Articles by Aiman Nakispekova

ASTANA – International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) President Salvatore Sciacchitano recognized Kazakhstan’s swift progress in aviation safety, liberalization, and infrastructure, emphasizing its potential to become a major regional air transport hub connecting Europe and Asia in an interview with The Astana Times.   The ICAO’s recently adopted 2025-2050 strategic plan sets ambitious global goals, and Kazakhstan…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s vast landscapes, spanning from the steppe to the mountains, harbor a wealth of biodiversity. Located at the crossroads of Eurasia, the country is home to rare species found nowhere else. Like much of the world, Kazakhstan faces mounting pressures from climate change, habitat loss, and human activity. As global attention turns toward…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has celebrated National Dombra Day on the first Sunday of July since 2018. Dombra, the national musical instrument, embodies the country’s rich history, culture, and spirit of freedom. Its distinctive sound, by turns soothing, joyful, and sorrowful, has captivated audiences worldwide, fueling a revival both at home and abroad. On social platforms,…

ASTANA – The final stage of the Kazakhstan Without Domestic Violence national campaign took place in Astana on June 28, as part of the Year of Crime Prevention, announced by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and supported by the National Commission on Women and Family and Demographic Policy. The campaign aimed to promote zero tolerance…

ASTANA – Kazakh technology company Gen2B has launched HyGPT, the first large language model (LLM) designed for the Eastern Armenian language, reported the company’s press service on July 1. Developed in collaboration with the National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Technologies of Armenia (NCCAIT), the model is based on the Gemma 2 architecture and trained…

ASTANA – Almaty will host the Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX) Asia on Aug. 20-23, 2026, drawing more than 300 renowned travel experts, journalists, and bloggers worldwide. The event is expected to reach a global audience of approximately 300 million people, reported the Kazakh Tourism company’s press service. During a press conference in Almaty, TBEX President Rick…

ASTANA – Kazakh national dance has long stood out for its grace, fluidity and charisma, characterized by expressive gestures and rich symbolism. For centuries, Kazakhs used dance to express their way of life, traditions and emotions, often drawing inspiration from nature and the rhythms of nomadic life. Traditionally passed down through generations, Kazakh dance, like…

ASTANA – The capital hosted the “My Astana: From the Past to the Future” exhibition featuring more than 300 rare pictures captured by photojournalist and local historian Nurmukhamat Imamov. Opened on June 26 at the Presidential Center, the display traces the city’s evolution over four decades, highlighting its cultural heritage, architectural growth, and the everyday…

ASTANA – Creative industries are a rapidly expanding sector of the global economy, generating added value and new jobs. Globally, the sector contributes more than 3% to GDP and employs over 6% of the working population. Kazakhstan has seen promising growth in this area. Since 2019, the country’s creative economy has more than tripled in…

ASTANA – Kazakh rhythmic gymnast Akmaral Yerekesheva claimed a historic gold medal at the Junior World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Bulgaria on June 22, marking a first for Kazakhstan at the event, reported the Gymnastics Federation’s press service. Yerekesheva claimed the top spot in the ball exercise with a score of 26.150 points and earned…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has carried out a rapid and extensive operation to evacuate its citizens from Iran amid growing instability in the Middle East. Over several days, Kazakh diplomats worked around the clock, maintaining contact with local authorities, assisting citizens with documentation, and coordinating travel logistics. More than 200 individual appeals were processed in a…

ASTANA – The National Museum hosted the presentation of the book “America Ashkan Kazaktar” (Kazakhs Who Discovered America) on June 5, authored by journalist and researcher Duisenali Alimakyn. The book is the result of archival research conducted in the United States. It aims to shed light on the untold connections between the two nations through…

ASTANA – Filmmakers from Latin America and Central Asia are invited to submit entries for the 2026 Alternativa Film Festival, which will be held in Colombia in the second quarter of the year. The festival will feature seven awards and a total prize fund of $120,000, according to the event’s press service. Submissions open June…

ASTANA – Jorge Rosa Filho, a European citizen, has received Kazakhstan’s Neo Nomad Visa, which allows remote workers to live and work in the country for up to one year, reported the Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ press service.  Filho plans to stay in Astana for six months and travel to several regions for tourism.…

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu paid an official visit to Iran and held talks with Iranian top officials on June 7, reported the Foreign Ministry’s press service. During a meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, the officials discussed key areas of cooperation, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.…

ASTANA – For the first time in Kazakhstan, an exhibition dedicated to Matyó embroidery, a vibrant symbol of Hungarian folklore and part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, is on display at the Almaty Museum. The exhibition features more than 100 authentic items, including embroidered textiles, traditional clothing elements, household items, and rare archival photographs…

ASTANA – They say a child’s development is shaped by three key factors: home, environment, and school. But in the digital age, capturing a child’s interest has become increasingly challenging. Traditional teaching methods like lectures and rote memorization are no longer enough, as today’s students expect more engaging approaches. In this context, The Astana Times…

ASTANA – Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen arrived in London to perform as a special guest at Lara Fabian’s solo concert on June 2 at the OVO Arena Wembley, one of the largest venues in the United Kingdom, reported Dimashnews. At Heathrow Airport, Qudaibergen was greeted by fans from the UK and abroad with a traditional…

ASTANA – The Export Credit Agency of Kazakhstan (ECA) has received an ESG rating of Level 3 from international rating agency Sustainable Fitch, reflecting the agency’s progress in integrating a sustainable development strategy and advancing its environmental and social policies, reported the ECA’s press service on June 4. In 2023, ECA became an affiliated member…

ASTANA – The Monetary Policy Committee of the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) fixed the base rate to 16.5% per annum with a corridor of +/- 1 percentage points, reports the bank’s press service. The move comes amid sustained inflationary pressure. Annual inflation reached 11.3% in May, driven by rising prices for both regulated tariffs…

ASTANA – The 15th International Mining and Metallurgical Congress opened this week in the Kazakh capital, bringing together more than 1,300 delegates from 20 countries, reported Kazinform.  The event serves as a major platform for addressing the pressing issues facing the global mining and metallurgical industry, while showcasing Kazakhstan’s growing leadership in the sector. Albert…

ASTANA – Mazhilis, a lower house of the Parliament, has approved the draft law on artificial intelligence in its first reading on May 14, marking the country’s intent to establish a legal framework for the development and use of AI technologies.  The AI’s rapid development presents both significant opportunities and serious risks, with one of…

ASTANA – The Kazakh gymnastics team won the country’s first-ever gold medal in the group all-around event at the Asian Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships held in Singapore on May 10-16, reported the Kazakhstan Gymnastics Federation’s press service. In the individual program, Akmaral Yerekesheva claimed two gold medals, while Aiganym Rysbek secured a silver in the team…

ASTANA – The Tuyuk-Su Glacier in the Northern Tien Shan has lost ten meters of thickness over the past 12 years, according to a recent survey by the UNESCO Central Asian Glaciology Center, reported Khabar news agency on May 12. In 2013, the glacier’s maximum thickness was 105 meters, but it now stands at just…

ASTANA – French filmmaker, photographer, and solo bicycle explorer Cédric Tassan has explored the unique landscapes of Kazakhstan’s Mangystau Region by bike twice. His first journey in 2022 covered more than 600 kilometers solo. Earlier this year, he returned with fellow French cyclists to retrace his original route. In an interview with The Astana Times,…