News

A temple in Nonthaburi, Thailand, reported that a 65-year-old woman was found alive after being brought in for cremation on Sunday. Her brother had driven her from Phitsanulok Province, thinking she had died after she became unresponsive at home, the Associated Press reported.

Temple manager Pairat Soodthoop said he asked for the coffin to be opened after hearing a strange sound. When it was opened, the woman was found moving slightly and appeared to open her eyes. Staff then arranged for her to be sent to a nearby hospital.

Her brother said she had been bedridden for two...

Kazakhstanis are becoming increasingly accustomed to eating saiga meat, which is now available in markets and grocery stores. Many consumers say it’s flavorful, though not suitable for every type of dish.

Because saiga is wild game, the meat is lean and fairly tough, so it needs some preparation.

The meat is often described as a blend of beef and lamb, with many recommending it for dishes like shashlik cooked over high heat or kuyrdak, a traditional browned meat stew.

Cooks recommend soaking saiga meat in cold water to remove excess blood, and then marinating it...

New Zealand plans to eliminate all feral cats by 2050. This move expands the country’s predator-free strategy and, according to officials, is needed to protect native species that did not evolve with cats as predators, the Guardian reported.

Conservation Minister Tama Potaka said feral cats are now part of the national predator eradication program, the first new addition since 2016. Some regions already control feral cats, but this change means there will be a coordinated national effort, including large-scale operations and research. More detailed plans are expected in 2026.

Feral cats are found all over New...

Content creator Nursultan Kamzebayev showcased unusual public restrooms in Astana on Instagram.

Their special feature is that the glass walls are completely transparent when the stalls are vacant. However, as soon as a visitor presses the button inside, the glass immediately turns opaque.

According to the content creator, there are three such stalls installed. Entry is available via a QR code, which is also used to make a small payment.

Kamzebayev emphasized that the interior is clean and smells fresh. Hot water is available and it is rather warm — even hot — inside the stall...

American actor Kevin Spacey posted a video message following the widespread circulation of his recent interview in global media. The actor said that he currently lives in Airbnbs and hotels because he does not have a permanent residence, which many people interpreted as Spacey admitting to being «homeless.»

The actor said that this is not true and that it is unfair to describe him as homeless compared with people who genuinely live in difficult conditions. Spacey also added that after the publications, he received thousands of messages and offers to help.

Huawei has released a video showcasing a new feature for its flagship Mate 80 series smartphones.

The new Outdoor Mode is designed to let the device run for up to two weeks without recharging.

While the company has not yet detailed how the technology works, Outdoor Mode is believed to conserve power by disabling most functions, lowering screen brightness and switching to a simplified interface.

Similar modes exist on other smartphones, but the promised two-week battery life makes Huawei’s approach particularly notable.

The Mate 80 series includes four models — the Mate 80, Mate 80 Pro, Mate 80 Pro...

Talgar Development Ltd., co-owned by investors from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), plans to construct Talgar Eco City, a new urban development in the Almaty region that will house up to 180,000 people, according to regional authorities.

During a recent meeting with Almaty Region Gov. Marat Sultangaziyev, Talgar Development Ltd. Director Haissam Kaddura said the project will include residential neighborhoods, schools, medical facilities, shopping and entertainment centers, and green public spaces. He added that special attention will be given to environmental sustainability and the use of eco-friendly technologies.

Gov. Sultangaziyev emphasized that the project is of strategic importance for the...

Kazakhstani figure skater Mikhail Shaidorov has qualified for the 2025-26 ISU Grand Prix Final, which is set to take place in Japan from Dec. 4 to 7.

In the overall standings across the six Grand Prix events, Shaidorov finished fifth with 24 points. He placed third at the Grand Prix in China and second at the event in the U.S.

The standings are led by two-time champion Ilia Malinin of the U.S. and 2025 World bronze medalist Yuma Kagiyama of Japan, who both earned 30 points. It was Malinin who edged out Shaidorov in the battle...

Bruce Willis’ family has shared another difficult update. His daughter, Rumer Willis, has spoken about how the Hollywood star’s dementia is progressing.

Rumer said that her father now sometimes struggles to recognize her during visits. Still, even the simplest moments remain meaningful. She said she’s grateful just to be able to hug him. Whether he recognizes her or not, she believes he feels her love — and she feels his in return.

As previously reported by Kursiv.media, Willis’ wife, Emma Heming Willis, recently spoke about his condition. Three years have passed since the actor...

Social media users in Turkey should now pay more attention to the posts they like. The country’s Court of Cassation held that likes placed on photos posted by members of the opposite sex could be viewed as a betrayal of confidence in the marriage and become an official ground for divorce.

According to Habertürk, a couple from Kayseri filed counter divorce claims. The wife stated that her spouse withheld money, humiliated her, and regularly liked photos of other women. In turn, the husband blamed his wife for excessive jealousy and insults.

The family court found the...

Udo Kier, a German actor known for his unique screen presence and a career spanning more than 250 films, has died at 81 at a hospital in Palm Springs, California, Euronews reported.

Kier was born in Cologne in 1944 and survived an air raid that destroyed the hospital shortly after his birth. As a young adult, he moved to London and began acting. He first gained attention in the 1970 horror film “Mark of the Devil,” which led to roles in “Flesh for Frankenstein” and “Blood for Dracula,” both associated with Andy Warhol.

Throughout his career, Kier worked...

Florida Gators center Olivier Rioux has set an NCAA record. The 19-year-old Canadian became the tallest player in league history to score a basket. He stands 2.36 meters tall (about 7 feet 9 inches).

The historic moment took place on Nov. 21 as the Florida Gators defeated the Merrimack Warriors, 80-46. Rioux entered the game with 2:26 minutes remaining. He missed his first free throw but made the second.

Notably, Rioux made his Gators debut on Nov. 6, becoming the tallest player ever to appear in an NCAA game. According to the NBA press service, he was...

Even though Kazakhstan is landlocked, it is still possible to travel abroad by sea. Kazakh travel blogger Sayakhatshi Kuat crossed the Caspian Sea on a cargo ferry from the Azerbaijani port of Alat to Kuryk, Kazakhstan, and shared a detailed review of the trip on his YouTube channel.

According to Kuat, the port of Alat — located 60 kilometers south of Baku — can be reached either by taxi or public transport, depending on a traveler’s budget. He himself took buses No. 149 and No. 195 to the village of Kotal, then walked about one kilometer to the...

Calls to require marketplaces — especially those affiliated with banks — to publish two prices for goods, one standard and one for installment plans, represent a «strange construct,» according to Vitaliy Tutushkin, deputy chairman of Kazakhstan’s National Bank. He shared his view on Nov. 21 during a Kursiv.media roundtable on consumer lending, noting that such an approach could pose risks to the broader market economy.

Dual-pricing practice

Notably, Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin earlier announced that greater pricing transparency on marketplaces would help curb inflation. The proposed dual-pricing practice would also extend to online retailers.

On Nov. 23, Inter Miami defeated FC Cincinnati and advanced to the MLS Eastern Conference final. Lionel Messi contributed to each of the four goals scored by his team.

MLS Cup

Conference semifinals, Nov. 23

FC Cincinnati vs. Inter Miami: 0-4

Goals: Lionel Messi 19’, Mateo Silvetti 57’, Tadeo Allende 62’, 74’

Messi opened the scoring in the 19th minute, tapping in a high cross from his fellow Argentine, Mateo Silvetti. After halftime, the 38-year-old forward made three assists. Silvetti was the first to score from Messi’s pass. Later, another Argentine player, Tadeo Allende, scored...

Kazakhstan’s Agency for the Protection and Development of Competition has proposed selling up to a 50% stake in KMG International N.V. (a subsidiary of Kazakhstan’s national oil and gas company KazMunayGas, or KMG) through an open, two-stage bidding process in 2026-2027. The company is included on the national list of assets slated for privatization.

KMG in Europe

The goal of the sale is to bring in a strategic partner to support joint business development.

According to the agency, the KMG group has 28 operating companies across Romania, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Turkey, and Kazakhstan (excluding its 49% stake in...

A tragedy unfolded before the eyes of visitors at the Dubai Airshow when a Tejas fighter jet crashed during a demonstration of its flying capabilities. Indian Air Force pilot Namansh Syal died in the incident and was cremated in India with full military honors.

India has been developing its light, single-engine Tejas fighter jet since 1983 as part of its effort to replace the outdated Soviet MiG-21s and move toward greater self-reliance in defense. However, the project has taken much longer than expected, and the Indian Air Force still does not have enough Tejas...

A gold pocket watch once owned by one of the first-class passengers of the Titanic, which sank with the liner, was sold for the highest amount ever paid for Titanic memorabilia — £1.78 million (approximately $2.3 million) — at an auction, The Guardian reported.

The 18-carat Jules Jurgensen engraved watch belonged to Isidor Straus, 67, who was on board the liner with his wife, Ida Straus. Both became victims of the disaster, in which more than 1,500 passengers perished, and were among the first-class travelers to die. The elderly couple was reportedly offered seats in a...

The world’s first highway segment capable of charging electric vehicles while they’re in motion has opened about 40 kilometers outside Paris, according to Electrek. The stretch is only 1.5 kilometers long, but its charging power is already comparable to that of high-speed stations.

How the road charging works

Dynamic wireless induction technology functions much like wireless smartphone charging. Engineers embedded copper coils beneath the asphalt and connected them to power units installed along the roadside.

When an electric vehicle approaches, the corresponding section of roadway activates. The coils generate a magnetic field, and receivers mounted on the underside...

On Feb. 13, 2026, Astana’s Central Concert Hall Qazaqstan will host a concert, followed by another on Feb. 15 at Almaty’s Republic Palace, as part of a world tour honoring famed composer Ennio Morricone.

Under the direction of his son, maestro Andrea Morricone, a symphony orchestra and mixed choir will perform a sweeping program of iconic soundtracks that have become part of global cinema culture. The concert will include music from:

Health officials in Washington state have confirmed that an older adult has died after being infected with the H5N5 strain of bird flu, a type of avian influenza not previously seen in humans. The person, who had other health problems, was hospitalized before passing away, CNN reported.

This is the first human case of bird flu reported in the U.S. in 9 months and only the second U.S. death linked to avian influenza during the current outbreak. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the overall public health risk remains low and there is no...

Astana Airport has a rather unusual employee — a Belgian Shepherd named Ben, featured in a new video by travel blogger Yakov Fedorov. Ben works with dog handler Temirlan Ospanov, who has trained him to detect explosives since he was a puppy.

The video shows exactly how Ben operates: Ospanov hides capsules containing the scents of various types of explosives, and the Shepherd quickly tracks them down by following just one scent trail.

Kazakhstan’s KazStandard has become the first body in Central Asia to be recognized by Saudi Arabia as fully compliant with the country’s strict Halal requirements.

International level

Now beef, mutton, chicken, dairy products and convenience food of Kazakhstan origin may go directly to the Saudi Arabian market without additional limitations and barriers.

«For us, this is not just international recognition, but confirmation of the quality of the work carried out by the Kazakhstani Halal system,» Malik Saulebay, CEO of RSE KazStandard, said.

Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s largest...

Google DeepMind’s newly announced Gemini 3 Pro Image model, also known as Nano Banana Pro, has generated buzz for its «absolutely insane» ability to create images with unprecedented realism and quality. But the tool raises not only industry standards, but also serious concerns over privacy and regulation, according to VentureBeat.

The model features improved image recognition, deeper spatial reasoning and the ability to search the internet for information to use in image generation. It can perform multi-step photo editing, place text accurately — from signs to infographics — and create images at resolutions up to 4K.

Its ability to generate...