The U.S. has returned 337 ancient artifacts to Italy that were illegally removed from the country, in one of the largest recent recoveries of stolen cultural property, Reuters reported. The artifacts include Roman sculptures as well as Greek, Etruscan and Egyptian objects. They were presented in Rome at the headquarters…
The creators of the sequel to “The Devil Wears Prada” are facing criticism over allegations of racial stereotyping tied to a new supporting character. Read also: Prada reunion: Anna Wintour and Meryl Streep pose for the first time together. Critics have raised concerns about the character Jin Chao, introduced as…
A viral social media video has uncovered a little-known detail about one of Kazakhstan’s prominent landmarks — the Miners’ Palace of Culture in Karaganda. According to the video, a single person served as the model for four of the building’s facade sculptures. One model, multiple figures Tour guide Svetlana Dzen,…
Kazakhstan plans to compile a comprehensive catalog of cultural artifacts that have ended up abroad over time, said Berik Abdigaliuly, director of Kazakhstan’s National Museum. The project is expected to take about five years and will allow the public to identify where key historical objects are currently held. Among the…
Almaty appears to be finding new ways to make everyday life more engaging: visitors can now go to a café or restaurant not only for coffee or dinner, but also for an impromptu art experience. Without planning ahead, diners may simply sit down and find an original painting hanging nearby.…
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…
This year marks 38 years since the revival of Nauryz, the traditional spring equinox holiday in Kazakhstan. Deeply rooted in the country’s cultural identity, the celebration symbolizes renewal, unity and the arrival of spring. Yet for much of the 20th century, it was absent from public life — returning only…
Paul Thomas Anderson’s film «One Battle After Another,» starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead role, won best picture at the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday. It is the director’s first Oscar after many years of critical acclaim, the Associated Press reported. The film, which tells a multi-generational American story about…
A discussion is gaining traction on social media over an unusual apartment in Almaty that the listing’s author, a realtor, described as a true «work of art.» Read also: How photographers saved Almaty’s fleeting street art. The property is located at the intersection of Panfilov and Tole Bi streets in…
Ramadan in 2026 began Feb. 19. The Spiritual Administration of Kazakhstan’s Muslims published guidance explaining the procedure for making up missed fasts, known as qada. Fasting as an act of worship Ramadan is a holy month in which Allah’s mercy is believed to be abundant and spiritual rewards are multiplied.…
In the 19th century, Kazakh girls owned not only dolls but also doll furniture — and not only the wealthiest families. To provide a daughter with a new toy, parents needed craft skills rather than money, and this was never a problem in the Kazakh steppe. «When playing with dolls,…
An unusual dating trend is gaining popularity among young people in China, with individuals recommending their former partners to others as if they were job candidates, according to the South China Morning Post. The idea emerged amid growing frustration with dating apps and a desire to find a «vetted» partner.…
Social media users are discussing an unexpected reason Russians are traveling to Kazakhstan: going to the movies. The conversation was sparked by a post on Threads in which a woman said she flew to Almaty specifically to see the film «Avatar.» A viral post fuels debate The post quickly went…
San Diego Comic-Con, one of the most influential gatherings in entertainment where major studios typically unveil upcoming films, TV series, and video games, has recently revised its stance on AI-generated artwork. The change came after strong opposition from artists, according to reporting by 404 Media. While modest, the decision represents…
A user on the Threads social network recently suggested reimagining «Harry Potter» characters by placing them in a Soviet-era context, rather than J.K. Rowling’s magical world. Hogwarts as a research institute The user shared AI-generated portraits of several «Harry Potter» characters using the prompt: «If Hogwarts were not an English…
Kazakh ethnic designer Tilek Sultan sparked debate after receiving a custom order for a kimeshek, a traditional head covering for married Kazakh women with children. While researching, Sultan noticed confusion between the kimeshek and the Islamic hijab. He raised the subject online, receiving swift, heated responses. A question that sparked…
A Kazakh-language production of the classic musical «Notre-Dame de Paris» has gone viral on social media in Kazakhstan. Archived clip resurfaces A Threads user shared an archived video of the performance, featuring actors Zharkynai Shalkar and Yerbol Narimanuly in the roles of Esmeralda and Frollo. The 2018 staging in Astana…
One of the most distinctive buildings in the old city still stands in the center of Astana: the house of first-guild merchant Vasily Kubrin, built between 1910 and 1912. It was a luxurious one-and-a-half-story mansion with a wing topped by a green turret, a basement, an English-style garden, and an…
Residents of Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, have begun sharing photos on social media of murals that have disappeared from city streets — works that adorned building walls for years and became part of the city’s visual culture. Users are posting archival photos and recalling their memories of street art that…
A painting depicting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, attributed to Baroque master Peter Paul Rubens, and believed to have been lost for over 400 years, was sold for €2.3 million at an auction in Versailles this weekend. The artwork, created by the renowned Flemish painter who lived from 1577 to…
Espace Gabrielle Chanel, described as the first public library of its kind, has opened in Shanghai. The roughly 1,700-square-meter space was designed by Japanese architect Kazunari Sakamoto and is located on the third floor of the Power Station of Art museum. A collection of more than 50,000 works The library…
Stephen King’s novel «It» may be rewritten after Russia’s AST publishing house announced it is considering changes following a complaint about «inappropriate content.» The publisher said its editors launched an internal review after receiving a complaint alleging the book contained «depictions of nontraditional relationships.» As a result, the current print…
A new live-action Assassin’s Creed adaptation is moving forward at Netflix, but news of the project — and its newly announced casting — has already sparked debate among fans, Gamingbible.com reported. Netflix recently confirmed that actor Toby Wallace will serve as a co-lead in the series. Many gamers initially speculated…
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…
