News

Gold prices surged to a new all-time high of $3,720 per ounce during trading on Sept. 16. Analysts caution, however, that despite the metal’s rapid rise, investors should weigh the risks before jumping in.

The real value of gold
Independent financial analyst Aman Alimbayev noted that while gold has repeatedly set nominal price records, its inflation-adjusted value tells a different story. The previous real record dates back to the 1980s, when inflation and geopolitical tensions pushed gold to $850 per ounce, the equivalent of about $3,590 today.

Is gold a good investment?
Alimbayev stressed that gold serves primarily as a...

Legendary pop group the Backstreet Boys have arrived in Almaty. Dedicated Kazakhstani fans shared their first moments at the airport on social media.

A video with the band members was uploaded by local fan Alina Agapova.

«We were beyond thrilled to welcome the Backstreet Boys to Almaty! They’re not just a band — they’re the soundtrack of our childhood, the voices we grew up with, and the legends who are still here, 30 years strong,» wrote Agapova in a caption to the video on Instagram.

In a statement released Wednesday, Bernie Sanders cited casualty figures and remarks from Israeli officials, calling the conclusion «inescapable,» according to The Guardian.

«Over the last two years, Israel has not simply defended itself against Hamas. Instead, it has waged an all-out war against the entire Palestinian people,» the senator said.

On Wednesday, Sanders also referenced a recent UN panel report stating that Israel’s actions meet the legal definition of genocide. He said the U.S. should support a ceasefire, more humanitarian aid and progress toward Palestinian statehood.

Other U.S. lawmakers, including Rep. Alexandria...

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he will designate Antifa, a loosely organized, left-wing anti-fascist movement, as a major terrorist group, the Anadolu Agency reported.

The announcement came after the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah. While prosecutors have charged Tyler Robinson with murder in the case, Trump and his allies have sought to connect this incident to Antifa and other left-wing organizations.

Attorney General Pam Bondi and senior White House adviser Stephen Miller have also implied connections between organizations like Indivisible and the Open Society Foundations, funded by George Soros...

Three police officers were killed and two others critically injured on Wednesday morning during a shooting in rural York County, Pennsylvania. Authorities confirmed that the suspected gunman was also killed later that day, according to Al Jazeera.

The incident unfolded as officers were investigating a domestic-related matter. Following the initial shooting, Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Christopher Paris said the scene remains under investigation. A «major case team» was convened the same day in cooperation with the York County District Attorney’s Office, with support from the FBI.

Visiting North Codorus Township, roughly 115 miles west of Philadelphia, Gov. Josh...

New Meta Ray-Ban Display artificial intelligence glasses were announced on Sept. 17 at the Meta Connect Keynote event, following a leak shortly before the official reveal. Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 glasses and sport-tailored Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses were also unveiled, UploadVR reported.

Ray-Ban Display Glasses

The model features a small heads-up display in the right lens, with Meta claiming very low light leakage (around 2%), meaning that people nearby essentially won’t be able to see what’s shown. The device comes with the control wristband branded as Meta Neural Band, which operates under surface electromyography technology...

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have signed a strategic defense pact aimed at bolstering joint deterrence, according to Saudi state media.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif finalized the agreement on Wednesday in Riyadh.

Under the deal, an attack on either country will be treated as an attack on both. Officials did not clarify whether the move was tied to ongoing regional tensions, though it comes amid heightened concern in Gulf capitals over Israeli military actions against regional actors, including a strike on Doha earlier this month. Riyadh and Islamabad have long had...

Egyptian authorities are investigating the disappearance of a 3,000-year-old gold bracelet from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Once owned by Pharaoh Amenemope of the 21st Dynasty, it was last seen in the museum’s restoration lab, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, according to CNN.

Officials have alerted airports, seaports and border crossings to prevent smuggling. The museum stated that online photos claiming to show the missing bracelet actually display a different piece still on view.

Experts believe the artifact may have been stolen to be sold, melted down, hidden in a private collection, or left somewhere...

What happens when nonhuman intelligence surpasses humans in writing stories, drafting laws or producing scriptures (new religion)? Historian Yuval Noah Harari warns that religions have long claimed divine origins for sacred texts, and with AI now capable of mass-generating political and spiritual writings, this may soon become a reality.

Faith in AI

This concern was highlighted on Wednesday at the 8th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana, where scholars and clerics debated the potential risks of artificial intelligence in matters of faith.

During the congress, some theologians claimed that people may increasingly turn...

Social media is abuzz over Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio. The actor has lost weight, grown out his hair and swapped his usual sporty style for a sharp, classic look.  

DiCaprio has once again been hailed as Hollywood’s sex symbol. Videos of the actor, who arrived in Los Angeles for the premiere of «One Battle After Another» in a minimalist black suit, are going viral on TikTok.

@varietymagazine #LeonardoDicaprio ♬ som original – diesper

A court in Atyrau has sentenced a 38-year-old man to life in prison for the killing of Bibigul Shpanova, a senior manager at the North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC), which develops Kashagan, Kazakhstan’s largest oil field located on the Caspian shelf.

What happened
On April 29, 2025, Shpanova, 46, was killed in her apartment at the French Quarter residential complex in Atyrau. She was the head of development planning department at NCOC and had worked in the oil and gas sector for over 20 years. The suspect, a plumber who serviced her building, was arrested soon after the...

The Israeli Film Academy’s Ophir Awards are under government scrutiny after the Arabic-language drama «The Sea» won Best Film and was chosen to represent Israel at the Oscars. Directed by Shai Carmeli Pollak and produced by Baher Agbariya, the film tells the story of a Palestinian boy from the West Bank who risks everything to reach the beach in Tel Aviv. The Sea also won awards for its screenplay, acting and original score, according to Variety.

Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar condemned the decision, calling the film «defamatory» toward Israeli soldiers and announcing plans to cut government funding...

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the country’s internet regulator, has restricted China’s largest technology companies, including ByteDance and Alibaba, from purchasing Nvidia’s AI chips, amid the nation’s efforts to strengthen its domestic industry and reduce reliance on U.S. technology, the Financial Times reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.

According to the report, the ban applies to ordering and testing the RTX Pro 6000D, a China-targeted graphics processing unit. Sources also told FT that several companies had already begun testing the equipment with Nvidia’s suppliers, but after receiving the CAC instruction, they asked the suppliers to halt...

Rivian has begun clearing and grading land for its $5 billion factory near Atlanta, Georgia. This significant step follows several previous delays. The new plant will eventually assemble up to 400,000 electric vehicles annually, according to TechCrunch.

Rivian hosted a groundbreaking ceremony with CEO RJ Scaringe and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Construction crews are installing utilities and building access roads. Major construction is scheduled to commence in early 2026, with vehicle assembly expected to begin in 2028.

Rivian states that the plant will create 7,500 permanent jobs and 2,000 construction roles, with local suppliers potentially adding 8,000 positions. To...

Pakistan-based Welt Konnect aims to establish a digital bank in Kazakhstan and participate in renewable energy and infrastructure projects, as revealed following a meeting between company executives and Kazakh Invest, the country’s investment promotion agency.

The company also signaled interest in tourism, real estate, construction, and educational programs.

Welt Konnect, headquartered in Islamabad, specializes in engineering and development. It has completed and ongoing projects in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Germany and China, with a focus on sustainable development and energy innovation.

South Korean vehicle manufacturer Kia launched sales in Kazakhstan of the limited Tulpar Sorento and K5 edition, inspired by the mythical winged horse in Turkic mythology that symbolizes speed, freedom and justice in the Kazakh literary tradition. According to the brand’s website, the models are equipped with unique design solutions, premium options, and contemporary technology. Kia representatives highlighted that the series combines Kazakh culture and traditions with car design.

Kia Sorento Tulpar

The limited Sorento is based on a popular trim level and comes with a number of exclusive features. The interior includes a suede headliner, dynamic...

As India celebrates Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday today, curiosity grows about his wealth and background.

Born on Sept. 17, 1950, in Vadnagar in the western Indian state of Gujarat, Modi rose from humble beginnings to become India’s prime minister for three consecutive terms. His journey is often portrayed as one of determination, discipline and strong ambition.

In the Indian political system, the prime minister leads the government. To serve, one must be appointed by the president and be a member of either house of Parliament.

Modi’s monthly salary is ₹1.66 lakh, equivalent to approximately...

The Weeknd will not hold a concert in Almaty, organizers announced, relocating the event to another country amid frequent cancellations of artists in Kazakhstan.

Alexey Puchkov, producer and head of the ticket operator Topbilet.kz, confirmed that the performer will not be coming.

«Kazakhstan, I have not very good news for you. Not long ago, with much ado, we reached an agreement with The Weeknd about holding a concert in Almaty,» Puchkov wrote on Threads.

According to him, the artist had allegedly confirmed a concert in Kazakhstan for 2026.

«We have been...

Australia is set to ban teenagers from social media to protect mental health. Meanwhile, the Taliban in Afghanistan has cut off fiber-optic internet in a province to “prevent immorality,” according to the Associated Press.

The ban, the first of its kind since the Taliban seized power in August 2021, leaves government agencies, businesses, public organizations and households in the northern province of Balkh without Wi-Fi access.

A provincial government spokesperson said the measure aims to curb immorality, adding that authorities plan to develop a domestic alternative for essential needs. He did not specify why Balkh was targeted or...

Tyler Robinson, accused of killing right-wing activist Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10, appeared in court on Sept. 16 via video link from jail. The office of Utah County District Attorney Jeffrey Gray charged Robinson with seven offenses, including aggravated murder, obstruction of justice for disposing of evidence and witness tampering for asking his roommate to delete incriminating texts. Prosecutors have pledged to pursue the death penalty, Reuters reported.

According to court filings, Robinson sent a message to his roommate, who is not identified in the documents, instructing them to look under the keyboard. There, the roommate reportedly found a...

Technology professional Akhmad Hanan is asking a critical question: Can China with its DeepSeek model bypass restrictions by innovating in software while building its own chip ecosystem?

The country’s pioneering company in AI systems appears determined to prove it can. In late August, DeepSeek released version 3.1 of its large language model, featuring a new FP8 precision format optimized for China’s next-generation domestically produced chips.

Pushing forward under sanctions

Earlier this year, DeepSeek stunned the tech world with its R1 reasoning model, which demonstrated capabilities approaching those of Western leaders, such as OpenAI’s GPT series — a...

Robert Redford, the Oscar-winning director, actor and founder of the Sundance Institute, has died at 89, according to Reuters.

Redford became one of the most popular film stars of the late 20th century. He starred in romantic films like «Out of Africa,» political dramas such as «The Candidate» and classics including «Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid» and «The Sting.» His work helped define an era of American cinema.

While he never won an Academy Award for acting, his directorial debut, «Ordinary People» (1980), earned him Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture. Beyond the screen, Redford reshaped...

Ford is set to slash up to 1,000 jobs at the company’s Electric Vehicle Center in Cologne, Germany. The move comes as a retaliatory measure to Europe’s demand for EVs being lower than anticipated, according to Investing.com.

Ford established the Cologne facility in 2023, when the company expected EVs to account for around 35% of the region’s new car registrations. However, by the end of this year, only 20% of new car registrations are expected to be electric. The single-shift operation at the facility is scheduled for January 2026.

The challenges at the facility reflect broader concerns in the...

Gwyneth Paltrow has introduced a new fashion label called Gwyn, which was unveiled during New York Fashion Week. The actress and Goop founder said the line reflects her personal style and focus on minimalism and elegance.

Vogue reports that Gwyn builds on Paltrow’s earlier venture, G. Label. She began it nine years ago with just four pieces before evolving it into a standalone brand. For the debut capsule, she partnered with designer Sofia Menasse, who previously worked at The Row and Maison Margiela. Menasse now holds the title of creative director at G. Label.

The inaugural fall...