Almaty is Kazakhstan’s largest city and was once its capital. It’s rich in culture, natural beauty and modern conveniences. With tree-lined streets, lively cafés and mountain views close by, Almaty is a great place to visit. If you’re coming for the first time, here’s what you need to know about…
Former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev once sought to buy a villa (previously owned by Mobutu) on the French Riviera, Russian businessman Shalva Chigirinsky said in an interview with journalist Yuri Dud. Chigirinsky originally purchased the property in 2001 for $14.5 million. After leaving Russia, he sold it to Gazprom Neft,…
Digital nomads don’t seem to be rushing to Kazakhstan. Only 27 foreigners have obtained a Neo Nomad Visa since 2024. Kazakhstan does not appear to be among the most attractive destinations for foreign tourists with remote jobs. «Since the launch of the Neo Nomad Visa last year, 27 foreign nationals…
The Backstreet Boys’ official Instagram account uploaded a photo of Kevin Richardson wearing a shapan (a traditional Kazakh coat) with a golden eagle perched on his hand, set against the backdrop of the Almaty mountains. The photo appeared as a kind of answer to the ultimate question: «Where was Kevin…
A study out of Japan may disappoint die-hard ramen fans. Researchers in Yamagata Prefecture, the region where ramen is consumed most frequently, found that eating the dish too often is associated with a higher risk of death. The findings, recently published in the Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, showed…
Authorities in the South Korean city of Suwon, the capital of Gyeonggi Province south of Seoul, have launched an initiative to give the city a more «Korean» look by announcing a subsidy program to encourage small business owners to prioritize signboards in the Korean alphabet Hangul, rather than in foreign…
The Backstreet Boys shared photos from Kazakhstan’s capital after their concerts in Almaty and Astana. One of their activities was unwinding in a local steam bathhouse. Photos of four group members wearing sauna hats, steaming and plunging into a pool were uploaded to the boy band’s Instagram. «Found some time…
Crocs has prepared a surprise for horror movie fans, announcing the limited Classic Clog Horror Pack 2025 to celebrate Halloween. The line consists of three pairs referencing iconic characters from classic horror films. The new collection pays tribute to three legendary antagonists. White clogs with blood splatters reference Jason Voorhees…
Muscovites are buzzing about one of this fall’s biggest openings: a North Korean restaurant called Pyongyang. It is the first such venture from the DPRK in Moscow in 15 years. Singing for Kim Jong Un Locals say the restaurant occupies the space of the former Verba eatery. The name isn’t…
Kazakh horseman Ernar Zhasuzak from the Top Zhargan national arts center set a world record by riding two horses simultaneously for 2 kilometers at a speed of 60 kilometers per hour at the Almaty Hippodrome. The spectacular stunt, performed before a live audience, was officially recorded by representatives of the…
Nick Carter, one of the vocalists of the Backstreet Boys, caught the attention of Kazakhstani fans with an unusual detail in his outfit. In an Instagram Stories post from aboard an aircraft, Carter was sitting next to his groupmate Kevin Richardson while watching a video on a smartphone. What drew…
Every third Sunday of September, Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty, marks City Day. This year, the celebrations took place on Sept. 21 and were spread across various tourist locations. A Kursiv.media correspondent visited one of the main festival venues on Sunday. The usual hotspots for events of this kind are Panfilov…
The sci-fi action film «Alter,» directed by Timo Vuorensola and starring Tom Felton, spotlights Astana as the nucleus of a futuristic society. The city’s bold architecture, needing minimal alteration, vividly conveys the cyberpunk aesthetic central to the film’s worldbuilding. “Alter” follows Leon (Tom Felton), a wheelchair-bound rebel championing society’s marginalized…
A new fall trend has swept Kazakhstan’s florist shops: bouquets arranged inside umbrellas, featuring popular flowers — red dahlias and spray roses. The idea has gone viral on Threads. Hundreds of posts now showcase the unusual arrangements. Florists have capitalized on the craze by selling bouquets placed in clear umbrellas,…
Looking to prevent cows from being bitten by insects, a team of Japanese researchers — including Tomoki Kojima from the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization — took inspiration from the effects of zebra stripes and experimented by painting black-and-white stripes on Japanese Black cows, an approach that won them…
On Sept. 18, the legendary pop group Backstreet Boys arrived in Almaty, where their concert is taking place this evening, Sept. 19. While the performers are preparing for the show and resting after the flight, curious local fans have tried to find out their place of stay. A user on…
Kazakhstani musician and DJ Imanbek Zeikenov, better known as Imanbek, has once again been nominated for a Grammy — this time at the Latin Grammys. The track «Ella Quiere Techno,» a collaboration with Argentine singer Taichu, has been selected in the Best Latin Electronic Music Performance category, alongside competitors such…
Legendary pop group the Backstreet Boys have arrived in Almaty. Dedicated Kazakhstani fans shared their first moments at the airport on social media. A video with the band members was uploaded by local fan Alina Agapova. «We were beyond thrilled to welcome the Backstreet Boys to Almaty! They’re not just…
Social media is abuzz over Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio. The actor has lost weight, grown out his hair and swapped his usual sporty style for a sharp, classic look. DiCaprio has once again been hailed as Hollywood’s sex symbol. Videos of the actor, who arrived in Los Angeles for…
The Weeknd will not hold a concert in Almaty, organizers announced, relocating the event to another country amid frequent cancellations of artists in Kazakhstan. Alexey Puchkov, producer and head of the ticket operator Topbilet.kz, confirmed that the performer will not be coming. «Kazakhstan, I have not very good news for…
The AYA Project art space recently opened in Tashkent, quickly becoming a popular spot among residents and guests of the Uzbek capital. According to the project developers, this is the only such art space in Central Asia created as an analogue of the famous Aya Universe in Dubai. The concept…
A 24-year-old man in Mongolia has died of the plague after eating marmot meat, the country’s Health Ministry confirmed. The man, from Khovsgol province, fell gravely ill shortly after consuming the animal. Despite emergency treatment, doctors were unable to save him. Lab tests later confirmed the infection was plague-related. Hunting…
Hilda Baci, a Nigeria-based chef, has set a new Guinness World Record, confirmed on social media, for cooking the largest ever serving of Jollof rice — a popular and symbolic West African dish made of rice boiled in a tomato-based sauce with meat — in a batch weighing 8,780 kilograms…
Australia may become the first country to ban social media for those under 16 starting December 2025, drawing global attention, the Telegraphindia.com reported. On Tuesday, the country’s eSafety commissioner called on social media companies to adopt «minimally invasive» tools to verify users’ ages. Platforms won’t be required to apply universal…
