Kyrgyz Republic Removed from EU Aviation Blacklist After 20 Years

ASTANA – The Kyrgyz Republic has been officially removed from the European Union’s list of air carriers banned from operating flights to EU member states. According to...


Kazakhstan, South Korea Deepen Economic Cooperation Ahead of Tokayev’s Seoul Visit

ASTANA — Kazakhstan and South Korea discussed expanding cooperation in trade, investment, energy, critical minerals, and technology during the 11th meeting of the Kazakh-Korean Joint Commission on...


IEA Oil Market Report Highlights Global Risks as Kazakhstan Seeks to Stabilize Production

ASTANA –  The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) latest monthly report warns that global oil markets are entering a period of sharp volatility, with demand expected to decline...


Kazakhstan Gains FMD-Free Status, Boosting Livestock Export Prospects

ASTANA — Kazakhstan has officially been recognized as free of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) across its livestock sector, becoming the only country in Central and Eastern Asia with...


Dimash Fans Worldwide Turn Admiration Into Charity and Environmental Action

ASTANA — Fans of Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen from around the world are continuing to launch charitable, environmental and cultural initiatives inspired by the artist’s work and...


Kazakhstan Joins OPEC+ Production Increase for July

ASTANA — Kazakhstan will continue increasing oil production under the latest OPEC+ agreement, according to the Kazakh Energy Ministry. The announcement follows a virtual meeting of seven...


Kazakhstan’s Oilseed Industry Quadruples Export Revenue Up To $1 Billion in Four Years

ASTANA — Export revenue from Kazakhstan’s oilseed-processing industry has quadrupled over the past four years, reaching $963 million, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik...


Cirque du Soleil’s OVO Brings Insect-Inspired Spectacle to Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Cirque du Soleil’s acclaimed production OVO captivates audiences in the Kazakh capital from June 4-7 at Barys Arena, delighting both adults and children with its...


Kazakh Tazy Places Fourth at World Dog Show 2026

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s national dog breed, the tazy, drew international attention at the World Dog Show 2026 in Bologna, Italy, where a young Kazakh tazy named Chelsea...


Investor Protection Committee Monitors $205 Billion in Projects as Kazakhstan Strengthens Investor Safeguards

ASTANA – The Investor Rights Protection Committee oversees more than 3,000 projects worth over 100 trillion tenge ($205.6 billion), with prosecutors assigned to help investors resolve disputes,...


Singing in Kazakh, Winning Hearts Worldwide

ASTANA – Once largely confined to domestic audiences, Kazakh-language music is increasingly finding listeners around the world. Driven by streaming platforms and social media, a new generation...


Why World is Falling in Love with Kazakh Honey

ASTANA – From the flowering meadows of the Altai Mountains to the vast southern steppes, beekeeping has long been woven into Kazakhstan’s agricultural heritage. Today, as global...


Kazakhstan Expands Excavations at UNESCO-Nominated Silk Road Site

ALMATY  — Archaeologists have begun a new excavation season at the medieval settlement of Zhankent in Kazakhstan’s Kyzylorda Region, continuing efforts to uncover the history of one...


Kazakhstan Begins Construction of First Container Ship to Boost Middle Corridor Capacity

ASTANA – Construction of Kazakhstan’s first specialized 780 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEUs) container ship has officially begun at the Baku Shipyard, a significant step in expanding the...


What’s On This First Summer Weekend: Music, Art and More

ASTANA –  As the summer begins, Astana and Almaty come alive with a vibrant lineup of cultural, musical, and entertainment events. From captivating concerts to engaging exhibitions,...


Kazakhstan Enacts Key Constitutional Laws to Advance Political Reforms

ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed on June 5 a package of constitutional laws to implement the provisions of the Constitution adopted on March 15....


Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva Wins Norway Chess 2026 Title

ASTANA – Kazakh chess player Bibisara Assaubayeva secured the Norway Chess Women 2026 title ahead of the final round after a strong showing at one of the...


Kazakh National Bank Lowers Base Rate to 17%

ASTANA – The Monetary Policy Committee of Kazakhstan’s National Bank decided on June 5 to set the base rate at 17% per year, with a ±1 percentage-point...


Air Astana Resumes Dubai Flights with Gradual Schedule Restoration

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s flagship airline, Air Astana, will gradually restore scheduled flights to Dubai from Almaty and Astana starting in June and July, following route adjustments caused...


Kazakhstan, Board of Peace Reaffirm Cooperation, Discuss Gaza Aid and Connectivity Projects

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Senior Advisor to the Board of Peace Aryeh Lightstone on June 4, reaffirming Kazakhstan’s commitment to deepening cooperation with the...


News Digest: Foreign Media on Middle Corridor Expansion, Cyprus Ties, and Hong Kong’s Central Asia Push

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s digest highlights the launch of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, expanding ties with...


Container Traffic on Middle Corridor More Than Doubles in May

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s national maritime shipping company Kazmortransflot reported a record monthly volume of container transportation along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the...


Kyrgyzstan Wins Historic UN Security Council Seat, Earns Kazakhstan’s Backing

ASTANA — Kyrgyzstan has secured a non-permanent seat on the United Nations (UN) Security Council for 2027-2028, marking the first time the country will serve on the...


Tokayev Links Patriotism and Reform Agenda at State Symbols Day Ceremony

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev used Kazakhstan’s State Symbols Day ceremony on June 4 to highlight the country’s development path ahead of the 35th anniversary of independence,...


Cyprus and Kazakhstan Seek to Turn Strategic Location Into Economic Gains

ASTANA — Cyprus is seeking to become a gateway to European markets for Kazakh companies, while Kazakhstan aims to leverage its role as a key Eurasian transit...


Cyprus Opens First Embassy in Central Asia in Astana

ASTANA — Cyprus officially opened its embassy in Astana on June 3, establishing its first diplomatic mission in Central Asia and signaling a new stage in relations...


Why June 4 Matters: The Story Behind Kazakhstan’s State Symbols

ASTANA — Every year on June 4, Kazakhstan celebrates the Day of State Symbols, honoring the flag, emblem and anthem that have come to embody the country’s...


Kazakhstan’s Exporters Race to Adapt to Europe’s Carbon Border Tax

ASTANA –  Kazakhstan’s aluminum, iron and steel sectors are expected to be the most affected by the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), according to Fabiana...


Kazakhstan and Cyprus to Deepen Economic and Investment Cooperation

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Cyprus agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation by expanding economic, investment, and sectoral ties following talks between Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Cypriot President...


OpenAI Highlights Strong AI Growth and Adoption in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has joined the group of countries with a high level of artificial intelligence adoption, according to analytical insights presented by OpenAI during a visit...