The Astana Times
June 10, 2026 at 12:40 PM
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA – Lyazzat Kaltayeva, an expert and disability rights advocate from Kazakhstan, was elected to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on June 9. She became the first representative from Central Asia to serve on the body that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Kaltayeva’s election marks the first time a representative from Kazakhstan and Central Asia has secured a seat on the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Photo credit: the Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan to the UN The election took place during the 19th session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD at the UN headquarters. Kaltayeva received 157 votes, the highest among all candidates, and was elected to the committee for the 2027-2030 term. Representatives from Armenia, Benin, China, Ethiopia, Jordan, Lithuania, Palau an…
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The Astana Times
June 10, 2026 at 11:14 AM
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Information has approved new rules requiring films to undergo a mandatory pre-release examination before receiving permission for public screening. The regulations will take effect on June 16. Photo credit: Shutterstock Under the new rules, a special commission will review films to ensure compliance with national legislation. The examination is aimed at preventing the distribution of content that promotes violence, pedophilia, pornography, non-traditional sexual orientation, or incites social, racial, national, religious, class, or tribal hatred. Filmmakers will be required to submit their works to the commission, which will assess the content, hold discussions, vote on a decision, and issue an official expert opinion. The regulations also introduce a seven-tier age classification system for films, ranging from content intended for children under 6 to films r…
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The Astana Times
June 10, 2026 at 10:43 AM
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA – ESG, which stands for environmental, social and governance, is no longer a reputational issue but a market access requirement, and companies that adapt quickly will gain competitive advantage, according to Nadira Abenova, ESG Specialist at the Export Credit Agency of Kazakhstan. Nadira Abenova. Photo credit: personal archive The Export Credit Agency supports non-resource-based exports in priority sectors through credit guarantees and insurance while excluding fossil fuel and coal mining projects. “Today, ESG is no longer just about good practices. It has become a requirement of markets, investors, and partners. A company’s access to financing and export markets directly depends on how well it complies with these criteria,” Abenova said. According to her, how a company approaches ESG directly affects its access to export markets and cost of financing. “For instance, Europe is implementing th…
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The Astana Times
June 9, 2026 at 8:13 PM
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA – Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev held talks with the U.S. Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs and the U.S. Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, on June 9, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the enhanced strategic partnership. Sergio Gor and Yermek Kosherbayev. Photo credit: Foreign Ministry During the meeting, the officials discussed a wide range of topics on the bilateral agenda, with particular attention to the development of economic and investment cooperation, as well as collaboration in innovation and artificial intelligence, education, and science. Prospects for cooperation in transport, logistics, and critical minerals were also discussed, reported the ministry’s press service. Kosherbayev stressed that Kazakhstan is consistently implementing large-scale constitutional reforms and programs to modernize the national economy. He noted that Astana views Washi…
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The Astana Times
June 9, 2026 at 5:00 PM
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA – Kazakhstan and China reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening investment and business cooperation linking Shenzhen and Alatau City during talks between Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev and Shenzhen Mayor Qin Weizhong on June 9. The Alatau City model. Photo credit: Akorda. Click to see the map in full size. The map is designed by The Astana Times. Bozumbayev noted that Kazakhstan and China continue to strengthen their strategic partnership. He highlighted that bilateral trade reached a record $48.7 billion in 2025, while Chinese investment in Kazakhstan between 2005 and 2025 exceeded $29 billion, reported Kazinform. “When developing a special legal regime and development model for Alatau City, we are taking into account the best international practices, including those of Shenzhen, which over several decades has become one of the world’s leading centers for innovation, high tec…
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The Astana Times
June 9, 2026 at 4:16 PM
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA – Kazakhstan has introduced simplified entry and stay procedures for foreign visitors to support tourism development, Minister of Internal Affairs Yerzhan Sadenov announced at a June 9 government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov. Photo credit: freepik Citizens of 105 countries can obtain electronic visas without visiting embassies. Kazakhstan has also introduced the Digital Nomad Visa for IT specialists and the Neo Nomad Visa for tourists, while arrival notifications can be submitted online by the host party, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. QR-coded tourist cards containing travel regulations and emergency contacts are being distributed at airports and major border crossings. The QazETA mobile application is also being developed to expand migration services. Tourist police units operate in all 18 regions, providing security at tourist attractions and national parks,…
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The Astana Times
June 9, 2026 at 12:53 PM
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA — Kazakhstan and South Korea discussed expanding cooperation in trade, investment, energy, critical minerals, and technology during the 11th meeting of the Kazakh-Korean Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation on June 8. Photo credit: gov.kz The meeting highlighted the steady growth of bilateral economic ties. Mutual trade reached approximately $3.17 billion in 2025, while direct investment from South Korea to Kazakhstan totaled $8 billion over the past decade, reported Kazinform. Officials discussed measures to increase bilateral trade, diversify the range of goods traded, expand Kazakh exports to the South Korean market, and remove administrative and regulatory barriers for businesses. Kazakhstan’s Minister of Industry and Construction Yersain Nagaspayev described President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s upcoming visit to South Korea as a key milestone in the develo…
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The Astana Times
June 9, 2026 at 11:54 AM
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA – The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) latest monthly report warns that global oil markets are entering a period of sharp volatility, with demand expected to decline and supply disruptions continuing to reshape trade flows. For Kazakhstan, Central Asia’s largest oil producer, the report is particularly relevant as the country works to restore output after disruptions at major fields and maintain its role in global energy supply. The country’s three largest projects, Tengiz, Kashagan and Karachaganak, remain the backbone of Kazakhstan’s oil industry. Photo credit: KazMunayGas According to the IEA, global oil demand is forecast to decline by 420,000 barrels per day in 2026 to 104 million barrels per day. The agency said this is 1.3 million barrels per day lower than its pre-conflict forecast. The biggest fall is expected in the second quarter of 2026, with petrochemicals and aviation among the…
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The Astana Times
June 8, 2026 at 6:25 PM
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA — Kazakhstan has officially been recognized as free of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) across its livestock sector, becoming the only country in Central and Eastern Asia with the designation, a development expected to strengthen the country’s agricultural exports and international market access. Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov announced the achievement during a June 5 government meeting on agricultural development chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov in the North Kazakhstan Region. “The status contributes to strengthening the export potential of Kazakhstan’s livestock products,” Saparov said. The designation is expected to boost livestock exports and expand access to international markets. Photo credit: primeminister.kz The status was granted during the 93rd general session of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) held in Paris in May. The recognition marks a significant mi…
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The Astana Times
June 8, 2026 at 3:47 PM
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA — Kazakhstan will continue increasing oil production under the latest OPEC+ agreement, according to the Kazakh Energy Ministry. Photo credit: Reuters The announcement follows a virtual meeting of seven OPEC+ countries, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman on June 7, which agreed to gradually raise production as part of a coordinated effort to support stability in global oil markets. Under the decision, the participating countries will implement a collective production increase of 188,000 barrels per day in July 2026, while maintaining flexibility to adjust output depending on market conditions. Kazakhstan’s production quota is set to reach 1.608 million barrels per day in July, according to OPEC+ data. The group also reaffirmed its commitment to monitor global supply and demand conditions and retain the option to pause, accelerate or reverse production increases if ne…
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The Astana Times
June 8, 2026 at 2:50 PM
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA — Export revenue from Kazakhstan’s oilseed-processing industry has quadrupled over the past four years, reaching $963 million, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin said at the Fifth International Fats and Oils Conference (FOC 2026) in Astana on June 5, according to the Prime Minister’s press service. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin. Photo credit: primeminister.kz Opening the event, Zhumangarin said the industry has evolved from a segment of the agricultural sector into a strategically important pillar of Kazakhstan’s economy and a successful example of economic diversification. “Over just four years, export revenue from Kazakhstan’s oilseed products increased fourfold, from $240 million to $963 million. Production reached a record 1.6 million tons, while the industry accounted for 27% of the country’s processed agricult…
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The Astana Times
June 8, 2026 at 1:58 PM
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA – Cirque du Soleil’s acclaimed production OVO captivates audiences in the Kazakh capital from June 4-7 at Barys Arena, delighting both adults and children with its colorful, insect-inspired world. Blending acrobatics, music, and visual storytelling, the show transformed the everyday lives of tiny creatures into a spectacular theatrical experience. Photo credit: Freedom Events Behind-the-scenes preview for media One day before the official Kazakhstan premiere of OVO, the Cirque du Soleil team offered media representatives a rare look behind the scenes of one of the world’s most celebrated productions. On June 3, OVO by Cirque du Soleil hosted a special event for a limited group of invited guests. Members of the media were granted access to their backstage – an area closed to audiences – allowing them to experience firsthand the atmosphere and preparation behind one of the world’s most renowned li…
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The Astana Times
June 8, 2026 at 11:11 AM
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA – The Investor Rights Protection Committee oversees more than 3,000 projects worth over 100 trillion tenge ($205.6 billion), with prosecutors assigned to help investors resolve disputes, address regulatory hurdles and coordinate with government agencies, committee chairman Bauyrzhan Yeraly said in an interview with The Astana Times. Bauyrzhan Yeraly. Photo credit: the Investor Rights Protection Committee The committee was created in December 2025 and operates under the Prosecutor General’s Office. More than 600 investors have received assistance since the start of the year. While Kazakhstan has several institutions involved in investment promotion and project support, Yeraly said the committee’s mandate differs, focusing on legal protection for investors and the resolution of issues affecting their activities. “We are not responsible for attracting investment. Our role is to ensure that investo…
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The Astana Times
June 6, 2026 at 11:00 AM
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ALMATY — Archaeologists have begun a new excavation season at the medieval settlement of Zhankent in Kazakhstan’s Kyzylorda Region, continuing efforts to uncover the history of one of the most significant cities of the Oghuz state and a key site along the Silk Road, reported Kazinform. Archaeologists have begun a new excavation season at the medieval settlement of Zhankent in Kazakhstan’s Kyzylorda Region. Photo credit: Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University. Click to see the map in full size. The map is designed by The Astana Times. The archaeological works, supported by the regional administration, are taking place at the historic settlement in the Kazaly District. The project brings together researchers from the Archaeology and Ethnography Research Center of Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University, archaeologists, students and specialists from the regional center for the protection of historical and cultural her…
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The Astana Times
June 6, 2026 at 10:00 AM
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA – Construction of Kazakhstan’s first specialized 780 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEUs) container ship has officially begun at the Baku Shipyard, a significant step in expanding the country’s maritime transport capacity and strengthening the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor. Photo credit: Transport Ministry. The keel-laying ceremony was attended by Kazakh Deputy Minister of Transport Zhanibek Taizhanov. The vessel is being built under a partnership between the National Maritime Shipping Company, Kazmortransflot and Abu Dhabi Ports Group. The project includes the construction of two modern container ships designed to transport container cargo across the Caspian Sea by the end of 2027, reported the ministry’s press service on June 4. The new vessels are expected to increase Kazakhstan’s container shipping capacity, improve maritime transport efficiency…
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The Astana Times
June 5, 2026 at 4:59 PM
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed on June 5 a package of constitutional laws to implement the provisions of the Constitution adopted on March 15. Photo credit: Akorda The constitutional law on the President of Kazakhstan defines the status and powers of the President and introduces the office of Vice President, who will represent the Head of State before government bodies and perform duties assigned by the President, reported Akorda. The law on the Kurultai (Congress) of Kazakhstan and the Status of Its Deputies establishes the Kurultai as the country’s supreme legislative body. It will consist of 145 deputies elected through party lists for five-year terms and will hold broad powers, including approving key state appointments, calling presidential elections and approving reports on the execution of the national budget. The law on the Kazakhstan People’s Council establishes …
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The Astana Times
June 5, 2026 at 3:56 PM
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA – Kazakh chess player Bibisara Assaubayeva secured the Norway Chess Women 2026 title ahead of the final round after a strong showing at one of the world’s most prestigious chess tournaments, held in Oslo from May 25 to June 5. Photo credit: Norway Chess The 22-year-old entered the ninth and penultimate round as the tournament leader and needed only one point against her closest challenger, Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk, to guarantee first place. For her victory, Assaubayeva will receive 700,000 Norwegian kroner (US$74,821), according to the tournament’s press service. Throughout the tournament, Assaubayeva defeated several top-ranked opponents, including Ju Wenjun, the reigning five-time Women’s World Chess Champion. The post Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva Wins Norway Chess 2026 Title appeared first on The Astana Times.
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Kyrgyzstan News
June 4, 2026 at 8:15 AM
Almaty Region, Kazakhstan's fourth most populous region, shares a border with China, giving it a special role in Kazakhstan-China cooperation.ALMATY, June 4 (Xinhua) -- "As a region bordering China and possessing transit corridor advantages, Almaty Region attaches great importance to its role in bilateral cooperation and is actively promoting the establishment of a local cooperation center," Mar
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Kyrgyzstan News
June 3, 2026 at 6:17 PM
SHARJAH, 3rd June May, 2026 (WAM) -- Al Qasimia University, through its Language Centre, organised an intensive specialised training course titled "Curricula and Methods of Teaching Arabic to Non-Native Speakers".The programme was hosted by Al-Farabi National University in the Republic of Kazakhstan as part of the university's international mission to promote the Arabic language and strengthen its academic prese
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