Korgalzhyn Reserve Getaway: Breathtaking Scenery, Birdwatching and Wildlife
ASTANA – If weekend trips to the Burabai resort have become routine and you’re seeking new thrills and adventures, perhaps going to the Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve could do it for you thanks to its splendid scenery and famous birdwatching. “The place is known for its bird migration waves, I was told,” said Arthur Smailov,…
African Band Spreading Beats and Vibe throughout Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The African band Kilimanjaro is becoming popular in Kazakhstan for its originality, dedication and, as one of its members said, “consistency, stability, hard work and the good leadership!” The idea for a group began for Serge Matondo, 30, from Democratic Republic of Congo, while studying at People’s Friendship University of Russia.…
Why Buying Housing with Samruk Kazyna’s Real Estate Fund Makes More Sense
ASTANA – For the 25-year-old nation, the idea of renting is so alien that residents easily get dragged – as it first might look from the foreigner’s point of view – into insane mortgage rates. Some second-tier banks are giving mortgages with annual interest rates at as high as 16.5 percent and a 20-30 percent…
APK Links Local Korean Community with South Korean Businessmen, Tackles Business-Related Issues
ASTANA – The first Kazakh-Korean cooperation forum tackled business-related issues and ways to improve business processes in anticipation of EXPO 2017. “Our experience shows that currently there are nuances that create obstacles for private investors,” said Roman Kim, deputy of the Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament) and president of the Association of Koreans of Kazakhstan,…
Almaty Police Shut Down Entire Block for Search Operations
ASTANA, July 20 – Early morning at about 9 a.m. the Almaty police have shut down an entire block along the Gogol-Zenkov-Makatayev-Abdullinykh streets for search operations, which weren’t confirmed to have been linked to the July 18 assaults on the police, tengrinews.kz reports. The Green bazaar has been closed; however, the country’s largest confectionery Rakhat,…
Outdoor Public Pool Opens in Downtown Astana
ASTANA – A swimming area featuring three separate pools of various lengths and depths for family enjoyment opened in early July in the capital’s central park. Serik Uaissov, 26, brought his whole family for an afternoon of splashing in the water. “I knew a long time ago that the pool would open and finally it…
Journalist’s Day: Do You Have What It Takes to Become Kazakh TV Host?
ASTANA – The English-speaking Kazakh TV staff recently unveiled what it is like to be a television host, the cultural shocks of being a foreign journalist in the country and who they respect. The exclusive interview with The Astana Times was conducted on the eve of the June 28 Kazakh Journalist Day. “The English Service…
Uber Launches Services in Astana
ASTANA – Uber has big plans for Kazakhstan and took its first step June 10 launching service in the capital. According to Deputy Akim (Mayor) Malika Bekturova, the Kazakh authorities have been negotiating with the company for quite some time. Uber’s non-cash payment method fits with the government’s payment transparency policy. “The transparency of Uber…
Drivers Recount Hijacking of Bus Used in Aktobe Attack, Attackers Yell ‘Allah Akbar’ While Storming National Guard Station
ASTANA – In an exclusive interview with The Astana Times, Aktobe bus conductor Aigul Zhumabayeva details how she and her husband, driver Murat Issekenov, were forced at gunpoint to drive the bus that attacked the National Guard station during the deadly June 5 attacks in Aktobe. “The day started as a regular routine,” Zhumabayeva told…
UNDP, EU Support Kazakhstan’s Move to Green Economy
ASTANA – International experts pledged support for Kazakhstan’s efforts to establish a green economy during a conference titled “Green economy: Providing social innovation, economic diversification and environmental sustainability” at the May 25 Astana Economic Forum (AEF). “We applaud Kazakhstan’s leadership’s foresight and vision to establish a sovereign wealth fund from its oil proceeds when the…
Global Conference Discusses Best Practices for Civil Service Development
ASTANA – Alikhan Baimenov, Steering Committee Chairman of the Civil Service Regional Hub located in the city, outlined “the quality of human resources and the quality of systems which create conditions for realising full human potential” as vital points regarding institutional and long-term sustainable development. He made the comment May 26 during the global conference…
AEF Puts Global Economic Issues in Spotlight, Brings Politicians, Global Experts Together
ASTANA – The Kazakh capital is hosting the 9thAstana Economic Forum (AEF) May 25-26, where global experts, politicians, economists, world-famous business people and Nobel laureates are seeking much-needed solutions to economic issues the world is facing today. This year’s theme, “New Economic Reality: the Diversification, Innovations and the Knowledge Economy,” has assembled internationally-renowned names under…
Artist, ATOM Project Hon. Ambassador Opens First Astana Exhibition, Urges End to ‘Nuclear Madness’
ASTANA – As the threat of terrorism continues to spread around the world, Honorary Ambassador of The ATOM Project, artist and activist against nuclear weapons Karipbek Kuyukov launched his first exhibition in Astana May 21 to remind the global community to increase its efforts toward a nuclear weapons-free world. “We are witnessing so many terrorist…
Construction Launches in Akmola Region on Central Asia’s Largest Solar Power Plant
ASTANA – Construction began May 20 on a new 100 MW solar plant 40 kilometres from Astana in the village of Kabanbai Batyr. Production is expected to begin next year. A biogas plant is planned to be built next to it and will operate on organic waste. Both projects are considered examples of the…
Day of Europe Celebrated in Astana with Film Festival, School Lectures and Classical Concert
ASTANA – The annual Day of Europe celebration was marked this year with events throughout the country from May 16 through May 22. The events were organised by the delegation of the European Union to Kazakhstan and numerous European embassies. The celebrations started on May 16 with the European Film Festival in theatres in Astana,…
Israeli Company to Present Airborne Surveillance, Observation System at KADEX 2016
ASTANA – Israeli-based BIRD Aerosystems will demonstrate its Airborne Surveillance, Information and Observation (ASIO) system live at the KADEX 2016 military exhibition in Astana on June 2-5, the company’s press service reports. The ASIO Special Mission System will be installed on the country’s Armed Forces EC-145 helicopter with Kazakhstan Aviation Industry (KAI – a subsidiary…
Kazakh Traditional Clothing: Past and Present
ASTANA – Kazakh national clothing can be easily separated by its dazzling bright colours, conservative style and particular Tengrian ornaments. In fact, most of the clothing was decorated with ornaments. “There are four [main] kinds of ornaments – geometric, zoomorphic, cosmogonical and botanical,” said Symbat Fashion Academy Art Director Balnur Assanova in an exclusive interview…
Louvre Opens Photo Exhibition ‘Marvels of Kazakhstan’
ASTANA – A photo exhibition showcasing picturesque photography from Kazakhstan opened in Paris, at Carrousel du Louvre on May 9 and will be ongoing until June 9. A total of 26 three-by-two-point-four-metre photographs are now hanging at the exhibition, which was organised with the help of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in France and the Astana…
Female University Cadets Dance Becomes Social Media Sensation
ASTANA – More than 100 female university cadets congratulated their male counterparts on the eve of the Defender of the Fatherland Day, celebrated in Kazakhstan on May 7. The cadets shaped a number seven – to highlight the date – and danced under the tunes of the famous song by Tez Сadey “Seve.” What started…
First Kazakh MMA Fighter Hopes to Make UFC Entry
ASTANA – Kazakh women have been conquering new heights in politics and business for quite some time. However, new Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Zamzagul “Bopai” Faizollanova has opened a whole new chapter in the life of women in Kazakhstan. Faizollanova has been a judoka since she was 13 years old and has been in…
‘Stay in Touch with the Dutch’ – KLM Launches New Flights to Astana
ASTANA – Royal Dutch Airlines KLM has expanded its air traffic network by adding the Kazakh capital to its itineraries in addition to the existing route to and from Almaty. The new flights began May 3. “We are very pleased to announce the opening of a new KLM route to Astana, which will complement the…
10th-Grader from Aktobe Translates Harry Potter into Kazakh
ASTANA – Aktobe Nazarbayev Intellectual School (NIS) student Assylai Seitenova has translated the first of Harry Potter books into Kazakh to help foreigners learn the language and make the series available for her compatriots in the native tongue, national television broadcast Kazakh TV reports. “During the translation, I faced a lot of problems,” Seitenova said…
Cultural Centre in Argentina Spreads Kazakh News, Stays Active
ASTANA – Being thousands of kilometres from what one calls “homeland” could, with time, easily erase anyone’s identity. Yet despite the migratory nature of the current day, Kazakh citizens on the other side of the planet are making efforts to disseminate information about their country, break stereotypes and remember the best of their homeland. “I…
Filtered, Bottled or Tap: What Kind of Water to Drink in Astana
ASTANA – In our digital, fast-moving and modern era, we sometimes forget to ask ourselves essential questions. One such question is what type of water are we drinking these days? Is it properly disinfected? Has it been correctly stored before we actually consume it? Should we drink purified, filtered, alkaline or spring water? And for…
Golovkin Tops Wade, Earns 35th Win, Extends KO Streak to 22
ASTANA – Kazakh boxer and EXPO 2017 ambassador Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin (35 wins, 0 losses, 0 draws, 32 knock outs) completely outperformed, out-powered and dominated U.S. opponent Dominic Wade (18 wins, 1 loss, 0 draws), knocking him out in round two in front of his home crowd April 23 at the Forum Arena in Los…
