News

Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o has responded to criticism surrounding her casting in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film adaptation of «The Odyssey,» Euronews reported.

Nyong’o is set to portray Helen of Troy and her sister Clytemnestra in the film, which also stars Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson and Zendaya. The movie, based on Homer’s ancient Greek epic, is scheduled for release on July 17.

The casting sparked an online debate earlier this year, with some social media users questioning the decision to cast a Black actress as Helen of Troy. Among the harshest critics was Elon Musk, who...

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike in Astana. The president called her a world-class politician and thanked her for helping the Japanese public become more familiar with Kazakhstan’s history and culture. He said this brings the two nations closer together.

Tokayev said that under Koike’s governance, Tokyo has become one of the world’s cleanest, safest and most developed megacities. He added that the Kazakh government is highly interested in this experience, as Kazakhstan is actively developing the smart city concept.

In turn, Koike thanked Tokayev for the warm welcome and praised Kazakhstan’s economic reforms, advances in...

A French woman and her partner have been arrested in Portugal after two young children were found alone near the town of Alcácer do Sal in a case that has drawn attention in both Portugal and France, as reported by Euronews.

According to Portuguese authorities, 41-year-old Marine Rousseau and 55-year-old Marc Ballabrigade were detained on suspicion of child abandonment and domestic violence after the children, aged four and five, were discovered on a public road by passing motorists.

Police said Rousseau was arrested in Fátima, about 170 kilometers from where the children were found. French prosecutors also opened a...

Stephen Colbert wrapped up CBS’s «The Late Show» with a star-studded farewell episode, bringing the program’s 33-year run to a close, The Associated Press reported.

Unlike some late-night hosts who opted for quieter finales, Colbert’s farewell featured celebrity guests, musical performances and surreal comedy sketches.

The finale, for example, featured Paul McCartney performing «Hello, Goodbye» with Colbert, Elvis Costello, former bandleader Jon Batiste and the show’s house band.

Throughout the show, Colbert reflected on his 11 years as host and thanked viewers for their support. The bittersweet episode also featured appearances by Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Tim Meadows, Jon...

A historic event for the global film industry is taking place today at the Cannes Film Festival — a private screening of «Hell Grind,» the first full-length 95-minute AI-generated feature film created entirely on the Higgsfield platform. Kursiv LifeStyle explains how this unique film was made and why its budget was dozens of times smaller than Hollywood standards.

Higgsfield AI was co-founded by Kazakh national Yerzat Dulat, while the project was directed and co-written by well-known Kazakh filmmaker Aitore Zholdaskali, known for the Kazakh horror film «Auru.»

The film was created in less than three weeks. According to the team...

Japanese-style head spas are gaining popularity in the U.S., offering customers extended scalp, face and neck massages focused on relaxation and stress relief, The Associated Press reported.

Originating in Japan and rooted in traditional massage and herbal practices, modern head spas became popular in Japanese salons in the 1990s, then spread across Asia and, more recently, to the U.S.

Typical sessions last 60 to 90 minutes and often include scalp cleansing, exfoliation, steam treatments, aromatherapy, and head, neck and shoulder massages in a comfy spa setting with tranquil music.

Customers say the treatments help them relax, especially after long...

Confiscated diamonds worth tens of millions of tenge have been put up for sale at a state auction in Almaty. A listing for nine lots containing the gemstones has appeared on the E-Qazyna platform.

Read also: Samurai sword of former Kazakh security head fetches 1.5M tenge.

The starting price is 92.9 million tenge, while experts estimate the market value of the stones at 251.7 million tenge `(approximately $530,000) — about 2.7 times higher than the opening bid.

Details of the diamonds

A total of 541 diamonds, with a combined weight of 4.89 carats...

Former Philippine National Police Chief and Senator Ronald dela Rosa is facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged crimes against humanity linked to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, The Guardian reported.

Dela Rosa, a close ally of Duterte, who has already been arrested by the ICC earlier this year, led the Philippine National Police during Duterte’s «war on drugs» from 2016 to 2022. The campaign drew international scrutiny over allegations of extrajudicial killings and excessive use of force. Philippine police say more than 6,000 people were killed in official anti-drug operations, while...

Russian content creator and mountaineer Rustam Nabiev, who lost both legs, climbed the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, reaching an altitude of 8,849 meters using only his hands.

He shared a photo on Instagram holding a flag that read: “For those who thought life ends after a fall.”

Well-known Kazakh mountaineer Maxut Zhumayev was among those who congratulated Nabiev in the comments.

“Congratulations on the summit, brother...

The main hearing of the trial in the high-profile case of Sultan Sarsemaliyev, who is accused of murdering an entire family, is set to begin May 28 in Atyrau. New details from the indictment reveal the alleged sequence of events in the killings of his father-in-law, Maksot Karabalin, and mother-in-law, Nassip Uteshkaliyeva.

Read also: Trial opens for shocking family murder in West Kazakhstan.

The killings took place Nov. 3, 2025, in the village of Zhangeldin, Atyrau region, where the defendant had traveled with his wife and daughter. According to investigators, an...

The number of remote workers in Kazakhstan declined in the first quarter of 2026, according to new data from the Bureau of National Statistics (BNS), as most companies continued pushing employees back to the office.

Read also: Why Kazakhstan’s major bank rejects remote work.

Of Kazakhstan’s 9.39 million employed residents, only 28,821 people continue to work remotely — just 0.3% of the country’s workforce. By comparison, in the first quarter of 2025, the number of remote workers stood at 45,901, or 0.5% of all employed people.

Mangystau leads in remote work

Kazakh director Aisultan Seitov found himself at the center of an online debate after posting a photo taken in Paris. In the image, he poses near the Eiffel Tower beside a «Kazakhstan» sign left on the observation deck.

Social media reactions split users

The photo sparked heated discussion on Threads. Some users mocked the improvised Paris «attraction,» while others criticized tourists for vandalism.

«It doesn’t measure up to Baiterek,» Seitov captioned the photo, referring to Astana’s iconic Baiterek monument.

In the comments, some users joked that «Paris is already ours...

The world’s leading It-girl, supermodel and Rhode founder Hailey Bieber has once again proven why her style commands global attention. Bieber is the face of Victoria’s Secret’s sultry new advertising campaign, which has already taken social media by storm.

New campaign draws attention online

The daring, atmospheric campaign was shot by renowned photographer Zoey Grossman. Through her lens, Bieber appears in a series of relaxed yet provocative looks that highlight the collection’s minimalist aesthetic.

Not all recent bear-related news — whether from Kazakhstan or abroad — has been alarming.

Some stories are simply heartwarming. One such example comes from southern Kazakhstan, where Adilet Rakhmetolla shared a video filmed in Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve showing a young bear in its natural habitat.

The footage, captured by drone, shows the bear munching on rhubarb stalks, playing in the grass and, at one point, appearing to notice the camera filming overhead. Rakhmetolla could be heard expressing excitement as the scene unfolded.

Manuel Neuer, Bayern Munich’s goalkeeper, was included in Germany’s national team squad for the 2026 World Cup, which is set to take place in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

The national team squad was announced by manager Julian Nagelsmann. The roster includes 26 players, with Joshua Kimmich appointed captain.

The upcoming tournament will be the fifth World Cup of Manuel Neuer’s career. Previously, he played in the 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments. In the 2014 World Cup final, Germany defeated Argentina 1-0.

The German Football Association noted that Neuer is one of the most experienced...

Polymet Solutions Corporation LLP, a Kazakhstani manufacturer of rubber, rubber-metal and steel linings made from chromium-molybdenum alloy, has launched construction of a new foundry in the Karaganda region.

With total investments exceeding $23 million, the project is expected to reach full operational capacity by 2029. Once completed, the facility will be capable of producing up to 10,000 tons of steel linings, grinding balls and other products used in the mining, metallurgical and mechanical engineering industries.

According to Yermek Alpysov, deputy governor of the Karaganda region, the project is expected to become one of the region’s most important industrial facilities. Authorities...

Another performance from BTS’s Arirang World Tour is set to receive a global live cinema screening. BigHit Music announced that the Busan concert on June 13 will also be broadcast in cinemas worldwide, following earlier live viewing events in Goyang and Tokyo.

Notably, the event falls on the date coinciding with BTS’s debut, making the performance even more special. According to the official screening website, several regions may experience delayed viewing due to time zone differences. Ticket sales are scheduled to launch on May 28.

According to...

Kazakhstan is considering allowing foreigners to purchase certain types of land in the city of Alatau, according to Vice Minister of Agriculture Azat Sultanov.

The government confirmed the possibility that foreigners and stateless persons may be able to acquire land plots in Alatau for the construction of industrial facilities, casinos and other commercial projects.

«We know that there were such cases, in which foreigners were offered to buy land around Alatau and Konayev. However, the law prohibits foreigners and stateless persons from owning, acquiring or operating agricultural land. In this case, we are talking about nonagricultural...

San Francisco has launched a new AI system aimed at reducing collisions between ships and whales in the Bay Area, one of the busiest waterways in North America, The Associated Press reported.  

The network, known as WhaleSpotter, uses thermal cameras and AI technology to monitor whale activity around the clock and alert mariners when whales are nearby. The effort comes amid rising gray whale deaths in the region each year.

According to marine researchers, at least 21 gray whales were found dead in the greater Bay Area last year, with many deaths linked to ship strikes. Scientists say...

The stock performance of Kazatomprom, the world’s largest uranium producer, has recently raised concerns among investors as shares in the national company continue to decline.

According to stock exchange data, Kazatomprom shares fell to 32,790 tenge (approx. $70) during the afternoon trading session at 12:12 p.m. on April 21.

Shares post steep losses

Recent exchange data shows a sharp drop in the company’s share price over a short period:

The downturn intensified after a statement from international financial giant JPMorgan, which downgraded its recommendation...

Phone scammers made an unusual video call to a senior resident from Talgar, Kazakhstan. A fraudster appeared on camera using a face resembling international action star Jackie Chan.

The victim said the scheme began with a call allegedly from an outpatient clinic. Unknown individuals told him he needed to undergo a medical examination and asked him to provide an SMS code in order to receive an appointment ticket.

«Today I received a phone call from fraudsters claiming to be from an outpatient clinic. They did not specify which one. They told me...

A severe heat wave sweeping across northern India has disrupted daily life, forcing many people to stay indoors as temperatures continue to soar, The Associated Press reported.

In New Delhi, temperatures were expected to reach around 45 degrees Celsius, while parts of Uttar Pradesh recorded highs of 48.2 Celcius earlier this week.

The India Meteorological Department warned that the extreme conditions would likely continue across several northern regions in the coming days. Officials advised residents to avoid outdoor activities during peak afternoon hours and take precautions against heat-related illnesses.

In several cities and towns, roads and markets have emptied...

An Indian national and final-year student at Karaganda Medical University died after falling from a fifth-floor dormitory window. According to police, the investigation into the death has been completed, and all necessary investigative procedures and forensic examinations have been carried out.

«A pre-trial investigation was launched. As part of the investigation, the full range of necessary investigative measures was carried out. Based on the findings of the investigation, the collected materials and the conclusions of forensic examinations, the criminal case was closed in accordance with the law,» the press service of the Police Department of the...

A debate over food safety at restaurants across Kazakhstan has erupted on social media after a recent podcast by Timur Balymbetov reignited public concern.

In the podcast, activist Sergei Snegirev and blogger Temirlan Tospayev alleged that some restaurants in Astana use dog meat, and that certain well-known establishments allegedly serve ground dog meat mixed with other meats.

Social media backlash grows

The claims triggered a wave of reactions online, with users recalling previous incidents and expressing outrage that those responsible often receive only minor fines while businesses continue operating.

One of the most widely discussed posts came...