News

Over the past three months, residents of Kazakhstan purchased nearly half a ton of gold — 9,110 minted bars weighing a total of 409 kilograms — according to the National Bank. Ten-gram bars remain the most popular.

Almaty accounted for the largest share of purchases, with 5,874 bars, or 71% of total sales. Astana ranked second with 600 bars (7 %), followed by the Karaganda region with 460 bars (6%).

Small bars, weighing 5, 10, and 100 grams, were in the highest demand, accounting for nearly 70% of all purchases.

Notably, value-added tax is not levied on...

A 66-year-old woman in Atyrau’s Privokzalny neighborhood distributed religious leaflets warning of an impending apocalypse.

Ancient prophecies

According to the Halyqstan Telegram channel, the woman posted bright pink flyers on apartment doors. The flyers, printed in pre-reform Russian Cyrillic and resembling «ancient prophecies,» warned of an impending apocalypse and called for people to join God, regardless of their current faith.

One inscription read:

«The last recruitment of people to God from all satanic faiths and peoples.»

The pensioner told police she acted «on the call of her heart» and was not affiliated...

According to Madiyar Sultanbek, deputy chairman of Kazakh Invest, China will soon rise from fourth to third place in terms of the amount of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Kazakhstan. He hasn’t ruled out that China may eventually become the largest foreign investor in the country.

«The People’s Republic of China is already among the top four largest investment partners [of Kazakhstan]. As statistics show, since 2005, we have attracted more than $30 billion from them, and this trend is only increasing. We think that the PRC will soon enter the top three or, perhaps, the...

The opening round of group-stage matches at the Nitto ATP Finals has concluded. Kazakhstani player Alexander Bublik is present at the tournament in Turin as the first alternate.

Bublik, currently world No. 11, will join the competition if any of the players withdraw from the tournament. The likelihood of this happening is not negligible, given the injuries and fatigue that often accumulate by the end of the season. For example, during the same women’s tournament — won by Kazakhstani Elena Rybakina — Russian player Ekaterina Alexandrova replaced Madison Keys from the U.S.

The U.S. Senate passed a short-term funding bill to end the country’s longest shutdown, the BBC reported.

The bill passed late Monday with a 60 to 40 vote. All Republicans, except for Senator Rand Paul, supported it, along with eight Democrats. The bill provides short-term funding for the government, allowing essential services to continue through Jan. 30 and giving full-year funding to the Department of Agriculture, military construction and legislative agencies. It also ensures federal employees will get back pay for missed work and allows the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to continue making...

Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed creating a global organization to oversee and govern artificial intelligence (AI).

Xi made the announcement on Nov. 1 at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju, South Korea.

According to Xi, the proposed body — which he called the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization — could establish rules for AI governance, promote international cooperation, and help turn the technology into a public good for the global community.

Notably, Reuters reported that China made a similar proposal earlier this year, but the U.S. rejected the idea of international AI regulation.

Technological and energy...

A video has gone viral showing Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum being harassed by an unidentified man while walking in central Mexico City. The incident occurred on Nov. 4 as Sheinbaum was returning from an event at the Ministry of Public Education, located near the country’s main square, the Zócalo.

According to local media reports, the man, who appeared to be intoxicated, approached Sheinbaum, attempted to kiss her and hugged her from behind. The president initially smiled awkwardly before moving away. One of her security guards then stepped between them, though many observers noted that a quicker response could...

India’s fast-growing digital economy is fueling a rapid increase in data center construction, but this boom poses serious challenges: rising water consumption, soaring energy demand and threats to long-term sustainability, BBC reported.

Driven by global demand for AI and cloud computing, India has become a major growth market for data infrastructure. Analysts expect the country’s data center capacity to increase by more than 75% by 2027, as global and domestic companies invest heavily. For example, Google recently announced plans for a $15 billion AI data center in Andhra Pradesh.

However, this progress comes at...

Young Kazakhstani developers have created an app for learning languages and are looking forward to outranking Duolingo.

According to them, just a few days after its launch, their Aleem app reached the top three in the App Store, surpassing Quizlet, Kahoot, Photomath and Platonus.

The developers claim they built everything from scratch, without any investments, devoting «thousands of hours» of their personal time.

The app offers not only standard vocabulary and expression practice but also speaking and writing exercises, as well as personalized lessons.

Separately, in late August, Google announced new features...

China has introduced the K-visa, a new type of visa aimed at attracting top foreign professionals in science and technology, signaling Beijing’s determination to strengthen its leadership in fields such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors and robotics, Euronews reported.

Officials announced the new visa last month, offering simpler application requirements than existing options such as the R-visa for skilled workers. Applicants will be able to apply without a confirmed job offer in place.

This change follows the U.S. tightening of immigration rules under President Donald Trump and the raising of H-1B visa fees, which have led some...

California-based 1X Technologies has opened preorders for its robot assistant, Neo. The company says Neo will help consumers achieve a chore-free future.

A humanoid robot

Developers claim that Neo can perform routine household tasks, such as folding laundry, placing items on shelves, and cleaning rooms. The robot can be controlled by voice commands or an app, which lets users create to-do lists.

Neo stands about 170 centimeters tall and weighs just under 30 kilograms. It can operate for up to four hours on a single charge. Powered by built-in Redwood AI, Neo recognizes its owners’ faces, follows conversations...

This Monday, President Donald Trump welcomed Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to the White House, marking the first official visit by a Syrian head of state to the U.S. since Syria gained independence from France in 1946, according to the Associated Press.

White House officials said the visit is part of Trump’s broader efforts to promote peace and stability in the Middle East, as the two leaders are expected to discuss Syria’s role in the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State and possible future cooperation on security and reconstruction in the region.

The visit became possible after the United...

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara reprimanded Minister for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs Hitoshi Kikawada over comments he made about the Northern Territories (southern Kuril Islands), Yahoo Japan reported.

On Nov. 8, Kikawada visited Cape Nosappu in Nemuro, Hokkaido, where the Northern Territories are visible. When reporters asked for his impressions, the minister said,

«They are the very edge of Japan, or maybe it’s rude to say the edge, but they are in the east. The same goes for the south, but they are the closest to foreign countries, so I...

Manchester City winger Jérémy Doku stood out by scoring a goal against Liverpool in the Nov. 9 English Premier League match. On Nov. 15, the Belgian footballer will play for the national team against Kazakhstan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

English Premier League

Matchweek 11, Nov. 9

Manchester City vs. Liverpool: 3-0

Goals: Erling Haaland 29’, Nico González 45+3’, Jérémy Doku 63’

Norwegian forward Erling Haaland opened the scoring with a header. By the end of the first half, Spanish midfielder Nico González doubled Manchester City’s lead. In the...

China has permitted Nexperia, a semiconductor company based in the Netherlands and owned by Chinese firm Wingtech, to export certain chips. This decision was made to address concerns among European carmakers about potential production delays, as reported by the BBC.

In October, the Dutch government temporarily took over Nexperia to safeguard Europe’s chip supply and address governance concerns. This move led China to block exports of Nexperia’s finished chips. Now, China has agreed to simplify export procedures and remove licensing requirements for Nexperia products intended for civilian use, according to EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič. He...

A story reminiscent of the film «Hachi: A Dog’s Tale» unfolded in Pavlodar, eastern Kazakhstan. For several years, a dog named Tyson waited for his owner, Ivan, outside the gates of Correctional Facility No. 45, where Ivan was serving a long sentence for theft.

After waiting anxiously, when the doors finally opened, Tyson bolted toward his owner, tail wagging with joy. Overcome with emotion after the long separation, Ivan burst into tears and hugged his loyal dog tightly.

During his years in prison, Ivan reflected on many things. In particular, memories of Tyson kept him from giving...

Kazakhstani professional Counter-Strike 2 player Danil «molodoy» Golubenko led his Brazil-based team FURIA to victory at the IEM Chengdu 2025 tournament.

The tournament was held in Chengdu, China, with 16 teams participating. FURIA played against Team Vitality in the final.

In an intense series of three matches, the Brazilian team won 3-0, claiming the tournament’s main trophy. The prize pool was $1 million, with the winners...

BBC Director General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness resigned after criticism that a «Panorama» documentary misrepresented U.S. President Donald Trump’s January 6, 2021 speech by editing separate segments together. The edits allegedly made Trump appear to encourage the Capitol riot, according to the BBC.

The White House criticized the edit, while Trump described the resignations as the result of «top people in the BBC being caught ‘doctoring’ his perfect speech of January 6th,» demonstrating their bias.

It is worth noting that the simultaneous resignation of two top executives is rare for the BBC...

Most of us probably have a doppelganger somewhere in the world — and the U.S. president is no exception.

A video of a female Trump look-alike living in Russia has gone viral online in early November.

A woman bearing a striking resemblance to Donald Trump was spotted at a bus stop in Perm, a city in the Ural Mountains. Local resident Yevgeny Sazhin posted the video on Instagram.

The clip opens with the caption:

«The chance of meeting Donald Trump in Perm is very small, but never zero.» 

The man behind the camera approaches the...

On Nov. 7, Robert De Niro visited the Vatican and met with Pope Leo XIV for a brief exchange in the Sala del Tronetto of the Apostolic Palace. The pope presented a gift to the guest — devotional and traditional, rather than something tailored for a celebrity visitor.

Warm greeting

Footage released by the Vatican press office shows the pontiff and the Oscar-winning actor, who share Italian roots, warmly greeting each other.

«Good morning! It’s a pleasure to meet you,» the pope said.
«For me as well,» De Niro replied.

Kazakh superstar singer Dimash Qudaibergen held his first-ever solo concert in Spain on Nov. 8. While Qudaibergen performed his original song «The Story of One Sky,» fans staged a touching act called «Elegimos la Vida» (Spanish: «We Are Choosing Life»).

According to DimashNews, the creative event was organized by Qudaibergen’s fan club in Spain.

«We bought many, many white gloves — white, because white is the color of peace. We asked the audience to wear the gloves and raise their hands when Dimash performed ‘The Story of One...

Kazakhstan and Nvidia plan to establish a $2 billion sovereign artificial intelligence (AI) center with a capacity of 100 megawatts. The arrangement was inked on Nov. 7 between Timur Turlov’s Freedom Holding Corp., Nvidia and Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development in Washington, D.C.

Freedom Holding Corp. CEO Timur Turlov has shared his vision of why Kazakhstan is solid ground for implementing innovations in Central Asia.

«We are delighted to be part of this revolutionary initiative aimed at strengthening Kazakhstan’s stance in the global artificial intelligence landscape. By combining our experience with NVIDIA’s cutting-edge...

Katy Perry has released «Bandaids,» her first single since splitting with Orlando Bloom. Dropped Nov. 6, the track marks her musical comeback and a candid reflection on their breakup.

The music video marks a new era for Perry, featuring a symbolic portrayal of misfortune. At one point, she drops her engagement ring down the sink and injures her hand retrieving it. In the end, as a train approaches, she spots a daisy — a reference to her daughter with Bloom.

In the lyrics, Perry reflects on trying to save the relationship:

«It’s not what you...

Tokyo police have arrested the president of a web-based PR company on allegations that he stole high-value Pokémon trading cards from a store he had visited for business, NHK World reported.

Investigators say Tatsuki Haneda made off with nine cards worth roughly $52,000 from a trading card shop in Tokyo’s Nakano Ward in August. He had gone to the store to photograph its products and was given a key card to access a storage room containing the cards. After completing his work, he reportedly told staff he had forgotten something and used the key again to...