An unusual ad from a Kazakhstan-based condom brand has gone viral on social media, with the company seeking a «gandomier» — a playful Russian coinage modeled after «sommelier» — to test its products. What the job entails While machines handle most large-scale testing, human «condom testers» are a legitimate part…
A video showing a shoe-fitting vending machine in China has gone viral. Located in shopping malls, the machines allow customers to determine their exact shoe size and save their measurements in a mobile app. Kursiv LifeStyle looked at how the system works. To determine the correct fit, the machine measures…
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to start on June 11, is drawing football fans to Mexico while also reshaping how they travel, Euronews reported. In cities like Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey, a growing number of visitors, especially from Europe, are arriving months before the tournament. Instead of short…
Jay Bryant, 52, has pleaded guilty to his involvement in the 2002 killing of Run-DMC DJ Jason Mizell, known as Jam Master Jay, the BBC reported. Bryant admitted in a New York court that he helped others gain entry to the Queens recording studio where Mizell was shot and killed.…
The Michael Jackson biopic «Michael» opened strongly in North America, earning $97 million in its debut weekend and setting a new record for music biopics, according to The Associated Press. Internationally, the film grossed $120.4 million, bringing its global opening to $217.4 million. Distributed domestically by Lionsgate, with Universal handling…
A French teenager has been charged in Singapore after allegedly licking a straw from an orange juice vending machine in a shopping center and placing it back in the dispenser, the BBC reported. Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, 18, is facing charges of mischief and public nuisance. According to local reports,…
Asiatic black bears emerging from hibernation in Japan are increasingly coming into contact with humans, with sightings already exceeding the pace recorded in 2025, a record year for attacks, The Guardian reported. In the country’s northeast, where sightings of the animals in urban areas have been reported most often, authorities…
Sabastian Sawe, a world-class professional marathon runner from Kenya, made history at the London Marathon on Sunday, becoming the first athlete ever to complete a marathon in under two hours, Euronews reported. Sawe surged to victory in a record-breaking time of 1:59:30, cutting 65 seconds from the previous men’s world…
Kenyan President William Ruto has drawn criticism after comments about Nigerian-accented English sparked backlash on social media, the BBC reported. Speaking to Kenyans living in Italy, Ruto said that Kenyan English was among the best in the world and suggested that Nigerian English could be difficult to understand, prompting laughter…
New double-deck «Aurora» trains have arrived in Uzbekistan from a Russian manufacturer. Thanks to their design, they can accommodate nearly twice as many passengers as regular trains. Local authorities hope this will help alleviate the high demand for train tickets in the country. The trains feature a modern design, with…
Nurzhas Sadyrbayev, a young singer from Kazakhstan, has won «Voice Beyond Horizon,» the international vocal project initiated by Dimash Qudaibergen. He received the title of «Star of Fame.» According to Dimashnews, the project aims to promote Kazakh culture alongside a vocal competition. Participants traveled through Turkestan, Aktau and Almaty, with…
An Almaty resident has launched a heartfelt challenge on Threads, offering to give away her school prom dress to 11th-grade students whose families cannot afford expensive outfits. «Many of us have dresses hanging at home that were worn only once — for those same four to five hours… I want…
Heartburn is a common experience — a burning sensation or chest discomfort after a heavy meal, coffee or spicy food. In most cases, it’s temporary. But when it becomes frequent, it may indicate an underlying condition. Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a chronic condition caused by the repeated backflow…
Since the beginning of 2026, 13,989 so-called temporary residence permits (TRPs) have been issued to Russians in Kazakhstan. This is a small number, even considering that it is only the beginning of the year. In 2022, the first year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, 138,259 TRPs were issued. In 2025,…
The Russian Ministry of Culture has refused to issue a distribution permit for the film «Hana Korea,» which was scheduled for release in theaters on April 30. According to distributor U Films, the ministry cited a rule allowing permits to be denied «in other cases stipulated by federal laws.» No…
The Florida mansion featured in the iconic film “Scarface” has been listed for $237 million, potentially making it the most expensive residential property ever offered in Miami-Dade County. In the movie, the estate serves as the home of drug lord Frank Lopez. It is where Tony Montana first visits for…
A former employee of a media company founded by YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson has filed a lawsuit alleging workplace harassment and gender bias, The Associated Press reported. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in North Carolina by Lorrayne Mavromatis, names MrBeastYouTube, LLC and GameChanger 24/7, LLC as defendants. It accuses the…
A bill banning people born after 2008 from buying tobacco in the U.K. has completed its passage through parliament, marking a major step in the government’s effort to create a «smoke-free generation,» The Guardian reported. Under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2009, will…
A robot developed by Sony AI has defeated elite table tennis players in a notable step for robotics in competitive sports. The system, called Ace, won three out of five matches against elite opponents but lost both matches against professional players, winning only one game across those contests, The Guardian…
Kazakhstan has become one of the top three countries for the Russian messaging app Max outside of Russia. Users are actively downloading the app to stay in touch with relatives and friends in Russia. According to Izvestia, Kazakhstan is among the top three countries by number of registrations, following Uzbekistan…
South Korean police have asked prosecutors to request an arrest warrant for Bang Si-hyuk, founder of Hybe and the executive behind K-pop group BTS, over allegations of fraudulent trading linked to the company’s stock market debut, the BBC reported. Authorities allege Bang misled investors in 2019 by suggesting that a…
According to a Demoscope survey, 71% of Kazakhstanis say they need large-scale changes in their lives, while another 13% believe minor adjustments would be enough to improve their situation. Only 10% of residents are satisfied with everything in the country and would not change anything. Interestingly, despite strong demand for…
A submerged city with streets, buildings and even a cemetery has been discovered at the bottom of Lake Issyk-Kul. Archaeologists and divers explored a site near the village of Toru-Aygyr and identified several areas with preserved walls, beams and pottery. According to the researchers, these are not random finds but…
