Astana sees rise in transport card use

ASTANA – The number of transport card users has almost doubled since the July 21 introduction of differentiated fares and the new enter-and-exit rules for city bus...


Kazakhstan invests in Mangistau region infrastructure to increase tourism

ASTANA – Just a few years ago, the Mangistau region could attract visitors only for its wilderness. Now, it is receiving significant investment to create infrastructure and...


Astana vocational schools introduce electronic admissions

ASTANA – Astana Education Administration Head Anuar Zhangozin announced during a recent press conference at the Central Communications Service that students are now able to submit documents...


Kazakh air taxi service shows country from unique angle

ASTANA – In paying closer attention to technology trends and, perhaps, the sky, capital and Almaty residents may have noticed air services operating at an increasing pace....


Let us recapture the fervour of the first antinuclear weapons activists

On Aug. 29, 1949 in Kazakhstan at the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site at 7 o’clock in the morning, an explosion thundered. This was the first test of...


“We Were The World”. Canadian MDs felt global bond in crowd gathered to protest U.S.S.R. weapon test

“Olzhas! Olzhas!” the crowd roared whenever their hero took the stage. A year ago, Olzhas Suleimenov, a 50-year-old poet, founded a protest movement in Kazakhstan to stop the...


Nearly 5.5 million hectares in Akmola region digitised for improved agricultural production

ASTANA – Introducing digital transformation, or precise farming, is one of the main development directions of the Akmola region’s agro-industrial complex. The region’s 2,707 land users have...


Kazakh breast cancer mortality rate declines, yet problem remains tangible

ASTANA – Kazakh oncologists discussed breast cancer mortality rates and why the country’s screening threshold was reduced to age 40 during an Aug. 15 press conference. The...


Digital solutions reduce Astana crime rate, state bodies and IT developers to cooperate

ASTANA – Sergek video surveillance has helped police authorities detect approximately 2,000 administrative violations in the first half of the year, resulting in fines of more than...


Turkestan – ancient city traversing rich history

ASTANA – Turkestan, an ancient city in southern Kazakhstan near the Syr Darya River, boasts more than 1,500 years of rich history and numerous cultural and sacred...


Traditional Kazakh clothes, accessories in vogue again

ASTANA – Local designers are helping Kazakh citizens look stylish and feel comfortable while wearing clothes with traditional elements. Kazakhs have typically paid a great deal of...


Aral Sea being revived, partially, as fishing recovers

ASTANA – The Aral Sea and its fishing industry, one of the biggest man-made ecological disasters, is recovering, reported express-k.kz. The sea, situated between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan,...


Scientists should go to farmers, not to officials, Kazakh vice minister says

The Kazakh Agriculture Ministry has adopted targeted farming, which proved itself in such countries as Australia and the United States and is applied in the European Union....


Astana’s new recreation zones offer leisure and novelty

ASTANA – Visitors young and old may now enjoy the comfortable and quirky surroundings of the newly-opened Park Chemodanov (Park of Suitcases) and Skver Ilyuzii (Square of...


Kazakh minister says industrial production growing five percent

ASTANA – Minister for Investments and Development Zhenis Kassymbek reviewed the nation’s industrial production at the Aug. 14 government meeting saying  industrial production has increased 5.1 percent...


Kazakhstan updates business development road map, improves conditions for entrepreneurs

ASTANA – The Kazakh government updated the country’s business development road map devised to ensure sustainable and balanced growth in regional entrepreneurship, support existing businesses and create...


Kazakh government to provide cities and villages with 5G Internet connection next year

ASTANA – Kazakh officials discussed the progress of projects to provide broadband Internet access and introduce 5G and equally high-quality data centres in both urban and rural...


Salben Comics brings Marvel Comics to Kazakhstan, publishes first Kazakh comic

ASTANA – Salben Comics, the Almaty-based publisher founded in December 2013, has brought Marvel comics to Kazakhstan. Known as the inspiration for movies and TV series adaptations,...


Kazakh singer NAsia brings passion and authenticity to jazz

ASTANA – Kazakh singer Naziya Alzhanova, better known to her listeners as NAsia, is making waves at home and abroad in jazz, funk, blues and soul. In...


Moskva Business Centre – unique multifunctional complex in heart of Astana

ASTANA – Moskva Business Centre, a multifunctional complex containing offices, conference halls, a shopping area, restaurants and sports clubs, is a landmark project symbolising friendship between Moscow...


Legendary boxer Roy Jones meets with Kazakh national team boxers

ASTANA – Legendary boxer Roy Jones, 1988 Olympic Games silver medalist and many times world champion, recently met with boxers from the national boxing team of Kazakhstan...


Historic Caspian Sea convention caps decades of negotiation

Followers of international politics will know the complex challenges of negotiating to resolve issues affecting several countries, where each side is understandably looking to protect its national...


Cooperation with EU is source of development for Kazakhstan

Strengthening Kazakhstan’s global authority goes hand in hand with the improvement of relations with the states forming part of the European Union. The programme, Path to Europe,...


Kazakhstan launches a multimodal transport hub on Caspian shores

AKTAU – President Nursultan Nazarbayev officially inaugurated the ferry complex of the Kuryk Port – a multimodal hub on the shore of Caspian Sea on Aug. 11....


Caspian Sea nations sign historic convention laying solid framework for use of resource-rich sea

AKTAU – After two decades of diplomatic efforts, the five Caspian Sea nations signed the convention on the water reservoir legal status that had been in the...


Kazakh tenge hits record low, as National Bank says slide due to geopolitical tensions, emerging markets volatility

ASTANA – The Kazakh tenge continued to lose its value against U.S. dollar as it hit its all-time low Aug. 13, valuing 363.15 per $1. That number...


National news in brief

The Denis Ten Public Foundation will be created in Almaty, according to Kazinform. The city administration also plans to open a figure skating academy and hold an...


External news in brief

Euronews NBC will air a segment of “Adventures” in September featuring Kazakhstan, reported inform.kz. “Adventures,” one of the channel’s most popular programmes with an audience of more...


Business News in Brief

Leroy Merlin, the largest French retailer selling home and interior products, building materials, and repair and garden products, opened its first supermarket in Kazakhstan in Almaty Aug....


Economic News in Brief

The demand for Kazakh cement is growing in Uzbekistan, 24.kz reports, with consumers especially interested in goods produced in Shymkent, Karaganda and Taraz. According to construction market...