On Jan. 15, BigHit Music, the label of the globally recognized K-pop group BTS, revealed the name of the upcoming album and announced pre-orders. The fifth album has been titled «ARIRANG,» which is also the name of a Korean traditional folk song, with one of its central themes being parting…
Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey has registered eight images of himself smiling, staring and talking with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. According to The Wall Street Journal, among the trademarks are short videos featuring McConaughey, pictures of his facial expressions and gestures, and the iconic phrase «Alright, alright, alright» from…
In China, the production of plush horse toys timed for the Chinese Year of the Horse has started; however, the stuffed horses were supposed to look cheerful, yet a mistake at a factory in the city of Yiwu made the toys look sad by stitching their mouths upside down. The…
In the center of Astana, near the Baiterek monument, an unusual knitted, eco-friendly Christmas tree has captured the attention of the city’s residents. The art installation has also gained popularity on social media. The tree is adorned with knitted squares, plush toys and decorative elements. Users say volunteers of all…
BTS, an internationally celebrated K-pop group, is set to kick off a long-anticipated world tour on April 9, the group’s label BigHit Music announced on Jan. 13. According to Yonhap, the tour will mark BTS’s first world tour since 2022 and is expected to set a record for the highest…
During the 2026 Golden Globes, fans noted a small detail that could point to rumors of a marriage between actor Timothée Chalamet and influencer Kylie Jenner. According to Reality Tea, a nameplate on a festive table sparked speculation. On Jan. 11, the 83rd Golden Globe Awards took place at the…
A video of Shymbulak by popular Almaty photographer Dmitry Dotsenko is gaining popularity on social media. The footage features a time-lapse of the ski resort at sunset. Daylight fades into evening and the slopes are illuminated by bright, warm lights. The video has garnered nearly 10,000 likes, with Kaznet users…
Kazakhstani producer Maira Karsakbayeva shared a funny and heartwarming story about actor and former professional boxer Mike Tyson’s visit to Astana. Kursiv LifeStyle explains why the star had to stop a police convoy during his journey. In 2010, the legendary athlete was invited to the Astana Action Film Festival. At…
According to Zere, a Kazakh blogger living in France for 15 years, the new season of the French TV show «Pékin Express» has led to a surge in positive comments about Kazakhstan. She says she has never seen such interest in the country before. «In France, many people simply don’t…
A funny video from a winter fishing trip near Astana is going viral on Kaznet. The footage shows a steppe fox approaching a sled loaded with fish and trying to steal the catch. Even though the fisherman was standing nearby, the wild animal clearly didn’t seem to care. The fisherman…
Kazakh videographer Dastan Mukhamedrakhim met with renowned American actor Will Smith at an international event in Dubai and gifted him a Kazakh shapan — a traditional national coat featuring distinctive patterns. The uploaded video shows Mukhamedrakhim going on stage, putting the garment on the Hollywood star, and taking a photo…
The famous Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival 2026, an annual ice fishing event held in Hwacheon County, a mountainous region about 90 kilometers from Seoul, South Korea, is welcoming visitors on Jan. 10, Yonhap reported. The fishing event is centered on the sancheoneo, a Korea-native salmonid fish species caught on the…
Traveling across the Mangystau region of western Kazakhstan can feel more like a lunar expedition than a road trip. Driving off-road in four-wheel-drive vehicles, travelers pass bleached rock formations, broad plateaus and vast empty plains that show little sign of human presence, the Washington Post reported. The dramatic landscape, shaped…
The world-renowned K-pop band BTS is set to return to the stage following a lengthy pause. Kursiv LifeStyle shares what is known about the upcoming album and world tour. The first news of the group’s reunion appeared in summer 2025. At that time, all seven members announced during a live…
«Away Days with Jake Hanrahan,» a YouTube project that describes itself as an underground journalism outlet, has released a new documentary focusing on football hooligan culture in Kazakhstan’s Aktobe, a city largely unknown to many Western viewers. Jake Hanrahan and Jonny Pickup visited Aktobe ahead of the city’s match against…
A young woman named Ailin, known for her distinctive appearance, recently gained attention in Kazakhstan’s online community. In her videos, she told viewers about being bullied at school for vitiligo — a condition that causes areas of skin to lose color — and about how she learned to accept herself.…
Japan-based entertainment company Sanrio — famous worldwide for its Hello Kitty and other character brands — is set to establish a permanent museum dedicated to its history and to its founder, Shintaro Tsuji, in Yamanashi Prefecture, southwest of Tokyo, in April, NHK World reported. The exhibition will focus on Sanrio’s…
A touching story about a good deed done nearly two decades ago and unexpectedly returned has gone viral in Kazakhstan. According to Innabat Yakubova, the events date back to 2006, when she was 22 and working as a waitress at a bar. At the time, three students would come in…
Egypt is set to eliminate paper arrival cards for passengers arriving at and departing from the country’s airports, Al Raya reported, citing Egypt’s Civil Aviation Minister Sameh El-Hefny. According to him, the move aims to streamline travel procedures and allow passengers to save time. The new system is expected to…
Reports of the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro stirred not only the world’s media but also the shelves of a popular brand. Kursiv LifeStyle explains how the tracksuit became the first fashion trend of 2026. According to media reports, mentions of the «Nike Tech Fleece» garnered tens of millions…
On Jan. 5, the Toyosu Market in Tokyo, Japan — renowned for its large-scale fish trade and regular auctions — sold a 243-kilogram bluefin tuna for roughly $3.2 million at the first auction of the year, setting a new record at the annual New Year’s auction, The Associated Press reported.…
An elaborately decorated house in Shelek, a town in the Almaty region, is going viral on social media. Videos showcasing the bright New Year lights have gathered thousands of likes and enthusiastic comments. The façade and surrounding area are adorned with numerous string lights and illuminated figures. In the courtyard,…
New Year, one of the most anticipated holidays in many countries, is just around the corner. Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty, is preparing for traditional public celebrations with open-air concerts and festive activities. The main location for tourists and residents to immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere and welcome the New…
This New Year’s celebration will be the last time Dutch citizens are allowed to set off firecrackers. The country’s parliament has approved a complete ban on the use of pyrotechnics by private individuals. Starting next year, only professional fireworks show organizers will be permitted to use them, Bild reported. Because…
