- Sunday, 24 May, 2026
- Almaty 46 °F / 8 °C
- Astana 61 °F / 16 °C
The delegations from Almaty and Beijing, the 2022 Winter Olympic Games candidate cities, presented their three-volume bid books in Lausanne, Switzerland Jan. 6 for consideration by the...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s continued efforts to promote multi-directional foreign policy by introducing a visa-free regime in 2014 with 10 countries which are big investors in its economy...
ASTANA – Performances of “Spartacus” will highlight the first appearance by the Astana Opera ballet troupe at the Teatro Carlo Felice, the ancient theatre and principal opera...
ASTANA — Relatively mild winter temperatures this year in Astana have allowed city residents to enjoy the city’s outdoor ice skating facilities. “We wanted to enjoy every...
ASTANA – Many people claim that nowadays, chivalry is dead; such a statement may seem true anywhere besides at Historical Medieval Battles (HMB). At HMB, different fighting...
The treaty creating the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) took effect Jan. 1, 2015, with economic borders between Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia becoming significantly thinner. Kyrgyzstan is...
Many adults, especially parents, want to educate their children about politics, but most of them confuse learning politics with induction into a political agenda or belief. Yet...
ASTANA – Minister of Foreign Affairs Erlan Idrissov stressed the strategic importance of Kazakhstan’s multi-vector foreign policy as he summarised the outcomes of the nation’s foreign policy...
In his state-of-the-nation address, “Nurly Zhol: The Path to the Future,” President Nursultan Nazarbayev said that falling oil prices would lead to a decrease in budget revenues....
Performers and bands from Kazakhstan, India, Spain, Bangladesh, South Sudan, Egypt and other countries took part in the International Folk Music Festival in the Egyptian city of Faiyum...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Dec. 31 the acceptance by the country of the five former detainees at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, citing...
ASTANA – Astana might be hosting a critical summit of the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany to seek lasting solutions to the months-long conflict in...
ANKARA – Calling their countries strategic partners and brotherly nations, Kazakhstan’s and Turkey’s foreign ministers announced their intentions to further deepen bilateral political and economic ties, including...
ASTANA – The Government and the National Bank of Kazakhstan will seek to achieve real economic growth in the country of 4-5 percent next year, the two...
ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev, summing up the results of the first five years of the industrialisation programme on Dec. 25, confirmed that new industries, import substitution...
It is a little over a year since Kazakhstan formally announced its candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2017-2018. And it has...
As the year 2014 drew to a close, we interviewed Askar Shakirov, Kazakhstan’s Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman), to talk about achievements and challenges in this critical...
The Constitution of our country defines Kazakhstan as a democratic, secular, legal and social state. From the first days of independence the country’s leadership has paid great...
ASTANA – The year 2014 was full of memorable sports stories involving Kazakh athletes. The Astana Times has chosen a few to highlight for our year-end sports...
GAITHERSBURG, MD – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has agreed to provide a five-year loan of 10 billion tenge (US$54.7 million) to Kazakhstan’s Bank CentreCredit...
Astana Embassies End 2014 with Concerts, Cultural Events, Receptions Belgian Embassy Organises Sax Concerts in Kazakh Capital As part of the bicentenary anniversary celebration of Adolphe Sax’s...
Kazakhstan is a country rich in oil and natural beauty. But to reach its aspirations under the Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy, it may be missing one vital resource...
ASTANA – “Zhusan,” a one-act ballet telling a story of the Great Steppe, premiered Dec. 10 and 11 on the stage of the Astana Opera. The performance...
A new book, “Kazakhstan, the Centre of Eurasia,” was presented during the recent Fair Più Libri Più Liberi (More books, more freedom), one of the major Italian...
The history of European migration and settlement was in the limelight at the international conference, “The Great Migrations: The Colonisation of Europe,” held at the initiative of...
To celebrate the 23rd anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence, the Dina Nurpeisova Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments from Atyrau held a major concert on Dec. 15 at UNESCO...
ASTANA – More than 400 representatives of government, nongovernmental and youth organisations, the Parliament of Kazakhstan, culture, sports and the Kazakhstan 2050 National Movement attended a recent...
The Football Federation of Kazakhstan presented Spaniard Carlos Martorell Bakes during a Dec. 20 press conference as the new coach of Kazakhstan’s youth football team (U-17). Bakes...
Almaty City Akim (Mayor) Akhmetzhan Yessimov said during a Dec. 19 Central Communications Service briefing that hosting the Winter Olympics in Almaty in 2020 would be profitable...
You are quite likely to be reading this with a fair share of your thoughts occupied with preparations for a Christmas dinner or a New Year’s party....
SHYMKENT – Rixos Khadisha Shymkent, the first ever five star hotel in South Kazakhstan, opened with great fanfare on Dec. 20. The grand opening of the hotel...
President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev visited Kiev on Dec. 22 for talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko and other officials seeking to reinvigorate bilateral political and...
ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev held his annual end-of-year news briefing covering a broad range of areas from the situation in Ukraine to Kazakhstan’s economic stimulus package,...
HELSINKI – As Finland celebrated the Day of the Peacemaker last month, The Astana Times interviewed former President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Martti Ahtisaari to talk...
ASTANA – Recognising the need to help build a more efficient and sustainable civil society in Kazakhstan, members of the Kazakh Parliament, representatives of various government ministries,non-governmental...
ASTANA – The government of Kazakhstan will allocate 178 billion tenge (US$977.75 million) in 2015 and a further 143.3 billion tenge (US$787.14 million)in 2016 from the country’s...
In recent decades, Kazakhstan has become a rightful member of economic society. Moreover, our country is always advancing its leadership in all directions: political, economic and other...
Skiing is a sport that is popular around the globe and Almaty is quickly becoming known for its world-class skiing facilities. This city ringed by snowcapped peaks...
The recent 3rd International Conference on Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons has shown an encouraging trend – the growing realisation by the world community of the urgent...
ASTANA – Miquel Riera, the international sport director of FC (Football Club) Astana 1964, seeks to promote Kazakh players in Europe, especially in Spain. He has worked...
ASTANA – President Nursultan Nazarbayev held his annual end-of-year news briefing covering a broad range of areas from the situation in Ukraine to Kazakhstan’s economic stimulus package,...
VIENNA – While attending the third International Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons in Vienna from Dec. 8-9, artist Karipbek Kuyukov made a lasting impression...
ASTANA – An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission in Kazakhstan recently commended the state’s actions to advance the economy’s potential through additional fiscal stimulus from the National...
The Astana EXPO 2017 National Company and Belarus Republican Union of Tourist Organisations signed a memorandum of partnership during the Dec. 11-12 visit of a Kazakh delegation...
“The number of the prison population in Kazakhstan reduced by 4 percent,” Kazakh Deputy Prosecutor General Zhakip Assanov said at the Dec. 12 second forum on prison...
Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Massimov held a meeting with Prime Minister of Tajikistan Kohir Rasulzoda on Dec. 15. They discussed bilateral trade and economic cooperation, including...
A total of 13,543 property legalisation applications amounting to 103.3 billion tenge (US$562.86 million) had been received by Dec. 11 by the local executive commissions charged...
The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, so said the Chinese philosopher Laozi . He was a wise man. For those who heeded his...
ASTANA – Among the numerous nationalities that live in Kazakhstan, there is a very small community that has lived through some of history’s darkest times to preserve...
ATHENS – Greek government and Athens city officials joined more than 300 guests at Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens on Dec. 15 to celebrate the Kazakh Day...
The company Digital City Showcases recently announced the launch of its new Urban Infokiosk project, which will install self-service, touchscreen information terminals in shop windows that will...
ASTANA – At a regular government meeting on Dec. 4 led by Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov, improving Kazakhstan’s standing in the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) was...
ASTANA – Astana Akim (Mayor) Adilbek Dzhaksybekov explained to the public on Dec. 11 some of the features of the city’s 36 new public buses. The new...
ASTANA – The Dec. 14 7th Winter Charity Ball at Radisson Hotel Astana raised 13 million tenge (US$70,815) for educational programmes for children from orphanages and low-income...
A new high school opened on Dec. 9 in the 12th district of Aktobe is expected to address three-shift education in the region and allow students from...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan Prime Minister Karim Massimov and his Chinese counterpart, Premier of the State Council Li Keqiang approved and signed $14 billion worth of accords on...
ASTANA – The Kazakh language is now among the offerings of the Google Translate online global translating system, founder and director of theWikiBilim Public Foundation Rauan Kenzhekhanuly...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan “strongly condemns the act of terrorism committed in the Pakistani city of Peshawar on Dec. 16,” the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in...
ASTANA – Several important memoranda, including a memorandum to deepen atomic cooperation, were signed Dec. 14 during the official meeting of the Kazakh-Chinese Council, where Kazakh Prime...
WASHINGTON, DC – Kazakhstan Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov visited the United States on Dec. 10-11 to meet with top American officials to advance bilateral relations and discuss...
ASTANA – The heads of the governments of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) states met in Astana’s Palace of Independence on Dec.15 to examine ways to deepen...
Yulia Galysheva of Kazakhstan won the gold medal in dual moguls at the freestyle skiing World Cup races Dec. 13 in Ruka, Finland. Galysheva finished ahead of...
ASTANA – Rixos President Astana held a Friend’s Party for partners and colleagues Dec. 11 as a way to show gratitude for their camaraderie and cooperation. The...
The European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will lend the equivalent of $30 million in the local currency, the tenge, to Kazakhstan’s Eastcomtrans rail company to...
Italian government and business leaders expressed interest in EXPO 2017 during a Dec. 9-10 visit to Rome by Kazakh First Deputy Foreign Minister Rapil Zhoshybayev. During the...
The Big Almaty Ring Road (BAKAD) project concept was presented Dec. 9 to British investors at the headquarters of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)...
The Civil Service Reform Project, an EU-funded project with an overall budget of 4.6 million euros, has delivered seminars on best practices in civil service management in...
President Nursultan Nazarbayev visited on Dec. 4 South Kazakhstan and its capital Shymkent, which is Kazakhstan’s third most populous city and is expected to become a national...
ASTANA – Kazakh President NursultanNazarbayev highlighted the importance of government backing for innovative research Dec. 8 when he attended a conference on the issue in the TechGarden...
ASTANA – Stefano Ravagnan, Italy’s new ambassador in Astana, has plans to reinforce and formalise his country’s long-standing engagement with Kazakhstan, expanding the two countries’ traditional energy...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ) and ALSTOM signed an agreement Dec. 5 for the latter to purchase an additional 25 percent stake in EKZ, its Kazakh locomotive...
French President François Hollande visited Astana and Almaty on Dec. 5-6. This is the third visit of a French president to Kazakhstan, after François Mitterrand in 1993...
ASTANA – French President Francois Hollande commended Kazakhstan for “successfully pursuing its goals in economic development” and playing “an important political and diplomatic role” that allows Astana...
BANGKOK – Kazakhstan and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) signed a new trust fund agreement Dec. 3 that provides...
Foreign ministers from Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) participating states assembled in Basel on Dec. 4-5 for the annual Ministerial Council meeting to assess...
ASTANA – Twelve young football players from Astana travelled to Soria, Spain, from Nov. 1 – 10 to play in the first Spanish-Kazakh youth football tournament. The...
ASTANA – Astana doesn’t lack for snow or cold weather, but with a paucity of slopes, one would be forgiven for thinking skating or cross-country skiing the...
The ninth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage reviewed new strategies to implement its goals and report on the status of eight...
GAITHERSBURG, MD – The International Science and Technology Centre (ISTC), a multigovernment nonproliferation programme established in 1992, is moving its headquarters from Moscow to Astana’s Nazarbayev University...
ASTANA – The London-based European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting improving energy efficiency in Kazakhstan by facilitating foreign direct investment in the refurbishment of...
ASTANA – Publisher Marat Akmedjanov took his first steps in the industry with a magazine intended to draw tourists to his native Uzbekistan. Now he’s at the...
President Nursultan Nazarbayev has said that the fate of peoples who don’t honour their own histories will always be in doubt. Olzhas Suleimenov, prominent poet, social and...
“Seventy-seven percent of children pre-school education in Kazakhstan,” Minister Aslan Sarinzhipov said at a Nov. 28 extended collegium of the Ministry of Education and...
Kairat Abdrakhmanov and Carlos Agostinho Filomeno das Nieves, the permanent representatives of Kazakhstan and Sao Tome and Principe, respectively, to the United Nations, signed a joint communiqué...
On Nov. 25, Prime Minister Karim Massimov took part in a Senate meeting. During discussion of the law On the National Budget for 2015-2017, Massimov answered a...
First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Bakytzhan Sagintayev chaired a Nov. 27 regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Damu Entrepreneurship Development Fund. The meeting...
Kazakhstan’s cultural heritage includes a long line of nomadic traditions. For thousands of years, nomadic herders have survived in the extremely cold winters and scorching summers of...
The Atyrau Paralympic wheelchair volleyball team won bronze at a Dec. 1 international tournament in Germany and player-coach Bauyrzhan Takhauov was voted captain of the team. The...
INCHEBURUN STATION, IRAN – In a major development with implications for regional trade and global politics, the presidents of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran launched a railway line...
It is easy to understand why protecting the environment does not figure high on the agenda of many developing economies. When poverty casts such a dark shadow...
Almaty-born Kazakh racer Lyubov Andreyeva, who recently turned 18, is hopeful about next year after the Nov. 26 season finale in Sochi, Russia. In her debut year,...
Kazakhstan’s famous figure skater Denis Ten set a new personal record in the short programme at the Nov. 24 regular Grand Prix in France, gaining the best...
Some 43 countries in the world are landlocked: 15 in Africa, 14 in Europe, 12 in Asia and two in South America. This list contains all the...
In my many years of translation work, an important place is taken by the work of my long-time friend, the undeniably gifted writer Zholtai Zhumat. Over a...
The 25th session of the Energy Charter Conference kicked off in Astana on Nov. 27. During the event, authoritative representatives of the world’s energy elite discussed pressing...
ASTANA – Astana’s Technology Commercialisation Centre (TCC) announced its latest round of grant winners, which include projects Lead Expert Erik Azulay described as world class, at a...
On Dec. 2, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) celebrates its national day. In 1971, after unification, the United Arab Emirates managed to transform themselves from desert areas...
The fall in oil prices and the decisions made at the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is causing severe ripples throughout the world economy. So...
On this auspicious day, we would like to wish all of you (and ourselves) a happy fourth birthday to The Astana Times! The first issue of The...
Concerning the latest video: references to natives of Kazakhstanoperating in Syria and Iraq have been made before. Over the year and a half since the first videos...
