A groundbreaking study co-authored by Kazakh archaeologists has challenged long-held assumptions about the history of dog domestication. The research, titled “Wide Diversity of Dogs Thousands of Years Before Modern Breeding Methods,” was published in Science, the oldest scientific journal in the U.S.
The study was led by researchers from the University of Exeter (UK) and France’s National Center for Scientific Research and included contributions from 40 institutions worldwide. Kazakh scientists V.K. Merz and I.V. Merz of Toraygyrov University, along with E.R. Usmanova and V.V. Varfolomeev of the E.A. Buketov Karaganda National Research University, were among the co-authors.
The international team conducted a comprehensive comparative analysis of 643 dog and wolf skulls spanning the last 50,000 years from the Pleistocene to the present day. Using high-resolution 3D scanning, they analyzed over 600 specimens, revealing that dogs already displayed significant morphological diversity during the early Holocene epoch.
This diversity, previously believed to be the result of 19th-century selective breeding, was shown to have originated far earlier. The analysis traced the emergence of distinct dog types, including variations in size and skull structure, as early as 11,000 years ago. By the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods, dogs had already begun to differ in form, likely reflecting specialized roles such as hunting, guarding, and herding within human societies.
The researchers concluded that functional differentiation was a key driver in the development of what would eventually become distinct breeds. Their findings refute the common belief that modern breed variation is a relatively recent phenomenon. In fact, many differences in skull shape and size long predate the advent of formal breeding practices.
Kazakhstan’s archaeological collections and local expertise played a significant role in the project, underscoring the country’s growing contributions to global archaeozoological research.
Kazakhstan’s Broader Scientific Advances
In addition to this landmark discovery, Kazakh scientists continue to make technological strides across disciplines.
Researchers at the Institute of Combustion Problems have developed a device capable of converting hydrocarbon gases into 98.9% pure hydrogen and technical carbon in a single stage. Operating at plasma temperatures of up to 2,700°C, the unit requires no catalysts and consumes less energy than traditional methods. It also produces giant nanotubes with diameters reaching 100 nanometres.
Meanwhile, scientists at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University have introduced a mobile preservation unit capable of drying and storing a wide range of food products from fruit to fish for up to 10 to 50 years using specialized packaging.
These developments signal Kazakhstan’s expanding role in cutting-edge research and innovation across multiple scientific domains.
Kazakhstan’s Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA) will create a national register of cryptocurrency wallets linked to criminal proceeds, according to Rashid Orazbek, Head of the agency’s operational analysis department. The announcement was made during a Senate session.
Orazbek stated that the FMA is being granted new powers to maintain a centralized database of crypto wallets involved in illicit transactions and money laundering schemes. The system will enable authorities to apply advanced blockchain analytics, accelerate transaction risk assessments, and prioritize oversight of crypto-related activities.
He added that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has recommended Kazakhstan implement licensing for cryptocurrency service providers. In response, new anti-money laundering (AML) regulations are being developed, and supervisory powers are being expanded to ensure compliance.
A key requirement under the proposed framework is adherence to the “travel rule,” which mandates that crypto service providers identify both parties to a transaction and retain counterparty information. This data must be stored and made available to authorities upon request. Transactions lacking this information will be suspended, and failure to meet deadlines for disclosure will result in cancellation. The FMA expects these measures to substantially curb the criminal use of digital assets.
Miras Zakiev, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Digital Assets and Breakthrough Technologies, highlighted plans to integrate cryptocurrency into everyday financial operations. He said the “CryptoCity” initiative aims to create an ecosystem in which Kazakhstani citizens can pay for goods and services using cryptocurrency via bank terminals.
According to Zakiev, the National Bank’s regulatory “sandbox” is currently testing the integration of crypto exchange tools and mechanisms developed by the Astana International Financial Centre into Kazakhstan’s banking infrastructure. At the same time, second-tier banks are upgrading their terminals to support crypto transactions.
Zakiev also clarified Kazakhstan’s mining regulations, noting that two categories of mining activities require licenses: data center owners and individuals or firms operating equipment housed in leased facilities. All miners must work through accredited domestic mining pools and are subject to corporate income tax, as well as capital gains tax for individuals.
The digital asset sector has already generated significant fiscal returns. According to the State Revenue Committee, the industry contributed $14.8 million to the national budget in the first half of 2025. Zakiev said these figures reflect sustained positive momentum in the sector.
Separately, Deputy Chairman of the National Bank Berik Sholpankulov told reporters that the government is exploring a potential investment of approximately $300 million in crypto assets. He described these instruments as comparable to securities and derivatives traded on global financial markets. If deemed profitable and viable, they may be included in Kazakhstan’s broader investment portfolio.
Previously, The Times of Central Asiareported that the country is also considering converting part of the National Fund’s assets, as well as gold and foreign exchange reserves, into cryptocurrency.
Kazakh entrepreneurs Shakhmurat Mutalip and Nurlan Artikbayev are in negotiations to acquire stakes in two of Kazakhstan’s largest industrial giants, KazZinc and Kazakhmys, according to a report by Bloomberg, citing unnamed sources.
Bloomberg reports that Mutalip, the owner of construction firm Integra Construction KZ, has been offered the chance to purchase Glencore’s 70% stake in KazZinc. Meanwhile, Artikbayev, the majority shareholder of Qazaq Stroy, is in discussions over acquiring a stake in Kazakhmys.
Sources emphasized that the negotiations are still in early stages. No final agreements have been reached, and key terms such as pricing and payment structures remain unresolved.
As of the end of 2024, 99.1% of Kazakhmys shares are held by Kazakhmys Copper, through its parent entity Kazakhmys Holding Limited, which is registered with the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC).
KazZinc is majority-owned by Glencore International AG, which controls 69.74% of the shares. The remaining 29.82% is held by the state-owned enterprise Tau-Ken Samruk, with 0.44% owned by minority shareholders.
Both businessmen have recently been received by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Artikbayev, ranked 44th on Forbes Kazakhstan’s 2025 list, met with the president on November 4, while Mutalip met with him on November 21. Both meetings focused on the development of Kazakhstan’s construction sector and the role of private business in infrastructure projects.
Financial analyst Rasul Rysmambetov suggested that the potential deals reflect an effort to consolidate domestic control over key strategic assets.
“This looks like an unfolding of what I call economic nationalism. Local players are expected to control subsoil assets, as they can invest more intensively in downstream processing. Much like Korea’s chaebols, the goal will be to extend the value chain within the country,” he wrote on his Telegram channel.
Trump ripped Tim Walz as “seriously retarded” — and suggested Rep. Ilhan Omar “probably came into the USA illegally” — in a rage-filled Thanksgiving message about immigration.
Habit Burger CEO Shannon Hennessy told Business Insider that her favorite piece of career advice is to invest in your own confidence.
Courtesy of Habit Burger
Habit Burger CEO Shannon Hennessy runs the up-and-coming brand in the Yum! portfolio.
She told Business Insider about her non-negotiable daily routine, from wake-up to sundown.
Hennessy swears by her morning rituals, from a daily workout to gaining insight from her Oura ring.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Shannon Hennessy, the CEO of Habit Burger, the newest chain in the Yum! Brands portfolio, which also includes fast food titans like Taco Bell and KFC. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I’m a mornings-and-margins kind of person. I get my workout in before most inboxes are awake, and I protect my sleep as if it were one of my core KPIs.
When I joined The Habit Burger & Grill in 2022, after serving as CFO of KFC’s Global Division for two years, my first focus was to protect the things that make Habit special — the open-flame cooking, consistency, and care — while improving the economics of every restaurant. With that foundation built, I’ve been able to shift my attention to growth, finding ways to connect Habit’s fresh, feel-good food with real, everyday value.
I spend a lot of time in the restaurants, listening to guests and our teams, and I’m constantly looking for inspiration, whether that’s from a peer’s podcast, a great book, or the design of a patio umbrella.
My belief is simple: people shouldn’t have to choose between food that tastes good and food that feels good. If we continue to deliver both consistently and with heart, growth will take care of itself.
I’m a morning person. Most days, I wake up around 5:30 a.m., usually a few minutes before my alarm sounds.
I set up my coffee station the night before so I can creep downstairs without waking anyone, flip it on, and grind beans for a hot cup.
Later in the morning, I’ll switch to an iced latte — I love playing with flavors, but the first mug is sacred.
Move first, intensity by feel
I plan my workouts every Sunday and block them on my calendar. My anchor sessions are two Orangetheory classes a week.
If I’m home on Saturday, I’ll join a strength boot camp outdoors at a local park. On other days, I mix Peloton rides (Cody, Leanne, and Christine are my go-tos), plus Pilates, yoga, and long walks.
I wear an Oura Ring mainly for sleep and recovery. I’m not obsessive, but if my score says “take it easy,” I’ll swap a HIIT class for a walk. Exercise, for me, regulates energy so I can show up as my best self — not to “win the Olympics.”
I focus on protein and fiber as my family’s breakfast chef
After workouts, I’ll grab a high-protein shake if I’m not home yet, then I make breakfast for the family — often prepped egg-and-veg wraps I batch on weekends.
I upped my protein target this year from around 100g to 120g a day and pay more attention to my fiber intake after realizing how deficient most of us are. I use nutritional macros like a guideline, but I only track my meals closely when I need a mental reset.
In the office by 8:30 a.m. — caffeinated and listening
I try to protect my sleep so I can be sharp in the mornings. Another coffee or two doesn’t hurt.
At the office, the “glue” is my longtime assistant, Katie. If her usually calm demeanor shifts, I pay attention: it often signals something brewing that hasn’t reached me yet. She’s a pulse check on culture and fit, and I’m often bouncing ideas off of her throughout the day.
I spend a lot of time in our restaurants and in meetings with my team to check in on our projects. Recently, I’ve been focused on our market “glow-ups,” where we’re updating signage, patios, lighting, and visibility at restaurants across the country, tailoring our approach to each city instead of having one-size-fits-all storefronts.
Habit Burger CEO Shannon Hennessy smiles with a colleague while filming social media content.
Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert
A quick lunch around noon, then more meetings
Lunch is quick — typically a big salad with protein, if I’m not sampling new menu items in our test kitchen.
Then I spend the afternoon in working sessions with ops, design, and marketing. Sometimes, that means being in front of the camera to film content for our social media channels, or it can involve a brainstorming session with our innovation team to develop new seasonal menu items.
I look for inspiration everywhere
My early career in consulting trained me to seek ideas everywhere, so I curate my own inspiration stream:
Whenever a restaurant leader peer is on a podcast, I listen to understand how others think about the industry.
I cycle through podcasts from “The Daily” and Esther Perel, as well as the occasional murder-mystery series for “mind candy.”
You can usually find me reading business books, such as “Unreasonable Hospitality” and “No Rules Rules.”
I also play Wordle, a tiny daily puzzle that resets my brain.
I’m always listening for questions we’re not being asked — like how people feel working for me, or how to become a Gen Z “first-choice” employer — and using the answers to build momentum in our business.
Habit Burger CEO Shannon Hennessy, pictured with Chef Jason Triail behind the scenes in the company’s commercial kitchen, spends much of her workday in restaurants or meeting with staff.
Courtesy of Habit Burger
I finish work around 5 p.m.
Evenings are for my teenage kids and, ideally, a home-cooked meal.
My husband is the dinner MVP; he’s truly an exceptional home cook, so evenings are his domain. I’m grateful to be delightfully surprised by whatever he’s making.
I don’t micromanage dinner — prioritizing balance across the day lets me enjoy whatever’s on the table. If I need a sweet finish, I’m a sucker for great ice cream.
On weekends, I try to avoid being available for work. That’s my family’s time, and protecting it helps me show up as my best self at the office.
I try to be in bed by 9 p.m.
I skim my sleep trends from my Oura Ring, maybe read some fiction (strong female leads are my jam), and aim to be in bed by 9.
Protecting sleep is non-negotiable. I can power through a day or two short on rest, but beyond that, my patience and mental capacity dip — and my team deserves the best version of me.
