Kazakhstan to brace for fog, rain, and strong winds

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated Orthodox Christians of Kazakhstan on Easter, Qazinform News Agency learnt from the Akorda press service.

In his message, the Head of State emphasized that Easter holds a special place in the Christian calendar, symbolizing love, hope, and spiritual renewal. He noted that the holiday and the preceding fast instill values of compassion, mercy, good neighborliness, and mutual support.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted the significant contribution of Orthodoxy to strengthening principles of justice, peace, tolerance, and trust in society. He stressed that Easter traditions passed down through generations help preserve family values, reinforce morality, and teach respect for elders and care for others.

The President underlined that Kazakhstan’s progress is based on national unity and interfaith harmony, combining traditional values with modernization. He also pointed to the adoption of the People’s Constitution as a reflection of the nation’s aspiration to live and work in a progressive country marked by peace, stability, rule of law, knowledge, innovation, and environmental responsibility.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed confidence that shared responsibility for the future of the country will help overcome any challenges and achieve common goals.

He wished all citizens health, happiness, and success in their endeavors.

 

The Holy Fire descended on April 11 in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, iz.ru reports.

The Holy flame is called the holy flame, which appears annually on Holy Saturday on the eve of Easter in the Church of the Resurrection of the Lord in Jerusalem, which is considered the burial place of Jesus Christ.

 

A joyful event has taken place at Almaty Zoo, where three kangaroo joeys have been born to different pairs of animals, Qazinform News Agency reports, citing the Almaty akimat.

Two joeys were born to grey kangaroos - to the pairs Lord and Lara, and Tik and Linda. For Lara, this is already her sixth offspring, while Linda has become a mother for the first time. Another joey, a male, was born to red kangaroos Martin and Marta.

Continuing its tradition, Almaty Zoo is inviting the public to take part in naming the newborns. As the sex of two joeys has not yet been determined, suggestions for gender-neutral names are welcome.

 

The 30th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between two states was celebrated in the cities of Algiers and Oran. The main highlight of the celebrations was a joint concert featuring the kazakh musical group "Forte Trio" and the National Symphony Orchestra of Algeria. The events were attended by government officials, cultural figures, representatives of the business community and the diplomatic corps, friends of Kazakhstan, and leading local media, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.

At the opening of the event Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Anuarbek Akhmetov highlighted the significant progress made by Kazakhstan and Algeria over the past three decades, emphasizing the strengthening of friendly ties as well as the high level of trust and cooperation across all key areas. The strong political will of the leaders of both countries to enhance bilateral cooperation was noted. The opening of embassies in both capitals became an important milestone that gave new impetus to the expansion of political dialogue. It was also emphasized that an exchange of letters between the heads of the foreign affairs ministries of the two countries took place to mark the anniversary. Ministers confirmed a mutual interest to deepen partnership in all spheres.

State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Algeria Sofiane Chaib noted a steady development of Kazakhstan-Algeria relations and reaffirmed a political will to expand cooperation in priority areas.

Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Culture and Arts of Algeria Nacera Ayaichia highlighted a special role of cultural exchanges in bringing peoples closer, emphasizing that such events contribute to deepening mutual respect and understanding.

Director of both operas of Algiers and Oran Mourad Senouci, noted that music and art serve as a reliable bridge of friendship between peoples and play an important role in strengthening cultural ties.

As part of the celebratory program, the gallery of the Algerian Opera hosted an exhibition featuring paintings, photographs, handicrafts, and national costumes showcasing the artistic and cultural heritage of Kazakhstan. Videos highlighting contemporary life, achievements, culture, and traditions of the country were also presented. The exhibition attracted great interest from visitors and became an additional element of cultural dialogue. The display will remain open for one month, continuing to present Kazakhstan at the main theater in Algiers.

The concerts in Algeria’s two largest cities generated widespread public resonance and received coverage in Algerian leading media outlets as well as among popular bloggers.

Overall, the events showcased the broad potential of cultural diplomacy and highlighted the significant opportunities for Kazakh-Algerian partnership.

 

As the heating season in Kazakhstan comes to an end, preparations for large-scale repairs are getting underway, with energy specialists beginning the modernization of worn-out infrastructure, Qazinform News Agency reports, citing the Kazakh Ministry of Energy.

A key priority for the Ministry of Energy will be the large-scale reconstruction of heating networks to reduce wear and improve the reliability of heat supply.

Currently, the total length of heating networks across the country stands at 13,400 km.

Last year, 323 km of heating networks underwent reconstruction and major repairs, helping to reduce the average wear level from 52% to 50% and significantly improve the reliability of heat supply.

This year, 377 km of heating networks are set to undergo major repairs and reconstruction, with particular focus on regions with high levels of wear, including East Kazakhstan, Karaganda, Mangistau, Pavlodar, and North Kazakhstan regions.

As part of the national project to modernize the energy sector, 130 km of heating networks are set to be reconstructed in 2026, with overall efforts expected to reduce the average wear level to 48%.

Overall, by 2029, the national project envisages the modernization of 1,600 km of heating networks across the country, which is expected to reduce the wear level to 42%.

The Committee of Atomic and Energy Supervision and Control of the Ministry of Energy continuously monitors the condition and modernization of heating infrastructure. In the first quarter of this year, it worked with local authorities to review the 2026 repair programs of heat-producing and heat-supplying organizations.

 

Almaty’s transport system expansion is gaining momentum, with the city's first light rail transit (LRT) line and second metro line connecting downtown to the airport currently in works, Qazinform News Agency reports.

According to plans, the second metro line will run from Jibek Joly station at the intersection of Gogol and Panfilov streets to the Almaty International Airport. The plan includes the construction of six stations, with the line running underground through the Central Park of Culture and Leisure, the Eastern Bypass Road, Halyk Arena, and the Kuldja Tract. The final station at the airport will be located right at the parking area in front of the terminal.

In response to Qazinform's official request regarding the current status of the airport metro project, Almaty’s Road Infrastructure Development Department said that a feasibility study has been developed for the project "Construction of the second line of the Almaty metro: Section from Jibek Joly station to the Airport." As part of the project, 93 land plots are slated for acquisition (buyout). However, the exact start date for construction remains unknown.

Regarding the construction of the first LRT line, the project’s feasibility study has also been submitted for state expertise.

 

The fourth installment of the legendary Armour of God action franchise, titled Armour of God: Ultimatum and starring Jackie Chan, will be filmed in Kaskelen town, Almaty region, Kazakhstan, Qazinform News Agency reports.

A Kazakh media company announced on its Instagram account that filming will occur at new, yet-to-be-built film pavilions.

A time capsule, signed by Jackie Chan in Hong Kong and delivered to Kazakhstan, was formally laid in Kaskelen on April 4.

Privately funded 2,000 and 1,000 square meter pavilions are set for construction, designed to international standards and the technical specifications of premier global studios to facilitate major film productions.

 

Kazakhstan has been ranked among countries with zero terrorist activity according to the Global Terrorism Index 2026, Qazinform News Agency reports.

According to the report, Kazakhstan received a score of zero and is among the countries where no terrorist incidents have been recorded since 2007.

Overall, the report notes that global terrorism declined in 2025, with the number of deaths falling by 28% to 5,582, while the number of attacks dropped by nearly 22%.

Despite the overall improvement, the threat remains high and unevenly distributed. Nearly 70% of all terrorism-related deaths were concentrated in just five countries - Pakistan, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Experts emphasize that the main epicenter of terrorist activity remains the Sahel region in sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for more than half of all terrorism-related deaths worldwide.

It is also highlighted: "Border proximity is a defining feature of modern terrorism. Over 41 percent of terrorist attacks occurred within 50km of an international border, and 64 per cent occurred within 100km." This indicates a concentration of terrorist activity in border and weakly governed areas.

Against this backdrop, Central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan, demonstrate strong stability and security.