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The Astana Botanical Garden is well known for its scenic pond. Now, it has gained attention for a different reason: visitors walking on thin ice. Photos have gone viral of people casually strolling across the frozen surface, taking pictures and even pushing children in strollers.

Despite the cold climate of Kazakhstan’s capital — the second coldest capital in the world after Mongolia’s Ulaanbaatar — the ice remains thin here in mid-November. To prevent accidents, authorities repeatedly warn residents not to walk on the ice, but these warnings appear to be ignored.

Social media users sharply criticized the behavior:

Legendary Ford Focus leaves the market after 27 years. During this period, more than 12 million cars were sold. According to Autocar, production has finished at the plant in Saarlouis, Germany, marking global changes in Ford’s strategy as it shifts toward electric models.

The end of the Ford Focus

Plans to cease Ford Focus production were announced in 2022. Electric crossovers, the Explorer and Capri, based on Volkswagen’s MEB platform, replaced it. Notably, the Saarlouis factory currently doesn’t produce any models. The company has not clarified whether the facility will be sold or repurposed for...

According to Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, AI is the most important technology humanity has ever worked on. He believes it will reshape the future of work as some roles evolve and new opportunities appear. Those who adapt to AI tools «will do well in each of the professions.»

However, if the current AI boom ends in a downturn, every company — including Google — would be affected, Pichai said.

In an interview with the BBC, Pichai described the rapid growth in AI investment as «extraordinary,» admitting, though, that some areas of the market show signs of...

Video game company Nintendo has published the first official frames of an upcoming movie adaptation of “The Legend of Zelda.” Following leaks from the movie set, the company has revealed the actors portraying the series’ main characters — Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link and Bo Bragason as Zelda.

The frames emphasize realism, with costumes closely resembling actual gear. Link can be seen wearing detailed gloves, while Zelda’s belts and quiver appear functional.

The visuals suggest that the creators are focusing on live scenery with expansive natural backdrops.

Nintendo has not revealed any plot details yet. The...

Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup hopes ended with a penalty shootout loss to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in a decisive playoff on neutral ground in Morocco. The Super Eagles were eliminated, missing a chance to advance to the intercontinental playoffs.

Magic in the play

After the match, Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle, became involved in a confrontation with members of DR Congo’s coaching staff and had to be separated by officials.

During his post-match news conference, The New York Times reported that Chelle questioned why journalists had not asked about the dispute. He alleged in French...

A teddy bear powered by artificial intelligence (AI) has been removed from sale and disconnected from OpenAI’s technology after researchers discovered it was exposing children to inappropriate content, Gizmodo.com reported.

Kumma, a toy sold by Singapore-based FoloToy, utilizes large language models, such as OpenAI’s GPT-4, to converse with users. A recent report from the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) found that the bear explained to underage users how to find matches, knives, pills and plastic bags and even discussed illegal drugs.

Although the toy occasionally advised users to speak to an adult, these warnings were brief...

Belgian TikTokers Neal and Senne have pulled off a bold prank in the Louvre. They brought their own image and managed to display it right near the «Mona Lisa» by Leonardo da Vinci. Notably, museum workers couldn’t notice the new «exhibit.»

To pass through the metal detector, the pranksters used a picture frame built of Lego bricks. They set up the whole composition — with the painting initially rolled up — right in the museum. A construction set is not among the items prohibited for entry.

🚨 🇫🇷/🇧🇪 ALERTE INFO : La sécurit...

A global equities index signaled further declines in world markets, while Bitcoin fell below $90,000 for the first time in seven months, according to Bloomberg.

The cryptocurrency’s slide extended a weeks-long downturn that has wiped out its gains for the year and shaken confidence across digital-asset markets.

The pullback is unfolding against a backdrop of growing economic pressures, including renewed worries about interest-rate policy and increasingly stretched valuations in risk-heavy sectors.

Hebe Chen, an analyst with Vantage Markets in Melbourne, said the retreat from speculative assets — ranging from Bitcoin to high-growth tech stocks — reflects investors’ efforts...

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will pay an official visit to Astana on Nov. 20-21 at the invitation of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, according to the Akorda press service.

During the visit, the two leaders are expected to discuss prospects for further developing bilateral cooperation between Kazakhstan and Armenia. The agenda includes exploring new opportunities to strengthen existing ties and expand collaboration into additional sectors.

Earlier this year, President Tokayev signed a law ratifying an agreement on migration cooperation with Armenia. The document allows citizens of both countries to enter and stay on each other’s territory...

A two-story home in Algabas, the Turkestan region, caught fire and was destroyed.

The fire erupted as two families — parents and children — occupied the home, causing the roof to collapse. Rescuers carried out three unconscious people. They found the bodies of 12 victims, including nine children, inside.

Local residents reported that guests had visited the house, as the owners hosted an event the day before the fire. Firefighters contained and extinguished the fire within about 360 square meters. Investigators are determining the cause of the tragedy.

Police launched a criminal investigation into fire safety violations.

American actor Tom Cruise has been awarded an Honorary Oscar. Director Alejandro Iñárritu presented the statuette, Reuters reported.

This marks the first such award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for 63-year-old Cruise at the Governors Awards. Over more than 40 years in the industry, Cruise has been nominated four times but had never won.

«How does a person summarize the 45-year career of Tom Cruise in a four-minute speech? ‘Mission impossible,’» Reuters quoted Iñárritu as saying.

Accepting the award, the actor shared how cinema had broadened his...

Kazakhstan marked the 28th anniversary of its national currency, the tenge, this year. The National Bank introduced a new series of banknotes designed in a «Saka style.»

Throughout its history, the tenge has undergone multiple redesigns, and some observers argue that these updates are occurring too frequently. In an interview with Zhas Alash newspaper, Khairulla Gabzhalilov, one of the designers of the first tenge banknotes, said he believes the frequent changes serve as a vehicle for theft and the corrupt misuse of public funds.

Early optimism and a declining tenge

When Kazakhstan’s national currency entered circulation on...

Uzbek blogger Saidazim Rizaev gave an unexpected gift to actor Will Smith — a traditional chapan (Central Asian coat) and doppa (skullcap).

During their meeting, Rizaev not only presented the traditional garments but also invited the Hollywood star to visit Uzbekistan and other Central Asian landmarks.

Before handing over the gift, the blogger told Smith how much the actor’s films had inspired him in childhood and expressed hope that Smith would accept the ethnic wear as a sign of friendship and respect.

American astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy has captured a stunning photograph of a skydiver in free fall directly against the blazing sun — an image already dubbed «The Fall of Icarus.»

McCarthy said he took the photo on Nov. 8 after «tremendous planning and technical precision.»

The image shows the silhouette of a man passing across the bright solar disk. McCarthy believes the photograph may be the first of its kind.

The skydiver was identified as YouTuber and musician Gabriel S. Brown, who jumped from a height of about 1,070 meters at a distance of 2.5 kilometers from the camera. McCarthy and...

Following Comic Con in Astana, another pop-culture and cosplay convention was held in Kazakhstan, this time in Almaty. The event, called Almacon, took place on Nov. 16, bringing together fans of anime, comics, video games and related merchandise. As always, the key element and main appeal of any comic con is cosplay — and this year, the festival did not disappoint.

Cosplay enthusiasts from across Kazakhstan attended the event, representing a wide range of ages and skill levels. Some were cosplaying purely for fun, while others competed for the top prize of roughly $500. One of...

A Singapore court has sentenced Australian citizen Johnson Wen to nine days in jail after he rushed toward Ariana Grande at a movie premiere, causing a public disturbance, as reported by the BBC.

The incident occurred during Thursday’s Asia premiere of «Wicked: For Good,» where Wen jumped a barrier, approached Grande and grabbed her shoulders before her co-star Cynthia Erivo and security intervened. A video of the incident spread widely on social media, prompting a public outcry in Singapore.

After being removed by security, Wen attempted to breach the barricades a second time at the premiere but was...

On Monday, a Bangladesh war crimes court sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for ordering a deadly crackdown on student protests in 2024, according to Reuters.

The International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka announced the verdict under tight security while Hasina was not present. She has been in India since leaving Bangladesh in August 2024. According to the court, she was found guilty of crimes against humanity and for ordering lethal force against protesters, receiving a life sentence for the first charge and a death sentence for the second.

Building on the evidence presented...

Kazakh pianist and composer Temirlan Beisenbay, known as Ratovich, delivered an iconic film melody amid Mangystau’s stunning landscapes.

He posted a video of his performance on Instagram, playing the piano against the dramatic backdrop of Bozzhyra in western Kazakhstan’s Mangystau region.

By performing Hans Zimmer’s «Cornfield Chase,» composed in 2015 for Christopher Nolan’s cult film «Interstellar,» Ratovich sought to merge global cinematic art with Kazakhstan’s iconic landscape, celebrating national pride and creative innovation.

On Nov. 17, the Atyrau Specialized Interdistrict Criminal Court found Rizuan Khaiyrzhanov and Altynbek Katimov guilty of the brutal murder of Yana Legkodimova. They will spend the rest of their lives in a maximum-security prison.

According to court documents, the two men intended to kill Legkodimova and had planned the crime together.

«Some may wonder why both of them were sentenced to life imprisonment if Katimov only held the car door while Khaiyrzhanov was the one who committed the murder. But the truth is that they planned the brutal murder together. Katimov was the...

FIFA has established its Peace Prize, a new annual award recognizing outstanding contributions to peace and unity. The first recipient will be honored on Dec. 5 in Washington during the draw for the 2026 World Cup. FIFA President Gianni Infantino will present the award in person.

FIFA’s version of the Nobel Peace Prize

Infantino said in a Nov. 5 release announcing the award that football unites the world and that, on behalf of the global football community, the FIFA Peace Prize would recognize those who bring nations together and inspire hope in future generations.

Speculation surrounds who will...

The 7th Consultative Meeting of Central Asian heads of state convened Saturday in Tashkent, with presidents of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and, for the first time as a full member, Azerbaijan attending, Euronews reported.

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev outlined seven proposals aimed at strengthening regional cooperation, including the development of a 2035 regional trade program, creation of a common investment space, coordinated work on major transport corridors such as the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway and the Trans-Afghan route, and the adoption of a regional security concept. He also suggested formalizing the current consultative meetings into a new...

More people in Kazakhstan use Threads than in neighboring countries, according to DataReportal’s 2025 figures.

Meta, the platform’s parent company, reported that by the end of 2025 Threads had 1.85 million users in Kazakhstan — the highest total among former Soviet countries excluding Russia, whose data was not included in the report.

For comparison, Ukraine has 1.75 million users, Uzbekistan 834,000, Kyrgyzstan 538,000 and Belarus 533,000.

Demographic data shows that women in Kazakhstan are more active on Threads, making up 59% of the platform’s users. The trend is similar in Ukraine and Belarus, while in Uzbekistan

The national football teams of Norway and Portugal have joined the list of qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In their latest matches, the Norwegian team defeated Italy 4-1, and Portugal thrashed the Armenia 9-1 in Porto.

Norway’s national team statistics in the qualifiers are impressive. Eight victories in eight matches with a goal difference of 37:5, with 43% of the goals (16) scored by Erling Haaland. In Italy, at San Siro Stadium, the 25-year-old Manchester City forward scored a brace.

Inter Milan’s Pio Esposito opened the scoring in the 11th minute. In the 63rd...

Sony Pictures has reportedly acquired the screen rights to the Labubu brand and plans to develop it into a full-length film — and, if it’s successful, launch an entire franchise.

It remains unclear whether the film will be animated or live-action. The project is in its early stages, and producers and a director have not yet been named. However, it’s already clear that Sony hopes to replicate the success of «The Lego Movie» and «Barbie» by adapting another popular toy brand for the big screen.

Labubu was created by Chinese artist Kasing Lung. The toys surged in...