News

Labor shortages and high staff turnover are pushing the recycling industry to explore automation and robotics as long-term solutions, the BBC reports.

In the U.K., a recycling facility in Rainham, east London, operated by Sharp Group, processes up to 280,000 tons of mixed recycling a year. Work at the site involves sorting a wide range of materials on fast-moving conveyor belts in conditions marked by dust, noise and safety risks. As a result, workers face higher rates of injury and ill health, contributing to staff turnover of around 40%.

To address these challenges, the company is trialing a humanoid...

The long-anticipated Arirang World Tour by the globally recognized K-pop band BTS is in full swing. Therefore, to support foreign fans and ensure city safety, Busan authorities introduced foreigner-exclusive accommodation in youth training centers and a temple for approximately 400 people at affordable prices. Prices start at roughly $7 for youth centers and $54.51 for the temple, with reservations opening in late April ahead of the concerts scheduled for June 12 and 13.

According to the Yonhap News Agency, the upcoming concerts at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium sold out during presale...

A deadly explosion struck the Huasheng Fireworks plant in Liuyang, Hunan province, killing 21 people and injuring 61, the BBC reported.

The blast caused extensive destruction. Nearby residential buildings were damaged, with shattered windows and distorted metal structures reported. Some of the injured sustained bone injuries from flying debris.

In responce to the incident, authorities deployed nearly 500 rescue workers and robots to search for survivors trapped inside the damaged buildings and assist the injured.

As two gunpowder storage sites within the facility continued to pose risks during rescue operations, emergency teams evacuated residents within a 3-kilometer radius as...

A controversial item from the estate of Karim Massimov has been auctioned again. The price rose significantly during bidding, but the deal has not yet been finalized.

Read also: Kazakhstan’s ex-security chief spent $200K on Russian astrologer.

The samurai-style saber, discovered in the home of the former head of Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee (KNB), has been listed multiple times. Previous auctions failed to result in completed sales.

In the latest auction, the starting price was 379,000 tenge ($800). Bidding drove the price up sharply, with the top bid reaching 1,586,954 tenge...

Japan’s dependence on outdated, analog administrative procedures is stunting its digital economic potential, according to an analysis by Charles Crabtree for the Lowy Institute. The report identifies a “state capacity problem” where government services fail to match the precision of the nation’s private sector, particularly regarding routine tasks like criminal-record checks.

A gap in efficiency

While peer nations like Australia and Singapore offer digital certificates within days or hours, Crabtree notes that Japan requires physical presence and the manual pickup of sealed paper documents. This bureaucratic friction affects everyone from researchers seeking European work permits to graduates starting...

Police in the Turkestan region, southern Kazakhstan, have begun actively using drones to identify vehicles with outstanding debts.

Read also: Drones and nuclear power: Kazakhstan’s surprising college curriculum.

According to the regional police department, modern technology is being deployed to maintain public order and improve road safety. Drones, along with the Korgau information system, are helping officers quickly detect violations and monitor traffic conditions in real time.

A British company is expanding its presence in Kazakhstan. A new player has registered at the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) and may affect the critical metals market, according to economist Arman Batayev, who runs Finmentor.kz Telegram channel.

Maritime House Limited, specializing in critical metals processing, has registered a new entity at the AIFC — Central Asian Metals Ltd.

The company is known for its rhenium recycling, international trade and the production of specialty metals and hexamine.

Maritime House owns and operates a rhenium recycling plant in Napanee, Ontario, Canada. Over the past five years, the...

Increased competition between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan is a positive development for Kazakhstan’s economy, political scientist Dossym Satpayev said in an interview with Armanzhan Baitassov.

Central Asia emerging as an «island of stability»

«Currently, two regions stand out for relative stability and investor interest: the Caucasus — particularly Azerbaijan — and Central Asia,» Satpayev said.

He described both regions as «islands of stability,» noting that in the 1990s some analysts compared Central Asian countries to Afghanistan or the Balkans.

Uzbekistan’s policy shift reshaping the region

Since 2018, Central Asian leaders...

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Healthcare has pushed back on one of the most persistent myths about vaccination, saying vaccines protect children rather than pose a threat. Officials say large-scale studies involving millions of children have consistently confirmed vaccine safety.

Why the confusion happens

The ministry noted that some parents link autism to vaccines because symptoms may become noticeable after routine shots. Dinagul Baesheva, an infectious disease specialist, said the confusion stems from timing: early signs of autism often emerge between 18 months and 2 years of age, which coincides with the booster vaccination period. Physicians stress...

A new study suggests that relocation efforts in New Orleans may need to begin sooner rather than later, as the city faces growing threats from sea-level rise and coastal land loss, The Guardian reported, citing a study that says the region has reached a critical point where long-term protection may no longer be viable.

Southern Louisiana is already dealing with multiple pressures, including rising sea levels, stronger hurricanes and land subsidence. Together, these factors could significantly reshape the coastline in the coming decades. The study indicates that New Orleans could eventually be surrounded by water before the end...

The family controlling Samsung has finalized payment of an inheritance tax bill totaling about $8 billion, marking the largest such settlement ever recorded in South Korea, the BBC reported.

The payments were made over five years in six installments by Chairman Lee Jae-yong and his family members, including his mother Hong Ra-hee and sisters Lee Boo-jin and Lee Seo-hyun.

This tax obligation stemmed from the estate of the late chairman Lee Kun-hee, who passed away in October 2020. His assets were valued at around $17.6 billion and included company shares, real estate and an extensive art collection.

Against the...

Surrey County Cricket Club in south London has launched a «Work from Oval» initiative, inviting remote workers to log in while watching live matches at The Kia Oval, an international cricket ground in Kennington, south London, according to The Associated Press.

Hundreds took part in early-season County Championship games, boosting weekday attendance to over 6,000 — well above the competition’s typical crowds. As the venue has upgraded its Wi-Fi and added workspaces with desks, power outlets and views of the field, visitors can combine work with leisure, with some staying afterward to socialize.

The initiative highlights broader shifts...

Fans of Shymkent-based FC Ordabasy staged a spectacle ahead of the home match against FC Aktobe, arriving on horseback and turning an ordinary matchday into a real show. Kursiv LifeStyle looked at how the fans amused local residents and social media users.

Aktobe fans are known for their strong away support and are among the most active supporter groups in Kazakhstan. In response to visiting fans, supporters of the Shymkent team put on a show of their own, demonstrating their unique flair.

About 1,500 beagles, which are commonly used in animal testing due to their relatively small size and calm temperament, are set to be rehomed after their release from Ridglan Farms, a dog breeding and research facility in Wisconsin, The Associated Press reported.

Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy reached a confidential agreement to purchase the dogs for an undisclosed amount. The two organizations will split responsibility, with Big Dog Ranch Rescue working to place about 1,000 of them in homes across the U.S., while the remaining dogs will go to the Center for a...

GameStop has proposed acquiring eBay for approximately $56 billion in a cash-and-stock deal, offering $125 per share — a 20% premium over eBay’s recent closing price, Reuters reported, citing the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen stated that the company has already acquired a 5% stake in eBay, whose market value is roughly four times that of GameStop, through shares and derivatives. Moreover, he told the WSJ in an interview that he was ready to take the proposal directly to shareholders if eBay’s board rejected the offer.

Cohen argues that combining the two companies...

Shakira performed her largest concert to date at the iconic Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The free public concert, held on May 2, drew an estimated two million people. Previous editions of similar beach concerts featured Madonna and Lady Gaga, NME reported.

The concert was part of the «Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran» (Women Don’t Cry Anymore) world tour, named after her 2024 album. The event was delayed by more than an hour; however, when drones formed the message «I love you...

The government of Kazakhstan plans to reform its migration policy to make it more open and better aligned with economic development, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva announced.

Streamlining processes through digitalization

Balayeva said residency status and permits should be processed through a single system, eliminating the need to apply to multiple agencies. Authorities also plan to shorten application review times and simplify regulations through the use of digital tools.

The seven OPEC+ members agreed to adjust their oil output and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining market stability, the organization said.

Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman, which had already announced voluntary production cuts, met virtually on May 3 to discuss the current situation and outlook of the global oil market.

Following the talks, the countries decided to adjust output by 188,000 barrels per day within the voluntary cuts announced in April 2023. The new levels will take effect in June 2026.

OPEC+ noted that these measures may be partially or fully revised...

Being around babies makes people want babies, according to a new study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER).

The study posits that exposure to infants in one’s social environment activates neurobiological mechanisms, such as oxytocin release and the brain’s reward circuitry, which naturally increase the desire for parenthood.

This response is affective rather than cognitive, operating through sensory contact rather than deliberate calculation. However, as children become scarcer in modern, age-segregated societies, this vital stimulus weakens, further eroding the motivation to have children. The researchers’ calibrated model suggests that this empathy channel can account...

Paris hosted its first Modest Fashion Week, showcasing clothing styles favored by many Muslim women. About 30 designer collections were presented on the runway, ranging from long, flowing dresses with floral motifs to more structured looks and relaxed streetwear.

Focus on coverage and versatility

The collections emphasized covered silhouettes, including maxi dresses, loose cuts, headwear, and layered outfits. Some designers highlighted soft, romantic tones and natural palettes, while others leaned into sportier, boxier shapes influenced by Generation Z street style.

Symbolic setting amid ongoing debate

The event took place in a private mansion near the Champs-Élysées...

A year after facing criticism over cultural appropriation, Italian fashion house Prada has announced a new collection of sandals inspired by traditional Indian Kolhapuri chappals.

Read also: Step into the future: Kazakh entrepreneur sells 3D-printed shoes worldwide.

In June last year, the brand presented similar shoes without acknowledging their origin, describing them simply as «leather sandals.» The release sparked backlash in India, where artisans accused the company of appropriating a culturally significant design.

Heritage craft with protected status

Kolhapuri chappals date back centuries and are traditionally handcrafted, forming an important...

Almaty’s Arbat (officially known as Zhibek Zholy Street) has once again confirmed its status as one of the city’s main creative and social hubs. A group of athletes staged a striking performance there, briefly turning the pedestrian promenade into an open-air posing stage.

Crowd reacts to spontaneous show

In the video, several athletic young men showcase the results of hours of training — both in the gym and on outdoor pull-up bars. The reaction from passersby is immediate: some smile and record the moment on their phones, others watch with visible curiosity, while a few onlookers nod in approval.

Kazakh dancer and choreographer Madina Beisekeyeva appears in “Runway,” performed by Lady Gaga and Doechii. The track is featured on the soundtrack of one of the year’s most anticipated films, “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”

The song plays during a backstage scene set at Milan Fashion Week, and a fragment can also be heard in the film’s trailer.

In a post on Instagram, Beisekeyeva said she was honored to be part of what she described as a historic moment alongside legendary figures, adding that she could hardly believe she was dancing next to Lady...

In 2025, the Kazakh government complied with two key fiscal rules but withdrew more funds from the National Fund than it deposited. In other words, budget policy remains procyclical — despite entering the second year of the 2030 Public Finance Concept, which calls for a countercyclical approach.

Read also: The transfer trap: Why high oil prices aren’t saving Kazakhstan’s wealth fund.

The system of fiscal constraints, in effect since 2023, includes two primary rules and at least four auxiliary ones. The first, enshrined in the Budget Code, carries full legal force...