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The world-renowned K-pop band BTS is set to return to the stage following a lengthy pause. Kursiv LifeStyle shares what is known about the upcoming album and world tour.

The first news of the group’s reunion appeared in summer 2025. At that time, all seven members announced during a live broadcast that they were working on a new album and a tour after completing their mandatory military service. This was their first live joint statement since September 2022. The announcement garnered more than 7.3 million live viewers.

By 2025, all seven BTS members had completed their...

Iranian authorities shut down internet access and international telephone connections late Thursday as protests expanded across the country following a call for demonstrations by exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, the Associated Press reported.

Iran has faced growing unrest since late December, following the collapse of its currency amid economic strain. Protests began soon afterward, with demonstrators chanting against the country’s clerical leadership and economic conditions. Over the following weeks, demonstrations spread to cities and rural towns, accompanied by the closure of markets and bazaars.

By Thursday, violence linked to the unrest had killed at least 42 people and led...

Samruk-Kazyna, Kazakhstan’s national wealth fund, no longer owns Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plants (KNPP) LLC, the company designated to become the operator and owner of all nuclear power plants (NPPs) in the country. This is indicated in the fund’s corporate documentation.

According to Kompra, ownership of KNPP was transferred to the State Property and Privatization Committee under the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Dec. 30, 2025. As a result, Samruk-Kazyna is no longer the parent company of KNPP but instead holds the status of a sister company.

Initial reports that KNPP would be removed from Samruk-Kazyna’s...

Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina (World No.5) lost 2-6, 6-2, 4-6 to Czech Karolína Muchová and didn’t advance to the semifinals of the WTA 500 2026 Brisbane International.

Rybakina struggled in the first set — already in the opening game, she nearly lost her serve. Muchová secured a break in the fifth game and did so again two games later.

Rybakina made several errors, with her unforced-error count increasing. By the end of the set, she returned serve with backhand shots, and the score was 2-6.

During the break between sets, Muchová took a...

Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik (World No. 11) secured the first victory of 2026 at the ATP 250 Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open 2026. He defeated the Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp (75) 6-3, 6-3.

The head-to-head score was 2-1 in favor of the Dutchman before the match. Up to 3-3, the players held serve confidently. Alexander fought hard to hold his next service game from 15-40, then secured a break to move ahead 5-3 and converted his second set point to take the set. After breaking serve twice in the second set, Bublik won the match in 1 hour and...

An Air Astana aircraft en route from Seoul to Astana made an emergency landing in Beijing after the onboard toilets malfunctioned. According to the airline, the aircraft departed the South Korean capital at 9:25 a.m. and landed in Beijing nearly two hours later. Departure from China was scheduled for 1:00 a.m. on Jan. 9.

Passengers holding Chinese visas were accommodated in a hotel while awaiting departure. Those without visas remained in the transit area, where they were provided with meals and blankets.

In December, Air Astana reported two emergency landings in a single day — one due to...

The Kazakhstani-Serbian doubles pair of Anna Danilina (World No. 14) and Aleksandra Krunić (17) lost 3-6, 6-4, 7-10 in a super tiebreak to Spain’s Cristina Bucșa (28) and Australia’s Ellen Perez (23) at the WTA 500 2026 Brisbane International.

Danilina and Krunić’s opponents entered the match better rested. Bucșa and Perez did not have to play their quarterfinal after Spain’s Paula Badosa and Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka withdrew from the doubles draw. Notably, Badosa later lost her singles match to Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina (3-6, 2-6), while Sabalenka defeated Romania’s Sorana Cîrstea (6-3, 6-3).

«Away Days with Jake Hanrahan,» a YouTube project that describes itself as an underground journalism outlet, has released a new documentary focusing on football hooligan culture in Kazakhstan’s Aktobe, a city largely unknown to many Western viewers.

Jake Hanrahan and Jonny Pickup visited Aktobe ahead of the city’s match against Almaty-based FC Kairat in September 2025. According to the presenters, it took several months of negotiations with 13 Sector — the city’s most active and dedicated football fan group, which typically refuses to speak to journalists.

The fan group known as 13 Sector was founded in Aktobe in August...

The shooting occurred inside a vehicle in a neighborhood south of downtown Minneapolis. Videos posted on social media show ICE officers approaching an SUV blocking the street during a protest against an ICE raid in the area and ordering the driver to open the door, the Associated Press reported.

As the vehicle began moving forward, an officer standing in front of it drew his weapon and fired several shots at close range. The SUV then struck two parked cars and came to a stop. The victim, Renee Nicole Macklin Good, 37, died of gunshot wounds to the head.

Federal...

A young woman named Ailin, known for her distinctive appearance, recently gained attention in Kazakhstan’s online community. In her videos, she told viewers about being bullied at school for vitiligo — a condition that causes areas of skin to lose color — and about how she learned to accept herself. The story quickly resonated with users, who described her as inspirational and brave in the comments section.

Her Instagram bio stated...

The Freedom Holding Corp. PMI Business Activity Index remained below the neutral threshold of 50.0 in December, completing a full quarter of monthly declines in business activity. That said, the index ticked up to 49.5 from 48.7 in November, signaling only a marginal drop in service sector output — the weakest in the current run of decline.

The ongoing slowdown in new business growth persisted. Companies were also less optimistic about the 12-month outlook for activity. Sentiment fell to its lowest level since April 2020 amid concerns about the impact of the upcoming VAT increase.

What’s happening in the sector?

U.S. President Donald Trump has approved the country’s withdrawal from dozens of international organizations, according to the BBC.

The White House says the decision affects 66 international organizations, with almost half connected to the United Nations. This includes the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is a key treaty supporting global climate action.

The administration explained that the withdrawals followed a review that found these organizations no longer aligned with U.S. interests and were not a good use of taxpayer money. Officials also said the groups’ policies and programs contradict U.S. sovereignty and economic goals.

The U.S. will...

Japan-based entertainment company Sanrio — famous worldwide for its Hello Kitty and other character brands — is set to establish a permanent museum dedicated to its history and to its founder, Shintaro Tsuji, in Yamanashi Prefecture, southwest of Tokyo, in April, NHK World reported.

The exhibition will focus on Sanrio’s history and its characters, with one exhibit recreating Tsuji’s office; he was born in the prefecture. The museum will be called Yamanashi Ichigo no Osama Museum: Sanrio Sogyosha Tsuji Shintaro Kinenkan (English: Yamanashi Strawberry King Museum: Shintaro Tsuji Hall).

Entry will be...

Central banks around the world continue to actively purchase gold, with Kazakhstan remaining one of the leaders in the trend. According to the World Gold Council (WGC), the National Bank of Kazakhstan increased its gold reserves by another 8 tons in November.

In total, the National Bank purchased 49 tons of gold over the first 11 months of the year, placing Kazakhstan second among global gold buyers. Poland ranked first, having purchased 95 tons of gold during the same period.

Overall, central banks purchased a net 45 tons of gold in November. This was slightly lower than in October...

Kazakhstan’s No. 1 tennis player, Elena Rybakina (World No. 5), advanced to the quarterfinals of the WTA 500 2026 Brisbane International. In the round of 16, Rybakina defeated Spain’s Paula Badosa (No. 25) 6-3, 6-2. With her victory following the WTA Finals in Riyadh, the Kazakhstani athlete has now won seven consecutive matches in official tournaments.

Badosa, 28, is no easy opponent. She reached a career-high ranking of World No. 2, a milestone Rybakina has yet to achieve. Last year, the Spanish player reached the semifinals of the Australian Open.

Before the new season began, Rybakina...

Two people were killed and three others seriously injured in a road accident that occurred on Jan. 6, 2026, on the outskirts of Almaty, according to the Indian Embassy in Kazakhstan.

The group — four students from the South Kazakhstan Medical Academy (SKMA) and one Indian tourist — was traveling from Shymkent to Almaty when the accident occurred. Two students, Karan Parmar and Rishiraj Baraith, both natives of Rajasthan, died at the scene.

The three survivors were hospitalized with severe injuries and are currently in intensive care. Doctors are working to save the lives of students Manjeet Singh Solanki

Forbes Kazakhstan named millionaire Nurlan Smagulov «Businessman of the Year.» According to the outlet, he does not plan to leave his entire inheritance to his children.

«Our family does not want to leave large sums of money to the children — that is not always a blessing. It is more important for us to leave institutions, something that will continue to function after we are gone,» Forbes Kazakhstan cited the businessman as saying. 

Smagulov ranks eighth among the richest people in Kazakhstan, with...

An unidentified trader earned about $410,000 by betting that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro would be removed from office, Reuters reported.

The trader placed the bets on Polymarket, a platform that allows users to wager on real-world events. Initially, the bets were valued at around $34,000, reflecting low expectations of Maduro’s removal. However, their value surged after reports emerged that the U.S. military had captured Maduro over the weekend, according to Polymarket data.

Prediction markets such as Polymarket offer yes-or-no contracts tied to real-world events, including political and economic outcomes. These contracts can cost just a few cents...

Kazakh national postal operator Kazpost has resumed sending parcels to the U.S. The service was previously halted due to restrictions imposed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

The operator stated that international shipments can now be handled under a new procedure with the Zonos service — approved by CBP. Customers should file a customs declaration in advance via the Zonos app for iOS and Android before visiting the post office.

To do this, the sender needs to sign up via the app, confirm their email, choose the type of shipment — either a regular parcel or a gift worth...

Kazakhstan ranks 50th among the world’s largest economies, with a GDP of approximately $300 billion. The country also ranks among the top five globally in terms of average annual economic growth over the past 25 years, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Between 2000 and 2025, Kazakhstan’s economy grew at an average annual rate of 5.6%, according to the IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook. This places the country fifth worldwide in long-term growth among major economies.

Only China (8%), Vietnam and India (6.4% each), and Bangladesh (5.9%) reported higher average annual growth rates over the same period.

Clicks — a tech company originally known for its physical QWERTY keyboard accessories for iPhone smartphones — has unveiled its first standalone smartphone, the Clicks Communicator. This device is a perfect fit for those feeling nostalgic for feature phones and tired of endless touchscreens.

The smartphone is equipped with a physical, touch-sensitive QWERTY keyboard and a 4-inch AMOLED display, and is powered by Android 16 with the custom Niagara Launcher, allowing users to display only the most needed apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Gmail and Slack. The concept is simple — less visual noise and more focus...

A touching story about a good deed done nearly two decades ago and unexpectedly returned has gone viral in Kazakhstan.

According to Innabat Yakubova, the events date back to 2006, when she was 22 and working as a waitress at a bar. At the time, three students would come in almost every evening, always carrying the same small amount of money. Obviously, on a tight budget, they would order modestly, and Yakubova would often treat them at her own expense.

She never thought that her kindness was particularly important — or that anyone would remember it years later.

The satellite internet connection is set to be available on Air Astana aircraft and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (Kazakhstan Railways) trains in 2026, Minister of AI and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev announced during a government session.

He said that there are three satellite internet providers currently operating in Kazakhstan, with two international companies expected to enter in the near future. Pilot trials are expected to be conducted this year.

Regional authorities are tasked with bringing satellite internet to tourist and remote locations using local budgets.

Furthermore, Madiyev said that the project to provide mobile coverage along roads is...

Kazakhstan plans to produce five to six Earth observation satellites in the coming years, according to Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry Zhaslan Madiyev.

«The Ministry of Digital Development operates a manufacturing facility designed for domestic satellite production. Active work is already underway to fully utilize this capacity. In the coming years, at least five to six remote sensing satellites will be produced at this facility, including export contracts valued at $75 million,» Madiyev said.

He noted that this would mark the first time in Kazakhstan’s history that the country exports such technologically...