Russian Cosmonaut Shares Unique Video of Shrinking Aral Sea as Seen From Outer Space (Video)
NUR-SULTAN – Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev posted a video of the Aral Sea on his Telegram channel showing the surface of the Aral Sea. “Flying over the Aral Sea… or rather, what is left of it,” Artemyev wrote under the video. The Aral sea is an inland salt lake located between Kazakhstan (Aktobe and Kyzylorda…
After 30 Years of Bilateral Relations Kazakhstan, IMF Expand Strategic Partnership
NUR-SULTAN – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) seeks to continue its partnership with Kazakhstan, Head of the IMF mission for Kazakhstan Nicolas Blancher said during a videoconference with Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov, the Prime Minister’s Office reported. During the meeting, the sides discussed the results of the IMF mission, recommendations on priority areas…
TikTok is Set to Boost Cooperation With Kazakhstan
NUR-SULTAN – TikTok, a short-form video hosting service, seeks to promote its cultural and informational content in Kazakhstan including the promotion of theaters and museums. This was announced during the meeting of Kazakh Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Almas Aidarov with General Director of TikTok Rus Serguei Sokolov in Nur-Sultan, reported the press service of…
National Bank Observes Increase in International Reserves Due to Gold and Foreign Currency Expansion
NUR-SULTAN – The gross international reserves of the Kazakh National Bank increased by 0.8 percent over the month and totaled $33.4 billion in April, according to the latest press release from the bank. “Gold and foreign currency reserves expanded due to an increase in the gold portfolio and receipt of funds to accounts of the…
American businessman boosts tourist flow to Kazakhstan
ASTANA – American businessperson David Valera seeks to develop tourism in Kazakhstan by opening the country as a cultural and tourist destination for foreign visitors. “I am proud to say that I am the only New Yorker, the only American, who has his company 100 percent dedicated to promoting tourism in Kazakhstan. That was a…
Astana-Paris bike ride involves cyclists with visual impairments
ASTANA – The Blind Race 2018 Astana-Paris bike marathon for cyclists who are blind or visually impaired will kick off noon, Aug. 4 from Mangilik El monument. Kazakh and foreign athletes will pass through six countries and pedal 5,000 kilometres. “This year, we have organised our third marathon. The first was Almaty-Astana and then Almaty…
Archaeologists find Saka burial mound, later graves near Astana
ASTANA – Archaeologists have begun excavating a Saka burial mound found 10 kilometres from Astana, in the course of their work discovering seven other graves dating to the much more recent past (to the 15th and 16th centuries), two of which held women’s jewellery. “A female copper ring was found in one of the graves.…
Astana Around Us: Astana through eyes of photo artists
ASTANA – Astana Around Us depicts the capital and its residents from an unusual perspective. The photo exhibit, composed of approximately 120 works of the best photographers from Belarus, France, Germany, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Slovakia, Turkey and Uzbekistan, is on display through July 31 along Nurzhol Boulevard (also known as Green Water Boulevard) near the…
Asaý Júrek resale shop offers luxury, vintage and mass-market clothing
ASTANA – Asaý Júrek, a resale shop opened in April in Almaty, offers high quality and select clothes and accessories. Founder and city resident Marina Anichkina sells mass-market, luxury, vintage and other styles. “We do not order containers with clothes from the prosperous countries of Europe… We accept clothes from people with a similar vision…
Young neurosurgeon saves lives, is one of country’s 100 New Faces
ASTANA – Taraz native Marat Sarshayev, 33, a neurosurgeon at the Central Clinical Hospital in Almaty of the Medical Centre of the President’s Affairs Administration of Kazakhstan, is one of the nation’s 100 New Faces. Despite his young age, Sarshayev independently conducts brain vessel endoscopic, endovascular and micro-neurosurgical surgeries. He also operates to remove brain…
Indian Cultural Centre in Astana offers yoga, Indian dance and other classes
ASTANA – Free classes on Indian music, dance, the Hindi language and yoga were recently launched at the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), the Embassy of India press service announced. According to Sanjay Garg, SVCC director, the classes are open for everyone regardless of age or educational qualifications. “Indian dance classes would include lessons in…
Five-year-old artist holds charity exhibit to help children with visual impairments
ASTANA – Five-year-old artist Zere Dzhamalova raised 4 million tenge (US$11,614) for children with visual impairments at her personal exhibit in Almaty July 3. The funds were allocated for the Dara Charity Foundation, aimed at improving living conditions and expanding opportunities for orphans, sick children and those with limited abilities. The foundation carries out its…
Smart city innovations being implemented in cities throughout Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Smart city project innovations are being introduced in many sectors throughout the country, according to a report delivered by Minister of Information and Communications of Kazakhstan Dauren Abayev during a July 17 government meeting. “At the moment services such as an electronic gradebooks, kindergarten queue have already been digitised… The efficiency of the…
Summer business opportunities provide entrepreneurs with extra income
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s seasons affect certain businesses. The capital’s short summers are probably the most favourable time for fast income, with opportunities for both novice and experienced entrepreneurs. Selling refreshing drinks, kvass (bread juice) and beer has long been a popular way to earn money in the warm weather, as the seasonal business typically ensures…
We are all blacksmiths of our own happiness, says one of Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces
ASTANA – A 55-year-old artisan from Semei preserves national crafts, making unique jewellery and traditional battle items from metal, leather, skin and bone. Abylaikhan Assylbai, the master with limited abilities but a strong will, has been named one of Kazakhstan’s 100 New Faces. “My father, grandfather and great-grandfather were engaged in crafts. This is in…
Kazakhstan improves position on Decoding Global Talent report
ASTANA – Kazakhstan placed 77th on the 2018 Decoding Global Talent report, improving from 129th in 2014. The Boston Consulting Group and The Network, an international online recruitment company, joined to create one of the largest surveys of labour trends and work preferences – 366,000 individuals in 197 countries, according to bcg.com. Kazakhstan is popular…
Kazakh economy minister notes slowing inflation, increasing investment in first half of 2018
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth reached 4.1 percent in the first half of the year, Minister of National Economy Timur Suleimenov said during a July 10 government meeting. The economic recovery comes as inflation continues to slow and investment is high. “Inflation has been steadily falling and reached its lowest point in…
Nika Centre for Communicative Development helps Kazakhs face their public speaking fears
ASTANA – For nearly 10 years Astana’s Nika Centre for Communicative Development has offered classes to improve public speaking as well as develop self-confidence and negotiating skills. “From 2009 to 2015, the organisation was called the Nika Centre for Oratory Skills. After introducing new educational courses, the centre was renamed the Nika Centre for Communicative…
Most Kazakh Finance Ministry services were provided in electronic format last year
ASTANA – The majority of services of the Kazakh Ministry of Finance were provided in electronic format in 2017, Minister Bakhyt Sultanov told a July 3 government meeting on digitisation. Of 18 million services last year, the ministry provided 16 million, or 88 percent, in electronic format, including through a specially designated web portal, egov.kz.…
Group works to make Kazakhstan’s sacred places available online
ASTANA – From snowy mountain peaks to ancient archaeological tombs, some of Kazakhstan’s sacred places were inspired by myths and legends. The Sacred Kazakhstan Science and Research Centre, established in May 2017, is implementing the Spiritual Relics of Kazakhstan project to unveil the nation’s sacred spots online. This year’s goal is to popularise these amazing…
Number of large Kazakh businesses declining
ASTANA – The number of large businesses in Kazakhstan decreased from 2,300 to 2,200 in the past year. Large companies closed in six regions of the country, reported finprom.kz. Nineteen large enterprises in Almaty ceased activities during the reporting period, which ended in May. The number fell to 488 compared to 507 a year earlier.…
Officials directed to speed up work on business regulation improvements
ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev, speaking at the June 26 government meeting, instructed officials to accelerate introducing the normative legal acts (NLA) to improve the nation’s business environment. President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed the law May 24 to improve business regulations. The document is expected to advance and expand the business environment, as well…
Charyn Canyon officials to pave canyons dirt access road
ASTANA – The dirt access road leading to the Charyn Canyon, located 200 kilometres from Almaty, will be rebuilt as an asphalt surfaced road, inform.kz reports. The access road to the canyon, including the territory of the Charyn Canyon National Park ran along a dirt road, which extended from the asphalt-surfaced highway. Large tourist buses…
Archbishop of Astana: Kazakhstan supports peace and harmony at home and abroad
ASTANA – The Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions points the whole world toward Kazakhstan’s path of peace-building, archbishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana and president of Bishops’ Conference of Kazakhstan told the Astana Times. “First of all, we should congratulate our President, Nursultan Nazarbayev, on this noble idea.…
Astana: The City of Peace international conference addresses smart city initiatives
ASTANA – In the past 20 years, the city has become the largest scientific, cultural and business centre in Kazakhstan. To mark the 20th anniversary of the nation’s capital, local officials and foreign guests gathered June 5 for Astana: The City of Peace international conference. One session focused on the urban area’s smart city initiatives,…
