Oldest Turkic Dictionary ‘Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk’ Celebrated at UNESCO
ASTANA – The significance of the first comprehensive dictionary of Turkic languages, the “Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk” (Compendium of the languages of the Turks) was discussed at an international conference organized by the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation on Dec. 13 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France. The conference, titled Mapping the World in Lexicography: the…
Astana Becomes Central Asia’s First City to Receive Sustainable Development Certification
ASTANA – Astana has become the first city in Kazakhstan and Central Asia to receive sustainable development certification, reported akimat (city administration) press service on Dec. 13. The city was evaluated based on the ISO 37120 standard on Sustainable Development of Communities under Indicators for City Services and Quality of Life. The certification was conducted…
Kazakhstan and Morocco Sign Agreement on Criminal Extradition
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Morocco signed agreements on the extradition of criminals, on legal assistance in criminal cases, and on the transfer of convicted persons during Kazakh Prosecutor General Berik Assylov’s working visit to Morocco on Dec. 13, reported the prosecutor’s press office. According to Assylov, the conclusion of such agreements is extremely important for…
Kazakh Boxer Zhussupov Becomes Asian Elite Champion After Opponent Disqualified for Biting
ASTANA – Kazakh boxer Ablaikhan Zhussupov secured the gold medal of the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, after the revision of the fight against Khavasbek Asadullaye, reported Sports.kz. Uzbek boxer was disqualified for biting Zhusupov during the final bout of the light middleweight (71 kilogram) final. In a controversial moment during…
Kazakhstan Uncovers 60 Potential Metal Resource Areas in 2024
ASTANA – Geological studies in 2024 identified 60 promising areas with inferred resources of noble, non-ferrous and ferrous metals, said Chairman of the Committee of Geology of Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Construction Erlan Akbarov during the press conference at Central Communications Service on Dec. 12. As a result of geological exploration, 27 solid mineral…
Kazakhstan Adds 522 Tons of Gold Reserves
ASTANA – Gold reserves on Kazakhstan’s state balance have increased by 522 tons in 2024, said Chairman of the Committee of Geology of Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Construction Erlan Akbarov during the press conference at Central Communications Service on Dec. 12. The increases span a wide range of other minerals and energy resources, including…
Kazakhstan Sums Up its UN Human Rights Council Membership in Geneva
ASTANA – Kazakhstan summed up the achievements of its three-year membership in the United Nation’s Human Rights Council (HRC), resulting in the adoption of two resolutions – on children’s rights in education and on the elimination of domestic violence – in Geneva on Dec. 10, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. Over the past…
Geologists Identify 15 Hydrocarbon Basins in Kazakhstan with Potential 76 Billion Tons of Fuel
ASTANA – Kazakhstan can make significant discoveries of new hydrocarbon deposits, with geologists identifying 15 sedimentary basins containing an estimated 76 billion tons of conditional fuel resources, said Chairman of the Committee of Geology of Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Construction Erlan Akbarov during the press conference at Central Communications Service on Dec. 12. Kazakhstan’s…
Kazakhstan’s Renewable Energy Sees Steady Growth in 2024, Energy Storage Challenges Persist
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s renewable energy sector demonstrated steady growth in 2024, though energy storage systems remain a key challenge, said experts during a roundtable discussing Kazakhstan’s progress in renewable energy development in 2024 on Dec. 11 in Astana. The roundtable was organized by the Qazaq Green association with the support of the Kazakh Ministry of…
Kazakhstan’s Human Rights Progress and Challenges Discussed on Human Rights Day
ASTANA – On Human Rights Day, marked on Dec. 10, a scientific-practical conference in Astana evaluated Kazakhstan’s progress in human rights protection and addressed the challenges that remain. Organized by Kazakhstan’s Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights together with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Kazakhstan, the Commission on Human Rights under the…
Astana Ballet’s Premiere of ‘December Rain’ – Dance Tribute to Frederic Chopin’s Love and Legacy
ASTANA – Astana Ballet theater premiered “December Rain” ballet on Dec. 6, which tells the extraordinary romantic biography of Frederic Chopin on the journey towards death. Anyone familiar with classical music, almost certainly, has encountered a piece by Chopin, but not many know his life story and his passionate, unconventional love affair with the extravagant…
New Documentary on Amu Darya River Aims to Inspire Change Through Education
ASTANA – The new documentary “Amu Darya: River to a Missing Sea” seeks to raise awareness about the escalating environmental crisis surrounding the Amu Darya and its implications for the Central Asian region’s ecosystems and communities. The Astana Times spoke with Annie Liddell, the project co-founder, about the team’s efforts, challenges, and discoveries during the…
Astana Opera Premieres New Edition of Kazakhstan’s First Comic Opera ‘Aisulu’
ASTANA – Astana Opera unveiled a new edition of “Aisulu” comic opera on Nov. 29, in honor of the 100th anniversary of its composer, the renowned Kazakh musician Sydyq Mukhamedzhanov. Staged in 1972, “Aisulu” became the first Kazakh comic opera with a modern plot. It follows Serke, a young man from a village, as his…
What it Takes to Breed Kazakh Tazy Dog?
ASTANA – Kazakh tazy, a dog native to Kazakhstan, is winning titles and hearts alike in international dog show championships, said Yelena Khardina, a passionate breeder from Oskemen who has dedicated 16 years to preserving the breed in an interview with Kazinform news agency. Khardina knows what it takes to maintain the bloodline of tazy.…
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline Offers Promising but Costly Alternative for Kazakhstan’s Oil Export, Experts Say
ASTANA – The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline is viewed by experts as a promising alternative for Kazakhstan’s oil exports, but its expansion comes with significant cost challenges, as transporting oil via the BTC is more expensive than existing routes, such as the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC). These remarks follow Kazakhstan’s announcement of plans to expand its…
‘Energy in Transition’ Exhibition Concludes Central Asia Tour in Astana
ASTANA – The “Energy in Transition – Powering Tomorrow” traveling exhibition opened on Nov. 25 at Nazarbayev University in Astana – its final stop in Central Asia after visiting Aktau and Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. It aims to inspire discussions on energy transitions for a sustainable future. Initiated by the German Federal…
Discover Aktau: Kazakhstan’s Key Port, Oil Hub and Future Capital of Turkic World
Editor’s Note: The Astana Times continues its series of articles, Exploring Kazakhstan, City by City, with a focus on the marvelous city of Aktau. We aim to unveil the rich diversity of Kazakhstan’s cities and bring you closer to their heart and soul. ASTANA – With Aktau set to become the capital of the Turkic…
New Soyle App Offers Multilingual Translation from Kazakh with Enhanced Data Security
ASTANA – The Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) at Nazarbayev University presented Soyle App, a multifunctional application for speech recognition, voice synthesis, text and speech translation into four languages, in Astana on Nov. 20. Powered by Kazakhstan’s foundational speech model, Soyle App is an AI product developed to enhance multilingual communication for…
Faces Behind Curtains: Astana Opera’s Crew Brings Art to Life Through Hard Work and Innovation
ASTANA – Behind the red curtains of Astana Opera is a universe of dedicated crew who work tirelessly to ensure that every costume fits perfectly, every makeup and prop enhances the performance, and every scene transition is executed smoothly. The Astana Times correspondent spoke with faces who make up the backbone of the theater community:…
Kazakhstan Celebrates 130 Years of Writer Beimbet Mailin – Advocate of Social Justice in Kazakh Soviet Literature
ASTANA – Kazakhstan marks the 130th anniversary of Beimbet Mailin, a renowned Kazakh poet, writer and playwright who championed the struggles of women and the poor in Kazakh Soviet literature. Early years Born in 1894 in what is now Beimbet Mailin district of the Kostanai Region, he came from a poor family and lost his…
Ancient Maps Point to 1,200-Year History of Kazakh Statehood
ASTANA – Recently discovered maps reveal new layers of Kazakh statehood, suggesting it could be 12 centuries old, said Mukhit-Ardager Sydyknazarov, Kazakh researcher, doctor of political science and director of the Institute of Modern Studies at the Gumilev Eurasian National University, in an interview with Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper. This new discovery comes against the commonly…
Kazakhstan’s Ancient City Legacy Meets Frontiers of Space Exploration in Kyzylorda
Editor’s Note: The Astana Times continues its series of articles, Exploring Kazakhstan, City by City, in the marvelous city of Kyzylorda. We are setting out to unveil the rich diversity of cities to bring you closer to the heart and soul of Kazakhstan. ASTANA – Kyzylorda, once the Soviet capital of Kazakhstan, has transformed into…
How Kurmangazy Orchestra Shaped Kazakh Music Scene
ASTANA – Ninety years after its first concert, the Kurmangazy orchestra of Kazakh national instruments continues to color the vast landscape of Kazakh music, showcasing national instrumental culture to the world. The orchestra is celebrating its anniversary throughout the year and across Kazakhstan. “The foundation of each nation lies in its worldview, traditions, national culture…
UN Day in Astana Honors Strong Partnership and Kazakhstan’s Rich Culture
ASTANA – The United Nations (UN) day was celebrated in Astana with a performance of the Kazakh musical “Zhibek” at the Zhastar theater on Nov. 5. This year’s UN event emphasized Kazakhstan’s cultural heritage and celebrated the strong partnership between Kazakhstan and the UN in promoting peace, sustainable development, and multilateral cooperation. Newly appointed interim…
Kazakhstan’s Nuclear Plant Decision Might Deepen Strategic Partnership with France, Tokayev Told Le Figaro
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s decision to build its first nuclear power plant might expand mutually beneficial cooperation with France in the nuclear industry, contributing to global energy security, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in an article published by Le Figaro French newspaper during his state visit to Paris on Nov. 5. In a comprehensive article, President…
