Author-Fighter to Shoot Series about Kazakhstan’s Olympians

ASTANA – The well-known Kazakhstan’s and Dutch director Peter Berman is to begin shooting a television series titled “The Olympians.” The series will focus on the stories of three...


UN to Launch Human Rights Project in Central Asia

ASTANA – A new project, “Human Rights Protection in Central Asia,” has been launched by the Central Asia Regional Office of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner...


Government Launches Major Civil Service Reform

ASTANA – Astana has hosted two high-level meetings to launch a wide-ranging programme of civil service reform in Kazakhstan. On March 15, Alikhan Baimenov, the chairman of the Agency...


Government Forecasts 6 Percent 2013 Growth

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economy is projected to grow by a robust 6 percent this year, the government and the National Bank announced March 13. In a statement, the government...


Kazakhstan Becomes Green Energy Leader

Kazakhstan is forging ahead to become a regional and global leader in developing solar power and other sustainable energy technologies. On March 7, a pilot line for the production...


Ski Champion Vladimir Smironov Gives Nod to Successor

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s best skier Alexey Poltoranin is having a remarkable season with victories in the World Cup, International Ski Federation (FIS) competitions, and winning two bronze medals at...


State Language Reaches a New Stage of Development

In the strategy Kazakhstan 2050, President Nursultan Nazarbayev called the expansion of the state language use one of the priorities for further development of the country. Stressing the importance...


Poetry Masters Perform in Folk Festival

SHYMKENT – The best akyns, or traditional folk poets in Kazakhstan participated in the national aitys, or folk poetry and music festival this week to celebrate the 350th anniversary...


Samruk Kazyna Sets 2013 Goals

ASTANA – The Samruk Kazyna National Sovereign Fund is embarking on a massive programme of railway and port construction this year, its chairman Umirzak Shukeyev told an expanded meeting...


Iran Celebrates No-Rooz, Spring New Year, As Others Join Holiday Mood

Happy New Year! March 21, the first day of spring, is traditionally No-Rooz (also called Nawruz), the Iranian New Year. Its customs have spread throughout Central Asia and beyond,...


First Kazakh Kures Championship Held in Africa

ASTANA – The first championship tournament of the Kazakh traditional wrestling called Kazakh kures took place under hot South African skies from Feb. 26 to March 3. The host...


Agrobusiness 2020 to Boost Competitiveness, Growth

ASTANA – At a meeting of the Government chaired by Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov early this year, Minister of Agriculture Asylzhan Mamytbekov presented the new programme Agrobusiness 2020, which...


Nauryz is coming

ASTANA – While the major celebrations of Nauryz are only coming to residents of western Kazakhstan, and Mangystau in particular, many people there have already celebrated “Amal – meiramy”...


New Sheraton to Open in Aktobe This Year

ASTANA – Sheraton style and luxury are coming to Aktobe. On Jan. 11, 2013, the Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide of America and the Akcept Contraction Company of Kazakhstan...


Experts Discuss Progress and Prospects for Education Improvement

ASTANA – Ministers, government officials and deputies of the Mazhilis of Parliament of Kazakhstan, as well as guests from the United States, South Korea, China and Malaysia gathered Feb....


Residents of Astana, Other Cities and Towns Celebrate Maslenitsa

ASTANA – Maslenitsa (or Butter Week in Russian) is the most cheerful and brightest among Orthodox Christian holidays, symbolizing the end of winter and the expectation of the awakening...


KazMunayGas E&P Launches Major Development Plan

KazMunayGas Exploration & Production (KMG E&P) has launched an ambitious, three year, 100 billion tenge plan to dramatically expand its oil and gas production. The company is also undertaking...


Helping Semipalatinsk: A Job Half-Done

The Semipalatinsk nuclear test site in Kazakhstan was the location for almost a quarter of all nuclear weapons tests in the world since 1945. Their total number exceeded 2,000....


Economy News in Brief

Kazatomprom Managing Director Valery Shevelev said a new factory to make wind turbines would be built this year in Kazakhstan. The new wind turbines will be available for private...


Business News in Brief

Verny Capital, a Kazakhstan investment company, said on February 20 that in partnership with Kazzinc it had acquired the Raygorodok gold deposit, located in the Akmola region and the...


External News in Brief

President Nursultan Nazarbayev has sent a telegram of congratulations to Cuban President Raul Castro on his re-election. “I believe that dynamic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Cuba based on mutual...


Domestic News in Brief

The festival of Nauryz will be celebrated from Thursday, March 21 to Saturday, March 23. Since Saturday is on the weekend, the last day of the holiday will be...


Saudabayev Meets Norwegian, Int’l Disarmament Experts, Martin Sheen

OSLO – During a recent visit to Norway, Chairman of the Commission for the Non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction under the President, Director of the Nazarbayev Center Kanat...


Tasmagambetov Reports on Astana’s Preparations for EXPO 2017

ASTANA – At a town hall meeting at the end of February, Mayor of Astana Imangali Tasmagambetov reported on the progress of work that is planned to be conducted...


President Celebrates Women’s Achievements

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev has held his traditional annual meeting in the Akorda presidential palace with the Koktem Shuagy women public organization to celebrate International Women’s Day. Women...


Poetry Readings Reveal New Talents

ASTANA – On one night in early March, with the lights dimmed and the stage set in a newly opened café, a community of strangers enveloped deep into words...


EU Envoys Celebrate Ties, Go Back to School

ASTANA – To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and the European Union, the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan and the embassies of EU...


Prevention Is New Strategy to Fight Corruption

The following is an interview with Rashid Tussupbekov, Chairman of the Agency on the Fight against Economic and Corruption Crimes (Financial Police). What main objectives did the Financial Police...


UN System in Kazakhstan: 20 Years of Sustainable Cooperation

In 2012 UN team marked its 20 years anniversary of presence in Kazakhstan. The first UN office was opened in Almaty back in 1993, right after the conclusion of...


Poltoranin Wins Silver

Kazakhstan’s champion skier Alexey Poltoranin won the silver medal in the 15 km (9 mile) race in the 13th stage of the World Cup which was held on March...


Kazakhstan Boxers Win Gold Medals in Germany

Kazakh boxers Birzhan Zhakypov and Merey Akshalov both won gold medals in the prestigious Chemistry Cup which was held on March 6-9 in the Sports Centre in Halle, Germany....


Almaty Seeks Role as Central Asian Financial Centre

ALMATY – Almaty is the biggest city in Kazakhstan, with a population of 1.5 million people, representing nearly 10 percent of the population of Kazakhstan. It is located in...


Zarina Tukhtieva Shines as Ice Hockey Star

ALMATY – Women’s ice hockey star Zarina Tukhtieva has just struck gold at Kazakhstan’s Third Winter Games tournament leading Almaty’s Aisulu team to the national championship. The 25-year-old Tukhtieva...


New Law to Boost Defence Lawyers’ Rights

ASTANA – On Feb. 28, a round table on enhancing the role of defence lawyers in protecting constitutional rights and freedoms in criminal proceedings took place here. The gathering...


Young Astana Artists Create Impressionist Works

ASTANA – Kazakh National University of Arts students in the visual arts, musicology and choreography recently discussed impressionism at a student conference held on the premises of the Kulanshi...


Striving for a Nuclear Weapons Free World

The participation of Kazakhstan’s delegation in two major conferences on the humanitarian impact of the use of nuclear weapons in Oslo in early March offered a unique opportunity to...


Kazakhstan’s Best Falconers Compete in National Championship

ASTANA – The best falconers from across the Kazakh steppe gathered in the Almaty region’s district of Nura Feb. 21-23 for the annual National Berkutchi (falconer in Kazakh) Championship...


Ballet Stars Shine on International Arena

ASTANA – Kazakh artists successfully represented the country in the gala concert “Young Stars of World Ballet” held in the German city of Mainz. In a letter to Kazakhstan’s...


First Tamgaly Tas Festival to Be Held in April

ASTANA – The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has declared 2013 the year of tourism, ecological culture and environmental protection. As part of the events of this year, on...


Scythian Tattoos Gain Popularity in Astana

ASTANA – Tattoos and body decorations have been traditions in many cultures for thousands of years. They demonstrated membership in groups, showed status, served as good luck charms, indicated...


University of Arts Holds Anniversary Concert

ASTANA – On March 6, the University of the Arts held its 15th anniversary concert in the Central Concert Hall. The dean of the university, internationally acclaimed violinist Aiman...


World Anticipating Next Round of Iran’s Nuclear Programme Talks

ASTANA – On February 27, after two days of talks between EU3+3 and Iran the parties agreed to hold a meeting of technical experts in Istanbul on March 18,...


Foreign Minister Visits India to Advance Economic, Political Ties

ASTANA – On March 3-5, a delegation from Kazakhstan led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Erlan Idrissov and including NAC Kazatomprom JSC Board Chairman Vladimir Shkolnik and JSC Kirov...


New Book Explores Kazakhstan’s Multilateral Diplomacy Efforts

ASTANA – On March 6, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented the book “Kazakhstan in the International Community (Essays of Multilateral Diplomacy)” edited by former Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov...


Kyzylorda Governor Tackles Regional Issues

KYZYLORDA – Gov. Krymbek Kusherbayev faces a unique combination of challenges and environmental problems in his Kyzylorda region. First, Kusherbayev is trying to revive the long-famous fishing industry in...


Deputy FM Attends Geneva Disarmament Conference

ASTANA – On Feb. 26, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexey Volkov participated in the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland. As a leading nation in the global process of nuclear...


Oil and Gas Industry Enters Era of Growth

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s oil industry is entering a new era of growth. In the years of national independence oil exports have increased from 13 million tons to 71 million...


Forum Showcasing People Success Stories Tours Country

ASTANA – A unique forum, “My Destiny is My Country’s Destiny,” kicked off its nationwide tour on Feb. 14 in Yereimentau and Feb. 18 in Korgalzhyno districts in the...


Nationwide Donations Offer Hope to Sick Child

ASTANA – On Feb. 22, the Kazakhstan TV channel and Zhas Otan, the youth wing of the Nur Otan political party, organised a charity concert, “Heart to Heart,” at...


Nation Remembers Warrior Women of the Great Steppe

ASTANA – Today, 8,000 women in Kazakhstan have dedicated themselves to the defence of their country, operating rockets and artillery, serving as air defence troops and in other forces....