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The relentless drive for personal success is fueling a silent epidemic of physical and mental exhaustion across the globe. A recent ranking by World Population Review highlights how chronic fatigue has evolved from a personal complaint into a measurable international trend.

Modern society, as philosopher Byung-Chul Han argues, has shifted from traditional disciplinary institutions such as factories and prisons to achievement-oriented spaces such as office towers and fitness studios. In this «achievement society,» individuals increasingly become entrepreneurs of themselves, voluntarily exploiting themselves in the pursuit of ever-higher levels of productivity.

Wealthy nations often report...

The dramatic dispute over the medal standings at the 6th World Nomad Games ended with Kazakhstan being recognized as the overall winner. The organizing committee in Kyrgyzstan recounted the medals and acknowledged the Kazakh team as the tournament’s champion.

Askat Alagozov, press secretary to Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, made an official statement on the matter.

«The only technical discrepancy arose during the medal count. Today, the organizing committee decided to count the medals of each of the three Kazakh athletes separately. After the recount, Kazakhstan took first place in the...

World No. 1 tennis player Aryna Sabalenka said she does not pay much attention to the scenarios in the race for the top spot in the WTA rankings. The Belarusian could lose the No. 1 ranking to Kazakhstani Elena Rybakina (World No. 2) at the end of the 2026 U.S. Open, while Rybakina would only need to reach the semifinals to overtake her.

After defeating American Taylor Townsend (World No. 96) 6-4, 6-3 in the round of 16, Sabalenka admitted that she is deliberately distancing herself from discussions about the rankings.

«I completely move away from...

Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry commented on reports of possible talks between Russia and Ukraine holding in Astana. The ministry said that Kazakhstan’s position on the matter remains unchanged: the country is ready to provide a platform for the talks, but only at the request of Moscow and Kyiv.

«The Republic of Kazakhstan has consistently advocated a peaceful, political and diplomatic settlement of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and has repeatedly stated its readiness to provide the necessary conditions and a platform for talks if the parties express such an intention,» the ministry told RIA Novosti

Concerts by international stars have become a significant source of revenue for Kazakhstan’s tourism sector. Jennifer Lopez’s concert in Almaty alone attracted 7,000 international visitors from 35 countries and generated more than 5 billion tenge (roughly $9.2 million at the time) in direct tourism spending, while total turnover exceeded 10 billion tenge (roughly $18.5 million at the time). This is part of a broader trend: over two years, investment in Kazakhstan’s tourism sector exceeded 2.2 trillion tenge ($4.8 billion at the current exchange rate), according to the Prime Minister’s press service.

Foreign card transactions rise during concerts

According to...

Seven OPEC+ countries have agreed to maintain their September 2026 required oil production levels in October, according to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

The decision was made during a virtual meeting on Sept. 6 to review global oil market conditions and the outlook.

The seven participating countries are Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman. They previously announced additional voluntary production adjustments in April and November 2023.

Kazakhstan’s production

Kazakhstan is not a member of OPEC but participates in the OPEC+ production agreement alongside the listed countries. In September, Kazakhstan increased oil...

A woman in Nepal was rescued alive from the rubble of her home 10 days after her family, believing she had died in the devastating floods, began traditional mourning rites, Reuters reported.

Chandika Kumari Shrestha was found trapped in a small space inside her collapsed home in Betrawati, one of the areas severely affected by the disaster. Police said rescuers heard her calling for help and freed her during a 45-minute operation before taking her to a military hospital.

Shrestha is among several survivors found days after the flooding in central Nepal. Rescue teams continue searching collapsed buildings...

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Industry and Construction said that, starting in 2027, the country will put promising new subsoil blocks prepared under its large-scale state geological study of subsurface resources program up for investment auctions.

The announcement was made during Industry and Construction Minister Yersaiyn Nagaspayev’s working visit to the Ulytau region. The government is changing its approach to attracting investment: instead of simply offering available blocks, it will offer blocks with a ready, detailed digital data package.

Scale and geographic coverage

In 2026, geological surveying began across 20 blocks at a scale of 1:50,000 (GS...

The Cairo Criminal Court sentenced Egyptian TV presenter and producer Sarah Khalifa and 11 other defendants to death by hanging in a major drug case, according to Al-Ahram.

Drug trafficking charges

According to the prosecution, the defendants were part of an organized criminal group involved in procuring raw materials used to manufacture synthetic drugs and in their subsequent production and distribution. They were also charged with illegally possessing firearms and ammunition.

A total of 28 defendants were tried in the case. Nine were sentenced to life in prison, while seven were acquitted.

Investigators said the group members...

An international team of oncologists has found that cancer-related mutations may remain dormant in the body for years before being activated by factors such as smoking and exposure to air pollution. The researchers identified a protein signature in blood plasma that may signal an increased risk of rapidly developing lung cancer. The finding could eventually help doctors identify changes in the lungs years before conventional screening detects a tumor.

A study published in the journal Cell reports that researchers used machine learning to analyze plasma protein data from more than 48,000 participants in the...

Throughout history, international agreements and peace treaties have rarely been concluded over glasses of fruit juice. Instead, alcohol has often played a ceremonial and social role in diplomacy, helping mark agreements, ease negotiations and build relationships between groups divided by language, culture or political interests.

Cultural writer Stuart Walton argues that alcohol has long been closely associated with the formal sealing of agreements. In his account, the tradition reflects a basic challenge of diplomacy: finding ways to overcome distrust and establish personal connections between negotiating parties.

The psychological lubricant of statecraft

Alcohol’s place in diplomatic culture has...

Where people choose to live can have a surprising influence on how much rest they get each night. A recent ranking by World Population Review highlights how cultural expectations, working hours and technology shape sleep patterns differently around the world. Researchers estimate that social habits may influence sleep almost as much as biology.

Finland consistently ranks among the world’s happiest countries, with healthy sleep habits playing a role. Finnish culture emphasizes recovery rather than long, stressful workdays, viewing rest as essential to daily productivity. Citizens benefit from relatively short working hours, flexible schedules and easy access to...

An unusual incident occurred during the 6th World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan. A golden eagle approached a police officer instead of its owner. Kursiv LifeStyle looks at how the story turned out.

A video showing a golden eagle flying toward a police officer is gaining attention on social media. The officer tried to dodge it, but the bird eventually caught his bright reflective vest with its talons. The officer held on to the bird and spun around until the berkutchi, a master of traditional falconry, arrived.

The Tengri Camp team treated Burning Man attendees to beshbarmak in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. This year, the Kazakh team brought 11 yurts to the festival and plans to serve the traditional meat dish to around 5,000 people. Kursiv LifeStyle takes a look at Kazakh hospitality at the event.

The footage shows festival attendees being served large portions of beshbarmak. People from different countries can be seen sitting at a single table, tasting the Kazakh dish and talking with members of the camp.

This is the second year Tengri Camp has represented Kazakhstan at Burning Man...

TikTok is rolling out several new features for video comments. Users will be able to record voice comments, create polls and add more photos to a single comment. Kursiv LifeStyle looks at the new features coming to the app.

One of the new features will let users post voice comments of up to 60 seconds under videos. The feature will gradually roll out to users 18 and older over the next month.

Another new feature lets creators add polls directly to comments. They can already include up to five answer options, with the results displayed in...

The National Bank of Kazakhstan reduced the base rate from 16.75% to 16.25%. The decision was made at a Monetary Policy Committee meeting on Sept. 4.

This marks the third consecutive reduction in the base rate, following cuts in June and July from 18% to 17% and from 17% to 16.75%, respectively. It will remain at that level at least until the next Monetary Policy Committee meeting, scheduled for Oct. 23.

The regulator cited inflation, which fell below 10% for the first time since February 2025, as a key factor that allowed it to cut the...

Australian tennis player (ATP World No. 918) Nick Kyrgios tested positive for cocaine after playing at the ATP 250 Mallorca Championships in late June and had been provisionally suspended since Aug. 4. He is now eligible to return to competition after accepting a one-month suspension, the BBC reported.

The 2022 Wimbledon finalist had initially faced a default three-month suspension under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations, but the term was reduced after the tennis player entered an approved treatment program. The suspension ended Sept. 3 after its completion.

According...

The traditional five-day, 40-hour workweek is increasingly being challenged as companies and governments recognize that longer hours do not necessarily translate into greater productivity. A recent ranking by World Population Review highlights how the global shift toward shorter work schedules is reshaping ideas about productivity and employee well-being. From experimental four-day workweeks to national policy reforms, workplaces are testing whether less time on the clock can lead to sharper focus and stronger performance.

The success of European trials

Europe has emerged as a major testing ground for alternative work models. In Iceland, a multiyear trial...

World-renowned Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen reminded his followers of a special date — starting in 2026, Kazakhstan marks Kazakh Tazy and Tobet Day on Sept. 3 for the first time. Kursiv LifeStyle looks at the Tazy hounds the celebrity showed his followers.

The new date was established to honor the national dog breeds that have accompanied the people of the Great Steppe for centuries. In the nomadic tradition, the breeds are part of «Zheti Kazyna» (the Seven Treasures of the Kazakh People).

Qudaibergen shared a photo of himself with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s Tazy hounds, Nancy and...

Business activity growth in Kazakhstan’s services sector slowed significantly in August. Despite continued expansion in services, Freedom Holding Corp.’s Composite PMI Output Index fell below the neutral 50.0 threshold amid a sharp decline in manufacturing output.

Service sector dynamics and new orders

The Services Business Activity Index (PMI) stood at 51.9 in August, down from 54.1 in July. This marked the fifth consecutive month that the index remained above 50. However, the August reading indicated the weakest expansion during the current five-month period of growth.

Service providers said the sector continued to benefit from an influx of new orders...

Representatives of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) have arrived at the Sokol International Circuit in the Almaty region, where the FIA Central Asia Drifting Cup will be held from Sept. 25 to 27. The event will be the first official FIA regional drifting tournament in Central Asia.

The track gears up for a historic tournament

Inspectors are assessing the complex, the track and the readiness of its infrastructure. In addition, specialists are conducting technical inspections of the participants’ cars.

Particular attention is being paid to the safety of the cars and their compliance with...

Norwegian authorities have seized the Russian-owned expedition vessel «Professor Molchanov» in Svalbard following a request from Ukraine’s state energy company Naftogaz, which is seeking to enforce a multibillion-dollar arbitration award against Russia, Euronews reported.

The vessel was seized on Wednesday in the port of Barentsburg after the Nord-Troms and Senja District Court issued an order on Monday. It is not permitted to leave its current location.

The action is part of Naftogaz’s efforts to obtain compensation for assets in Crimea that the company says were expropriated following Russia’s annexation of the peninsula in 2014. Since then, Naftogaz has...

Four smart crosswalks have been deployed in the Almaty region. One of them was installed in Esik at the 5.3-kilometer mark on the Esik-Saymasay road, at the entrance to the Altynshy cottage community. The new system uses modern technology and artificial intelligence to alert drivers when pedestrians enter the roadway.

How the new crosswalk works

The crosswalk’s main feature is a system that detects pedestrians entering the roadway and alerts drivers. The technology is especially useful in the dark, when it is more difficult to spot a person on a conventional crosswalk.

Smart crosswalks have been installed as part...

HBO has revealed a new teaser trailer for its «Harry Potter» series. The footage shows young Harry Potter arriving at Hogwarts for the first time, being sorted into a house and starting a new life at the school of wizardry. Kursiv LifeStyle takes a look at what’s shown in the new footage.

Dominic McLaughlin takes on the leading role. In the teaser, Potter is sorted into Gryffindor, where he meets Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Together, they will not only learn magic but also uncover the mystery of the philosopher’s stone.

The teaser shows several familiar...