Acclaimed Kazakh Noir Film “Steppenwolf” Debuts in Astana Ahead of Nationwide Release
ASTANA – With numerous festival awards gathering international attention, noir thriller “Dala Kaskyry” (Steppenwolf) was unveiled to the Kazakh audience in Astana on Aug. 12, ahead of its nationwide release in theaters on Aug. 15. Directed by Adilkhan Yerzhanov, whose “Yellow Cat” drama film entered Oscar’s Best Foreign Language Film longlist in 2021, “Steppenwolf” is…
Qazaq Kuresi: Kazakh Traditional Wrestling Draws Nation’s Strongest
ASTANA – Qazaq Kuresi, a type of traditional wrestling, has been a major feature of Kazakh sporting life for centuries, continuing to attract men and women eager to flex their muscles. Wrestling has long been one of Kazakh people’s most treasured cultural practices, with no event or celebration complete without Qazaq Kuresi. The names of…
Kazakhstan Honors Abai Day, Tribute to Timeless Legacy of Literary Legend
ASTANA – Kazakhstan celebrates Abai Day on Aug. 10, honoring the 179th birthday of Abai Kunanbaiuly, a Kazakh literary titan, poet, philosopher and composer. Almost 200 years on, Abai’s character and his enduring legacy remain relevant. Every generation continues to draw from the wellspring of Abai’s wisdom. His poems, which are remarkably versatile, continue to…
Kazakhstan Among Top 10 Lifetime Destinations by Italian Dove Travel Magazine
ASTANA – Italian Dove travel magazine, one of the leading publications in the field of tourism, has included Kazakhstan in the list of the 10 best destinations to visit at least once in a lifetime, announced Kazakh Tourism national company on July 29. “Inclusion in this prestigious list is a testament to Kazakhstan’s rich culture…
Shamakhi Meeting Advances Climate Finance Negotiations Ahead of COP29
ASTANA – A Heads of Delegation (HOD) meeting in Shamakhi, Azerbaijan, on July 26-27, marked a shift in negotiations on the adoption of the New Collective Quantitative Goal (NCQG) on climate finance ahead of the COP29 UN Climate Change Conference in November, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources on July 31. In…
Why Kazakhs Celebrate 800 Years of Jochi Ulus
ASTANA – This year, Kazakhstan marks 800 years since the foundation of Jochi Ulus (state), whose large territory once spanning from west Mongolia to eastern Europe, is considered the foundation of Kazakh statehood. Jochi was the eldest son of the Mongol Emperor Genghis Khan (ruler). Eight centuries ago, in 1224, Genghis Khan divided his empire…
New Training for Tour Guides to Improve Foreign Tourist Experience in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Every year, millions of tourists visit less-trodden parts of Central Asia, diving into an experience full of new sights, sounds and smells. What many people do not realize is that a tour guide is the major person who sets the right tone for tourism in a country. Kazakh Tourism national company in cooperation…
New Law Amendments Give Kazakhstan’s Kostanai Horse Breed Chance to Survive
ASTANA – Horse breeders in Kazakhstan are celebrating new amendments to the law on the preservation and reproduction of domestic horse breeds, signed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on June 9, in a move to save the Kostanai horse breed. In 1951, scientists introduced this new breed by crossing Kazakh mares with stallions from the Kalmyk,…
Joint UNESCO-EU Effort Brings Central Asian Heritage Sites Closer to Tourists
ASTANA – Four historical and cultural sites in Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan went through restoration and rehabilitation efforts in a large-scale regional project implemented by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) regional office in Almaty with the financial support of the European Union (EU). The project’s results were presented on…
Astana Welcomes 305 Young Biologists for International Olympiad
ASTANA – The 35th International Biology Olympiad (IBO) for schoolchildren kicked off in Astana on July 7, with 305 young biologists from around the world participating. IBO is one of the top seven international competitions among schoolchildren. Over the past 28 years, Kazakhstan’s students have successfully represented the country, winning more than 70 awards. Such…
Global Enthusiasm for Zhamby Atu, Kazakh Horseback Archery, is on Rise
ASTANA – A sport that combines marksmanship with exceptional equestrian skills, zhamby atu or Kazakh traditional horseback archery, captivates more and more fans in Kazakhstan and around the globe. In the traditional national game, a participant on horseback must shoot down a high-hanging zhamby (target) while galloping past. “Zhamby” derives from the old Turkish word…
Tokayev Highlights TURKTIME Initiatives During Kazakhstan’s OTS Chairmanship
ASTANA – Regional stability, connectivity, and climate action are among the top priorities for Kazakhstan’s chairmanship of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), said President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev during his speech at the OTS informal summit in Shusha, Azerbaijan, on July 6, according to the Akorda press service. Kazakhstan’s chairmanship of the OTS for 2023-2024 is…
Kazakh-Chinese Media Event Cross-Promotes Tourism and Cultural Heritage
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and China launched several media projects to promote tourism and bilateral cultural interests at the cultural exchange event on July 2 in Astana. Titled a New Chapter of Advanced Relations, the event coincides with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s official visit to Kazakhstan from July 2-4 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit,…
Insights from Officials, Experts on President Tokayev’s Speech for Mass Media Workers’ Day
ASTANA – Experts and government officials expressed their views on President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s speech during a ceremony ahead of Mass Media Workers’ Day. State Counsellor Erlan Karin highlighted that the key point in Tokayev’s speech was that Kazakhstan has long been living in a new political reality. “Over the past five years, our country has…
Kazakh Animation Industry to See Growth in Kazakh-Language Content
ASTANA – More stories will be told in Kazakh in the film and animation industry, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said in his response to the Senate (upper house of the Parliament) deputy’s request on June 26. The government is to allocate 500 million tenge (US$1 million) from the budget to produce animated projects in 2024…
Sadak Atu: Reviving the Tradition of Kazakh Archery
ASTANA—Whether inspired by childhood games or tales of heroic archers, Kazakh archery, known as sadak atu, is becoming increasingly popular among people of all ages in Kazakhstan, transforming into a more inclusive traditional sport. Ondasyn Tursyngali, an archery coach at the traditional Sadak Atu Federation’s club in Astana, used to watch his older brother and…
Design for World Nomad Games Medals Unveiled
ASTANA – The design for the medals for the upcoming fifth World Nomad Games was unveiled during the press briefing at the Central Communications Service under the President of Kazakhstan on June 24. Nail Nurov, head of the directorate for the preparation and organization of the fifth World Nomad Games, presented all three denominations made…
Panel in Astana Unveils Influential Stories of Women in Diplomacy
ASTANA – Breaking Barriers: Women in Diplomacy panel discussion at Maqsut Narikbayev University (MNU) in Astana on June 21 uncovered the stories of women who sought influence and were great female agents in diplomacy. The event took place ahead of the International Day of Women in Diplomacy, which is celebrated every year on June 24.…
Scientists Warn About Glacier Melt from Aral Sea Sand Storm on UN Desertification and Drought Day
BONN—Altai glacier melting is worsened by sand and dust storms blown thousands of kilometers from the Aralkum desert, scientists say at a seminar for journalists in Bonn dedicated to the United Nations (UN) Desertification and Drought Day, marked annually on June 17. Scientists studying Eurasia’s vast glaciers and salt and dust portable from Central Asia…
Responsible Statecraft Key to Future of US-Central Asia Relations, Says Expert
ASTANA – Bilateral and multilateral relations between the United States and the Central Asian republics will prosper over the next several years as long as all sides engage in diplomacy with mutual respect, common sense and business acumen, said Javier M. Piedra, specialist in international development, financial consultant and former Deputy Assistant Administrator for South…
Kyrgyz Republic Warns of Melting Glaciers at UN Climate Meetings in Bonn
BONN—The Kyrgyz President’s Special Representative for mountainous regions revealed how melting glaciers in the Kyrgyz Republic are affecting the population of the whole Central Asian region at the June United Nations (UN) Climate Meetings on June 3-13 in Bonn, Germany. The link between climate change and melting glaciers is becoming ever more visible. Dinara Kemelova,…
COP29 Preview: Kazakh Ecology Ministry Shares Goals and Expectations at Bonn UN Climate Meetings
BONN — Climate financing, mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, Kazakhstan’s part in the global methane pledge, and loss and damage fund were among the key topics discussed by the Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources during the June United Nations (UN) Climate Meetings, which took place on June 3-13 in Bonn, Germany. June UN…
Taraz City – Cradle of Islamic Civilization and Trade with Great Artisan Past
Editor’s Note: The Astana Times continues its series of articles, Exploring Kazakhstan, City by City, this time focusing on Kazakhstan’s oldest city Taraz. We are setting out to unveil the rich diversity of cities to bring you closer to the heart and soul of Kazakhstan. ASTANA – The once-mighty city of Taraz, the cradle of…
Experts Warn of Growing Threat to Khoja Ahmed Yassawi Mausoleum
ASTANA – Increased moisture from the irrigation of lawns around Kazakhstan’s architectural heritage, the Khoja Ahmed Yassawi mausoleum in the Turkistan Region, might threaten its integrity, according to architectural experts, reported Kazinform news agency on May 2. Their warnings come as the Azret Sultan state historical cultural and natural museum-reserve shares the results of a…
Kazakhstan Welcomes Leonardo da Vinci’s La Bella Principessa for First Time
ASTANA – Leonardo da Vinci’s La Bella Principessa has settled into its temporary new home at the National Museum of Kazakhstan for the first time in the country, where the masterpiece will be on display for the next two months from June 7 till Aug. 4. Da Vinci’s genius is reflected in his La Bella…
