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Two U.S. citizens were taken into custody in Japan after an incident at a zoo near Tokyo that recently drew international attention because of a young macaque named Punch, who went viral after videos showed him holding a stuffed toy following rejection by his mother, Euronews reported.

Police said one of the men climbed over a barrier and entered a restricted area surrounding the monkey habitat on Sunday, while the second recorded the incident on video. The pair identified themselves as a 24-year-old student and a 27-year-old singer.

Videos shared online appeared to show a person in a costume...

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia reported new drone incidents on Sunday as tensions linked to the ongoing Iran war continued despite a ceasefire that took effect in April, according to Reuters.

UAE officials said a drone strike caused a fire at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant after hitting an electrical generator outside the facility’s inner perimeter. Authorities said there were no injuries or radiation leaks and that safety levels at the plant remained normal. The UAE defense ministry added that two additional drones launched from the western border were intercepted. Officials described the incident as...

In the updated WTA rankings published today, May 18, Kazakhstani tennis player Anna Danilina climbed three places to reach fifth in doubles, whereas Elena Rybakina stayed second in singles.

Last week, at the WTA 1000 2026 Internazionali BNL d’Italia, Danilina, paired with American Asia Muhammad, reached the quarterfinals, where they were defeated by the Russian duo Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider, who later won the title.

Danilina is taking part in the WTA 500 2026 Internationaux de Strasbourg, paired with Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova. She will be the only representative of Kazakhstan at the tournament, since Rybakina...

Fans of renowned Kazakhstani singer Dimash Qudaibergen from five Latin American countries have released a collaborative music video cover of the artist’s «Fire.»  

According to DimashNews, Dears from Chile, Brazil, Mexico, Costa Rica and El Salvador participated in the project.

The cover was created by the Diffusion Team. The authors said that the work expressed love and inspiration that fans draw from the artist’s music. In the video, they sought to express emotions, sincerity and overall dedication to Dimash’s work.

One particularly moving aspect of the project was the story of a...

German automaker Mercedes-Benz Group may return to defense production amid shifting geopolitical conditions in Europe, CEO Ola Källenius said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.

He said that the world had become a more unpredictable place, and he thought it was clear that Europe needed to strengthen its defense capabilities. He added that if they could play a positive role in that process, they would be ready to do so.

Defense sector seen as potential growth area

At the same time, Källenius said any return to the defense sector would depend on economic viability. According...

A Kazakh student who developed an artificial intelligence system for early cancer detection has received an award in the U.S.

The results were announced at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2026, held in Phoenix, Arizona, according to the press service of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Education.

Read also: Can we truly end cancer as we know it?

Kazakhstan took part in the competition with seven students, who presented a total of five projects. Arnur Artykbay, an 11th-grade student at the Nazarbayev Intellectual School of Physics and Math...

The outcomes of the eighth convocation of Kazakhstan’s Parliament will be released shortly. The report will most likely include statistics on meetings held, as well as laws reviewed and adopted. Against that backdrop, we considered it worthwhile to examine not only what lawmakers did, but also what they said — and how they said it.

Read also: Kazakhstan to introduce vice president and rename its parliament.

After all, Parliament itself, as its name suggests — from the French parlement and the verb parler («to speak») — is fundamentally a place for...

Former Russian security agent Dmitry Senin claims he spent eight years hiding from Russia’s intelligence services. During his second escape from Russia, Senin crossed the border into Kazakhstan while hiding inside the carcass of a dead cow, The Telegraph reported.

Read also: Inside Soviet recruitment: Kazakhstan’s former security chief claims Trump was a KGB asset.

Senin fell out of favor in 2016 after passing information to fellow Federal Security Service (FSB) officers about a suspicious luxury apartment in Moscow linked to high-ranking police official Dmitry Zakharchenko. Authorities later discovered $120 million...

Gulaiym Rakhmonova, the ex-wife of renowned Kazakh UFC fighter Shavkat Rakhmonov, announced the newest addition to her family. She shared the news on social media, posting a photo of her newborn from the maternity hospital.

Rakhmonova was pregnant with her fifth child during the investigation and trial related to the fatal car accident involving her. In March, a court sentenced her to five years in prison, but deferred the sentence for the same period.

Breaking her silence

Earlier, Rakhmonova broke her silence in a candid interview on TV host Ruslan Otepbay’s YouTube channel...

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has urged greater adoption of a common Turkic alphabet, alongside closer cooperation in science, education, and artificial intelligence. He made the remarks at an informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Turkestan, Kazakhstan.

«It is essential to expand the use of the 34-letter Turkic alphabet and to support scientific and educational initiatives in participating countries. The development of artificial intelligence technologies that support the languages and cultural heritage of the Turkic world is of particular importance,» Erdogan said.

Notably, the Turkic countries agreed to adopt...

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said Kazakhstan does not support transforming the Organization of Turkic States into a military alliance or geopolitical bloc. He made the remarks during an informal summit of the organization in Turkestan.

«Recently, there have been opinions expressed about a military alliance. Their negative intentions are clear to us. We also understand that their goals are not related to reconciliation. Kazakhstan believes such a position should be rejected,» Tokayev said.

He emphasized that strengthening unity among Turkic nations remains a key priority for Kazakhstan.

The light rail transit (LRT) line in Astana is scheduled to launch on Sunday, May 17, 2026, according to the press service of the Astana akimat, the city’s local executive authority.

«The launch was announced for the weekend, and it was clarified today that it will take place on Sunday,» the press service told Kursiv.media.

High anticipation

Previously, Astana LRT operator City Transportation Systems said it had prepared for a large influx of passengers in the first days after launch. Station capacity and ticket barriers were designed with a safety...

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is accelerating construction of a new oil pipeline to increase export capacity through the port of Fujairah by 2027, as it seeks to reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.

The decision was directed by Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, who instructed the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) to fast-track the West-East Pipeline project. The pipeline is already under construction and is expected to begin operations in 2027.

The move comes as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have constrained global oil flows. The waterway, a key route for...

Kazakhstan and Turkey are preparing to launch new large-scale projects with total investments exceeding $920 million, which are expected to create thousands of jobs in Kazakhstan.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan presented joint investment projects worth over $920 million between Kazakhstan and Turkey, the Akorda press service reported.

The projects are expected to create more than 3,100 jobs in Kazakhstan. New production and infrastructure facilities are planned across several regions, including Astana and Almaty.

In particular, Turkish Miryıldız is set to establish a mining and processing plant in the...

The U.S. is preparing to indict Raúl Castro, a former leader of Cuba, according to Reuters, citing a U.S. Department of Justice official.

The timing of the indictment remains unclear, though officials indicated it could come soon. The case is expected to focus on the 1996 downing of two unarmed aircraft operated by the humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue, an incident that resulted in multiple deaths.

At the same time, Washington and Havana appear to be exploring possible negotiations. The Cuban government recently confirmed a meeting with CIA Director John Ratcliffe, during which U.S. representatives reportedly signaled...

Bear encounters have been widely reported in Japan, with a surge in sightings making headlines in 2025, and continued reports into 2026, which has already seen one confirmed fatal case linked to bear activity. The media called last year a record year for bear attacks on humans. Japan had to deploy troops to Akita, a mountainous northern prefecture on Honshu Island, to address the problem. Therefore, Japan has resorted to unusual yet creative measures — frightening wolf animatronics, according to...

Colombia plans to reduce its wild hippo population, which originated from animals brought to the country in the 1980s by Pablo Escobar. Officials now classify the hippos as an invasive species that threatens local ecosystems and nearby communities, The New York Times reported.

The population has grown from four animals at Escobar’s Hacienda Nápoles estate to about 200 living in the wild. Scientists warn that, without intervention, the number could exceed 1,000 by 2035.

Efforts to control the population through relocation and sterilization have had limited success. These methods are costly, difficult to carry out and sometimes dangerous...

U.S. authorities are reportedly moving toward dropping criminal fraud charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, following progress in a related civil case and discussions about his planned investments in the U.S., Reuters reported.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) had accused Adani of involvement in a bribery scheme to secure approvals for a major solar power project in India. Prosecutors said about $265 million in bribes were offered to Indian officials and that the Adani Group raised more than $3 billion from investors without disclosing the alleged misconduct. The company has consistently denied the allegations.

The potential shift comes...

Some professions will remain in demand despite the rapid advance of AI, Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Labor and Social Protection Yerbol Tuyakbayev told journalists at a Senate briefing yesterday.

According to Tuyakbayev, technical and skilled-trades jobs continue to be «timeless» professions in the country.

«Certainly, it is very difficult to find a qualified dentist, a good electrician, a flooring installer or an engineer. There is still strong demand for these professions,» Tuyakbayev said.

Government campaign to boost blue-collar jobs

The vice minister also recalled that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared 2025 the Year of...

South Korean automotive giant Hyundai Motor Group announced the launch of a pilot vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology project for private electric vehicle (EV) owners on Jeju Island, the group said in a release.

This technology allows EVs to return electricity back to the grid, effectively functioning as mobile energy storage systems. According to the release, the company conducted a V2G pilot program in partnership with mobility platform Socar in the second half of 2025 and is now expanding access to private owners. In collaboration with Jeju authorities, 40 owners of V2G-compatible Hyundai Ioniq 9 or Kia EV...

Georgia’s banking system expanded in 2025 with the addition of two new players from the microfinance sector. The total assets of the country’s second-tier banks exceeded 100% of GDP by the end of the year, while net profit reached a record 3.3 billion lari (about $1.2 billion).

As Georgia’s largest lenders — TBC Bank and Bank of Georgia — continue expanding into the markets of Armenia and Uzbekistan, smaller domestic digital and microbanks are still struggling to gain significant market share.

The banking sector remains the dominant segment of Georgia’s financial system, accounting for 89.9% of total financial-sector...

The International Monetary Fund has upgraded its forecast for Kazakhstan’s economy in 2026. According to the IMF’s latest review, Kazakhstan’s nominal gross domestic product is expected to reach approximately $360 billion, which would rank the country 49th among the world’s largest economies.

Read also: Kazakhstan’s richest people and their assets visualized.

By comparison, the IMF’s October 2025 forecast projected Kazakhstan’s GDP at $320 billion, placing the country 50th globally.

Kazakhstan projected to surpass several European economies

According to the updated estimates, Kazakhstan’s economy is now projected to be larger than...

Drivers in eastern France faced an unexpected threat, leaving even the most modern ADAS systems ineffective. Law enforcement authorities in Saône-et-Loire have raised the alarm and warned of «intoxicated» deer prone to running onto the road.

In early May, authorities posted videos of deer behaving strangely. In this state, deer can run onto the road and literally freeze. They are not afraid of emergency lights or signals, ignoring engine sounds and «falling asleep,» prompting patrol officers to carry the antlered troublemakers to the roadside.

«Ladies and gentlemen… not all road users are...

French football star Kylian Mbappé is featured on the new cover of Vanity Fair. In an extensive interview, the Real Madrid forward discussed pressure, criticism, politics and expectations ahead of the next FIFA World Cup.

Read also: A class act in Almaty: Mbappé’s heartwarming meeting with young wheelchair-bound fan.

In the magazine’s photo shoot, Mbappé appears in looks from...