Kazakhstan Was Launchpad for First Human in Space, What Comes Next?

By Aida Haidar  in Editor’s Picks,Opinions on 13 April 2026

ASTANA – When Yuri Gagarin lifted off on April 12, 1961, from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan became the starting point of the space age — though not yet a space power in its own right. The date would later be marked as Cosmonautics Day, anchoring the country’s place in global space …

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Kazakhstan’s Top 10 Export Partners Account for Nearly 80% of Trade in 2025

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From Minerals to Manufacturing: Kazakhstan’s Rare Earth Push

By Nagima Abuova in Business,Editor’s Picks on 13 April 2026

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By Ayana Birbayeva  in International on 13 April 2026

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Editor's Picks

Kazakhstan Was Launchpad for First Human in Space, What Comes Next?

BY Aida Haidar 

ASTANA – When Yuri Gagarin lifted off on April 12, 1961, from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan became the starting point of...

From Minerals to Manufacturing: Kazakhstan’s Rare Earth Push

BY Nagima Abuova

ASTANA — Global rare earth production has nearly quadrupled to 379,900 tons over the past two decades, driven by demand...

Kazakhstan’s Top 10 Export Partners Account for Nearly 80% of Trade in 2025

BY Ayana Birbayeva 

ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s top 10 export partners accounted for 79% of the country’s total exports in 2025, underscoring the continued...

Kazakh Breakers Turn Small Local Scene into Global Presence

BY Leila Samarbayeva

ASTANA — Breaking, also widely known as breakdance, made its Olympic debut at the 2024 Summer Olympics, bringing global attention...

Kazakhstan to Receive Four Amur Tigers from Russia in Landmark Reintroduction Effort

BY Assel Satubaldina

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is making another effort to reintroduce Turan tigers into the wild, with four Amur tigers expected to...

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BY Aida Haidar

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BY

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s digest highlights strengthening ties...

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Editor's Picks

Kazakhstan Was Launchpad for First Human in Space, What Comes Next?

BY Aida Haidar 

ASTANA – When Yuri Gagarin lifted off on April 12, 1961, from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan became the starting point of...

From Minerals to Manufacturing: Kazakhstan’s Rare Earth Push

BY Nagima Abuova

ASTANA — Global rare earth production has nearly quadrupled to 379,900 tons over the past two decades, driven by demand...

Kazakhstan’s Top 10 Export Partners Account for Nearly 80% of Trade in 2025

BY Ayana Birbayeva 

ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s top 10 export partners accounted for 79% of the country’s total exports in 2025, underscoring the continued...

Kazakh Breakers Turn Small Local Scene into Global Presence

BY Leila Samarbayeva

ASTANA — Breaking, also widely known as breakdance, made its Olympic debut at the 2024 Summer Olympics, bringing global attention...

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Opinions

Kazakhstan Was Launchpad for First Human in Space, What Comes Next?

BY Aida Haidar 

ASTANA – When Yuri Gagarin lifted off on April 12, 1961, from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan became the starting point of...

My Summer Memories From Peak Komsomolsky

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This summer I was in the mountains of the Zailiysky Alatau on a multi-day trek to Komsomolsky Peak. The air...

Work Forward: AI for Everyone

BY Aigerim Omirzhankyzy

I walk into the office and think about my daily meetings, emails, and deadlines. All familiar. But something new makes...

The Next Investment Megatrend

BY Evgeny Vinokurov 

The world associates investment booms with speculative bubbles. This is often true. Not to forget, however, that these waves are...

When Strait Shakes Region: How Western Asia Crisis is Rippling Across Asia-Pacific Region

BY Hamza Ali Malik,  Rupa Chanda,  Weimin Ren

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Opinions

Kazakhstan Was Launchpad for First Human in Space, What Comes Next?

BY Aida Haidar 

ASTANA – When Yuri Gagarin lifted off on April 12, 1961, from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan became the starting point of...

My Summer Memories From Peak Komsomolsky

BY Aizhan Arshabayeva

This summer I was in the mountains of the Zailiysky Alatau on a multi-day trek to Komsomolsky Peak. The air...

Work Forward: AI for Everyone

BY Aigerim Omirzhankyzy

I walk into the office and think about my daily meetings, emails, and deadlines. All familiar. But something new makes...

The Next Investment Megatrend

BY Evgeny Vinokurov 

The world associates investment booms with speculative bubbles. This is often true. Not to forget, however, that these waves are...

More stories

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