News

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has revealed the reason behind his icy swim in Lake Kolsai, located in southeastern Kazakhstan, during his journey around the country’s landmarks.

The businessman posted a video in his Stories on his Russian-language Telegram channel, where he is seen walking into the water to remove a piece of garbage.

«Spotted and removed an iron rod from the bottom of a mountain lake in Kazakhstan,» the caption read.

Interestingly, a similar video appeared on the internet earlier, and it is likely AI-generated. Probably, Durov decided to joke with Kazakhstanis who had been...

China has imposed new restrictions on exports of rare earth elements. These materials are key to advanced technologies. The move expands China’s control over a supply chain vital to global manufacturing, as the country produces about 61% of the world’s rare earth supply and handles over 90% of the industry’s processing, according to the BBC.

China’s Commerce Ministry announced new rules requiring foreign companies to obtain government approval for exporting products with rare earths. Companies must also disclose the intended use of these materials. Beijing stated the measures are meant to protect national security. Chinese companies now...

The value of Kazakhstan’s net international reserves reached $55.5 billion at the end of September 2025, according to data released by the National Bank. Soaring gold prices played a major role in the increase.

The reserves increased by $3.3 billion (6.3%) month-on-month. Since the start of the year, they have grown by nearly $12 billion, representing a 27.4% increase.

Kazakhstan’s international reserves comprise assets held in freely convertible currencies (FCC) and monetary gold. Assets in FCC fell 8.4% in September, or about $1.6 billion, to $18 billion, marking an 18.2% decline since January.

In contrast, the value of...

Realme has unveiled a new limited edition of the Realme 15 Pro 5G, inspired by “Game of Thrones.” This device is dedicated to House Targaryen from the franchise’s universe. Its design follows the “Fire & Blood” style, featuring the effect of fiery dragon breath.

The smartphone case combines black and gold and is decorated with the Targaryen sigil — a three-headed dragon. The main feature of the device is its heat-sensitive back: when the temperature exceeds 44°C, the cover changes color from black to red.

Specifications

The “Game of Thrones” theme extends to the smartphone’s UI, offering...

Utility workers in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, have begun spreading poison to kill rats near residential areas and public spaces, prompting concern about visible red granules in easily accessible locations.

Residents are concerned that stray animals, birds, and children could be exposed to the poison, which has also been found in parks that serve as habitats for Almaty’s symbolic squirrels.

The Almaty mayor’s office insists that the poison poses no risk to people or most animals, noting that it contains bitter-tasting bromadiolone to deter non-target species and requires multiple granules for effective poisoning.

City officials...

New York City has filed a lawsuit against major social media companies, including the parent firms of Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube and Google. The city accuses these companies of contributing to a mental health crisis among young people, as reported by Euronews.

The 327-page complaint, filed in Manhattan federal court, claims the platforms intentionally designed addictive features such as endless content feeds and constant notifications, despite knowing their harmful effects on children and teenagers. The city alleges the companies prioritized profit over user well-being and ignored research linking excessive social media use to anxiety, depression and low self-esteem.

A woman in her 60s died after a medical emergency on Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion Holiday ride, according to the United Press International.

After the woman became unresponsive on the ride, Disneyland security started CPR and emergency crews transported her to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Authorities stated that the ride had no operational issues and reopened shortly after the incident. The woman’s name and cause of death have not been made public.

The Haunted Mansion, in New Orleans Square, debuted in 1969. Its seasonal “Holiday” version, inspired by “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” is currently...

Japan’s university admissions process includes an element that often surprises outsiders — the practice of charging «multiple enrollment fees,» a recent report on Eastasiaforum.org highlighted. At many private institutions, students who receive an acceptance offer must pay a nonrefundable enrollment fee, typically ranging from $1,360 to $2,040. This payment is separate from tuition and serves as a deposit to hold a place in the incoming class.

Financial strain on families

Ryo Konishi, a research fellow at the Graduate School of Regional Innovation Studies at Mie University, notes that roughly 75% of Japan’s college students attend private universities...

Indian authorities arrested the owner of Chennai-based Sresan Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, whose cough syrup is linked to at least 17 child deaths in Madhya Pradesh, according to Reuters.

The children, all under the age of five, reportedly died after taking «Coldrif,» a cough syrup later confirmed by lab tests to contain toxic levels of diethylene glycol, nearly 500 times above the legal limit. Following the test results, authorities banned the product in several regions.

After earlier incidents in Gambia, Uzbekistan and Cameroon linked Indian syrups to child deaths, additional export testing requirements were introduced in 2023. Indian law already...

The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced two preseason games between the Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns in Macau, marking the league debut in the world’s largest gaming hub and its return to China, Reuters reported.

The matches are scheduled for Oct. 10 and Oct. 12 at the Venetian Arena under a five-year contract with Sands China, the Macau subsidiary of Las Vegas Sands, following the NBA’s absence since 2019 due to controversy over the Hong Kong protests, when then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey supported pro-democracy demonstrations on social media.

The NBA also announced a five-day, free-to-enter...

Jade Henderson, a 32-year-old bodybuilder from Australia, broke the Guinness World Record by doing 733 pull-ups in one hour. She beat the previous record of 725, which Eva Clarke set in 2016, according to the United Press International.

During her record attempt, Henderson averaged over 12 pull-ups each minute. She explained that the challenge of testing her physical and mental strength inspired her.

Initially, Henderson wanted to try for the 24-hour pull-up record. During training, she sustained a bicep injury, which led her to focus on recovery. To avoid further harm, she decided to attempt the one-hour record...

The mountains around Almaty in Kazakhstan have seen the installation of the country’s first ascent counter.

The automated ascent counter was installed on the summit of Big Almaty Peak at an altitude of 3,680 meters. Its purpose is to collect data on tourism activity by tracking how many people climb the popular peaks.

According to city authorities, the weather-resistant device operates automatically and does not require human involvement, recording every ascent. The data collected by the counter will be used to analyze the load on routes and to improve navigation and safety.

«The tourism department...

The U.S. State Department has dismissed an American diplomat for a romantic relationship with a Chinese woman suspected of ties to the Chinese Communist Party.

This is reportedly the first dismissal under a new regulation, which took effect in late 2024 during the final months of President Joe Biden’s administration, and prohibits such relationships.

According to an earlier report by the Associated Press, the policy — implemented in late 2024 — bans all U.S. government employees stationed in China, along with their family members and contractors with security clearances, from engaging in romantic or sexual relationships with...

Physicians at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University in China reported a groundbreaking procedure. They transplanted a genetically engineered pig liver into a 71-year-old male patient. According to CNN, the man survived for 171 days after the operation. For 38 of those days, the pig organ functioned inside his body.

In May 2024, doctors removed a liver tumor and then attached a modified liver from an 11-month-old cloned pig to the remaining part of the patient’s own liver. The patient, who had been suffering from cirrhosis and cancer, received the donor pig liver, which had undergone...

The historic spaceflight of Kazakhstani entrepreneur Danna Karagussova, who participated as a space tourist aboard the New Shepard suborbital launch vehicle operated by Blue Origin, the company founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, was successfully completed. Her son, Aituar Alibekov, reported Karagussova’s safe return to Earth on Threads.

«She’s back. The first space tourist from Kazakhstan and the CIS. Love you, Mom, and so proud,» he wrote.

Ahead of the flight, Alibekov shared that the crew, inspired by the presentation of Kazakhstan, decided to nickname themselves the Space Nomads.

According to SciNews, the...

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi for the development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), noting that they have developed a new form of molecular architecture.

The unique materials discovered by the scientists are capable of addressing challenges important to all humankind. Thanks to the porous structure of MOFs, they can be used to extract water from desert air, capture carbon dioxide, store toxic gases and catalyze chemical reactions or conduct electricity.

Robson began the pioneering research in 1989, designing molecular frameworks with numerous cavities...

To understand queer life in the Middle East, American journalist and writer Gaar Adams argues that the deeper truths aren’t found in obvious headlines, but in subtle patterns of censorship, silence and omission in local media.

In his new book, «Guest Privileges: Queer Lives and Finding Home in the Middle East,» Adams recalls his surprise upon learning that Scissor Sisters, the flamboyant New York glam-pop band known for its unapologetically queer identity, was scheduled to perform in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The idea seemed nearly impossible. A concert by an openly queer band in a country...

Domino’s Pizza is launching its first major brand refresh in over a decade, introducing a new logo, packaging, uniforms and an official jingle, according to CNN.

The update introduces brighter red and blue tones, redesigns store signage and modernizes pizza boxes tailored for social media «unboxing» moments. The company is also updating employee uniforms and menu boards to reflect the bolder design. Domino’s will roll out the first refreshed packaging this week and expects full implementation by the end of November.

For the first time in its 65-year history, Domino’s is adding a musical identity. The new jingle...

Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo has officially become the first footballer to reach billionaire status, according to Bloomberg. The latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index estimates his net worth at $1.4 billion, which includes sponsorship deals, club wages and commercial income.

The bulk of his wealth comes from club earnings. His transfer to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr in 2023 brought him around $200 million in tax-free salary and bonuses, along with additional benefits such as a $30 million signing bonus, according to the agency’s calculations. In the summer of 2025, Ronaldo signed a new two-year contract with Al-Nassr worth more than...

Mexico City is preparing for grand concerts by Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen, scheduled for Oct. 8 and Oct. 10. According to posts on social media, tickets sold out just 10 minutes after sales opened. Fans compared the frenzy to that seen during Jennifer Lopez’s concerts in Kazakhstan.

On Oct. 8, the singer will make his debut at the Auditorio Nacional with a solo concert as part of his Stranger tour, and on Oct. 10, Qudaibergen will perform at the Palacio de los Deportes. The first venue accommodates 10,000 visitors, while the second holds 25,000.

Fans note that Latin America is...

Tesla has rolled out long-anticipated, lower-priced versions of its two flagship vehicles — the Model 3 Standard and Model Y Standard — following the recent expiration of the $7,500 federal tax credit for most of its U.S. buyers, according to CNN.

The Model 3 Standard now starts at $38,630, and the Model Y Standard starts at $41,630, including fees. The company already announced that orders will be delivered from November to January, expecting a spike in interest from consumers.

Design-wise, new models are almost identical to their larger counterparts, although consumers should be prepared to see cloth interiors, a...

The Air Astana board of directors announced on Oct. 8 that the company’s CEO, Peter Foster, will step down from his role and leave the board at the end of March 2026. Chief Financial Officer Ibrahim Canliel will assume the position of CEO.

Foster, who has led the airline for 20 years, will continue his cooperation with Air Astana as a senior advisor to the board of directors.

Board Chairman Nurlan Zhakupov expressed the board’s gratitude for Foster’s two decades of leadership and his contribution to the airline’s development — from its formative years to its emergence as a...

On Oct. 1, pioneering primatologist Jane Goodall passed away at the age of 91. Her discoveries forever changed how we understand both chimpanzees and our own place in the natural world.

As literary critic Alexander Gavrilov wrote to Novaya Gazeta, Goodall broke down barriers — between species, between humans and chimpanzees, and between the observer and the observed.

Before Goodall, most scientists studied animals from a distance — often in zoos, removed from their natural habitats. Goodall did the opposite: she went into the forests of Tanzania to live among the chimpanzees themselves.

Breaking the human–animal divide

The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge in Guizhou Province, China, is the world’s highest bridge, with its deck rising 625 meters. In addition to its impressive height, the bridge spans nearly 3 kilometers, with a main span of 1,420 meters, according to the Guardian.

The bridge links the Liuzhi Special District and Anlong County via the Guizhou S57 highway, shortening travel time across the canyon from two hours to just two minutes. Since its public opening on Sept. 28, it has quickly become an engineering marvel and a popular tourist spot.

«The view is...