Humanoid robot praises Astana, Kazakh President
ASTANA – A humanoid robot named Sophia told a conference of mayors from Silk Road cities July 3 that she loves Astana architecture. “Walking around the city, I fell in love with the unique architecture of your capital, in which the most advanced technologies and innovative methods of city planning in the 21st century are…
DNA diagnostics laboratory to be established Astana
ASTANA – Astana-Technopolis and Micro Kazakhstan have agreed to build a DNA diagnostics laboratory at Nazarbayev University. The laboratory will help to detect and prevent diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases, as well as perform criminal forensics. The laboratory will also help personalise the use of medications. Microread was founded in China in 2007 and…
National Bank of Kazakhstan clarifies details of 7-20-25 housing programme
ASTANA – The National Bank of Kazakhstan released a report June 27 to answer frequently asked questions from citizens about the 7-20-25 housing lending programme. “To participate in the programme, it is necessary to bring documents confirming compliance of a borrower with the programme terms, including the presence of employment or entrepreneurial income, as well…
Kazakh Parliament member urges protection of gold, foreign exchange reserves
ASTANA — Kazakh Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament) Deputy Azat Peruashev proposed during a recent Mazhilis plenary session to diversify Kazakhstan’s foreign exchange portfolio, renounce one currency dominance and increase the share of gold reserves. Peruashev proposed in his address to Kazakh Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev and National Bank Chair Daniyar Akishev protecting the gold…
KDIF encourages Delta Bank, Kazinvestbank depositors to seek damage reimbursements
ASTANA – Few depositors of Delta Bank and Kazinvestbank have applied for compensation from the Kazakhstan Deposit Insurance Fund (KDIF) for damages related to those banks being deprived of licenses to conduct banking and other operations from 2017 and 2016 respectively, KDIF Chairman Bakyt Kogulov said recently. KDIF begin to compensate for the damages this…
Kazakh Senate adopts measures to humanise criminal justice system further
ASTANA – The Kazakh Parliament’s Senate (upper chamber) adopted June 21 amendments to humanise the criminal and criminal procedural legislation and improve the activities of law enforcement and special state agencies, Parliament’s press service reports. The new amendments include, but are not limited to the following: criminal legislation is being humanised; the range of sentences…
Al-Farabi Kazakh University ranks first in the country for interdisciplinary studies, according to new national ranking
ASTANA – The Almaty-based Al-Farabi Kazakh National University was ranked first among Kazakh interdisciplinary universities followed by Lev Gumilyov Eurasian National University in Astana and Evnei Buketov Karaganda State University, according to a national ranking of universities published June 15 by Kazakh Independent Agency for Quality Assurance in Education. The ranking lists the best universities…
North Kazakhstan improves tourism infrastructure
ASTANA – In 2017, the North Kazakhstan region generated $2 million from the tourism industry. The data indicates a steady increase of tourist flow to North Kazakhstan, which was included in the national tourism development concept as part of the Unity of Nature and Nomadic Culture touristic cluster. The Aiyrtau district with Imantau and Shalkar…
Kazakh Foreign Ministry praises North Korea – United States summit
ASTANA – The Kazakh Foreign Ministry praised in a recent statement the June 12 summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. “We regard this summit as an important historic event. It will promote the trust between Washington and Pyongyang and will contribute to the normalisation of relations between North Korea…
Documentaries, historical films about Kazakhstan to debut on major TV networks
ASTANA – Documentary films on Kazakhstan’s history and culture will premiere on Discovery, National Geographic and Viasat History TV channels June-July, reported Kazakh Vice Minister of Culture and Sports Aktoty Raimkulova at a June 13 press conference in Astana. “To date, a series of documentary films was produced for presentation on major television networks with…
Canelo vs Golovkin rematch set for September 15
ASTANA – After a year of negotiating, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Gennady “GGG” Golovkin recently agreed to a second fight in Las Vegas on September 15. “I’m happy to inform that we have a fight September 15,” promoter of a Mexican fighter Oscar de la Hoya announced the news in a tweet. The initial rematch…
Investigation finds health violations among EAEU dairy providers
ASTANA – A recent investigation by the Kazakh Ministry of Healthcare found 17 dairy producers from Russia, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan had violated Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) standards. Chairman of Public Health Committee of Ministry of Health Zhandarbek Bekshin reported on the violations in the products of Russian Danone, which supplies the Kazakh market, at a…
Kazakh Prosecutor General’s Office calls for respect for rule of law
ASTANA – The Prosecutor General’s Office issued a press release June 4 addressing provocative social media posts and videos by the so called Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DCK). The extremist organisation is banned in the country by a court decision. Using the posts, DCK head Mukhtar Ablyazov and his supporters are urging citizens to attend…
BTA Bank-related money laundering trial starts in Almaty
ASTANA – The trial involving Iskander Yerimbetov, who is accused of fraud and money laundering under Kazakhstan’s Criminal Code, started June 14 in the Medeu District Court in Almaty. Yerimbetov, a former entrepreneur, is charged with concealing dubious assets in offshore jurisdictions through “dummy foreign citizens” using a company engaged in air transportation. His associates…
Kazakh civil servants to receive raise in 2019
ASTANA – Kazakh civil servants will receive higher salaries starting 2019, Agency for Civil Service Affairs and Fighting Corruption Chair Alik Shpekbayev announced recently. “Currently, we are testing a new labour remuneration system, which ensured the two-fold increase of salaries in a pilot organisation. Upon completion, we plan to complete the work next year and,…
Chinese company to build solar power plant in Karaganda region
ASTANA – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Chinese company Risen Energy recently signed an agreement to build a solar power plant in the Karaganda region. The agreement was signed June 6 during the Foreign Investors’ Council in Astana. The agreement was endorsed by the Chairman of Risen Energy Lin Haifeng…
Second season of Men Qazaqpyn to premiere in September
ASTANA – “Men Qazaqpyn” (I am Kazakh), the nationwide singing contest, will return in September for its second season on Qazaqstan TV, reported the channel’s special projects department head Kuanysh Suleimenov. “The second season of ‘Men Qazaqpyn’ will go live on Qazaqstan TV channel in early September and the audience will get to see the…
Map of Kazakhstan sacred places to be completed by 2021
ASTANA – Nazarbayev University’s National Laboratory Astana will create and make available online a map of Kazakhstan’s sacred places by 2021. The project is part of Kazakhstan’s Ruhani Zhangyru programme. “The project will require three years. We gradually collect information about sacred places in Kazakhstan and convert it in electronic format, which will later be…
Government, financial institutions increase support for women entrepreneurs
ASTANA – Approximately 11,180 individuals, including 6,270 women, have applied to participate in the Nurly Zher housing construction programme since 2017, according to a report presented at the June 6 National Commission for Women and Family and Demographic Policy meeting chaired by Secretary of State Gulshara Abdykalikova. She noted President Nursultan Nazarbayev pays attention to…
Antimonopoly committee considers Kazakhtelecom’s effort to acquire Kcell
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Antimonopoly Committee is reviewing Kazakhtelecom’s application to buy 75 percent of shares of Kcell mobile network operator. “If the agency approves the purchase, then around 67 percent of the market will be consolidated in the hands of one operator,” said Deputy Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin. Kcell is the market leader,…
Kazakhstan elected to UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage committee
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has been elected to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). The vote was conducted at the seventh session of the UNESCO General Assembly, held June 4-6 in Paris, and national experts will participate on the committee for the next…
Kazakh-British Investment Forum slated for October in London
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the U.K. will hold the Kazakh-British Investment Forum in London in October, Kazakh Ambassador to the United Kingdom Erlan Idrissov announced recently. “The entire year we have been witnessing a growing interest to us from the British businesses. We are planning to organise a large investment forum October 2 in London,”…
Kazakh citizens can protect data access through egov.kz
ASTANA – Blocking personal data on egov.kz, the e-government website,will soon be available to Kazakh citizens, reported Government for Citizens State Corporation head Abylaikhan Ospanov at a Central Communications Service press conference. “In order to exclude the risk of unauthorised personal data transfer, we have developed a project according to which citizens will have full control…
Qazaqstan TV channel to launch MMA reality and competition show
ASTANA – The new sports and entertainment reality show Qazaqstan FIGHTER on the Qazaqstan television channel will give Kazakh mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters a chance to show their skills to a national audience. “FIGHTER is a new unique sports and entertainment reality show that aims to ensure that every young athlete has a chance…
Rukhani Zhangyru programme drives new projects in Kyzylorda region
ASTANA – Kyzylorda regional Akim (Governor) Krymbek Kusherbayev announced projects related to the Rukhani Zhangyru (Modernisation of Kazakhstan’s Identity) programme during a recent press conference. This year, 81 projects were planned under the Tarbie Zhane Bilim (“Upbringing and Knowledge”), Atameken (“Fatherland”), Akparat Tolkyny (“Information Flow”) and Rukhani Zhangyru programmes and around 600 million tenge (US$1.9…
