KZBlog

Tag archive for ‘Астана’

• Nur Media is On the Air

  Following up on the report that the leading party in Kazakhstan, Nur Otan might get a media outlet, it turns out that they have. Rauan Media Group includes Television channel Astana, RVS radio, NS radio NS, and the newspapers Turkestan, Izvestiya-Kazakhstan, Nur-Astana, Kiter and Aiken, all of them previously government-owned media outlets. It is now […]

  2/02/09 • (Comments Off on Nur Media is On the Air)

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  ALZHIR

  ALZHIR was the Akmola Labour Camp for Wives of Political Dissidents during Soviet times. Shockingly, not only “traitors to the motherland” but also their families were often arrested and sentenced to camps–-separate camps of course. Now on the site of this camp, just outside Astana, is a nice little museum and a memorial. The museum […]

  2/02/09 • (2)

• Call for Papers: Second Annual Economic Forum

  Just to let you know about a call for papers to be presented at the II Astana Economic Forum, Astana, March 11-12, 2009 You can read the full announcement at that link. Section areas to submit papers for are: 1. World economic crisis and its impact on economic security of countries 2. Budget management under […]

  12/17/08 • (Comments Off on Call for Papers: Second Annual Economic Forum)

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  Live Music in Astana

  I have to admit that one of my complaints about Kazakhstan has been the lack of live music. There are plenty of concerts of classical and folk music concerts but when you go to cafes, bars or restaurants, almost all of the music is a karaoke-style singer with pre-recorded, over synthesized music. And frankly the […]

  11/11/08 • (1)

• Astana May Be the Capital, but It’s Still a Small Town

  Even though the population of Astana is around 600 000, everyone seems to know everyone and news travels fast. For example: As I mentioned, I had a problem back home and had to leave fairly quickly. I work as a consultant/writer/translator for three different companies here. For two of them I have a permanent contract […]

  10/31/08 • (Comments Off on Astana May Be the Capital, but It’s Still a Small Town)

• No Hot Water for You

  As I’ve mentioned before, I get a fair number of emails from people asking me what it’s like to live here. People get job offers here or are coming to adopt a child and they want to know what to expect. Some of them have very low expectations or have concerns that would be more […]

  8/30/08 • (Comments Off on No Hot Water for You)

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  The Eclipse was a bust

  Here in Astana, the eclipse was only a partial one and not very impressive. My pinhole showed about 60% of the sun covered up at the time of maximum effect (around 5:06pm local time). It was definitely noticeably darker at that point too. But as this photo taken furtively over my shoulder demonstrates, the sun […]

  8/01/08 • (Comments Off on The Eclipse was a bust)

• Astana to be Renamed Nursultan?

  Among the amendments and laws discussed in Parliament this week [RU], the most interesting and entertaining was a proposal by member of Parliament Sat Tokpakbayev to rename the capital city to Nursultan in honor of the President, Nursultan Nazarbayev, and his role in not only running the nation but also building the city of Astana […]

  6/08/08 • (Comments Off on Astana to be Renamed Nursultan?)

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  Astana has a new flag

  Astana has a new flag and seal, designed by the President and approved by the Mashlikhat of Astana on the 6th of June. According to nomad.su, the old seal was appropriate for the old city, once the capital of the Virgin Lands agricultural project. The new symbol is more fitting …

  6/07/08 • (Comments Off on Astana has a new flag)

• Price Crisis Up Close and Personal

  I’ve been reading articles about how rising prices are affecting Kazakhstan. A lot of inflation statistics are cited along with comments from government officials. I thought people might be interested in how the financial crisis is affecting real people. Now my salary and my wife’s salary are significantly above the national average. I do know […]

  6/04/08 • (Comments Off on Price Crisis Up Close and Personal)

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