News

Japan’s cherry blossom season, marked by the blooming of sakura, is one of the country’s most celebrated natural events. These delicate flowers, which come from various species of Prunus trees, bloom briefly each spring and draw widespread attention across the nation.

Most cherry trees flower for only a short period — typically one to two weeks. In Tokyo and much of central Japan, peak bloom usually occurs between late March and early April. Further north, in regions such as Hokkaido, blossoms appear later, often beginning in early May. Some varieties, such as shikizakura, bloom twice a year. In...

The International Olympic Committee has introduced new eligibility rules stating that only biological females may compete in women’s categories. The restrictions apply to the Olympic Games and all other IOC-sanctioned events, covering both team and individual competitions.

Read also: ‘World’s Strongest Woman’ stripped of title after reveal she was born male.

Under the new policy, eligibility will be determined through genetic analysis. Athletes will be tested for the presence of the SRY gene; those who test positive will not be eligible to compete in the women’s category.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s signature will be added to future dollar bills, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced.

This will mark the first time in history that U.S. paper currency will bear the signature of a sitting president. Traditionally, banknotes are signed by the U.S. Treasury Secretary and the Treasurer.

The Department noted that the decision is timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the United States.

«Under President Trump’s leadership, we are on a path toward unprecedented economic growth, lasting dollar dominance, and fiscal strength and stability. There is...

Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, to discuss the current situation in the Middle East and bilateral cooperation, the ministry’s press service reported.

Kazakhstan offers venue for peace talks

During the conversation, the Kazakh side expressed concern about developments surrounding Iran and reaffirmed its readiness to host peace talks in Turkestan, in southern Kazakhstan.

«The Kazakh side is ready to provide a venue for peace talks in the city of Turkestan,» the Foreign Ministry said.

The two sides also agreed to continue dialogue on...

Hong Kong-based Chinese company Jiaxin International Resources reported a profit of $40 million, reversing a $22.5 million loss in 2024. The turnaround follows the launch of a tungsten ore processing plant at the Boguty deposit in southern Kazakhstan — the world’s fourth-largest tungsten reserve — according to Interfax, citing the company’s AIX filing.

Major tungsten facility opens in Almaty region

In November 2024, Kazakhstan’s first tungsten processing plant began operations at the Boguty deposit in the Almaty region. The project, valued at $300 million, is operated by Aral Kegen, a subsidiary of Jiaxin International Resources Investment.

The name of Kazakhstan’s first president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, continues to appear on streets, schools and monuments in several countries, even as references to him decline at home. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the details in response to an inquiry from Kursiv.media.

Turkey leads in number of tributes

Turkey has the highest number of locations named after Nazarbayev. Streets, avenues and boulevards bearing his name can be found in six cities: Ankara, Gebze, Kirsehir, Nevsehir, Adana and Izmir.

Read also: Goodbye Lenin: Central Asia’s Soviet-era monuments — some demolished, others endure.

A prank in Semey, eastern Kazakhstan, took an unexpected turn when a staged «social experiment» about a child abduction prompted a real-life intervention.

Bystander steps in to help

As part of the setup, a young girl approached passersby, shouting that a man was holding a knife and trying to take her. One of those nearby, a woman identified as Nurai, immediately stepped in.

Read also: Meet ‘Granny Schwarzenegger,’ the 67-year-old bodybuilder taking over TikTok.

She confronted the man, who claimed the child was his sister, and demanded proof. Nurai insisted he...

The saying, «Don’t ever lend money to a friend,» exists for a reason. Financial ties between friends can be tricky, with generosity on one side and the risk of damaging the relationship on the other. Here’s how to help someone you care about while minimizing the impact on your wallet.

Credit of trust

The safest approach is simple: Only lend what you can afford to lose. If the amount would strain your budget or leave you feeling resentful, it’s better to say no upfront.

Consider alternatives to lending

Sometimes people ask for money not because they’re in a crisis, but...

World No. 1 tennis player Aryna Sabalenka shared her expectations for ahead of another match against Kazakhstani Elena Rybakina (World No. 2). The players will compete in the semifinals of the 2026 Miami Open.

Sabalenka said that this rivalry helps her progress and is not alarming. She noted that matches against Rybakina do not make her nervous, as she sees them as an opportunity to grow.

«I, to be honest, enjoy our rivalry and I enjoy our battles. I really enjoy because I feel like we both push each other to the...

Belarus and North Korea have signed a new «friendship and cooperation» treaty in Pyongyang, marking closer ties between the two countries, Euronews reported.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko met North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a two-day visit, where both sides described the agreement as a step toward strengthening bilateral relations. Lukashenko called the deal «fundamental» and said cooperation between the countries is entering a new phase.

During the visit, Lukashenko also attended a ceremony at a monument honoring Soviet soldiers, laying flowers on behalf of Vladimir Putin in gratitude for North Korea’s assistance in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Both...

A Taiwanese court has sentenced former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je to 17 years in prison after convicting him of corruption and misuse of political donations, the BBC reported.

He was found guilty of accepting more than $535,000 in bribes linked to a real estate deal during his term as mayor. He was also convicted of misreporting campaign finances during his presidential bid in January.

Ko, the founder of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), has denied all allegations, while the party’s chairman Huang Kuo-chang described the charges as politically motivated.

In the 2024 presidential election, Ko secured more than...

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution recognizing the enslavement of Africans during the transatlantic slave trade — when an estimated 12 to 15 million Africans were forcibly transported to the Americas between 1500 and 1800, with more than two million dying during the journey — as the «gravest crime against humanity,» the BBC reported.

The resolution, introduced by Ghana, also encourages member states to consider issuing formal apologies and contributing to a reparations fund, though it does not specify financial amounts. It passed with 123 votes in favor, while the U.S., Israel and Argentina...

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB), a full-service commercial bank from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has received permission from Kazakhstan’s Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market (ARDFM) to establish a subsidiary bank in the country.

ADCB is one of the largest banks in the UAE and holds an A+/F1 rating with a stable outlook from Fitch Ratings. It is controlled by Mubadala Investment Company, which is owned by the government of Abu Dhabi. At the end of 2025, the bank’s assets exceeded $210 billion, with $24 billion in equity and $3 billion in net profit.

ADCB...

The long-promised wave of AI-driven filmmaking — cheaper and faster than productions involving human crews — has yet to materialize. Expectations surrounding tools like Sora have not translated into a meaningful shift in how movies are made or consumed, according to 404 Media.

Disney’s ambitious plan unravels

Just a few months ago, the Walt Disney Company unveiled a bold initiative tied to a reported $1 billion investment in OpenAI. The plan aimed to bring user-generated AI content to Disney+, allowing fans to create videos using Sora and ChatGPT image tools featuring Disney’s licensed characters, with a rollout expected...

A vast musical fountain complex covering around eight hectares is planned for construction in New Tashkent. Kursiv LifeStyle takes a look at the ambitious project by the Uzbek authorities.

Under the project plans, a 6.3-hectare pool will be built at the center of the complex, while the main fountain for water-and-light shows is planned to span 1.5 hectares.

The centerpiece of the complex will be a super fountain with a jet reaching up to 232 meters high and a platform 100 meters in diameter. A circular water screen with a diameter of 185 meters is also...

A Los Angeles jury has ruled that Meta and Google are liable for harm caused to a young woman who alleged she became addicted to their social media platforms as a child, the BBC reported.

The plaintiff, identified as Kaley, was awarded $6 million in damages, including $3 million in compensatory damages and $3 million in punitive damages. Her lawyers argued that features such as infinite scrolling were designed to be addictive and that the companies targeted young users to increase engagement. Jurors agreed, finding that the companies acted with «malice, oppression, or fraud» in how their...

Testing of the light rail transit (LRT) line in Astana is underway. During the test operation on the line section between the Airport and Nurly Jol stations, the trains reached their design speed of 80 kilometers per hour (km/h), according to the city administration.

«Scheduled tests of rolling stock and infrastructure are underway on the LRT line between Airport and Nurly Jol stations as part of the line’s test operation. During the test runs, the trains reached their design speed of 80 km/h,» the Astana administration said in a statement.

The authorities noted that the...

Legendary American punk rock band The Offspring is set to perform in Almaty on Aug. 23, the final day of the Park Live Almaty 2026 international music festival.

In 1994, The Offspring broke into the U.S. top 10 with their album «Smash.» Since then, the band has stood among the most successful punk groups alongside Green Day and Rancid.

The Offspring played a crucial role in reviving punk rock’s popularity in the 1990s. As of today, their total album and single sales have surpassed 40 million copies, making the group one of the most commercially successful rock bands in music...

The government of Kazakhstan has approved a 7.5 trillion tenge (about $16 billion) national program to develop coal-fired power generation, including incentives such as preferential mortgages for plant employees, the cabinet said.

Plan aims to expand capacity and meet demand

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov signed the program, which runs through 2030 and is designed to address capacity shortages and modernize the country’s energy system.

Read also: Coal couture: Karaganda’s industrial mining product dazzles in Milan.

The plan calls for commissioning and upgrading 7.8 gigawatts of power capacity. Officials say additional...

Authorities in Astana have placed a blogger known as Ilyarchik (andersonchik1) on an international wanted list on suspicion of involvement in illegal online gambling, the Financial Monitoring Agency of Kazakhstan said.

Allegations of illegal gambling activity

The blogger, identified as Ilyar Yuvashev, born in 1998, has about 62,000 followers on Instagram. He is known for posting videos about life in Southeast Asia, including in Bali and Malaysia, as well as sharing personal experiences related to addiction, debt and self-improvement through sports.

Read also: The new ‘Mecca Ponzi’ scheme targeting...

Traditional clothing once worn mainly by older generations during holidays and public festivities is now increasingly embraced by younger people in Kazakhstan. Another emerging trend at large celebrations is the appearance of robots dressed in chapans with traditional patterns.

In Almaty, this year’s Nauryz festivities placed a strong emphasis on digital technologies. The city integrated artificial intelligence into key elements of the program as part of the Year of Artificial Intelligence, according to the mayor’s office.

Digital yurts at the main venue

The main celebrations took place at Astana Square, where six themed yurts were...

Kazakhstan’s Minister of Energy Yerlan Akkenzhenov held talks with U.S. Secretary of Energy Christopher Wright at the CERAWeek international conference in Houston. The two sides discussed global energy security, the development of alternative export routes and the expansion of investment cooperation.

The officials emphasized the strategic nature of their more than 30-year partnership in the oil and gas sector. Over this period, U.S. investment in Kazakhstan’s energy sector has exceeded $60 billion. ExxonMobil and Chevron are key partners in the Tengiz, Karachaganak, and Kashagan projects, which together account for approximately 70% of the country’s oil production.

Kazakhstan is no longer considering the construction of a natural gas processing plant (NGPP) at Karachaganak under the final production sharing agreement (FPSA), according to PSA, the country’s authorized body overseeing the project.

According to PSA, construction of the NGPP by the project operator is impractical from a technical, commercial and legal standpoint. Kazakhstan has begun designing its own gas processing plant to handle Karachaganak gas in the interest of national energy security.

The agency clarified that the operator of the Karachaganak project, represented by Shell and Eni, failed to make a final investment decision on the NGPP. As a...

Police in Taldykorgan, southern Kazakhstan, have detained a 62-year-old woman on suspicion of drug trafficking.

Read also: Industrial hemp: 218 varieties you can cultivate in Central Asia.

Law enforcement officers conducted a controlled purchase of about 5 grams of drugs before searching the suspect’s home. During the search, officers discovered a bag containing more than 5 kilograms of hashish in a shed on the property.

Authorities also found six additional bags of herbal narcotics inside the home.

Investigation underway

«A pretrial investigation is underway to...