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An unusual advertising campaign is underway in Barcelona ahead of the upcoming concert by Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen. The city’s streets now feature buses displaying Qudaibergen’s portrait and a poster for the event.

According to Dimashnews.com, the concert is scheduled for Nov. 8 at the Olimpic Arena Badalona. The ads are placed on the B24 and B25 buses — among the busiest routes in Barcelona. One bus runs directly past the concert venue, and the other passes the popular Magic shopping center.

As a result, thousands of residents and tourists see the bright banners featuring the Kazakh performer’s portrait.

Chinese toy company Pop Mart saw sales soar after launching mini Labubu dolls in August.

Driven by strong international performance, the company’s global revenue rose about 250% year-on-year in the third quarter. In the U.S., sales soared more than 1,200%, while European revenue surged by over 700%, according to the BBC.

These figures extend Pop Mart’s recent streak of strong results. On Wednesday, its shares rose 5.5% in Hong Kong, bringing the company’s valuation to around $45.5 billion (£34 billion).

Pop Mart is known for its «blind box» marketing strategy, in which buyers do not know which...

Tchaikovsky’s «The Nutcracker» is synonymous with Christmas, its music and story woven into holiday culture. Composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky died a year after completing the score, never seeing the ballet’s rise to fame, as The Irish Times (IT) noted in a recent tribute to the timeless classic.

«The Nutcracker» premiered in Moscow in 1892 with the Bolshoi Ballet. It was Tchaikovsky’s final ballet after «Sleeping Beauty» and «Swan Lake.» Over time, it became a global phenomenon, with major ballet companies performing it each winter.

From Clara’s dream to a timeless fantasy

Inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann’s story, the ballet...

A recent report on climate change reveals that global coal use surged to a record high in 2024, signaling that the world is falling off track to meet the international commitment to limit global heating to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels, the Guardian reported, citing the State of Climate Action report.

According to the study, overall electricity demand rose so quickly that renewable energy capacity could not keep pace, forcing increased coal use.

«We’re doing many of the right things, just not fast enough,» said Clea Schumer, a research associate at the World Resources Institute...

Kairat Almaty drew 0-0 with Cypriot Pafos FC on Oct. 21 in the UEFA Champions League Matchday Three at Central Stadium in Almaty. The visitors had been playing short-handed since the fourth minute.

Champions League 2025-2026

Matchday 3. Oct. 21

Kairat (Almaty, Kazakhstan) vs. Pafos (Cyprus): 0-0

Sent off: João Correia (Pafos, 4’)

Kairat’s starting lineup underwent only minor changes compared to the matches against Lisbon’s Sporting and Real Madrid. Temirlan Anarbekov replaced Sherkhan Kalmurza in goal, while Dan Glazer came on for Damir Kassabulat. Glazer partnered Ofri Arad as a...

A man from California has agreed to plead guilty to operating as an unregistered agent for the Chinese government in Southern California while serving as a campaign advisor to a local political figure, according to a report by The Asahi Shimbun.

Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles have declined to discuss the pending plea agreement with Yaoning «Mike» Sun, a Chinese national who is legally residing in the U.S.

As outlined in the plea agreement, Sun admitted that between 2022 and 2024, he acted on behalf of the People’s Republic of China without informing the...

Myanmar’s military has detained more than 2,000 people following a raid on the KK Park compound, a well-known online scam center near the Thai border, the Guardian reported, citing local state-run media sources.

The operation, launched in early September, targeted online fraud, illegal gambling and cross-border cybercrime activities. KK Park, located on the outskirts of Myawaddy in Kayin State, has been repeatedly linked to cyberfraud operations that traffic foreign workers and force them into online scams.

Myanmar has been embroiled in a civil war since the military coup in 2021, marked by fierce battles with the Karen National...

On Oct. 20, Toyota Motor conducted a test demonstration of an AI-powered driver-assistance system designed to enhance traffic safety. The system has been developed in cooperation with Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (NTT), Japan’s telecommunications giant, which is providing support for developing the necessary communication infrastructure, NHK World reported.

The demonstration took place at a research facility in central Japan, where a car entered a highway as the system analyzed the locations and speeds of surrounding vehicles. Data collected from cameras and sensors installed on the road was processed by AI, which then sent instructions to the car’s onboard...

Unusual bus stops made from decommissioned fire trucks are increasingly appearing across Kazakhstan.

The first of these unique stops appeared in 2022 in Petropavlovsk, northern Kazakhstan, where the body of a GAZ-51 truck that once served with the local Emergency Department was used for its construction.

Converted bus stop in Kyzylorda

Following Petropavlovsk’s lead, later that year a similar stop was installed in Kyzylorda, in southern Kazakhstan.

Located on Salamatov Street next to Specialized Fire Station No. 1 and a monument honoring fallen firefighters, the stop’s placement was deliberate — the site has long served as a training...

In Central Asia, and Kazakhstan in particular, the demand for modern data centers is constantly growing. Digitalization is a priority for these countries and this market is estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars.

According to Arizton, an international provider of market research, the Central Asian data center market will grow from $65 million in 2022 to $179.7 million by 2028 or by 18.5% annually. However, the corresponding infrastructure is developing unevenly, creating local capacity shortages.

In 2023, commercial data centers in Kazakhstan had 3,463 server racks and 3,775 racks by the end of 2024, an approximate 9% increase year-on-year...

On Oct. 21, Central Stadium in Almaty will host the UEFA Champions Matchday Three between Kairat and Cypriot club Pafos. Kursiv LifeStyle shows how the buzz in social media comments has surpassed interest in the match itself.

The visitors arrived in Almaty in the early hours of Oct. 21. The team posted a video from the airport on its official Instagram account with the caption:

«Long trip, big smiles and a unique welcome in Almaty!»

For the first time, Timur Turlov’s Freedom Bank was ranked among Kazakhstani banks with a trust index above the sector average, according to independent economist Andrey Chebotarev, who presented the 2025 Bank Trust Index.

Chebotarev noted that average trust in the banking system increased from 3.06 to 3.11 points. Freedom Bank’s trust index notably rose from 2.53 to 3.19 points over three years, surpassing the average and allowing the bank’s entry into the «green zone,» the group of sector leaders.

«The entire banking system in Kazakhstan has been successfully building trust among Kazakhstanis for the...

Kazakhstan outpaces many developed countries in generosity, reports Ranking.kz. The Charities Aid Foundation notes that Kazakhstani residents donate an average of 1.2% of their income to charity. This achievement places the country 30th worldwide — ahead of the U.S., Japan and Russia.

This achievement is highlighted in the World Giving Report 2025, which ranks countries based on surveys conducted in 101 nations. The key metric is the percentage of income individuals donate. Notably, the report finds a consistent trend: the higher a person’s income, the smaller the share they typically give to charity.

The world’s most generous countries

On Oct. 21, South Korea’s carmaker Kia opened its second complete knock-down assembly plant in Kazakhstan’s Kostanay, aiming to strengthen its position in Central Asia, Yonhap reported.

The official ceremony of the plant opening was attended by Kia President Song Ho-sung, Kazakh First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar, senior government officials and partner company representatives. Furthermore, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev joined the event via teleconference.

The move marks an important step in developing the country’s automotive industry, stated the president, highlighting that the new plant will focus on boosting the share of local content in ready-to-use products.

Tokayev...

The Salary Leaks portal has released a ranking of the world’s highest-paid national football team coaches, with Carlo Ancelotti, head coach of Brazil, leading the list with an annual salary of $11 million.

Following his high-profile appointment, the Italian manager took charge of the five-time World Cup champions in May. His contract reportedly includes a $6 million bonus if Brazil wins the 2026 World Cup.

Rounding out the top three on the list are Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino. Tuchel, who signed a $6.7 million contract with England earlier this year, led his team to qualify for...

The European Union is weighing whether to classify ethanol, a key ingredient in many hand sanitizers, as a hazardous substance linked to cancer, according to a Reuters report citing the Financial Times.

Notably, an internal recommendation dated Oct. 10 from a working group within the European Chemicals Agency reportedly identified ethanol as a toxic chemical that could raise the risk of cancer and pregnancy complications. The group suggested that the substance be phased out from cleaning agents and similar products.

In contrast, the World Health Organization considers both ethanol and isopropanol, two commonly used antiseptics...

Kazakhstan is embarking on an ambitious project to launch a national Wi-Fi operator dedicated to providing secure, reliable internet access for all its citizens. According to Kairat Akhmetov, the head of Freedom Telecom Operations, the initiative will start in 10 cities

The company’s plan to create a national Wi-Fi operator was announced during a meeting with cabinet members. The company will deploy the new network at social and infrastructure facilities, making internet access points available at border crossing points, airports, train and bus stations, schools and medical facilities.

«The infrastructure we’ve been creating is gradually...

The Almaty city administration has announced the launch of direct flights from Almaty to Tokyo, Japan, in 2026.

Air Astana is set to establish a direct air connection between the cities in March 2026. The new route would will be the first regular flight linking Kazakhstan and Japan in recent years.

Experts believe this move will mark an important step in the development of tourism and business ties. Within the first year after the launch, up to 7,000 tourists from Japan are expected to visit Kazakhstan.

The Almaty tourism department emphasized that the planned Air Astana flight will open up...

The U.S. and Australia have signed a critical minerals partnership designed to reduce U.S. reliance on China and boost investments in the Australian mining sector, according to Reuters.

Under the agreement, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, each nation will invest $1 billion over the next six months in mining and processing projects. The deal establishes a minimum price floor for critical minerals and outlines an $8.5 billion investment pipeline for new developments over an unspecified timeline.

According to a joint statement, the initiative targets deposits valued at about $53 billion, though...

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has urged Kyrgyz authorities not to reintroduce the death penalty, saying such a move would violate international law.

In early October, Kyrgyz authorities proposed amending the Constitution to reinstate capital punishment. The presidential administration said the death penalty should apply to those who killed women and sexually assaulted children.

The proposal followed the September killing of 17-year-old Aisuluu, who was raped and strangled to death by a taxi driver after he picked her up for a trip to a neighboring village.

Türk stated that no justice system is perfect and...

The White House East Wing, part of the U.S. president’s official residence that housed the first lady’s offices, a theater and served as a visitors’ entrance, is undergoing demolition work. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Oct. 20 that the «ground has been broken» to build a ballroom, Reuters reported.

According to the news agency, the activity was observed on Oct. 20, when construction equipment was seen tearing down the East Wing’s façade. The project, estimated at up to $250 million, is reportedly funded by Trump himself and private contributors.

The East Wing was built in...

Kazakhstan is considering the possibility of its state-owned companies entering the world’s largest stock exchange — the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), as reported by Primeminister.kz following a delegation visit led by Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin to the exchange during the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank.

During the meeting, Kazakhstan’s representatives discussed the prospects of placing public securities and of having large state-owned companies enter the international market with NYSE management.

Will Goodwin, director of operations and the NYSE Institute, briefed the delegation on the exchange’s operations and areas of activity. He also...

The BBC has released a striking feature on Mangystau, one of Kazakhstan’s most mysterious and visually captivating regions. “The Alien Lands Once Hidden Beneath the Ocean” highlights the area’s stunning natural beauty and otherworldly landscapes.

Mangystau’s geological wonders

The video follows 27-year-old local guide Gaukhar Yessirkepova on a 700-kilometer journey through the vast Kazakh steppe. Along the route, she introduces viewers to Mangystau’s geological wonders. These include the layered slopes of Mount Bokty, the vividly striped Kyzylkup Canyon — nicknamed «tiramisu,» the surreal Ybyktysai Gorge, and the castle-like cliffs of Bozzhyra.

Producers describe Mangystau as a...

A unique escalator taking passengers up to the summit of scenic Lingshan Mountain in Jiangxi province, eastern China, has opened. According to MetroTV, its length spans an impressive 1,236 meters. The structure consists of 10 sections, each 50 meters long.

The new facility is part of an ambitious domestic tourism development initiative, which has made the route to the summit much easier. Travelers now need just 10 minutes to reach the peak, instead of the two-hour walk it once required.

Lingshan is famous for its natural beauty, with 72 peaks and 108 rock formations, and the height of the...