Kazakh Citizens ‘Write History’ by Voting in National Referendum

ASTANA – Kazakh citizens “are writing history by expressing their opinions and positions on crucial strategic issues related to the country’s future,” said Daulet Urankhayev, an employee at UEFA...


Over 7,000 Kazakh Citizens Vote in Nuclear Power Plant Referendum Abroad

ASTANA – As of 7 p.m. Astana time, 7,358 Kazakh citizens abroad cast their votes in the national referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant, marking a...


Int’l Observers Report No Violations at Kazakhstan’s Nuclear Power Plant Referendum

ASTANA – International observers noted a well-organized voting process during Kazakhstan’s nuclear power plant referendum on Oct. 6, reporting no barriers or violations. Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission has accredited...


Kazakh Citizens Head to Polls for Nuclear Power Plant Referendum

ASTANA—Kazakh citizens are heading to the polls on Oct.6 to vote in a public referendum on the construction of the nation’s first nuclear power plant. At polling station No....


Referendum Valid: Majority of Eligible Voters Turn Out for Kazakhstan’s National Referendum 

ASTANA – More than half of the eligible voters participated in the national referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan, reported the Central Election Commission...


Kazakh Citizens Vote in Referendum Abroad

ASTANA – Polling stations for Kazakhstan’s referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant were first opened in several Asian countries, including Japan and South Korea, on Oct....


Astana Honors Denis Ten with International Figure Skating Tournament

ASTANA—Nearly 100 ice skaters from around the world gathered at Barys Arena in Astana from Oct. 3-5 for the fifth Denis Ten Memorial Challenge tournament, commemorating a celebrated Kazakh...


CIS Observers Commend Kazakhstan’s Nuclear Referendum Process

ASTANA – The national referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant is being conducted in full compliance with Kazakhstan’s laws governing referendums and election campaigns, said Leonid...


Kazakhstan Presents Its Human Rights Implementation Policy at UN

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s policy in the field of human rights was presented at the United Nations (UN) office in Geneva on Oct. 2, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign...


Voter Turnout Surpasses 39% in Kazakhstan’s National Referendum

ASTANA—The participation rate surpassed 39% in Kazakhstan’s national referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant, which continues on Oct. 6 throughout the country.  “Overall, nationwide, as of...


Kazakh PM, Officials Cast Their Ballots in Referendum

ASTANA –  Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov was among the first to vote in the nuclear power plant referendum, casting his ballot at the Palace of Schoolchildren in Astana on...


President Tokayev Casts His Vote in Nuclear Power Plant Referendum

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev casts his vote in the national referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant on Oct. 6.  “Undoubtedly, today will go down in...


Voter Turnout in Kazakhstan’s National Referendum Reaches Nearly 18%  

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) reported a 17.79% voter turnout as of 10 a.m. local Astana time in the national referendum on the construction of a nuclear...


Nuclear Power Plant Referendum Begins in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Kazakh citizens are heading to the polls on Oct. 6 to vote in the national referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant. A total of...


Kazakhstan Celebrates Teachers’ Day

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated teachers on their professional holiday, expressing gratitude for their significant role in shaping society by educating the younger generation on Oct. 5. “We...


Kazakhstan Hosted CICA Youth Council on Role of Volunteering for Sustainable Development

ASTANA – Kazakhstan hosted a two-day meeting of volunteer movement leaders within the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Youth Council on Oct. 3-4 in Astana....


Kazakh Scientists Discover New Spider Species in Kyzylkum Desert

ASTANA – Kazakh scientists discovered two new species of spider in the Kyzylkum desert in the country’s south. Scientists from the Kazakh Zoology Institute identified 54 species of spiders,...


Kazakh Chess Superstar Assaubayeva Competes in Global Chess League in London

ASTANA – Kazakh chess player Bibisara Assaubayeva is participating  in the Global Chess League, which takes place on Oct. 3-12 in London, reported Kazinform news agency. The Global Chess...


Astana Opera Premieres Vivaldi’s ‘Orlando Furioso’ Opera

ASTANA – Astana Opera premiered “Orlando Furioso” (Furious Orlando) by great Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi on Oct. 4. On the stage of the Chamber Hall named after Kulyash Baiseitova,...


Kazakhstan’s Janibek Alimkhanuly Retains IBF and WBO Titles

ASTANA – Kazakh boxer Janibek Alimkhanuly (15-0, 10 knockouts) retained the International Boxing Federation (IBF) middleweight title and the World Boxing Organization (WBO) title as he defeated New Zealand’s...


Kazakhstan Hosts First Regional Presentation of Global Innovation Index, Highlights Region’s Innovation Potential

ASTANA – Kazakhstan hosted the first regional presentation of the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024 results for Asian countries on Oct 1, highlighting the Central Asian region’s potential in...


President Tokayev Outlines Priorities to Improve Court Activities

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined the major priorities for improving courts activities during the ninth Congress of Judges of Kazakhstan on Oct. 4, reported Akorda. Tokayev emphasized that...


Kazakhstan Issues Eurobonds Worth $1.5 Billion

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has issued a $1.5 billion 10-year bond with a coupon rate of 4.714%, marking its first return to the U.S. dollar-denominated eurobond market since 2015, the...


Information and Explanatory Campaign for Referendum Concludes

ASTANA – The information and explanatory campaign for the referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan, which lasted 400 days, ended on Oct. 4, State...


Dive into Wonderland Weekend of Art and Ice Show in Astana and Almaty

ASTANA – From mesmerizing art exhibitions to enchanting ice magic shows, both Astana and Almaty offer a delightful array of experiences. The Astana Times editorial team has prepared a...


News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakh-EU Relations, Kazakhstan’s Reforms and More

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected a range of articles on Kazakhstan featured in international media this week. Today’s foreign media digest covers topics such as the Chinese-Kazakh...


Kazakhstan Establishes 74 Polling Stations Abroad for Upcoming Referendum

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has set up 74 polling stations at its foreign missions in 59 countries for the upcoming referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant, scheduled...


Kazakhstan Strengthens Role as Key EU Partner in Central Asia

ASTANA – The European Parliament hosted a conference on Oct. 2, discussing the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and the European Union (EU).  Tomáš Zdechovský, a member of the European...


Panel Session in Ankara Highlights Achievements and Goals of Turkic Cooperation 

ASTANA – Ankara hosted an event to mark the 15th anniversary of the Nakhchivan Agreement, which established the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and the Day of Turkic States...


Green Hydrogen in Kazakhstan: What are Opportunities and Challenges

ASTANA—While Kazakhstan’s potential for renewable energy remains substantial, developing green hydrogen might not be an easy endeavor. Manuel Andresh, the head of the Hydrogen Diplomacy Office in Astana, spoke...


Kazakhstan Surpasses Global Average in Economic Gender Equality Metrics, Says World Bank

ASTANA – Kazakhstan outperforms the global average in legal and supportive frameworks and expert opinion criteria on enabling women’s economic opportunity in the World Bank’s Women, Business and the...


Turkic States Celebrate Day of Cooperation Marking 15 Years of OTS

ASTANA — Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Turkey marked the Day of Cooperation of Turkic Countries on Oct.3, commemorating the 15th anniversary of the agreement signed in...


President Tokayev Advocates Strengthening Local Government at Forum

ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the importance of maslikhats (local administrative bodies) in strengthening local governance and urged deputies of maslikhats to take a proactive role in...


Kazakhstan Reports Progress on UN Resolution on Women, Security, and Peace to Diplomatic Corps

ASTANA – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Information presented updates on the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution...


Kazakhstan Launches Innovative Production of Rice Husk-Based Material 

ASTANA—Kazakhstan launched the production of a silicon carbon nanocomposite derived from rice husks on Oct.3. The first production stage aims to produce 1,500 tons of this multifunctional material annually. ...


Astana Increases Budget to Address Social Needs

ASTANA — The Kazakh capital’s budget revenue plan has been increased by 99.5 billion tenge (US$205 million) following an extraordinary session of the city’s maslikhat (local administrative bodies) on...


IOFS, Kazakhstan Strengthen Food Security in Earthquake-Affected West Afghanistan

ASTANA—The Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), with Kazakhstan’s support and in collaboration with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), has launched a project to increase wheat production...


Kazakhstan Meets OPEC+ Obligations

ASTANA — Kazakhstan has confirmed that it fully met its obligations under the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries agreement for crude oil production in July and August, following...


Kazakh MFA Urges Restraint as Middle East Tensions Escalate

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed deep concern over the escalating tensions in the Middle East. “We call on all parties involved to refrain from using...


Kazakh Airlines Directed to Bypass Iranian Airspace Amid Middle East Tensions  

ASTANA – The Civil Aviation Committee of the Kazakh Transport Ministry recommended domestic airlines to bypass Iranian airspace after the escalation of the situation in the Middle East on...


Kazakh Chess Players Shine in FIDE Global Rankings for October 

ASTANA—Kazakhstan’s chess players have secured spots among the world’s elite in several updated rankings released by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) on Oct. 1. Bibisara Assaubayeva leads the way,...


EAEU to Increase Agricultural Exports via Int’l Routes, Cement Kazakhstan’s Transit Potential

ASTANA—The member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) explored the potential expansion of agricultural product transportation via the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) during the third Eurasian Economic...


China, Kazakhstan to Increase Volume of Cargo Flow via TITR

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Transport recently hosted the first meeting of the working group on cargo transportation along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) between Kazakhstan and...


Kazakhstan Calls for Broader Digital Integration at Eurasian Economic Forum

ASTANA – Bakytzhan Sagintayev, chairman of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), unveiled the Digital Union initiative during an Oct. 1 plenary session of the Eurasian Economic Forum in Yerevan....


Kazakh Central Election Commission Accredits 177 Int’l Observers Ahead of National Referendum

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission has accredited 177 observers from 30 countries and four international organizations for the nuclear power plant referendum scheduled for Oct. 6. Addressing an...


Kazakh Asset Recovery Committee Expands Cooperation with Foreign Organizations

ASTANA – The Asset Recovery Committee of the Kazakh Prosecutor General’s Office strengthens international legal cooperation to identify and repatriate assets illegally acquired and taken out of the country....


Kazakhstan Seeks to Deepen Partnership with IMF, World Bank

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Nurlan Baibazarov discussed the country’s financial stability and long-term economic development with senior management of the World Bank...


International Dog Show in Almaty Showcases Kazakh Tazy

ASTANA – Almaty hosted two dog shows of all breeds: the Aurora Cup National Dog Show and the Land of Nomads International Dog Show on Sept. 28-29. According to...


Follow-Up on Scholz’s Visit: Senator Bolgert Highlights Kazakh-German Ties, Strong German Community

ASTANA —  Evgeny Bolgert, a member of the Kazakh Senate and chairman of the Wiedergeburt (Revival) Association of Germans in Kazakhstan, discussed the role of the German community in...


Kazakh President Calls for Indivisible Eurasian Security in Multipolar World

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed an idea of indivisible Eurasian security that might serve as the foundation for creating a multipolar global order during a Sept....