News

Germany’s PCK refinery in Schwedt will receive South American crude oil supplied by Poland-based energy group Unimot. The shipment follows the suspension of Kazakh crude deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline earlier this year, Unimot said in a news release.

In July, Polish energy company Unimot Paliwa imported a seaborne shipment of South American crude oil to Gdansk. The oil was then transported to the PCK refinery in Schwedt via PERN’s pipeline infrastructure.

The refinery in Schwedt supplies about 90% of the gasoline, diesel and heating oil consumed in Berlin and Brandenburg, while also delivering fuel to...

The high-profile case of Kazakhstani citizen Yelaman Baltagerei, who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in June and described as a «terrorist,» has sparked widespread discussion on social media in Kazakhstan.

However, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has no information confirming Baltagerei’s alleged involvement in terrorist activities. Moreover, U.S. authorities have already initiated the standard deportation process to return him to Kazakhstan, as they would for any other foreign national.

The ministry made the statement in response to an official inquiry from Kursiv.media.

No confirmation of U.S. allegations

When U.S. law enforcement agencies...

Spanish singer Enrique Iglesias reposted a video by Kazakh artist and content creator Assel Sabyrzhankyzy on his social media. He briefly captioned a post: «See you soon Kazakhstan.» Kursiv LifeStyle shares the details. 

The video reposted by Iglesias features the artist using a carpet instead of a traditional canvas. Accompanied by «Ring My Bells,» she creates a large-scale portrait of the singer with spray paint.

In the video, the woman quarrels with her husband, who does not support her passion for art. She then heads to the rooftop of a building to...

TikTok has removed more than 1.28 million videos in Kazakhstan during the first quarter of 2026. The majority of violations were detected before users could report them. Kursiv LifeStyle explains the details.

According to TikTok’s Community Guidelines Enforcement Report, the platform deleted around 1.28 million videos in Kazakhstan between January and March for violating the social media platform’s rules.

At the same time, 99.4% of the videos were removed proactively before users reported them, while 95.6% were taken down within the first 24 hours after upload.

Globally, TikTok deleted more than 184 million videos, 99.3% of...

The state of Michigan is experiencing its largest recorded outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic intestinal infection that causes severe watery, or “explosive,” diarrhea.

The number of confirmed cases has reached 2,640, according to the Midland Daily News, citing the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).

Authorities said the number of cases has increased by more than 1,000 in just a few days. At least 44 people have been hospitalized. Health officials said most cases have been reported in southeastern Michigan.

Symptoms and transmission

Cyclosporiasis is caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. The infection is typically...

A wave of memes comparing French soccer sensation Kylian Mbappé to a “dictator” has swept across social media this year.

The trend has spread well beyond France. Some Kazakh TikTok creators have even gained attention in the U.S. by dressing in military uniforms associated with dictators while reenacting Mbappé’s gestures and on-field behavior.

The meme gained significant traction during the first half of 2026 for several reasons.

Playing video games provides small but measurable cognitive benefits, according to.research findings published in the journal Acta Psychologica.

Scientists analyzed data from more than 130 studies involving about 14,000 participants to examine how video games affect cognitive abilities. The researchers conducted three meta-analyses that included correlational studies, comparisons between gamers and non-gamers, and clinical trials published between January 2005 and August 2025.

Overall, the analysis found that playing video games was associated with small but statistically significant improvements in cognitive performance. Compared with non-gamers, people who played video games showed the greatest gains...

News recently spread about the death of 16-year-old Kazakh citizen Sunkar Sabit, who had traveled to India for cancer treatment. According to media reports, his mother is seeking to bring home his cryopreserved sperm, which had been collected and frozen before he underwent chemotherapy.

The case has prompted public debate, with many asking what happens to a deceased person’s stored reproductive material.

Without addressing the specific circumstances of Sabit’s case, the broader question remains: Can a child be conceived using the sperm of a deceased man?

Posthumous reproduction — the use of cryopreserved sperm after a man’s death...

The Georgian economy continues to surprise with its rapid growth this year. While key sectors such as construction and agriculture declined, ICT, transportation, and financial services drove growth. The country also posted a budget surplus, strengthened its national currency, and increased its international reserves. However, delays in major infrastructure projects and accelerating inflation could put pressure on future growth.

Georgia’s economy expanded by 9.0% year over year in the first quarter of 2026, exceeding initial forecasts. GDP reached 24.8 billion lari (about $9.2 billion).

The economy continues its transition toward a service-oriented model. The services sector’s share of...

Manchester City and Norway star Erling Haaland owns a car collection worth about $12 million, according to Autoevolution.

Although Norway did not advance in the race for the World Cup title, Haaland remains one of the best-known car enthusiasts among active footballers. His collection includes almost every type of vehicle — from luxurious off-road vehicles and pickup trucks to exclusive hypercars.

Bugatti with 1,800 horsepower under the hood

The gem of the collection is believed to be the Bugatti Tourbillon. Haaland is among the few buyers of the new hypercar, which was limited to a...

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former emir of Qatar who transformed the small Gulf nation into a major force in global diplomacy, media, aviation and investment, has died at the age of 74, The Associated Press reported.

Sheikh Hamad ruled Qatar from 1995 until his voluntary abdication in 2013, when he handed power to his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, marking a significant milestone in Qatar’s modern history.

During his 18 years in power, Sheikh Hamad oversaw Qatar’s rapid rise on the world stage. He helped develop the country’s vast oil and natural gas...

A new feature is under development for WhatsApp that may come in handy for those who keep forgetting to wish friends and relatives a happy birthday — the messaging app is testing birthday reminders.

According to WABetaInfo, the app will feature a dedicated section listing upcoming birthdays for contacts. When the date arrives, WhatsApp will send a reminder notification.

The new feature will rely on information already stored in the smartphone’s address book. If a contact’s date of birth is not listed, no reminder will be sent.

WABetaInfo noted that no additional privacy settings are needed...

A pilot cloud seeding project aimed at artificially inducing rainfall to help combat water shortages has been launched in Kazakhstan’s Turkestan region. As part of the initiative, 14 aerial cloud seeding operations have been carried out across four districts.

According to Gov. Nuralkhan Kusherov, the project is being implemented in cooperation with engineers, scientists and pilots from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE specialists are currently transferring rainfall induction technology to Kazakhstani experts.

«Artificial rainmaking is a unique, future-oriented project. As part of the pilot project, 14 aerial rainfall induction operations have been completed,» Kusherov...

More flights between Kazakhstan and Turkey will be available starting in August, when Turkish low-cost carrier AJet launches additional services to Ankara on two routes.

Starting in August, AJet will operate seven weekly flights on the Astana-Ankara and Almaty-Ankara routes. The two routes are currently served twice a week.

As a result, flights between Kazakhstan and the Turkish capital will operate daily.

“Increasing the number of flights will help further strengthen business, trade, economic and tourism cooperation between the two countries,” Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport said in a statement.

In the latest Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings, released after the 2026 Wimbledon Championships, world No. 2 Elena Rybakina remained in the same position. She has decided to take a break from tournament competition until August.

The grass-court season has officially ended and tennis stars are switching to the hard-court season. The series of tournaments on the surface precedes the season’s final Grand Slam. The 2026 U.S. Open will be held from Aug. 30 to Sept. 13.

Kazakhstan’s top-ranked player, who hasn’t recently produced the trademark tennis or high-profile victories fans have come to expect, has decided to take a...

Kazakh Power Slap competitor Zakir Naimanbayev has publicly challenged former UFC champion Conor McGregor to a slap-fighting match.

Naimanbayev, who has competed in Dana White’s Power Slap promotion, posted a video on Instagram inviting McGregor to face him in the league.

Challenge issued on social media

In the video, Naimanbayev said he represents Kazakhstan in Power Slap and called on McGregor to accept the challenge.

China has publicly disclosed technical details of a high-power microwave weapon. According to military researchers, the system could pose a significant threat to satellite networks, including Elon Musk’s Starlink.

Designed for electronic warfare

Researchers at China’s National University of Defense Technology said the system is capable of generating microwave pulses with peak power of up to 100 gigawatts. Such output could disrupt or damage satellites operating in low-Earth orbit.

The scientists noted that the weapon is intended primarily for electronic warfare rather than physical destruction of targets.

Potential impact on satellites

The study’s authors...

Russian researchers have developed an experimental drug designed to protect healthy tissue during radiation therapy, according to Andrey Kaprin, director general of the National Medical Research Center of Radiology under Russia’s Ministry of Health, RIA Novosti reported.

Designed to protect healthy tissue

Kaprin, Russia’s chief oncologist, said the drug is intended to reduce the harmful effects of ionizing radiation on healthy cells while allowing radiation therapy to remain effective against tumors.

“One promising area involves the development of a radioprotective drug designed to reduce the negative impact of ionizing radiation on the body...

Sociologist Igor Eidman has speculated that U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham may have been killed by Russian intelligence services, NEXTA reported.

Eidman said his theory was based on what he described as two key factors: the timing of Graham’s death and the senator’s recent visit to Ukraine.

Graham’s stance on Russia

According to Eidman, the Kremlin had a potential motive because Graham had been a vocal advocate for increased pressure on Russia and stronger support for Ukraine. He also noted that Graham had recently said that President Donald Trump supported his proposed legislation imposing...

A camera trap has captured a group of wild boars with piglets in the Sarytogai area of Charyn National Park in Kazakhstan, park officials announced on Instagram.

The footage shows the adult animals and their young moving calmly through their natural habitat.

“These observations confirm the successful reproduction of wild boars and indicate the healthy condition of the national park’s ecosystem,” park...

Lionsgate has launched an international casting search for its live-action adaptation of «Naruto.» The studio is looking for actors to play the lead roles. Kursiv LifeStyle explains who could become part of the upcoming adaptation of the iconic manga.

According to the official «Naruto» and «Boruto» website, the studio is stepping up pre-production on its live-action adaptation and, together with the film’s director, Destin Daniel Cretton, best known for «Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,» has announced the launch of a global casting search.

The filmmakers are searching for actors to portray the three...

Calbee Inc., Japan’s leading snack maker, announced it would gradually resume colorful packaging for some of its products after previously switching to monochrome amid instability in the Middle East, which created challenges in procuring printing materials.

According to the company’s news release, Calbee will restore color to the front of the packaging for eight products, while the 330g and 700g versions of its Frugra fruit granola cereal will return to full-color packaging. Calbee is set to gradually roll out the colorful packages across Japan starting July 27.

The company said it would...

The National Bank of Kazakhstan increased its gold reserves by seven tons in May. Since the beginning of 2026, the country has acquired 20 tons of the precious metal, ranking fourth among the world’s largest gold buyers, according to the World Gold Council (WGC).

Poland was the largest buyer, having increased its gold reserves by 64 tons since the beginning of the year, followed by Uzbekistan (33 tons) and China (25 tons). Kazakhstan ranked fourth with 20 tons, close behind the top three.

According to the WGC, central banks worldwide increased their gold reserves by a...

Kazakhstan is warming faster than the global average, according to specialists at Kazhydromet. Forecasters say the most rapid warming is occurring during the spring.

Based on long-term observations, Kazakhstan has experienced a sustained rise in temperatures. Since 1976, the country’s average annual air temperature has increased by about 0.4 degrees Celsius per decade.

The fastest warming has been recorded in spring, when temperatures have risen by roughly 0.7 degrees Celsius per decade. In some regions, the rate reaches as much as 0.9 degrees Celsius.

According to Kazhydromet, 2025 was the warmest year on record in Kazakhstan...