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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...

In 2023, several valuable items — including a personalized Rolex associated with the “John Wick” films — were stolen from Hollywood star Keanu Reeves. Now, he has them back. The watch and other valuables unexpectedly surfaced in Chile and were handed over to the FBI, which returned them to the actor.

The FBI confirmed that Reeves had received the stolen items and even published part of his handwritten thank-you letter. Keanu, true to his reputation, was extremely polite:

«Thank you so much for all your effort, dedication, professionalism and cross-border cooperation. My warmest regards...

Germany has launched a campaign to preserve plug-in hybrid vehicles, a type of car that combines an internal combustion engine with an electric motor, as they continue to attract buyers across Europe. Although these cars can operate emissions-free over short distances, most owners rarely charge their batteries and instead rely heavily on gasoline or diesel.

A study by the environmental group Transport & Environment, which analyzed 127,000 plug-in hybrids, found that their CO₂ emissions are nearly five times higher than what manufacturers report under the WLTP testing cycle.

The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) has...

The star of the iconic South Korean series «Squid Game,» Anupam Tripathi, who portrayed one of the most memorable characters of the first season, has unexpectedly arrived in Almaty.

Tripathi played the role of Player No. 199 in the first season of the show. He posted a selfie outside the Kazakh-British Technical University (KBTU) and shared Stories showing the city streets. The South Korea-based Indian actor wrote in the caption: «Now in beautiful city Almaty, Kazakhstan.»

Social media immediately went abuzz, with users amused and joking that it has now become common to encounter famous actors in Almaty. Comment sections...

Kazakhstan’s external debt reached a record high of $172.8 billion at the end of June, according to analysts at Halyk Finance. While private companies hold about 71% of that debt, the latest increase is largely driven by the public and quasi-public sectors.

Debt ratio and stability factors

The country’s external debt-to-GDP ratio rose to 59.2%, up from 56.6% earlier in 2024. Analysts note that Kazakhstan’s sizable international reserves and the assets held in its National Fund continue to support overall external stability.

Structure of the debt

Direct investment recorded as intercompany debt remains a major contributor, making up...