- Friday, 13 February, 2026
- Almaty 19 °F / -7 °C
- Astana -9 °F / -23 °C
ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined Kazakhstan’s strategic vision for expanding political, economic, and technological cooperation during the first Central Asia–Japan Summit in Tokyo on Dec. 20,...
ASTANA — In eastern Kazakhstan, 15-year-old Aizere Markskyzy is continuing a centuries-old tradition of falconry, working with golden eagles and Kazakh tazy dogs as part of her...
ASTANA – The cost of a standard festive grocery basket in Kazakhstan will amount to roughly 70,000 tenge (US$136) by the end of 2025. This is an...
ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered a landmark lecture at the United Nations University (UNU) in Tokyo on Dec. 19, becoming the first head of state from...
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s national oil and gas company KazMunayGas (KMG) and the Croatian Hydrocarbon Agency (CHA) agreed to strengthen cooperation in geological exploration. This was announced during...
ALMATY — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official trip to Japan continued with a series of meetings with senior executives of leading Japanese corporations, resulting in new momentum for...
ASTANA — Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), a Luxembourg-headquartered global metals and mining company, increased its investments in Kazakhstan to nearly $1 billion, according to the company. The...
ALMATY – The Astana Times has selected key articles from international media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest features Kazakhstan’s push into next-generation air mobility...
ASTANA – The Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) marked IOFS Day and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Food Security Day with a high-level roundtable on...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan and Japan elevated their cooperation in digital innovation, smart city development, and high-tech investment during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to on Dec. 18–19,...
Kazakhstan has been strengthening state–society consultation over the past decade through a broad range of institutional and digital mechanisms. Efforts to enhance participatory governance include the establishment...
ALMATY — Analysts at the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) expect Kazakhstan’s economy to maintain steady and resilient growth of nearly 5.5% in 2026, while Central Asia as...
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Dec. 18 at the Prime Minister’s Office to discuss prospects for bilateral cooperation, reported...
ALMATY — Over the past four years, the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has solidified its position as the regional leader in non-sovereign financing, with $8.8 billion in...
ASTANA — As the holiday season approaches, residents of Astana and Almaty can enjoy a festive weekend full of concerts, children’s shows, theatrical premieres, and winter-themed activities....
ASTANA – Tajikistan’s population increased by 26% over the past decade, reaching 10.7 million people, said Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in his annual address to parliament on...
ASTANA – The Kazakh capital will light more than 40 New Year’s trees simultaneously across six districts on Dec. 19 as part of citywide celebrations held under...
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Emperor Naruhito of Japan on Dec. 18 during his first official visit to the country, reported the Akorda press service....
ASTANA — From venture capital and green startups to critical minerals, education, and cultural diplomacy, the United Kingdom (UK) is recalibrating its engagement with Kazakhstan. In an...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s FC Kairat has been recognized as one of the 500 best football clubs in the world, according to the global ranking of the International...
ALMATY — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has outlined a comprehensive set of priorities aimed at strengthening Kazakhstan’s energy sector, emphasizing large-scale infrastructure projects, energy independence, environmental modernization, and...
ALMATY – Tajikistan has entered a new stage of stability and regional confidence, President Emomali Rahmon said in his annual address to the parliament, emphasizing that 2025...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s grain exporters are encouraged to begin shipping new-season wheat before the end of 2025 to qualify for transport reimbursement payments scheduled for early 2026....
ALMATY — Kazakhstan continues to broaden its international flight network, as the Ministry of Transport announced the launch of new air routes to Thailand and Georgia, alongside...
ALMATY — Capital investments in Kazakhstan increased by 13.3% year-on-year to reach 18.5 trillion tenge (approximately US$40.7 billion) in January–November 2025 period, driven primarily by private-sector activity,...
Kazakhstan, the Central Asian giant, is slowly but surely establishing itself as a key player on the global economic scene. Traditionally considered a former Soviet republic, Kazakhstan...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan became one of TikTok’s standout phenomena in 2025, inspiring creators from Indonesia, South Korea, Mexico, the United States and beyond. Users worldwide launched a...
Over the years of independence, Kazakhstan has undergone a profound transformation in nature conservation — from restoring populations of rare species to significantly expanding its network of...
ALMATY – Taraz will host a new high-tech plant for smart water management and irrigation systems, established under a cooperation agreement between the Kazakh Ministry of Water...
Editor’s Note: This interview features insights from Joep Konings, Dean of the Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Business and interim Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, whose work...
ALMATY – Minister of Energy Yerlan Akkenzhenov outlined Kazakhstan’s major achievements in the energy sector in 2025 and detailed upcoming reforms across oil and gas, electricity generation,...
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated the people of Kazakhstan on Independence Day on Dec. 16, emphasizing that the holiday reflects the nation’s voluntary and definitive choice...
Kazakhstan turns 34 this December. Not a milestone that demands fireworks. For a country, this is still a restless, sometimes awkward age: old enough to carry scars,...
ALMATY – The Kazakhstan Agency of International Development (KazAID) marks its fifth anniversary, underscoring the country’s evolution from a recipient of foreign aid to an emerging donor...
ALMATY – The event marking the tenth anniversary of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) between Kazakhstan and the European Union was hosted on Dec. 12...
ALMATY – Almaty’s FC Kairat’s goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov has reached a new milestone in his breakout season, taking the number one spot in the UEFA Champions League...
ALMATY – Budapest will host a landmark musical event on April 18, 2026 at MVM Dome as Dimash Qudaibergen, Placido Domingo, and Hauser, will share a stage...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s national oil transporter KazTransOil, a subsidiary of national company KazMunayGas, announced an expansion of export routes with increased supplies to the Kyrgyz Republic and...
ALMATY – Supporting small and medium-sized businesses remains one of Kazakhstan’s top priorities. As a result of sustained policy measures, Kazakhstan has seen consistent growth in the...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan delivered a powerful performance at the 2025 IBA Boxing World Championships in Dubai on Dec. 4-13, securing second place in the overall medal standings...
ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will pay an official visit to Japan on Dec. 18-20, according to the Akorda press service. During the visit, Tokayev will hold...
ALMATY – The Kazakhstan Agency for International Development (KazAID), in partnership with Gumilyov Eurasian National University (ENU), has released the country’s first comprehensive textbook dedicated to Official...
ASTANA – This Sunday, Dec. 15, marks World Turkic Language Family Day, a date established by UNESCO to celebrate and promote the Turkic language family spoken by...
ASTANA — A family in the Kerbulak district of Kazakhstan’s Zhetisu Region has spent decades preserving and developing the tazy, an ancient Kazakh sighthound prized for its...
ASTANA – The courage of Kazakh warriors, known as batyrs, and the people’s unity were decisive in ensuring the Kazakhs’ survival during the centuries-long Kazakh–Dzungar wars, a...
ALMATY – The Ministry of Culture and Information Committee has approved an updated list of historical and cultural monuments scheduled for scientific restoration in 2026. The national...
ASTANA – Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, is often described as the nation’s cultural capital. Its vast network of museums, galleries and contemporary art spaces continues to strengthen...
ALMATY – The Astana International Airport has introduced a new Automated Border Control System (ABCS), designed to significantly reduce processing times and improve the overall travel experience...
ALMATY – Scientists at the food safety research laboratory of the Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian and Technical University have developed innovative dairy products, including ice cream...
ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected key articles from international media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to Kazakhstan,...
ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Ashgabat on Dec. 11 to participate in a high-level forum dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust, the...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s gross international reserves rose to $62.1 billion in November, driven by a sharp increase in the National Bank’s (NBK) gold holdings, even as the...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s Senate (Parliament’s upper chamber) Chairperson Maulen Ashimbayev led a parliamentary delegation to the Vatican on Dec. 11, where he personally delivered President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy reported that the incident at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s (CPC) marine terminal did not have a critical impact on the country’s...
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian took part in the Kazakhstan–Iran Business Forum in Astana on Dec. 11, reaffirming the growing economic...
Data often sounds distant and pale until it touches your background. Standing in front of installations built from statistics on femicide, violence, unequal pay, and education gaps,...
ASTANA — Intra-regional foreign direct investment (FDI) in Central Asia has surged to $1.3 billion, a 42% increase from 2023, with nearly 80% of the capital directed...
ASTANA – The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) has established an Islamic Finance Advisory Board, uniting leading global experts from Bahrain, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and...
ASTANA – The upcoming weekend will be extended in celebration of Independence Day on Dec. 16, marking 34 years since Kazakhstan’s Supreme Council declared the country’s independence...
ASTANA – Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a joint statement on Dec. 11, emphasizing the deep historical ties between Kazakhstan and Iran, the steady growth...
ASTANA – An exhibition of national jewelry dedicated to Independence Day opened at the Presidential Center on Dec. 10, showcasing the richness of Kazakh jewelry art. Over...
ASTANA — Kazakhstan and Iran not only maintain a constructive political dialogue but are also seeing growing trade and economic ties, with trade up 40% in just...
ASTANA – The Kazakh language continues to gain momentum through major educational, cultural, and technological initiatives, highlighted at the annual congress of the Kazakh Language International Society...
ASTANA – The Constitutional Court of the Kyrgyz Republic has ruled that bringing back the death penalty is unacceptable and legally impossible. The decision came on Dec....
ASTANA – Kazakhstan reaffirmed its commitment to human rights and the modernization of its penal system at a high-level conference on International Human Rights Day on Dec....
ASTANA – More than 60% of Asia and the Pacific’s population – around 2.7 billion people – has been lifted from extreme water insecurity over the past...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s capital will host the Astana International Challenge 2025, a major international badminton tournament, scheduled to take place at the Beeline Arena on Dec. 17-21....
ASTANA — A roundtable in Astana explored how independent media can strengthen public trust and support a resilient, democratic society in Kazakhstan to mark Human Rights Day...
ASTANA – The Kazakh Energy Ministry confirmed efforts to find additional routes for the Kazakh oil and said Kazakhstan’s crude exports have not been entirely halted following...
ALMATY – Kazakh chess rising star Meruert Kamalidenova delivered another remarkable performance by finishing as women’s vice-champion at the sixth El Llobregat Open Chess Tournament, a major...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev announced at a Dec. 9 government briefing that direct flights between Kazakhstan and the United States will temporarily require a...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan presented a series of key infrastructure, financial, and technology initiatives during AIFC Connect: Abu Dhabi 2025, a business forum co-organized by the Astana International...
ALMATY – Although Almaty’s FC Kairat continues to face tough competition in its series of UEFA Champions League matches, Kazakhstan’s football is entering a new stage of...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan and the European Union (EU) aim to modernize the legal framework for travel facilitation and strengthen ties. The initiative is expected to simplify travel...
ALMATY – Kazakh Special Representative for Afghanistan and Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yerkin Tukumov paid a working visit to Afghanistan on Dec. 8 to...
Editor’s Note: This opinion piece by Aigul Zabirova draws on findings from a nationwide survey commissioned by the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS) and conducted from...
ASTANA — Kazakhstan is advancing the modernization and digitalization of its transport and transit systems to strengthen its role as a key Eurasian hub. Prime Minister Olzhas...
ASTANA – Rail Cargo Austria, one of the subsidiaries of ÖBB-Holding, and KTZ Express agreed to develop intermodal transportation along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) and...
ASTANA — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with National Bank Governor Timur Suleimenov on Dec. 9 to review the state of the economy, financial system, and monetary...
ASTANA — Kazakhstan and Brazil emphasized their shared commitment to multilateralism, diplomacy, and equal international cooperation during a Dec. 8 political consultations, co-chaired by First Deputy Foreign...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to supply 50,000 metric tons of crude to China directly from the vast Kashagan field in December for the first time after a...
ASTANA – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) of the United Nations appointed Kazakh artist Dimash Qudaibergen as a Global Goodwill Ambassador during the annual session of...
ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed the law on the national budget for 2026–2028 on Dec. 8. The full text of the law will be...
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s 16 special economic zones (SEZ) play a central role in the country’s investment strategy, offering tax incentives, simplified customs procedures and ready industrial sites....
ASTANA — Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev inaugurated the Nur Bukhara project, the country’s first utility-scale integrated solar and battery project, developed by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company...
ASTANA — Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakayev participated in the Doha Forum 2025 on Dec. 6-7, engaging in high-level discussions on justice, sustainable development and international...
ALMATY — Art Basel unveiled its first class of Gold Awardees at a landmark ceremony on Dec. 4 at the New World Center in Miami Beach, the...
ALMATY — Kazakhstan and Austria reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening political dialogue and expanding economic cooperation during a series of high-level meetings held in Vienna on Dec....
ASTANA – UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the organization is reshaping its internal system to give young people a stronger voice, responding to a question from AT’s...
ALMATY – Central Asia is experiencing a tourism boom, with the region welcoming 28.6 million foreign visitors in 2024. The rapid expansion reflects the region’s natural and...
ALMATY – The World Justice Project (WJP) has released its 2025 Rule of Law Index, assessing 143 countries through nationwide population surveys, indicating that Central Asian countries...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s regulated crypto market continues its strong upward trajectory, with trading volumes on platforms licensed by the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) reaching $6.8 billion...
ALMATY – Kazakhstan and France have reached a preliminary agreement to establish a European-level regional aviation training center in Astana that will become a hub for advanced...
ALMATY – Astana will host the President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian on an official visit on Dec. 10–11, marking a new stage in the strengthening of Kazakh-Iranian...
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s winter tourism season is gaining momentum as travelers seek alpine landscapes, accessible slopes and quieter alternatives to crowded resorts abroad. From the Tien Shan...
ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s saiga population has reached a record 4 million animals, prompting the government to strengthen measures to manage the rapid growth, First Deputy Prime Minister...
ASTANA — Archaeologists in Kazakhstan’s Zhetysu Region have uncovered rare gold jewelry, elite Saka-era burial mounds, and a unique double burial dating back to the 4th–3rd centuries...
ASTANA – The United Nations headquarters in New York hosted a high-level ceremony to launch the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development 2026, an initiative aimed...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Airbus signed a memorandum of understanding to deliver more A320neo aircraft to the country following the 16th meeting of the Kazakhstan-France Intergovernmental Commission...
ASTANA – Kazakhstan marked the International Day of People with Disabilities on Dec. 3, renewing attention to the everyday challenges families face in raising children with disabilities...
