Articles by Kamila Zhumabayeva

Kazakhstan’s Air Ambulance – More than 8,000 Departures in Five Years

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s air ambulance service has made 8,643 departures beginning with its first flight on July 12, 2011. Since its inception, 323 calls were made in 2011, 1,005 in 2012, 1,355 in 2013, 1,875 in 2014, 2,149 in 2015 and 1,936 missions in the first 10 months of this year, according to a report…

Pay Attention to Herbal Therapy rather than Chemical, says Zerde-Phyto Marketing and PR Director

ASTANA – Documents discussing the enjoyment and uses of herbal teas have been recovered dating back to Ancient Egypt and China. Zerde-Phyto produces herbal tea and supplements and Marketing and Public Relations Director Beibit Kuttykozhayev discussed the importance of herb products and therapy with The Astana Times. Herbal tea or tisane is herbs, spices or…

Soviet Cakes were Hard to Get but Worth the Try

ASTANA – These days there are plenty of cakes that are beautiful on the outside, but pretentiously sweet and unappetising on the inside. It is no surprise then that recipes for Soviet cakes are carefully collected and published on the Internet, magazines and books. “In the USSR, a cake was more than just a dessert.…

Kazakh Researchers Make Advances in Design of Military Robot

ASTANA – Kazakh military developers have created an experimental model of a terrestrial military robot that can operate as a scout during military actions in a city. Experienced specialists of the Military Science and Research Centre of Kazakhstan’s National Defence University have been working to develop this robot. The robot is in the test phase…

Kazakh Language Training Sought by Mature Adults, says InterPress Manager

ASTANA – Most Kazakh adults take Kazakh language lessons for professional needs. Meanwhile, the young generation prefers to learn English for educational opportunities abroad, said Tamara Lozovaya, central office and recruitment manager for InterPress International House (IH) in Almaty, in her recent interview with The Astana Times. Since 2006, InterPress IH has been a member…

Fire-Fighting Motorcycles to Be Used in Almaty

ASTANA – A rapid response motorcycle crew project will be adopted in Almaty so that the city’s fire-fighting units can arrive to an emergency site faster. Four Jawa 660 fire fighting and rescue bikes were made upon special order of Almaty’s emergencies department. “Their goal is rapid arriving to an emergency scene (including road accidents),…

Kazakh Animated, Dramatic and Historic Films Shown at Barcelona’s Casa Asia Film Festival

ASTANA – The screening of the animated film “Kazakh Eli” (2016) and several other Kazakh historic and dramatic movies is currently taking place at the Casa Asia Film Festival in Barcelona.   “It is really pleasant to me as a director that the world premiere of the film will take place in Spain. First of…

Astana Opera, Teatro di San Carlo Artists Perform at Theater’s Grand Gala Ballet

ASTANA – A Grand Gala Ballet featuring Astana Opera artists and renowned artists from Teatro di San Carlo opera house in Naples, Italy was held Oct. 29 at the capital’s opera theatre, according to the press service of Astana Opera. Astana Opera Symphony Orchestra accompanied the concert with conductor Arman Urazgaliyev. Six soloists represented Teatro…

Rich, Natural Kazakh Honey Valued among Consumers

ASTANA – Honey extraction in Kazakhstan takes place mainly in Altai region, and South Altai has a good quality harvest. Its compound has a wide array of microelements and vitamins and is more saturated and rich than that taken from Russia and the Baltic States flats. “Honey production develops mostly in East Kazakhstan. Not many…

OBI’s Entrance into Kazakhstan Means Global Revolution in Providing Amenities, says Almaty Official

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s first OBI hypermarket is slated to open in Almaty by late May. The home improvement superstore, to be built on 3.4 hectares at the intersection of Sain and Tole bi streets, will create 400 new jobs. “OBI’s entrance into Kazakhstan means global revolution in amenities provision. We used to find solutions to…

Eight Year Old Becomes World Chess Champion in Under-8 Category

ASTANA – Eight-year-old Aisha Zakirova has become the world chess champion in the under-8 category based on the results of the World Cadets Chess Championship that ended recently in Batumi, Georgia, reported the press service of the Aceademic Shakhmardan Yessenov Science and Education Foundation. “We are happy. I was coaching Aisha for about a year.…

40 Electric Car Stations, Sports Facilities to Be Built in Almaty

ASTANA – The Akimat (city administration) of Almaty and several businesses, including a group of car companies named Allur Auto, have agreed to build 40 electric car stations, Kapital.kz reports. “The number of cars increased 10 times in 25 years in Almaty. Right now, there are 570,000 cars in the city and 270,000 in the…

Diabetic Foot Syndrome May Soon be Cured without Amputation at Unified Centre for Diabetes

ASTANA – Patients with diabetic foot syndrome may soon be able to have their condition cured and avoid amputation at the Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University Centre of Diabetes in Almaty. People with diabetes often have a number of complications in their lower limbs that lead to gangrene and doctors have to amputate an affected…

National Satellite Channel Kazakh TV Changes Formats

ASTANA – October 25, Kazakh TV, Khabar Agency JSC’s “first national satellite channel,” launched a new format and a new branding campaign focusing on Kazakhstan’s culture, traditions, economy and nature, Tengrinews news agency reported. “The Kazakh TV television channel is a flagship of our country’s information promotion abroad. Available in 118 countries, Kazakh TV performs…

EBRD Projects Help Make People’s Lives Better in Kazakh Regions, says Director of Bank’s Operations in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – The wide-ranging work of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in Kazakhstan’s regions includes everything from water and transport to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). EBRD Director in Kazakhstan Janet Heckman spoke about the bank’s efforts in these regions and the importance of joining forces for regional development and investment projects.…

Malaysian Expedition Promotes Pahang as Tourist Destination during Astana Visit

ASTANA – A Malaysian road expedition team from the Malaysian state of Pahang visited the capital Oct. 17-19 as part of “Visit Pahang 2017” campaign that aims to promote Pahang to international tourists. “Our main intention is to attract international tourists, especially Kazakhstan people to come and visit Pahang next year,” expedition leader and Chairman…

Ten-Year-Old ‘Human Calculator’ Impresses Audience with High Mental Arithmetic Skills

ASTANA – Ilyas Tokhtarkhan is referred to as the “human calculator.” The 10-year-old boy from the capital struck the jury and audience of a Russian television show with his impressive mental math skills. “I am called a human calculator because I do a mental arithmetic better than everyone. I can count two-digit, three-digit and four-digit…

Kostanai – City with Rich History and Culture

ASTANA – Standing on the Tobol River in northern Kazakhstan, the city of Kostanai is the administrative centre of the Kostanai oblast (region). The population is about 217,000 (as of 2014). The area has a sharp continental climate, hot dry summers and cold winters with little snow. Food processing and other light enterprises are the…

“We Have Accomplished a lot and Revived our Customs in 25 Years,” Says Uzbek Community Leader

ASTANA – Uzbeks have received quite a bit of interest lately, as they constitute half a million members of Kazakhstan’s population and, as President Nursultan Nazarbayev once noted, are indigenous residents of the region, according to regional Uzbek Cultural Centre Chairman Ikram Khashimzhanov. “As of today we have great access to knowing the national language,…

Kazakh Olympic and Paralympic Champions Plant Alley of Spruces in Astana Park

ASTANA – Kazakh Olympic and Paralympic champions and honoured figures of the Olympic movement planted 19 Tien-Shan spruces at Park Vlublyonnih (the Park of Lovers) on Oct. 5 in tribute to every medal they earned this year at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. “Planting this Alley of Champions was the idea…

Eurasian National University Student Wins ‘Science Slam – Kazakhstan’

ASTANA – Master’s degree student in Architecture at Lev Gumilyov Eurasian National University Asel Pazylbekova won this year’s “Science Slam – Kazakhstan” science show in Almaty. Pazylbekova presented a project for making an architectural kit for students where through playing and learning they can create new forms of buildings and develop creative thinking. “Platforms such…

Kazakh Mineral Springs Possess Therapeutic Efficiency

ASTANA – One can rest and improve one’s health thanks to Kazakhstan’s unique natural resources, climate and healing mineral waters with diverse composition, chemical properties and therapeutic efficiency. One can find his or her own mineral water in nearly every region. Thermal waters with a sodium sulfate-hydrocarbonate composition prevail in the northern region. Mineral waters…

Medical Insurance Programmes Depend on Scope and Price, Says Chief Physician

ASTANA – Medical insurance is a must for expatriates and those who work in Kazakhstan on contract. Several medical insurance programmes are available depending on the scope and price of the package. “Medical insurance makes it possible to evacuate in case of serious illnesses or death. An employer is obliged to provide hired expats with…

Rally Kazakhstan Included on FIA 2017 World Cup for Cross-Country Races

ASTANA – Rally Kazakhstan was officially added to the calendar for the 2017 FIA World Cup for cross-country Rallies after Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) held its latest World Motor Sport Council meeting Sept. 28 in Paris. For the first time, Automotorsport Federation of Republic of Kazakhstan achieved the right to hold a FIA World…

National Emoji Stickers Express Feelings with Kazakh Characters

ASTANA – iPhone users can now express their emotions with Kazakh national characters, as a free set of national emoji stickers is available for download from the AppStore. The app requires the iOS 10.0 operating system and is currently available only for iMessage. “The character for the stickers originated from cultural traditions of Kazakhstan. The…