News

Kazakhstan’s Agency for the Protection and Development of Competition has proposed selling up to a 50% stake in KMG International N.V. (a subsidiary of Kazakhstan’s national oil and gas company KazMunayGas, or KMG) through an open, two-stage bidding process in 2026-2027. The company is included on the national list of assets slated for privatization.

KMG in Europe

The goal of the sale is to bring in a strategic partner to support joint business development.

According to the agency, the KMG group has 28 operating companies across Romania, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Turkey, and Kazakhstan (excluding its 49% stake in...

A tragedy unfolded before the eyes of visitors at the Dubai Airshow when a Tejas fighter jet crashed during a demonstration of its flying capabilities. Indian Air Force pilot Namansh Syal died in the incident and was cremated in India with full military honors.

India has been developing its light, single-engine Tejas fighter jet since 1983 as part of its effort to replace the outdated Soviet MiG-21s and move toward greater self-reliance in defense. However, the project has taken much longer than expected, and the Indian Air Force still does not have enough Tejas...

A gold pocket watch once owned by one of the first-class passengers of the Titanic, which sank with the liner, was sold for the highest amount ever paid for Titanic memorabilia — £1.78 million (approximately $2.3 million) — at an auction, The Guardian reported.

The 18-carat Jules Jurgensen engraved watch belonged to Isidor Straus, 67, who was on board the liner with his wife, Ida Straus. Both became victims of the disaster, in which more than 1,500 passengers perished, and were among the first-class travelers to die. The elderly couple was reportedly offered seats in a...

The world’s first highway segment capable of charging electric vehicles while they’re in motion has opened about 40 kilometers outside Paris, according to Electrek. The stretch is only 1.5 kilometers long, but its charging power is already comparable to that of high-speed stations.

How the road charging works

Dynamic wireless induction technology functions much like wireless smartphone charging. Engineers embedded copper coils beneath the asphalt and connected them to power units installed along the roadside.

When an electric vehicle approaches, the corresponding section of roadway activates. The coils generate a magnetic field, and receivers mounted on the underside...

On Feb. 13, 2026, Astana’s Central Concert Hall Qazaqstan will host a concert, followed by another on Feb. 15 at Almaty’s Republic Palace, as part of a world tour honoring famed composer Ennio Morricone.

Under the direction of his son, maestro Andrea Morricone, a symphony orchestra and mixed choir will perform a sweeping program of iconic soundtracks that have become part of global cinema culture. The concert will include music from:

Health officials in Washington state have confirmed that an older adult has died after being infected with the H5N5 strain of bird flu, a type of avian influenza not previously seen in humans. The person, who had other health problems, was hospitalized before passing away, CNN reported.

This is the first human case of bird flu reported in the U.S. in 9 months and only the second U.S. death linked to avian influenza during the current outbreak. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the overall public health risk remains low and there is no...

Astana Airport has a rather unusual employee — a Belgian Shepherd named Ben, featured in a new video by travel blogger Yakov Fedorov. Ben works with dog handler Temirlan Ospanov, who has trained him to detect explosives since he was a puppy.

The video shows exactly how Ben operates: Ospanov hides capsules containing the scents of various types of explosives, and the Shepherd quickly tracks them down by following just one scent trail.

Kazakhstan’s KazStandard has become the first body in Central Asia to be recognized by Saudi Arabia as fully compliant with the country’s strict Halal requirements.

International level

Now beef, mutton, chicken, dairy products and convenience food of Kazakhstan origin may go directly to the Saudi Arabian market without additional limitations and barriers.

«For us, this is not just international recognition, but confirmation of the quality of the work carried out by the Kazakhstani Halal system,» Malik Saulebay, CEO of RSE KazStandard, said.

Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s largest...

Google DeepMind’s newly announced Gemini 3 Pro Image model, also known as Nano Banana Pro, has generated buzz for its «absolutely insane» ability to create images with unprecedented realism and quality. But the tool raises not only industry standards, but also serious concerns over privacy and regulation, according to VentureBeat.

The model features improved image recognition, deeper spatial reasoning and the ability to search the internet for information to use in image generation. It can perform multi-step photo editing, place text accurately — from signs to infographics — and create images at resolutions up to 4K.

Its ability to generate...

The pouring of concrete for the foundation of Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant (NPP) could begin in 2029, according to the Head of the Agency for Atomic Energy (AAE), Almassadam Satkaliyev.

«Nuclear experts call this the ‘first concrete.’ Much depends on the equipment configuration and project design. It’s still quite difficult to say at this point. We are aiming for 2029 for the Russian project,» he told reporters.

Russia’s Rosatom was selected as the leader of the international consortium to construct the first NPP on Lake Balkhash. The NPP will have an output of...

The U.S. has presented a 28-point peace plan intended to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. As reported by the Associated Press (AP), this framework was discussed with Moscow and covers key issues: territorial concessions, security guarantees and long-term economic arrangements.

According to a draft seen by AP, Ukraine would maintain its sovereignty but agree to limit its military and refrain from joining NATO. In return, Ukraine would receive U.S.-backed security guarantees and participate in a broad non-aggression pact with Russia and Europe.

The plan also proposes restrictions on NATO expansion and calls for a U.S.-facilitated dialogue between Russia and...

Kazakhstan’s flag carrier, Air Astana, has signed a memorandum of understanding for 50 Airbus A320neo aircraft, the airline said in a release.

«Air Astana has committed to a major fleet modernization by signing a Memorandum of Understanding for up to 50 Airbus A320neo family aircraft. This would be the largest ever order placed by the airline, comprising 25 firm aircraft and 25 purchase options,» the release read.

The agreement applies to acquiring Airbus A320neo and Airbus A321neo aircraft, with the first deliveries scheduled to begin in 2031. The base of the...

The U.S.-based startup Sunday has presented the robot Memo, which is capable of doing most chores. According to the developers, it can do almost everything, including picking up dishes from the table, loading and unloading the dishwasher and washing machine, folding clothes, taking out the trash and even making coffee.

At the same time, the owner doesn’t have to teach Memo to do its job, since the robot itself examines the dwelling, remembers the arrangement of items, and adapts to the owner’s habits.

The robot is powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and continues learning in the...

Fatima Bosch from Mexico won the Miss Universe 2025 title in the finale of one of the year’s most intense beauty pageants, featuring contestants from 120 countries and hosted by Thailand. Bosch, 25, was crowned by last year’s winner, Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark, following a series of scandals and controversies, CNN reported.

The final capped three weeks of rehearsals, events and preliminary rounds. Contestants competed in swimwear, evening gown and interview segments. The group was narrowed from 120 to 30, then to 12, and finally to the top five. Bosch stood out to the judges with her...

The music streaming service Apple Music has concluded wrapped the annual results for 2025 and presented the ranking of 50 best pop songs. Lady Gaga, with her hit «Abracadabra» that blew up social media this year and generated its own dance trend, topped the list.

Users from all over the world attempted to copy Gaga’s and her team’s distinctive movements. The track topped the global charts, including Billboard Global 200 and achieved numerous streams on Spotify.

The runner-up is Sabrina Carpenter with «Manchild,» the song in which the singer ironically ridicules infantile men not ready for...

Paris city officials have offered residents an unusually creative way to become part of the city’s history. They’ve launched a lottery that gives winners the chance to secure a burial plot in one of the city’s legendary cemeteries — Père-Lachaise, Montmartre or Montparnasse.

These cemeteries are the resting places of world-famous cultural icons, and the necropolises themselves have long been tourist attractions. But to join their ranks of «neighbors,» winners must do more than claim a spot: They must commit to restoring an old, deteriorating tombstone.

Preserves historic monuments

According to the BBC, the idea stems from...

At the AI Journey 2025 conference in Moscow, President Vladimir Putin observed Green, a humanoid robot developed by Sberbank. The robot introduced itself and demonstrated its dancing movements on state television, Reuters reported.

Sberbank touts Green as Russia’s first humanoid robot with embedded AI and expects ongoing software upgrades to expand the robot’s practical applications

The showcase comes after a previous incident in Moscow, when the AI robot Aidol fell during its official presentation, becoming an internet meme.

In the final round of the group stage at the World Women’s Team Chess Championship in Spain, the Kazakh women’s team left the Americans no chance, winning 3.5-0.5. Finishing second in Group A, Team Kazakhstan will face India, the third-place team in Group B, in the quarterfinals.

The convincing win over the Americans was all the more notable given that the U.S. players were higher-rated on every board. Xeniya Balabayeva secured her fourth victory in five games. The 19-year-old Kazakh, playing White, forced 41-year-old Irina Krush to resign on move 58 under the threat of an inevitable pawn...

As colder weather brings a rise in seasonal illnesses, TikTok users are circulating an unconventional method to relieve a runny nose: using a vibrator.

Videos showing the technique first appeared earlier this year but went viral in the fall. Creators recommend placing the device against both nostrils. After a short time, they claim, the vibrations trigger a strong sneeze that clears mucus naturally.

@sapiscience #ВэтотДень ♬ оригинальный звук – Лиза Кузнецова

Some users insist the method...

American actor Kevin Spacey, 66, once one of Hollywood’s most influential figures, told The Telegraph that after years of legal battles and financial strain linked to sexual assault allegations, he now has no permanent home and is struggling financially. Despite being acquitted in a major U.K. trial in 2023, his life has not returned to normal.

The Oscar winner said that his belongings are in storage, while he moves between hotels and rented apartments.

«I’m living in hotels, I’m living in Airbnbs, I’m going where the work is. I literally have no...

Kazakh MP Bolatbek Aliyev shared a video from a meeting of the working group on the Building Code, highlighting one expert who joined via Zoom wearing a casual T-shirt, sitting at a table, and occasionally eating. Instead of criticizing the behavior, Aliyev described it as «true openness» and «proof of parliament’s accessibility.»

Accessibility or rudeness?

Aliyev said such participation was previously impossible, but now experts can join legal discussions from home in comfortable clothing and settings.

«I thought for a moment. This isn’t a disorder. This is a sign of accessibility. I’ve never seen...

The leaders of the divided island of Cyprus have indicated they are prepared to meet with the United Nations Secretary-General to assess prospects for reviving long-stalled reunification talks, Reuters reported.

Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides and newly elected Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman held their first meeting since Erhurman’s landslide victory in October. The moderate, center-left politician has pledged to work toward reopening UN-led negotiations on a settlement.

According to a UN spokesperson, both sides expressed readiness to participate in a future informal meeting convened by the Secretary-General and agreed to explore holding additional...

Belarus has freed two Roman Catholic priests serving long prison sentences after renewed diplomatic talks with the Vatican, Reuters reported, citing the state news agency Belta.

Henrykh Akalatovich was serving an 11-year sentence for treason after being accused of spying for Poland and the Vatican, which he strongly denied, describing the accusations as «lies, threats and blackmail.» The human rights group Viasna said he was detained in 2023, soon after cancer surgery.

Andrzej Yukhnevich was sentenced earlier this year to 13 years for allegedly abusing minors, but he also denied the charges. Viasna said he had been detained...

Italian fashion brand Moschino has released a new bag called the «Spaghetti Bag,» designed to resemble a serving of pasta.

The clutch features a photoprint and hand-woven threads that mimic spaghetti. For added realism, designers included basil leaves made of leather and clasps shaped like tomatoes.

For convenience, the bag comes with a removable belt, allowing the «lunch» to be worn over the shoulder if desired. This unusual accessory carries a price tag of €2,500.

The description notes that each piece is unique, as the decorative elements are applied by hand. The bag is made from...