Articles by Assel Satubaldina

COVID-19 Reveals Critical Importance of Addressing Mental Health Problems in Society

NUR-SULTAN – The COVID-19 outbreak has changed the lives of millions and brought with it dire fallout, including increased mental health issues.  As the world marked the Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, it also reaffirmed the growing importance of addressing mental health, said head of the World Health Organization (WHO) office in Kazakhstan Dr…

Tokayev Attends Peacekeeping Exercise in Almaty, Thanks Military Officers for Their Service

NUR-SULTAN  – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev recently attended the first comprehensive peacekeeping exercise in the history of the Kazakh Armed Forces, reported Akorda press service. More than 1,000 military officers, and more than 100 military units and special equipment participated in the training.  In the training center, Tokayev was briefed on the activities of the…

Kazakhstan Seeks to Attract Nearly $12 Billion in Agribusiness Investment in Next Five Years

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan plans to attract nearly five trillion tenge (US$11.6 billion) of investments in agriculture in the next five years in an effort to boost export potential and saturate the domestic market, said Kazakh Agriculture Minister Saparkhan Omarov at an Oct. 6 government meeting.  The nation’s plan to saturate its market with domestic food…

We Can Prevent Another Stringent Lockdown, Says Tokayev

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan can and should escape the stringent nationwide lockdown, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at a meeting that focused on the country’s fight against the virus, reported Akorda press service.  During the meeting, Tokayev warned Kazakh officials to prepare for the second wave of coronavirus as the world witnessed a surge in COVID-19…

Over 10,000 Candidates Participate in Nur Otan Party Primaries, as Party Concludes First Stage 

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s ruling Nur Otan party summed up the results of the first stage in the party’s primaries held between Oct.1 and Oct. 4, the Nur Otan press service reported.  Nearly 10,000 people participated in the primaries, 37 percent of them women and 29 percent young people under 35 years of age. Seventy percent…

Kazakhstan Improves Position in World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators Report

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan has improved its performance in the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators project that measures good governance in more than 200 countries since 1996. The report covers six dimensions of governance – voice and accountability, political stability and absence of violence, government effectiveness, regulatory quality, rule of law, and control of corruption. These…

Kazakhstan Introduces New Regulations For Arriving Passengers

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan introduced new regulations for arriving passengers in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, said Almaty Chief Sanitary Doctor Zhandarbek Bekshin at an Oct. 5 online press briefing.  Testing before flight has become a new normal now. Foreigners planning to travel to Kazakhstan must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test result…

Almaty Reopens Theatres, Extends Operating Hours of Cafes, Restaurants

NUR-SULTAN  –  Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty, announced it would extend the operating hours of cafes and restaurants and open theatres at a limited capacity from Oct. 6 as part of a next step to ease COVID-19 restrictions, according to the latest decree of the city’s chief sanitary doctor Zhandarbek Bekshin.  Businesses providing contactless services, such…

Kazakhstan to Stop Resuming Flights to Prepare For Global COVID-19 Spike

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan will stop resuming flights with other countries starting Oct. 5 amid the global spike in COVID-19 cases, said Kazakh Minister of Healthcare Alexey Tsoy at an Oct. 1 press briefing.  After the restrictions were eased, Kazakhstan started to gradually resume international air travel with Egypt, Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, the Netherlands,…

Kazakh President Tokayev Calls for Greater Focus on Volunteering, Charity Within Civil Society 

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev thanked volunteers who worked on the frontlines helping people who were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic during his meeting with representatives of national volunteering organizations, charity funds and the private sector in the Kazakh capital, the Akorda press service reported. The meeting was attended by Biz Birgemiz (We Are…

Large Scale Construction Ongoing in Turkestan, Kazakhstan Eager to Exploit Tourism Opportunities

NUR-SULTAN – Coronavirus may have disrupted certain plans, but certainly not the large scale construction taking place in Turkestan city, the center of the Turkestan Region, as it has recently unveiled a new sports arena, a brand new Rixos hotel, and a new congress center. Kazakhstan’s First President Nursultan Nazarbayev visited the new venues as…

Turkestan Unveils New Modern International Airport

NUR-SULTAN – Turkestan, the nation’s major spiritual and cultural center, unveiled its brand new international airport Sept. 28, reported the Kazakh Civil Aviation Committee.  Kazakhstan’s First President Nursultan Nazarbayev also attended the opening ceremony as part of his working visit to the region.  The airport is located 20 kilometers from the city and stretches across…

Kazakh President Visits New Production Facility at Hyundai Trans Plant in Almaty Ahead Of Official Launch

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the Hyundai Trans Plant in Almaty and its new production facility ahead of its official launch scheduled for Oct. 15, reported Akorda press service.  The Hyundai TransPlant, built by Kazakhstan’s leading car distributor Astana Motors, stretches across 25 hectares in the city’s special industrial zone. Founded in 1992,…

Tokayev Visits New Hospital Branch in Almaty, Meets With National Public Trust Council Members

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the new branch of Almaty’s clinical infectious hospital named after Izatima Zhekenova during his working visit to the city on Sept. 25.  The branch is designed to provide medical care to 500 people, the Akorda press service reported. Tokayev met with medical workers and discussed the development of…

First Central Asia Nobel Fest to Bring Nobel Laureates Together For Online Lectures and Seminars 

NUR-SULTAN – Students and researchers from Central Asia and the Caucasus are waiting for a historic chance to meet Nobel laureates and scientists from across the world at the Central Asia Nobel Fest 2020 scheduled to take place online on Oct. 1-4.  The Central Asia Nobel Fest is a unique platform for discussion and the…

Kazakh Artists Take Part in Germany’s Ost Anders International Festival

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh artists recently participated in the Ost Anders International Festival online performing jazz, soul and electro beats to their virtual venue. The festival for music, art and performance has been held since 2005 in Nurnberg and seeks to build bridges between the cultures of East and West.  Nasia, a young singer and a…

Kazakhstan’s Rising Star Daneliya Tuleshova Stuns AGT Finals with Sia’s ‘Alive’ Cover (Video)

NUR-SULTAN – The 14-year-old rising star from Kazakhstan Daneliya Tuleshova stunned American audiences with her cover of Sia’s “Alive” at America’s Got Talent finals which aired on NBC on Sept. 22. The voting took place online, and only U.S. citizens were eligible to vote.  Spoken word artist Brandon Leake took home a $1 million prize…

Kazakhstan May Export A Staggering 8 Million Tonnes of Grains in 2020

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan may export up to eight million tonnes of grains in 2020, said Kazakh Minister of Agriculture Saparkhan Omarov at a Sept. 22 government meeting.  Traditional export markets for Kazakh wheat and flour are Afghanistan, China and Central Asia. Exports to China, in particular, can be increased due to the higher quality of…

Tokayev to Address UN High-Level Virtual Meeting to Mark UN’s 75th Anniversary

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will speak at the United Nations virtual high level meeting Sept. 21 commemorating the organization’s 75th anniversary, said Tokayev’s spokesperson Berik Uali. “Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is expected to speak about the importance of consolidated efforts of international community in addressing current global challenges, including the coronavirus infection, global economic growth…

Kazakhstan, Russia Resume Flights Starting Sept. 21

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan has resumed air travel with Russia today, Sept. 21, on a reciprocal basis, the Kazakh Embassy in Russia reported. Flights will be operated once a week. The decision was made at the Sept. 18 meeting of the Russian coronavirus task force. Along with Kazakhstan, Russia, which suspended regular air travel with foreign…

Public Council Reviews Work of Kazakh Foreign Ministry

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi participated in a meeting of the Public Council that explored the work of the ministry amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the new edition of Kazakhstan’s law on diplomatic service, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry press service reported. Public councils are consultative and advisory bodies created by ministries and state…

Kazakhstan Takes Step to Further Ease COVID-19 Restrictions

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan took a step to further ease COVID-19 restrictions allowing theatres to reopen and cafes to work on weekends, but with limited capacity, according to the latest decree of the nation’s chief sanitary doctor.  The number of people allowed in cafes and outdoor dining facilities, which can now work on weekends as well,…

Kazakhstan’s Daneliya Tuleshova Advances to America’s Got Talent Finals (Video)

NUR-SULTAN  – Kazakhstan’s rising star Daneliya Tuleshova made it to the finals in NBC’s America’s Got Talent (AGT), a well-known American talent show.  Tuleshova, who is regarded as a star in her home country, is now growing her fan base in the United States, as she advances in the show. In the semi-finals, she stunned…

Al Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty Named Best Islamic Finance Education Provider

NUR-SULTAN – The Islamic Finance Centre at Al Farabi Kazakh National University won the title of Best Emerging Islamic Finance Education Provider at the Global Islamic Finance Awards 2020 held online Sept. 14.   The center, deemed the first Islamic education provider in the country and in Central Asia, was established in 2019 in cooperation…

President Tokayev Creates Supreme Council Dedicated to Reforming Kazakhstan 

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree Sept. 14 establishing the Supreme Council for Reforms in the country, reported Akorda press service.  The goal of the new body, announced by Tokayev in his Sept. 1 state-of-the-nation address, is to “ensure strategic planning of the country’s sustainable development and the deepening of economic, social…