Ten Achieves Personal Scoring Record, Wins Bronze at France Figure Skating Grand Prix

Kazakhstan’s famous figure skater Denis Ten set a new personal record in the short programme at the Nov. 24 regular Grand Prix in France, gaining the best evaluation in...


New Silk Road, from Kazakhstan to UAE

Some 43 countries in the world are landlocked: 15 in Africa, 14 in Europe, 12 in Asia and two in South America. This list contains all the countries of...


Zhumat Makes Successful Transition to Drama

In my many years of translation work, an important place is taken by the work of my long-time friend, the undeniably gifted writer Zholtai Zhumat. Over a few years,...


Netherlands, Kazakhstan Share Common Interest in Energy, Dutch Economic Affairs Minister Says

The 25th session of the Energy Charter Conference kicked off in Astana on Nov. 27. During the event, authoritative representatives of the world’s energy elite discussed pressing issues of...


TCC Announces Latest Grant Winners in Increasingly Competitive Programme

ASTANA – Astana’s Technology Commercialisation Centre (TCC) announced its latest round of grant winners, which include projects Lead Expert Erik Azulay described as world class, at a Nov. 28...


UAE and Kazakhstan Celebrate UAE National Day

On Dec. 2, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) celebrates its national day. In 1971, after unification, the United Arab Emirates managed to transform themselves from desert areas inhabited by...


Bold Visions, Neither ‘Great Games’ nor ‘Game of Thrones,” along the New Silk Road

The fall in oil prices and the decisions made at the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is causing severe ripples throughout the world economy. So naturally, it...


Dear readers,

On this auspicious day, we would like to wish all of you (and ourselves) a happy fourth birthday to The Astana Times! The first issue of The Astana Times...


Islamic State Group Propaganda Video Runs Contrary to Kazakh Nature, Backfires

Concerning the latest video: references to natives of Kazakhstanoperating in Syria and Iraq have been made before. Over the year and a half since the first videos were put...


Future of Energy Market, Kazakhstan’s Energy Policy Discussed at 25th Energy Charter Conference in Astana

ASTANA – The future of the international energy market and global energy management systems, as well as a review of Kazakhstan’s energy saving and energy efficiency policies, were on...


Mobile Taxi Service Application Introduced to Kazakhstan

ASTANA – TOUCHka Ltd. has developed a mobile application, TOUCHka, which is an analogue to the Uber application in Europe and America. The application allows Astana and Almaty residents...


Kazakhstan to Play Key Role in Changing Global Economy by 2050, Says Int’l Consulting Firm

ASTANA – Global consulting giant McKinsey introduced its upcoming book “No Ordinary Disruption: The Four Forces Breaking All the Trends” at a press conference in Astana’s Marriott hotel on...


Exhibition Honouring Renowned Scientist Showcased at National Museum

ASTANA – “Uly Dalanyn Kemenger Galymy” (Brilliant Scholar of the Great Steppe), an exhibition dedicated to the 90th anniversary of Doctor of Historical Sciences Kemal Akishev, opened Nov. 20...


Dungans Are Active Members of Kazakh Society, Says Community Leader

ASTANA – There has always been enough room for all nationalities within the multi-ethnic and multicultural community of Kazakhstan. Throughout history, Kazakhs have demonstrated tolerance and compassion towards peoples...


Kazakh, Russian Intelligentsia Meet in Moscow

Poets, writers and literary critics from Kazakhstan and Russia met in Moscow on Nov. 26 for the first time in 25 years to talk about common problems and to...


Construction of Green Housing Begins in Astana

ASTANA – The construction of a residential area using green technologies has begun in Astana, Chairman of the Board of the Samruk Kazyna Real Estate Fund Bolat Palymbetov announced...


Housing Programme Construction to Start in 2015

ASTANA – Construction for Affordable Housing 2020, the national housing programme, will begin Jan. 1, First Deputy Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev announced at a Nov. 20 meeting of the...


Almaty’s Kairat Captures Kazakh Football Cup

Almaty’s Kairat defeated Aktobe 4:1 on Nov. 22 to claim the Kazakh Football Cup in Astana Arena. Aktobe scored first in the 19th minute, but Kairat’s Yury Logvinenko tied...


Chevron Programme Trains Local College Students in Career Development

ASTANA – A group of 75 college students in Astana, Almaty and Ereimentau (150 kilometres northeast of Astana) had a unique opportunity recently to receive innovative training covering all...


With Warm Embrace, Nazarbayev and Karimov Call for Stronger Ties between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan publicly confirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and friendly cooperation in Central Asia during the official visit of Uzbek leader Islam Karimov to...


Legendary Rock Band Pink Floyd Urges Restoration of Aral Sea

Showing pictures of deserts and ships standing on rocks, British rock group Pink Floyd has released a new music video highlighting the problems of the Aral Sea dryout. “Louder...


Kazakhstan Reports to UN on Country’s Efforts against Torture

Members of Kazakhstan’s government presented the country’s most recent report on Kazakhstan’s implementation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane and Degrading Treatment or Punishment on Nov....


Kazakhstan Enlists Civil Society in Fight against Corruption

ASTANA – The role of civil society was discussed Nov. 19 during the regular session of the Commission on the Fight against Corruption under President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Newly appointed...


Kazakh, Czech Presidents Discuss Expanding, Diversifying Economic Ties

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev expressed hope that the Czech Republic will assist Kazakhstan in building an economy that does not depend on natural resources during a Nov....


Diplomatic Christmas Charity Bazaar to Raise Cheer and Money

ASTANA – The Diplomatic Christmas Charity Bazaar , one of the biggest events of the holiday season, is just around the corner and bazaar Organising Committee Chairperson Jane Etienne...


Officials Present Policies on Improving Investment Climate in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry held a roundtable Nov. 21 to introduce the country’s policy to improve the investment climate and priority sectors of the domestic economy within the...


Zhanar Dungalova Is the New Golden Voice of the Turkic World

The newest “Golden Voice of the Turkic World” belongs to Kazakh singer Zhanar Dungalova, winner of the recent Turkvision Song Contest. The competition was organised within the framework of...


Nazarbayev Reflects on First Five Years of Industrial-Innovative Development Programme

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev took part in a roundtable on industrialisation issues held Nov. 20 in the Akorda presidential residence, covering the results Kazakhstan achieved during the...


Revival of the Aral Sea: Kazakh and World Efforts to Restore the Island Sea

The Aral Sea has a grand history in Kazakhstan and the Central Asian region and was once one of the four largest lakes in the world, covering 26,300 square...


Aida Premieres at Astana Opera

ASTANA – Verdi’s masterpiece “Aida” premiered Nov. 19 on the stage of the Astana Opera. Preparation took just over a month, as the staging involved all the technical possibilities...


Modernisation Increases Production at Petropavlovsk Milk Factory

The MolProduct milk factory in Petropavlovsk has increased its output to 60,000 tonnes since the beginning of the year. “We produce 25 sorts of milk with different percentages of...


Kazakh, Swiss Presidents Discuss Relations and Ukraine

ASTANA – President of the Swiss Confederation and Chairperson-in-Office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Didier Burkhalter visited Astana Nov. 20-21 to discuss with Kazakh...


Kazakhstan-Centric Mobile Messenger Service Unveiled in Astana

ASTANA – A mobile messenger service unique to Kazakhstan Aitys (iTys) was presented by the Foundation for Development of the State Language at a Nov. 19 briefing at the...


Diplomatic Dispatch

Dear readers, During the almost four years that The Astana Times has existed, foreign ambassadors, diplomats and officials at the offices of international organisations in Kazakhstan have been among...


Global Entrepreneurship Week Launches in Almaty

ASTANA – Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) launched on Nov. 18 in Almaty and will run through Nov. 23. The week, begun in 2008, is intended to spark business ideas...


Group Works to Preserve Polish Heritage in Kazakhstan, Honour Poles’ New Motherland

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is a multicultural country with more than 130 nationalities living within its borders. The Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan (APK) helps these ethnic groups to...


External News in Brief

Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov met with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili when the latter officially visited Kazakhstan. At a Nov. 12 meeting, Massimov and Garibashvili discussed a wide...


Business News in Brief

“Under the law on improvement of conditions for business, the number of procedures during the registration of enterprises will be reduced by three times,” said Minister of National Economy...


Expert-200-Kazakhstan Forum Takes on Economic Issues, Public Administration Reform

ASTANA – The Sixth Economic Forum of National Business Expert-200-Kazakhstan organised by the rating agency Expert RA Kazakhstan (RAEX) and the Expert Kazakhstan magazine was held on Nov. 14...


Winners Announced at Open Central Asia Literature Festival in Almaty

ALMATY – The third Open Central Asia Book Forum and Literary Festival was held in Almaty from Nov. 14 to 17, featuring contests, film screenings, book launches, panel discussions...


Economic News in Brief

“Work on establishing high technology productions for export in Special Economic Zone Seaport Aktau continues,” said Akim (governor) of the Mangystau region Alik Aidarbayev at a Nov. 14 Central...


AIBA Congress Discusses Important Changes for Upcoming Year in S. Korea

At the recent Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur (Amateur International Boxing Association, AIBA) Congress in Cheju, South Korea, important changes were made, questions were asked and members caught up...


Kazakhstan Ranked Last in Euro 2016 Qualifiers Group

Turkey defeated the Kazakhstan national football team in the last qualifying match of the calendar year for the Euro 2016 championship with a score of 3:1. The match at...


New Poll Shows Kazakh Citizens Have Positive Outlook on the Country, And Fundamentals Explain Why

So much of Kazakhstan is changing and modernising at an incredible pace: the country has entered into the ranks of the 50 most-competitive states, Astana has grown from a...


Secret Kazakh-US Mission to Secure Nuclear Materials Celebrates 20th Anniversary, Exemplifies Cooperation Needed Today

On Nov. 18, exactly two decades have passed since Kazakhstan and the United States concluded Project Sapphire, a joint secret operation conducted in 1994 to remove approximately 600 kilogrammes...


EBRD President Visits Tajikistan, Signs Financing Agreements with Private Sector

ASTANA – European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) President Suma Chakrabarti visited Tajikistan on Nov. 17-18, the first official visit by an EBRD president to that country in...


South African Official Promotes Business, People-to-People Connections in Astana

ASTANA – Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Nomaindiya Mfeketo visited Astana from Nov. 5-6 to co-chair the fourth round of South Africa-Kazakhstan Bilateral Consultations with Deputy Minister...


Gulshara Abdykhalykova was appointed Kazakhstan’s Secretary of State on Nov. 11, becoming the first woman to occupy such a high position in the country’s political system and the highest...


Ilyin Breaks Record to Become Four-Time Weightlifting World Champion

Two-time Olympic weightlifting gold medalist Ilya Ilyin of Kazakhstan set a new world record Nov. 15 in Almaty en route to winning his fourth Weightlifting World Championship. Ilyin snatched...


President Appoints Toleubek Alpiyev New Director of Astana Opera

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev appointed well-known and respected Toleubek Alpiyev as new director of The Astana Opera State Theatre of Opera and Ballet on Nov. 14. Alpiyev is...