Life Expectancy Grows, Mother and Child Mortality Decreases

ASTANA – There are now more people living in Kazakhstan than in the past few years, and they live longer and have healthier lives than before, Minister of Healthcare...


Kazatomprom Reports Year of Achievements

ASTANA – On January 24, the Kazatomprom National Atomic Company reported its production activities in 2012. The company’s work has been conducted within its development strategy, aimed at keeping...


Pope Welcomes Kazakhstan’s Efforts to Promote Inter-Religious Understanding

Pope Benedict XVI welcomed the efforts of President Nursultan Nazarbayev to promote inter-religious and inter-cultural understanding on Feb. 6 and gave his apostolic blessing to Kazakhstan’s initiatives in this...


Hollywood’s Russell to Make Kazakh-Russian Comedy Thriller

ASTANA – Famous Hollywood director Chuck Russell who made the hugely popular films “The Mask,” “Eraser” and “The Scorpion King” will make the joint Kazakh-Russian film “Politsioner” (a tongue-in-cheek...


New Astana E-Ambulance Service Improves Survival Rates

ASTANA – After its first year in operation, Astana’s new E-ambulance service is proving its worth. The service was introduced as part of the Smart Astana programme in...


Kazakhstan to Launch New Generation Green Smart Mine in 2015

ASTANA – In keeping with the global trend for saving energy and resources, the Kazatomprom National Atomic Company (Kazatomprom) announced the development of a smart uranium mine project...


State Policy to Unlock Women’s Potential

The role of women in building a strong society was reflected in the president’s state-of-the-nation address, Kazakhstan-2050 Strategy: A New Policy of the Established State, which also focused on...


President Nazarbayev’s Visit to Spain Advances Political, Economic Ties

In a sign of growing friendship and expanding strategic partnership, President Nursultan Nazarbayev paid a working visit to Spain on Feb. 5-6 for meetings with King Juan Carlos I,...


Almaty’s Tram Café Is Favourite Ride for Romance

ALMATY – An unusual new travelling café in a restored tram has become a hot stop for dating couples and proposals of marriage. The tram café travels on a...


Generations of Handicraft Masters Preserve National Traditions

ALMATY REGION – Battle swords, jars for koumiss (the traditional mare’s milk drink) and jewelry boxes are all made from natural materials at Akshi village, Enbekshikazakh district, where generations...


Sotheby’s to Display Works of Kazakh Painters

ASTANA – For the first time, selected artwork from the Caucasus to Kazakhstan will be displayed at Sotheby’s in London in a selling exhibition called “At the Crossroads,” open...


Improved Adoption Policies Protect Children’s Rights

ASTANA – One of the priorities of state policy in Kazakhstan is the right of every child to live and grow up in a family. Raissa Sher, Chairwoman of...


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....


National Greco-Roman Wrestling Team to Compete at World Cup

ASTANA – On Feb. 19-20, Kazakhstan will join nine of the world’s top national wrestling teams in the Iranian capital Tehran to determine who is king of the mat....


Moscow Meetings Advance Kazakh, Russian Relations

President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Moscow on Feb. 8, 2013 and agreed to increase cooperation on numerous issues, including continuing the mutually beneficial cooperative...


Foreign Minister Attends OIC Summit in Egypt

A delegation from Kazakhstan led by Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov took part in the 12th summit of the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which opened on Feb.6 in...


Kazakhstan Receives UNDP Award for Physically Challenged Activist’s Success Story

On January 28, in New York at the Executive Board of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) session, the second issue of The Development Advocate magazine was presented. It included...


Astana Arlans Defeat American Knockouts

ASTANA – On February 1, the Astana Arlans boxing team continued their run of unbeaten tournaments and KO-ed the American Knockouts. In the first fight, Kazakhstan’s Ismail Akhunov beat...


Film by Kazakh Director to Compete at Berlinale

ASTANA – For the first time in Kazakhstan’s history, a film directed by a Kazakh director has been chosen to enter the Berlin International Film Festival. “Harmony Lessons,” by...


Khasangaliev: The Man Who Writes Folk Hymns

ASTANA – Since its creation 33 years ago, “Atameken” (“Land of My Fathers” in Kazakh) has remained as popular as ever. “Atameken,” with lyrics by Kadyr Myrzaliev and music...


Business News in Brief

Kazakhstan’s state oil and gas company KazMunaiGas has bought a 24.5 percent stake held by U.S. energy major ConocoPhillips in the Nursultan offshore oil block in the Caspian Sea....


Future of Nuclear Power Moves into Focus of Considerations

ASTANA –Today, the power industry is the most important driving-force for world progress. Many believe that the greatest contribution to meeting the demand for energy and providing stable socio-economic...


Light Rail System to Come to Astana by 2017

A new light rail transportation system is due to appear in Astana by 2017. According to the akimat (district government) of Astana’s Saryarka district, up to 50 light...


In Astana, National Tennis Team Advances to Davis Cup Quarterfinals

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national tennis team has advanced to the Davis Cup quarterfinals against the Czech Republic after their spectacular win over Austria in the Davis Cup first round...


Astana to Introduce New Venue for Connoisseurs of Art

ASTANA – In late January, a new State Opera and Ballet Theatre “Astana Opera” welcomed the journalists. The first season is to be opened in April 2013. The new...


National Wrestling Team Trains in U.S., Achieves First Peaks

Nurmakhan Tynaliev Kazakhstan’s athletes are preparing for a major international tournament to be held in memory of the famous American wrestler, Olympic and world champion Dave Schultz. The...


Job Opportunities Offer Balkhash Region Residents New Perspective

BALKHASH – On the bank of the ancient lake this company town, which specialises in copper production, is working to meet the challenge set by President Nursultan Nazarbayev in...


A Struggle of Ideologies

The spread of international terrorism and extremism, as noted in the Military Doctrine of Kazakhstan, represents the greatest danger among the new risks and threats to our security. “Terrorism...


Kazakhstan’s Global Rankings Mean More Sustained Efforts Needed

The Economist Intelligence Unit in London has included Kazakhstan on its most recent list of best countries to be born in. In the ranking of 80 countries with the...


Pulse Dance Ensemble Enjoys Triumphal Return

ASTANA – The folk dance company Pulse, from Petropavlovsk, took the first place prize at the 9th International Competition of Youth and Children’s Art Workshop. The competition took place...


Sky’s the Limit as Kazakhstan Seeks Wider International Cooperation in Space

Kazakhstan is proud to be the host of the Baikonur cosmodrome, the world’s first and largest operational space launch facility. A busy spaceport, launching numerous commercial, military and scientific...


Shymkent Poultry Farms Increase Locally Produced Turkey Meat Supply

SHYMKENT – By the end of this year, the capacity of the Ordabasy Kus LLP poultry farm to produce and process turkey meat will double. JSC KazAgro approved...


Ak Zhol Party Continues to Advance Business Interests

President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s latest State of the Nation address on Dec. 14, 2012, announced the new Strategy 2050. It has opened new horizons and opportunities for the people of...


Children with Disabilities: Social Challenge or Opportunity to Unite and Improve?

KYZYLORDA – Around the world, children with disabilities are often locked away in institutions and forgotten. As conditions in these institutions are often poor, many children never make...


Country Rises in World Bank Business Conditions Rankings

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has been praised for its improved business climate in a World Bank report released last year. The Kazakhstan government discussed the report in its January...


New Kostanay SUV Plant Will Boost Auto Boom

ASTANA – A new auto plant for the welding and painting of Nomad SUVs for Kazakhstan’s domestic auto market will open in Kostanay city over the next year. Agromash...


Experts Discuss Prospects for Kaznet Development

ASTANA – On Jan. 22, 2013, an event held in KazMediaCenter brought together Kazakhstan’s Internet experts and activists to discuss the state and future of, Kaznet, and especially...


Nationwide Ice Fishing Championship Draws Country’s Best Fishermen

ASTANA – The Kazakhstan National Ice Fishing Championship was held under the auspices of the Federation of Sport Fishing of the Republic of Kazakhstan from January 18 to...


Kazakhstan’s Alexey Poltoranin Wins the Cross-Country World Cup Races

Kazakhstan’s skiing champion Alexey Poltoranin has secured victory in the men’s 15-kilometre classical mass start race in La Clusaz France in the cross-country World Cup on January 19. Poltoranin...


Zhanatas City Undergoes Revival

ZHAMBYL REGION – Zhanatas, the town of miners with the unique phosphate base (60 percent of the country’s reserves), is undergoing rapid growth and economic diversification thanks to...


Arkalyk – Shubarkol Railway Spurs Town’s Development

KOSTANAY REGION – A comprehensive plan for the development of Arkalyk City for the period of 2013-2015 was approved at a recent Kostanai oblast maslikhat (local administration) session. Despite...


Comprehensive Plan Yields Promising Results in Karaganda Region

ZHEZKAZGAN – The socioeconomic growth of eight industrial settlements in the Karaganda region is directly associated with the state programme of single industry towns’ development. Each of them was...


Dark Art Designer Reveals Her Creative Secrets

Photographer, artist and designer Veronica Preobrazhenskaya became world famous by creating fantastic collages. Within a short time, the 20-year-old girl from Kazakhstan entered the elite circle of the best...


Foreign Minister’s EU Visit Strengthens Cooperation

ASTANA – On Feb. 3, 2013, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov finished his official visit to the European Union, which included stops in Brussels, Berlin...


President Gives Cabinet New Tasks to Fulfil Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy

By Rysty Alibekova, Maryam Turezhanova, Assel Mukanova and Vladimir Kuryatov ASTANA – On Jan. 23, 2013, President Nursultan Nazarbayev chaired a special Cabinet meeting at the Akorda presidential palace...


Kentau Industrial Zone Development Begins

KENTAU, SOUTH KAZAKHSTAN – Kentau is the only town of seven cities in southern Kazakhstan included in the single industry towns’ development programme. To return to its former glory,...


External News in Brief

World powers have proposed holding a new round of talks with Iran over Tehran’s nuclear programme in the week of February 25 in Kazakhstan, a spokesman for EU Foreign...


Domestic News in Brief

President Nursultan Nazarbayev has received Agriculture Minister Assylzhan Mamytbekov who reported on the agricultural sector results for 2012 and main approaches to its further development until 2020. “The...


Nation Promotes, Protects Women’s and Children’s Rights

ASTANA – On January 24, a panel discussion on the implementation of the National Human Rights Action Plan of the Republic of Kazakhstan 2009-2012 took place in Astana. The...


President Attends Ballet Premiere

ASTANA – On January 27, President Nursultan Nazarbayev visited the Kulyash Baiseitova National Opera and Ballet Theatre and attended a performance of the Ludwig Minkus ballet “Don Quixote,” directed...