FBRK.KZ

In the Tupkaragan district of the Mangystau region, on the coast of the Caspian Sea, 97 carcasses of dead seals have been discovered. According to the Fisheries Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture, the animals were washed ashore by the westerly wind, and their deaths are believed to have occurred more than a month ago. Specialists are working at the scene, and samples are being taken to determine the cause. Cases of mass mortality of Caspian seals have been recorded in the region before.

Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva has stated the need to transform the UNT system in Kazakhstan. It is proposed to move to a single sitting of the test, to introduce a hybrid selection system for pedagogical universities incorporating oral exams, and to abandon conditional enrolment in preparatory programmes. The changes are aimed at improving the quality of applicant selection and taking into account modern competency requirements.

In Shchuchinsk, upon opening the well, no animal remains were found, as previously claimed by a local resident. The reason for the inspection was a video showing a liquid of an unusual colour and a strong smell.

The Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan has identified cases of medicines intended for free provision to patients under the GSBHI being sold through pharmacy chains. Following inspections of 74 facilities, some organisations have been held accountable, and the materials have been forwarded to the AFM and the Anti-Corruption Service of the NSC for further investigation.

The police department of Astana reported that while road markings were being applied on Mangilik El Avenue, the cameras were temporarily not recording violations.

New York authorities are drafting a law on a tax for expensive properties worth over $5 million, if they are not used for permanent residence. Several Kazakhstani property owners may be affected by the initiative, including Adilzhan Dzhakishev, Serzhan Zhumashov, and Anarbek Zhauirov.

The Organisational Committee of the "Ädilet" party has submitted a notification to the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan regarding the establishment of a political party and has received confirmation of its acceptance. A founding congress is scheduled for early May 2026, after which the further formalisation of the party structure is expected.

The first test launch of the "Sunkar" ("Soyuz-5") carrier rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome has been postponed again, this time to a window up to 26 April. The decision is linked to additional checks of the launch complex equipment and the rocket's systems. The launch date had already been pushed back several times before; the final decision will be made by the Intergovernmental Commission after all checks are complete.

Construction of a 35 km western sewage collector has started in Almaty, which will provide centralised wastewater disposal for around 200,000 residents of the Nauryzbai district. The contractor is JSC "Pavlodar River Port", which has previously faced criticism over deadlines and quality of work. The project cost is over 7 billion tenge including VAT, with completion scheduled for December 2027. The project also includes the construction of a pumping station and the reconstruction of the Kargaly riverbed.

In Astana, the LLP "JV Coca-Cola Almaty Bottlers" has been held administratively liable for violating requirements when connecting to the gas infrastructure. The situation attracted attention due to an attempt to connect to a social gas pipeline intended for the public.