Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev Thanks Kazakhstan for Support Following AZAL Plane Crash in Aktau

ASTANA – President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev thanked Kazakhstan for prompt search and rescue measures and emergency aid following the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane near...


ESCAP: Kazakhstan Tops Regional Investment Chart with $15.7 Bln in 2024

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has emerged as a top investment destination in North and Central Asia, attracting $15.7 billion in new projects, according to the United Nations Economic...


EDB Invests $240 Million to Expand Power Plant in Karagandy

ASTANA — The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and Karagandy Energotsentr signed a $240 million, 13-year loan agreement on Dec. 24 to finance the modernization and expansion of...


Kazakhstan’s 2024 Legislative Reforms Focus on Innovation, Investment, and Social Protection

ASTANA — In 2024, Kazakhstan embarked on a transformative path with significant legislative reforms to strengthen the national scientific system, boost investment, and enhance social protections, all...


Tokayev’s Spokesperson Outlines President’s Activities in 2024

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s spokesperson, Berik Uali, outlined the President’s major achievements in 2024 in an article published in the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper on Dec. 27....


Kazakhstan Marks 85 Years of Poetess Fariza Ongarsynova – Voice of Feminine Strength in Poetry

ASTANA – Dec. 25 marked the 85th anniversary of Kazakh poetess Fariza Ongarsynova, who had a vital presence in Kazakh poetry known for her deep exploration of...


Details of Aktau Plane Crash Announced

ASTANA – A briefing in Aktau on Dec. 26 led by Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev revealed new details about the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) Embraer-190 plane...


Eurasian Development Bank Joins Islamic Financial Services Board as Associate Member

ASTANA – The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has officially joined the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) as an Associate Member following the 45th Council Meeting held on...


News Digest: Foreign Media on Middle Corridor, Kazakhstan’s Tourism and More

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest covers the Middle Corridor, Kazakhstan’s tourism sector and...


Kazakhstan Commemorates 130 Years of Turar Ryskulov’s Legacy 

ASTANA – Kazakhstan marked the 130th anniversary of Turar Ryskulov, a prominent statesman, scholar and diplomat on Dec.26. Renowned for his unwavering advocacy for the unity of...


Kazakh Mazhilis Chair Recaps Year’s Work 

ASTANA — Since the beginning of the session, the lower house of Kazakhstan’s Parliament, Mazhilis, has considered 106 draft laws. Of these, 37 have been adopted, and...


Kazakhstan Named Most Peaceful Country in Eurasia in 2024 Global Peace Index

ASTANA — The 2024 Global Peace Index (GPI), produced by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), ranked Kazakhstan as the most peaceful country in Eurasia. The...


Unmissable Events to Ring in 2025 in Astana and Almaty 

ASTANA — As the New Year approaches, Astana and Almaty are brimming with festive events to ring in 2025. Kazakhstan’s official New Year holiday from Jan. 1...


New Terminal Opens at Shymkent International Airport

ASTANA – A new terminal opened at the Shymkent international airport on Dec. 25. The terminal will initially serve mainly local flights, with international flights anticipated to...


Kazakh PM Holds Government Meeting on AZAL Plane Crash

ASTANA – According to the Kazakh Emergency Ministry’s updated data, 38 bodies of the deceased were found and delivered to the forensic center, including six citizens of...


ADB Country Director Reflects on 30 Years of Partnership with Kazakhstan

ASTANA – In 2024, Kazakhstan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) celebrate 30 years of partnership. In a recent interview with The Astana Times, ADB Country Director...


Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Crash Leaves 38 Dead, 29 Survivors

ASTANA – An Azerbaijan Airlines plane flying from Baku to Grozny with 67 people on board crashed on Dec. 25 morning in Aktau, killing 38 people, including...


Kazakh Youth Drives Change Across Science, Art, Sports, and Humanitarian Efforts

ASTANA – The Kazakh youth is driving change in the country and represents it across different sectors regionally and globally. As the year draws to a close,...


Kazakhstan Honors Sporting Elite at Uzdik 2024 Awards

ASTANA — The Kazakh Ministry of Tourism and Sports hosted the annual Uzdik Award ceremony on Dec. 24, recognizing the achievements of the nation’s athletes and coaches...


Baku-Grozny Flight Crash Near Aktau Leaves 29 Hospitalized

ASTANA – A plane crash involving an Azerbaijan Airlines flight traveling from Baku to Grozny near Aktau on Dec. 25 left 29 people hospitalized, including two children....


Kazakh Startup Attracts $150,000 with AI Barista

ASTANA – Kazakh software engineer and entrepreneur Ismail Karankin has launched Oli Robotics, a startup focused on creating an AI-powered barista robot. The venture has attracted $150,000...


Kazakhstan Introduces Robot Dog to Enhance Mine Safety

ASTANA — The Astana Hub International Technopark of IT startups has presented a unique robotic complex — a robot dog — designed to improve safety in Kazakhstan’s...


President Tokayev Expresses Condolences to Azerbaijani President Over Plane Crash Tragedy

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed his deep sorrow upon learning of the plane crash involving Azerbaijan Airlines near Aktau city on Dec. 25, Akorda press service...


Kazakh Sculptor Crafts Monument of Pshon, Hero Dog of Kazakhstan Floods

ASTANA – Kazakh sculptor Azamat Kenzhegaliyev is crafting a monument to Pshon. This dog heroically helped during spring floods but was tragically shot in November by local...


Aktau Residents Donate Blood After Baku-Grozny Flight Crash

ASTANA – Aktau residents responded immediately to an urgent call for blood donations following a plane crash near the city on Dec. 25, demonstrating an outpouring of...


Romanian Mentor Praises Kazakh Students’ Enthusiasm and Skills During Petrochemical Traineeship

ASTANA – Traian Stănică, a Romanian mentor and production manager at Rompetrol Rafinare, has commended Kazakh students for their exceptional preparation and eagerness to learn during the...


Nazarbayev University IT Engineer Pioneers Microchip Development in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Nursultan Kabylkas, a Bolashak program graduate and an assistant professor at Nazarbayev University’s (NU) School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, is creating a team of...


BREAKING: Azerbaijan Airlines Flight Crashes near Aktau with 67 Aboard

ASTANA – An Azerbaijan Airlines flight traveling from Baku to Grozny crashed near Aktau on Dec. 25. The aircraft was carrying 67 people, including five crew members....


Japan’s Globe-Trotter Travel Guidebook’s Latest Edition Features Kazakhstan 

ASTANA – Japanese travel publication Globe-Trotter Travel Guidebook published detailed information about tourism and culture of Kazakhstan and Central Asian countries in its latest edition for 2025-2026....


Kazakhstan’s Exports to Uzbekistan Reach $2.5 Billion in 11 Months of 2024

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s exports to Uzbekistan reached $2.5 billion with $1.3 billion worth of imports in January-November 2024, according to the Uzbek Statistics Agency’s report, published on...