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A painting stolen from Jewish art collector Jacques Goudstikker during World War II has been found in the home of Hendrik Seyffardt’s descendants, according to the BBC.

The painting, «Portrait of a Young Girl,» by Dutch artist Toon Kelder, is believed to have remained with the Seyffardt family for decades. One descendant learned about his family’s history and contacted art detective Arthur Brand. He said he was «disgusted» to find out the painting had been kept by his relatives and felt it should be returned to Goudstikker’s heirs. Goudstikker owned over 1,000 artworks and died while escaping the...

A restaurant has opened at a resort in Shymkent, with dining tables set within a pool beneath a roof, creating the impression that the tables are floating. Guests reach each table by descending a staircase. The pool is stocked with fish that swim past diners throughout their meal.

However, experienced travelers may find the restaurant not particularly original, since many restaurants around the world are fully submerged, with large marine fish swimming above diners’ heads. In Shymkent, only the seating area is surrounded by water. Nevertheless, in the summer heat, the restaurant will likely become one of the city’s most...

Oil supply disruptions amid the Iran conflict are affecting a wider range of businesses, Japanese Calbee, the country’s largest potato chip producer, announced it would temporarily switch to a black-and-white palette for several of its products, Reuters reported.

Reportedly, new package versions for 14 products will hit shelves on May 25. The company’s move aims to preserve a reliable product supply flow despite disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East.

According to Reuters, Japan relies on imports of naphtha — required for ink production — from the Middle East for...

The U.S. Department of Defense has publicly described mysterious objects captured in photographs taken during the Apollo program as «physical» objects rather than film defects or lens flare, according to a report by Naked Science.

For decades, unusual anomalies in lunar images were widely attributed to technical artifacts. However, a recent publication posted on the Pentagon’s website presents a different interpretation. The images are accompanied by recordings of astronauts’ radio communications, and the objects are described as having a physical presence.

Apollo 12 and Apollo 17 images draw attention

Particular attention has focused on images...

Japanese animation studio ELF-IN will open a branch in Uzbekistan and support the development of the country’s animation industry, according to the press service of the Ministry of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan.

As part of the partnership, the sides plan to launch animation training programs focused on the Japanese market. More than $700,000 in grant funding will be allocated to train specialists in the field.

Japanese experts will also participate in the project.

Uzbek authorities said they expect the partnership to help create high-paying jobs for young people and boost exports of digital services.

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Qazaq Electric Ltd. plans to develop a network of electric vehicle charging stations in Kazakhstan in collaboration with the S. M. Kirov Machine Building Plant and defense firm Aselsan Engineering. Company Director Renat Zheksembayev announced the plans in an interview with Kursiv.media.

«We produce stations ranging from 22 kW to 90 kW, suitable for charging in residential areas and office buildings,» Zheksembayev said.

He noted that similar charging stations are already available in Russia under the Touch brand, a major Russian player in the production and development of charging station networks.

A young man in Astana prompted a police response after posting a suggestive image on social media featuring the city’s popular tourist attraction — the Baiterek Monument.

The police department said that during routine monitoring of social media platforms, the photo was found demonstrating evident disrespect for the city’s significant cultural landmark.

Police officers promptly identified the offender, who turned out to be a 19-year-old Astana resident. The young man was taken to a police station.

«The offender has been imposed liability for petty disorderly conduct. The case has been submitted to the court for review...

Breaking up with someone you love is difficult for almost everyone. Now, a new method of coping with heartbreak is gaining popularity in China — AI chatbots designed to imitate former partners.

According to the South China Morning Post, users are creating «virtual copies» of their exes using artificial intelligence. These AI-generated personalities mimic a person’s speaking style, favorite phrases and even small communication habits, allowing users to recreate parts of past relationships in digital form.

How «digital exes» are created

To build an AI version of a former partner, users upload chat histories, social media posts...

Straight, white teeth are about more than appearance — they are an investment in your health, confidence and future. Here’s why affluent people spend heavily on dental care, and how anyone can maintain healthy teeth without overspending.

Why taking care of your teeth matters

Your oral health affects your entire body

Poor dental health can become a constant source of infection and inflammation. Harmful oral bacteria have been linked to heart disease, joint problems and gastrointestinal issues.

Healthy teeth help preserve a youthful appearance

Your teeth support the structure of your face. Missing teeth or...

Hybrid vehicle sales in the U.S. have jumped as rising fuel prices lead more consumers to look for efficient cars, Reuters reported.

Hybrid sales rose 37% in the two months after the Iran war began on Feb. 28. This growth was faster than the overall car market, which grew by 15%. Gas prices climbed above $4 per gallon in late April, hitting a four-year high.

Interestingly, fully electric vehicles have not seen as much demand. EV sales grew 11% during the same period, which is less than the overall market. Sales are still lower than last year because...

Evgeny Chebotarev, a stuntman and content creator from Rostov-on-Don, has once again drawn attention with his extreme stunts. His Instagram Reel showing the demolition of an old brick chimney garnered more than 30 million views within the first day.

Chebotarev used five GAZon trucks and spent around $19,000. The footage shows the content creator jumping off the vehicle seconds before it crashes into the structure at high speed. It took five attempts to destroy the chimney.

Dozens of viewers watched the process live as the video quickly went viral and sparked strong reactions online.

Sir David Attenborough has just turned 100, marking a career that has developed alongside the rise of modern television. For many years, he has played a major role both in front of and behind the camera, helping shape the BBC and bringing the beauty of nature to audiences around the world, The Guardian reported.

Attenborough joined the BBC in the early 1950s, when television was becoming more common. He started out producing shows like «Coelacanth» and soon began appearing on screen. His first wildlife series, «Animal Patterns,» marked the beginning of his long journey in nature broadcasting.

He...

North Korea has revised its constitution to include a new definition of its territorial boundaries while removing all language related to reunification with South Korea, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Under the updated document, North Korea describes its territory as extending from its borders with China and Russia in the north to South Korea in the south.

Pyongyang originally adopted its constitution in September 1948. The document was amended five times before the country introduced a socialist constitution in 1972. Following 12 additional revisions, authorities amended the constitution again in March and removed the word «socialist» from its...

While households and governments face rising costs linked to the U.S.-Israel war involving Iran, some industries are seeing significant financial gains, the BBC reported.

The conflict has disrupted global markets, particularly after Iran effectively halted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas. This has driven sharp fluctuations in energy prices, increasing the cost of living and putting pressure on businesses and public finances.

Certain sectors, however, have benefited from this situation. Profits at major oil companies such as BP, Shell and TotalEnergies rose significantly in the...

Kazakhstan ranked 58th out of 145 countries in the 2026 Global Firepower Military Strength Ranking.

The index estimates the size of a country’s armed forces, the amount of military equipment, air power, financial resources, and mobilization capacity.

According to the report, Kazakhstan’s total military personnel numbers around 300,000, comprising 110,000 active personnel, 135,000 reserve personnel and 55,000 paramilitary personnel.

The country’s defense budget was estimated at $5.8 billion, ranking Kazakhstan 54th globally.

The ranking also covers data on armaments. Kazakhstan has 168 aircraft, including 37 fighter jets, 13 attack aircraft and 72 helicopters. Land forces possess...

Recent research suggests that psychedelic substances such as psilocybin may help some individuals reduce or stop tobacco use, the BBC reported.

Globally, around 1.2 billion people smoke. Although about 70% say they want to quit, success rates remain low. Nicotine is highly addictive, and only a small share of smokers manages to quit each year. Smoking also remains a leading preventable cause of disease and death, which is why researchers are looking for new treatment approaches.

«One nail drives out the other»

Evidence from surveys and clinical studies indicates that psychedelics may change how people view their habits...

Fan clubs of the renowned Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen — DQ Dears Astana, Eurasian Dimash Fan Club and Dimash Ukraine Dears EFC — have donated 290 skeins of wool yarn to the 28 Stitches Club Astana for newborns with low birth weight ahead of the artist’s birthday.

The official news site of Qudaibergen reported on the moving campaign.

The organization has been supporting premature babies for several years. Due to premature birth and low body weight, such babies are unable to maintain their body temperature on their own and require special care...

On May 7, 2026, the founding congress of the new political party «Adilet» (“Justice”) was held in Astana. More than 1,000 delegates from across Kazakhstan attended the event.

During the congress, delegates approved the party’s charter and political program and elected its governing bodies.

By the time of the congress, the party reportedly had 9,312 registered members, significantly exceeding Kazakhstan’s legal requirement of 5,000 members for party registration.

Party outlines its core values and philosophy

The party declared its core values as justice, patriotism, responsibility, hard work and development. According to its platform, «Adilet» aims to ensure fair compensation...

Branches of foreign universities in Kazakhstan will continue operating under new rules that mandate the inclusion of «History of Kazakhstan» and «Kazakh Language» in their curricula, according to lawmaker Nartai Sarsengaliyev.

The provision — introduced at the initiative of the relevant parliamentary committee — has been incorporated into a draft law on the status of teachers. Under the proposal, foreign educational institutions must also ensure that the quality of education they provide is no lower than Kazakhstan’s state standards. Teaching the country’s language and history would become a mandatory component of all programs.

According to Sarsengaliyev, students at technical universities...

The Kremlin has published an official list of foreign leaders and senior guests invited to attend the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow. So far, the list does not include the presidents of Central Asian countries.

According to the Russian presidential press service, attendees are expected to include Alexander Lukashenko, president of Belarus; Thongloun Sisoulith, president of Laos; Sultan Ibrahim, king of Malaysia; Robert Fico, prime minister of Slovakia; and Siniša Karan, president of Republika Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina).

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, president of Kazakhstan, was not included on the initial list, although additional names could...

Kazakhstan’s public finances improved markedly in the first three months of 2026, with treasury revenues and expenditures executed almost in full. Notably, value-added tax (VAT) receipts surged 48.6% year over year, even though some payments were still taxed at the previous 12% rate (for fourth-quarter 2025 liabilities). In addition, authorities appear to have resolved a two-year problem of underfunding in the health care system.

Revenue performance beats expectations

Public finance data for the first quarter point to cautious optimism. According to the Ministry of Finance, total state budget revenues for January-March 2026 reached 7.2 trillion tenge (approximately...

Kazakh designer Ismail Luceat-Anima creates avant-garde pieces that are often better suited to conceptual photo shoots than everyday wear. He founded his own label, Luceat Anima — Latin for «light of the soul» — and centers his work on what he calls the aesthetics of destruction.

A distinctive creative approach

The designer aims to incorporate a wide range of techniques and textures into his garments, using layered materials and unconventional forms to express his vision.

The explosion at the Kazzinc plant in Ust-Kamenogorsk on May 5, 2026, which killed two people, has again drawn attention to the company’s environmental and operational challenges. Kazakh analyst Rassul Rysmambetov, in comments to Kursiv.media, discussed the potential sale of Kazzinc to businessman Shakhmurat Mutalip (on photo) — and why, in his view, the country should be cautious about allowing foreign investor Glencore to exit.

Ownership structure and potential sale

Glencore has been Kazzinc’s largest shareholder since 1997 and currently owns 70.2% of the company. Another 29.8% is held by Tau-Ken Samruk...

American rapper Kanye West, also known as Ye, has officially announced his first performance in Georgia. The concert is part of the Ye Live Concert Tour.

The show is scheduled for June 12 in the heart of the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, at Dinamo Arena. The concert was confirmed by organizers from Starring Georgia, and the information also appeared on the artist’s official website.

Official ticket sales are scheduled to launch on May 11.