Astana cycling team presents line-up for new season

ASTANA – The Astana professional cycling team members and managers presented its new line-up Dec. 8 in the capital. The team is part of the Astana Presidential...


1.2 million tonnes of cargo to be transported through Trans-Caspian route by year’s end

ASTANA – Rather than the initial plan of 700,000 tonnes of cargo, approximately 1.2 million tonnes will be transported through the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) by...


S&P gives Tengri Bank B+ rating

ASTANA – On Dec. 13 the international rating agency S&P Global Ratings confirmed the long-term credit rating of Tengri Bank at the level of B+. That rating reflects...


Almaty independent theatre raises socially sensitive issues in Astana performance

ASTANA – The Almaty-based independent theatre Artishock travelled to Astana Dec. 12 to present its hit play “Uyat,” (“Shame” in Kazakh), which was warmly welcomed in Almaty...


Challenging year should strengthen resolve to do better in 2018

As we enter the final few days of the year, turbulence seems the best way to sum up the last 12 months internationally. As this newspaper has...


Kazakh MFA launches app to assist citizens travelling abroad

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched Dec. 14 a new mobile app that will help Kazakh citizens find resources, understand local cultures and travel...


Kazakh President meets with nation’s new Supreme Mufti

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev recently congratulated Serikbay kazhy Oraz on his election as the nation’s Supreme Mufti, the highest official of the Spiritual Administration of...


Nazarbayev reshuffles heads of law enforcement structures

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced a major reshuffle Dec. 11 in the nation’s law enforcement structure, reported akorda.kz. Nazarbayev proposed appointing former Supreme Court Chairperson...


Three ice towns built in Astana for winter amusement

ASTANA – Three ice towns were built in the capital for New Year’s and opened Dec. 18, said the city’s department of culture, archives and documentation. The...


Altai Alps ski resort welcomes visitors to enjoy winter activities, improve skills

ASTANA – With its gorgeous mountain views and large variety of slopes for outdoor enthusiasts, a tour of the East Kazakhstan region is the perfect winter trip...


EP approves EU-Kazakhstan enhanced partnership agreement

ASTANA – The overwhelming majority of European Parliament (EP) members approved Dec. 12 the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) between Kazakhstan and the European Union (EU)...


Kazakhstan to consolidate energy transmission companies by 2022

ASTANA – The Kazakh government plans to consolidate the country’s electrical grid and reduce the number of energy transmission companies by 30 percent by 2022. “We expect...


UNESCO includes traditional Kazakh game on Intangible Cultural Heritage list

ASTANA – UNESCO recently included the traditional Kazakh game Asyk Atu on the organisation’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity. The inclusion came...


Paralympic athlete aims to change perception of people with limited abilities

ASTANA – Almaty resident and Paralympic athlete Serik Yesmatov, 19, is one of Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces. Despite his young age, he has already achieved numerous victories...


Mining companies in Kostanai region boost digital technology use

ASTANA – Large mining enterprises in the Kostanai region have developed and implemented roadmaps for technological modernisation under Kazakhstan’s third modernisation programme. Investments in projects executed by...


Kazakh GDP grows 3.9 percent in 11 months

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s gross domestic product (GDP) increase is expected to be 4 percent by the end of 2017 due to stable economic growth rates, said Minister...


TV films to be produced about 100 New Faces

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces will become recognisable visages. An equal number of TV films will be made about the programme’s participants and the country’s new...


Multiple arrests made in suspected laundering of more than $50 million

ASTANA – The interdepartmental investigative and operational group of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the National Security Committee apprehended Nov. 13 in Almaty Iskander Yerimbetov, Vasilina Sokolenko,...


Win in Prague secures FC Astana’s historic progress to Europa League playoffs

ASTANA – FC Astana secured a 1-0 win away against SK Slavia Prague in the sixth round of the UEFA Europa League’s group stage Dec. 8, becoming...


MBionics creates Kazakhstan’s first bionic prosthesis

ASTANA – Maulen Bekturganov, one of Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces, is the founder of MBionics, the company that developed and created the nation’s first bionic prosthetic hands...


Largest Chinese bank considering opening subsidiary in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – China Construction Bank (CCB) is considering opening a subsidiary in Kazakhstan as a result of negotiations between the governments. The parties understand the important role...


National volunteering strategy presented in Astana

ASTANA – The Kazakhstan volunteering concept was presented at a Dec. 5 first national forum in the capital devoted to International Volunteer Day. The event was held...


Cybercrimes divide the world into two

In the end of 2017, the world has developed a situation in which cybersecurity issues are considered as urgent as nuclear threats. The world has become digital....


Kazakh ban on anonymous web comments explained

ASTANA – The bill on Amendments and Additions to Some Legislative Acts on Information and Communications prohibiting anonymous Internet comments was explained recently by Minister of Information...


Officials and experts agree united efforts against corruption give positive results

ASTANA – More than 60 percent of Kazakhstan’s public services are provided in electronic format which has reduced the level of domestic corruption by two-thirds, said State...


Kazakh FM meets Austrian President, attends OSCE Ministerial in Vienna

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Kairat Abdrakhmanov met with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, and attended the 24th Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation for Security...


Artist Alexandra Roganova shares her ‘Life Cycle’

ALMATY – Any meeting with Alexandra Roganova, an artist from Almaty, is an occasion for wonder. She switches from the mystical, like Vladimir Vernadsky’s theory on the...


Astana Opera holds charity concert

ASTANA – Approximately 300 children from low-income families, those from large families and youngsters with disabilities attended the Dec. 3 Diversity of Musical Voices charity concert at...


Kazakh tourism industry on rise, figures show

ASTANA – A record number of foreign tourists visited Kazakhstan in the first nine months of 2017, according to finprom.kz analytical service, as the number traveling to...


We are only at the beginning, says Latvian ambassador of relations with Kazakhstan

ASTANA – December marks a quarter century of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Latvia. To highlight the anniversary, Latvian Ambassador Jurijs Pogrebņaks spoke about what has been...