Classic Rock Rocks Kazakh Fans

ASTANA – Although Kazakh rock groups aren’t extremely successful in the country and virtually unknown abroad, American and Russian rock music is popular in some regions of...


Estonia Considering Shipping Goods Between Europe and China via Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Estonia is the latest country to publicly mull using Kazakhstan’s transit infrastructure to ship goods between China and Europe. “We’re considering the shipment of merchandise...


Afghanistan Should Not Be Left Alone

Conflict and suffering has again sadly being dominating international headlines. The Middle East is engulfed in a struggle for decency against the so-called Islamic State. The rise...


Ambassadors Club in Astana Opens New Season

ASTANA – After a long hiatus, a club meant to bring together on a regular basis international chiefs of missions is reviving its activities in the newly...


Air Astana Introduces Self Check-In Terminals in Kazakh Airports

ASTANA – Check-In for Air Astana passengers just got a little easier. Kazakhstan’s flagship air carrier Air Astana recently introduced Kazakhstan’s first passenger self check-in kiosks for...


Belarus, Kazakhstan Work Together in Volatile Economic Times

ASTANA – In his interview with The Astana Times, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Kazakhstan Anatoly Nichkassov underlined the importance of growing economic relations between...


Trumpeter’s Journey Takes him From Wales to Astana Opera

ASTANA – Astana has been home to a globetrotting musician for the past two years, and Astana Opera for one. Originally from northwest Wales, Ross Clarke came...


EXPO 2017 Promoted in Germany, Norway and Netherlands

ASTANA – From March 4 to 9, a Kazakh delegation headed by EXPO 2017 Commissioner and First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Rapil Zhoshybayev visited Germany to...


We Are All the APK, Jewish Cultural Centre Founder Says

Alexander Baron was behind the creation of the ethnic cultural centres in Kazakhstan, so he can rightfully say that the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan (APK)...


Kazakh Senate Chairman Visits New York, Invites UN Secretary-General to Astana Int’l Religious Congress

ASTANA – Kazakh Senate Chairman Kassym-Jomart Tokayev completed his official visit to New York March 4, which was devoted to the upcoming Fifth Congress of Leaders of...


Kazakhstan Beats Italy, Advances to Davis Cup Quarter Finals

ASTANA – The Kazakhstan Davis Cup team beat Italy 3:2 in team competition on March 6-8 at Astana’s National Tennis Centre to advance to the Davis Cup...


Break of Reality Rock Like They Mean it

ASTANA – The spring has started with a fresh look at classical music and rock for many music lovers, as the American cello rock band Break of...


Demand for Public Housing Increasing in Kazakhstan

Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Bakytzhan Sagintayev reported recently that the number of Kazakhs seeking public housing has increased. “In Kazakhstan, more than 300,000 people are standing...


Aisha Bibi Mausoleum Construction Techniques Remain a Mystery to Researchers

“Autumn … Clouds … The Earth is beautiful.” For almost 1,000 years this line in Arabic alphabet Kufic script has decorated the patterned column of the famous...


Astana-Seoul Flights to Be Available by Summer

ASTANA – Flights from Astana to Seoul will be available this summer, according to a March 4 report from the press service of the Ministry of Investment...


Early Presidential Election Meant to Solidify National Stability

Political life in Kazakhstan stands on the eve of an event of paramount importance for any country: a presidential election. Over the last three weeks, the political...


Kazakhstan to Go Dark for the Environment

Turn out the lights for 60 minutes. Pledge to save the planet for a lifetime. Kazakhstan will join 161 countries and territories around the world March 28...


Kazakh President Congratulates Women on International Women’s Day

ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev held the traditional meeting dedicated to International Women’s Day with prominent women from all over Kazakhstan in the Akorda presidential palace on...


External News in Brief

“We believe the Astana Summit will be the last to determine the legal status of the Caspian Sea,” Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov said on March...


National News in Brief

“In 2015, there will be 157.3 billion tenge (US$848.4 million) of available agricultural subsidies, which is almost 1.8 times more than in 2013,”arecent report of the Ministry...


In Brussels, Idrissov Discusses Easing Visa Regimes, Enhancing Cooperation, Contacts Between EU and EAEU

BRUSSELS – Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov of Kazakhstan headed his country’s delegation to the 14th meeting of the Kazakhstan-European Union Cooperation Council in Brussels on March 3....


Business News in Brief

“As part of the additional budget allocation to support agriculture, it is planned to increase the amount of financing of the programme of agribusiness entities from 300...


Economic News in Brief

“The National Bank of Kazakhstan and the government of Kazakhstan have developed an action plan to reduce the dollarisation of the economy for 2015-2016. The plan includes...


Kazakhstan’s Only Tire Recycling Plant Reopens in Astana

Production at Kazakhstan’s only tire recycling plant has begun rolling again after being shut down for two years. The German equipment and technologies used at the plant...


Multiple Organisations Work to Revive Saiga Population

On the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, which has been guiding conservation efforts for more than five decades, the saiga antelope has moved...


Farming to Play Key Role in Kazakhstan’s Economic Anti-Crisis Programme

The economies of Europe and Eurasia are facing significant challenges today, given the fallout from ongoing geopolitical tensions around the conflict-hit Ukraine, and as a result are...


TURKSOY Department Opens at Al-Farabi University

ASTANA – As part of activities celebrating Almaty as the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2015, the faculty of Oriental Studies of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University...


Iranians Have Adapted Well to Their New Home in Kazakhstan, Says Community Leader

The first wave of Iranian migration to Kazakh territories began in the early 19th century, as many individuals travelled to a different country in search of work....


Kazakh CEC Announces 14 Nominees for Presidential Election So Far

ASTANA – The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Kazakhstan has released an updated list of candidates who plan to take part in the country’s presidential election next...


Kazakh, Iranian Navies to Strengthen Cooperation

A delegation from the Islamic Republic of Iran headed by General in Chief of the Iranian Naval Forces Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari made an official visit to...