Articles by Assem Assaniyaz

Kazakh Energy Market to Introduce Greener Solutions to Reach Carbon Neutrality by 2060

ASTANA – The British-Kazakh Society (BKS) organized a webinar on Feb. 8 to address the transitional balance of coal, oil, gas, and renewables in Kazakhstan, as the country is boosting gas generation, developing clean energy projects, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to reach carbon neutrality by 2060.    The KazMunayGas (KMG) national oil and gas company,…

UK-Based Heriot – Watt University to Open Branch in Kazakhstan

LONDON – The Heriot – Watt University will open a branch at the Zhubanov Aktobe Regional University in Kazakhstan. This was announced during the signing of an agreement between Kazakh Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek and Vice-Principal and Provost at Heriot – Watt University Mark Biggs at the Feb. 1 meeting of…

Political Reset in Kazakhstan Designed to Promote Economic and Social Reforms, Says KazISS Director

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s political reset is not just for the sake of novelty, but for the implementation of important economic and social reforms this year, said Director of Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS) Yerkin Tukumov in an interview with Kazinform, referring to the presidential election and national referendum on constitutional amendments in the past…

January Events on Video: Prosecutor General’s Office Releases Documentary with Chronology of Events that Shook Kazakhstan

ASTANA – The short documentary film “Qantar Okigasy” (January Events), published by the Prosecutor General’s Office of Kazakhstan on its official YouTube channel on Jan. 5, presented the detailed chronology of the tragic January events, the most unprecedented unrest in the history of the country.    The 11-minute film, which tells the key developments of each…

West to Increase Interest in Kazakhstan’s Natural Resources, Transport and Transit Potential, Says British Expert

ASTANA – The situation in Ukraine and a recent spike in the US-China tensions have increased Western interest in the development of rare earths in alternative jurisdictions, particularly in Kazakhstan, said Managing Director of Prism Political Risk Management company Kate Mallinson, an independent political risk expert on Central Asia, in an interview with The Astana…

Kazakhstan’s Cultural Overview 2022: Highlights of Outgoing Year

ASTANA – This year has provided a solid impetus to expanding Kazakhstan’s cultural potential. The country held a plethora of large-scale events in art, music, history, literature, and cinematography, presenting its perspectives both at the local level and on the world stage.    Amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, the Kazakh capital hosted the seventh Congress of Leaders…

Kazakh 10-Year-Old Singer Beknur Zhanibekuly Enters Guinness World Records

ASTANA – Beknur Zhanibekuly, a 10-year-old singer from Kazakhstan, entered the Guinness World Records (GWR) book as the holder of the first functional LEGO prosthetic arm with a stylus and the foot-controlled LEGO prosthetic arm, according to the 2023 edition of the book.   “Got two Guinness World Records certificates, thanks to my dear friends @handsolooficial…

From Tokyo to San Francisco: Kazakh Citizens Cast Their Vote in Presidential Election

ASTANA – Kazakh citizens traveling or living abroad have demonstrated a high level of engagement in the Nov. 20 presidential election. As of 7 p.m. Astana time, the voter turnout abroad was 57.5 percent with nearly 7,400 people out of 12,841 registered casting their vote, according to the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Foreign embassies…

Kazakh National Military History Museum Hosts Art Exhibition in Astana

ASTANA – Amanat Nazarkulov, a member of the Kazakh Union of Artists, presented on Oct. 26 his art exhibition titled Menin Elim (My country) at the Kazakh National Military History Museum in Astana.  The exhibition, which will be open to the public until the end of this month, marks Republic Day in Kazakhstan and the…

It Is the Right Time to Screen Comics About Kazakh Legends, Says Marvel Comic Book Artist From Kazakhstan

ASTANA – A screen adaptation of comics about Kazakh legends would be timely and relevant, said Madibek Musabekov, a 30-year-old comic book illustrator from Kazakhstan, in an interview with The Astana Times. He now works for the world-renowned Marvel Comics entertainment company.  An Almaty native, Musabekov is an author of the “Yermek Batyr” and “Golden…

French Capital Hosts Fourth Kazakh Film Festival to Promote Local Cinema

ASTANA – The French Association of Kazakh Cinema hosted the fourth Kazakh film festival in Paris from Oct. 27 to 30 to introduce local cinema to the public, according to the association’s press service.  The film festival, organized with the help of the Kazakh State Center for Support of National Cinema, the Kazakh Ministry of…

Almaty to Host “Behind the Door” Art Exhibition to Raise Awareness About Domestic Violence

NUR-SULTAN – The art project against domestic violence titled “Behind the Door” will be unveiled at the Almaty-based Kazakh Central State Museum on Sept. 23, according to an Instagram post by Kazakhstan’s CITIX IT company. The exhibition, which will be held until Oct. 9, tells the real stories of victims of domestic violence through paintings,…

Kazakh Filmmaking Reveals Immense Potential With Worldwide Audiences

NUR-SULTAN – This year, films from Kazakhstan are picking up steam at international film festivals worldwide.  The film “Goliath” by Adilkhan Yerzhanov was presented at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on Lido Island from Aug. 31 to Sept. 10.  In May of this year, his other work titled “Shturm” (Assault) won the grand jury…

Mazhilis Approves Draft Amendments to Revive Day of Republic in Kazakhstan

NUR-SULTAN – The Mazhilis, a lower chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, has approved the draft amendments that revive the Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Oct. 25, reported the chamber’s press service on Sept. 7. The holiday was celebrated in Kazakhstan until 2009.  The proposal to revive the important date was put forward by…

Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions to Gather 100 Delegations From 50 Countries

NUR-SULTAN – More than 100 delegations from 50 countries will gather at the Seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, said Speaker of the Senate (an upper chamber of the Kazakh Parliament) Maulen Ashimbayev, during his Sept. 6 meeting with Kazakh President Kassym Jomart-Tokayev, reported the Akorda’s press service. According to Ashimbayev who…

Kazakh National Museum Hosts ARBA International Exhibition

NUR-SULTAN – The ARBA international exhibition by the TAMYR creative group was unveiled to the public on Sept. 2 at the Kazakh National Museum, according to Kazinform. TAMYR (“roots” in Kazakh) is a Shymkent-based group comprising 11 artists from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. They have been collaborating for more than 40 years.    The artists reflected…

Kazakhstan, UNESCO Celebrate ‘Teacher of Nation’ Akhmet Baitursynov’s 150th Anniversary

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan marked the 150th anniversary of prominent Kazakh scholar, statesman, linguist, and poet Akhmet Baitursynov on Sept. 5 with a series of celebratory events under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).   Кnown in Kazakhstan as the Ult Ustazy (Teacher of the Nation), Baitursynov left a significant mark…

National Bank Keeps Base Rate at 14.5 Percent Amid Adverse Economic Conditions

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh National Bank’s monetary policy committee has decided to keep the base rate at 14.5 percent per annum with a corridor of +/- 1.0 percentage points amid an adverse economic situation in the region, reported the bank’s press service on Sept. 5. The decision is driven by the increasing prices of logistics…

President Tokayev Addresses Fire’s Aftermath in Kostanai Region

NUR-SULTAN – All measures are being taken to mitigate the consequences of the fires in the Kostanai Region, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the Sept. 5 meeting of the operational headquarters to battle fires in the region, reported the Akorda’s press service.   According to Tokayev, the situation in the region is under control.  The…

President Tokayev Arrives in Kostanai Region as Forest Fires Burn Record 43,000 Hectares

NUR-SULTAN – The Kostanai Region declared a state of emergency on Sept. 4 after forest fires burned a record 43,000 hectares (the size of Сarribean Barbados’ island) and forced an evacuation of 1,841 people.  President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in the region today. The President held a meeting with the operational headquarters, where he learned about…

Ambassador of Friendship from Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan Says APK Plays Invaluable Role in Rapprochement of Nations

NUR-SULTAN – The contribution of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan (APK) is invaluable and its activities play a major role in the rapprochement of nations and cultures, said APK Ambassador of Friendship in France Malgorzata Oboron-Thouard in a recent interview with The Astana Times.  The Ambassador of Friendship’s activities are aimed at broadening…

Astana Ballet’s Tenth Season tо Kick Off with “The Silk Road” Ballet

NUR-SULTAN – The Astana Ballet Theater will stage “The Silk Road” ballet, choreographed by an honored worker of Kazakhstan Mukaram Avakhri, on Sept. 9-10, opening the tenth season, reported the theater’s press service.  The two-act performance, which premiered earlier in June, will unveil to the public the history of the emergence of the Great Silk…

Cholpon-Ata Meeting of Eurasian Intergovernmental Council Fortifies EAEU Industrial Cooperation

NUR-SULTAN – The heads of the governments of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) discussed the development of the common gas market at an Aug. 25 meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Cholpon-Ata, reported the Kazakh Prime Minister’s press office. Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin,…

CPC Proceeds in Oil Shipment Using Only Single Point Mooring, Reduces Oil Delivery Volume

NUR-SULTAN – The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) pipeline temporarily loads crude oil using only SPM-3 single point mooring, reported the CPC press service.  A diving survey of the SPM-3 was conducted at the CPC Marine Terminal on Aug. 24. The underwater equipment of the remote mooring device was recognized as suitable for the operation without…

Kazakhstan to Build Children’s Creative Center Named After Kurmangazy in Azerbaijan

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan will start the construction of the Children’s Center for Creative Development named after Kurmangazy next month in the city of Fuzuli in Azerbaijan, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during his official visit to Azerbaijan, reported the Akorda’s press service. Tokayev noted that the center, reflecting the two countries’ friendship, brotherhood, and mutual support,…