Kazakhstan Marks 135 Years of First Novelist Zhusipbek Aimauytov, Amplifying Women’s Voices
ASTANA – Kazakhstan commemorates the 135th anniversary of Zhusipbek Aimauytov, an esteemed novelist whose modernist vision amplified the voices of women. His birth on March 8, coinciding with International Women’s Day, seems a fateful coincidence, as his later novel “Akbilek” would champion the empowerment of Kazakh women through education. Aimauytov provoked and inspired readers with…
Experts Urge Clean Energy Investments from Advanced to Developing Economies at Berlin Energy Dialogue
BERLIN – Global energy experts and policymakers emphasized the critical need for advanced economies to allocate significant investments towards the development of clean energy solutions in developing countries at the 10th Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue (BETD) in Berlin on March 19. The two-day conference gathered global energy experts and policymakers from over 75 countries to…
Nauryz Festivities Continue with Shanyrak Day Honoring Family and Tradition
ASTANA – “May the dome of your yurt remain strong!” With this wish tied to shanyrak, the round crown at the top of the Kazakh yurt, Kazakhstan is celebrating Shanyrak Day on March 17, as part of the Nauryz festivities nationwide. This year marks the introduction of a new format for the Nauryz holiday in…
How Kazakhs Celebrate Korisu – Day of Greetings and Reconciliation
ASTANA – Korisu day, celebrated in Kazakhstan on March 14, holds a deep meaning and wide use in society, marking the return of spring with the practice of letting go of old grievances. Korisu, translated as greeting, is the beginning of the festive period among Kazakhs, welcoming spring and a new year that culminates in…
Trans-Caspian Transport Route Development Vital for Kazakhstan’s Economic Growth, Says Executive
ASTANA—Developing the Middle Corridor is a key factor in expanding Kazakhstan’s economy and that of Central Asia, said Gaidar Abdikerimov, the Secretary General of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) International Association. In an interview with the Astana Times, he spoke about the association’s role and contribution to boosting connectivity along the Middle Corridor. The…
Umai Deity and Modern Resonance of Kazakh Women in Mythology
ASTANA – International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8, is a significant time in Kazakhstan’s calendar to honor female deities, reflecting the deep respect for women’s roles in society. This is exemplified by Umai, an iconic figure in Kazakh mythology known as the protector of children. The stories of supernatural women have not only supported…
“Trailblazers of Steppes” Book Celebrates 50 Inspiring Kazakh Women in Business
ASTANA – To create space for women’s voices and stories in entrepreneurship, Shumaila Yousafzai, an associate professor in entrepreneurship at Nazarbayev University, profiled the achievements of 50 female entrepreneurs in a book titled “Trailblazers of the Steppes: Inspiring Narratives of Women in Business in Kazakhstan,” which is published in Kazakh, Russian and English languages. The…
UN Expert Warns of Land Degradation Risks in Central Asia
ASTANA – Land degradation is among the biggest threats to Central Asia, making the region susceptible to drought, sand and dust storms, and overall economic decline, which demands a unified approach across the region, said the lead scientist at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Barron Joseph Orr in an interview with The…
Kazakh Cultural Center to Open in China: Mutual Cooperation From Theater to Films
ASTANA – During Kazakh Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva’s working visit to China on Feb. 27, discussions centered on plans to bolster cultural collaboration between the two countries, including the establishment of a Kazakh cultural center in China, reported the ministry’s press service. Cultural relations were boosted by President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit…
Kazakh Government Approves Five-Year Astana Development Plan
ASTANA – The comprehensive development plan of Astana agglomeration for 2024-2028 was adopted at a government meeting chaired by Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov on Feb. 27, reported the prime minister’s press service. The territory of Astana agglomeration includes Astana city and over 40 settlements within three districts of the Akmola Region, including the city…
Kazakhstan Affirms Nuclear Disarmament as Key Foreign Policy Focus at Conference in Geneva
ASTANA – Nuclear disarmament remains Kazakhstan’s top priority in foreign policy, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu at the high-level segment of the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on Feb. 27, reported the ministry’s press service. In his address, Nurtleu underscored the vital role of the Conference on…
Nomads’ Fire Concert Ignites Kazakh Traditional Music with Modern Flair
ASTANA – The State Academic Philharmonic, named after Erkegali Rakhmadiyev, delighted the Astana audience with traditional Kazakh musical pieces in modern processing at Nomads’ Fire concert on Feb. 26. The name of the concert is illustrative, suggesting a conflation of nomadic passion, culture and wisdom in a series of song, instrumental and dance performances. Combining…
Magic Behind Curtains: Kazakhstan’s Theater Guide Offers Insightful Backstage Tours
ASTANA – A glimpse behind the scenes of a theater revealing the craft that goes into bringing any performance to the stage is what makes the Theater Guide project a unique tour that allows one to experience theater in a different way. Established in 2021, the Theater Guide aims to popularize theater through informative tours…
President Tokayev Signs Law on Child Safety and Education
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed the law on introducing amendments and additions to some legislative acts on education, mentoring and child safety on Feb. 23, reported the Akorda press service. Askhat Aimagambetov, chairman of the Committee on Social and Cultural Development of Mazhilis, the lower house of Parliament, explained the core issues being addressed…
Social Entrepreneurship Conference Unites Experts in Astana
ASTANA – Nazarbayev University (NU) in Astana hosted on Feb. 22 an international conference that gathered researchers and practitioners in social entrepreneurship to discuss how social enterprises can work with universities and the government to combat social problems. The two-day conference, organized by the NU Social Development Fund (SDF) and the NU Entrepreneurship Research Center…
Kazakh Composer Debuts “The Bruce” Opera at Glasgow Cathedral
ASTANA – Kazakh composer, pianist and doctoral student at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Rakhat-Bi Abdyssagin premiered his opera “The Bruce” at Glasgow Cathedral on Feb. 17, reported the press service of the Kazakh Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The production featured soloists, the chorus and conductors from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. The…
What to Expect from Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship of Aral Sea Rescue Fund
ASTANA – Kazakhstan took over the chairmanship of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) this year. During its three-year presidency of the IFAS, Kazakhstan will determine the course of the Aral Sea revival. The Zakon.kz news agency published an article examining forthcoming projects facilitated by the IFAS, alongside retrospective assessments of past…
Kazakh Healthcare Ministry, WHO and World Bank Launch Pandemic Fund in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The Ministry of Healthcare of Kazakhstan, the World Health Organization (WHO), with the support of the World Bank, launched the Pandemic Fund in Kazakhstan that aims to boost the country’s resilience to future pandemics on Feb. 15 in Astana. Designed to build Kazakhstan’s capacity to prevent future infectious disease outbreaks, the fund allocated…
Kazakhstan Marks Shaken Aimanov’s 110th Anniversary, Honors Pioneer of Kazakh Cinema
ASTANA – Kazakhstan celebrates 110 years of Shaken Aimanov, the acclaimed and versatile Kazakh director, on Feb. 15. Throughout his long career, Aimanov combined light entertainment comedies with topical films that appealed to him on a deeply personal level. The director and actor with a kaleidoscopic career, he became an outstanding technician in cinema as…
Doubling Kazakhstan’s GDP to $450 Billion Demands Transition to Complex Economy, Says KazISS Director
ASTANA – Doubling Kazakhstan’s economy to $450 billion by 2029 is an ambitious task that requires moving to a more complex economy, said Yerkin Tukumov, director of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS) in an interview with the Astana Times. Besides economic development, Tukumov also talked about the dynamics of regional cooperation among Central…
Bear, Wild Boar and Siberian Goat Population Reaches New High at Zhongar-Alatau Nature Park
ASTANA – The bear, wild boar, and Siberian mountain goat populations in Zhongar-Alatau state national nature park have doubled amid a good forage base and the use of innovative technologies in monitoring wild animals, reported the Khabar news agency on Feb. 7. The national park’s latest data also show that the efforts to conserve deer…
Poetry in Motion: Astana Ballet Presents Tribute to Kazakh Poet Abai
ASTANA – Astana Ballet staged the revived “The Language of Love” ballet, a tribute to the music and passion of profound Kazakh poet Abai Kunanbaiuly on Feb. 2-3. Brought back to the Astana Ballet scene for the first time since its premiere in 2016, “The Language of Love” tells the life story of Abai through…
Kazakh Cuisine Meets World Music at Daididau, Dimash Kudaibergen’s Family Restaurant
ASTANA – A place where an exquisite dining experience can be paired with a niche musical exhibition is exactly what one would expect when dining at Daididau restaurant, curated by the family of renowned Kazakh singer Dimash Kudaibergen. If food nourishes the body and music the soul, Daididau becomes a place that serves both, with…
Aspiring Artist Presents Comic Book that Chronicles Kazakh Khanate Founders
ASTANA – Young Kazakh comic book author Ilyas Yusupzhanov presented his first comic book about the founders of the Kazakh Khanate, Kerey and Zhanibek sultans, in Almaty on Jan. 27, reported Zakon.kz news outlet. Yusupzhanov’s interest in comic books sprang from his dedication to promoting Kazakh history by creating worthy heroes to look up to…
Kazakhstan’s Kabirkhan Horse Secures Dubai World Cup Spot with Back-to-Back Wins
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s horse Kabirkhan made a dream start in its international horseracing career by winning twice at the Al Maktoum Challenge tournament in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Jan. 12 and Jan. 26, which earned it a spot at the Dubai World Cup, one of the biggest events in horse racing. Kabirkhan became the…
