News

The commission investigating the AZAL air accident near Aktau, Kazakhstan, has released an interim statement on its investigation into the crash on the one-year mark, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport press service reported.

The statement pertains to the accident involving an AZAL-operated Embraer 190 aircraft (registration 4K-AZ65) that occurred on Dec. 25, 2024. It has been prepared in accordance with Standard 6.6 of Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

The interim statement is available on the ministry’s website.

«We inform you that...

Actress Zendaya was spotted on a rare family outing with her fiancé, Tom Holland, and his relatives, prompting online speculation about a possible pregnancy.

On Dec. 22, Zendaya spent the evening in London with Holland’s parents and his brothers, Harry and Paddy. The group visited «The Traitors: Live Experience» live game. Photos from the outing quickly circulated on social media, with fans commenting on the warm reception the Holland family appeared to give their future daughter-in-law.

Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace, Dmitriy Mun, explained why there is still no dedicated PlayStation Network region for Kazakhstan and why no official Sony services are available in the country.

According to him, the number of users in Kazakhstan is insufficient for the company to establish a dedicated PlayStation Network region and officially connect its services. Mun said he had asked Sony about the required number of players for this to happen.

Kazakhstani bank cards

Despite the absence of a dedicated PlayStation Network region and the lack of official Sony services, payments with bank cards...

Kazakhstan’s first domestically developed cancer drug will not be ready by the end of 2025, despite earlier assurances from government officials.

Set deadline

In March, Science and Higher Education Minister Sayasat Nurbek said the country would complete development and registration of the drug by year’s end. At the time, he said the medication had successfully passed the first phase of clinical trials and was being tested on multiple types of cancer.

According to Nurbek, tumors in patients had shrunk by an average of 30%, some patients had gone into remission, and officials were planning a separate press conference...

According to Deputy Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Dmitriy Mun, Kazakhstan is planning to introduce self-driving cars next year. At the same time, the ministry is assessing which legislation needs to be amended and what infrastructure must be developed.

«We have already conducted pilot tests to see how self-driving cars perform in winter conditions, without special road markings and under varying temperatures. In Astana and Almaty, traffic lights are equipped with chips that warn vehicles when signals change. A significant part of the infrastructure is already in place. However, there is still room for...

Movies and TV series deemed to contain «LGBT propaganda» could be banned in Kazakhstan, Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Yevgeniy Kochetov said recently on the sidelines of parliament.

Which popular projects could be affected?

According to Kochetov, content featuring members of the LGBT community will be labeled «18+,» restricting it to viewers older than 18. He said the mere appearance of LGBT symbols would not, by itself, qualify as «propaganda.»

«If, based on an assessment, it is determined that the material contains principles of propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations, then by court decision...

During the Christmas and New Year holidays, many people want to make something tasty and new for friends and family. The internet is a popular place to look for recipes, with thousands of food websites showing off beautiful photos of various delicious dishes.

Much of this information, however, is AI-generated and often fake, according to CNN.

It’s not uncommon for many food websites to look like real blogs while their recipes fail, suggesting that no one tested them beforehand.

Food bloggers warn that AI-generated sites mix and repost recipes from around the internet. These recipes may look good, but...

American rapper Sean Combs, known as Diddy (also referred to as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy), has filed a new appeal and is attempting to win release from prison before the end of this year, Page Six reported, citing legal documents.

The rapper’s attorneys requested remission of the sentence or its significant reduction in the appeal submitted on Dec. 23. In October, Judge Arun Subramanian sentenced 56-year-old Combs to four years and two months in prison.

Combs claims that the court committed serious violations when delivering the decision. The rapper was acquitted on racketeering and human...

The Portuguese company Mota-Engil, whose main shareholders include China Communications Construction Co. (CCCC), is in talks to buy the Brazilian mining company Bamin, which is owned by Kazakhstan’s Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), sources told the Brazilian outlet Valor International.

Bamin’s Brazilian concession

Bamin holds a concession for a section of Brazil’s West-East Integration Railway in the northeastern state of Bahia, as well as a mining asset in the same state, and has plans to build a port in the city of Ilhéus.

In April 2021, Bamin won the contract to build the first section of the Fiol...

The Dallas Cowboys, an American football team, have been ranked as the 2025 most valuable sports team by Forbes. The football clubs hitting the list include Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United and Liverpool.

The total value of the 50 teams on the list is estimated at $353 billion, with the Dallas Cowboys once again topping the list at $13 billion. The NFL team has been leading the ranking since 2016.

The domination of NFL teams on the list is evident — 30 out of the 32 league teams are included. While NFL franchises surged 25% in...

Chinese technology company Baidu is partnering with Uber to bring autonomous taxis to the U.K. According to Pandaily, Baidu’s self-driving platform Radish Run is preparing to launch operations in London as early as 2026. The move would mark the service’s first deployment in left-hand traffic conditions outside of Hong Kong.

Uber and Radish Run partnership

The two companies plan to introduce a full-scale robotaxi service, with autonomous vehicles accessible through a global mobile app. The rollout will begin with testing, followed by a gradual expansion of autonomous driving operations on London streets. For Uber, the partnership represents another step...

Google is rolling out a new feature that lets users change their @gmail.com email addresses. Until now, most Gmail users could not do this, 9to5Google reported.

The change was first noticed on a Google support page available only in Hindi, indicating that rollout and early access to the feature began in India before expanding to other regions.

According to the updated Google support page, users will soon be able to replace their existing Gmail address with a new one that also ends in @gmail.com. When a change is made, the original Gmail address will remain active as an alias...

“Power,” as Henry Kissinger famously quipped, “is the ultimate aphrodisiac.” However, for a select group of global leaders, it isn’t just their policy platforms that are turning heads — it’s their undeniable charisma and “camera-ready” looks. From viral surfing photos to “rockstar” press tours, these individuals have redefined what it means to be a modern political figure.

Pedro Sánchez (Spain)

Famously dubbed “El Guapo” («The Handsome One») by the German daily Der Spiegel, the Spanish prime minister has a reputation for setting social media aflame.

Standing at 6’3″, the former basketball player became an overnight sensation...

The Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan appeared in Qonaev, capital of the Almaty region, for the first time, according to the Almaty region governor’s office press service.

On Dec. 24, the decorated Coca-Cola truck passed along Almaty, Seifullin, Zhambyl and Qonaev streets, then parked by the main Christmas tree at the city’s Central Square. The caravan’s arrival was accompanied by a festive atmosphere and drew the attention of residents and visitors.

The event featured an entertainment program with interactive games and concerts. The Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan is one of the company’s annual traditions, symbolizing...

President of Turkish sports club Fenerbahçe Sadettin Saran, 61, responded to a positive drug test by stating that he has never used the substance alleged to have tested positive.

“I have never used the substance that is claimed to have tested positive, and I have not even seen it at close range in my life,” Türkiye Today cited Saran’s statement.

He described the allegations as a coordinated smear campaign intended to harm his reputation and the organizations he represents. He stated he is ready to provide new samples right away, and...

Volunteers on Ogmore By Sea Beach in Wales stumbled upon hundreds of old leather boots while clearing rock pools along the shore. Experts say the studded-soled shoes date back to the 19th century, the BBC reported.

According to Emma Lamport from the Beach Academy, who took part in the beach walk, locals associate the find with an Italian ship that sank about 150 years ago in nearby waters while carrying a cargo of leather goods. One theory suggests that the boots may have been washed into the Ogmore River and then ended up on the shore.

So far, volunteers...

In the Konya province of Turkey — an area producing maize, wheat and sugar beet — farmers report that sinkholes are appearing more often. In Karapınar, for example, it’s not rare for a cultivated field to have a large cavity in it, according to Reuters.

Scientists researching the problem say it is getting worse. Geologists at Konya Technical University report that almost 700 sinkholes have been recorded in the Konya Basin so far. Many have appeared just in the last 10 years.

Experts believe this trend is the result of prolonged droughts, higher temperatures and a significant drop in...

Almaty is making tourism more accessible and inclusive — tactile models of the city’s iconic architectural sites now allow visitors to experience them through touch.

Five scale models have been installed: Ascension Cathedral, the Ykhlas Museum of Folk Musical Instruments, Abay Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theatre, Almaty Museum and the building of the Academy of Sciences.

These models are intended to help visually impaired people better imagine the architecture and scale of the city’s symbols.

Some models have been placed in front of entrances, while others are located inside the buildings. They were created using modern 3D printing technology.

Russian makeup artist and stylist Robert Minasyan has shared memories of working with Aliya Nazarbayeva, the youngest daughter of Kazakhstan’s first president, Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Minasyan recounted the story in a video posted on his YouTube channel, describing events that took place nearly two decades ago.

Trip to Almaty and high-paid assignment

According to Minasyan, he was invited to Almaty around 2002 to prepare Nazarbayeva for a birthday celebration. He said he flew in from Moscow specifically for the job and spent several days in Kazakhstan.

«I stayed with them for five days,» he said, describing what he...

The relationship between American actor Bradley Cooper and supermodel Gigi Hadid appears to be reaching a new level. Kursiv LifeStyle explains when the wedding is expected and whether the actor is ready to propose.

According to The Daily Mail, the couple may be preparing for an engagement. Both celebrities are quite serious about their future together and have already taken necessary steps toward a possible marriage next year, the media outlet reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. Cooper, for example, spoke with Hadid’s mother and enlisted her support before proposing.

The actor also talked to his mother...

Croatian cellist Stjepan Hauser, better known as HAUSER and famous in Kazakhstan for his duo performance with Dimash Qudaibergen, is set to perform in Almaty. The event is scheduled for April 28 at Almaty Arena.

The musician gained fame following his performance of Michael Jackson’s «Smooth Criminal.» Since then, HAUSER has been actively touring, with more than a million tickets sold.

His music blends classical and modern styles, spanning from Tchaikovsky to Lady Gaga. HAUSER has performed for the Pope, U.S. presidents and members of the British royal family. This year, HAUSER and...

The Norwegian Biathlon Union announced the death of Sivert Guttorm Bakken, a 27-year-old member of Norway’s national team. He was found dead in his hotel room in the Italian town of Lavazè. The cause of death has not yet been determined.

Career highlights

Bakken was a four-time Biathlon World Cup stage winner, including three victories in relay events. He also won three European championship titles during his career and was regarded as one of Norway’s promising biathletes.

Return after serious illness

This season, Bakken had earned a place back on the Norwegian national team following a prolonged absence...

The International Skating Union (ISU) is preparing a sweeping reform of its world championships, with plans to combine multiple disciplines into a single global event.

One event, multiple disciplines

Under a proposal being developed by ISU leadership, competitions for figure skating, synchronized skating, speed skating and short track speed skating would be held together as part of a new Combined World Championships format.

If approved, the revamped event would debut in 2027 and function as a «super tournament,» bringing together athletes from across the skating world. Until now, world championships in these disciplines have been staged as...

A newly released video from Chinese General Xu Qinxian’s court martial shows rare People’s Liberation Army (PLA) dissent during the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown, The Guardian reported.

The six-hour video shows Xu, who led the 38th Group Army, explaining in detail why he refused orders to send his troops to Beijing to enforce martial law against student protesters. Xu says in the footage that he viewed the demonstrations as a political issue to be settled through political measures, not through military force. He explains that he feared authorizing military action would lead to widespread bloodshed and underscores that...