News

As Iran faces a sweeping surge of anti-government protests, authorities have activated their most extensive internet shutdown yet, effectively cutting off both domestic connectivity and access to the global web. With conventional networks disabled, Elon Musk’s satellite service, Starlink, has become the main — and in many cases the only — channel through which information can leave the country.

A new front in digital warfare

Starlink operates through low-Earth-orbit satellites, allowing users to bypass state-run internet infrastructure. In a move aimed at supporting demonstrators, SpaceX this week began providing free access to Iranian users...

Kazakhstan’s second-ranked tennis player Alexander Shevchenko (World No. 104) defeated Márton Fucsovics (55) with 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) and advanced to the quarterfinals of the ATP 250 Adelaide International 2026 tournament.

Before today, Jan. 14, Shevchenko faced Fucsovics only once. At last year’s tournament in Kitzbühel, Austria, the Kazakhstani athlete was victorious, scoring 7-5, 6-4. To compete with Hungary’s player again, Shevchenko passed the qualifying rounds in Adelaide and defeated Bosnia’s Damir Džumhur (66) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 in the round of 32.

The fourth game proved decisive in the first set. Despite Fucsovics’s determined resistance, with eight...

Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio have agreed on a plan to implement the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) during talks in Washington on Jan. 13, Interfax reported, citing Armenia’s Foreign Ministry.

Officials from both countries welcomed the rapid development of Armenia-U.S. relations and reviewed progress on existing agreements and joint projects. They also discussed the outcomes of the Washington Peace Summit held on Aug. 8, 2025, and emphasized the need for further steps to secure lasting peace.

Under the TRIPP project, a 42-kilometer transport corridor will be built in...

Actor Kiefer Sutherland was arrested early Monday in Hollywood on suspicion of assaulting a ride-share driver, according to Los Angeles police, as reported by NBC News.

Authorities said officers responded to an assault report just after midnight near Sunset Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue. Police said Sutherland got into a ride-share vehicle, assaulted the driver, and made criminal threats.

The driver did not need medical help at the scene, but the investigation is ongoing.

Jail records show Sutherland was booked on a felony charge, released on bail and is set to appear in court on Feb. 2. The 59-year-old...

At least 22 people were killed and 64 others injured in northeastern Thailand after a construction crane collapsed onto a passenger train in Nakhon Ratchasima, ITV News reported.

The crane, which was part of a project to build an elevated high-speed rail line, struck the train as it was traveling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani province. The impact caused several cars to derail and ignite, according to the Nakhon Ratchasima provincial Public Relations Department.

Authorities said the blaze had been brought under control and that emergency crews were continuing to search the wreckage for passengers who may be...

In the center of Astana, near the Baiterek monument, an unusual knitted, eco-friendly Christmas tree has captured the attention of the city’s residents. The art installation has also gained popularity on social media.

The tree is adorned with knitted squares, plush toys and decorative elements. Users say volunteers of all ages contributed to its creation, with everyone helping to prepare the festive decorations.

Commenters have compared the tree to yarn bombing — a type of street art in which urban objects are decorated with yarn elements. Residents say the tree makes them feel warm despite the...

Fujifilm has unveiled another «expensive toy» aimed at photography enthusiasts and nostalgia lovers: the Instax Mini Evo Cinema.

Retro design inspired by the 1960s

The instant camera features a cinematic aesthetic and a distinctly analog feel. Its exterior design resembles Fujica Single-8 video cameras produced in the 1960s, tapping into retro appeal for collectors and vintage-tech fans.

Built-in filters and sound effects

One of the camera’s standout features is its suite of visual effects. Using a dedicated slider on the camera body, users can stylize images to mimic different eras, from the 1930s to the 2020s. The filters...

The Spiritual Administration of Kazakhstan’s Muslims (SAKM) has issued a fatwa addressing the use of deepfake technology.

What are deepfakes?

Deepfakes are a form of artificial intelligence that can create or manipulate video and audio content. The technology can distort a person’s voice, alter facial expressions, or make it appear that someone said or did something that never occurred.

Religious perspective on technology

According to SAKM, Islam does not prohibit scientific or technological development or the discovery of new innovations. However, such progress must be grounded in justice and morality and remain within the principles of Sharia.

According to the press service of the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan, attacks on tankers carrying Kazakh oil did occur in the Black Sea.

The ministry clarified that the incidents took place on Jan. 13, 2026, near the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) marine terminal.

«The Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan confirms reports of incidents that occurred on Jan. 13, 2026, in the Black Sea near the CPC marine terminal involving two vessels transporting Kazakh oil,» the ministry said in a statement.

The first incident involved the Maltese-flagged tanker Matilda, chartered by a...

BTS, an internationally celebrated K-pop group, is set to kick off a long-anticipated world tour on April 9, the group’s label BigHit Music announced on Jan. 13.

According to Yonhap, the tour will mark BTS’s first world tour since 2022 and is expected to set a record for the highest number of performances by a K-pop artist on a single tour, citing the group’s agency.

[공지] BTS (방탄소년단) WORLD TOUR 개최 안내 (+ENG/JPN/CHN)

🔗 https://t.co/UN1hL6O0Gt#방탄소년단 #BTS #BTS_WORLDTOUR pic.twitter.com/dWSWyRnw67

— BIGHIT MUSIC (@BIGHIT_MUSIC) January 13, 2026

A new law on artificial intelligence will come into force in Kazakhstan on Jan. 18. One of its key provisions requires the mandatory labeling of AI-generated content, with significant fines imposed for non-compliance.

Under the law, AI-generated content must be clearly labeled in a machine-readable format, allowing it to be automatically recognized by software and digital systems. Failure to meet this requirement will result in administrative penalties.

Individuals who fail to label AI content face fines of approximately $127, while small businesses and non-profit organizations may be fined around $170.

Repeat violations may lead to...

Honda announced a global corporate identity change, according to its official release. The iconic “H” on vehicles will be replaced for the first time in decades. The new “H Mark” will be used across the entire automobile division.

From EVs to a world standard

The «retro‑futuristic» logo without the familiar frame was first presented in early 2024 for 0 Series EVs. Honda now plans to begin introducing this new logo later in 2024, with a phased rollout: by 2027, all of the brand’s key models, including popular hybrids, will feature the updated logo.

What the logo...

In a parliamentary inquiry, the Ak Zhol faction claimed that the government is unprepared for complex international disputes surrounding the country’s largest oil and gas projects. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov responded to the claim.

What is the gist of the complaint?

According to the party’s estimates, the country is losing trillions of tenge, which directly affects the budget and national interests. This is the result of production-sharing agreements (PSAs) the country signed in the 1990s. At the time, the government had little leverage and the agreements were focused primarily on the interests of foreign investors.

In 2023, Kazakhstan...

During the 2026 Golden Globes, fans noted a small detail that could point to rumors of a marriage between actor Timothée Chalamet and influencer Kylie Jenner. According to Reality Tea, a nameplate on a festive table sparked speculation.

On Jan. 11, the 83rd Golden Globe Awards took place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. Chalamet, 30, who had been nominated four times, won the trophy for the first time.

Attentive fans noticed that Jenner’s name card featured a double surname, reading «Kylie Jenner-Chalamet.» Upon seeing it, the influencer showed the...

A video of Shymbulak by popular Almaty photographer Dmitry Dotsenko is gaining popularity on social media.

The footage features a time-lapse of the ski resort at sunset. Daylight fades into evening and the slopes are illuminated by bright, warm lights.

The video has garnered nearly 10,000 likes, with Kaznet users delighted, commenting on its calm atmosphere and recognizable views.

«It feels like a Chinese dragon slowly descending. Incredibly beautiful.»
«Very atmospheric...

On Jan. 18, the 2026 Australian Open kicks off, in which Kazakhstani tennis player Elena Rybakina is considered one of the favorites. The world’s top-five athlete just revealed her plans for after the first Grand Slam tournament of the season.

Right after AO, Rybakina will head to Abu Dhabi, UAE, where she will participate in the 2026 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open tournament running from Jan. 31 to Feb. 7. The prize money will reach $1.2 million this year.

She already won the tournament in 2024 and reached the semifinals in 2025, where she was defeated by Swiss Belinda Bencic (World...

Finance ministers from the G7 and several other major economies met in Washington to discuss ways to reduce their dependence on rare earths and other critical minerals from China, including possible price-stabilization mechanisms and new partnerships to develop alternative supplies, Reuters reported.

The meeting, convened by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, included officials from Japan, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and the U.S., as well as Australia, Mexico, South Korea and India.

Participants said the talks focused on securing and diversifying supply chains for critical minerals, which are essential for defense technologies, semiconductors, renewable energy equipment and batteries. China...

Exports of Kazakhstani oil through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) saw a significant drop in January 2026. According to Bloomberg, shipment volumes fell around 45% from the planned level due to a combination of factors, including bad weather, protracted maintenance and the consequences of unmanned aerial vehicle attacks.

Traders say that between 800,000 and 900,000 barrels a day of CPC Blend are expected to be exported in January. Of the initial plan of 45 shipments, at least 21 were cancelled. The supply shortage has already resulted in a price increase — Kazakhstani oil is trading at...

Production of camel milk ice cream has been launched in the Almaty region of Kazakhstan. The project is part of the «Kazakhtanu» cultural and educational program, which focuses on reinventing national traditions. The project involves processing camel milk and using it in desserts. The product line includes over 20 flavors and is made from natural ingredients.

Azangul Albosyn, the entrepreneur behind the project, is a former lawyer. She used to live and work in neighboring China but, as an ethnic Kazakh, decided to return to Kazakhstan about 15 years ago. Together with her husband, Zharkyn Zhumagazy, she began developing a...

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he would impose 25% tariffs on all business activities with the U.S. for countries conducting business with Iran, Reuters reported.

Tariffs

«Effective immediately, any country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a tariff of 25% on any and all business conducted with the United States of America,» Trump wrote in a post.

He described the order as «final and conclusive» but did not specify how it would be implemented or on what legal basis.

According to the press service of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the final decision on constitutional reform in Kazakhstan will be made through a nationwide referendum. The statement came during a meeting on parliamentary and constitutional reform in the country.

«The head of state underlined the need to take into account all opinions and initiatives. The president also stated that the final decision on constitutional reform will be made by citizens during a national referendum,» the Akorda said in a statement.

During the meeting, State Counselor Erlan Karin said a working group had already discussed...

Kazakhstani producer Maira Karsakbayeva shared a funny and heartwarming story about actor and former professional boxer Mike Tyson’s visit to Astana. Kursiv LifeStyle explains why the star had to stop a police convoy during his journey.

In 2010, the legendary athlete was invited to the Astana Action Film Festival. At the time, Tyson’s participation was organized in cooperation with a Hollywood producer, while the invitation was initiated by Timur Bekmambetov, the director of the event. Karsakbayeva negotiated through Tyson’s wife, Kiki, with whom she remains in touch.

Upon arrival, Tyson went to dinner with his family...

Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok has gained global popularity. However, some of the attention surrounding it recently might be linked to its ability to generate sexually explicit images on the X platform, including «undressed» images of public figures. As a result, some regulators in Europe and Asia are taking action against the platform, Reuters reported.

The European Commission introduced a «retention order» last year requiring X to preserve internal documents and information related to future changes to its recommendation algorithms until Dec. 31, 2025. Following new concerns about sexually explicit AI-generated images, the Commission extended the order by...

Kazakhstan’s top-ranked tennis player, Alexander Bublik, reached the world’s top 10 for the first time in his career after winning the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open 2026.

The 28-year-old from Gatchina, Russia, representing Kazakhstan since 2016, climbed one spot in the rankings by moving past Jack Draper, whom Bublik defeated in the 2025 French Open round of 16. At the 2026 Australian Open, the Kazakhstani athlete will be seeded 10th.

There were no other changes among the world’s top-ranked players. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner lead the rankings. On Jan...