A renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., has drawn criticism after problems emerged with algae growth and newly installed liner, the Associated Press reported. The $14-million rehabilitation project, which included draining the pool and applying a new blue coating to its bottom, was intended to improve…
The Mangystau region in western Kazakhstan has long been famous for its «otherworldly» landscapes. But there are still some places many people have never heard of. One of them is Balayuk Cave, which hides a lake with crystal-clear blue water at a depth of 120 meters. Kursiv LifeStyle found out…
Jasmine Begalinova, a 19-year-old high jumper from eastern Kazakhstan, has unexpectedly become a social media sensation after photos from her competitions went viral on Instagram and Threads. She recently gave her first interview to novosti__uka. About the athlete Begalinova is a professional high jumper who is also studying to become…
Kazakhstani figure skater Mikhail Shaidorov has been training in the U.S. since June 5. Nearly three weeks into the trip, the athlete shared a series of photos from California. Kursiv LifeStyle took a closer look at some of the iconic locations featured in his posts. In late May, Shaidorov’s preparations…
Renowned Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen has shared footage from his new music video for a rendition of the Kazakh folk song «Aqerke.» The clip includes a risky stunt in which the artist opens the door of a moving pickup truck, steps onto the sill and remains there for some time…
Organizers of the 2027 Bukhara Biennial have announced the dates for the event’s second edition, which will bring together renowned international artists and local artisans from across Uzbekistan. The second contemporary art biennial will run from Sept. 3 to Nov. 21, 2027, in Bukhara. During that time, the historic city…
A team of divers, together with the administration of Kolsai Lakes National Park, carried out a clean-up operation at the lake. Over two days, they made more than 20 dives despite rain, hail and harsh mountain weather. Water temperatures ranged between 7°C and 9°C. They retrieved over 150 kilograms of…
American composer Robert Kaskin «Bobby» Prince III, best known for creating the music for the iconic video games «Doom,» «Wolfenstein 3D,» «Duke Nukem 3D» and «Rise of the Triad,» has died at the age of 81. Prince composed soundtracks that helped define the atmosphere of classic 1990s first-person shooters and…
China has launched weekend “cruises to nowhere” from Shanghai aboard the nine-deck Adora Magic City. Unlike traditional cruise itineraries, these voyages do not include stops at foreign ports. Instead, the ship sails into international waters before returning to its departure port. A weekend at sea The short cruises are designed…
Thousands of Scotland supporters have left a lasting impression on Boston during the World Cup, earning praise from local residents and businesses alike, the BBC reported. Approximately 50,000 members of the Tartan Army, who are fans of the Scotland national football team, visited the city to watch Scotland’s group-stage matches,…
Japanese football fans, long recognized for cleaning stadiums after major matches, have recently become the focus of debate on social media over hypocrisy, the BBC reported. Following the circulation of photos showing Japanese supporters collecting litter after a World Cup match, some Japanese women on social media questioned whether the…
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…
