Mazhilis meeting discusses Aral Sea protection in modern Central Asia

ASTANA – The Aral Sea problem and measures to mitigate the consequences of the drying sea were recently discussed at a meeting on the protection of water...


Mazhilis approves amendments to intellectual property rights legislation

ASTANA – Registration of intellectual property rights will soon be simplified as the Kazakh Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament) approved April 24 amendments on intellectual property legislation...


Samruk Kazyna Fund adopts new development strategy, focuses on human capital

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev approved April 19 the updated Development Strategy of the Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund for 2018-2028 and the fund’s transformation programme....


Astana exhibit celebrates Smurfs’ 60th anniversary, magical story of ‘little blue men’

ASTANA – An exhibition dedicated to the Smurfs’ 60th anniversary was held at the capital’s School Children’s Palace April 26-28 as part of the Francophonie Spring Festival....


Kazakhstan and South Korea to increase turnover

ASTANA – A Kazakh delegation met in Seoul with representatives of major South Korean business companies in conjunction with the April 17 agreement between the countries’ foreign...


Kazakhstan to start issuing e-visas in July

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will start issuing electronic visas July 1 as part of the Digital Kazakhstan programme. Visitors will be able to apply online through an electronic...


Some electricity users in Kazakhstan to be charged more in 2018

ASTANA – Some electricity users in Kazakhstan might be shocked to learn that domestic electric power prices have recently increased. As of March, Kazakh citizens using electric...


World thought leaders to gather for new Astana Economic Forum

ASTANA – The former President of France and the former Secretary-General of the United Nations and other international thought leaders will gather in Astana May 17-19 for...


Kazakhstan’s Bolashak Programme has awarded 12,831 scholarships in 25 years

ASTANA – The Kazakhstan government has awarded 12,831 Bolashak International scholarships to students in the last 25 years, according to the Centre for International Programmes press service....


NGOs, gov’t officials discuss Kazakhstan’s torture prevention efforts

ASTANA ­– The results of last year’s preventive visits to detention facilities were presented at the Kazakh Foreign Ministry April 26 as part of the second, two-day...


Medical spending up 22 percent among Kazakh population, says report

ASTANA – A recent report revealed people in Kazakhstan increased their spending on treatment 22 percent, reported finprom.kz. Approximately 14 percent of the total volume of medical...


Inclusive design centre opens in Astana

ASTANA – Wheelchair user, blogger and Elaman Social Fund for Social Innovation Projects chairperson Almaz Yerzhan knows the challenges of getting around the capital. His project, an...


Come play with us: help Astana’s Rotarians build an accessible playground for disabled children

Helping people is what Rotarians around the world have been doing since the Rotary Club, one of the world’s largest nonprofits, started back in 1905. The mission...


International MMA stars to fight in Astana at Battle of Nomads

ASTANA – The capital is set to host MMA Week May 8-12 as part of the city’s 20th anniversary celebration when the MMA Federation of Kazakhstan will...


Filmmakers from Central Asia to participate in 48 Hour Film Race

ASTANA – More than 1,500 applications have been submitted for the 48 Hour Film Race 2018 organised by the U.S. embassy in Kazakhstan. Participants from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,...


Almaty Marathon continues run as Central Asia’s largest sporting event

ASTANA – More than 14,000 people from 38 countries gathered April 22 in Almaty to take part in the Almaty Marathon, the largest sporting event in Central...


We need more livestock, says Kazakh agriculture vice minister

ASTANA – Kazakhstan needs to increase its livestock population, according to First Vice Minister of Agriculture Arman Yevniyev. The ministry expects the new cattle farming development programme...


Kazakh FM attends SCO ministerial ahead of June summit, meets Chinese counterpart

ASTANA – Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member state foreign ministers agreed April 24 on the agenda of the SCO summit to be held this June in Qingdao,...


Medical equipment database to improve healthcare facilities planning and procurement

ASTANA – A national medical equipment database will be created as part of the Densaulyk (Health) development programme, reported Minister of Healthcare Yelzhan Birtanov at the April...


Risks of natural disasters in Central Asia: how to move from response to prevention?

The forthcoming meeting of the Heads of disaster management authorities of the Central Asian states, which will be held on April 27, 2018 in Almaty, Kazakhstan, is...


Romania, Kazakhstan interested in multiple partnerships, Romanian MP says

ASTANA – What do Kazakhstan and Romania have in common? Which areas are best for cooperation for the two states? Tamara-Dorina Ciofu, member of the Chamber of...


AIFC discusses perspectives of cooperation at Boao Forum for Asia

GUEST COMMENTARY ASTANA – A delegation from Kazakhstan delegation participated in the annual Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) in Hainan Province, China, earlier in April. This year’s...


Kazakhstan’s diverse history contributes to a united present

When commentators identify Kazakhstan’s achievements since independence, the focus is often on the economy and growing international status. These are, of course, both areas which deserve to...


FC Astana ties with FC Kairat in Kazakhstan Championship’s central match

ASTANA – The main event of the past football weekend was the match of Kazakhstan’s championship fifth round between the country’s two strongest clubs, FC Astana and...


Kazakh anti-nuclear activist calls US-North Korea summit ‘unprecedented’, cautious about outcome

ASTANA – This year is a milestone for global nuclear non-proliferation efforts with a much-anticipated meeting of South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim...


Kazakhstan launches 72-hour visa-free regime in Astana, Almaty for Indian citizens flying local airlines

ASTANA – Indian citizens flying thorough Kazakhstan with local airlines can enjoy a 72-hour visa-free stopover in Astana and Almaty from April 23 until Dec. 31, according...


External news in brief

During his first visit to Kazakhstan, International Anti-Corruption Academy Dean and Executive Secretary Martin Kreutner met with Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov to discuss education-related issues in...


National news in brief

Burabai Summer Fest, an international children’s and youth TV festival, will be held June 22-July 3 in the Shchuchinsk-Burabai resort zone north in Astana, said Akmola region...


Economic News in Brief

The growth of social and economic indicators of Astana and new approaches to tax administration allow the city to occupy a leading position in ensuring the growth...


Business news in brief

KMF, a microfinance organisation, and International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, signed a memorandum allowing the former to take a three-year, $82...