Astana and Tehran Elevate Partnership as Presidents Highlight Shared Vision and Regional Role
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 of bilateral trade, and the shared commitment to expanding cooperation in transport, agriculture, and culture. Historical and cultural ties President Tokayev emphasized that Iran, a country with significant…
Kazakh Language Support Endowment Fund Receives 100-Fold Boost
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 on Dec. 10. The event showcased the growth of the Qazaq Tili (Kazakh language) Endowment Fund, innovative projects for language learning, and partnerships with global organizations including OpenAI…
Kyrgyz Constitutional Court Rules Against Reinstating Death Penalty
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. 10 after the court reviewed a request from President Sadyr Japarov to assess proposed constitutional amendments that would allow capital punishment for the rape of children and for…
Kazakhstan Highlights Human Rights and Penitentiary Reform at International Conference
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. 10. The event, marking the 77th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, focused on protecting the rights of persons in places of deprivation of liberty, improving…
ADB Warns Asia’s Water Security Gains at Risk Amid Climate Pressures and Funding Gap
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 12 years, but these gains are threatened by accelerating environmental decline and a major financing gap, according to a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report. The Asian Water…
Human Rights Day Event Highlights Role of Independent Media in Strengthening Kazakh Society
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 on Dec. 10. The event titled Kazakhstan: The Role of Media in Building a Resilient Society brought together lawyers, human rights activists, government representatives, and international organizations. It…
Kazakhstan to Supply Kashagan Crude to China Directly After CPC Terminal Damage
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 Ukrainian drone damaged the Black Sea terminal of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC). The CPC, which accounts for 1% of global crude supply and includes Russian, Kazakh and…
Dimash Qudaibergen Appointed IOM Global Goodwill Ambassador
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 the council in Geneva on Dec. 8. This appointment reflects Qudaibergen’s long-standing commitment to supporting people facing crisis situations. In 2024, Qudaibergen was named an IOM Regional Goodwill…
President of Kazakhstan Signs Three-Year National Budget Law
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 published in print. Earlier, members of the Mazhilis agreed with the Senate’s amendments to the law during a plenary session, as well as with changes to the law…
Kazakhstan Reports Record Saiga Numbers, Advances Management Measures
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 Roman Sklyar said on Dec. 1. At the meeting, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nysanbayev and other officials reported on actions taken this year. According to…
Rare Gold Artifacts and Double Burial Discovered in Zhetysu’s Ancient Dauylbay Mounds
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 BC during excavations at the Dauylbay burial ground. Located at the foot of the Dauylbay mountain range in the Karatal district, the burial ground has yielded a wide…
Tokayev Honors Entrepreneurs, Highlights Economic Growth and Social Responsibility
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered an address to the country’s entrepreneurs at the Dec.5 ceremony honoring the winners of the Altyn Sapa (Golden Standard), Paryz (Duty), and Best Product of Kazakhstan awards, emphasizing Kazakhstan’s strong economic momentum, rapid export expansion, and the need for deeper structural reforms to sustain long-term growth. Non-oil exports nearly…
Kazakh Foreign Minister Engages in Key Bilateral Talks at OSCE Ministerial Council
ASTANA – Within the framework of the 32nd Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev held bilateral meetings with heads of key OSCE institutions on Dec. 4 in Vienna. Kosherbayev met with OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioglu, Director of OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and…
Flights Resume in Kazakhstan After Completion of Airbus Software Update
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has fully completed the mandatory Airbus software update for all Airbus aircraft operated by the country’s airlines, ensuring full compliance with safety requirements. The Civil Aviation Committee of the Transport Ministry confirmed that all Airbus aircraft in the country now meet operational requirements and continue to function normally on Nov. 29. “We…
Kazakhstan Records Zero Terrorism Impact in Global Terrorism Index 2025
ASTANA — Kazakhstan achieved a score of 0.0 in the 2025 Global Terrorism Index (GTI), published by the Institute for Economics & Peace, ranking 100th and placing the country among the world’s safest in terms of terrorism impact. According to the GTI, the countries most affected by terrorism in 2024 were Burkina Faso, Pakistan, and…
National Report Outlines Current Domestic Violence Situation in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Kazakhstan unveiled its national report on the prevention of domestic violence, prepared by the center for family and gender policy studies of the Kazakhstan Institute of Public Development (KIPD) on Nov. 25. The presentation coincided with the launch of the global UN-backed campaign titled 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, aimed at…
New Macroeconomic Survey Outlines Kazakhstan’s Key Forecast Trends
ASTANA – The National Bank of Kazakhstan has released the results of its latest macroeconomic survey, reflecting independent expert assessments of key economic indicators, including oil prices, GDP growth, inflation, policy rates, trade flows, and the tenge exchange rate. Experts slightly lowered their assumptions for Brent oil prices across the forecast horizon. The average price…
Tokayev Congratulates Gennady Golovkin on Election as World Boxing President
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated Gennady Golovkin on his election as President of the World Boxing International Federation on Nov. 25, calling the decision a recognition of the athlete’s global contribution to boxing, his professionalism, and impeccable reputation. “Your path is marked by numerous brilliant victories. It is a story of fortitude, resilience, and…
Kazakhstan Develops Five Cross-Border Hubs to Boost Exports and Trade Connectivity
ASTANA – Five major cross-border hubs are being developed in the country to establish Kazakhstan as a key transport and logistics hub. The launch of these hubs will significantly accelerate trade processes with neighboring countries, increase non-resource exports by 30%, and provide effective logistics conditions for Kazakh companies, said Minister of Trade and Integration Arman…
Kazakhstan, EU Mark Decade of Enhanced Partnership as High-Level EU Envoy Visits Astana
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with the European Union’s Special Representative for Central Asia, Eduards Stiprais, on Nov. 24, reaffirming Kazakhstan’s commitment to strengthening its multifaceted cooperation with the EU. Greeting Stiprais, President Tokayev emphasized that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), a…
Turkic Academy Celebrates 15 Years as Key Center of Science and Cultural Unity
ASTANA — The International Turkic Academy is marking its 15th anniversary, a milestone that highlights its growing role in strengthening scientific cooperation and cultural integration across the Turkic world. From vision to international hub Over the past 15 years, the academy has evolved from an ambitious idea into a respected international research institution that influences…
News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Multivector Diplomacy, Middle Corridor Momentum, Tourism Surge and More
ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights international analysis of Kazakhstan’s multivector diplomacy, Europe’s rising focus on the Middle Corridor, record-breaking tourism growth and more. European Parliament hosted a landmark roundtable: Strengthening EU–Kazakhstan Connectivity EU Reporter published an article on Nov. 20…
Kazakhstan’s Peacekeeping Hero Honored with Memorial Plate in Türkiye
ASTANA — A memorial plate dedicated to Kazakh peacekeeper Captain Kairat Kudabayev was unveiled at the Military Academy of the Turkish National Defense University, commemorating his bravery and the deep military ties between Kazakhstan and Türkiye. During an official visit to Türkiye, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Defense, Air Force Lieutenant General Dauren Kossanov, paid tribute to…
EU-Kazakhstan Roundtable Highlights Strategic Role of Middle Corridor
ASTANA — The European Parliament hosted a roundtable on Strengthening EU-Kazakhstan Connectivity: Perspectives and Strategic Potential of the Middle Corridor on Nov. 19 showcasing Kazakhstan’s pivotal role in Europe’s future connectivity, strategic autonomy, and green transition. The event brought together MEPs, diplomats, and experts. Opening the roundtable, MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk, chair of the Committee on…
Kazakh Doctors Provide Lifesaving Support in Afghanistan Following Powerful Earthquake
ASTANA – Kazakhstan continues to provide medical assistance to Afghanistan following the powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck on the night of Nov. 3. Humanitarian aid and a medical team have been deployed and have been working on the ground since last week. Medicines, surgical instruments, dressings, tents, bedding, and other essential supplies have been delivered…
