Constitutional reforms bill introduced to Parliament, passes first reading

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev introduced March 3 to a joint meeting of the chambers of the Parliament the bill “On introducing amendments and additions to...


Kazakh student opens social café as supportive workplace for mentally challenged youth

ASTANA – A young and aspiring Nazarbayev University student is set to open a social café paving the way out of isolation for people with mental health...


Flying blind with Air Astana

It was a nightmarish moment for us passengers on Air Astana flight KC0942 on the evening of Tuesday Feb. 21 when two minutes after take-off from Heathrow...


Young chef introduces molecular gastronomy to Astana

ASTANA – Kairat Amanbayev, also known as Kai Aman, is the 25-year-old chef and founder of Resto Studio – Modernist Cuisine, a trendy new place on the...


In Kazakhstan, 35 of 40 presidential powers to be redistributed under final draft proposal

ASTANA – Thirty-five of a proposed 40 presidential powers would be redistributed to other branches of government under the final draft of proposed constitutional amendments designed to...


Kazakh Government approves construction budget for National Pantheon, Kuryk port

ASTANA – The Kazakh government approved Feb. 21 a resolution to implement the state budget for 2017-2019. The budget includes the construction of the National Pantheon and...


Medical implants to be produced with support from East Kazakhstan region

ASTANA – Businesses supported by funding from the East Kazakhstan region are set to launch production of medical implants developed by local scientists, 24.kz reports. “The region’s...


FM confirms Kazakhstan’s human rights and disarmament priorities in Geneva

ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov outlined once again Kazakhstan’s priorities in human rights, democratisation and disarmament processes in a high-level segment session of the UN...


What Central Asia can offer as tourist destination

ASTANA – Throughout the centuries, Europe has been reigning supreme as the world’s most visited tourist destination. As of 2015, France topped the list of the most...


Institute of Diplomacy contributes to developing foreign service and promoting national interests

ASTANA – Innovative approaches have transformed foreign policy in recent years. Digital diplomacy is a modern and technological dimension of foreign policy, used as a new soft...


Samruk Kazyna calls on investors, international companies for cooperation

ASTANA – The Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund held an event Feb. 27 for nearly 300 representatives of the diplomatic corps, major international companies, banks and investors. Top...


Kazakh fashion designer offers custom-made tailoring in New Zealand

ASTANA – A 34-year-old Kazakh-born tailor is bringing fashion trends to the streets of Auckland. Asya Sadyrova has made clothing for beauty contest participants and offers custom-made...


Non-profit launches to assist, promote Kazakh-language journalists

ASTANA – A new non-profit organisation launched in January to help journalists working in Kazakh-language media improve their professional skills. More than 70 people attended the Feb....


Kazakh-French business ties strong at 25-year mark in relations

ASTANA – In the past two and a half decades, Kazakhstan and France, though separated by a great distance, have maintained friendly, cordial and cooperative relations. This has allowed the...


Kazakh finance minister pledges to cut red tape for business

ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Finance is planning to reduce inspections and ease the bureaucratic pressure related to doing business in the country. The information came...


Kazakhstan, Russia reaffirm nuclear energy development cooperation

ASTANA ­– Kazakhstan and Russia last October signed an updated memorandum of understanding to cooperate on nuclear energy projects during a meeting in Astana. The memorandum focuses...


Philanthropy indicator of society’s maturity, say corporate charity forum participants

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital hosted the first corporate charity forum Feb. 24-25 organised by Samruk Kazyna Trust social development foundation. The event served as a unique dialogue platform...


Kazakhstan finishes fourth in Asian Winter Games

SAPPORO – Kazakh athletes took fourth place in the team standings at the Asian Winter Games (also known as Asiad), held Feb. 19-26 in Japan. In total,...


Kazakh President, ATOM Project Hon. Ambassador nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and Honorary Ambassador of The ATOM Project Karipbek Kuyukov along with the international organisation Global Zero have been nominated for...


Nazarbayev, Putin note potential for expanding ties during Almaty meeting

ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed bilateral cooperation and international issues Feb.27 in Almaty. During the meeting, Nazarbayev stressed the close and...


Kazakh Deputy PM notes increased bilateral trade during meeting with Uzbek President

ASTANA – First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin met with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and participated in the 16th session of the joint intergovernmental commission...


Short film by Kazakh director to be shown at Cannes Short Film Corner

ASTANA – The “UltiO” short film directed by promising filmmaker Dias Azimzhanov has been accepted to the Cannes Short Film Corner, according to the Bolashak Association website....


Kazakhstan, Vietnam agree cargo transportation along key international route

ASTANA – The Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) national railway company and Vietnam Railways agreed Feb. 20 to cooperate in container transport along the Vietnam – China –...


At UNSC, Kazakh diplomats call for unimpeded food delivery to South Sudan

ASTANA – A Kazakh delegation to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) called for unimpeded access for humanitarian organisations to deliver food to South Sudan and offered...


Kazakhstan’s commitment to UN remains strong after 25 years of membership

Twenty-five years ago was a time of major change in the United Nations. The break-up of the Soviet Union saw applications from new countries charting their own...


Participants upbeat about EXPO 2017 preparation progress

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital brought together delegations from more than 100 countries Feb. 22-23 to touch base on the preparation progress for EXPO 2017, the international...


Pilot programme to teach Kazakh in Russian-language schools to launch in 2018

ASTANA – A pilot programme to teach the Kazakh language in Russian-language schools will launched in 2018, said Minister of Education and Science Yerlan Sagadiyev at a...


Constitutional reform: what can Kazakhstan learn from international experience?

President Nursultan Nazarbayev recently announced Kazakhstan will pursue constitutional reforms. The reforms will give more powers to the parliament and the government while the President will look...


Kazakh officer awarded UN medal for peacekeeping mission in Côte d’Ivoire

ASTANA – Kazakh Armed Forces Captain Assylkhan Amangaliuly recently received the United Nations Medal for impeccable and exemplary fulfilment of requirements for military observers for a peacekeeping...


New comedy film from Kazakh director tells simple story of difficult relationship

ASTANA – “Kelinka Tozhe Chelovek” (“Daughter-in-law is a Human, too”), a small budget comedy from Kazakh director Askar Uzabayev, was scheduled for a Feb. 23 release. The...