Astana Symposium Examines Kazakhstan’s New Civil Service Model

  ASTANA – The Kazakh Agency on Civil Service Affairs and Anti-Corruption with the support of the Regional Hub of Civil Service organised a March 13 symposium...


Six Presidential Hopefuls Pass Language Exam, Move to Collecting Signatures

ASTANA ­– Candidate nominations for the early Kazakh presidential election was completed March 15, reported the country’s Central Election Commission (CEC). The early election, initiated by the Council...


Combat Sports Confederation to Intensify Efforts for 2016 Olympics

Confederation of Combat Sports and Powerlifting Chairman Timur Kulibayev directed members of the confederation during a March 12 confederation meeting to intensify their preparations for the 2016...


Parliament Develops Plan to Improve Cultural Sphere

The Kazakh Parliament is developing a new working concept on cultural policy, according to a recent announcement by Akhan Bizhanov, member of the Mazhilis Committee for Social...


Int’l, Domestic Oil and Gas Experts Discuss Exploration in Kazakhstan at Astana Forum

ASTANA – The first international forum on oil and gas exploration titled, “Kazakhstan Geology Forum: Oil & Gas in Focus,” took place in Astana’s Rixos Hotel on...


Almaty Makes Multiple Upgrades to City’s Public Transportation System

Almaty city public transport, ambulance and emergency, as well as engineering vehicles will get special traffic lanes by 2017, reported TV channel Almaty. According to the channel’s...


Japan Spring Arts Festival Offers Astana, Almaty a Glimpse of Japanese Culture

ASTANA – The Degdar Humanitarian Fund supported by the Japanese embassy in Kazakhstan made a musical gift to Astana within the bounds of the Japan Spring International...


Historical Connections, Shared Challenges Bind Kazakhstan, Israel, Says Visiting Diplomat

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Israel are united by some common roots and common challenges, Deputy Director General of Israel’s Foreign Ministry Zvi Rav-Ner said during his March...


Culinary Arts in Kazakhstan Heating Up as Service Sector Grows

ASTANA – As Kazakhstan develops economically and socially, its culture of hospitality is slowly shifting from the domestic realm to the professional, and while cooking professionals say...


More than Two Dozen Candidates Have Sought a Chance in Early Presidential Election

ASTANA – Whether self-nominated or named by political parties or organisations, more than 20 candidates have thrown their hats into the Kazakh presidential election ring, according to statements...


Lack of Funds Causes Delay in Kazakh Oil Refineries Modernisation

ASTANA – KazMunayGas recently announced that the modernisation of its oil refineries will be prolonged due to lack of funds. In spite of the ban on Russian...


Medical, Social Innovations Improve Quality of Life in Mukur Village

“Before, we could only dream of such luxuries. We thought that these kind of centres were privileges only enjoyed by city dwellers, but now we have a...


Kazakh Armed Forces Hold Training Alert

ASTANA – As a way of reinforcing coordination among services, military unit No. 50185 in Karaganda, the air assault brigade in the Almaty region and aircraft pilots...


Incumbent President Nazarbayev Accepts Party Nomination, Presents Policy Priorities

ASTANA – Incumbent Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev on March 11 accepted the Nur Otan party’s nomination to be the party’s candidate in the April 26 early presidential...


Nur Otan Party Nominates Nazarbayev for Presidential Election

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s ruling Nur Otan party nominated President Nursultan Nazarbayev as its candidate for the early presidential election at the party’s congress in Astana on March 11....


Classic Rock Rocks Kazakh Fans

ASTANA – Although Kazakh rock groups aren’t extremely successful in the country and virtually unknown abroad, American and Russian rock music is popular in some regions of...


Estonia Considering Shipping Goods Between Europe and China via Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Estonia is the latest country to publicly mull using Kazakhstan’s transit infrastructure to ship goods between China and Europe. “We’re considering the shipment of merchandise...


Afghanistan Should Not Be Left Alone

Conflict and suffering has again sadly being dominating international headlines. The Middle East is engulfed in a struggle for decency against the so-called Islamic State. The rise...


Ambassadors Club in Astana Opens New Season

ASTANA – After a long hiatus, a club meant to bring together on a regular basis international chiefs of missions is reviving its activities in the newly...


Air Astana Introduces Self Check-In Terminals in Kazakh Airports

ASTANA – Check-In for Air Astana passengers just got a little easier. Kazakhstan’s flagship air carrier Air Astana recently introduced Kazakhstan’s first passenger self check-in kiosks for...


Belarus, Kazakhstan Work Together in Volatile Economic Times

ASTANA – In his interview with The Astana Times, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Kazakhstan Anatoly Nichkassov underlined the importance of growing economic relations between...


Trumpeter’s Journey Takes him From Wales to Astana Opera

ASTANA – Astana has been home to a globetrotting musician for the past two years, and Astana Opera for one. Originally from northwest Wales, Ross Clarke came...


EXPO 2017 Promoted in Germany, Norway and Netherlands

ASTANA – From March 4 to 9, a Kazakh delegation headed by EXPO 2017 Commissioner and First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Rapil Zhoshybayev visited Germany to...


We Are All the APK, Jewish Cultural Centre Founder Says

Alexander Baron was behind the creation of the ethnic cultural centres in Kazakhstan, so he can rightfully say that the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan (APK)...


Kazakh Senate Chairman Visits New York, Invites UN Secretary-General to Astana Int’l Religious Congress

ASTANA – Kazakh Senate Chairman Kassym-Jomart Tokayev completed his official visit to New York March 4, which was devoted to the upcoming Fifth Congress of Leaders of...


Kazakhstan Beats Italy, Advances to Davis Cup Quarter Finals

ASTANA – The Kazakhstan Davis Cup team beat Italy 3:2 in team competition on March 6-8 at Astana’s National Tennis Centre to advance to the Davis Cup...


Break of Reality Rock Like They Mean it

ASTANA – The spring has started with a fresh look at classical music and rock for many music lovers, as the American cello rock band Break of...


Demand for Public Housing Increasing in Kazakhstan

Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Bakytzhan Sagintayev reported recently that the number of Kazakhs seeking public housing has increased. “In Kazakhstan, more than 300,000 people are standing...


Aisha Bibi Mausoleum Construction Techniques Remain a Mystery to Researchers

“Autumn … Clouds … The Earth is beautiful.” For almost 1,000 years this line in Arabic alphabet Kufic script has decorated the patterned column of the famous...


Astana-Seoul Flights to Be Available by Summer

ASTANA – Flights from Astana to Seoul will be available this summer, according to a March 4 report from the press service of the Ministry of Investment...