Articles by Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA — World-renowned Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen met with prominent cultural figures and representatives of organizations promoting Kazakh culture and music in the United States at Kazakhstan’s Consulate General in New York. The event marked an important step in strengthening cultural ties and supporting Kazakhstan’s initiatives abroad. The participants discussed projects aimed at promoting Kazakhstan’s…

ASTANA – The Kaisar Arena, a new multifunctional complex featuring an 11,000-seat UEFA-standard stadium, has opened in Kyzylorda. Covering over 20,000 square meters, the facility includes venues for boxing, wrestling, gymnastics, taekwondo, and weightlifting. The center also offers facilities for people with special needs. Minister of Tourism and Sports Yerbol Myrzabossynov attended the grand opening,…

ASTANA – Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov reiterated the nation’s commitment to achieving a new technological breakthrough during the plenary session of the Digital Bridge: Generative Nation international forum, which took place on Oct. 2-4. The event brought together over 30,000 participants from more than 30 countries. Bektenov emphasized that digitalization and artificial intelligence…

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest highlights language shifts in Kazakhstan, President Mattarella’s visit, advances in AI, plans for nuclear science hubs, expanding transport links and more. What Europe can learn from Kazakhstan IPS journal published an article on Sept. 19 examining…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan and President Tamás Sulyok of Hungary reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening trade and economic cooperation during an official meeting on Oct. 2 in Astana. Tokayev thanked his Hungarian counterpart for accepting the invitation, recalling Hungary’s historic role as one of the first European nations to recognize Kazakhstan’s sovereignty…

ASTANA – Giuseppe Verdi’s “Rigoletto”, one of the most renowned works in the classical opera repertoire, will premiere at the country’s main theatrical venue, Astana Opera, on Oct. 3–5. A media preview and press conference dedicated to the premiere took place on Oct. 1 at the opera house. The event gathered Astana Opera’s general management,…

ASTANA – A unique research project, SANA-1, was launched at the National Space Center, marking Kazakhstan’s first experiment involving long-term crew isolation under conditions simulating space flight. The project is jointly implemented by the Aerospace Committee of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, Eurasian Space Ventures, and leading national scientific and educational institutions.…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev opened the Digital Bridge 2025 International tech forum on Oct. 2 stressing that artificial intelligence (AI) must serve humanity in a responsible and inclusive manner. Addressing global leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs, he set out Kazakhstan’s ambition to become a fully digital state within three years, while urging international collaboration to…

ASTANA – Kazakh Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev proposed creating a unified information map of Eurasia to strengthen international cooperation and information exchange in transport infrastructure. He made the statement at the seventh New Silk Way International Transport and Logistics Business Forum in Almaty. Sauranbayev noted that while countries often coordinate railway projects, there is no…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s national team topped the overall standings of the World Cadet Chess Championship (U8–U12) for the second consecutive year, winning three gold medals on home ground. The tournament took place from Sept. 19 to 30 at the Baluan Sholak Sports and Concert Complex in Almaty, bringing together 842 players from 88 countries and…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a meeting with the UAE Minister of State for Defense Affairs Mohammed bin Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei on Sept. 30 to discuss prospects for cooperation in security and military education. President Tokayev praised the achievements of the UAE in the defense industry and highlighted opportunities for sharing expertise in…

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza. Tokayev stated that Kazakhstan views this initiative as a unique opportunity and a crucial step toward resolving the situation in the Middle East, strengthening interstate trust, and establishing a lasting and just peace in the…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev inaugurated via video link the second line of the Dostyk-Moiynty railway on Sept. 30 during the seventh New Silk Way International Transport and Logistics Business Forum. Tokayev highlighted the project’s strategic importance, calling it the largest railway line built over the years of independence. “This is a truly historic moment,…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s exporters discussed the impact of the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) at a Sept. 25 webinar organized by QazTrade, the Ministry of Trade and Integration, and the International Trade Center, focusing on compliance requirements and trade implications for aluminum and other key sectors. The event was organized within the EU-funded…

ASTANA – A new Alem Crypto Fund has started operating in Kazakhstan for long-term investment in digital assets and building strategic reserves. It was established by the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, managed by Qazaqstan Venture Group, and registered within the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). The fund’s primary objective is to make…

ASTANA – Ahead of their UEFA Champions League clash, FC Kairat coach Rafael Urazbakhtin said his team would play boldly and show their style, while Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso noted Kairat’s strengths and said his side must perform at a high level. Kairat will face Real Madrid on Sept. 30 at 9:45 p.m.…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economy is forecast to grow by 5.7% this year before slowing to 4.5% in 2026, according to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) latest Regional Economic Prospects report released in September. The bank highlighted reliance on Russian transit routes for oil exports and volatile global commodity prices as key downside…

ASTANA — Young Kazakh rider Yernur Zhasuzak has entered the World Book of Records and the Kazakhstan Book of Records after standing on two horses and galloping two kilometers at a speed of 60 kilometers per hour. Zhasuzak, who has been practicing equestrian sports for three years, spent over three months preparing for the feat.…

ASTANA – More than 100 experts from Central Asia and the European Union gathered in the Kazakh capital on Sept. 24–26 for the International Conference on Youth Employment and Skills Development.  The event was organized by the European Training Foundation (ETF) and Kazakh Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, under the patronage of the European…

ASTANA — Twenty-seven foreign citizens from 14 countries have received Kazakhstan’s Neo Nomad Visa since its introduction last year. The largest number of visas were issued to citizens of the United States, Canada, and France. Citizens of New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Latvia, and Poland…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Passenger Transportation company announced the launch of the Potter Train, a new cultural and entertainment show that will debut on Oct. 5. For the first time in Kazakhstan, children and their parents will be able to experience a theatrical program performed aboard a commuter train. During the journey, passengers will enjoy a…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for comprehensive UN reform, stronger global cooperation, and urgent steps toward peace, sustainability, and digital equity in a time of mounting instability during the Sept. 23 General Debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. UN must adapt to today’s realities, Tokayev urges…

ASTANA — Aidos Sultangali secured the gold medal in the men’s 60-kilogram weight category in Greco-Roman wrestling on Sept. 20 at the World Championships held in Zagreb, Croatia, defeating Alisher Ganiyev of Uzbekistan in the final.  This victory marks Kazakhstan’s first gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the World Championships of the 21st century, 26…

ASTANA – The leaders of Kazakhstan, Brazil, Jordan, China, France, and South Africa, with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), issued a statement calling for action to preserve humanity in war on Sept. 21 in New York. In their statement, the heads of state expressed alarm over the widespread violations of international humanitarian…

ASTANA – The Smithsonian Institution is preparing several cultural exchange initiatives with Kazakhstan, including the participation of U.S. artisans in an international crafts festival in Almaty next month, as part of the newly established Kazakhstan Cultural Heritage Fund. At a Sept. 21 meeting with representatives of the Smithsonian Institution in New York, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev…