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…
The birth rate in Kazakhstan continues to decline. In 2025, approximately 335,000 children were born in the country, which is 8% to 10% fewer than the previous year. This is the lowest figure in the past 11 years. According to Nurzhamal Iminova, an expert at the Qazaq Expert Club, the…
A humanoid robot completed a half-marathon in Beijing faster than the current human world record, highlighting recent advances in China’s robotics technology, The Associated Press reported. The robot, developed by Honor, a Chinese consumer electronics company, finished the 21-kilometer race in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, according to the Beijing…
An unusual item — a life jacket from the legendary Titanic — was sold at auction in the U.K. An unknown buyer paid $906,000 for it, The Associated Press reported. The price was twice what experts had expected. Whose jacket was it? This jacket was worn by Laura Mabel Francatelli.…
After nine days on the run, a two-year-old wolf named Neukgu that escaped its enclosure at the O-World theme park in Daejeon, South Korea, was safely captured on April 17 following multiple failed attempts, according to the BBC. According to a Facebook post by Daejeon city authorities, the wolf is…
More than four months after a devastating fire struck a residential complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, former residents are preparing to return briefly to their homes to recover personal belongings, Reuters reported. The blaze, which occurred in late November, destroyed multiple high-rise towers, killed 168 people and displaced…
Berlin could reward tourists for picking up litter or supporting city initiatives, according to Die Welt. The project is called BerlinPay and is planned for launch this summer. The idea is simple — visitors receive rewards for doing something beneficial for the city. These could include perks from partner businesses…
Residents of the Khorazm and Bukhara regions have shared videos of a powerful dust storm. The footage shows strong winds lifting dust into a fog-like layer along the ground. The sky is completely obscured and visibility is severely reduced. A dust storm was also reported in the city of Urgench.…
A social media trend dubbed «becoming Chinese» is drawing global attention, as young people share videos showcasing elements of Chinese culture in their daily lives. Posts featuring habits such as drinking hot water, eating traditional foods, or praising China’s infrastructure have gained millions of views online, The Associated Press reported.…
Air New Zealand is set to make its long-haul flights more comfortable, allowing passengers to sleep not just in seats but in beds. Kursiv LifeStyle takes a look at when the new option will be available on board and how much it will cost. The sleeping accommodation, called Economy Skynest,…
Disney-owned 20th Century Studios is set to adapt «99 Nights in the Forest,» a popular Roblox game, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The project is currently in early development, with no director or writer on board. Developers Alec Kieft, Matthew Hufton and Cameron Angland will act as executive producers. «99…
Kanye West, also known as Ye, has postponed his planned concert in Marseille, France, «until further notice.» The decision followed statements by French authorities that the artist was not welcome, The Washington Post reported. West, who has faced widespread criticism in recent years for antisemitic, racist and pro-Nazi remarks, said…
A 32-year-old man from Wenzhou, China, sought medical attention for common abdominal pain. However, what doctors discovered during the examination shocked them. Inside the patient’s stomach, they found a mercury thermometer. Even more surprising, the man had lived with the object for decades. It turned out he had swallowed the…
Alex Beard, head of the UK’s Royal Ballet and Opera, has credited actor Timothée Chalamet with unexpectedly driving audience engagement and ticket sales after his comments about the relevance of opera and ballet sparked widespread debate, The Guardian reported. During promotional interviews in March for his film «Marty Supreme,» Chalamet…
On April 14, Paris resident Ari Hodara, 58, won the 1941 painting «Tête de Femme» («Head of a Woman») by Pablo Picasso, valued at approximately €1 million, after purchasing a €100 ticket in the «1 Picasso for 100 euros» charity raffle, the BBC reported. The draw for the event’s third…
Meta Platforms is developing an AI version of Mark Zuckerberg capable of replicating his speech, behavior and communication style. This digital clone would be able to answer employee questions and give instructions as if Zuckerberg himself were doing so. The goal of the project is straightforward: to save the CEO’s…
Kazakh Tourism, a national tourism promotion organization, reported that it hosted prominent travel content creator Connor and arranged a tour of Almaty for him. The content creator visited Ascension Cathedral, Shymbulak, Medeu and Kok-Tobe and explored the region’s cultural heritage and landmarks. Moreover, the traveler visited Charyn Canyon, where he…
The sowing campaign is in full swing in the Turkestan region, in southern Kazakhstan, which is a challenging time for local wildlife — thousands of tortoises, lizards and snakes end up at risk in the steppe due to heavy machinery. Volunteers from the Tasbaqa environment fund came to the animals’…
Kazakhstani Counter-Strike 2 player Danil «molodoy» Golubenko came into the media spotlight after arriving in Brazil. Fans gave the player an enthusiastic reception. The video posted on Instagram shows dozens of fans surrounding the player at an airport terminal. The caption reads, «They’ve arrived!» Numerous comments in Portuguese suggest that…
