European Commission Proposes Simplified EU Entry for Foreign Students

ASTANA – The European Commission proposes to simplify the procedure of entry to the European Union (EU) for students and young researchers from non-EU countries. The European...


Experts See No Military Solution to Afghan Conflict

ASTANA – On April 11, an international conference on “Regional Security and the Situation in Afghanistan” took place at the Center for Military and Strategic Studies here....


Inter-Parliamentary Union to Focus on Nuclear Disarmament

The Inter-Parliamentary Union is going to focus on global nuclear disarmament at its next assembly in 2014. The decision was taken when nearly 1,000 parliamentarians from 150...


Protecting Teenagers on the Internet

Today, Internet penetration in Kazakhstan has reached almost 50 percent. There are 49.5 internet users for every 100 citizens, compared to only 15 users per 100 in...


Regional Integration Seen as Economic Priority

BAKU – Kazakhstan’s first deputy prime minister and minister for regional development Bakhytzhan Sagintayev, attended the World Economic Forum Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the South...


Head of Tennis Federation Sees Kazakh Players Winning Grand Slam Titles in Future

ASTANA – In 2007, the Head of state assigned Bulat Utemuratov the task to develop Kazakhstan’s tennis. As head of the national Tennis Federation, Utemuratov has done...


Kazakh Climber Successfully Ascends Highest Volcano of North America

ASTANA – Andrey Gundarev is known as the first citizen of Kazakhstan to ascend the highest volcano in the world called Ojos del Salado (6,893m) as part...


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...


Country hosts festival of French-speaking nations

ASTANA – From March 15 to April 6, the Alliance Française (the French Alliance) and the embassies of five French-speaking nations are holding a cultural festival in...


Singing ABC introduced in Astana

ASTANA – A rather fascinating educational guide “Danalyk alіppesі” (“ABC of Wisdom” in Kazakh) was recently presented at the Kazmediacenter here. This series include instructions, 12 magazines...


Capital’s ballet dancers score double success at international competitions

ASTANA – The soloists of the Kulyash Baiseitova National Opera and Ballet Theatre continue on promoting the capital of Kazakhstan abroad with their new victories. One soloist,...


Pink Flamingos Find Prairie in the North

ASTANA – Every April, pink flamingos flock to the heart of Kazakhstan, settling in the Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve near Astana, where they stay until late fall....


Country and People Share Same Destiny

ASTANA – “Motherland is not an empty word for me,” said Serik Rustambekov, chairperson of the Board of the Union of Architects of Astana, Honoured Architect of...


A Model for Curtailing Nuclear Proliferation

In February, Kazakhstan hosted a fresh round of talks between Iran and the group of six countries (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States and...


Regional Cooperation Key to Peace and Stability

The most recent war in Afghanistan, known as Operation Enduring Freedom, has been going on since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City and...


Economy News in Brief

• A conference entitled “Building a Green Economy in Kazakhstan” will be held on April 12, Central Communications Service Spokesman Altay Abibullayev said. Cabinet members, ambassadors and...


Business News in Brief

A three-day exhibition on modern building technology in Astana was held at the Korme complex in Astana from March 27 to March 29. It displayed construction techniques,...


Kazakh Pharmaceuticals Market Booms

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s domestic drug market experienced booming growth of up to 15 percent last year. Fueled by demand from a rapidly expanding middle class and a...


External News in Brief

President Nursultan Nazarbayev paid an official visit to China on April 5 and held talks with new President Xi Jinping. They discussed the strategic partnership between the...


Domestic News in Brief

On April 3, Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov reported to President Nursultan Nazarbayev on the country’s development in the first quarter of 2013. The president said the country...


Iran Nuclear Talks in Almaty End Without Breakthrough, Parties Agree to Stay in Touch on Future Steps

ALMATY – Saturday, April 6, saw the end of the second round of talks on Iran’s nuclear programme held here, in Kazakhstan’s largest city. Though the first...


Exhibition Shows Space History, Ambitions

ASTANA – On April 9, a weeklong exhibition “Kazakhstan: A Space Harbour” opened at the Nazarbayev Center. The exhibition is timed to coincide with UN International Space...


Trilingual Education Touted as Right Way Forward

ASTANA – On April 4, Kazakh Humanities and Law University (KazHLU) in Astana held a roundtable discussion on the theme “Multilingualism in the educational environment: problems and...


Aral Sea Rescue Fund Celebrates 20th Anniversary

ASTANA – The International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The anniversary marks two decades of mixed success in restoring ecological...


Of Astana, Its People and Beshparmak

Gareth Stamp is an expatriate citizen of the United Kingdom who has been living in Astana for two years. The Astana Times had the pleasure to talk...


Kazakhstan, Chevron Celebrate 20 Years of Partnership

ASTANA – On April 3, Chevron Oil celebrated the 20th anniversary of its operations in Kazakhstan at the Palace of Independence in the capital. “I would like...


National Day of Lovers to Recall Legendary Romance

ASTANA – On April 15, Kazakhstan will celebrate the National Day of Lovers as a tribute to the history and traditions of the Kazakh people. The holiday...


Pension System Modernization to Promote Reliability and Efficiency

Pension savings, which can only be claimed after 45 years of work, are long-term investments that can, therefore, be used for large infrastructure projects, such as the...


PM Visit Expands Ties with Ukraine

KIEV – Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov on April 4 signed an agreement in Kiev to expand ties with Ukraine. The prime minister signed a new Kazakhstan-Ukraine...


Aral Sea Rescue Fund Celebrates 20th Anniversary

ASTANA – The International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The anniversary marks two decades of mixed success in restoring ecological...