Rally in Tel Aviv calls for return of deceased hostage Ran Gvili
Hundreds of people gathered for a second consecutive week at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, on Friday (12 December), to support the family of Master Sg...
Kazakhstan is set to develop a world-class high-altitude resort just outside Almaty, aiming to transform the city into a year-round tourist destination. The ambitious master plan for the Almaty Mountain Cluster was recently presented to Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, promising to boost tourism.
The project will feature up to 700 kilometers of ski trails and is expected to welcome up to 34 000 visitors daily. It will also generate around 10 000 new jobs, making it a major economic driver for the region.
“We plan to take significant steps over the next few years to build a high-mountain resort that meets international standards,” Bektenov said. “Almaty should compete with the world’s leading ski destinations.”
The central development area covers popular ski spots including Shymbulak, Oi-Karagai, Pioneer, Kimasar, and Butakovka. The number of ski lifts will increase from 16 to 58, linking these areas into the new Almaty Superski project. This will also include Kumbel Peak and the Kok-Zhailau region, adding over 65 kilometers of ski slopes.
Half of the new trails will be designed for beginners, making the resort accessible for everyone and promoting winter sports across the region. The plan emphasizes inclusive facilities and careful preservation of the natural landscape.
The resort won’t be just for winter. The development will include hiking and biking trails, adventure parks, glamping sites, ethnic hotels, and eco-friendly transportation to make it a true year-round destination. Plans also include digital monitoring of the environment and a focus on renewable energy.
International partners from France, the US, and Andorra are involved, praising the project for meeting global standards in sustainable tourism.
The government will build essential infrastructure like roads, utilities, and cable cars, paving the way for private investments in hotels and other tourist facilities. Experts say every dollar the government invests will attract two dollars from private investors.
The Almaty Mountain Cluster is expected to become Central Asia’s largest all-season tourism project by 2029.
Japan has lifted a tsunami advisory issued after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit the country's northeastern region on Friday (12 December), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. The JMA had earlier put the earthquake's preliminary magnitude at 6.7.
Iran is preparing to host a multilateral regional meeting next week in a bid to mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
The resignation of Bulgaria's government on Thursday (11 December) puts an end to an increasingly unpopular coalition but is likely to usher in a period of prolonged political instability on the eve of the Black Sea nation's entry into the euro zone.
An extratropical cyclone has caused widespread disruption across Brazil’s São Paulo state, with powerful winds toppling trees and power lines, blocking streets and leaving large parts of the region without electricity.
Britain’s King Charles III said on Friday, 12 December, that his cancer treatment is expected to be reduced in the coming year, using a televised address to urge people across the country to take part in cancer screening programmes, officials confirmed.
Talks aimed at ending the war between Ukraine and Russia are set to continue in Berlin this weekend, with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and senior European leaders, a U.S. official said.
Türkiye’s Trade Minister Omer Bolat said Friday that discussions in Washington with U.S. officials have strengthened efforts to expand bilateral trade, moving closer to a $100 billion target.
Lebanon is prepared to demarcate its border with Syria, President Joseph Aoun said on Friday, while noting that the dispute over the Shebaa Farms could be addressed at a later stage.
Greek farmers blocked the Port of Thessaloniki on Friday (12 December) as part of nationwide protests demanding delayed European Union subsidies and compensation for rising production costs and livestock losses.
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