News

Birth control failure can happen. In such situations, time is critical: emergency contraception can significantly reduce the risk of pregnancy.

To better understand how emergency contraception works and the most common mistakes people make, we spoke with Vera Yazar, an obstetrician-gynecologist at the Horoshiy Doctor (“Good Doctor”) clinic.

How emergency contraception works

Emergency contraception is used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. The most commonly used options are levonorgestrel-based medications, including Escapelle and Postinor.

Levonorgestrel emergency contraception is effective when taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse. The sooner it is taken, the more effective...

Kazakh border guards are currently unable to detect foreign drones entering the country, according to Darkhan Akhmediyev, Kazakhstan’s deputy defense minister, who recently commented on the issue.

Read also: Sky-high confusion: Residents mistake new air taxis for spy drones.

Akhmediyev noted that the challenge lies at the intersection of digitalization and the procurement of the necessary weapons systems. Nevertheless, he said the military already has a foundation in place to improve its capabilities.

“This is less about digital solutions than about the weapons themselves. But as for...

Despite losing both arms, Aigerym Bibatyrova is known for her optimism and resilience. Now a mother of five, she shared her story in a recent episode of the Baisemiz LIVE podcast.

Aigerym said she has never regretted losing her arms, even after living with the disability for 25 years. She credits her parents for helping her grow up without feeling different from others or developing insecurities about her condition.

“The support of my parents helped me accept myself,” she said. “They, along with my siblings and friends, never treated me as someone...

KIMEP University in Kazakhstan has launched an internal investigation into economics professor Nadeem Naqvi. In response to an inquiry from Kursiv.media, university representatives commented on the controversy that emerged on social media after students shared information about the professor’s past in the U.S.

Read also: ‘Virgin list’ scandal returns to Central Asia’s largest university.

University administrators emphasized that no disciplinary action will be taken against students or staff members who raised concerns about the issue.

KIMEP said it is currently reviewing the information it has received and...

Plenitude Kazakhstan, a subsidiary of Italy’s Eni, has secured the right to build a 100-megawatt (MW) wind farm in the Aktobe region. The project is expected to be completed by 2028, the regional administration said.

Askhat Shakharov, governor of the Aktobe region, held talks with Plenitude Kazakhstan CEO Federico Pugliese. They discussed renewable energy projects and strengthening investment cooperation.

In May 2026, Plenitude Kazakhstan won an auction to build a 100-MW wind farm, which is expected to produce 400 gigawatt-hours annually upon commissioning. The project implementation is planned for 2026-2028.

At the meeting, the governor noted that the company has...

Kazakhstani Counter-Strike 2 professional player Danil «molodoy» Golubenko surprised a streamer from Atyrau, western Kazakhstan, known as Adler, by donating him approximately $411 during a livestream.

The streamer didn’t expect the generous donation, and his reaction, captured live, quickly spread across social media, sparking discussion about the pro’s gesture.

“Props to both!”

“The guy plays with his feet more confidently than I do with my hands — well done,”

“I’m shocked, great game!”

“I can’t play at this level with my hands, and he does it with his feet — hats off,”

Renowned Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen has announced the release of a documentary about his creative career. According to the artist, he has often been described as a state-backed project or accused of having influential patrons.

«For the first time in my career, I allowed cameras to capture what had always remained between me, my family and my team: the preparation, the backstage moments, the pressure, the doubts, the responsibility and the moments that, at my request, had always stayed beyond the reach of any lens,» the singer wrote on Instagram.

In...

Despite her failure in Paris, Kazakhstan’s top-ranked tennis player Elena Rybakina improved her position in the WTA doubles rankings by seven places. She also retained her second-place standing in the singles rankings ahead of the grass-court Queen’s Club Championships in London.

Simultaneous losses by top-10 players, with the exception of Mirra Andreeva, resulted in no changes to the top three: Aryna Sabalenka, Rybakina and Iga Świątek retained their positions. The Russian Roland Garros champion climbed two places to sixth.

The most notable decline in the top 10 was Coco Gauff, who fell three places to seventh...

As world leaders marked World Environment Day, environmental experts drew attention to the worsening condition of the Caspian Sea, where water levels continue to decline.

Read also: World’s largest lake is drying up: Caspian Sea water levels drop to record low.

According to United Nations experts, satellite imagery shows vast stretches of newly exposed seabed, while some ports and fishing communities have been left increasingly distant from the shoreline.

Scientists warn that the Caspian Sea’s water level could continue falling for decades. They cite rising temperatures and increased evaporation linked to...

Dental implants have given millions of people the ability to regain full chewing function and avoid removable dentures. However, an estimated 20% of patients eventually develop peri-implantitis, a serious inflammatory condition that affects the jawbone. In many cases, antibiotics are not fully effective.

Researchers from Rutgers University School of Dental Medicine say they have identified a key reason standard antibacterial drugs often fail to treat implant-related inflammation. The findings were published in the journal PNAS Nexus.

Titanium particles may drive bone damage

In the study, scientists found that bone destruction may be driven not only by bacterial...

Eleonora Berg, an Almaty resident known on social media as Lelya Berg, has publicly accused her father of sexually abusing her during childhood and says she is seeking to have the case reexamined by law enforcement authorities.

According to Berg, the abuse took place between the ages of 6 and 9.

The allegations have drawn renewed public attention after Berg published a video of a conversation with her father. In the recording, she attempts to explain the lasting impact the alleged abuse has had on her life and mental health. Her father denies the accusations and says he does not...

Cuban authorities have reportedly begun distributing weapons to some civilians amid concerns about a potential confrontation with the U.S., according to the Venezuelan newspaper Versión Final.

Read also: Cuba in the dark: Trump’s takeover threats spark chaos.

The reported measures come amid heightened tensions in the Caribbean and growing speculation about possible future U.S. actions toward Cuba.

Government reportedly increasing preparedness

According to the report, Cuban authorities have instructed government agencies and local communities to strengthen preparedness measures and review emergency response plans.

Residents cited by local media said concerns...

The end of spring brought one of the season’s most visually striking lifestyle events in Kazakhstan. On May 30, the private fashion show “Fashion. Peonies. Art.” took place on the picturesque grounds of Daisy Flower Farm, offering guests a blend of fashion, nature and art against the backdrop of blooming peony fields.

Now in its second season, the project seeks to unite fashion and the natural environment while bringing together Almaty’s creative community.

Runway among the flowers

The event’s main attraction was its setting. Located against the dramatic backdrop of the Trans-Ili Alatau...

Kazakhstan’s women’s volleyball team defeated Indonesia in straight sets in its second match of the AVC Women’s Nations Cup in the Philippines.

The Kazakh team secured a 25-19, 25-19, 25-19 victory, improving its position in Group B.

Strong response after opening match

Indonesia entered the match with momentum after upsetting Iran 3-1 in its tournament opener. However, Kazakhstan proved stronger in the decisive moments of each set.

Unlike its opening-match victory over Hong Kong, where it dropped one set, the team coached by Askar Shalkibekov completed a clean sweep against Indonesia.

Group standings tighten

Results in...

Zhassulan Bazarbay, a Kazakh singer, became emotional during an interview on Khabar TV after hearing an AI-generated version of his daughter’s voice. The moment left the artist visibly moved, forcing him to pause the broadcast as he struggled to hold back tears.

Bazarbay’s daughter was diagnosed with autism when she was 2 years old. Now in her early teens, she has begun to speak gradually after years of therapy and consultations with specialists in Kazakhstan and abroad.

During the interview, journalists used artificial intelligence to recreate the girl’s voice and played a message expressing gratitude to her father.

The high-profile trial of Sultan Sarsemaliyev, who is accused of the brutal murder of four members of the Karabalin family, his in-laws, continued in the Atyrau criminal court on Thursday. With witness testimony now complete, the court moved on to reviewing video evidence in the case.

Read also: The haunting case of a vanished family in western Kazakhstan.

Footage shown in court included recordings from the exhumation of the victims’ remains, a crime scene inspection, investigative actions conducted in the village of Zhangeldin, and video of Sarsemaliyev’s initial interrogations.

The emotional...

Warning signs for drivers entering the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) have begun to appear in Almaty. Kursiv Lifestyle explains what area is affected and how the initiative is expected to improve air quality in the city.

The pilot zone is bounded by Bogenbay Batyr Street, Zheltoksan Street, Abay Avenue and Dostyk Avenue. A total of 134 road signs and information boards will be installed at entry and exit points.

A LEZ is a low-emission zone where access for higher-emitting vehicles may be restricted in the future.

However, the project is currently in...

Green SM, a taxi and ride-hailing company from Vietnam, is planning to expand into Kazakhstan. The company has already held its first presentation for local drivers, outlining the terms and conditions, bonus system and rental program for VinFast VF6 electric vehicles. However, instead of generating widespread enthusiasm, the presentation raised a number of questions among drivers about how the new service will operate.

Big promises from Green SM

According to company representatives, the service will operate a fleet of VinFast electric vehicles, with the company retaining up to 83% of trip revenue.

«We don’t...

According to Freedom Holding Corp. CEO Timur Turlov, the company relies on big data and machine learning when estimating insurance costs. By using AI, analyzing traffic camera data and parsing court decisions, it is possible to determine responsibility for accidents occurring at different times of day. This allows Freedom to offer cashback of up to 40% to low-risk drivers, giving it a competitive advantage over insurers that cannot segment risks as accurately. The businessman revealed this while speaking to students at Stanford.

Last summer, the Stanford Graduate School of Business released a case study on Freedom Holding Corp.’s digital ecosystem...

The National Bank of Kazakhstan has cut its base rate to 17% for the first time since October 2025, bringing it below 18%. The decision was made at a Monetary Policy Committee meeting on June 5, 2026.

The base rate will remain at 17% at least until the next National Bank decision scheduled for July 24, 2026.

The National Bank noted that the slowdown in inflation to 10.4% in May and an upward revision of its forecast to 9%-11% for this year, affected the decision. Household inflation expectations over the next...

On June 4, Kazakhstani Olympic figure skating champion Mikhail Shaidorov met young figure skaters at Complex Children’s and Youth Sports School No. 3 in Almaty and presented them with gift certificates to purchase sports equipment. 

The meeting was held to mark International Children’s Day, celebrated on June 1 in Kazakhstan. The athlete gifted 30 certificates, each worth about $411, for a total of roughly $12,334.

«Today I met children practicing figure skating at Complex Children’s and Youth Sports School No. 3 in Almaty and presented them with a small gift to mark...

On Wednesday, June 3, President Nikos Christodoulides of Cyprus arrived in Kazakhstan at the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, accompanied by a delegation of government officials and representatives of the national business community. The two heads of state held bilateral talks, followed by expanded discussions with their delegations. A bilateral business forum was also held on the same day.

The Cypriot president’s visit was marked by a series of events aimed at strengthening bilateral relations. Although diplomatic relations between the two countries were established 34 years ago, the Embassy of Cyprus in Astana was officially opened only this week...

Since June 2, authorities in Fukushima, Japan, have been unable to capture a bear that has been on the loose in the area. The animal has injured four people, though none of the injuries is believed to be life-threatening. The bear was hiding at a factory but eventually escaped through a window, evading capture by authorities, Kyodo reported.

Earlier this week, media outlets circulated a video showing a bear knocking a man to the ground near a building and then running inside before it could do anything else...

South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young — head of the ministry overseeing inter-Korean relations — held talks with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh on advancing dialogue on the Korean Peninsula, after delivering a speech at the 11th Ulaanbaatar Dialogue in the Mongolian capital, the ministry said in a statement.

At the meeting, Chung highlighted Mongolia’s unique position as a country maintaining friendly ties with both Koreas. With this in mind, the minister asked the Mongolian side to continue encouraging North Korea to return to the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue and to jointly explore opportunities for trilateral cooperation between the...