Articles by Aiman Nakispekova

ASTANA – Family is the foundation of Kazakh society, occupying a central place in the culture. Traditionally, the Kazakh family structure is built on a strong sense of unity and mutual support among its members. In an interview with Tengri news agency, Saltanat Asanova, a leading researcher at the Shokan Ualikhanov Institute of History, discussed…

ASTANA – “One of the most remarkable aspects of Kazakh society is its meritocratic nature. According to my experience, skills and knowledge matter most, and I have never faced discrimination based on my background,” said Samson Dawit Bekele, a third-year computer science student at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, in an interview with The Astana Times.…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan commemorates the 100th anniversary of Abdizhamil Nurpeisov, a prominent Kazakh writer, translator, and public figure, on Oct. 22.  Born in 1924 in a small village north of the Aral Sea, Nurpeisov’s early years among the fishermen of this unique region shaped his life’s work and literary inspiration. During the Second World War,…

ASTANA – The inaugural Astana Think Tank Forum 2024 took place in the Kazakh capital on Oct. 16-17, where participants explored the role of middle powers in global affairs. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed the plenary session on Oct. 17, highlighting the rise of middle powers and underscoring the United Nations’ critical role in fostering global…

ASTANA – Film director Kanagat Mustafin’s latest movie, “Kazhymukan” about wrestler Kazhymukan Munaitpasov, premiered on Oct. 10. The film, which took over a decade of research and preparation, brings the story of Kazakhstan’s first world champion in wrestling to the big screen. Munaitpasov (1871-1948), who won 48 medals throughout his career, was not only an…

ASTANA – Kazakh dombra player Alibek Kaiyrbek recently reached the highest peak in Europe, Mount Elbrus in the Caucasus, where he performed Kurmangazy’s famous kui “Adai” at an altitude of 5,642 meters. The dombra, a revered musical instrument, embodies the history, joy, sadness, courage and freedom of the Kazakh people. More than just a national…

ASTANA – The State Property and Privatization Committee of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Finance named  the most profitable state and quasi-state companies, reported Kazinform. The list includes SK-Pharmacy, KazAvtoZhol, Problem Loans Fund, Zhasyl Damu, Kazspetsexport, Center for Labor Resource Development, KazAeroNavigation, Baiterek Holding, and the Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund. SK-Pharmacy SK-Pharmacy supplies medicines under Kazakhstan’s…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s National Fund, long viewed as a financial lifeline for the country’s future, is now under increasing scrutiny from experts due to the heavy reliance of the country’s budget on the fund transfers. The need to put stricter rules that govern the transfers was repeatedly raised by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, including in his…

ASTANA – Kazakh architect Ravil Nurgissa has won the prestigious ICONIC AWARDS presented by the German Design Council  in the Innovative Architecture category for his modern take on the traditional yurt. His award-winning design reimagines the yurt, used by nomads for centuries, into a more contemporary, sustainable structure that maintains its ease of assembly, transportability,…

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 Anfimov, the head of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) observer mission on Oct. 6 at one of the city’s polling stations. Anfimov noted that the…

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. The event focused on the importance of volunteerism in society and its role in promoting sustainable development across Asia. Participants explored a range of topics, including…

ASTANA – The number of employed youth reached 3.6 million by the end of the second quarter of the year, marking a 1.8% increase from the same period last year, reported the Bureau of National Statistics on its Telegram channel on Sept. 26. Some 46% have higher education or postgraduate degrees, while 48% possess technical…

ASTANA – A profile of tourists visiting Almaty shows that the main group of foreign visitors consists of men aged 26-35, traveling either with friends or alone. The data was compiled by the Almaty tourism bureau, with input from the Bureau of National Statistics and Tourism Insights, an analytical platform by Mastercard, according to the…

ASTANA – Kazakh capital hosted a roundtable event on Sept. 24 focused on best international practices for attracting foreign direct investment. The event was organized by the European Business Association of Kazakhstan (EUROBAK) with support of the Kazakh Invest national company and the United States Agency for International Development, according to the ministry’s press service.…

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu met with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Sept. 29 at the UN headquarters in New York to discuss cooperation prospects, according to the ministry’s press service. The parties spoke about the key issues on the international agenda of the 79th session of the…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan, Brazil, China, France, Jordan and South Africa, in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), launched a global initiative to enhance political commitment to international humanitarian law (IHL) on Sept. 27 at the United Nations headquarters in New York, reported the foreign ministry’s press service. The initiative aims to…

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu delivered an address on Sept. 28 at the General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, calling for greater involvement of middle powers in addressing global challenges, reported the foreign ministry’s press service. Nurtleu stressed the session’s importance, noting that…

ASTANA – Kazakhconcert, the state academic concert organization, launched its 64th concert season on Sept. 28 with an international vocal competition that showcased young vocal talents from Kazakhstan and abroad. The competition aimed to popularize the legacy of the people’s Artist of Kazakhstan and the USSR, the legendary Roza Baglanova. It sought to revive and…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan hosted Agricom, an international grain conference focused on grain production, development, export, and import in Astana on Sept. 25. Experts from Kazakhstan and global grain markets discussed the state of the industry and provided recommendations for businesses and government agencies on developing Kazakhstan’s grain sector. Market trends and projections The grain industry…

ASTANA – The Bolashak International Scholarship, one of Kazakhstan’s most renowned programs for sending students abroad, has produced 12,731 graduates over its 30-year history. Funded by taxpayers, the initiative continues to shape the nation’s future, with 939 students currently studying abroad. Most are enrolled in master’s programs (704), while 133 are pursuing doctoral degrees, and…

ASTANA – Kazakh researcher Mukhit-Ardager Sydyknazarov, a doctor of political science and director of the Institute of Modern Studies at the Gumilev Eurasian National University, has dedicated 20 years to cartography. Revering ancient maps as the “king” of written sources, he believes they hold the key to advancing science and higher education in Kazakhstan. In…

ASTANA – Albert Rau, deputy chairman of the Mazhilis, the lower house of the Parliament, and co-founder of the Wiedergeburt Kazakh Association of Germans, shared his insights on the significance of Kazakh-German relations, the role of the German community in strengthening ties, and the importance of preserving cultural traditions to maintain heritage and identity in an…

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital unveiled “The Treasure Island” exhibition on Sept. 19 at the Kulanshi Art Center, showcasing conceptual jewelry art.  The exhibition, which will run through Oct.12, features 130 works by contemporary and conceptual artists from seven countries, including Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Austria, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and Pakistan. Unlike traditional jewelry…

ASTANA – Kazakh college students won seven Medallions of Excellence at the WorldSkills 2024 competition in Lyon, France, reported Khabar news agency on Sept. 17. The WorldSkills competition featured various disciplines, including IT technologies, robotics, construction, design, fashion, and restaurant service. Kazakhstan ranked among the top 30 countries overall. Students from Almaty, Shymkent, Uralsk, Kostanai,…

ASTANA – A recent TikTok video from a resident of Kazakhstan’s capital captured a wild hamster in Presidential Park. The footage quickly went viral, with many viewers charmed by the hamster, while others advised caution against approaching or touching it. In an interview with Tengrinews, Alena Koshkina, a researcher at the Kazakhstan Association for Biodiversity…