Astana Pro Team cyclist Fabio Aru second overall after nine Tour de France stages

ASTANA – Italian cyclist and Astana Pro Team member Fabio Aru and Danish teammate Jakob Fuglsang recently climbed to second and fifth respectively in the overall standings following the...


More than 200 children take part in train trip adventure across country

ASTANA – More than 200 children enjoyed a train tour around the country July 2-11. The project was initiated by Fund of Social Projects supported by Kazakhstan Temir Zholy...


New traffic enforcement laws approved

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev recently signed the Law On Amendments and Additions to Some Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Road Traffic, according to the press...


Nazarbayev announces opening date for LEU bank in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced July 3 the opening date for low enriched uranium (LEU) bank in Kazakhstan will be Aug. 29. “August 29 marks the International...


Thirty-eight couples marry on Astana Day

ASTANA – Thirty-eight couples were married July 5 in the lead up to Astana celebrating its 19th birthday. The annual ceremony took place at Atameken cultural centre, where every...


National Days of Azerbaijan, Latvia and Venezuela Held at EXPO 2017

ASTANA – EXPO 2017 played host to the celebration of several more countries’ national days last week, in this round Venezuela, Latvia and Azerbaijan. Venezuela marked its National Day...


Kairat, Irtysh Make it to UEFA Europa League’s Second Qualifying Round

ASTANA – Two of the three Kazakh football clubs that began their campaigns in the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds in late June and early July have made it...


Air Astana presents documentary about Kazakhs living abroad

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national flag carrier Air Astana presented July 6 the documentary “Air Astana: Connecting Destinies” that captures the lives of Kazakhs living abroad. The premiere coincided with...


Kazakh MFA, Chief Editors’ Club announce foreign media contest winners

ASTANA – The Kazakh Foreign Ministry and Kazakhstan’s Chief Editors Club announced July 10 the winners of the Fourth International “Kazakhstan Through the Eyes of Foreign Media” contest. Authors...


Astana celebrates 19th birthday

ASTANA – A variety of cultural events took place July 6 in Astana as the capital celebrated its 19th birthday. Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev kicked off July 4 the...


Astana Hosts First Congress of Honorary Consuls of Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the First Congress of Honorary Consuls of Kazakhstan, dedicated to the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s diplomatic service July...


Kazakh presidential envoy tours Middle East, holds political consultations

ASTANA – The Kazakh President’s Special Envoy on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Deputy Foreign Minister Akylbek Kamaldinov visited Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine July 4-8, where he...


Little progress in Syria peace talks but negotiators agree to continue Astana meetings

ASTANA – Participants of the fifth round of the Syrian talks wrapped up an inconclusive second day at the negotiating table in Astana July 5, after attempting to finalise...


Kuryk ferry port to take one million tonnes of cargo by year’s end

ASTANA – Kuryk international ferry port on the Caspian Sea, which started operation in the beginning of the year, has received 93 ships and more than 400,000 tonnes of...


Almaty doubles assistance to people with disabilities

ASTANA – The Almaty Employment and Social Programmes Department has doubled its funding this year compared to 2016 to provide social support for people with disabilities. The department has...


Winners named in International Tchaikovsky Youth Competition in Astana

ASTANA – Approximately 125 pianists, violinists and cellists from 20 countries demonstrated their accomplishments June 15-25 at the 10th International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians. The event, held for...


Understanding technology brings more benefits, says young scientist

ASTANA – What are the prospects of using blockchain? How can genetic profiling transform lives? Why are robotics classes popular in the country? To learn about the top digital...


Ukrainian business people show investment interest in Yereimentau wind farm

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has the potential for renewable energy throughout its sprawling land, especially in the form of wind and small hydro power plants. As a result, the European...


President thanks scientists, forest rangers for creating Astana as ‘Green Belt’

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev recently thanked Kazakh scientists and forest rangers for creating the man-made forest belt that surrounds the city. “I would like to thank the...


Astana International Airport renamed in honour of President

ASTANA – Astana’s international airport has been renamed Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport in honour of President Nursultan Nazarbayev. The name change follows a large-scale renovation resulting in a much expanded...


Children learn to love sports at Derby Football Academy

ASTANA – Kids sports seem to be largely developing in Kazakhstan’s regions through the introduction of different activities. Enthusiasts from Kostanai created their own Derby Football Academy in their...


Thousands join Alpiniada in Almaty mountains for Astana Day

ASTANA – On July 2, the residents of Almaty celebrated their annual Alpiniada at the Shymbulak Ski Resort outside the city. The festival, a massive joint climb of a...


Minister proposes extending Astana’s open skies regime

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister for Investments and Development Zhenis Kassymbek has proposed extending the open skies regime to next year to attract more foreign tourists to the capital. “The...


Kazakh government approves tourism development concept

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s government approved June 27 a Concept of Tourism Development until 2023, which incorporates international best practices in state support of tourism and reconfigures some established tourist...


UN opens EXPO 2017 pavilion during UN Day celebrations

ASTANA – The United Nations opened its EXPO 2017 pavilion during the expo’s recent UN Day celebrations. Kazakhstan was named in January a non-permanent member of the UN Security...


Wind generator production plant to be built in Aktobe

The Aktobe region Akimat and United Energy Aktobe have agreed to build a wind generator production plant in the region’s industrial zone. Aktobe Akim (Governor) Berdybek Saparbayev and enterprise...


Identity of Kazakhstan’s 18 millionth citizen revealed

ASTANA – Baby girl Muslima Samatkyzy born May 11 to a family from Taldykorgan, in the Almaty region was recently identified as Kazakhstan’s 18 millionth citizen. “All the way,...


Samruk Kazyna ranks among world’s most transparent sovereign wealth funds

ASTANA – Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund is one of the world’s 20 most transparent sovereign wealth funds, according to the U.S.-based Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute, a global organisation...


National companies of Kazakhstan boost their net profit 2.7 times

ASTANA – Kazakh national companies’ net profits increased 2.7 times in first quarter 2017 over first quarter 2016, reaching 131.6 billion tenge (US$407.8 million). A combination of increased income...


Kazakhstan devotes record funding to attract foreign investment

ASTANA – The government has allocated a record 12.2 billion tenge (US$37.8 million) to attract foreign investment in 2017, reports Finprom.kz. The financing will develop industrial zones and parks...


Farmers unite to sell their products online

ASTANA – Fermerskaya produkciya (Farm products) agricultural cooperative, composed of 20 farmers from Tselinograd district and Yereymentau and Bulandy districts in Akmola region, is a way for them to...


Nazarbayev meets diplomatic corps on 25th anniversary of Kazakh diplomatic service

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev met July 3 with the heads diplomatic missions and representations of international organisations accredited in the country. The meeting, which also included top officials...


Islamic Organisation for Food Security office to open by end of year

ASTANA – The office of the Islamic Organisation for Food Security will open in Astana by the end of the year, Kazakh Vice Minister of National Economy Yernar Bakenov...


Shymkent refinery completes first stage modernisation

On June 30, the Shymkent Refinery commissioned a large process facility, which is the isomerisation unit for light gasoline fractions with a pre-hydrotreating block and produced the first certified...


Kazakhstan has huge tourism potential, says UNWTO Secretary General

ASTANA – World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Secretary-General Taleb Rifai said during the June 26-27 “Tourism and Future Energy: Unlocking low-carbon growth opportunities” conference in Astana that Kazakhstan has great...


Kazakhstan population reaches 18 million

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced at the recent Fifth World Kurultai of Kazakhs that Kazakhstan’s population had reached 18 million. “In 1991, when Kazakh independence was declared,...


Astana hosts ethnic music festival

ASTANA – Tamikrest gave a concert featuring incredible guitar mastery as part of their world tour June 24 during the Spirit of Astana, an ethnic music festival held in...


EXPO 2017 features nightly music, laser shows and dancing

ASTANA – EXPO 2017 features nightly music, laser shows and dancing featuring more than 150 performers. All of the artists are local and were chosen during a casting call...


Italian engineering companies eye benefit of EXPO 2017 meetings

ASTANA – Italy and Kazakhstan have been loyal trade partners for more than 25 years and the business council established in 2007 provided insight into the economies and needs...


Serbians celebrate National Day as part of EXPO 2017, promote energy for all concept

ASTANA – Serbia marked its National Day June 28 with cultural events and films about the country, as well as an entertainment programme with stars such as Jela Cello...


Kazakh Senate elections fair and transparent, say international observers

ASTANA – Sixteen senators representing 14 regions as well as Astana and Almaty were elected June 28 to the upper chamber of the Kazakh Parliament in elections which international...


Ancient Egyptian artefact exhibit opens in Astana

ASTANA – An exhibit featuring the Tutankhamun collection and artefacts of ancient Egypt opened June 24 at the National Museum of Kazakhstan, giving locals and guests the chance to...


Air Astana named Best Airline in Central Asia and India

ASTANA – Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s national carrier, won the Best Airline in Central Asia and India award at the June 20 Skytrax World Airline Awards at the Le Bourget...


Duke of Gloucester unveils British pavilion at EXPO 2017

ASTANA – Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester officially opened June 26 the British national pavilion at EXPO 2017 as part of the National Day of Great Britain in Kazakhstan....


Celebrating U.S.-Kazakhstan Ties at World EXPO 2017

This year America’s Fourth of July Independence celebration will be shared with hundreds of other countries and countless guests on the other side of the world at EXPO 2017...


Kazakhstan finds its future without losing its past

As a country, Kazakhstan has set its sights firmly on the future. The continued modernisation of the economy and society is rightly seen as essential to provide our citizens...


Book on Kazakh President’s peacemaking initiatives presented in Astana

ASTANA – Prominent Kazakh diplomat Nurlan Onzhanov presented his book “Peacemaker: The Syrian Knot” during a June 29 international conference commemorating the 25th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s diplomatic service. Foreign...


Int’l expert community addresses risks of chronic non-communicable diseases

ASTANA – The international conference “Modern Approaches in Managing Socially Significant Diseases. Diabetes Mellitus” addressed June 28 the prevalence and risk factors of chronic non-communicable diseases, in particular diabetes,...


Foreign policy experts praise 25 years of Kazakh diplomacy

ASTANA –Diplomats, politicians and diplomacy experts from Kazakhstan and abroad praised the country’s quarter-century of diplomatic efforts at a June 29 conference in Astana held on the eve of...


Liquefied petroleum gas becoming very popular among Kazakh drivers

ASTANA – Kazakhstan drivers continue to convert their vehicles to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) consumption. In 2016, LPG sales increased by 43 percent, while gasoline sales fell by 5...