Lake Alakol infrastructure developments make resort more attractive to tourists

NUR-SULTAN – Improved Lake Alakol resort housing, car and train accessibility and police will make the resort more attractive to tourists. “Therefore, there will be the Keruen Plaza tourist...


Italian Embassy hosts second Italian Cinema of year in Nur-Sultan and Almaty

NUR-SULTAN – The Italian Embassy in Kazakhstan for the second time this year organised May 20-25 Fare Cinema Italian cinema week in Nur-Sultan and Almaty as a part of...


Kazakhstan’s national mail carrier launches services to boost e-commerce

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan recently simplified export procedures to boost e-commerce and Kazakhstan’s national mail service, Kazpost, has also launched services to facilitate more e-commerce, said Kazpost Board Chairman Saken...


Zhansaya Abdumalik improves Elo rating by defeating former world champions

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh chess champion Zhansaya Abdumalik improved her Elo rating to 2,414 by defeating former world champions in blitz at the 2019 International Mind Sports Association’s (IMSA) World...


Astana Opera to open summer season with young, established musicians’ concerts

NUR-SULTAN – The Astana Opera will be hosting both festive and regular events in June, with young and established musicians getting a chance to showcase their talent. The festive...


Semey city to replace 90 percent of its bus fleet with newer vehicles

NUR-SULTAN – The East Kazakhstan Region’s akimat (administration) is going to replace 90 percent of the city’s bus fleet with newer vehicles. “Dear Semey residents, two years ago you...


EAEU summit emphasises cooperation, ties with China and Serbia and commemorates Nazarbayev’s contributions

NUR-SULTAN – Participants at the May 29 Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) summit here discussed cooperation within the union, efforts to strengthen its relationship with non-union countries as well as...


Kazakh government adopts latest package of amendments to support economy of simple things

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh government adopted the latest package of amendments May 28 to the programme supporting domestic production of daily consumed goods and services, known as the Economy...


Kazakh State String Quartet performs for first time at Brussels’ BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh State String Quartet performed for the first time May 17 at Brussels’ BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts, staging the works of Austrian composer Joseph Haydn,...


Kazakhstan to play in Group B with Finland, Russia, US at 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s national ice hockey team will play in Group B, including the reigning champions Finland, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Russia, Switzerland and the United States, at the 2020...


Education, economy and social justice among topics of televised presidential candidates’ debate

NUR-SULTAN – Four Kazakh presidential candidates and three of their representatives discussed social and economic issues and how to solve them in a May 29 live televised debate at...


Foreign Ministry embraces new role as attractor, supporter of foreign investment

International competition for investment is increasing, and investment flows are fluctuating due to a global decline of investor confidence in emerging economies. Today, to encourage foreign investors, many countries...


Art, artists are helping to shape a green future

The Sustainable Development Goals approved by the UN, the concluding of the Paris Agreement in 2015 are events that formed constructive development trends for the planet. The Russian Academy...


Political reforms, opportunities for youth, support for SMEs are needed, says presidential candidate Kossanov

NUR-SULTAN – Amirzhan Kossanov, 55, considers himself the opposition candidate in the upcoming June 9 presidential elections in Kazakhstan, he told The Astana Times in an exclusive interview. This...


Kazakh communist party candidate seeks to fight poverty, promote economic integration with neighbouring countries

NUR-SULTAN – Communist People’s Party of Kazakhstan (CPPK) candidate for president Zhambyl Akhmetbekov promises to renounce Western influence and values, fight oligarchs and poverty and promote economic integration with...


Kazakh presidential candidates to participate in televised debate May 29

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s presidential candidates will participate in an 80-minute televised debate May 29 on the Khabar national television channel, the Central Election Commission (CEC) announced May 24. The...


Yulia Putintseva wins first WTA singles title at Nuremberg Cup

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh professional tennis player Yulia Putintseva won her first Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) singles title May 25 at Germany’s Nuremberg Cup, reports Wtatennis.com. Top-seeded Putintseva defeated Slovenian...


Annual BI Marathon grows from corporate race to international charity event

NUR-SULTAN – The annual BI Marathon, which has been promoting healthy lifestyles, charitable giving and social responsibility in the Kazakh capital since 2016, was in late April certified by...


Business news in brief

A new strategy through 2023 adopted at the business incubator QazTech Ventures addresses the lack of funding available at the country’s business incubators, said Baiterek National Managing Holding (NMH)...


Economic news in brief

Kazakhstan’s population continues to get younger, as the number of children under 15 has been gradually increasing in the last five years. As of January, they comprise 29.9 percent...


National news in brief

Kazakhstan will simplify the conditions and reduce the terms of rehabilitation and bankruptcy procedures for enterprises and companies. The government and Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs are obliged to...


External news in brief

Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice-President Shixin Chen visited Kazakhstan May 14-18, meeting with Prime Minister Askar Mamin, Minister of National Economy Ruslan Dalenov, Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development...


Kazakhstan reduces its prison population, according to ICPR ranking

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan moved from 83rd to 95th place in the International Criminal Policy Research (ICPR) World Prison Population ranking, according to a March 14 statement by the country’s...


One Kazakh presidential candidate focuses on national values, property, social issues

NUR-SULTAN – Uly Dala Kyrandary (which in Kazakh means Eagles of the Great Steppe) national movement candidate Sadybek Tugel, the first person to propose his presidential candidacy to the...


Presidential election will have major impact on Kazakhstan’s place in the world

The outcome of a presidential election can have a major impact on the direction of any country, as well as on its involvement in regional and global affairs. The...


Worldwide phenomenon ‘Learning How to Learn’ course now available in Kazakh language

NUR-SULTAN – Coursera’s most popular course, Learning How to Learn, is now available in the Kazakh language. Its translation into Kazakh was made possible through the cooperative efforts of...


First cars will roll off Hyundai production line in Almaty in 2020

NUR-SULTAN – Astana Motors, Kazakhstan’s leading car distributor, will build a Hyundai car assembly plant in Almaty, with the first cars slated to roll off its production line in...


Kazakh swimmer takes bronze in breaststroke at Champions Swim Series’ second stage

NUR-SULTAN – Rio 2016 Olympic champion and Kazakh swimmer Dmitriy Balandin won a 200-metre breast stroke bronze medal May 12 in the Champions Swim Series’ second stage in Budapest,...


New EU-Central Asia strategy seeks mitigating global risks via close cooperation, says EU ambassador to Kazakhstan

NUR-SULTAN – Global challenges and risks can be dealt with via closer cooperation between the European Union (EU) and Central Asia, said Head of EU mission to Kazakhstan Ambassador...


Japanese, Central Asian ministers discuss how to adapt Japan’s success to Central Asia

Nur-Sultan – Foreign ministers from Central Asia and Japan discussed ways Japan’s economic and technical development could help modernise and diversify Central Asian economies during the May 18 Central...


Auyl Party candidate uses agricultural expertise to shape vision for Kazakhstan’s future

NUR-SULTAN – Agriculture is a vital part of Kazakhstan’s future, Auyl Party presidential candidate Toleutai Rakhimbekov said May 22 to Alma TV. Rakhimbekov was born in Atasu village in...


Laili – Majnun,’ tragic Persian love story, premieres at Astana Kazakh Drama Theatre

NUR-SULTAN – The Astana Kazakh Drama Theatre recently premiered “Laili – Majnun,” the 12th-century love story based on real life events. The tale of young people’s pure love and...


Nearly 10,000 polling stations to be available for voters in June 9 Kazakh presidential election

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan will elect one of seven candidates for the country’s highest office June 9. Citizens will be able to vote in the presidential election at 9,970 polling...


Kazakh small, medium businesses embrace digitisation and automation

NUR-SULTAN – Economic studies show small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) will be the main drivers of national economies in the coming years. While digital transformation and automation is on...


Kazakh Mazhilis members ratify treaty banning nuclear weapons

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament) members approved during a May 15 plenary meeting the draft law on ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear...


Kazakh FM meets with Kyrgyz President, FM and attends CSTO, SCO meetings in Kyrgyzstan

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Foreign Minister Beibut Atamkulov met with Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov and Foreign Minister Chingiz Aidarbekov as well as participated in the Foreign Ministers’ Council (FMC) of...


Kazakh athletes win two medals at Karate 1 Premier league tournament

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh athletes Yerkinbek Baiturev and Sofiya Berultseva won silver and bronze medals, respectively, May 17-19 at the Karate 1 Premier league tournament in Istanbul, Turkey, according to...


French author presents comic book featuring Kazakh traditions and culture

NUR-SULTAN – French engineer Jacques Ortet presented the comic book “Les aventures de Jak et Bil au Kazakhstan: Le trésor de Gengis Khan (The Adventures of Jacques and Bil in...


Kossanov’s election platform promises increased reforms

NUR-SULTAN – Amirzhan Kossanov, 55, is among the seven candidates running in Kazakhstan’s June 9 presidential election. In his platform, Kosanov, who positions himself as an opposition candidate, promises...


Kazakhstan’s next president will have opportunity to advance country’s ongoing reforms

NUR-SULTAN – Presidential candidates Zhambyl Akhmetbekov, Amirzhan Kossanov, Toleutai Rakhimbekov, Amangeldy Taspikhov, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Sadybek Tugel and Daniya Yespayeva are competing for Kazakhstan’s highest office in the June 9...


Kazakh NGO, UAE Embassy organise iftar for mothers with many children, Paralympic athletes

NUR-SULTAN – The International Global Women’s Leadership Association and United Arab Emirates (UAE) Embassy in Kazakhstan organised an iftar (evening meal Muslims use to end their daily Ramadan fast)...


Kazakhstan Science Fund seeks to act as investor in its commercialisation projects

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s Science Fund would be able to expand its sources of finance and improve its profitability and innovation if it is able to function as an investor...


Eurasian Dance Festival to showcase international ballet in Nur-Sultan

NUR-SULTAN – Dancers from Berlin, Kiev, Nur-Sultan, Prague, Tokyo and Saint Petersburg will treat audiences to international ballet programmes at the third Eurasian Dance Festival June 4-16 at the...


Kazakhstan installs tourism police at popular attractions, hopes increased security will boost tourism

NUR-SULTAN – Tourist police units were recently added to attractions in Almaty, Nur-Sultan, the Akmola Region, the Almaty Region, the East Kazakhstan Region and the Turkestan Region by an...


Kazakhstan’s first female presidential candidate sees mass entrepreneurship as vehicle to improve lives

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s first female presidential candidate is a position that comes with great responsibility and important obligations, said Ak Zhol Democratic Party candidate Daniya Yespayeva May 4 upon...


Orleu choreography festival in Almaty draws influences, professionals from around the world

NUR-SULTAN – The Orleu International festival of Choreographic Educational School provides a platform for world choreographers to communicate, promotes national and classical choreography and helps support new generations of...


Trends in virtual reality, mobile phone reporting among highlights of Eurasian Media Forum’s first day

NUR-SULTAN – Participants at this year’s Eurasian Media Forum in Almaty attended master classes May 22 discussing forms of journalism, such as environmental journalism, freelance, journalism using Virtual Reality...


Incumbent President Tokayev campaigns on platform of continuity, justice and progress

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President and Nur Otan Party candidate Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s campaign platform is based on “peace and harmony, a decent life for all and democratisation.” Founded in 1999,...


Saumal to make fresh Kazakh mare’s milk widely available

NUR-SULTAN – Saumal dry mare’s milk, a brand based in the Karaganda Region, has caught the interest of the world’s largest markets such as China, the European Union, Russia...


Turkestan region to launch three solar power plants this year

NUR-SULTAN – The Turkestan Region’s authorities are developing green energy sources, including solar power plants to reduce the region’s electricity deficit. The alternative energy will cover 30 percent of...