The vocals of a singer from Aktobe, Kazakhstan, have captivated social media users. Kursiv LifeStyle explains what Rahman Satiev is known for and why listeners are comparing him to Dimash Qudaibergen.
A video of Satiev’s performance has gone viral on Threads. In the clip, the 23-year-old singer performs a cover of Valery Leontiev‘s song “Deltaplan.”
Kazakhstan’s forward Dastan Satpayev has been included in Chelsea’s traveling squad for the club’s pre-season tour of Australia and Asia. The London club named a 27-man traveling squad.
Satpayev is one of the forwards alongside Cole Palmer, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, João Pedro and Estêvão. The traveling squad also includes first-team players and several academy players. Other players may join the squad during the tour.
The pre-season tour will mark...
Social media users spotted an unusual scene during a live broadcast of the construction of the Akashi Data Center in Astana.
The footage showed two construction excavators moving giant chess pieces across a chessboard installed at the construction site. The video quickly went viral on Telegram and other social media platforms.
The unusual display was part of a celebration of International Chess Day organized by the project team and the Kazakhstan Chess Federation (KazChess).
«We recently launched a 24-hour livestream of the construction on our website and thought it would be interesting to occasionally stage small...
Chinese cars are increasingly equipped with remote-control functions, but such technologies can sometimes work against their owners. After entering Kazakhstan, a Zeekr 9X automatically restricted the operation of some of its systems, CarNewsChina reported.
A Chinese national surnamed Liu, who bought a new Zeekr 9X about six months ago, set off on a road trip from China to Europe via Kazakhstan. However, shortly after crossing Kazakhstan’s border, the SUV automatically restricted the operation of several electronic systems.
The following functions stopped working:
Navigation system; Certain electric drive...
The National Bank of Kazakhstan reduced the base rate to 16.75%. The decision was made at a Monetary Policy Committee meeting on July 24, 2026.
The base rate was thus changed again following its reduction in June, when it was lowered by one percentage point to 17% from 18%. It will remain at that level at least until the next Monetary Policy Committee meeting, scheduled for Sept. 4, 2026.
The National Bank said the decision was driven by continued slowing of inflation. Annual inflation has slowed for nine consecutive months, easing to 10.3% in June from...
U.S. President Donald Trump ordered new tariffs on imports from 60 countries, including Kazakhstan and Russia. Effective July 24, tariffs of 10% and 12.5% apply to goods imported into the U.S. from the listed countries, according to a White House memorandum.
The tariffs on 60 countries were imposed following an investigation by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). According to the memorandum, the countries failed to impose and effectively enforce a ban on imports of goods produced with forced labor. The list includes the U.K., Switzerland, Turkey, China, the UAE and many countries in...
The first demonstration flight of an air taxi took place in Astana today, July 24. The event was organized by the Kazakhstani company Alatau Advance Air Group Ltd. in partnership with the Chinese eVTOL company AutoFlight. The flight took place at the Kazanat Hippodrome.
The demonstration used an AutoFlight Prosperity electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft designed to carry one pilot and five passengers, with a maximum speed of 200 kilometers per hour and a range of up to 200 kilometers.
However, the demonstration flight proceeded without passengers to comply with safety requirements.
“The demonstration...
AI-powered search tools may be more vulnerable to manipulation than previously thought. According to a report by 404 Media, new research from Cornell University found that as few as 13 strategically placed words on websites such as Reddit or Wikipedia can influence the responses generated by AI systems, including ChatGPT and Google’s AI-powered search features.
The researchers say this weakness could allow companies and marketers to inject promotional content into the information AI systems retrieve in real time.
The study found that many AI research and search agents rely...
Spanish researchers have found that ultra-processed foods may be a direct risk factor for asthma in children. Using the NOVA food classification system, the study’s authors found that the greater the share of ultra-processed foods in a child’s diet, the higher the likelihood of developing asthma.
According to a study published in the journal Allergy, children who consumed more than 30% of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods — including carbonated soft drinks, packaged snacks and sweetened breakfast cereals — had nearly four times the risk of developing asthma during the preschool years.
Notably, the researchers found that...
Facing intense geopolitical competition, Iran now leverages a vast array of cultural, religious, and humanitarian outreach programs to exert influence, moving beyond purely military or economic means. In his new study, “Iran’s Soft Power: Influence Across the Globe,” Ali Akbar argues that Tehran has strategically used these nonmilitary instruments to build legitimacy and attract support across the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.
According to Akbar, Iran deploys a diverse set of tools — including university branches, religious institutions, cultural programs and infrastructure projects — to improve its global standing, bypass the effects of international sanctions and challenge...
From Aug. 2 to 5, Astana will host an international Dota 2 tournament as part of the multisport Games of the Future 2026. The competition will take place at the Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace, the press service of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports reported.
The prize pool is $1 million.
“Sixteen teams from China, Kazakhstan, Southeast Asia, South America, Eastern Europe and other regions will compete for the title. The participants include world champions, finalists of The International, Dota 2 premier annual tournament, and players with years of experience competing...
The government of Kazakhstan has approved rules for strategic digital mining. Large mining companies will be able to purchase electricity at a price not exceeding the maximum rate charged by electricity producers by signing 10-year contracts. In return, they will donate a portion of their mined digital assets each month, free of charge, to help establish the National Strategic Crypto Reserve (NSCR).
Miners will transfer their mined digital assets to dedicated wallets of the Astana Hub Autonomous Cluster Fund. The assets will then be placed under the trust management of...
Bishkek Arena in Kyrgyzstan has undergone its first test of the dynamic facade lighting. Kursiv LifeStyle shows what Central Asia’s largest stadium looks like illuminated at night.
According to 24.KG, Central Asia‘s largest stadium lit up with multicolored lights in the evening, and a video of the test was published by Kyrgyzstan’s Presidential Affairs Department.
The footage shows the arena’s facade gradually changing colors, showcasing the capabilities of the modern lighting system.
Construction of Bishkek Arena is scheduled to be completed by the end of August 2026. The new stadium will host...
According to Reuters, Kazakhstan’s oil production has fallen by more than 20% following the shutdown of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s (CPC) Black Sea terminal. Oil and gas industry expert Olzhas Baidildinov estimates the losses at about $32 million per day.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, Reuters reported that following the attacks on the CPC and the closure of the marine terminal, oil production fell to 1.63 million barrels per day on July 22. This represents a 21.3% decline from July’s average production of 2.07 million barrels per day.
The steepest decline was recorded at the Tengiz oil field...
Almost 30 years after its release, Oasis‘s iconic song “Wonderwall” has once again entered the Billboard Hot 100. Fans of England’s national football team gave the hit a second life by making it the team’s unofficial anthem during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Kursiv LifeStyle shares the details.
On the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated July 25, “Wonderwall” ranked No. 27. The song logged 8.7 million U.S. streams during the week, up 73% from the previous week. Its sales and radio airplay also increased.
During the World Cup, England fans regularly sang “Wonderwall” after their team’s...
Umai Holding, the largest FMCG operator and market leader in Kyrgyzstan, owned by Dubai-registered Visor International, has agreed to acquire the Kazakhstani supermarket chain Vkusnaya Korzinka. Once the deal closes, the company will operate more than 220 stores in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The transaction has yet to be approved by Kazakhstan’s antimonopoly authority.
Vkusnaya Korzinka operates 49 supermarkets in Taraz and other cities in southern Kazakhstan. Umai Holding expects the acquisition to strengthen its position in the region and mark another step toward building a major grocery retail chain in Central Asia.
Following the completion of the transaction, Umai...
Nine months after the high-profile Louvre heist, the museum’s administration has opened the doors of the Apollo Gallery for the first time. Kursiv LifeStyle takes a look at how it appears without the famous French crown jewels.
According to Reuters, the gallery reopened to visitors on July 22. However, the crown jewels, which had previously been its main attraction, were not returned to the gallery. Instead, they will be displayed in another part of the museum with enhanced security.
Louvre Director Christophe Leribault said the collection was relocated to provide better protection for the exhibits. France’s...
Kazakhstan’s government has allocated 10.4 billion tenge (about $22 million) from its reserve fund to develop the new KazSat-3R communications satellite. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov signed the resolution.
According to the cabinet, the new satellite is intended to replace the operational KazSat-3 satellite, which is due to reach the end of its service life in 2029. This will ensure the uninterrupted operation of the national satellite network and strengthen the country’s technological sovereignty.
The launch of KazSat-3R will provide:
Stable operation of satellite networks, mobile communications, and national television and radio broadcasting; Expanded...
Georgia’s banking sector continued to expand in the first quarter of 2026, driven primarily by growth in consumer lending. The quarter’s biggest corporate development was the acquisition of Liberty Bank, the country’s third-largest lender by assets, by China’s Basis Bank, ranked fourth. Once the merger is completed, the combined institution is expected to control more than 10% of the banking system’s assets, although it will remain well behind Georgia’s two dominant banks.
Read also: How a Chinese bank unit came to lead Kazakhstan’s deposit growth.
Total assets held by Georgian commercial...
While many people rely on apps to reduce their screen time, others are using artificial intelligence to bring back a paper-based morning routine. Developer Ryan Doyle demonstrated how he uses OpenAI Codex to generate a personalized newspaper containing the information he wants to see each day.
Every morning, Codex automatically creates a short, multi-page edition without an endless social media feed, advertisements or notifications. The customized digest includes unread messages, the day’s calendar, a surf forecast, the weather and top news headlines.
Once the layout is complete, the AI sends...
A heated debate has erupted on Kazakh social media after blogger Bauyrzhan Bakytzhanuly publicly showcased his life with three wives. His posts have fueled discussions about the legality and ethics of polygamous relationships in Kazakhstan, a secular country where polygamy is not legally recognized.
Read also: Polygamy as policy: Kazakh lawmaker calls for legal ‘junior wife’ status.
Bakytzhanuly has turned his social media accounts into a platform for promoting polygamy, regularly posting videos and photos featuring several women with whom he says he shares a household. The women’s faces are concealed in the...
Saiwan Bakehouse in Pattaya, Thailand, has unexpectedly gained international attention for its unusual baked goods: so-called “hairy” croissants. While some social media users have described the pastries as amusing, others have said their appearance is overly provocative.
The croissants’ unusual appearance comes from thin black strands of fat choy, an edible algae commonly used in Asian cuisine. The thread-like ingredient creates the illusion of hair, sparking widespread discussion online.
@bruhmomentummomentWhy These Croissants Are Hairy
♬ original sound – Clip...
Tengizchevroil (TCO), which operates Kazakhstan’s Tengiz oil field, plans to produce up to 40 million tons of oil by the end of 2026, according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy.
In 2025, TCO produced 39 million tons of oil. In the first half of 2026, TCO produced 16.6 million tons of oil. At that pace, annual production would total about 33.2 million tons.
TCO has reached its design capacity following completion of the largest expansion phase of the Tengiz field.
“Daily oil production has reached approximately...
Elon Musk said that his AI tool Grok Imagine will produce a feature-length adaptation of Homer’s «Odyssey» before the end of 2026. The businessman said the film would be “historically accurate” and remain faithful to the original epic poem. Kursiv LifeStyle shares the details.
Musk announced his plans on X, sharing an AI-generated video inspired by the ancient Greek epic.
Before this year ends, Grok Imagine will make a full-length movie of The Odyssey that is historically accurate and true to the art of Homer https://t.co/bVHzUmY9WN
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July...