Articles by Aiman Nakispekova

ASTANA – Anna Ryl, the head of Korgau crisis center, discussed the role of human rights organizations and the societal actions necessary for the effectiveness of the new law on women’s and children’s rights in an interview with The Astana Times. A month ago, Kazakhstan enacted legislation on women’s rights and children’s safety, which criminalizes…

ASTANA – The energy ministries of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan have signed a historic memorandum at the Tashkent International Investment Forum on May 1, initiating cooperation on interconnecting their energy systems and laying the groundwork for a transcontinental energy corridor to Europe. The realization of this initiative will elevate these countries to important positions in…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan experienced a notable deceleration in gross domestic product (GDP) growth during the first quarter of 2024, dropping to 3.9% after achieving record highs the previous year, according to an April 29 analytical report by Halyk Bank.  The slowdown was primarily attributed to stagnation in oil production, which remained nearly unchanged compared to…

ASTANA – Kazakhs living abroad strengthen the unity of Kazakhstan’s people. Despite physical distance from their homeland, they play a significant role in the country’s development, prosperity, and cultural preservation. They foster unity by maintaining strong connections with other Kazakh expatriates and their families, fostering a sense of community and solidarity, providing mutual support in…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is commemorating the 130th anniversary of Ilyas Zhansugurov, a distinguished Kazakh poet, writer, and the first chairman of the Union of Writers of Kazakhstan. Zhansugurov made significant contributions to the development of the national poetic culture, innovatively enriching Kazakh oral folk art traditions.  Zhansugurov wrote dozens of works that have since become…

ASTANA – Kazakh officers from the Center for Peacekeeping Operations of the Ministry of Defense (KAZCENT), which trains and prepares specialists for the national peacekeeping contingent, participated in the Military Observers international course in Hungary, reported the center’s press service on April 27. The participants studied the basic principles of military observer work, rules of…

ASTANA — The Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry on April 25 sent 250 Starlink terminals to three regions, with 138 terminals delivered to the Akmola Region, 53 to the Zhambyl Region, and 55 to the Zhetysu Region, reported the ministry’s press service.  The connection of the terminals is planned for the…

ASTANA — The Committee of Highways of the Kazakh Ministry of Transport and the United Kingdom’s Car Park Transformer Limited have signed an agreement to cooperate in installing and operating electric vehicle charging stations using the company’s advanced technologies, the ministry’s press service reported on April 25. The project will focus on implementing these stations…

ASTANA – The flood that began at the end of March has become one of the largest disasters in Kazakhstan in the past 80 years. Ten of Kazakhstan’s 17 regions were under a state of emergency. The floods affected thousands of people, displacing many from their homes and causing significant damage to infrastructure and agricultural…

ASTANA – Steppe&World, the Kazakh publishing house, hosted a presentation of “The Bridge on the Drina,” a book by the world-renowned Serbian writer Ivo Andrić, translated into Kazakh, on April 20 as part of the Astana Eurasian Book Fair 2024. The novel was translated from Russian by Talasbek Asemkulov, a Kazakh writer, with editing by…

ASTANA – Throughout history, coins have functioned as the primary means of payment, providing evidence of currency circulation between countries. Kazakhstan not only issues regular coins for everyday transactions but also mints commemorative and collectible coins, which serve as integral tools in the preservation of the country’s cultural heritage.  The Kazakh National Bank minted its…

ASTANA – In 2023, over 9,000 people from Central Asian countries migrated to Kazakhstan, predominantly choosing to settle permanently. This trend is anticipated to persist this year, according to an analytical article in Kazinfrom. The largest number of migrants from the Kyrgyz Republic settled in the Almaty border regions, with 518 people, and in the…

ASTANA – Since the onset of the flooding, 111,194 people have been rescued and evacuated, with 39,222 of them being children, reported the Ministry of Emergency Situations on April 15. Aircraft rescued 3,575 people, including 1,157 children. At least 11,950 people have returned home, while 6,814 people, including 2,995 children, are currently housed in temporary…

ASTANA – The NextGen TechCamp of Central Asia, dedicated to strengthening the role of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), took place in the Kazakh capital on April 11-13. Organized by the United States Embassy in Kazakhstan, the event aimed to underscore efforts to advance women’s participation in STEM fields and promote economic…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan celebrates the International Day of Human Space Flight on April 12, a commemoration established by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2011.  In Kazakhstan and neighboring countries, it is commonly referred to as Cosmonautics Day, celebrated since 1962. This date marks the historic flight of Yuriy Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut,…

ASTANA – Estonia views Kazakhstan as a significant player in Central Asia and aims to bolster cooperation in various sectors, including economy, education, and beyond, said Ambassador of Estonia, Toomas Tirs, in an interview with The Astana Times. Tirs elaborated on the historical connections between the two nations and the evolving dynamics of bilateral relations.…

ASTANA – The population of Central Asia has surged over the last three decades, exceeding 79 million people, with an average annual growth of one million in the past ten years alone. Despite challenges such as low living standards and high mortality rates, experts anticipate continued growth, projecting a population exceeding 100 million by 2050,…

ASTANA – Eight-year-old Malika Kabdylkhak is the first and youngest Kazakh child author to have her books featured on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing in the United States (US). She has published two illustrated stories in English on the global platform. Her mother, Akmarzhan Kasmaganbetova, discussed her daughter’s journey in an interview with Zakon.kz news agency.…

Editor’s Note: The Astana Times introduces a new series, Exploring Kazakhstan, City by City. We are setting out to unveil the rich diversity of Kazakhstan’s cities, starting with Zhezkazgan. By exploring each city’s unique history and culture, we aim to bring you closer to the heart and soul of Kazakhstan. ASTANA – Two years ago,…

ASTANA—Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Culture and Information presented a project dubbed Qazaq Culture on March 29. The project aims to popularize Kazakhstan’s cultural heritage and promote the national brand, reported the ministry’s press service. The creation of the website represents a significant step in drawing global attention to Kazakh culture and its diversity. The platform encompasses…

ASTANA – The production of high-quality livestock products is directly linked to animal health, significantly influenced by environmental conditions. The use of environmentally friendly feed additives and fertilizers can promote sustainable agriculture practices in Kazakhstan, benefiting both animal and plant health. In an interview with Astana Times, Aizhan Kumisbekova, the operating director of Black Biotechnology,…

ASTANA – Lyazzat Kaltayeva, a member of Kazakhstan’s Senate, assumed the chairmanship of the Senate’s Council on Inclusion last year. In an interview with Kazinform news agency, she discussed the key aspects of an inclusive Kazakhstan and the recent advancements for people with disabilities. In 2023, Kazakhstan established the Inclusive Parliament parliamentary group and the…

ASTANA – March 20 marks the celebration of National Sports Day in Kazakhstan, dedicated to promoting physical activity and a healthy lifestyle while showcasing its integral role in the Kazakh culture. As part of the Nauryznama Decade, specific events are organized nationwide to showcase the diversity of national sports and participants’ skills. A special celebration…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan celebrates the Day of Culture and National Traditions on March 16, dedicated to promoting its culture, arts, and values. The day is part of the Nauryznama Decade, a new format of the Nauryz holiday celebration. Kazakhstan boasts a diverse population and cultural landscape, with various ethnic groups coexisting and contributing to its…

ASTANA – Kazakh Ed-Tech startup CodiPlay has signed a memorandum of strategic partnership with Artificially Intelligent Learning Assistant (AILA) to integrate advanced CodiPlay educational solutions into 200 schools in Saudi Arabia, reported the startup’s press service on March 11. The product’s introduction aligns with the key objectives of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative, which aims…