Institutionalizing Central Asian Regional Cooperation 

In early August, Central Asian presidents met in Awaza in Turkmenistan along the sidelines of a UN conference, in preparation for their seventh formal consultative meeting, which will take...


Kazakh Citizens Split on AI’s Role in Education, New Survey Shows

ASTANA – Artificial intelligence has quickly become a routine study companion in Kazakhstan, but its place in the classroom remains contentious, according to fresh data from the Institute of...


25 Years of SCO: Central Asian Bloc Evolves into Global Player 

ASTANA – The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) marked its 25th anniversary with its largest summit to date, signaling its evolution from a regional bloc focused on Central Asia to...


Kazakh Media Company Launches First National Streaming Platform 

ALMATY – Uni-Q Group, a local media company, has officially launched Unico Play, a new streaming service positioned as a national digital entertainment platform on Sept. 12.  Unico Play...


Switzerland’s House of Religions Highlights Path for Peace

ASTANA — Religious leaders have the power to calm conflicts swiftly and lay the groundwork for lasting peace when they choose to unite across communities and promote the peaceful...


This Weekend’s Picks: Almaty City Day, Astana’s Stage Lights 

ASTANA – Prepare for an unforgettable weekend filled with thrilling events and captivating experiences across the vibrant cities of Kazakhstan. From fascinating exhibitions to dynamic festivals and live concerts,...


10 Years, 30 Countries: Kazakhstan Names 2025 Foreign Media Award Recipients

ASTANA – Celebrating a decade of storytelling about Kazakhstan, the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the winners of its 10th-anniversary Kazakhstan Through the Eyes of Foreign Media...


Kazakhstan Rises to 34th in IMD World Talent Ranking 2025

ALMATY – The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) has released its World Talent Ranking 2025 on Sept. 9, where Kazakhstan has advanced to 34th place, moving up three...


Kazakhstan Football Federation Academy Achieves FIFA Talent Academy Status

ALMATY – The ceremony to mark the Kazakhstan Football Federation (KFF) Academy receiving the official status of a FIFA Talent Academy was held in Talgar, Almaty region, on  Sept....


News Digest: Foreign Media on Faith Diplomacy, Food Security, Green Education, and More

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights religion’s role in diplomacy, Kazakhstan’s emerging food diplomacy and...


Kazakhstan Restructures Digital Ministry 

ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a decree on Sept. 18 to transform the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry into the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence...


Tokayev Honors National Boxing Team After Historic World Championship Triumph

ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated the Kazakh national boxing team on Sept. 18, commending their performance at the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, where Kazakhstan ranked first among...


Turkic States Advance Regional Integration and Digital Connectivity at Bishkek Meeting

ALMATY – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov joined his counterparts from the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Bishkek on Sept. 18 to discuss boosting trade, modernizing the Trans-Caspian...


Tokayev to Visit New York for High-Level UN General Assembly

ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will pay a working visit to New York on Sept. 21–23.  While in New York, he will participate in the 80th session of the...


US Program Boosts English Proficiency for Economy Professionals Across Central Asia

ALMATY – The C5+ Opening Networks through English (C5+O.N.E.) program launched its fifth cohort on Sept. 17, bringing together more than 700 government, private sector, and NGO professionals from...


Kazakh Scientist Presents How Nuclear-Test Sensors Track Glacier Change 

VIENNA – As the shadow of nuclear testing hangs over the world, scientists from Kazakhstan reveal on-the-ground applications of nuclear test monitoring systems in glacier research at the Comprehensive...


Kazakhstan’s Digital Tenge Project Wins Award at Global CBDC Conference

ASTANA – The National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) has received the Pioneering CBDC Initiative Award at this year’s CB+DC Conference, which took place on Sept. 9-11 in Nassau, Bahamas....


Kazakh Flour Supplied to US Market

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has begun supplying flour to the United States, with the first 50 tons of wheat flour under the Eurasian Legacy brand shipped to New York. The...


Tokayev Highlights Role of Religious Leaders in Promoting Peace at Congress Closing

ASTANA – Peace is humanity’s greatest asset and a value shared by all peoples and religions, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the closing ceremony of the eighth Congress...


Congress in Kazakhstan Highlights Youth Voices in Global Peace

ASTANA – The second day of the Eighth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions on Sept. 18 featured a series of panel sessions addressing urgent global issues,...


Kazakh 12-Year-Old Scores First-Ever Drone Racing World Cup Prize

ASTANA – Twelve-year-old Timofey Muravyov from Karagandy became the first Kazakh citizen to win a prize at the Drone Racing World Cup in Istanbul. The competition brought together more...


Kazakhstan Establishes National Standards for Artificial Intelligence in Education

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has approved its first national framework for integrating artificial intelligence into education, setting standards for ethical use, data protection, and academic integrity across schools, colleges, and...


Kazakhstan Advances Major Investment Projects in Pharmaceuticals, Agro-Industry, and Food Processing

ASTANA – First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Roman Sklyar chaired a meeting of the Investment Headquarters on Sept. 17 to review the implementation of key investment initiatives in...


Bibisara Assaubayeva Wins Bronze at FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss in Samarkand

ASTANA – Twenty-one-year-old grandmaster Bibisara Assaubayeva has triumphantly completed the prestigious FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss in Samarkand, claiming third place and securing her place in the history of world...


Why Kyrgyz Republic’s Voice Matters in Afghan Affairs

The Afghan question plays a decisive role in the security and regional development of Central Asia. The states of the region increasingly regard Afghanistan as an inseparable part of...


IAEA to Support Kazakhstan at All Stages of Nuclear Power Plant Construction

ALMATY — The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reaffirmed its commitment to provide assistance for Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant construction during a Sept. 17 meeting on the...


Backstreet Boys Concert in Astana to Attract Over 12,000 Tourists

ALMATY — Astana Arena will host a historic event as the legendary pop group Backstreet Boys performs in Kazakhstan for the first time on Sept. 21. Their concert in...


KazMunayGas Resumes Oil Exports Through Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline

ALMATY— KazMunayGas (KMG) resumed oil exports through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline system with a shipment of 8,800 tons of Kashagan crude from the port of Aktau on Sept. 13,...


Religious Leaders Call for Dialogue, Solidarity at Congress in Astana 

ASTANA – The eighth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions opened Sept. 17 in Astana, drawing 100 delegations representing major world faiths, religious and civic organizations, and...


Tokayev Calls for Peace at Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions

ALMATY — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed the opening of the eighth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions on Sept. 16 in Astana, highlighting the growing global tensions...


Kazakh Oscar Entry Movie Premieres in US Theaters

ALMATY — The Kazakh film “Bauryna Salu” (Adoption), the country’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards, will premiere in the United States theaters...


Kazakhstan Ranks 81st in Latest Global Innovation Index

ASTANA – The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) released the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025 on Sept. 16, with Kazakhstan positioned at the 81st spot.   Published annually since 2007,...


Kazakhstan to Boost Agricultural Exports to Afghanistan 

ALMATY — Kazakhstan’s agricultural exports to Afghanistan are set to increase by more than $100 million following a series of negotiations between NC Food Contract Corporation JSC and Afghan...


Kazakhstan and US Sign Joint Statement on Nuclear Safety at IAEA Conference

ALMATY — Kazakhstan and the United States signed a joint statement on the sidelines of the 69th session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference on Sept....


Central Asia, EU Forge Hydrogen Path for Green Transition

ASTANA — Green hydrogen, renewable integration and tighter European Union-Central Asia cooperation are pivotal to a just energy transition, said energy and foreign policy leaders during the second Central...


Tokayev Calls for On-Time Harvest, Bigger Agricultural Role in Economy

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital will host the second AgriForum in November to discuss sectoral development and state support measures, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during a Sept. 16...


Kazakhstan’s National Museum Showcases 86 Unique Exhibits of World Religions

ASTANA – The National Museum of Kazakhstan has opened the exhibition Priceless Treasures of Religious Traditions of the World, featuring 86 exhibits such as sacred texts, icons, prayer rugs,...


Kazakhstan Reaffirms Support for Qatar at Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha

ASTANA — Kazakhstan expressed support for Qatar and its commitment to peaceful conflict resolution. Chairman of the Mazhilis Yerlan Koshanov represented the country at the extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit in...


Kazakhstan to Introduce Legal Framework for Digital Financial Assets, Including Stablecoins

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is set to regulate digital financial assets (DFAs) under a new banking law, introducing stablecoins, tokenized assets, and digital financial instruments as a distinct class in...


Caspian Sea is Shrinking, and Faster Than We May Think

ASTANA – The Caspian Sea, the world’s largest inland body of water, is shrinking. Scientists warn that water levels could fall by as much as 21 meters by 2100,...


Kazakhstan to Build Major Dry Port and Logistics Hub on Chinese Border 

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to construct a large-scale transport and logistics center, the Kolzhat Dry Port, on its border with China, LS.com reported on Sept. 15. The Almaty Region...


CICA Could Become Asia’s Collective Voice, Says Secretary General

ASTANA – As Asia moves from the periphery to the center of global affairs, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) holds the potential to...


Kazakh Government Approves Action Plan to Implement President Tokayev’s Address

ALMATY – The government approved the National Action Plan to implement President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state-of-the-nation address at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov on Sept. 15.  Bektenov...


Coursera Recognizes Kazakhstan’s Efforts to Modernize Higher Education System

ASTANA – Kazakhstan earned global recognition in the field of digital education as Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek received the prestigious Learning Hero Award at the...


FC Kairat Announces Ticket Sales for UEFA Champions League Home Matches

ALMATY – Almaty’s FC Kairat has unveiled the procedure and timeline for ticket sales ahead of its UEFA Champions League group stage home matches, reported the club’s press service...


Almaty to Host Denis Ten Memorial Figure Skating Tournament in October

ALMATY – Almaty will host the sixth Denis Ten Memorial Challenge, an international figure skating tournament of the ISU Challenger Series, at the Halyk Arena from Oct. 1 to...


Turkic Nations Consolidate Identity with Historical Monograph and Space Symbol

ALMATY – Scientists from Turkic countries have finalized the work plan for a landmark academic project, titled “History of Turkic States”, during the second working meeting held on Sept....


Vatican Extends Blessing to Kazakhstan’s Major Interfaith Congress

ALMATY – Pope Leo XIV will send a special message to participants, continuing a tradition of papal support for Kazakhstan’s flagship interfaith initiative at the eighth Congress of Leaders...


Kazakhstan Tops Medal Table at Historic World Boxing Championships in Liverpool

ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated Kazakhstan’s boxers on their outstanding performance at the 2025 World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, where the national team claimed first place in the...


Dialogue Must Outlast Today’s Crises, Says Soka Gakkai Leader

ASTANA — Interfaith dialogue remains essential for lasting peace, said Yoshiyuki Nagaoka, an international affairs executive director at Soka Gakkai, in an interview with The Astana Times. Ahead of...