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....


ZETA Company Makes Furniture, Creates Jobs

ALMATY – The ZETA Company is expanding to take opportunity of growing markets for its furniture at home and abroad. The government has approved a 75 million tenge grant...


Kazakhstan, Japan Launch New Projects Beyond Energy

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Japan have agreed at a recent Tokyo meeting to dramatically expand their industrial cooperation and launch a new series of joint ventures beyond the energy...


New Tourist Routes in Eastern Kazakhstan

EAST KAZAKHSTAN – East Kazakhstan is a land of peaks and valleys, with heights ranging from 145 to 4,500 metres above sea level. The highest point is the peak...


Women’s Chess Sees Boost as Young Talent Grows Up

ASTANA – In the midst of the Fourth FIDE Women’s World Team Championship held in Astana, The Astana Times met International Grandmaster Konstantin Landa, who, along with coach...


Kazakhstan Participates in Fifth Forum of UN Alliance of Civilisations

ASTANA – A delegation from Kazakhstan, headed by Chairman of the Senate and Head of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions Kairat Mami,...


EU 3+3, Iran Agree to New Nuclear Talks in Almaty in April

ALMATY – High-level talks held this week between EU3+3 representatives and Iran over Iran’s nuclear program resulted in an agreement to continue negotiations April 5-6 in Almaty. That meeting...


Time for Energy of the Future Is Now

In four years, Astana will host the international exhibition EXPO 2017, which is a symbol of industrialisation and represents a platform from which to demonstrate technical and technological achievements....


First Day of Iran Nuclear Programme Talks Ends With No Significant Results; Talks to Continue on Feb. 27

ALMATY – Negotiators from China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States gathered here on Feb. 26 for talks with Iran aimed at finding a solution...


Toyota Signs Deals to Make SUVs in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has signed an agreement with Toyota Motors to make its first-ever SUV in the country. On Feb. 12, the government and Toyota signed a Memorandum of...


A Question of Humanity

Those who forget the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them. We are the Hibakusha, survivors of the nuclear bombs used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and people harmed...


New Motorways, High-Speed Rail Links, Train Station Planned for EXPO 2017

ASTANA – It’s about to get a lot easier to drive between Almaty and Astana, Kazakhstan’s two main business and government hubs. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport and Communications plans...


Kazakh Teams Play in Winter Special Olympics

ASTANA – Seven teams from across Kazakhstan took part in the World Special Olympics Winter Games, held from Jan. 29 to Feb. 5, in the South Korean city of...


Seven Children Get Expensive Care Abroad

Seven children were able to get expensive treatment abroad thanks to Alexandre Vinokurov, who put up his champion’s bike for a charity auction, and raised money amounting to 230,000...


NGOs, Government Tackle Problems Related to Youth Migration

The Soros Foundation Kazakhstan recently presented in Almaty a study on the problem of mass youth migration trying to draw additional attention to the problems remaining in this area....


Turkish Expat Sees Astana as Depiction of Country’s Future

ASTANA – Tarik Volkan Oskay, director general of Sembol Investment and Development came to Kazakhstan for the first time at the end of 1996 to meet the family of...


EU and Kazakhstan: Twenty Steps Towards Each Other, Twenty Years of Comprehensive and Vibrant Partnership

This year, the European Union and Kazakhstan celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. On the eve of the anniversary, on 29 January, Foreign Minister Idrissov...


Fighting for the Rule of the People

The Communist People’s Party’s faction in the Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan was not built from scratch: We have been involved in national politics for a long time....


Expanded Microcredit Programmes to Boost Farming

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has vast opportunities and resources for agricultural development. It is already one of the world’s top 10 wheat producers and a global leader in exporting flour....


Social Media: Shaping The Way We See the World or Shaping the New World Itself?

The rise of the Internet has spurred the development of web-based communication platforms. Digital platforms have been growing stronger throughout the last decade, facilitating the exchange of information. Online...


Economy News in Brief

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (ERBD) has predicted that, in 2013, the Kazakhstan economy will grow by six percent, confirming its forecast of October 2012. In 2012,...


Business News in Brief

Kazakhstan has allocated 1 billion tenge ($6.7 million) for people needing organs transplants abroad this year, Azhar Tugaliyeva, director of medical aid organisations at the Health Ministry, said. “Our...


Major Transport Corridor to Connect Kazakhstan, Russia, China by 2015

ASTANA – Russia, China and the European Union have signed new agreements with Kazakhstan giving the go-ahead to complete the Western Europe-Western China international transport corridor by 2015. The...


External News in Brief

Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov spoke on the phone with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Feb. 19 to discuss bilateral relations, the upcoming talks over Iran’s nuclear...


Domestic News in Brief

The working population of Kazakhstan will grow to 9.5 million by 2017, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection said in a statement. However, the ministry said the working...


Book Explores Kazakhstan’s Oil and Gas Industry History

Oil and politics go hand in hand. Most significant events in world politics from the second half of 20th to the beginning of the 21st centuries – coups, military...


National Tennis Federation Wants to Breed Future Grand Slam Winners

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national tennis team achieved a significant victory on their home court in the first round of the latest Davis Cup World Group competition. In the wake...


Astana Exhibition Celebrates Kazakhstan-France Relations

ASTANA – From the Louvre to the cuisine to the language, Kazakhstan has declared 2013 the Year of France in Kazakhstan and has 12 months of events planned to...


Let Us Act before It Is Too Late

I want to address the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea as a survivor of nuclear weapons testing with the words of Kazakhstan’s writer Rollan Seysenbayev: “Pursuing...


Almaty Becoming Central Asia’s Financial Hub

Almaty is establishing itself as Central Asia’s business, tourism and transportation hub. “Kazakhstan today has a thriving economy, governed by consumers, not plans. With material improvements, the city has...


Curling Comes to the Capital

ASTANA – This year, one of the most modern ice rinks on the continent hosted the first curling tournament in the history of Kazakhstan’s capital city Astana. Managers of...


Almaty Readies to Host Int’l Powers for Talks over Iran’s Nuclear Programme

The world’s powers, including Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States, are set to meet with Iran in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Feb. 26, for a new round...


Astana Condemns North Korean Nuclear Test

ASTANA – Kazakhstan, which experienced firsthand the devastating effects of nuclear weapons testing under the Soviet Union, has joined other nations in condemning the latest underground nuclear test conducted...


Ecotourism Growing in South Kazakhstan

SOUTH KAZAKHSTAN – Ecotourism could become a profitable part of the South Kazakhstan region’s budget. The number of domestic and foreign tourists eager to summit the snowy mountain peaks,...