10th Kazakhstan Open held at Zhailau Golf Resort
The 10th international Kazakhstan Open was held Sept. 18-22 at the Zhailau Golf Resort. The jubilee competition is one stage of the European Challenge Tour. At the opening press conference, Almaty Akim (Mayor) AkhmetzhanYesimov congratulated all those present on the upcoming celebrations for the day of the city. He added, “I am very pleased that…
Astana Basketball Team Trains at Camp in Slovenia
The Astana professional basketball team is currently training at a camp in Slovenia under the supervision of coach Aleksander Trifunovic and the coaching staff in preparation for the 2014-2015 season. The Astana team won a friendly match 77:60 against the Lasko team from Slovenia on Sept. 4. The Astana team also beat Slovenia’s Rogashka team…
Burabay Golf Resort to Put Kazakhstan on World Golfing Map
ASTANA – The Burabay Golf Resort near Astana, due to be completed in late 2015, will be managed by Troon, one of the most prestigious golf management companies internationally. Located 200 kilometres from Astana on the northern shoreline of Lake Schuchiye, the resort will undoubtedly be a scenic getaway from the commotion of the capital. Expected to…
Astana Marriott General Manager Has Big Plans for New Hotel
ASTANA – Philippe Mahuas is at the helm of operations of the newest luxury hotel in Astana. The long-awaited opening of the Marriott is welcome news for residents and guests of the capital. Mahuas sat down with The Astana Times for an exclusive interview to discuss the company’s plans in Kazakhstan. How long have you…
Doctors on Bicycles Offer Healing Message against Nuclear Weapons
ASTANA – A group of medical professionals and students from Germany, Austria, El Salvador, Estonia, India, Kenya, Nepal, the United States and Kazakhstan travelled here by bicycle from Semey. The ride is a planned demonstration of peace organised by International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) and lasted from Aug. 10-24. Spanning 800…
Joint CSTO Military Exercises to be Held in Karaganda Region
ASTANA – In the multi-day exercises beginning on August 18th, the armed forces of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan will work on possible contingencies in the Central Asian collective security region. Titled Interaction 2014, the event will be held in the Spassk training field. The aim of Interaction 2014 is to solidify the…
Weightlifting Records Broken at Anatoly Khrapaty Competition
Two members of Kazakhstan’s weightlifting team broke standing records at the recent Anatoly Khrapaty competition on July 20th in the outskirts of Almaty. For one of the record breakers Ilya Ilyin it was the first appearance since winning the London 2012 Summer Olympics. Weighing 107.4 kilogrammes, he competed in the 105-kilogramme+ category. In the snatch,…
Government Boosts Medical Tourism Efforts in North Kazakhstan
The industry of pantotheraphy, the use of an extract from the horns of the maral, will develop in northern Kazakhstan and the Aiyrtau area will see a new tourism project, according to the press service of the Committee for Tourism Industryof the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies. The official opening of a core tourism…
Mezzoforte, Level 42 Bring International Jazz to Astana
ASTANA – Residents and visitors to Astana were treated to music by some of the best international jazz bands during this year’s Astana Day celebrations. Iceland’s Mezzoforte and British band Level 42 played on the city’s Congress Hall stage as part of the annual events celebrating Astana as Kazakhstan’s capital. The bands lent the celebrations…
Astana Hosts Kazakhstan’s First International Kite Festival
ASTANA – Warm sunshine and gentle winds offered the perfect conditions for the July 5 Astana Aspany, Kazakhstan’s first international kite festival. Kite pilots from Germany, Spain, France and Russia gathered for the festival, which was part of the celebrations marking Astana’s 16th anniversary as the capital of Kazakhstan. The festival was held in an…
Spanish Under-17 Team Wins President’s Cup in Astana
ASTANA – Thenational Under-17 Spanish football team won the 7th annual Kazakhstan President’s Cup tournament played at the Astana Arena on June 24-30. National youth teams from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, in addition to Spain, participated in the tournament. “The development of youth football is one of the main directions for the Kazakhstan…
Three People from Kazakhstan Win at Central Asian Literature Festival in London
LONDON – Three people from Kazakhstan were named winners in the second Open Central Asia Book Forum & Literature Festival (OCAF), held from Nov. 7-11 in London and Cambridge, U.K. Following the first event, held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, in 2012, organisers focused on bringing the works of Central Asian authors and illustrators to the U.K.…
Change, Leadership, Global Trends Discussed at Higher Education Forum
ASTANA – Experts discussed global trends and aspects of leadership, accountability and quality assurance in higher education at the Eurasian Higher Education Leaders Forum held in Astana on June 12-13. Prominent speakers from higher education institutions of the United States, the U.K., Germany, Ireland, Australia, Qatar, Belgium and Poland gathered to discuss strategy, competition, cooperation…
Chief Rabbi Praises Freedom of Religion and Security in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – On April 24, the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan (APK) held its anniversary meeting and representatives of more than 100 ethnic groups in the country attended it. The Astana Times interviewed Rabbi Yeshaya E. Cohen, head of the Jewish Center of Kazakhstan and chief rabbi of the Jewish Chabad Lubavitch congregation in…
Kelimbetov Says Economic Is Key Word in Eurasian Economic Integration
ASTANA, April 26 – Experts discussed the prospects and problems of the process of Eurasian integration at the Eurasian Media Forum in Astana today with Vice Prime Minister Kairat Kelimbetov repeatedly stressing the economic nature of this process. The existing Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus is gradually moving towards the goal of creating…
Regional Integration Seen as Economic Priority
BAKU – Kazakhstan’s first deputy prime minister and minister for regional development Bakhytzhan Sagintayev, attended the World Economic Forum Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the South Caucasus and Central Asia on April 7-8 to discuss the future of the region with the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, as well as 300 senior government and…
Internet Association Chief Predicts Bright Online Future
ALMATY – With growing Internet penetration influencing all social spheres of life in Kazakhstan, the country is working to raise its online services to global standards. The Astana Times met Shavkat Sabirov, president of the Internet Association of Kazakhstan (IAK) and asked him about the current situation and future prospects. What does the IAK do?…
Almaty Readies to Host Int’l Powers for Talks over Iran’s Nuclear Programme
The world’s powers, including Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States, are set to meet with Iran in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Feb. 26, for a new round of talks on that country’s nuclear programme. The Islamic Republic of Iran, represented by Saeed Jalili, Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, is set to meet the European…
Experts Discuss Prospects for Kaznet Development
ASTANA – On Jan. 22, 2013, an event held in KazMediaCenter brought together Kazakhstan’s Internet experts and activists to discuss the state and future of, Kaznet, and especially the future of its Kazakh-language segment. Organized by the National Democratic Party Nur Otan, information portal Abai.kz, information portal Alash-orda.kz and the journalist support center Minber.kz, the…
Investments Revitalise Zhanaozen
The small provincial city of Zhanaozen is attracting a massive amount of investments and attention from the central government, which is paving roads and constructing buildings. Houses and strategic venues built in western Kazakhstan are proving to be effective agents of social development. Significant investments are modernising production, constructing social centres and creating better working…
Global Shapers Community Opens Hub in Astana
ASTANA – On December 20, 2012, the Senate room of the Nazarbayev University was filled with buzz and excitement as young activists gathered for the opening of the local hub of the Global Shapers Community, an informal network of young people and groups which has now spread to more than 200 cities across the world.…
President Approves New Laws to Fight Terror
ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev has signed new amendments to laws on combating terrorism, the president’s press office announced January 4. The reforms expand the scope of preventive measures, including co-operation with religious authorities, anti-terrorism education in schools and public information campaigns. They require improved personnel requirements and training standards for security forces to minimize…
Ambassadors Club is New ‘Must’ Venue for Movers and Shakers
ASTANA – Established in 2009, the Ambassadors Club, a small, elite group of people, is planning to take on a new form to accommodate the rising interests of Kazakhstan. The club offers its members a special opportunity to establish communication channels and experience Astana’s spirit of hospitality rooted in the heroic nomadic traditions of the…
Astana’s EXPO 2017 Campaign Peaks as Crucial Vote Draws Near
ASTANA – On November 22, the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE) in Paris will decide whether or not to award EXPO 2017 to Astana. A vote by the BIE’s 156 member states will determine which of the two candidate cities – Liege in Belgium or Astana – will win the honour. The decision is important…
