprises through the enbek.kz platform to assess workforce needs.
Data collected included information on specialists nearing retirement and younger professionals entering the labor market.
Analysis covered 8,500 programs, revealing that many are outdated and misaligned with current economic demands.
Students already enrolled will be allowed to complete their studies, but new admissions will cease.
Saysat Nurbek acknowledged that closing long-standing programs may be challenging for universities but emphasized that quality and relevance must take priority.
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Kazakhstan to brace for thunderstorms, squalls on Sunday
Unstable weather is to persist across most of the country, bringing rains and thunderstorms, hail, and squall, with heavy rains predicted in the northern part, Qazinform News Agency reports.
According to the National Weather Service Kazhydromet, the west and southeast are to expect no precipitation. The country is to brace for strong wind, fog, as well as dust storm in the south.
The north, east of West Kazakhstan, west, north of Kostanay, north of Aktobe regions will face the frost risk with temperatures to drop as low as -3C at night.
Fire danger is expected to be high in the east of Zhetysu, center of Abai, southeast of East Kazakhstan regions. Extreme fire danger is forecast for the south of Zhetysu region.
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