First Kazakh comic founder/artist breaks into country’s online society

ASTANA – Le Shapalaque, web comics that offer fresh perspectives on daily Kazakh matters, has received a lot of love on social media from local readers. The first non-commercial,...


Astana holds festival showcasing the talents of special needs children

ASTANA – Astana recently hosted its first festival showcasing the creative talents of children with special needs. The Meirim festival attracted more than 400 children with special educational needs....


Israeli artist opens charity exhibition in Astana

ASTANA – Israeli artist Regina Shafir unveiled a charity exhibition called Sweets May 23 at the Has Sanat Art Gallery in the Kazakh capital. Organised with the help of...


Qazaqstan TV channel to launch MMA reality and competition show

ASTANA – The new sports and entertainment reality show Qazaqstan FIGHTER on the Qazaqstan television channel will give Kazakh mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters a chance to show their...


Rukhani Zhangyru programme drives new projects in Kyzylorda region

ASTANA – Kyzylorda regional Akim (Governor) Krymbek Kusherbayev announced projects related to the Rukhani Zhangyru (Modernisation of Kazakhstan’s Identity) programme during a recent press conference. This year, 81 projects...


Kazakh anticorruption measures keep pace with international standards

Over the past several years, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has been holding conferences on ethics and corruption within the framework of the Global Anti-Corruption and...


Government extends microfinancing opportunities for rural Kazakhs

ASTANA – Kazakh Vice Minister of Labour and Social Protection Nurzhan Altayev held an open lecture at Nur Otan Party headquarters dedicated to the country’s nationwide mass entrepreneurship programme....


New Air Astana operations facility expected to cut maintenance costs

ASTANA – A new $19 million hangar will allow Air Astana to perform routine line maintenance and subsequent heavy checks at its hub in the capital. “This year the...


EAEU, China sign first major trade, economic cooperation agreement

ASTANA – Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states and China signed May 17 a trade and economic cooperation agreement, the first major arrangement between them. “The general provisions of...


Pavlodar to spend $3 million to expand Irtysh River embankment

ASTANA – The expansion of the Irtysh River embankment in Pavlodar will cost more than a billion tenge (US$3 million), Pavlodar city Akim (Mayor) Nurzhan Ashimbetov said at a...


KTZ Express to operate Chinese container fleet in Central Asia

ASTANA – KTZ Express, a subsidiary of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), Kazakhstan’s state-owned railway operator and logistics company, will manage the container fleet of Chinese COSCO Shipping in Kazakhstan,...


Kazakhstan examines Singapore’s tourism success

ASTANA – In developing tourism in Astana, Kazakhstan is studying the experience of Singapore, said Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev during a recent meeting with the founder and Managing Director...


Kazakh capital celebrates Africa Day

ASTANA – The capital marked Africa Day at QSI International School of Astana May 25 as part of the eighth annual International Day. “This is an amazing event where...


Kazakh Foreign Investors Council to discuss accelerated modernisation

ASTANA – Accelerated modernisation will be the topic of the 31st plenary session of the Foreign Investors Council (FIC) under Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev in June 2018. The council,...


Foreigners visiting Kazakhstan must register certain mobile phones

ASTANA – Foreign citizens will have to register certain mobile devices while visiting Kazakhstan, Information and Communications Minister Dauren Abayev announced in a recent blog post. Abayev announced that...


Shymkent hosts first Kazakh-Uzbek business forum

ASTANA – Approximately 400 business persons participated May 22 in the first Kazakh-Uzbek business forum in Shymkent, the press service of the South Kazakhstan region’s akimat (administration) reports. Forum...


EBRD to finance reconstruction of water supply system in Shymkent

ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is contributing $13.5 million for water supply improvements in Shymkent. The loan will help the city upgrade its water...


Political turbulence, role of journalism reviewed at Eurasian Media Forum

ASTANA – Some 800 participants from 70 countries gathered at the 15th Eurasian Media Forum in Almaty on May 23-25 to discuss their work in the context of today’s...


India and Kazakhstan have excellent relations, says Indian ambassador

ASTANA – Relations between Kazakhstan and India have a long history. At the beginning of the first millennium, the Sakas went from Central Asia to India and Buddhism from...


High-tech yurt-style streetfood restaurant with beshburger, kazy-pizza to open in Astana

ASTANA – A new high-tech yurt-style restaurant with Kazakh-Italian-American cuisine will open June 1 near the Baiterek Tower. “It will be a project with a national flavour. We want...


Promising Kazakh boxer to fight in Golovkin’s division

ASTANA – Kazakh boxer and 2013 world amateur boxing champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly has signed up with well-known manager Egis Klimas and will fight professionally in the same division as...


Astana is a financially self-sustaining city, says mayor

ASTANA – Speaking at the 11th Astana Economic Forum May 17, Astana Akim (Mayor) Asset Issekeshev said the capital city produces more revenue than it takes from the national...


Visit Burabay community unites Astana’s adventurers

ASTANA – The Visit Burabay community group offers Astana residents the opportunity to visit Kazakhstan’s tourism attractions and natural beauty. “Our project was initiated by my friend, Ulan Alimbek....


Astana knitting school stitches together learning, entrepreneurship, social connection

ASTANA – Aspiring young social entrepreneur Rakhima Mukusheva holds knitting classes in Astana, with the goal of helping her students master new skills, socialise and take baby steps into...


AIFC governor says global finance is shifting to Asia

ASTANA – Leading global economic experts and Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) executives outlined important changes in the global financial system and the role of financial centres in the...


Expanding women’s leadership in business, government discussed at AEF

ASTANA – Challenges and prospects for women’s leadership were discussed by female leaders at a May 18 round table during the 11th Astana Economic Forum in the Kazakh capital....


Bolashak programme expands list of international university options

ASTANA – Kazakh Ministry of Education and Science recently expanded its list of leading foreign educational institutions, foreign organisations for training and language schools recommended to the recipients of...


Kazakhstan launches Latin script translation mobile app

ASTANA – The State Language Development Foundation has created the Qazaq Latin Keyboard, a Kazakh keyboard with Latin letters for smartphones and tablets. The app can translate Kazakh text...


Sudden storm in Astana injures 10, damages buildings

ASTANA – Ten people were treated for injuries and several buildings and cars were damaged after a sudden gale hit Astana May 22. No deaths or major injuries were...


Kazakhstan embraces capoeira

ASTANA – The combination of Brazilian dance, music and fighting known as capoeira has found a foothold in Kazakhstan. “I train children and teenagers, promote capoeira and cultural exchange. ...


Astana to host 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship group competition

ASTANA – For the first time in its history, next year Kazakhstan will host the first division Group A Men’s World Hockey Championship, the Kazakhstan Ice Hockey Federation announced...


Embassies of Portugal, Brazil mark Portuguese Language and Cultures Day

ASTANA – The embassies of Portugal and Brazil in Kazakhstan celebrated Portuguese Language and Cultures Day May 5 with a programme of music, poetry and more at Ramada Plaza...


EAEU, Iran sign interim agreement on free trade zone

ASTANA – The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Iran signed an interim agreement on a free trade zone May 17 during the Astana Economic Forum. Two years of negotiations...


IT park in Kyzylorda opens, aims to be centre for creativity, collaboration

ASTANA – The Kyzylorda region’s first IT park was presented April 20 in Abdilda Tazhibaev regional universal scientific library. There, it is hoped talented youth will be able to...


Germany holds kumys festival

ASTANA – Germany’s annual mare’s milk week was held on the largest mare milk farm in the town of Waldbrunn-Mülben. The festivities culminated in the Kumys (fermented mare’s milk)...


Scholars argue for long-term approach to U.S. and European policies to Central Asia

ASTANA – The Central Asia-Caucasus Institute (CACI) at American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC) in Washington, DC, held a book launch May 1 for the most recent work by S....


Kazakh boxer Beibut Shumenov to fight for WBA belt in Astana

ASTANA – Beibut Shumenov (17-2, 11KOs), Kazakhstan’s first and only light heavyweight and cruiserweight world champion, will face Turkish boxer Hizni Altunkaya (30-1, 17KOs) for the WBA (Regular) cruiserweight...


Landlocked developing country ministers call for enhanced transportation, economic opportunities

ASTANA – Ministers and senior government officials from landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) and development partners recently gathered in Astana for a two-day meeting to determine ways in which trade,...


Kazakh businesses, Eastern European technology company to cooperate

ASTANA – Kazakh businesses and regional executive bodies signed agreements with Belarus-Russian Galaktika, a leading Eastern European technological company, on the fringes of the Astana Economic Forum. The memoranda,...


Kazakh PM presents International Centre of Green Technologies in Astana

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s new International Centre for Green Technologies and Investment Projects was presented during the Astana Economic Forum called Global Challenges Summit during a panel discussion by high...


Hazret Sultan Mosque presents updated website

ASTANA – The capital’s Hazret Sultan Mosque presented a new version of muslim.kz, the spiritual and educational portal, May 16, the eve of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan....


Deutsches Theatre in Kazakhstan: in sync with times

ASTANA – Deutsches Theatre (Republican German Drama Theatre), the first German diaspora theatre in the Soviet Union, opened in December 1980 in the city of Temirtau. As the troupe...


Kazakh officials consider tax breaks to grow domestic film industry

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Sports is proposing to reduce the tax burden on the domestic film industry, including exempting cinemas from the corporate income tax...


Kazakh artists participate in Cannes Film Festival

ASTANA –The Kazakh national pavilion presented the country’s films May 8-19 at the 71st annual Cannes Film Festival, reported the Culture and Sports Ministry press service. The national pavilion...


Astana Economic Forum kicks off in Kazakh capital, focuses on global challenges

ASTANA – The eleventh Astana Economic Forum kicked off in the Kazakh capital May 17, welcoming 5,000 participants from 111 countries and more than 500 speakers, including former United...


Math teacher and methodologist among Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces

ASTANA – Tatyana Kucher, one of Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces, has devoted more than 45 years to teaching mathematics, nurturing future teachers and developing methodology. She believes a good...


Kazakh GDP grew 3.8 percent in January-April 2018

ASTANA – Kazakh economic activity continues to maintain positive dynamics, though with some slowdown. GDP growth from January-April fell slightly to 3.8 percent, compared to the growth of 4...


Heating season ran smoothly, says Kazakh official

ASTANA – The autumn-winter heating season ran smoothly and preparation for the next season is underway in accordance with the approved schedule, noted Kazakh Minister of Energy Kanat Bozumbayev...


Non-native Kazakh language teacher serves as inspiration

ASTANA – Natalya Dementyeva, of Kokshetau, who teaches Kazakh language and literature, motivates and interests students to learn the national language. The ethnic Russian and director of the Kokshetau...


Astana pet owners to be required to microchip pets

ASTANA – Microchipping domestic pets will soon be mandatory in the capital. Medical records as well as information about the owners will be combined into a database linked to...