Almaty’s Medeu Skating Rink to close for two-year-long renovation
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Almaty’s Medeu Skating Rink will close its doors when two-year renovations begin in late March, ending the 2025 season, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports.
The world’s highest outdoor skating rink has been offering skating in evening hours starting from March 11 in the face of warmer weather, said the local authorities.
According to Almaty’s construction department, plans for the renovation were first announced following the signing of the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) contract in 2025. The total estimated cost is to be revealed after the state expert appraisal is completed. The renovation is expected to take two years from 2025 to 2027.
The renovations include building flights of stairs for hiking routes around the skating rink, improving the southern slope along the Pravyi Yessentay River as well as the adjacent territory. An alley and promenade along the western part of the rink will be added. The two entry and exit elevators on the southeastern and southwestern parts of the rink for low-mobile visitors are set to be installed.
The rink’s refrigeration system, cooling system, technological plate with complete replacement of pipes, engineering system, communications and electrical equipment to improve energy efficiency will be upgraded.
Renovations also eye shift to gas heat, space heating system upgrade and seat heating.
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Winter weather in Astana leads to flight delays
Air Astana announced Sunday rotational flight delays and changes in schedule due to worsening weather conditions in Astana, Qazinform News Agency reports.
Earlier, the airline informed of flight delays from Almaty, operated by Airbus A320neo aircraft, on the night of January 3 due to weather-related restrictions: freezing fog and visibility less than 150 meters.
The air company is taking all necessary measures to restore the schedule, including deploying FlyArystan reserve aircraft, the company said in a statement.
The airline also asked passengers to check the flight status on its website before leaving for the airport.
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The scientist warned about a set of magnetic storms in 2026
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Despite the decrease in the number of solar flares, a large number of magnetic storms are expected on Earth in 2026 due to the activity of coronal holes in the Sun. This was announced by the head of the Laboratory of Solar Astronomy at the Institute of Space Research (IKI). RAN Sergey Bogachev, iz.ru reports.
There are more magnetic storms amid the decline in solar activity. The main contribution to this was made by numerous coronal holes, the number of which increased dramatically (...) This factor is still present in the Sun, and in 2026 it will continue to act: there will be a lot of storms," he said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
Bogachev clarified that in 2025, three magnetic storms of the penultimate G4 strength level were recorded. For comparison, in 2024, there were four such storms and one storm of the maximum G5 level. He described the decrease in activity in 2025 as insignificant.
At the same time, the scientist noted that the number of days with magnetic storms in 2025 almost doubled compared to 2024 - from 40 to 73. He noted that the occurrence of strong storms is largely accidental: a powerful solar flare may not affect the Earth, while weaker events directed towards the planet can cause serious disturbances.
As an example, Bogachev recalled that the strongest outbreak of the 21st century on November 4, 2003 did not even lead to weak geomagnetic effects, whereas weaker outbreaks in May 2024 caused a G5 maximum level storm. According to him, strong and very strong magnetic storms are possible in 2026.
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New Year’s tie: Equal number of boys and girls born in Kazakhstan
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254 children were born in Kazakhstan's maternity hospitals during the New Year celebrations, Qazinform News Agency reports, citing the Ministry of Healthcare.
The births were split exactly down the middle: 127 boys and 127 girls. Twins were born in the Aktobe region.
The highest number of newborns, 29, was recorded in the Turkistan region. Shymkent had 24 births, followed by Astana with 22 and Almaty with 21.
It is noteworthy that 11 girls and 11 boys were born in Astana.
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Direct flight linking Kazakhstan’s Almaty and China’s Chengdu launched
Air China announced the launch of direct flights from Kazakhstan’s Almaty to Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, Qazinform News Agency reports.
The CA456 flight will be operated twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays by Airbus A320 aircraft.
The direct flight from Chengdu to Almaty takes around 3.5 hours in total, while the return flight lasts around 5 hours.
To date, Almaty is connected to 60 cities across the world via direct flights, with 13 new destinations added in 2025.
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Kazakhstan launches 35 new air routes in 2025
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Assistant to the President - Press Secretary of the President of Kazakhstan Ruslan Zheldibay highlighted the priorities of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in developing Kazakhstan’s transport and logistics infrastructure and key projects implemented throughout 2025, Qazinform News Agency reports.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev placed special emphasis on expanding the country’s transport potential and transforming Kazakhstan into a major logistics and transit hub in Eurasia.
In 2025, Kazakhstan repaired and built 13,000 kilometers of roads, including 1,900 km of new strategic projects such as the Center-West highway and sections of Karaganda-Zhezkazgan, Aktobe-Ulgaysyn, and Atyrau-Dossor.
Ruslan Zheldibay also noted significant developments in aviation in 2025.
Noteworthy, more than 35 new air routes were launched, including direct flights to Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Munich. Several new airlines entered Kazakhstan.
In line with the President’s task, construction of three new airports began in Zaysan, Katon-Karagay, and Kenderli, alongside the restoration of the Arkalyk airport.
He emphasized the President supported the creation of Kazakhstan’s first national cargo airline to leverage transit potential and enter the global market.
Railway infrastructure also saw major upgrades, in particular, construction of second tracks on the Kyzylzhar-Moyynty line, a bypass road around Almaty, new lines Darbaza-Maktaaral and Bakhty-Ayagoz and modernization of 124 railway stations nationwide.
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Scientists talked about the geomagnetic situation on Earth until the end of the year
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The geomagnetic situation on Earth will remain calm until the end of this year, iz.ru reports.
The comment this time is simple. The remaining days until the new year will be quiet. Possible outbreaks will definitely not affect the Earth (just fireworks), " said the press service of the Laboratory of Space Astronomy at IKI RAS.
The IKI RAS also called on Russians to calmly go about their business. Over the past 24 hours, the geomagnetic situation has also been calm.
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Brigitte Bardot, French screen legend, dies aged 91
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Brigitte Bardot, the French actor and singer who became an international sex symbol before turning her back on the film industry and embracing the cause of animal rights activism, has died aged 91, The Guardian reports.
Among those paying tribute on Sunday was the French president, Emmanuel Macron, who wrote on social media that Bardot had "embodied a life of freedom" and "universal brilliance". France was mourning "a legend of the century", he said.
Brigitte Bardot, French actress, model and singer, wearing a blue gingham dress with her hair in plaits, tied with blue bows, sitting in a series of stone steps
Brigitte Bardot was a zeitgeist-force and France’s most sensational export
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Jordan Bardella, the president of Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party (RN), which Bardot supported, wrote: "Brigitte Bardot was a woman of heart, conviction and character. An ardent patriot, devoted to animals that she protected throughout her life, she embodied a whole French era, but also above all a certain idea of courage and freedom."
Le Pen, whom Bardot once described as "the Joan of Arc of the 21st century", wrote on social media that Bardot was "exceptional for her talent, courage, frankness and beauty". "She was incredibly French," she said. "Free, indomitable, whole. She will be hugely missed."
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Kazakhstan to brace for snowstorms and fog on Sunday
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A storm warning has been issued for 14 regions of Kazakhstan on December 28, Qazinform News Agency reports citing Kazhydromet.
Snow and rain, fog and icy roads, blizzards are forecast to batter Atyrau region.
Zhetysu region is expected to observe fog at night and in the morning and winds up to 15–20 m/s.
Snow, drifting snow, fog, high wind and icy roads are reported to grip Aktobe region.
East Kazakhstan, Karaganda, Ulytau, Kyzylorda, Zhambyl, West Kazakhstan, Turkistan, Pavlodar regions are to wake up to foggy streets.
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