Articles by Zhanna Shayakhmetova

NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dismissed Yerlan Turgumbaev, the Minister of Internal Affairs and appointed Marat Akhmetzhanov as the new minister, the Akorda reported on Feb. 25.   Turgumbaev will now serve as an Advisor to the President.  Akhmetzhanov previously served as the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Agency. He began his career in 1990 at the…

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh capital hosted a concert of world-famous Italian violinist Maestro Domenico Nordio with the Eurasian Student Symphony Orchestra of Kazakh National University of Arts at the Zhambyl Zhabayev Concert Hall on Feb. 17. As one of the most celebrated violinists of his generation Nordio performed at the Carnegie Hall in New York,…

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan and China have built a foundation for a true strategic partnership in all areas of cooperation over the 30 years of diplomatic relations, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Feb. 5, reported Akorda. Tokayev also expressed…

NUR-SULTAN – Approximately 113 billion tenge (US$261 million) have been allocated to the Qazaqstan Halqyna (to the people of Kazakhstan) foundation, which is designed to boost social support, from Jan. 16 to Feb. 2, reported the press service of the foundation.  The funds allocated to the foundation come from private and public sources.   President Kassym-Jomart…

NUR-SULTAN – The COVID-19 situation remains tense in Kazakhstan, reported Minister of Healthcare Azhar Giniyat at a February 1 government meeting.  The COVID-19 cases in school-aged children have increased since mid-January. The bed occupancy has also increased 1.2 times from 31 to 38 percent.  “The local authorities should ensure the compliance with the sanitary and…

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan is loosening restrictions on businesses, reported Minister of Healthcare Azhar Giniyat at the Jan. 25 meeting of the government. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed the government to review the strict quarantine measures taking into account the concerns of the small and medium-sized businesses at the recent meeting with business executives in the capital. …

NUR-SULTAN – Transparency and rule of law are vital in the investigation of the January events, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during a January 22 meeting with the heads of Security Council, Prosecutor General’s Office, National Security Committee, Ministers of Defense and Interior Affairs.   “It is impossible to allow society to form its opinion about…

NUR-SULTAN – The National Olympic Committee (NOC) presented the team’s uniform at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games, which will be held Feb. 4-20, reported the NOC’s press service.  The uniforms were made by the Kazakh company ZIBROO and created by Russian designer Dmitry Shishkin.  The athletes also took part in the creation of the uniforms…

NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev urged business leaders to work with the government on building a new economic policy during a January 21 meeting, reported Akorda.kz.  New reforms aim to become the basis of a new Kazakhstan. Fair competition, transparency and predictability of state policy, taxing honesty and social responsibility are set to become the…

NUR-SULTAN – The Almaty International airport has resumed its domestic and international flights on Jan. 13, reported the airport’s press service.  The first international flight from Antalya operated by Kazakhstan’s national carrier Air Astana arrived at the airport on Jan. 13. On Jan. 5, a group of terrorists attacked the airport in Almaty during the…

NUR-SULTAN – COVID-19 cases have increased by 41 percent in two weeks due to the circulation of omicron, said newly appointed Kazakh Minister of Healthcare Azhar Giniyat at the Jan. 12 government meeting. The reproductive number has increased by 2.4 times since Jan. 1 and totals 2.2 nationwide.  As of Jan. 14, Nur-Sultan, Almaty, and…

NUR-SULTAN – The main phase of the anti-terrorist operation has been completed, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at the plenary session of the Majilis, the lower house of Parliament, on Jan. 11.  The situation has been stabilized in all regions.   The law enforcement agencies, the national guard, and the army are carrying out large-scale and…

NUR-SULTAN – The population of Kazakhstan reached 19.17 million people, according to the first results of the National Population Census, which took place from Sept. 1 to Oct. 30. Prime Minister Askar Mamin presented the report during the meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Wednesday. It is reported that men constitute 48.71 percent of the…

NUR-SULTAN – The IPO of Kaspi.kz, one of the region’s leading banking and fintech companies has contributed to the capital market development, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the recent meeting with representatives of foreign investment companies.  Kaspi.kz became the most expensive publicly traded Kazakh company after it listed its shares on the London Stock Exchange…

NUR-SULTAN – The filming of the “Zhambyl. A New Era” historical film to mark the 175th anniversary of Kazakh poet Zhambyl Zhabayev has started in the country, reported the film’s production company.   The first stage of filming started in mid-October and took place in Almaty and the Almaty region. The filming process will be…

NUR-SULTAN – The sixth edition of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World was held Nov. 22-28 in the Kazakh capital and Almaty, reported the press service of the Italian Embassy in Kazakhstan.  Overall, 15 events were organized highlighting the superb ingredients, creative recipes, and sustainable concepts of the Mediterranean Diet and their hospitality…

NUR-SULTAN – The sixth meeting of the Astana Club that took place Nov.15-17 addressed the major issues of the global economy, geopolitics and international relations, climate change and nuclear security in the post-pandemic world. First President Nursultan Nazarbayev noted that it is necessary to develop direct contacts between the Eurasian Economic Union, the European Union,…

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined more than 30 initiatives to address current social and economic issues at the sixth meeting of the National Council of Public Trust, which was held on Nov.16.  All initiatives are aimed at further political and socio-economic transformations in the country, reported Erlan Karin, an advisor to the President,…

NUR-SULTAN – The COVID-19 incidence rate has decreased by 23 percent over the past two weeks, reported Kazakh Minister of Healthcare Alexei Tsoy at the government meeting on Nov. 16. According to global statistics, Kazakhstan ranks 105th in the morbidity rate of COVID-19, and 101st in the mortality rate out of 222 countries. As of…

GLASGOW – What are the possible outcomes of the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26)? What are the key findings of the newly released reports on climate change? Why is environmental awareness important in education? The Astana Times spoke with UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Inger Andersen…

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects real GDP growth at 4.3 percent in 2021 and 4.1 percent in 2022 in its latest economic outlook report for the region. Jihad Azour, director of the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia Department, discusses some of the key issues facing the region. What is the status of the…

GLASGOW – The Central Asian pavilion hosted the events devoted to green investments and energy conservation that contribute to carbon neutrality on Nov. 3-4 as part of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26).  The experts shared their opinion that now more than ever…

GLASGOW – Kazakhstan and Tajikistan signed the Charter of the Green Bridge Partnership Program on Nov.2 at the Central Asian pavilion as part of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) in Glasgow.  The partnership program serves as a platform for developing collective approaches…

GLASGOW – Despite the cloudy weather in Glasgow, hopes for a better future remain clear and bright. In this light, the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), which kicked off on Oct. 31 is focused on its much-anticipated agenda to find solutions to climate change and bring together all interested parties. The major issue is to…

GLASGOW – Delegates from Kazakhstan Diana Gamazova and Sofiya Gamazova, who represent the Central Asian region, won the Best Art Piece of COY16 and Artsy Delegate of COY16 prizes at the UN Climate Change Conference of Youth (COY16), which took place Oct.28-31 before the annual UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow.  The Gamazova sisters…