News

Sarah Dzafce, crowned Miss Finland in September and the country’s delegate to the 2025 Miss Universe pageant in Thailand, sparked accusations of racism in Asia, The Associated Press reported.

The controversy began when an image circulated online showing her pulling the corners of her eyes. The photo, which appeared on social media with a caption referencing «eating with a Chinese,» quickly went viral, first prompting criticism in Finland and then spreading abroad.

Dzafce apologized and denied racist intent, telling Finnish media the gesture was due to a headache. She said the photo was shared privately without her consent...

The world’s largest «Ice and Snow World» theme park has opened in China’s northern province of Heilongjiang. This year, it surprised visitors by erecting a 23.8-meter-high snowman.

Approximately 5,000 cubic meters of snow were used to create «Mister Snowman,» whose height matches that of an eight-story building. The sculpture took four days of intense work to complete.

«The height was chosen deliberately, as the pronunciation of the numbers 2, 3 and 8 in Chinese can evoke a beautiful message meaning ‘love flying in all directions,’» the snowman creators noted.

A video of the snowman being built quickly went viral...

Japanese trading and investment company Sumitomo Corporation, jointly with Kazatomprom, is developing a project in nuclear medicine, aiming to extract medical isotopes from uranium, the Akorda press service reported.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Shingo Ueno, president and CEO of Sumitomo Corporation, who reported on the joint project with Kazatomprom.

The companies are looking to extract medical radioisotopes from uranium production by-products. Tokayev acknowledged Sumitomo’s commitment to sustainable growth and responsible business practices.

During the meeting, the parties also discussed cooperation prospects, as well as the development of joint projects in transport, logistics, energy, the nuclear...

The U.S. plans to increase scrutiny of travelers’ online activity as part of new border security measures. Under a proposal announced earlier this month, visitors from countries eligible for visa-free entry under the Visa Waiver Program — including most of Europe, Australia, Japan and South Korea — may be required to provide up to five years of social media history and all email addresses used over the past 10 years, the BBC reported.

The proposal is currently open for public comment and is expected to take effect on Feb. 8 next year. While full details have not...

Social media is again abuzz with discussion of Olivier salad, one of the most recognizable dishes across the former Soviet Union. The renewed interest was sparked by a food blogger who posted a video recreating what is believed to be the original 1860s version of the dish served at the Hermitage restaurant in Moscow.

A far cry from the modern holiday staple

The original Olivier salad bore little resemblance to the familiar version made today with boiled sausage, potatoes, and carrots. Food historians widely attribute the dish to Lucien Olivier, a French chef who created it in the...

Google has launched a Kazakh-language version of its Gemini artificial intelligence model, according to an announcement from Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development.

Part of global language expansion

The ministry said the move is part of Google’s broader effort to expand language support for one of its most advanced AI products. Kazakh is among 23 new languages added with the rollout of Gemini 3, which Google describes as its most capable model to date. As a result, users in Kazakhstan can now access Gemini’s features in their native language, with functionality comparable to that offered...

Justice and police authorities have shut down a clandestine workshop in Shymkent where counterfeit MacCoffee 3-in-1 instant coffee was being produced in unsanitary conditions.

According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Justice press service, the imitation of a popular brand was made in a regular garage. Investigators report that the suspect procured raw materials of unknown origin, packed them on-site and sealed the packages with a heat sealer, labeling the product with a third-party trademark.

«The ready counterfeit products were sold through the city’s small shops and retail points. More than 4,000 MacCoffee-labeled stick packs, along with a...

The Trump administration has moved to suspend the U.S. green card lottery, citing its alleged use by the individual accused in the fatal shooting at Brown University and murder of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor, according to Bloomberg.

Homeland Security orders pause on Diversity Visa Program

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on X that she has instructed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to temporarily halt the program, formally known as the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. The lottery allows applicants from countries with historically low immigration rates to seek permanent residency in the U.S.

Suspect’s immigration status under...

Lionel Messi, Inter Miami and Argentina national team forward, received a limited-edition watch worth $1.2 million as a gift during his promotional GOAT India Tour 2025, The Mirror reported.

On the last day of the tour, Messi visited the Vantara Global Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Centre, owned by the country’s richest person, Mukesh Ambani, whose net worth, according to Forbes, is estimated at $105 billion. The footballer was accompanied by the entrepreneur’s son, Anant Ambani, who presented the generous gift.

The Richard Mille RM 003-V2 GMT Tourbillon Asia Edition watch gifted to the eight-time Ballon d’Or...

Researchers have identified submerged remnants of massive stone constructions built by human communities more than 7,000 years ago off the coast of France. The findings, detailed in a recent study in the International Journal of Nautical Archaeology and highlighted by 404 Media, shed new light on early coastal societies in Western Europe.

Submerged ruins near Sein Island

The underwater remains lie close to Sein Island, a small Breton island in the Atlantic Ocean. Composed primarily of granite, these submerged features rank among the earliest known large-scale stone constructions in France. Their existence may even be connected to the long-standing...

During his visit to Tokyo, Japan, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with professional sumo wrestler Yersin Baltagul. Born and raised in Kazakhstan, Baltagul is currently competing in Japan under the ring name Kinbōzan Haruki, the president’s press service reported.

Baltagul has represented Kazakhstan for the past 10 years and has achieved notable success in the sport. He took up sumo after graduating from a university in Japan.

Tokayev said that Kazakhstanis are proud of the wrestler’s accomplishments. He also noted that during his audience with Emperor Naruhito, they discussed Baltagul’s successes, describing this as further recognition of the athlete’s...

European Union leaders have agreed to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion ($105 billion) support package for 2026 and 2027. They reached this compromise without using frozen Russian assets. The deal came after long negotiations at an EU summit late Thursday, according to CNN.

This funding is intended to help Ukraine address its budget and military needs, which have increased as U.S. support has declined. The IMF estimates Ukraine will require about €137 billion over the next two years. The EU aims to provide about two-thirds of that through joint borrowing.

The EU plans to raise the...

Askar Zhanasbayev, an athlete from the city of Semey, continues to strengthen his reputation as one of Kazakhstan’s top bodybuilders. After winning the prestigious Arnold Classic Europe Championship last year — named after Arnold Schwarzenegger — he followed up with a strong second-place finish at the Binous Classic in Dubai.

Rising international recognition

Zhanasbayev’s success in Dubai quickly drew public attention. Following the competition, he gave several interviews, and by the next day, passersby were recognizing him on the streets and asking for photos.

A French court sentenced anesthetist Frédéric Péchier to life imprisonment for poisoning hospital patients, 12 of whom died, according to the BBC.

A court in Besançon, eastern France, found that Péchier put toxic substances into intravenous infusion bags, which caused cardiac arrests or severe bleeding in several patients. The victims were between four and 89 years old. The youngest, a four-year-old child undergoing routine tonsil surgery in 2016, survived two cardiac arrests.

Péchier came under investigation in 2017 after irregularities were discovered in infusion bags linked to a 36-year-old patient who suffered a sudden cardiac arrest during spinal surgery...

On Dec. 17, Real Madrid’s forward Kylian Mbappe scored a brace against Talavera of Spanish third-tier league Primera Federación in the Copa del Rey. As a result, the Frenchman moved closer to Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for the most goals within a calendar year for the club, Sports Illustrated reported.  

Copa del Rey

Round of 32, Dec. 17

Talavera vs. Real Madrid: 2-3

Goals: Nahuel Arroyo 80’, Gonzalo Di Renzo 90+1’; Mbappe 41’ (P), 88’, Manuel Farrando 45+1’ (AG)

The goals were Mbappe’s 57th and 58th in 2025 for Real Madrid...

It’s easy to get swept up in beauty industry hype, as flashy marketing and a lack of clear information often blur the truth about how cosmetics work. To clear things up, Kursiv LifeStyle asked experts to help us bust five of the most persistent myths.

Myth No. 1: The more active ingredients, the better

When examining ingredient lists, keep in mind that concentration is more significant than the sheer number of active ingredients. Too much acid or too many actives, for instance, may dry out the skin or even damage its protective barrier.

The best move? Pick products...

Online education platform Coursera announced on Wednesday that it will acquire rival Udemy in an all-stock transaction, valuing the combined company at approximately $2.5 billion. The deal comes as the online learning sector continues to consolidate following a post-pandemic slowdown and increased investor scrutiny, Reuters reported.

Under the terms of the agreement, Udemy shareholders will receive 0.8 shares of Coursera for each Udemy share held, implying a valuation of about $930 million for Udemy. Following the announcement, Coursera shares rose around 4%, while Udemy shares surged nearly 22%.

The companies said the combined platform is expected to be...

Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen has been awarded a new title — not on stage this time, but in the assembly hall of a medical university.

The performer met with students, faculty members and staff of Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, where he spoke about his personal and professional journey.

In an open conversation, Qudaibergen said that the key to his success was not talent alone, but above all hard work, discipline and a sense of inner responsibility to himself and society. He emphasized that by maintaining a strong connection to his national roots and culture, he...

We use elevators every day—at home, at work and in shopping or office buildings. Yet many people remain unaware of basic elevator etiquette, which can help prevent awkward moments, conflicts and misunderstandings.

Kursiv LifeStyle answers the most common questions to make everyday elevator rides more comfortable for everyone.

Who enters and exits first?

An elevator is not the same as a doorway to a café; it follows its own set of rules.

Many people grow up learning that men should allow women to go first. In elevators, however, practicality usually takes priority. In busy settings, the general rule...

Flying cars were once considered science fiction, but Alef Aeronautics is gradually turning this vision into reality, according to UNILAD. The American company has announced the start of production of its Model A Ultralight, a project widely regarded as the world’s first practical flying car.

Testing and regulatory approval

In 2023, the project received approval from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), allowing it to continue operating legally. In February, Alef successfully completed flight tests of a Model A prototype.

However, unrestricted use is not yet possible. The first flying cars will be delivered to a small group...

The Oscars ceremony will be broadcast globally on YouTube starting in 2029, moving exclusively from the ABC channel, Reuters reported. ABC has broadcast the annual Academy Awards continuously since 1976 and will continue to do so through 2028, which will mark the 100th Academy Awards ceremony.

Audiences are increasingly turning to streaming platforms, contributing to declining television ratings. The 2025 Oscars — also streamed on Hulu — drew 19.7 million viewers in the U.S., marking the highest viewership in five years, but still far below the peak of approximately 57 million in...

Sunqar, a restaurant perched at the highest point in Almaty, has introduced an unconventional new dining format: guests now eat with their eyes covered, completely deprived of visual cues.

Located within the city’s international ski jump complex at an elevation of 1,057 meters (3,468 feet) above sea level, Sunqar has long been known for its dramatic setting.

A destination known for views and proposals

Until recently, the restaurant’s main draw was its sweeping panoramic views of Almaty and the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains. Many guests booked tables specifically to propose marriage.

Sunqar also features a special table for couples with...

The U.S. Congress has passed the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), authorizing approximately $901 billion in defense spending, the largest amount approved under the annual legislation. The bill includes a 4% pay increase for service members, investments in modernizing weapons procurement and initiatives aimed at maintaining U.S. military competitiveness, according to Reuters.

The measure was approved by wide margins in both chambers, continuing a more than six-decade tradition of passing the NDAA each year.

Support for Europe

One of the key elements of the bill is its reaffirmation of U.S. commitments in Europe. The legislation, for...

Sanctions pressure from the EU and the U.S. on Russia continues to intensify, with growing implications for Kazakhstan’s economy. These measures threaten not only asset freezes but also civil and regulatory liability for transactions conducted through Western jurisdictions.

Kursiv.media spoke with Andris Ivanovs, an expert at the British law firm Ashurst, about how businesses can identify sanctions-related risks in Kazakhstan and the five essential steps they should take to protect themselves.

Key risks for Kazakhstani companies doing business with Russia

In October 2025, the EU adopted its 19th sanctions package, which directly affected several companies in Central Asia, including...