Early Presidential Elections Provide Enough Timeframe for Implementation of Major Reforms, According to Experts
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh political experts expect early presidential elections, announced by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during his address to the nation on Sept. 1, to provide enough time frame for thorough implementation of presidential reforms. President Tokayev announced his plans to hold extraordinary presidential elections in the coming months with major revisions to the presidential terms.…
Catholic Community in Kazakhstan Becomes More Ethnically Diverse, Says Head of Kazakhstan’s Catholic Church
Editor’s Note: In the run-up to the seventh Congress of Leaders of the World and Traditional Religions to be held on Sept.14-15 in Nur-Sultan, The Astana Times has started a series of articles on the diversity of spiritual life in Kazakhstan. The first two articles focused on Kazakh Muslim and Orthodox Christian communities. This week…
No Limits to Trade and Cooperation Potential with Azerbaijan, Says President Tokayev
NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said Kazakhstan will work very productively in promoting trade and logistics with Azerbaijan and that there would be “no obstacles from our side”, addressing President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev during his official visit to Baku on Aug. 24, reported Akorda’s press service. In his opening remarks, Tokayev highlighted the long…
Russia’s Chief Mufti Expects Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions to Offer Solutions to Ongoing Conflicts
NUR-SULTAN – Chairman of Russia’s Muftis Council and the Spiritual Administration of Muslims Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin said that the upcoming seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions would offer solutions to countries in conflict in an interview with Kazakh journalists, reported Kazinform news agency. According to him, the role of the world…
Orthodox Christian Community in Kazakhstan Emerges Strong in the Midst of Islam and Soviet Period Atheism
Editor’s Note: In the run-up to the seventh Congress of Leaders of the World and Traditional Religions to be held on Sept.14-15 in Nur-Sultan, The Astana Times has started a series of articles on the diversity of spiritual life in Kazakhstan. The first one focused on Islam. This week we profile the second-largest religious group…
Kazakh Language is Gaining Increasing Popularity, But Needs Greater Support to Sustain Interest, Says Expert
NUR-SULTAN – People in Kazakhstan are increasingly becoming more interested in learning the Kazakh language in the aftermath of recent political events in Kazakhstan and in the world, says Kanat Tasibekov, a Kazakh language advocate and the author of the “Situational Kazakh” series of self-tutorials, in an interview to the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper. After the…
Evolution of Islam in Kazakhstan: How Modern Kazakh Muslims Balance Their Religious Identity, the Soviet Legacy and National Traditions
Editor’s Note: In the run-up to the seventh Congress of Leaders of the World and Traditional Religions to be held on Sept.14-15 in Nur-Sultan, The Astana Times starts a series of articles on the diversity of spiritual life in Kazakhstan. We shall profile different religions and denominations starting with the most practiced one in the…
UN GA President Welcomes Kazakhstan’s Contribution to Providing Peace and Achieving SDGs During Visit to Nur-Sultan
NUR-SULTAN – President of the 76th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly (GA), Abdulla Shahid voiced a positive evaluation of Kazakhstan’s commitment to UN principles and confirmed further cooperation in building regional peace and security, sustainable development, climate crisis, food security, and human rights during his first official visit to Kazakhstan that took…
Elders Advise on Preparation for Organization of Turkic States Summit
NUR-SULTAN – The Council of Elders, an advisory body of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), discussed the development of logistics and tourism, as well as the preparation for the upcoming OTS Summit at the 13th meeting in Bishkek on Aug. 8, reported the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry’s press center. The Council of Elders was established…
Wild Tiger Population Could Be Reintroduced in Kazakhstan by 2025, Says Expert
NUR-SULTAN – Wild tigers may be reintroduced to Kazakhstan’s biosphere as early as 2025, said Olzhabek Kholov, the lead expert of the forestry and wildlife committee of the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan in an interview with The Astana Times. The government of Kazakhstan and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) signed…
Kazakhstan Urges to Expand Nuclear-Free-Zones at Tenth NPT Review Conference in New York
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan has undertaken a deliberate policy to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime and make efforts toward the universal goal of total elimination of nuclear weapons as well as expanding nuclear-weapon-free zones, said Akan Rakhmetullin, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs during the Tenth Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear…
Kazakhstan Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Fighter Pilot Begeldinov Who Flew 300 Combat Missions During World War II
NUR-SULTAN – Today, on Aug. 5, Kazakhstan celebrates the 100th anniversary of Talgat Begeldinov, a ground attack pilot and two-times Hero of the Soviet Union, who flew 305 combat missions during World War II. Born to a Kazakh peasant family in the village of Maybalyk in the Akmola Region, Begeldinov was sent to the war…
Kazakhstan’s Trap Shooting Team Wins 11 Medals at Asian Championship in Almaty
NUR-SULTAN – It was a successful start for the 10th Asian Shotgun Championship for the Kazakh shooting team in trap discipline with 11 medals won, including five gold, four silver and two bronze medals overall, reported the National Olympic Committee. The championship that started on July 28 in Almaty will continue till Aug. 8. Participants…
Neemble Streaming Startup from Kazakhstan Joins 25 Finalists of AppWorks, Largest Tech Accelerator in Southeast Asia
NUR-SULTAN – Neemble, a Kazakh streaming startup founded by Adilkhan Rashit and Kuanysh Kair, became one of the 25 finalists at AppWorks, the largest Southeast Asian startup accelerator, after competing with nearly 2,000 applicants at the initial stage. The Astana Times spoke to co-founder Adilkhan Rashit to learn about their preparation for the program and…
Kazakh Figure Skater Denis Ten’s Film “Blind Love” Premieres in Cinemas, Four Years After His Death
NUR-SULTAN – “A talented person is talented in everything” – with this saying an evening dedicated to the “Blind Love” film premiere written by Kazakh figure skater and 2014 Winter Olympics bronze medal winner Denis Ten kicked-off in Nur-Sultan on July 28, four years after his tragic death. “Blind Love” is a story of two…
Kazakhstan Has Potential to Attract New Businesses, Says Kazakh Foreign Investors’ Council Association Chairman
NUR-SULTAN – Despite an economic slowdown caused by the global pandemic and the recent geopolitical events in Central Asia and Russia, Kazakhstan remains firm in its goal to provide a favorable investment climate and attract more investors. The role of the Foreign Investors’ Council (FIC), a Kazakh advisory and consultative body for investment, remains as…
Kazakh Delegation Urges Greater International Effort to Stabilize Situation in Afghanistan at International Conference in Tashkent
NUR-SULTAN – The Ambassador-at-Large of the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs Talgat Kaliyev invited participants of the Afghanistan: Security and Economic Development conference in Tashkent to make joint efforts to ensure peace and stability in Afghanistan calling the country a “bridge between Central and South Asia” on July 26, reported the Kazinform news agency. The…
Kazakhstan and Georgia Discuss Trade Prospects and Expansion of Middle Corridor As Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili Visits Kazakhstan
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan and Georgia reviewed prospects for cooperation in trade, and logistics with an emphasis on the Trans-Caspian international transport route (TITR) during the meeting of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev with Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili on July 27, as Garibashvili paid his official two-day visit to Kazakhstan on July 26-27, reported the…
President Tokayev Highlights Key Areas for Investment at Saudi-Kazakhstan Investment Roundtable
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev participated in Saudi-Kazakhstan investment roundtable with Saudi Arabian business leaders on July 24 in Jeddah, where two sides discussed bilateral trade, expansion of transit, real sector of economy, space exploration, agriculture, and tourism as high potential sectors for investment, reports the President’s press office. While speaking at the investment…
Kazakh and Ukrainian Leaders Discuss Cooperation in Economic and Humanitarian Areas On Telephone Call
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev had a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss bilateral relations, reports the President’s press service. Both leaders exchanged congratulations on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, marked on July 23. Tokayev gave his positive evaluation of the results of…
Traceability of Laundered Money Increases Fourfold, Says Financial Monitoring Agency Chairman at Eurasian Group Forum
NUR-SULTAN – As a result of the “follow the money” mechanism of using parallel financial investigations the traceability of laundered money cases increased fourfold, said Zhanat Elimanov, chairman of the Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA) at the International Forum of the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism that took place in Nur-Sultan…
Honeywell Opens Its First Assembly Plant in Kazakhstan as Part of New Localization Strategy
NUR-SULTAN – The United States Honeywell company opened its first assembly plant for advanced automation and safety equipment in Almaty on July 20, reports the Kazakh Invest press service. The opening of the plant is part of a strategy to expand localization and strengthen its presence in Central Asia. The launch was the result of…
Man Who Saved Three Children From Drowning in Irtysh River, Rewarded With Keys to New Apartment
NUR-SULTAN – Three young brothers were saved from drowning after being caught in the current of Irtysh River by Andrey Karandashov, who had been fishing that day by the river. His noble act was recognized by Pavlodar Region Akim (governor) Abylkair Skakov who presented the keys to a new apartment to the hero, reports the…
Kazakhstan is Open for Foreign Companies Planning to Relocate, Says Deputy Foreign Minister
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Kazakh Invest national investment company are conducting negotiations with 43 foreign companies that plan to relocate their businesses to Kazakhstan, said Kazakh Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Almas Aidarov in an interview with The Astana Times. “To date, 43 companies have an interest in either relocating production…
Celebratory Events Across Kazakhstan Mark 150th Anniversary of Prominent Kazakh Scholar Akhmet Baitursynuly
NUR-SULTAN – This year, on Sept. 5, Kazakhstan will celebrate the 150th anniversary of a prominent Kazakh teacher, scholar, poet and public figure Akhmet Baitursynuly (1872 – 1937), who left a significant mark in the history of Kazakh literacy and linguistics, being the founder of the first Kazakh alphabet and establishing the first national newspaper.…
