Kazakhstan Becomes Third-Largest Crude Oil Supplier to EU

ASTANA – Kazakhstan ranked third among the largest crude oil exporters to the European Union (EU), supplying 1.05 million barrels per day (Mb/d) in 2024, according to...


New York Film Academy Branch in Kazakhstan Hosts First Open Day

ASTANA – The newly launched Kazakhstan branch of the New York Film Academy (NYFA) hosted its first open day on May 17 in Kaskelen near Almaty, bringing...


Astana International Financial Centre Hosts Islamic Finance Forum

ASTANA – The Islamic Finance and Business Forum, held on May 19 at the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), gathered over 200 participants from Kazakhstan, Central Asia,...


President Tokayev Praises Kazakhstan’s Culture and Art Workers

ASTANA – On the eve of Culture and Arts Workers’ Day, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev praised the contributions of Kazakhstan’s cultural figures on May 20, highlighting their role...


Central Asia Launches Scops Owl Counting Campaign

ASTANA – Residents of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan are invited to join a regional campaign to count scops owls — small nocturnal birds best...


Kazakh, Kyrgyz Aitys Artists Perform at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris for First Time

ASTANA – For the first time in history, UNESCO Headquarters in Paris hosted an international Aitys – the traditional poetic duel of improvisation – featuring Kazakh and...


FlyArystan Launches Almaty-Yining Charter Flights

ASTANA – Kazakh low-cost carrier FlyArystan has officially launched a direct charter passenger flight between Almaty and Yining, with the first flight carrying 160 passengers landing at...


Art Without Borders: Franco‑Kazakh Performance Lights Up Astana

ASTANA – A unique blend of modern choreography, experimental music, and Franco-Kazakh collaboration took center stage on May 16 in Astana. The performance, called Jubilé!, marked the...


What Turkic Leaders Are to Discuss at Informal Summit in Hungary

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will attend the Informal Summit of the Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) on May 20 in Budapest,...


How Kazakhstan’s Youth Are Blending Tradition with Modernity

ASTANA — While youth around the world live in an era increasingly dominated by global trends and digital influences, the youth of Kazakhstan are redefining what it...


Kazakh Gymnastics Team Earns Historic Gold at Asian Championships

ASTANA – The Kazakh gymnastics team won the country’s first-ever gold medal in the group all-around event at the Asian Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships held in Singapore on...


Who Will Build Kazakhstan’s First Nuclear Power Plant? 

As Kazakhstan faces growing electricity demand, aging coal plants and ambitious decarbonization goals, the government has turned its focus to nuclear energy. In 2022, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev...


Astana Opera Premieres Three Ballets by French Choreographer Roland Petit

ASTANA – The Astana Opera audience was treated to a thrilling display of talent with a May 16 premiere of three one-act ballets by a world-renowned French...


Korkyt Ata Special Economic Zone Opens in Kyzylorda Region

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov signed a decree on May 19 to establish the Korkyt Ata Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the Kyzylorda Region, reported...


Poetry and Music Take Center Stage at Astana Opera Charity Evening

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...


IAEA Assists Kazakhstan in Selecting Safe Site for First Nuclear Power Plant

ASTANA – A team from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) arrived in Kazakhstan on May 19 for a five-day seminar focused on safety considerations for selecting...


Kazakhstan to Accelerate Construction of Gas Processing Plant at Karachaganak Field

ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and President of Shell’s Exploration and Production Division Peter Costello stressed the importance of accelerated construction of a four billion...


Supercomputer With NVIDIA Chips Arrives in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has received Central Asia’s first supercomputer cluster with a capacity of approximately two exaflops, the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry announced...


UNESCO Presents Kazakhstan with Certificate for Betashar Ceremony Inclusion in Heritage List

ASTANA – Director of the UNESCO Almaty Regional Office Amir Piric presented Chairman of the National Commission and State Counselor Erlan Karin with the original certificate confirming...


President Tokayev to Visit Hungary for Informal OTS Summit

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will visit Hungary on May 20-21 to participate in the Informal Summit of the Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic...


Kazakhstan Records Lowest Birth Rate in Decade

ASTANA – Kazakhstan registered 77,300 live births from January to March, a nearly 16% drop compared to the same period last year and the lowest figure since...


Human Rights and AI: Is Legal Regulation Optional?

ASTANA — The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) poses urgent legal and ethical questions for governments worldwide. In an interview with Kazinform, Igor Rogov, the chair...


Kazakhstan’s Prominent Producer Highlights Booming Creative Industry, Strong Untapped Potential

ASTANA – Creative industries have received broad attention from the government in recent years, deemed as the next economic frontier and a soft power tool. For Yerkebulan...


‘Get Some Air’: Botanic Gardens Serve as Model for Urban Renewal

ASTANA – As urban development accelerates and soil turns to stone, one lesson keeps resurfacing: without green lungs, cities can not survive —we need space for nature...


Tuyuk-Su Glacier Shrinks by Ten Meters in Decade

ASTANA – The Tuyuk-Su Glacier in the Northern Tien Shan has lost ten meters of thickness over the past 12 years, according to a recent survey by...


From Silk to Solar: Kazakhstan’s Best on Display 

ASTANA — More than 350 Kazakh companies from across the country display thousands of locally made products from machinery and food to clothing and jewelry at the...


French Explorer Captures Kazakhstan’s Untamed Beauty

ASTANA – French filmmaker, photographer, and solo bicycle explorer Cédric Tassan has explored the unique landscapes of Kazakhstan’s Mangystau Region by bike twice. His first journey in...


Southeast Asia Rises as Favorite Vacation Spot for Kazakh Tourists

ASTANA – Travel abroad is becoming increasingly popular among Kazakh tourists, with a growing number opting for Southeast Asian destinations. According to industry experts, China has emerged...


News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Strategic Rise in Energy, Diplomacy and Innovation

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected key international media coverage on Kazakhstan this week. Today’s foreign media digest covers Kazakhstan’s pivotal role in the global AI...


Full-Fledged Free Trade Agreement Between EAEU and Iran Enters into Force

ASTANA – A full-fledged Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Iran officially came into force on May 15, reported the press service...