Major international table tennis tournament held in Astana

ASTANA –  The final matches of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour Grand Finals took place in the Kazakh capital Dec. 14-17. Ping-pong lovers watched...


First Kazakh sports food producer seeks quality, promotes healthy lifestyle

ASTANA – Demand for sports nutrition is rising in Kazakhstan, as people are becoming eager to stay fit and be more involved in sports. Eldar Beldeubayev, Yerzhan...


Halyk Bank board of directors approves merger with Qazkom

ASTANA – The Halyk Bank board of directors has approved a merger with Kazkommertsbank (Qazkom). The agreement will be finalised after passing all necessary procedures, including appropriate...


Kazakh government tests GPS tracking of state-owned vehicles

ASTANA – The Information and Registration Centre is testing a system that would use GPS to track government vehicles, Inform.kz reports. The project will include the use...


Latest Astana Process Syria talks result in documents on confidence-building measures

ASTANA – The Dec. 22 8th rounds of Astana Process talks in the Kazakh capital to help de-escalate the conflict in Syria resulted in the adoption of...


Barys loses to Dynamo Moscow 3:5 in rollercoaster game

ASTANA – In an away match on Dec. 21, Barys lost to Dynamo Moscow 3:5, but managed to at least shred the nerves of the home team...


Student literacy in Kazakhstan above international average

ASTANA – The International Association for the Evaluation and Educational Achievement of students (IEA) announced the results of its 2016 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)....


World Bank names conference hall in Washington after bank’s first female Kazakh employee

ASTANA – The World Bank recently named a conference hall in its Washington offices after the first Kazakh woman hired by the bank. The conference hall was...


More than 500,000 Kazakh residents are on travel ban list due to unpaid debts

ASTANA – More than 500,000 Kazakh residents cannot travel overseas because of unpaid debts. As of December 13, 690,529 temporary restrictions have been imposed on travel outside...


President Nazarbayev’s new book presented in advance of Independence Day

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s book “The Era of Independence” was presented in the capital Dec. 15 on the eve of the country’s Independence Day. The...


Kazakh TV starts broadcasting in new format

ASTANA – Kazakh TV became the first channel in the country and the Central Asian region Nov. 16 to switch to multi-channel broadcasting. Network director Andrei Tarakov...


Kazakh President congratulates nation, awards outstanding citizens on Independence Day

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev presented awards to outstanding citizens and praised the nation’s accomplishments during the ceremony marking Kazakhstan’s Independence Day, the Akorda press service...


413,000 people find jobs in 2017 through national employment programme

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national Employment 2020 Programme helped 413,000 citizens get a job over the last 12 months. Of those, 279,000 were permanently employed, Kazakh Minister of...


Kazakh Prime Minister urges government officials to improve state services

ASTANA – State bodies should change their approach servicing the public, Kazakh Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev said Dec. 20 during a weekly government meeting. “Eighty-five percent of...


All Kazakh regional centres to be covered with 4G by end of 2017

ASTANA – Deputy Chairman of the State Control Committee in the field of Communications, Informatisation and Mass Media of Kazakhstan Mikhail Komissarov recently announced Kazakhstan hopes to...


Bank Islam issues bank cards corresponding with Sharia law

ASTANA – Bank Islam recently presented its first cards conforming to the principles and norms of the Sharia law, to the Kazakhstan retail market. The Islamic card...


Kazakhstan increases storage capacity at Khorgos – Eastern Gate

ASTANA – The Kazakh government recently began construction of state-of-the-art storage facilities at the Khorgos – Eastern Gate special economic zone. The facilities are expected to be...


KABC, AIFC to cooperate on green finance, blockchain technology and crowdfunding

ASTANA – The Kazakhstan Association of Blockchain and Cryptocurrency (KABC) and Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) signed Dec. 11 a memorandum of cooperation covering fintech, green finance,...


Young developers create energy saving industrial solutions

ASTANA – Almaty-based Sheberkhana is the company behind ecoSocket, the technology that helps to conserve energy and save money by controlling power usage. The start-up was among...


Astana cycling team presents line-up for new season

ASTANA – The Astana professional cycling team members and managers presented its new line-up Dec. 8 in the capital. The team is part of the Astana Presidential...


1.2 million tonnes of cargo to be transported through Trans-Caspian route by year’s end

ASTANA – Rather than the initial plan of 700,000 tonnes of cargo, approximately 1.2 million tonnes will be transported through the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) by...


S&P gives Tengri Bank B+ rating

ASTANA – On Dec. 13 the international rating agency S&P Global Ratings confirmed the long-term credit rating of Tengri Bank at the level of B+. That rating reflects...


Almaty independent theatre raises socially sensitive issues in Astana performance

ASTANA – The Almaty-based independent theatre Artishock travelled to Astana Dec. 12 to present its hit play “Uyat,” (“Shame” in Kazakh), which was warmly welcomed in Almaty...


Challenging year should strengthen resolve to do better in 2018

As we enter the final few days of the year, turbulence seems the best way to sum up the last 12 months internationally. As this newspaper has...


Kazakh MFA launches app to assist citizens travelling abroad

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched Dec. 14 a new mobile app that will help Kazakh citizens find resources, understand local cultures and travel...


Kazakh President meets with nation’s new Supreme Mufti

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev recently congratulated Serikbay kazhy Oraz on his election as the nation’s Supreme Mufti, the highest official of the Spiritual Administration of...


Nazarbayev reshuffles heads of law enforcement structures

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced a major reshuffle Dec. 11 in the nation’s law enforcement structure, reported akorda.kz. Nazarbayev proposed appointing former Supreme Court Chairperson...


Three ice towns built in Astana for winter amusement

ASTANA – Three ice towns were built in the capital for New Year’s and opened Dec. 18, said the city’s department of culture, archives and documentation. The...


Altai Alps ski resort welcomes visitors to enjoy winter activities, improve skills

ASTANA – With its gorgeous mountain views and large variety of slopes for outdoor enthusiasts, a tour of the East Kazakhstan region is the perfect winter trip...


EP approves EU-Kazakhstan enhanced partnership agreement

ASTANA – The overwhelming majority of European Parliament (EP) members approved Dec. 12 the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) between Kazakhstan and the European Union (EU)...