Articles by Aida Haidar

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is experiencing a rapid increase in temperature, surpassing the global average, with rising annual temperatures accompanied by a growing frequency of extreme natural events, according to the Central Asia Climate Foundation (CACF). The warning comes amid a broader global trend. Records continue to tumble worldwide, as all ten of the warmest years…

ASTANA — Afghanistan has signed $243 million worth of contracts with Uzbekistan to implement four major energy projects aimed at improving the country’s electricity supply, the national power utility Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) announced on Aug. 17 on X, according to Xinhua.  The contracts were signed in Kabul in the presence of Afghanistan’s Acting…

ASTANA — The Kazakh capital will host the 89th World Library and Information Congress of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), the largest global event in the field of libraries and information technology, under the theme Connecting Knowledge, Building the Future from Aug. 18 to 22.  The event will gather more than…

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s economic diversification efforts and focus on digital transformation are opening new avenues for growth, particularly in financial services and trade, according to David Livingstone, Citi’s Chief Client Officer. In an interview for The Astana Times YouTube channel, Livingstone reflected on Citi’s 31-year presence in Kazakhstan and how the country’s evolving strategy aligns…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Halyk Bank has signed a strategic partnership on July 23 with Uzbekistan’s leading fintech company, Click, as part of its plan to grow its presence in Central Asia’s fast-moving digital finance sector. According to Halyk Bank’s press service, under the agreement, Kazakh bank will buy 49% of Click’s shares for $176.4 million.…

ASTANA — HBO Max is set to expand its global reach with upcoming launches in Central Asia, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, as well as other markets such as Albania, Armenia, Cyprus, Estonia, Georgia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Malta, according to Variety.  JB Perrette, the CEO and president of global streaming & games at Warner…

When we think of Astana, the first thing that comes to mind is the high-level visits of politicians and international summits. It’s a city of strategy, diplomacy, and national ambition. But beneath that polished, political surface lies something quieter — yet just as powerful: a city that creates space for dreams. As Astana celebrates its…

ASTANA — What if the key to fighting disease, aging well, and managing the effects of climate change was not a miracle drug, but microbes? At Nazarbayev University’s (NU) Microbiome Laboratory, that idea drives everything. Founded in 2011 and led by Professor Almagul Kushugulova, the lab has grown from a modest research group into a…

ASTANA — The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has raised 200 million UAE dirhams (US$54 million) through a private bond placement in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), marking a new milestone in financial cooperation between the Gulf and Central Asia. The bonds, denominated in dirhams, were arranged by First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the UAE’s largest…

ASTANA — Islamic finance in Central Asia is set for substantial growth over the next decade, according to a new report, The Future of Islamic Finance in Central Asia, jointly released by the Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) and the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), released on May 20.  As of 2023, Islamic finance assets in…

ASTANA — The growing strategic significance of Central Asia in the global critical minerals supply chain was at the center of discussions at the recent United States–Central Asia Forum, hosted by the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center on June 4 in Washington, D.C. With geopolitical tensions and shifting global alliances redrawing the contours of international trade,…

ASTANA — The Astana Opera hosted UnBoring Poetry, a distinguished charity evening co-organized by the LikeMinded Foundation and acclaimed poet Gulnara Shakti, bringing together poetry, music, and diplomacy in a celebration of creative expression, solidarity, and women’s empowerment on May 18. The LikeMinded Foundation, inspired by a spouse of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Vietnam took a significant step toward strengthening economic and transportation ties on May 6, as Qazaq Air and Vietnam’s Vietjet announced the creation of a new joint airline, Vietjet Qazaqstan. The agreement was signed during the Kazakhstan-Vietnam Business Roundtable, as part of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam…

MUMBAI — As I attended the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in the early days of May, I found myself not just a journalist covering an event, but a dreamer swept up in something far larger than headlines and press kits. I was in the middle of a movement. And where better for…

ASTANA — Amid growing global tensions and shifting alliances, France and Kazakhstan are steadily building a partnership that stands out for its consistency, mutual respect, and strategic depth. Anchored in a shared commitment to multilateralism, the relationship has gained new momentum through recent reciprocal presidential visits and a widening scope of cooperation, from water security…

ASTANA — The media is changing faster than ever, and so are the rules of the game. As artificial intelligence reshapes how information is created and consumed, and as trust in news sources faces unprecedented pressure, the second Central Asian Media Forum opened with a powerful plenary session on April 16, bringing together heavyweight media…

ASTANA — Kazakh Minister of Energy Yerlan Akkenzhenov took part in the 59th Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee of OPEC+ (JMMC) meeting, held via videoconference on April 5. According to the ministry’s press service, the Committee reviewed data on member countries’ conformity with the OPEC+ Agreement for January and February 2025, acknowledged the overall compliance level,…

ASTANA — Long before the emergence of Marvel and DC comics, Kazakhs had their own superheroes. Instead of spandex suits, they were decked in shining armor, wielding swords, and riding horses faster than the wind. One of the most renowned batyrs is Kobylandy Batyr, often likened to Hercules — a fearless warrior devoted to protecting…

ASTANA — Speaking at the National Kurultai in Burabai on March 14, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev unveiled a series of ambitious projects aimed at strengthening Kazakhstan’s infrastructure, regional development, and digital transformation. He emphasized the need for economic innovation to ensure the country remains competitive on the global stage. Infrastructure projects and 200 annual investment initiatives…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for a pragmatic approach as Kazakhstan nears its 40th anniversary of independence at the National Kurultai on March 14. Tokayev emphasized the need for a clear understanding of the country’s legacy and the historical challenges that must be addressed by then.  Tokayev reiterated that Kazakhstan must be realistic…

ASTANA – Globalism is losing relevance, giving way to state nationalism, the struggle for spheres of influence, and the regionalization of global politics, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during a National Kurultai in Burabai on March 14. He stressed that the world is undergoing a profound transformation. According to Tokayev, unprecedented conflicts, a deep crisis of…

ASTANA — Let me be frank: I am not a fan of Dimash. But in saying this, I do not in any way diminish his God-given talent. His vocal range is unparalleled — that is undeniable. However, to truly be a fan of someone, in my view, means having their songs on repeat, filling your…

ASTANA — Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu embarked on the first official visit in the history of bilateral relations to Rabat at the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates of the Kingdom of Morocco Nasser Bourita on Feb. 28. Strengthening diplomatic and economic…

ASTANA — I grew up in a Russian-speaking environment, but within deeply rooted Kazakh traditions — or at least, that’s how I’ve always felt. From childhood, I witnessed a world where everyday life intertwined with beliefs in the unseen. Superstitions and deep reverence for the tangible world blended seamlessly with an unshakable awareness of forces…

ASTANA – A recent wildlife census in Altyn-Emel National Park recorded over 9,000 endangered animals, including 5,500 goitered gazelles, 3,600 kulans, and 190 argali, the Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources reported on Feb. 7. To conduct the survey, seven groups of 20 specialists worked in clear, windless conditions, using direct observation and track…