Astana, Oct. 13 -- The fourth episode of the Silk Way Star international vocal competition concluded in the Kazakhstan capital of Astana with stunning cross-cultural performances, as contestants took on songs from other countries in their original languages, a round designed to celebrate global musical diversity.

According to a release, the standout moment came from South Korea's group Kandis, who delivered an emotional performance of the Kazakh ballad Dem Alam, earning praise from both judges and the audience for their heartfelt rendition.

In a surprise outcome, Michelle Joseph from Mongolia and Yazmin Aziz from Malaysia shared the top spot this week, each earning a perfect score of 120 points. Their performances were lauded for their ...