On ISS, Cosmonauts Launch Research Programmes
ASTANA – With the Sept. 4 arrival of the Soyuz TMA-18M spacecraft at the International Space Station (ISS), Expedition 45 Soyuz Commander Sergei Volkov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and visiting crew members Andreas Mogensen of the European Space Agency and Aidyn Aimbetov of the Kazakh Space Agency (Kazcosmos) have started implementing their…
Three Space Travellers, Including Kazakh Cosmonaut, Blast off from Baikonur Cosmodrome
ASTANA – A Russian Soyuz FG rocket launched the Soyuz TMA-18M spacecraft 10:37 a.m. local time, Sept. 2, on the latest mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The lift-off marked the 500th departure from the launch pad named for Soviet space pioneer Yuri Gagarin. The capsule was manned by cosmonaut Sergei Volkov of the…
Conference on Kazakhstan’s Constitution Held at Palace of Independence
ASTANA – The international conference “Constitution: unity, stability and prosperity,” dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Constitution of Kazakhstan was held at the Palace of Independence in Astana on Aug. 28, the Akorda press service reported. President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev attended the event and noted in his welcoming address that the Aug. 30,…
Winners of Foreign Media Contest Travel to Borovoe
ASTANA – The five winners of the second “Kazakhstan Through the Eyes of International Media” contest took in views, spa treatments, horseback rides and karaoke on a trip to Borovoye, Astana’s major weekend getaway destination. “It was a great vacation for body and soul,” said Bartosz Mendyk, a journalist from Poland, who had won in…
Winners of Foreign Media Contest Travel to Borovoe
ASTANA – The five winners of the second “Kazakhstan Through the Eyes of International Media” contest took in views, spa treatments, horseback rides and karaoke on a trip to Borovoye, Astana’s major weekend getaway destination. “It was a great vacation for body and soul,” said Bartosz Mendyk, a journalist from Poland, who had won in…
Foreign Minister Congratulates Winners of Second International Media Contest
ASTANA – A ceremony to honour the five regional winners of the second “Kazakhstan Through the Eyes of Foreign Media” contest took place in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan on Aug. 25. The contest was initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Union of Journalists of Kazakhstan last year, and this…
UN Special Rapporteurs’ Recommendations Form Basis of National Human Rights Dialogue
ASTANA – The regular meeting of the Dialogue Platform on Human Dimension, a consultative advisory body, was held on Aug. 21 at the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Chaired by Kazakh Ambassador-at-Large Usen Suleimen, the session was attended by Maina Kiai, the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly…
Air Astana Becomes Official Carrier of EXPO 2017
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s largest aviation company, Air Astana, is to be the “Official Air Carrier of EXPO 2017,” following a memorandum of cooperation signed with the Astana EXPO 2017 National Company, which is organising the event, on Aug. 17. Chairman of Astana EXPO 2017 Akhmetzhan Yessimov and President of Air Astana Peter Foster signed the…
Kazakhstan’s Armed Forces Conduct Exercises over Summer
ASTANA – July was traditionally a period of holidays and vacations, but for the military it was a busy month with many engagements in training exercises. As reported by the Kazakh Ministry of Defence press service, the country’s Armed Forces were raised by a training alarm on July 17. To perform this large-scale event, a…
Kazakh Cosmonaut’s Flight Is Profitable for Country, Head of Kazcosmos Says
ASTANA – In a recent interview with KazTAG news agency, chairman of the aerospace committee (Kazcosmos) of the Kazakh Ministry of Investment and Development Talgat Mussabayev spoke about the effective use of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, issues relating to the development of the space industry and the challenges which Kazakh cosmonaut Aidyn Aimbetov faces as he…
International Seminar Concluded on Public Health for Specialists from Africa
ASTANA – The closing ceremony of an international seminar on public health was hosted in Nazarbayev University, reported the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) press service in Kazakhstan. The university’s Centre for Life Sciences (CLS) of the National Laboratory of Astana trained 24 professionals from seven African countries July 20-31 in areas of epidemiology, biomedicine…
Astana Set for Maiden European Football Autumn, Kairat Also Progresses
ASTANA – FC Astana and HJK Helsinki produced a thriller previously unseen at the Astana Arena Aug. 5 in a return leg of the UEFA Champions League qualifications’ third round. Following an incredibly dull goalless draw a week prior in Finland, seven goals were scored in the home team’s 4-3 victory. The incredible drama saw…
Kazakhstan Loosens Restrictions on Visiting Border-Area Tourist Attractions
ASTANA – Kazakhstan recently amended its regulations to allow foreign tourists to visit popular tourist attractions along its border without a special permit. The amendment was to 2014 government resolution No. 356, which had expanded the number and width of border areas closed to tourists without a special permit. As a result of that 2014…
National Research Centre for Maternal and Child Health Implements Cutting-Edge Technology
ASTANA – In the mid-1970s, the need existed to provide genetic services to the population by establishing medical-genetic consultations based on the Scientific Centre for Obstetrics and Gynecology as well as marriage and family consultations. Today in Kazakhstan, there are only three medical doctors (MD) who specialise in medical genetics, two in Almaty and one…
A Great Gift of Kazakh Nature Attracts Increasing Number of Tourists
ASTANA – Alakol Lake is one of the loveliest waterways of east central Kazakhstan, a natural gem which welcomes nearly 4,000 tourists every day. More than 100,000 visitors find recreation on its shores every year. “Did you know that Alakol is one of the most famous health resorts in Kazakhstan among astronauts since the Soviet times?…
Kazakhstan Loses Olympic Hosting Bid, Looks Forward to Future Challenges
KUALA-LUMPUR – Following final pitches by the cities of Almaty and Beijing to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on July 31 at 6 p.m. local time in the capital of Malaysia chose Beijing to host the Games. The 2022 Beijing Winter Games will be split between three Olympic sites:…
Kazakh PM, 2022 Winter Olympic Hosting Bid Chairman Say Almaty Is Ready for Challenge
KUALA LUMPUR – On the eve of the 128th Session of the International Olympic Committee in Kuala Lumpur, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan and Chairman of the Almaty 2022 Bid Committee Karim Massimov told international news agencies and business publications that Almaty is ready for the challenge of hosting the Winter Olympics in 2022. Speaking during…
Hosting Olympic Games Offers Widespread Benefits, Kazakh Diplomat Says
ASTANA – During its 121st session in Copenhagen, Denmark in October 2009, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) selected Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as host city for the Games of the 31st Olympiad. The large-scale event will be held next year from Aug. 5-21. This will be the first Olympic Games to be held in South…
Almaty 2022 Bid Confirms Readiness of Accommodations
ASTANA – As a lead-in to the July 31 vote in Kuala Lumpur, where the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will select the host city for the 2022 Winter Games, the Almaty 2022 bid organisers commented on the city’s readiness to welcome guests from around the world. In recent years, Kazakhstan’s largest metropolis has seen a…
Almaty Celebrates Alpiniad Fest with Mass Climbing of Abai Peak
More than 250 people celebrated Alpiniad July 4 by climbing Abai Peak in the Zailiisky Alatau mountain range. The organisers dedicated the event to the 170th anniversary of the great Kazakh literary figure Abai Kunanbaiuly, whose name was given to the 4,010-metre peak near Almaty. The festival also marked the 20th anniversary of President Nursultan…
German Society for Int’l Cooperation Shares Development Assistance Experience
ASTANA – As the current global federal enterprise for international cooperation in the field of sustainable development, the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) is supporting the German federal government in achieving its objectives. GIZ operates throughout Germany and in more than 130 countries worldwide in many fields: economic development and employment promotion; governance and…
Kazakhstan Expands Visa-Free Regime up to 19 Countries, Extends It to End of 2017
ASTANA – On June 26, the government of Kazakhstan issued a resolution expanding the number of countries included in a trial visa-free regime and extended that regime until Dec. 31, 2017. “This step is aimed at further improvement of a favourable visa and investment regime for citizens of these countries, the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign…
Second Stage Completed in Steppe Eagle 2015 Peacekeeping Exercise, New Nations Participate
ASTANA – The second phase of the Steppe Eagle 2015 peacekeeping exercises was completed June 25 at Iliskiy training area near Almaty, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Defence press service. A feature of the second phase of the Steppe Eagle 2015 exercises was the preparation of the headquarters of peacekeeping units in the form of…
Czech Development Cooperation Experience Could Be Useful for KazAID
ASTANA – The Czech Republic is a relatively young actor in the community of nations rendering development assistance beyond its borders. It has already accumulated more than two decades of work in this field, however, and can therefore be of interest as a potential role model in Kazakhstan’s attempt to launch a national operator of…
Foreign Minister Urges Honorary Consuls to Strengthen External Commercial and Other Ties
ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Erlan Idrissov hosted what should have been a traditional, but became the first-ever meeting with honorary consuls of foreign countries accredited in Kazakhstan. During the session, Idrissov noted the special role honorary consuls play in establishing effective cooperation between Kazakhstan and other countries. According to the “Dictionary of…
