Moratorium on Latest Land Code Changes May be Extended to Dec. 31, 2021

ASTANA – The land reform commission has proposed extending the moratorium on amendments to the land code for five years. The proposal has been sent to Parliament for consideration....


New Public Display Being Prepared at East Kazakhstan’s Valley of Kings

ASTANA – Archaeologists have been working on excavations of the so-called Valley of the Kings in Katonkaragai district of East Kazakhstan region for many years. Yet only this year...


Movie about Abai’s Father to Be Shown at Kazan International Festival

ASTANA – A movie about Abai’s father shot by Kazakhfilm will be included in the Sept. 5-11 11th Kazan International Muslim Film Festival. “The movie tells the story of...


Yellow Level of Terrorist Alert Prolonged in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – On Aug. 14, the Anti-Terrorist Centre of Kazakhstan announced the extension of a moderate yellow level of terrorist alert across the country until Jan.15, 2017, the National...


Expensive Houses in Southern Capital Worth Price, Says Real Estate Expert

ASTANA – Some expensive houses in Almaty are worth the purchase price. Mansions in the big city with designer décor and measuring thousands of square metres have potential buyers...


Kazakh, Other EAEU Government Heads Seek Stronger EAEU Legal Framework

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov met Aug. 12 in Sochi, Russia with the heads of the governments of Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan to discuss strengthening...


Sri Lanka and Singapore to Participate in EXPO 2017

ASTANA – Sri Lanka and Singapore signed on to participate in EXPO 2017 in Astana during EXPO Commissioner Rapil Zhoshybayev’s Aug. 12 – 15 visit to South Asia. Zhoshybayev...


Kazakhstan, South Korea and Belarus Create Eurasian Spatial Data Infrastructure

A memorandum of understanding and cooperation to create Eurasian spatial data infrastructure was recently signed between Belarus, Kazakhstan and South Korea. The text of the memorandum will be sent...


Green Technologies Distribution Centre Opens in Astana

The green technologies distribution centre was opened Aug. 12 as part of the Karaganda Agro-Technical College, reported the press service of the G-Global Coalition for Green Economy and Development....


Kazakhstan Takes Steps Toward Paper Production Using Hemp

ASTANA – Hemp can be used in paper production, which will lead to a significant decline in its price, said Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Dariga Nazarbayeva at an Aug....


Kazakh Student Wins Multilingual Essay Contest, Takes Part in UN General Assembly

ASTANA – Kazakh student Moldir Arapova is among the winners of an essay contest organised by the United Nations. A jury selected sixty finalists out of the 3,600 participants...


Kazakh FM Outlines Proposals to Improve Attracting Investments

ASTANA – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov announced Aug. 10 proposals to improve work with foreign investors. Speaking at a government meeting on the issue, Idrissov...


FM Idrissov: Kazakhstan Welcomes Improved Russian-Turkish Relations

ASTANA – Kazakhstan welcomes the recently improved relations between its two close strategic partners Russia and Turkey, Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Erlan Idrissov said Aug. 10. “The meeting...


International Ballet Competition Opens New Horizons for Performers

ASTANA – The third International Ballet Competition will be held Sept. 10-17 in the capital. The audition initiated by the fund to develop and support the national ballet and...


Gifted Soloists from Three Countries Perform Bach Concert

ASTANA – Famous French, Russian and Swiss musicians presented “The Tone of Bach,” a vivid and exciting concert highlighting the work of one of the most brilliant composers in...


The Spirit of Tengri Project to be Presented in Hungary Seeks to Unite Turkic World

ASTANA – Creators of the largest international festival of modern ethnic music in Central Asia, The Spirit of Tengri, will soon present their project at a kurultai (assembly) in...


25th Anniversary of the Semipalatinsk Closure To Be Marked in Environment of Nuclear Danger, Progress

As we have underlined on many occasions, we are living in deeply uncertain times. Our world faces complex challenges and threats that put at risk all we have achieved...


Two Gold, One Silver for Team Kazakhstan on Rio Olympics Day Five

RIO DE JANEIRO – Kazakhstan won the country’s first ever Olympic gold medal in swimming as well as a second gold and a silver in weightlifting on day five...


Kazakhstan’s Role in Restoring Turkish-Russian Ties Demonstrates Int’l Community’s Trust

Our world moves at an ever-faster pace.  Such is the speed of change that what would once have been a year’s history – both good and bad – now...


Examination of Aktobe Burial Mound Reveals New Foundings of Sarmatian Period

The Halyk Kazynasy Research Studies Institute of the Kazakh National Museum is now executing archaeological research on more than a dozen sites across the country which belong to different...


Canadian Ambassador in Astana Seeks to Broaden Bilateral Relationship

ASTANA – Ambassador of Canada to Kazakhstan Shawn Steil shared in an Aug. 5 interview with The Astana Times thoughts on cooperation, bilateral trade and cultural similarities between the...


ATOM Project Calls for Moment of Silence on August 29, 25th Anniversary of Closure of Nuclear Test Site

ASTANA – The ATOM Project (Abolish Testing: Our Mission) is calling for a moment of silence on August 29, the UN International Day against Nuclear Tests, to honour all...


Astana Eliminated from UEFA Champions League Qualification in Late Drama with Celtic

ASTANA – FC Astana was eliminated from the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round following a 1:2 defeat in the dying minutes of their return leg match against Celtic...


Team Kazakhstan Begins Participation in Olympic Games in Rio

RIO DE JANEIRO – On Aug. 5, a delegation of athletes and officials of Kazakhstan took part in the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games at the legendary...


Kazakh Judokas, Weightlifter Win Nation’s First Medals at Rio Olympics

RIO DE JANEIRO – On Aug. 6, the first day of competitions at the Summer Olympics in Rio, Team Kazakhstan won its first medals, namely two of them. Both...


Independence of Regions Key to Kazakh Economic Stability, Future

In July and August 2016, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Massimov has been checking on facilities throughout the country related to the Nurly Zhol infrastructure development programme. Effective management...


Actor Explains Challenge of Playing the President, His Love of Movies

ASTANA – Actor Nurlan Alimzhanov, who played Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev in the epic about the President’s life and has won Kazakhstan’s Zhas Tulpar award, discussed his cinema career...


Turkey to Take Part in EXPO 2017

ASTANA – Turkey will present the country’s best developments in the field of alternative energy sources at EXPO 2017 in Astana, announced the official web site of the national...


Capital Circus Manager Explains Process Behind Performances

ASTANA – Last December, the Capital Circus marked its 10th anniversary. In its short life, it has become the leading circus in the country. This comes as no surprise,...


Homemade Preserves Keep Their Place on Pantry Shelves

ASTANA – As the winter gets closer, many housewives in Kazakhstan start making preserves with vegetables and berries. Pickled vegetables and homemade jams became part of traditional cuisine many...


Moscow Hosts Street Photo Exhibition Dedicated to Kazakhstan

The Kazakh Embassy to Russia and the National Geographic Russia magazine organised a Kazakhstan – Land of the Great Steppe street photo exhibition, reported the press service of the...


Kazakh National Bank Issues Commemorative Coins

On July 29, the Kazakh National Bank issued new special 500 tenge (US$1.43) coins made of gold and silver, as well as 100 tenge (US$0.29) coins made of nickel...


Kazakh Government Launches Satellite Navigation Software

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s state bodies are now using satellite navigation software to better manage logistics, according to the press service of the National Agency for Technological Development. National company...


Consistent Efforts Needed to Tackle Terrorism

It is a sign of how dangerous our world seems to have become that every time we look at the daily news, we are relieved if we learn there...


10-Year-Old Amir Makhmet Sets New Record for Non-Stop Push-Ups

World record holder among children and four times champion of Kazakhstan’s Record Book for push-ups and the longest time in an abdominal position Amir Makhmet recently set a new...


Air Company Awards Plane to Children’s Centre

In early June, the Kazakh airline company Air Control announced the winner of the competition for the best use of the decommissioned aircraft was the Children’s Scientific and Educational...


Capital’s Hotel Scene Develops, Awaits for EXPO Tourists

ASTANA – EXPO 2017 organisers announced recently that 24 hotels and four hostels will be constructed to accommodate visitors for next year’s three months long event. “We have worked...


Nazarbayev Visits Turkey, Meets with Erdogan

ASTANA ­– President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed bilateral cooperation and international issues Aug. 6 in Ankara, the Akorda press service reported. “Turkey is one...


Annoyed by Borat Questions, Kazakh Student Creates Award-Winning Film

ASTANA – “Welcome to Almaty,” a three-minute, 27-second short film by Almaty-born Anton Alfimenko, 20, received a Best Travel Film nomination in April at the Global Short Film Awards...


Online Service Benefits From Being First on the Market

ASTANA – In a recent interview with The Astana Times, Aviata.kz co-founder and development director Alexey Li talked about the evolution of the Almaty-based online service for airplane tickets,...


Kazakhstan Temir Zholy Starts Final Stage of Transformation Programme

ASTANA – Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the national railway company, announced the start of projects within the business transformation programme for 2016-2019 and its plans to finish establishing a...


Manhattan’s Lexington Avenue W Hotel Unveils De Luxe Suite with Yurt

ASTANA – Glamping or ‘glamour camping’ (the movement of camping for people who really don’t like to camp) has come to the middle of Manhattan with the “Extreme Wow...


Korgalzhyn Reserve Getaway: Breathtaking Scenery, Birdwatching and Wildlife

ASTANA – If weekend trips to the Burabai resort have become routine and you’re seeking new thrills and adventures, perhaps going to the Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve could do...


Pavlodar Plant Signs 300 Million Euro Deal for Aluminium Supply

ASTANA – The Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), a leading diversified natural resources company, and VTB Group have entered into a strategically important deal in the amount of 300 million...


Kazakh Filmmakers to Produce Movie Dedicated to WWII Soldiers’ Courage

ASTANA – The creators of the British – Kazakh feature film with the working title “Flags over Berlin” announced a teaser will be released in September. The three-minute trailer,...


Washington C5+1 Ministerial Meeting Launches Five Projects Worth $15 Million

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Erlan Idrissov took part in the second meeting of foreign ministers of Central Asia and the United States in the C5+1 format...


Nine Tourism Projects to be Constructed in Mangystau Region

ASTANA – The Mangystau Region coordination council has approved nine projects in the tourism industry for 658 million tenge (US$1.85 million), reported lada.kz. In total, 900 million tenge (US$2.54...


Online Resource for Farmers Launches in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – The National Chamber of Entrepreneurs Atameken held a presentation of the Fermers.kz website with options available for the convenience of farmers July 29-31 in the capital. The...


Discover Astana with Panoramic Hop-on, Hop-off Bus Tours

ASTANA – Astana Sightseeing Tours Co. has introduced double-decker buses equipped with sound systems in four languages – Kazakh, Russian, English and Chinese. A special closed route measuring more...


Filming of Comedy About Men in a World of Women Begins in Astana

ASTANA – Filming of the feature-length comedy “Vse iz-za Muzhikov” (“All Because of Men”), a story about a world of women and the three guys who are left in...