Young Kazakh para dancers win World Cup medals
NUR-SULTAN – Young Kazakh athletes Aknur Akzharkenova, Lestein Aslambekov, Arua Beikhari, Altynai Kazbekova and Akbota Rysbekova took the medal stand at the Sept. 12 World Para Dance Cup in St. Petersburg, Russia. “I love dancing, I want to dance all the time! For me, fourth place is a very big achievement, because this is my…
100 MW capacity solar power plant launches near Kapshagai
NUR-SULTAN – ENEVERSE KUNKUAT, a subsidiary of Singapore-based companies, launched Sept. 3 a 100 megawatt (MW) solar power plant in the Almaty region near the city of Kapshagai. The power plant will annually produce approximately 160 million kilowatts (KW) of electricity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 150,000 tonnes per year. “There is a shortage…
Ablyazov, Khrapunov cases to be sent to foreign jurisdictions, says Kazakh Prosecutor General’s Office
NUR-SULTAN – Materials from the cases of former BTA Bank Board of Directors Chairperson Mukhtar Ablyazov and former Almaty Akim (Mayor) Viktor Khrapunov will be transferred to foreign jurisdictions for prosecution, said Kazakh Deputy Prosecutor General Marat Akhmetzhanov following a Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament) meeting, Zakon.kz and several news agencies reported Sept. 18. “On the two…
Kazakhstan sets 30% interest limit on short-term microloans
NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh National Bank plans to limit the maximum interest rate on microloans to 30 percent, according to the recently drafted Resolution of the Board of the National Bank of Kazakhstan “On establishing the limit value of remuneration under the agreement on the provision of microloans.” The limit applies to microloans issued up…
More than 2,700 young professionals have applied for Kazakhstan’s Presidential Personnel Reserve
NUR-SULTAN – More than 2,757 young professionals have sent in applications to be chosen for the Presidential Personnel Reserve, which matches Kazakhstan’s brightest early professionals with key positions in government agencies and companies. Young people in Kazakhstan that excel in innovative technologies, engineering, business, medicine, economics and culture will have the opportunity to be selected…
Kazakhstan to increase penalties for wildlife poaching, better protect state wildlife officials
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan is drafting a law to more harshly punish wildlife poachers and to better protect state wildlife officials, Kazakh Deputy General Prosecutor Marat Akhmetzhanov said Sept. 11 at a Central Communications Service press conference. “Compulsory confiscation of weapons of crime, vehicles and property of poachers is introduced for poaching in all formulations. Illegal…
Kazakh draft law would toughen penalties for rape, child sexual abuse
NUR-SULTAN – A draft law is being developed to make penalties more stringent for rape and child sexual abuse, Deputy Prosecutor General Murat Akhmetzhanov said at a Sept. 11 press conference. “The draft law is being prepared to further improve the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure. It includes amendments to toughen liability…
Experts predict shrinking smartphone sales will recover in Kazakhstan, globally by 2020
NUR-SULTAN – Smartphone sales declined in China, Kazakhstan and the United States in the second quarter of the year, reported Finprom.kz. Experts expect a recovery in global sales in 2020. Global smartphone shipments totalled 644 million from January-June compared to 673.9 million in the same period last year, reported the International Data Corporation’s (IDC) Worldwide…
WBA restores Beibut Shumenov’s World Champion title
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh professional boxer Beibut Shumenov (18-2, 12 KOs), a multiple-time world champion in two weight classes, has regained his previous world champion standing according to the updated cruiserweight class ranking published by the World Boxing Association (WBA). He was previously considered “a champion on vacation.” Shumenov had his last fight in July 2018,…
Kazakhstan to develop New Professions Atlas
NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh Ministry of Labour and Social Protection confirmed the decision to create a New Professions Atlas (NPA) during the Aug. 28 meeting of the National Council of Qualifications in the capital. The listing will create industry credentials and professional standards. Sayasat Nurbek, BTS Digital educational centre director, noted the company, a partner…
Kazakhstan must tighten its monetary policy, says National Bank head
NUR-SULTAN – Existing global economic trends dictate a tighter monetary policy in Kazakhstan, said Kazakh National Bank Head Erbolat Dossaev Aug. 27. He named lowering global demand and uncertainty in trade policies as factors affecting the policy. “The following factors will influence the decline in inflation rates. Lowering global demand and uncertainty in trade policies…
Kazakh Government provides compensation to thousands of nuclear weapons tests victims
NUR-SULTAN – Approximately 3,000 compensations have been paid to Kazakh nuclear test victims since the beginning of the year. They were provided by Government for Citizens, a single public service provider akin to Canada Service and Centrelink (Australia), which integrates all public service centres into one system. “Today, through the Government for Citizens state corporation,…
Kazakh Anti-Corruption Agency presents new logo, emblem
NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh Anti-Corruption Agency recently presented its new logo and emblem in the capital. The agency sought to create a logo that was “simple, adaptable, universal and easily recognisable.” “We are used to the fact that all external communication products of government agencies are no different from each other. Usually, these products include…
Kazakh government to increase social spending 2.9 percent by 2022
NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh government will increase social spending 2.9 percent by 2022, said Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Alikhan Smailov Aug. 27. He also outlined the main features of the proposed 2020 to 2022 national budget law, which is based on the forecast of socio-economic development until 2024. “Social spending for…
Central Election Commission investigation finds no data leaks, Ministry of Internal Affairs continues check
NUR-SULTAN – The Central Election Commission (CEC) investigation did not find any evidence of possible data leaks in posting on foreign servers, said the Centre for Analysis and Investigation of Cyber Attacks in an Aug. 9 release. The Ministry of Internal Affairs will continue checking. “The Central Election Commission conducted an official investigation into the…
Almaty Emergency Department manages mudflow alarm in Nauryzbay district
NUR-SULTAN – Early-season preparation helped Almaty’s Nauryzbay District emergency officials respond to and avert an August mudflow. The mudflow risk was in the Nauryzbay District, near the Kargalinka River. This risk occurred because the water level in the lake located in the district drastically increased, and the dam could have broken down. The district residents…
Kazakh musician is youngest graduate of Italy’s oldest academy
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh composer and pianist Rakhat-Bi Abdysagin recently completed the doctoral programme at Santa Cecilia Academy, Rome. He is among the institution’s five best musicians of 2017 and the youngest graduate of the nation’s oldest musical academy. For the final exam, Abdysagin presented his work “Ombre del Vuoto” (Shadows of the Void), written for…
Kazakhstan leads among CIS countries in attracting international development bank loans
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan led among the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries in attracting project funding from international development banks in April-June, reports Finprom.kz. With 24.9 percent, Kazakhstan exhibited the largest share of approved investment project funding among CIS countries. Eight projects worth $257.7 million were approved for funding in the country in the second…
Helicopters continue search for three Kazakh climbers missing in Tien Shan Mountains
NUR-SULTAN – Helicopters continued Aug. 22-23 to search the Tien Shan Mountains for Kazakh climbers Andrey Korneyev, Murat Otepbayev and Aleksandr Chechulin, who went missing Aug. 16. The climbers went missing at an altitude of 6,900-metres during their descent from Jengish Chokusu (Victory Peak) in the Tien Shan Mountains. “A group of climbers from Kazakhstan…
Mangystau Region revives ancient Kazakh crafts, traditions
NUR-SULTAN – The Mangystau Region is promoting the Anyz Tulga (Human Legend in Kazakh) project, which recognises traditional Kazakh crafters and encourages them to teach their skills to young people to preserve ancient arts. The Council of Businesswomen of the regional Atameken Chamber of Entrepreneurs initiated the programme. “It is vital that the yurt, which…
Kazakh ethnic cuisine, clothing festival introduces participants to ancient nomads’ lifestyle
NUR-SULTAN – A weeklong festival dedicated to Kazakh ethnic cuisine and clothing started Aug. 12 at the Nomad Ethnographic Centre in Zhanakurlys village of the Almaty Region. Participants can learn ethnic recipes, visit thematic shows and attend handmade master classes. Expert restaurateur Serikhan Adilkhanov noted ethnic cuisine is like a mirror reflecting a people’s history,…
Kazakhstan proposes improving business taxation, cancelling apartment owners’ land tax
NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh Interdepartmental Commission on Legislative Activities discussed the concept of a draft law July 30 introducing amendments and addenda to certain legislative taxation acts to attract investments, develop the business environment and improve tax administration. The changes are grouped in seven blocks. The first involves simplifying tax payments to individuals and abolishing…
Kazakh Anticorruption Agency calls for improved automated vehicle weight measuring systems
NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh Anticorruption Agency is seeking to improve automated vehicle weight measuring systems that were installed since 2010, but are out of use due to technical issues. The agency noted the importance of preventing road damage from overweight vehicles and collecting funds for road repair. The government planned to use the system to…
Capital considers building rehabilitation centre for children with disabilities
NUR-SULTAN – Capital Akim (Mayor) Altai Kulginov recently raised the question of opening a new centre for individuals with disabilities after visiting the city’s social services centre. Its specialists provide services for children with psychoneurological pathologies and musculoskeletal system dysfunctions and individuals with disabilities as well as those who are physically or mentally unable to…
Golovkin to fight Derevyanchenko for his old world title
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh professional boxer Gennady Golovkin will now have the chance to win back his old title with a fight against Ukrainian professional boxer Serhiy Derevyanchenko as a result of an Aug. 5 decision by the International Boxing Federation (IBF), reports ESPN. Mexican professional boxer Canelo Álvarez was stripped of his IBF middleweight title…
