Air Astana Suspends Middle East Flights as 2,111 Kazakh Citizens Return Home

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s Air Astana has extended the suspension of several regular flights to the Middle East amid ongoing regional disruptions, the airline announced on March 5,...


Kazakhstan Details Humanitarian Role in Board of Peace Initiatives for Gaza

ASTANA — Kazakhstan detailed its humanitarian contributions to the Board of Peace, an international initiative proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump to support stabilization and reconstruction efforts...


Kazakhstan Continues Repatriation of Citizens from Middle East

ASTANA — Another group of Kazakh citizens has returned home from the Middle East. On the night of March 4-5, Air Astana and FlyDubai operated five flights...


Survey Highlights Strong Civic Engagement in Kazakhstan’s Constitutional Referendum

ASTANA — The Kazakhstan Institute of Public Development conducted a sociological survey on citizens’ awareness of the upcoming referendum on the draft of the new Constitution and...


Central Asian Leaders, Global Officials to Gather at RES 2026 for Climate Action

ASTANA – Regional Ecological Summit 2026 (RES 2026), scheduled for April 22-24 under the theme A Shared Vision for a Sustainable Future, announced the list of high-level...


Kazakhstan to Secure World Bank Financing for Roads, Rail and Energy Projects

ALMATY – Kazakhstan plans to attract financing from the World Bank for several large infrastructure and development projects after the Mazhilis (Parliament’s lower chamber) ratified the framework...


Kazakhstan Showcases Mining Investment Potential at PDAC 2026 in Canada

ALMATY – Kazakhstan presented the investment potential of its mining and metallurgical sector at Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention, one of the world’s largest...


Foreign Ministry Expands Evacuation Efforts as More Kazakh Citizens Return Home

ASTANA — The number of Kazakh citizens evacuated from areas affected by escalating tensions in the Middle East continues to rise as additional repatriation flights land, Kazakh...


Kazakhstan Approves National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy for 2026-2035

ALMATY – The Kazakh government has approved a Concept for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity, a key strategic document defining state policy in nature...


Azerbaijan Boosts Gas Exports to Europe by 56% as Southern Corridor Expands

ALMATY – Azerbaijan has increased its gas exports to Europe by 56% since 2021, Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov said during the 12th Ministerial Meeting of the...


Kazakhstan Establishes Seven International Road Corridors, Plans Major Infrastructure Expansion

ALMATY – Kazakhstan has established seven international road corridors as part of efforts to strengthen regional connectivity and boost the country’s transit potential, Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev...


Kazakhstan Becomes World’s Second-Largest Gold Buyer in 2025 Amid Record Prices

ASTANA – Kazakhstan purchased 57 tons of gold in 2025, making it the second-largest buyer worldwide, behind Poland, which purchased 102 tons. Rising metal prices and geopolitical...


Kazakhstan, EU Continue Talks on Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements

ALMATY – Kazakhstan and the European Union (EU) held the second round of negotiations on March 3 in Astana on draft agreements covering visa facilitation and the...


Kazakhstan Evacuates Nearly 1,000 Citizens From Middle East With Air and Land Routes

ALMATY – Kazakhstan has launched evacuation operations to return its citizens from areas affected by escalating tensions in the Middle East, organizing special flights and coordinating ground...


Why Central Asia, Not Washington, Must Drive Critical Minerals Cooperation

Foreign ministers and senior officials from more than 50 countries convened on Feb.4 in Washington for the United States’ inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan were...


Kazakhstan Maintains Neutral Stance on Middle East Conflict, Prepares Evacuation of Citizens

ASTANA – Kazakhstan does not take sides in the escalating Middle East conflict and calls for disputes to be resolved exclusively through diplomatic means, Deputy Foreign Minister...


Central Asian Nations Align on Biodiversity and Forest Restoration Ahead of RES 2026

ASTANA – Central Asian countries convened in Almaty on Feb. 25-27,  for a preliminary preparatory meeting ahead of the Regional Ecological Summit (RES) 2026, aiming to strengthen...


Win Internship: Korea Times Holds Third Korean Speaking Contest For Foreigners

The Korea Times will host its third Korean Language Speaking Contest from Feb. 26 to May 7, offering participants a chance to showcase their Korean language skills...


Bibisara Assaubayeva Returns to World Top 10 in Latest FIDE Rankings

ASTANA – Kazakh International Grandmaster Bibisara Assaubayeva has climbed back into the world’s top 10 in the latest International Chess Federation (FIDE) rankings. Assaubayeva gained 19 rating...


SCO Expresses Concern Over Strikes on Iran, Calls for Restraint

ASTANA – The member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) expressed serious concern over the developments in the Middle East and the military strikes on the...


Kazakhstan, ADB Discuss Strategic Cooperation, Sign $5.5 Billion Investment Program

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda on March 2 to discuss expanding cooperation and launching major projects in...


Kazakh Water Diplomats Undergo Training in Europe and China

ALMATY – Kazakh specialists in water management are receiving training in Europe and China as part of efforts to strengthen water diplomacy capacity, the Ministry of Water...


Kazakhstan Intensifies Consular Support, Plans Repatriation Flights from Middle East

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry is operating in an enhanced mode amid escalating military and political tensions across the Middle East, prioritizing the safety of citizens abroad...


Astana’s LRT Set to Begin Operations This Spring

ALMATY – The Light Rail Transit (LRT) system in Astana is expected to begin operations this spring, Astana Akim (Mayor) Zhenis Kassymbek announced on his Instagram page...


Kazakhstan’s Glaciers Melting Faster, Raising Risks of Floods and Water Shortages

ASTANA – Melting glaciers across Kazakhstan and Central Asia are accelerating climate risks from floods today to water shortages in the coming decades, scientists warned, citing long-term...


Kazakhstan Expresses Condolences to Iran, Urges De-Escalation in Middle East

ALMATY – Kazakh Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yerlan Zhetybayev extended condolences to the people of Iran over the loss of civilian lives, including children, as well as members...


Kazakhstan’s Oil Exports Continue Uninterrupted After Black Sea Port Incident

ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy confirmed that an incident at the Sheskharis oil loading terminal in Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk has not affected the...


IsDB to Support Infrastructure of Kazakhstan’s Special Economic and Industrial Zones

ALMATY – Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) will allocate $1.3 billion to support the construction and modernization of infrastructure in Kazakhstan’s special economic zones (SEZs) and industrial zones...


Kazakhstan Expands Coal Capacity to Secure Energy Supply

ALMATY – Kazakhstan plans to meet projected demand for more than 19 million tons of coal annually for new energy projects by expanding production capacity, Vice Minister...


Over 4,000 Kazakh Tourists Remain in Gulf States, Provided With Accommodation 

ALMATY – More than 4,000 organized tourists from Kazakhstan are now in Gulf countries following the closure of airspace due to escalating tensions in the region, said...