The Major Oak, which stood in the U.K.’s Sherwood Forest for more than 1,200 years, has died. Many believe it to be the tree in whose hollow, according to legend, Robin Hood and his companions once hid. This spring, for the first time in its history, the tree failed to…
Jasmine Begalinova (hay_nyash), a female athlete from East Kazakhstan, has unexpectedly become a star on international social media. Photos of her sporting a striking hairstyle during a high jump competition went viral on Threads and Instagram within hours. Who is she? Begalinova is a well-known young athlete in Kazakhstan. On…
Chinese scientists have discovered a new species of bumblebee goby fish and named it after South Korean singer Jennie of the BLACKPINK group. A new species discovered by researchers at Sun Yat-sen University in the mangroves of the Pearl River estuary was named Brachygobius jennie. It represents the first recorded…
The Uzbek national team made its World Cup debut at the 2026 tournament against Colombia, which ended in a 3-1 victory for the South American side. However, it was the fans who attracted the most attention on social media. For Uzbekistan, the team’s first World Cup match was a major…
Vietnam is expanding the coverage of its Pre-Arrival service for foreign travelers. Kursiv LifeStyle looks at which popular resort destinations are affected. Travelers arriving in Hanoi and Da Nang now need to complete an electronic pre-arrival declaration and obtain a QR code in advance. Without one, they may experience delays…
Earlier this week, Almaty was hit by severe weather. Strong winds kicked up massive clouds of dust before a thunderstorm and heavy rain swept through the city. During the storm, a local resident captured dramatic footage of multiple lightning strikes hitting the Kok-Tobe Television Tower, which is equipped with a…
A scandal has erupted in the Brazilian city of Carmo do Cajuru after a botched restoration of religious statues. Statues of Jesus, the Virgin Mary and other biblical figures were supposed to receive careful restoration, but instead were given a garish makeover, shocking local residents. The statues depicting scenes from…
Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo division of Emirates, one of the UAE’s two flagship carriers, has launched weekly flights to Almaty, giving Kazakhstan direct air freight access to Dubai. According to the Almaty Airport press service, the airline will operate flights on the Almaty-Dubai-Almaty route every Tuesday. The service will carry…
Japan’s competition authority has conducted surprise inspections at several of the country’s leading ice cream manufacturers amid suspicions of illegal price coordination, the BBC reported. The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) targeted six companies — Meiji, Morinaga Milk Industry, Lotte, Morinaga, Ezaki Glico and Akagi Nyugyo — over concerns that…
World-renowned Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen visited his hometown, Aktobe, to film his new music video. Among the filming locations was the Koblandy Batyr Central Stadium, local media outlet Diapazon reported. This stadium is of particular importance to football fans, as it is home to the Kazakh ultras and the core…
Chinese universities have launched a major overhaul of higher education, eliminating programs the government considers obsolete. Over the past five years, the country has shut down or suspended 12,200 programs while simultaneously opening 10,200 new ones. According to China’s Ministry of Education, the changes affected more than 30% of all…
A Chinese company, Yueban, has unveiled an unusual development: Xiaoban, a wheeled robot toilet. The device is designed to automatically approach a person when they need to use it, RoboHorizon reported. The new product was showcased at the 2026 Shanghai International Elderly Care Expo. Developers said the device is designed…
Aktobe students who built a portrait of renowned Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen from 3,000 LEGO bricks met their idol in person. As a sign of gratitude, the artist gifted the children vouchers for stays at the Shugyla children’s camp. Students of School No. 82 prepared an unusual project for…
Video posts by Adilet Sapargali, a 22-year-old Kazakhstani who travels the world introducing foreigners to Kazakh culture in flawless English, are racking up millions of views online. Social media users admire his pronunciation and natural delivery, calling him a gifted presenter. Kursiv LifeStyle spoke with him to find out how…
An Osaka-based startup Valar Intelligence has developed a non-traditional process-based AI tool designed to determine whether text was written by a human, generated by AI or AI-assisted, Kyodo News reported. According to the tool’s website, the platform, which is aimed primarily at universities, requires users to type and submit text…
The team behind the upcoming film «Armor of God 4,» starring Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan, has shared the first details from the set. Filming is taking place in Kazakhstan’s Mangystau region, with Salem Entertainment and Dala Edge Creative Tech Park behind the international project. One of the film’s…
A Mexican man has publicly apologized and lost a leadership role after being filmed making a racist gesture toward a South Korean content creator during a World Cup match in Guadalajara, according to the BBC. Ulises Fernando Bernal Miramontes was caught on camera pulling the corners of his eyes —…
Auction house Giquello is set to auction the world’s first bag made from recreated Tyrannosaurus rex skin during its Tentation°4 sale at the Hotel Drouot in Paris. According to the hotel’s website, the predator’s skin was grown in a laboratory. The bag is the result of years of research. First,…
On June 11, the 2026 World Cup officially opened in Mexico City. The matches are being held in Mexico, Canada and the U.S. This time, the long-anticipated event promises to be unprecedentedly expensive for fans due to FIFA cutting its operating costs by more than $100 million. Amid a lack…
Air quality affects more than just physical health — it can also influence mental well-being. Particulate matter, especially PM2.5, appears to have a significant impact. These microscopic pollutants are produced by vehicle exhaust, smoke, and industrial emissions. They can penetrate deep into the lungs and may even affect brain function.…
Traffic congestion in Kazakhstan’s largest city continues to worsen, prompting debate over the most effective ways to improve mobility. Earlier this year, media reports indicated that a consortium of Chinese companies and Integra Construction KZ LLP would design and build a SkyTrain line in Almaty. To assess the potential impact…
While many retailers face challenges due to weak consumer confidence and economic uncertainty, candy stores continue to expand in and around New York City, the BBC reported. Business owners say candy’s relatively low cost, long shelf life and broad consumer appeal are factors helping support growth at a time when…
Civil servants in Afghanistan have started disposing of their smartphones after the Taliban introduced new restrictions. On June 8, Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada ordered a ban on smartphone use for members of the movement and government employees. According to Afghanistan International, the directive was issued verbally but has already been…
Four Amur tigers brought to Kazakhstan as part of the Turan tiger restoration program have officially received names. By mutual agreement between Kazakhstan and Russia, the male tiger was named Amur, the female was named Umit, the male cub was named Turan and the female cub was named Ussuri. The…
