Almaty’s Winter Universiade 2017 Operating Budget Totalled $52 Million
ASTANA – The operating budget of Almaty’s Winter Universiade 2017 came to $52 million, said event organising directorate head Nail Nurov, according to Kazinform news agency. “The operational cost budget of the Universiade amounted to $52 million. The allocated funds will be enough to solve all tasks required, first of all, to ensure the…
Almaty Abounds in Recreational, Natural and Historic Riches
ASTANA – Stop by Turgen Waterfall, see the grave where the famous “Golden Man” was buried, visit the breathtaking Charyn Canyon, catch some fresh mountain air and views at Big Almaty Lake, listen to a sand dune sing on the Ili River and let spruces rising right out of Kaiyndy Lake completely take your breath…
Pokemon GO Like Mobile Game App to Launch in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – A free mobile application similar to the worldwide known Pokemon GO game – “Urban corners: green energy in Astana” was recently presented in the capital in advance of EXPO 2017, Kazinform news agency reports. Android and iPhone users can expect to access the app by the end of this month. “This game is…
Shaping Holds its Niche in Exploding Fitness Market
ASTANA – With many Western fitness programmes and fancy private fitness franchises in major cities of the country, the once much in vogue practice of shaping gymnastics has stiff competition these days. However, the state-owned shaping federation offers cost and training efficiency, Secretary-General of Kazakhstan’s Shaping Federation in the capital Marina Gudina assures. “Shaping is…
Zhambyl Artist to Build Sculpture in Taraz as Symbol of Unity and Friendship among Nations
ASTANA – Dom Druzhby, the new House of Friendship of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan of Zhambyl region in Taraz, will soon be decorated with an artistic creation. Zhambyl artist Kali Koralasbayev will be building the “Friendship Tree,” a sculptural composition symbolising unity and friendship among nations. “I offered to present the styled…
New Drawing by Kazakh Street Artists Appears in Moscow
ASTANA – New work by Kazakh street artist Pasha Cas has appeared in Moscow’s city centre. The drawing, a collaboration by Cas and artist Pavel Mokich, adorns a substation at Bolshoi Kislovsky Lane near the city’s Arbat District, Tengrinews.kz reports. “We hope that this drawing, not far from Arbat, will become a peculiar cult spot,”…
Atyrau Entrepreneur Volunteers Several Years at Ambulance Station
ASTANA – Medical emergencies, panic, nightlong rides with an ambulance; one must have stamina and a strong mind for things like that. A humble and kind-hearted entrepreneur from Atyrau devoted several years to the serious and hard work of volunteering at an emergency medical care station. In an exclusive interview with The Astana Times, Arman…
Malaysian Envoy Optimistic about Future of Bilateral Ties, Kazakhstan’s Economy
ASTANA – Malaysian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Dato’ Hidayat Abdul Hamid recently shared his thoughts about developing bilateral relations between the countries and improving trade and business relations as his immediate priorities in Kazakhstan. “Malaysia and Kazakhstan share many common visions and aspirations to make the world a better place to live in, especially for future…
Kazakh Popular-Science Film Won Chinese International Festival
ASTANA – The Kazakh popular-science film “Pod vechnym okom neba” (“Beneath the Eye of an Eternal Sky”) won the international festival held Aug. 18-21 in Xinjiang, China. “A Kazakh film is deservedly bestowed with the highest award of the film festival. The film uncovered the culture and life of the Kazakh nation in a way…
Anti-Nuclear Weapons Leaders Adopt “Astana Vision Declaration” at Int’l Conference in Astana
ASTANA – A wide array of issues, including nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament and the physical protection of nuclear weapons were discussed at the Aug. 29 international conference Building a Nuclear-Weapons-Free World at the Palace of Independence in Astana. The conference also adopted The Astana Vision Declaration “From а Radioactive Haze to a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World.” “The…
Almaty Quadruplets Prepare for First Grade
ASTANA – A family in Almaty is currently buying stationery, school uniforms and backpacks in fours as their quadruplet daughters prepare for first grade. “Relatives helped us to take care of them in the beginning. Now they (the girls) want to help with the housework on their own. There were twins in my genus and…
Nearly 3,000 Capital Residents Gather to Mark Sports Day
ASTANA – Nearly 3,000 capital residents participated in about 20 different sports competitions Aug. 12-21 to mark Sports Day, reported the akimat (city administration) press service. The corporate competition Crossfit Astana Bolashak Cup 2016 was held Aug. 20 at Kazhymukan Munaitpassov Stadium. “Raising a strong and healthy young generation is one of the basic tasks…
Russia’s Kunstkamera to Return Skull of Keiki Batyr to Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera) is expected to return the skull of Keiki Batyr, the leader of the rebel army and national liberation movement of the past century, to Kazakhstan. “Indeed, we have the skull of Keiki Batyr. We never kept it a secret; everybody is well aware of…
Many Kazakh Traditions and Customs Still Relevant Today, While Some Fade Away
ASTANA – Kazakhs have preserved many traditions and customs that pervade life’s important moments, like birth, marriage, raising children, hospitality and celebration arrangements which have been passed to generations throughout the centuries. Many are no longer relevant in modern Kazakhstan, however, due to changes in ways of life and the influence of historic factors. Paying…
Kazakhstan’s Armed Forces Team Ranked Second at 2016 International Army Games
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s armed forces team ranked second among 120 teams from 19 states in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America at the 2016 International Army Games held in Alabino, near Moscow, according to the Aug. 14 report on the Ministry of Defence website. Russia took first place and China was third. “The present army…
Skydiving, A Step into the Sky
ASTANA – Treating oneself to an unforgettable, incredible feeling and range of emotions from skydiving is great fun, especially if it is a long-time wish or a childhood dream. “It is indeed a really cool and unusual way into the sky and to have an opportunity to have some alone time with it,” Perizat Karimova,…
Expensive Houses in Southern Capital Worth Price, Says Real Estate Expert
ASTANA – Some expensive houses in Almaty are worth the purchase price. Mansions in the big city with designer décor and measuring thousands of square metres have potential buyers willing to pay the six-figure price. “Castle-type houses have doors that alone cost $1 million. The décor is Italian,” said Luxury City Real Estate director Vitaliy…
The Spirit of Tengri Project to be Presented in Hungary Seeks to Unite Turkic World
ASTANA – Creators of the largest international festival of modern ethnic music in Central Asia, The Spirit of Tengri, will soon present their project at a kurultai (assembly) in Hungary to reunite the Turkic world and demonstrate their national cultures. “We accepted an invitation with great pleasure and will present our project at the kurultai.…
Canadian Ambassador in Astana Seeks to Broaden Bilateral Relationship
ASTANA – Ambassador of Canada to Kazakhstan Shawn Steil shared in an Aug. 5 interview with The Astana Times thoughts on cooperation, bilateral trade and cultural similarities between the countries, personal impressions on Kazakhstan and past projects. “Canada and Kazakhstan have a really strong, healthy relationship. … Part of it is based on the fact…
Online Service Benefits From Being First on the Market
ASTANA – In a recent interview with The Astana Times, Aviata.kz co-founder and development director Alexey Li talked about the evolution of the Almaty-based online service for airplane tickets, customers’ travel preferences, popular destinations and flight costs before and after tenge devaluation. Aviata.kz allows travellers to independently pick a convenient flight and time, book…
Filming of Comedy About Men in a World of Women Begins in Astana
ASTANA – Filming of the feature-length comedy “Vse iz-za Muzhikov” (“All Because of Men”), a story about a world of women and the three guys who are left in it, has begun in the capital of Kazakhstan. The story unfolds in Astana. Three young men are given a chance to enter the world of women,…
Couple in Poland Wear Kazakh National Costumes for Wedding
ASTANA – Agnieszka Słomian and Tomasz Mazurek wore Kazakh national costumes for their wedding in Poland out of respect for the country that has become native to them. “A wedding by a lake in Trzebinia, a town in Lesser Poland. The proposal was done at the Shymbulak tract a year before. Two elements – mountain…
Two More Policemen Dead Following Attacks in Almaty
ASTANA – The press service of Almaty’s Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has announced that two policemen who were injured in the July 18 shooting spree in Almaty by Ruslan Kulekbayev died Aug. 1, bringing the death toll of the attack to eight. “Two policemen who suffered gunshot wounds while combating the unlawful acts by…
Young Entrepreneurs Make Online Platform that Creates Events with Few Clicks
ASTANA – Young entrepreneurs from Semei have devised perhaps one of the most essential online services for Kazakhs who celebrate weddings, baby births and other traditional events like no other nation. With more than 18,000 users, ToiDriver allows arranging any event, concert or celebration and any service from ordering a make-up artist to a big…
Deer Velvet Antlers Treat Wide Array of Health Conditions
ASTANA – Velvet antlers are deer antlers during their early growth with a tubular and cartilage structure, filled with blood and covered by thin, velvet skin and fur. People use deer velvet as medicine for a wide range of physical and mental conditions and to boost health and the immune system as a whole. “Before…
