Articles by Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA – Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways plans to launch regular cargo flights to Astana from Aug. 1 and passenger flights between Hong Kong and Almaty from January 2027, expanding air connectivity between Kazakhstan and Hong Kong. The plans were announced during a meeting between Saltanat Tompiyeva, chair of Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Committee, and Oliver…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected a range of articles on Kazakhstan featured in international media worldwide this week. Today’s foreign media digest covers the country’s cultural heritage, Euronews’ launch of Kazakh-language broadcasting, new investment and technology partnerships, and scientific research shedding new light on the Scythian elite and the Golden Man. Kazakhstan’s dombyra:…

ASTANA – British-Spanish actor Taz Skylar, best known for portraying Sanji in Netflix’s live-action adaptation of “One Piece,” has been announced as the latest headlining guest of the fifth-anniversary Comic Con Astana, which will take place from Aug. 6-9. Beyond acting, Skylar is also a screenwriter, director and producer, as well as an avid extreme…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Afghanistan discussed expanding banking cooperation to facilitate bilateral trade during a July 8 meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin and Ghazanfar Bank Chairman Mohammad Ismail Ghazanfar. Zhumangarin said that for Kazakhstan, strengthening trade and economic ties with Afghanistan is important, noting that a reliable and…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan ranked first among Central Asian countries in the Global Passport Index 2026, published by Global Citizen Solutions, a migration consultancy. It ranked 109th worldwide out of 197 countries. Kazakhstan ranked between the Maldives and Belarus in the global list, ahead of Uzbekistan (123rd), the Kyrgyz Republic (127th), Tajikistan (140th) and Turkmenistan (144th).…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Iran have signed a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) agreement to construct a Kazakh transport and logistics terminal at Iran’s Shahid Rajaee Port, a move aimed at strengthening regional connectivity and expanding Kazakhstan’s export routes. The agreement was signed with the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran and provides for the transfer of a…

ASTANA – Kazakh has become the first Central Asian language to be introduced by Euronews, Chairman Pedro Vargas David said during a July 7 meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who welcomed the move as a milestone in cooperation between Kazakhstan and the international broadcaster. Tokayev said the launch of Euronews broadcasting in Kazakh reflects the…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s FlyArystan airline has launched new international routes to China and the Kyrgyz Republic as part of efforts to expand flight connectivity and increase the number of international services. Starting June 26, the airline operates flights on the Aktau-Urumqi route twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, using Airbus A320 aircraft, the Transport…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is implementing measures to expand its marketable gas resource base, develop new gas fields and increase processing capacity to ensure stable energy supplies for the economy and population, Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said at a July 7 government meeting. Under the Comprehensive Gas Industry Development Plan for 2025-2029 and the Plan for…

ASTANA — Mexican actor Iñaki Godoy, who gained worldwide recognition for his leading role as Monkey D. Luffy in Netflix’s live-action “One Piece”, has been announced as the second headline guest of Comic Con Astana 2026, which will take place in the Kazakh capital from Aug. 6 to 9. Earlier, organizers announced Danish actor Nikolaj…

ASTANA – The Kazakh government is implementing a package of measures to increase household incomes, reduce debt burdens, maintain macroeconomic stability and expand energy capacity, as part of the president’s instructions to transition to a new model of economic growth. Speaking at a July 1 government meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze signed a joint statement establishing a strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and Georgia following the June 29 talks focused on expanding political, economic, transport and humanitarian cooperation. Strategic partnership to deepen bilateral cooperation During the meeting between members of both delegations, the officials discussed…

ASTANA – Kazakh composer and musician Dana Zulpykhar has contributed to the soundtrack of Netflix’s “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” recording parts for the traditional Kazakh instruments dombyra and kobyz used in the series’ musical score.   Zulpykhar shared the news on social media, saying she had recorded the instruments for the soundtrack composed by Takeshi Furukawa.…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Senate held its final session on June 29, concluding the 30-year history of the upper house ahead of the country’s transition to a unicameral parliamentary system under the new Constitution, said Senate Chair Maulen Ashimbayev. Ashimbayev said the current parliamentary session will officially end at a joint sitting of both chambers on…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and China reaffirmed their goal of increasing bilateral trade to $100 billion during talks between Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin and Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang at the ninth China-Eurasia Expo in Urumqi. The meeting also focused on expanding investment and transport connectivity, as well as…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has made a selection of articles on Kazakhstan featured in international media worldwide this week. Today’s foreign media digest covers Kazakhstan’s efforts to deepen its strategic partnership with the European Union, advance the development of the Middle Corridor transport route, attract major European investment, and expand cooperation with China in…

ASTANA – From opera and ballet to open-air concerts and ethnocultural festivals, the last weekend of June offers something for every taste. The Astana Times editorial team rounds up some of the weekend’s highlights to make the most of your summer with your family and friends. Astana “Aida” opera, June 26-28 Giuseppe Verdi’s “Aida” is…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry has published updated guidance on visa-free travel and entry requirements, outlining which countries citizens can visit without a visa and which additional permits may be required. Holders of ordinary Kazakh passports may stay visa-free for up to 90 days in countries including Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Georgia, Colombia, Moldova,…

ASTANA – The Council of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), chaired by Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, on June 25, approved the bank’s development strategy for 2027-2031 and reviewed its 2025 performance, highlighting stronger-than-planned investment growth across member states. The EDB Council members from Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan attended the meeting. Marking…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has launched a major dredging project at the Aktau seaport to increase cargo throughput on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), known as the Middle Corridor, and strengthening the country’s role as a key transport and logistics hub linking Asia and Europe. The project, being implemented by China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd.,…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan ranked 67th among 169 countries in the 2026 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index, improving by three positions from the previous year, while its overall score increased from 71.5 to 72.0, according to the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). The report highlights the need for practical implementation mechanisms as countries enter the final…

ASTANA — Chinese writer and 2012 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate Mo Yan visited Kazakhstan for the first time, meeting with writers, scholars, students, and readers in Almaty and Astana on June 22-23 to promote cultural and literary cooperation between Kazakhstan and China. During a meeting at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty, Mo Yan…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on June 23, focusing on strengthening Kazakhstan-EU strategic partnership in trade, investment, transport connectivity, and energy cooperation. The meeting covered key areas including critical raw materials, transport and logistics, digital transformation, energy cooperation, and…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the European Union signed a package of agreements on science, innovation, artificial intelligence, and higher education on June 23 during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to Belgium. As part of the visit, Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek met with Maria Cristina Russo, European Commission’s Deputy Director-General for Research…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Belgium have agreed to strengthen cooperation in strategic industries, transport connectivity, education and innovation following talks between Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev and Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot on June 23 during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to Brussels. The officials discussed opportunities to deepen political dialogue,…