Construction of mudflow dams near Almaty is planned to be completed in 2023

An estimated 37 million children aged 13-15 years use tobacco globally, with the rate of e-cigarette use among adolescents exceeding that of adults in many countries, a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) today said, WAM reports.

This comes just ahead of World No Tobacco Day marked on 31st May.

The report, titled "Hooking the next generation",unveiled that 20 percent of 15-year-olds surveyed in the WHO European Region reported using e-cigarettes in the past 30 days.

The report highlighted how the tobacco and nicotine industry designs products, implements marketing campaigns and works to shape policy environments to help them addict the world’s youth.

Despite significant progress in reducing tobacco use, the emergence of e-cigarettes and other new tobacco and nicotine products present a grave threat to youth and tobacco control, the WHO report said, adding that "Studies demonstrate that e-cigarette use increases conventional cigarette use, particularly among non-smoking youth, by nearly three times."

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said that "These industries are actively targeting schools, children and young people with new products that are essentially a candy-flavoured trap."

Research in the United States of America found that more than 70 percent of youth e-cigarette users would quit if the products were only available in tobacco flavour, the report added.

 

The Fund of Presidential Initiatives Dara in cooperation with Karga Seven Pictures proceeded to create a new hybrid documentary TV series in English in six episodes dedicated to the life of Joshy Khan, the eldest son of Genghis Khan, Kazinform News Agency learnt from the Fund’s press service.

It will feature the stages in the development of the Golden Horde through the prism of the history of the life of Joshy Khan.

The TV series producer is Karga Seven Pictures creative director Emre Shakhin. The documentary production will begin this autumn in Kazakhstan and Turkiye.

Karga Seven Pictures made large-scale historic documentary TV series as the Rise of Empires: Ottoman and Watch Testament: The Story of Moses streamed on the Netflix Official Site that ranked among the top 10 TV series in more than 90 countries.

2024 marks the 800th anniversary since the establishment of the Joshy Ulus. The historic documentary project dated to the 800th anniversary features centuries-long roots of the country’s statehood.

 

Akan Akimzhanov, a 7th grade student of Astana-based School No 31, prevented a tragedy in one of residential buildings of the city, Kazinform News Agency reports citing the press service of the municipal mayor's office.

On Monday, May 20, Akan was playing in the yard when local children said to him that they had noticed a boy dangling from a fourth-floor balcony.

The teenager immediately ran into the building, went up to the fourth floor and rescued the five-year-old child.

Akan Akimzhanov grew up in a large family. He explained his action by saying he hopes "that his brothers and sisters will also get help from people when needed".

 

Flood control works are continuing in North Kazakhstan and Atyrau region. Disinfection works are underway in dried houses and household plots, Kazinform News Agency learnt from the Kazakh Emergencies Ministry.

277,360 cubic meters of water were pumped out from 29 homes and 22 household plots for the last 24 hours in Zarechnyi village and Podgora district of Petropavlovsk.

46,739 cubic meters of meltwater were pumped away in Kulsary, Atyrau region, for the past 24 hours. 12,550 sandbags and 380 tons of inert material were laid in proper places to reduce flood damage. The water level in the River Zhaiyk rises exceeding the critical point. Shore protection works continue with 24-hour vigil maintained in the city of Atyrau and Makhambet district. 1,750 sandbags and 215 tons of inert materials were placed in Kuilys and Zhaisanbai villages in Atyrau region.

61,155 flood-affected people returned to their homes while 5,443 are staying at temporary shelters. 21 million cubic meters of meltwater were pumped away from 11,317 homes and 3,573 household plots countrywide. Over 7.9 million bags full of sand and 1.5 million tons of inert materials were laid to prevent and reduce flooding impacts.

5,797 people, 938 pieces of equipment, 344 motor pumps, 66 floating crafts, and six aircraft were deployed in flood relief efforts.

 

61,151 people have returned their homes in flood-hit regions of Kazakhstan. 5,365 people are staying in temporary evacuation shelters. Approximately 20.5 million cubic meters of water have been pumped out from 11,264 residential buildings and 3,539 household territories, with 7.8 million sandbags and 1.5 million tons of inert materials used, Kazinform News Agency reports.

Water is being pumped out from 14 residential buildings in Kulsary town of Atyrau region. 291,754 cubic meters of water have been pumped out within a day. 33,400 sandbags and 870 tons of inert materials have been used, the Ministry of Emergencies said.

Zhaiyk river water level is being monitored constantly. Bank protection works have been completed in Kurmangazy district. A rock-fill dam is being built around Taldykol village in Makhambet district.

In the past 15 days, water has been pumped out from 3,401 residential buildings and 667 household territories in the North Kazakhstan region. Meltwater pump-out works have been finished in Kyzylzhar district.

Bank protection works are ongoing in Kuilys and Zhaissanbay villages of Irgiz district in Aktobe region, with 2,450 sandbags and 280 tons of inert materials laid.

Flood-relief efforts involve 7,062 people, 983 vehicles, 352 water pumps, 66 boats and six aircraft.

 

The construction of three terminals at the airports of Almaty, Shymkent and Kyzylorda will be completed this year, Kazinform News Agency quotes Minister of Tourism and Sport Yermek Marzhikpayev as saying at the Government’s weekly meeting today.

He said the construction of three terminals at the airports of Almaty, Shymkent and Kyzylorda will be completed this year.

According to him, the development of investment potential in tourism is in spotlight of the Ministry.

 

The trial of ex-economy minister Kuandyk Bishimbayev ended today, May 13. He was convicted guilty of torture and murder of his wife Saltanat Nukenova and sentenced to 24 years in prison. Bakhytzhan Baizhanov, was sentenced to 4 years in prison, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports from the courtroom.

Kuandyk Bishimbayev will serve his sentence in a maximum security institution. Bishimbayev was charged under clause 1, part 2, Art. 110 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (torture) and paragraph 5 of Part 2 of Art. 99 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (murder).

The second defendant, Bakhytzhan Baizhanov, was found guilty of concealing a crime. He will serve his 4-year sentence in a medium security colony. The sanction of Article 110, Part 2, Clause 1 of the Criminal Code provides for imprisonment for a term of 4 to 7 years. He disagreed with this decision implying that an innocent man was sentenced to "For what?" as Baizhanov asked the judge.

Court took into account the presence of minor children as mitigating circumstances against defendants Bishimbayev and Baizhanov. Also, the court recognized a dangerous recidivism of crimes, as well as the commission of a criminal offense while intoxicated, as a circumstance aggravating Bishimbayev’s criminal liability and punishment. Kazinform News Agency reminds that his first arrest was in 2017, and then a conviction for bribery on a particularly large scale: $2 million. He was pardoned by the first president, his sentence was reduced from 10 to 4 years. Bishimbayev’s second conviction, presented today, makes him a dangerous recidivist.

Judge Aizhan Kulbayeva came to a resolution by the court with the participation of a jury. Among the asked questions were: Has it been proven that, under the circumstances described in the first question, the victim Nukenova was consciously and intentionally caused death by inflicting targeted numerous blows to the head? Has it been proven that the defendant Bishimbayev committed this act? Is the defendant Bishimbayev guilty of committing this act?

The guilt of the defendants was proven in full in court. The jury returned their verdict. The issue of the amount of punishment was also decided by the jury and the judge by open voting, by a majority vote. The jury also decided on the sentence for the second defendant.

Aitbek Amangeldi, Saltanat Nukenova’s brother, agreed with the sentencing, stating that, "This was one of the options in which we waited for this term. In principle, we will stop at this point. It's enough. In 24 years he will already be 68 years old. It's practically lifelong." As the verdict was announced he, Saltanat’s family and lawyers couldn’t hide their emotions, tearfully celebrating the decision and thanking the jury afterwards.

Bishimbayev will have an opportunity for an early release after 16 years of his sentence said Alma Yessymova, judge-coordinator for media relations: "For a particularly serious crime, for which Bishimbayev is now convicted, the period when he has the right to file such a petition is after 2/3 of the punishment, this is somewhere in 2039-2040." However, in order for this to happen an agreement from the victim’s side is needed as confirmed by prosecutor Aizhan Aimaganova.

The court’s verdict has not yet entered into legal force.

 

54,755 people have returned their homes in flood-hit regions, according to the Ministry of Emergencies, Kazinform News Agency reports.

5,291 people including 2,239 children are staying in evacuation centers. Water has been pumped out from 11,205 residential buildings and 3,516 household territories. 7.8 million tons of sandbags and 1.5 million tons of inert materials have been used.

Meanwhile, the situation in western regions remains tense. The peak of flooding in Atyrau is expected within 4 or 5 days. Vice Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev inspected flood relief efforts and operation of two channels in Atyrau.

More than 300 people are pumping out water in Inderbor village in Atyrau region, with a dam being built there. Electricity was partially turned off in the village to ensure safety of flood relief efforts.

Water level on the Zhaiyk River has exceeded the danger point in Inderbor village.