Another Three Candidates Named for Upcoming Kazakh Presidential Elections in November
ASTANA – Three candidates were nominated to run for president in the upcoming elections on Nov. 20, which brings the total number of candidates to four, including incumbent Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. On Sept. 30, the Auyl Party (village in Kazakh) was the first to announce Zhiguli Dairabayev as their candidate. Dairabayev is the chair of the…
Kazakhtelecom, AzerTelecom to Install Fiber Optic Communication Lines Along Bottom of Caspian Sea
ASTANA – The Kazakhtelecom and AzerTelecom companies signed a memorandum of a strategic partnership to install fiber optic communication lines (FOCL) along the bottom of the Capsian Sea on Sept. 28, reported Kazakhtelecom’s press service. “The cooperation between our companies as part of the Trans Caspian Fiber Optic (TCFO) project, a part of the Digital…
Kazakhstan Plans to Grant Visa-Free Regime to 100 Countries
ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Sports proposes to introduce a visa-free regime for 26 countries to increase tourism inflow, bringing the total number of visa-free countries to 100, said Dastan Ryspekov, Tourism Industry Committee Chair, at a Sept. 28 Central Communication Service (CCS) press briefing. Ryspekov said that Kazakhstan had resumed a…
Kazakhstan to Issue Special Permit to Ethnic Kazakhs Wishing to Open Businesses in the Country
ASTANA – Kazakhstan will issue a special permit dubbed the Card of Kazakh to encourage ethnic Kazakhs to start businesses in the country while maintaining their foreign citizenship, announced Kazakh Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Population Tamara Duisenova at a Sept. 26 press briefing, reported the ministry’s press service. Nearly 100 ethnic Kazakhs…
Interior Ministry Reports on Migration Flow In and Out of Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The incoming and outgoing flow of migrants in Kazakhstan is under control, reported Acting Chair of the Migration Service Committee of the Kazakh Interior Ministry Aslan Atalykov at a Sept. 26 press briefing, reported the ministry’s press service. “Internal affairs agencies register immigrants, receiving the information from hosts and based on the data…
Kazakhstan Favors Neutrality in Current Geopolitical Situation, Says Tokayev
ASTANA – Kazakhstan chooses to stay neutral in the current geopolitical situation, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during his meeting with the public on Sept. 27 as part of his working visit to the Turkistan Region, reported Akorda press service. “In this difficult situation, Kazakhstan takes a neutral position when voting in international organizations, primarily…
Kazakhstan’s Super Bol Social Project Helps Young People to Become Professional Football Players
NUR-SULTAN – The Super Bol social project gives an opportunity for talented young people to start their professional football career. The project, televised in a reality show format on QazSport TV Channel, started in early June and finished with a match against Kazakhstan’s Zhenis FC in August. It should be noted that the name “Super…
European Parliament Voices Support For Kazakhstan’s Measures in Fight Against COVID-19
The Chair of the European Parliament Delegation to the countries of Central Asia and Mongolia and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Fulvio Martusciello spoke highly of the measures Kazakhstan undertook to fight the spread of the COVID-19 infection, as Kazinform news agency reported. The Italian politician said that the measures Kazakhstan took were timely…
Korean Cultural Centre in Nur-Sultan celebrates Lunar New Year
NUR-SULTAN – The Korean Cultural Centre in the capital celebrated the Lunar New Year Jan. 24, offering visitors the opportunity to learn about and participate in traditional festivities. The Lunar New Year, known in Korea as Seollal, falls on the first day of the first month of the Lunar Calendar. Because the calendar has only…
Award-winning Kazakh film ‘Shyraqshy’ premieres in Nur-Sultan
NUR-SULTAN – The award-winning Kazakh film “Shyraqshy” premiered in the capital Jan. 20 followed by a press conference featuring lead actor Muratzhan Mukazhanov and scriptwriter and director Yermek Tursunov. “Shyraqshy” tells a story of a soldier who returned from World War II with an old movie projector, a gift from a German man he rescued.…
Kazakhstan’s Shymbulak Mountain Resort ranks first in Commonwealth of Independent States
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s Shymbulak Mountain Resort ranked first on the list of the best ski resorts in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), according to Russian tourism and sport website turstat.com. The rating highlights the best CIS resorts for winter vacations, especially January and February. The website notes the best skiing and snowboarding spots are…
Three Kazakhs reach third round of Australian Open for first time
NUR-SULTAN – For the first time, three Kazakh tennis players reached the third round of Australian Open women’s singles, reported liter.kz. Yelena Rybakina, the country’s number one player and 26th in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) ranking, beat the United States’ Bernarda Pera (65th) in the first round, 6-3, 6-2. She then defeated Belgian Greet…
Russian TV channel releases documentary about Denis Ten
NUR-SULTAN – Russian television channel Match TV released the documentary “Denis Ten. Thirteen” Dec. 23, 2019 about the Kazakh figure skater, reported zakon.kz. The film was written and produced by sport journalists Sergei Railyan and Konstantin Stolbovski. The documentary gathered videos from the Ten family’s personal archives and interviewed Russian Olympic and world figure skating…
Kazakhstan, UAE have unique cooperation opportunities, says UAE Ambassador
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have unique opportunities for cooperation, said UAE Ambassador to Kazakhstan Mohamed Ahmed bin Sultan Al Jaber in an exclusive interview with The Astana Times. Kazakh and UAE diplomatic relations have been growing at a dynamic pace since being established in 1992. The countries continue to build…
AIFC to establish Fourth Industrial Revolution affiliation centre
NUR-SULTAN – As part of the 50th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos (Switzerland), the Kazakh government, Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) and WEF signed a tripartite letter of intent to establish a Fourth Industrial Revolution affiliation centre this year based in the AIFC, reported inbusiness.kz Jan. 23. The centre will bring together…
Abai’s 175th anniversary to be celebrated throughout 2020
UR-SULTAN – The Central Communications Service held a briefing Jan. 16 outlining preparations for poet Abai Kunanbayev’s 175th anniversary, reported the Ministry of Culture and Sport website. The 82-point plan was approved in 2019, noted Vice Minister Nurgisa Dauyeshov. More than 500 regional, national and international events are scheduled. “We plan to hold major events…
National Museum holds designer meeting, fashion shows
NUR-SULTAN – The Eurasian Designers Union held an open meeting Jan. 15-18 at the Kazakh National Museum, reported the museum press service. Participants were involved in seminars and lectures by renowned designers and architects, saw a fashion show by both professional and young designers and received a guided tour of the museum. “The tendencies we…
Asset Isekeshev appointed Security Council Secretary
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev appointed Jan. 16 Asset Isekeshev Assistant to the President and Secretary of the Security Council, reported akorda.kz. Isekeshev, 48, replaced Kalmukhanbet Kassymov, who had previously served as Minister of Internal Affairs from 2011 to 2019. In the reshuffle, Kassymov was appointed head of the Kazakhstan State Guard Service that…
Epiphany bathing scheduled in Nur-Sultan, safety measures to be taken
NUR-SULTAN – The capital akimat (city administration) is preparing for Epiphany bathing Jan. 18-19, reported its press service. It is insisting people follow safety measures and consider weather conditions. Special bathing ice holes for all to use will be equipped on the right bank of the Yessil River near Makhambet Otemisov Schoolchildren’s Palace and the…
Kazakhstan exempts micro and small businesses from taxes for three years
NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a law exempting micro and small businesses from taxes for three years Dec. 28. The law, “On introducing amendments and additions to some legislative acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on improving the procedures for rehabilitation and bankruptcy, budget, tax legislation and legislation on railway transport,” frees certain taxpayers…
Kazakhstan’s passport ranks 67th for visa-free travel
NUR-SULTAN – Henley & Partners, a global citizenship and residence advisory firm, has ranked Kazakhstan 67th on its 2020 Henley Passport Index. The report, released Jan. 7, rates 199 countries on their passports according to the number of destinations holders can access without a prior visa, reported inform.kz. The rating is based on a point…
Kazakhstan’s Aleph Jewish Ethno Cultural Centre organises Hanukkah celebration
NUR-SULTAN – The Aleph Jewish Ethno Cultural Centre organised a celebration of Hanukkah, the eight-day festival of renovation and light, Dec. 29 in Friendship House. The centre was kind enough to invite a reporter from The Astana Times to talk about the holiday and community. The main event was lighting the candles representing each day…
Kazakhstan ratifies agreement with GRECO, becoming its 50th member
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ratified his country’s agreement with the Council of Europe on immunities and privileges for Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO) representatives Jan. 4, according to the akorda.kz. The agreement was signed Oct. 15 in Strasbourg, France, by Kazakh Anti-Corruption Agency Chair Alik Shpekbayev and by Council of Europe Deputy…
Kazakh tennis player wins ITF tournament in Hong Kong
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh tennis player Zarina Diyas won the International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament held in Hong Kong Dec. 30 to Jan. 5, reported prosports.kz. This is her first victory of the 2020 season. In the final match, Diyas beat Chinese player Zhu Lin, who occupies the 72nd place in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA)…
Aviation Administration to modernise Kazakhstan’s aviation standards
NUR-SULTAN – The Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan (AAK), which began engaging in technical control and supervision Aug. 1, will modernise the country’s aviation regulations within two years. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Kazakhstan Director General Peter Griffiths spoke with The Astana Times about the details of its work. “The purpose of the AAK is to take…
