International MMA stars to fight in Astana at Battle of Nomads
ASTANA – The capital is set to host MMA Week May 8-12 as part of the city’s 20th anniversary celebration when the MMA Federation of Kazakhstan will hold the MMA Amateur Championship of Kazakhstan and Battle of Nomads 10 international professional tournament. Kazakh MMA Federation First Vice President Assylbek Dyussenov previewed the event with The…
Seven Veils of Eurasia exhibit reveals magical world of ballet
ASTANA – “Seven Veils of Eurasia,” an exhibit dedicated to the work of Russian photographer Alexei Kritsov and Belarusian sculptor Andrej Ostashov, opened April 12 in the ForteBank Kulanshi Art Space. The event includes more than 30 sculptures and 45 pictures reflecting the most important themes of our lives – peace, love and beauty. “We…
Kazakhstan Fashion Week gathers best designers
ASTANA – Some of the world’s best fashion designers showcased latest offerings April 10-13 at the Abai State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre and Dostyk Plaza in Almaty for the 25th season of Kazakhstan Fashion Week (KFW). The show included collections by local and foreign designers, including Yerlan Zholdasbek, Judy Ai, Tamara Lamanukaeva, Sergey Shabunin,…
Kazakhstan considers excluding term ‘oralman’ from Kazakh language
ASTANA – A special commission created under the Kazakh Ministry of Labour and Social Protection is researching whether or not the word “oralman” (“returnee,” in Kazakh), which describes ethnic Kazakhs returning to the homeland, should be excluded from the Kazakh language, tengrinews.kz reports. “The proposals concerning the term ‘oralman’ are expressed by both members of…
Kazakhstan to celebrate horse milk with Kymyz Muryndyk 2018 festival
ASTANA – The holiday Kymyz Muryndyk, devoted to the traditional Kazakh drink kumys (fermented mare’s milk), is set to bring locals and visitors, Kazakh officials and professors, foreign diplomats and scientists, as well as Kazakh sports champions together May 11-12 in Taraz. Since ancient times, hospitality has been a defining feature of the Kazakh people.…
75-year-old anti-nuclear activist to run his 305th marathon in Almaty
ASTANA – Nine riders led by Bike for Peace (BFP) President Tore Naerland will participate in the April 22 Almaty Marathon. This year, 75-year-old Harald Sel from Bryne, Norway will join the peace initiative. “The Almaty marathon will undoubtedly become one of my most exclusive. Of my over 300 marathons, I have run almost half…
Kazakh togyz kumalak champion among nation’s 100 New Faces
ASTANA – Assel Daliyeva, Kazakh champion of the ancient national board game togyz kumalak, has been named one of the country’s 100 New Faces. The 28-year-old Kyzylorda native is the first and only person awarded the title of Honoured Master of Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan. “Intellectual games play an important role in the…
Chinese company to build wind and solar power stations in Kentau
ASTANA – China’s Jiangsu Zhenfa Holdings Group Co. Ltd investment company will start construction in August on $154.5 million wind and solar power stations in the South Kazakhstan region. The new facilities are expected to generate 50 megawatts per hour of wind power and 30 megawatts per hour of solar energy. Kentau is a city…
More than 20 percent of Kazakh citizens speak three languages
ASTANA – Approximately 83 percent of the country’s population speak the Kazakh language and 22 percent of the adult population can speak three languages, Minister of Culture and Sport Arystanbek Mukhamediuly said at a March 27 government meeting, quoting a 2017 census. “To implement the project on promoting the trilingual education policy, 610 civil servants…
Adili – Kazakh ethnic style accessories
ASTANA – National-style accessories are becoming increasingly in vogue in Kazakhstan. Adili, the brand offering fashionable accessories with a national ornament, is introducing elements of that style into everyday life. The company has an online store (www.shopadili.com), where customers can browse through a charming collection for women and men. The concept of creating a brand…
Promising young entrepreneur named one of Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces
ASTANA – Arman Toskanbayev, 26, is an ambitious businessperson engaged in popularising, protecting and developing Kazakh entrepreneurial activities. His endeavour and persistence serve as an example for thousands of novice entrepreneurs, for which he has been named one of the country’s 100 New Faces. During his school years, the Karaganda native repaired old computers and…
Almaty quilting enthusiasts try to patch together a world record
ASTANA – Quilting enthusiasts in Almaty will work from March 22 to the Sept. 16 Almaty Day to break a Guinness World Record for the world’s largest patchwork quilt (“Kurak Korpe” in Kazakh), measuring 25,500 square metres. Organisers chose March 22 as it marks the rebirth of nature and the spring holiday of Nauryz. Quilting…
Khorgos to introduce new luggage terminal to fully automate cargo transportation
ASTANA – The Khorgos cross-border trade centre will offer improved services, enhanced safety and automated baggage handling to provide better conditions for tourists and avoid transporting cargo through the passenger bus system. Each tourist may take only one bag on the bus at the Kazakh-Chinese border; the rest of the cargo is delivered through KazPost…
Yakutia’s National Library promotes Kazakh literature
ASTANA – The Kazakh Literature and Culture Centre opened March 15 in the National Library of Russia’s Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) under the international project initiated by the Kazakh National Academic Library. “Since 2016, the National Academic Library of Kazakhstan has been implementing an international project to promote Kazakh literature by opening centres in different…
Kazakh consumers see small seasonal price hikes for agricultural products
ASTANA – Prices for socially important food products have increased 0.7 percent since the beginning of the year. The largest increases have been in Astana (102.2 percent), Almaty (101.6 percent) and Aktobe region (101.3 percent), First Vice Minister of Agriculture Arman Yevniyev said during a March 13 government meeting in Astana. According to the minister, the…
KazSat system earned Kazakhstan $15.5 million in 2017
ASTANA – The KazSat national satellite communication system brought $15.5 million in income and replaced $37.2 million worth of imports in 2017 due to the reduced use of foreign satellites’ resources, Kazakh Minister of Defence and Aerospace Industry Beibit Atamkulov reported, according to the ministry’s press service. “The KazSat satellite communication system, satellites of the…
Atameken focuses on integrating digital technologies as corruption-fighting measure
ASTANA – The Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs and civil service and anti-corruption agency will focus on integrating digital technologies as a corruption-fighting measure, according to a new anticorruption roadmap approved Feb. 28, reported the Atameken press service. “The use and development of digital technologies is our main joint task. As President Nursultan Nazarbayev instructed,…
Teacher of the Year named among nation’s 100 New Faces
ASTANA – Biology teacher Alexander Kintsel, one of Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces, believes the most important quality every teacher should possess is love and passion for working with children. He has devoted the last 15 and a half years to Abai Kunanbaev school gymnasium No. 6 in Stepnogorsk. His research-based teaching techniques and trusting relationship…
Club 28 Petel volunteers knit woollen clothing for premature newborns
ASTANA – The volunteers of the Club 28 Petel (28 Loops) project gather in seven countries around the world to knit boots, hats, cardigans and toys for premature babies. Photographer and journalist Karla Nur (Karlygash Nurzhanova) initiated the social project in 2012 after reporting from one of the city’s perinatal centres where she saw a…
Damu Fund supports Kazakh geneticist in dental invention
ASTANA – Kazakh genetic scientist Bauyrzhan Aituov has made a breakthrough in the incipient treatment of cavities. His technology, called InnoDent, features biocompatible implants that stimulate the natural regeneration of enamel and dentin and is used in treating early-stage dental cavities without drilling. Aituov opened his first laboratory in Shymkent in 2013 after receiving a…
Astana’s 20th anniversary programme to include art festivals
ASTANA – The programme to celebrate Astana’s 20th anniversary this year will include performances by more than 500 artists from around the world. “The Parade of Capitals international cultural project with the participation of leading creative teams and organisations, popular artists and famous athletes from 20 countries will be a united event to celebrate the…
Cardiac surgeons conduct artificial heart transplant
ASTANA – The specialists of the National Scientific Cardiac Surgery Centre conducted Kazakhstan’s first artificial heart transplant Oct 19, 2017 for a 60-year-old Pavlodar native, kazakh-tv.kz reports. The innovative development of French bioengineers and the high professionalism of Kazakh doctors was a breakthrough in cardiac surgery. In general, approximately 20 similar surgeries are planned in…
People are Kazakhstan’s greatest asset, says Lithuanian ambassador
ASTANA – Lithuania celebrated Feb. 16 its 100th anniversary of independence restored after World War I. To highlight the date, Lithuanian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Vytautas Nauduzas told The Astana Times about the relationship between the countries, prospects for deepening cooperation and his opinion on Kazakhstan’s development. “A few days ago, Lithuania commemorated its 100th anniversary…
Kazakh Investment Ministry to focus on manufacturing, exports and labour productivity
ASTANA – The Ministry for Investment and Development will concentrate this year on manufacturing, focusing on export-oriented sectors and labour productivity under the Accelerated Industrial and Innovative Development programme, said Minister Zhenis Kassymbek during a Feb. 13 weekly government meeting. “To meet the tasks given by President Nursultan Nazarbayev during the Feb. 9 extended government…
Kazakh singer named most popular singer of the year in China
ASTANA – Kazakh singer Dimash Kudaibergen is gaining popularity worldwide and was named Most Popular Singer of the Year for the second year in a row at the Feb. 9 Top Global Chinese Music Awards. “I love you very much, thank you for your love,” Kudaibergen wrote on his page in Instagram. He was also…
