Home - The Astana Times

Kazakh Pensioner Begins 2,800-Kilometer Walk Across Europe

By Aiman Nakispekova in Editor’s Picks,People on 7 March 2026

ASTANA – For most people, retirement marks a slowing down. For Sarsenbai Kotyrashov, it became the beginning of an extraordinary journey. At 76, the Kazakh traveler has set out on the fourth stage of his long-distance adventures, this time across Europe. His route begins in Serbia and stretches through Hungary, Austria …

Bright Lights, Big Smiles: International Women’s Day Festivities Await

By Fatima Kemelova in Editor’s Picks,Tourism on 6 March 2026

Azerbaijan Thanks Tokayev for Condemning Attack on Nakhchivan

By Assel Satubaldina in International on 7 March 2026

Women in Kazakhstan Surpass 10.4 Million Ahead of International Women’s Day

By Aida Haidar in Nation on 7 March 2026

International Conference Revisits Alikhan Bokeikhan’s Legacy, History of Alash

By Nargiz Raimbekova in Nation on 7 March 2026

Kazakhstan Urges Citizens to Avoid Travel to Middle East Amid Ongoing Escalation

By Assel Satubaldina in International on 7 March 2026

Most Popular Stories

Day | Week | Month

Videos

Tokayev’s Deals with Pakistan, Rybakina’s Australian Open Triumph, and more | Kazakhstan News Digest

Winter in Astana: How the World’s Second Coldest Capital Stays Active

Development Bank of Kazakhstan on Financing Growth and Strategic Priorities

Kazakhstan Joins Trump’s Board of Peace, New Political Reforms & More | Kazakhstan News Digest

Kazakhstan–Russia Deals, Fintech Breakthroughs, Rybakina’s WTA Finals Win |Kazakhstan News Digest

Meeting with Donald Trump, Trade in Shanghai, QS Asia University Rankings | Kazakhstan News Digest

AI Will Break Capitalism | Brett King Explains What Comes Next

How Do We Rebuild Trust in International System? Insights from Astana Think Tank Forum

More videos

Videos

Tokayev’s Deals with Pakistan, Rybakina’s Australian Open Triumph, and more | Kazakhstan News Digest

Winter in Astana: How the World’s Second Coldest Capital Stays Active

Development Bank of Kazakhstan on Financing Growth and Strategic Priorities

Kazakhstan Joins Trump’s Board of Peace, New Political Reforms & More | Kazakhstan News Digest

Kazakhstan–Russia Deals, Fintech Breakthroughs, Rybakina’s WTA Finals Win |Kazakhstan News Digest

Meeting with Donald Trump, Trade in Shanghai, QS Asia University Rankings | Kazakhstan News Digest

AI Will Break Capitalism | Brett King Explains What Comes Next

How Do We Rebuild Trust in International System? Insights from Astana Think Tank Forum

More videos

Editor's Picks

Kazakh Pensioner Begins 2,800-Kilometer Walk Across Europe

BY Aiman Nakispekova

ASTANA – For most people, retirement marks a slowing down. For Sarsenbai Kotyrashov, it became the beginning of an extraordinary...

Kazakhstan Kicks Off Spring Tourism Season with Cultural and Gastronomic Festivals

BY Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will open its spring tourism season in March with two flagship events showcasing the country’s cultural and...

Bright Lights, Big Smiles: International Women’s Day Festivities Await

BY Fatima Kemelova

ASTANA – As International Women’s Day approaches, on this holiday weekend, the cities will come alive with music, and celebrations,...

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...

Kazakhstan Details Humanitarian Role in Board of Peace Initiatives for Gaza

BY Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA — Kazakhstan detailed its humanitarian contributions to the Board of Peace, an international initiative proposed by U.S. President Donald...

Kazakhstan Continues Repatriation of Citizens from Middle East

BY Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA — Another group of Kazakh citizens has returned home from the Middle East. On the night of March 4-5,...

Survey Highlights Strong Civic Engagement in Kazakhstan’s Constitutional Referendum

BY Dana Omirgazy

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

Foreign Ministry Expands Evacuation Efforts as More Kazakh Citizens Return Home

BY Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA — The number of Kazakh citizens evacuated from areas affected by escalating tensions in the Middle East continues to...

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

BY Ayana Birbayeva

ALMATY – Kazakhstan has launched evacuation operations to return its citizens from areas affected by escalating tensions in the Middle...

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

BY Rassul Kospanov, Vlad Paddack

Foreign ministers and senior officials from more than 50 countries convened on Feb.4 in Washington for the United States’ inaugural...

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

BY Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA – Kazakhstan does not take sides in the escalating Middle East conflict and calls for disputes to be resolved...

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

BY Jhoo Dong-chan

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

More stories

Editor's Picks

Kazakh Pensioner Begins 2,800-Kilometer Walk Across Europe

BY Aiman Nakispekova

ASTANA – For most people, retirement marks a slowing down. For Sarsenbai Kotyrashov, it became the beginning of an extraordinary...

Kazakhstan Kicks Off Spring Tourism Season with Cultural and Gastronomic Festivals

BY Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will open its spring tourism season in March with two flagship events showcasing the country’s cultural and...

Bright Lights, Big Smiles: International Women’s Day Festivities Await

BY Fatima Kemelova

ASTANA – As International Women’s Day approaches, on this holiday weekend, the cities will come alive with music, and celebrations,...

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...

More stories

Opinions

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

BY Rassul Kospanov, Vlad Paddack

Foreign ministers and senior officials from more than 50 countries convened on Feb.4 in Washington for the United States’ inaugural...

From Steppe to Spotlight: Kazakhstan’s Cultural Boom

BY Zarina Zhumanova

The night Jennifer Lopez came to Astana, the city was different. The streets were crowded with people from all of...

From Declarations to Corridors: Rethinking Economic Integration In Central Asia

BY Rafis Abazov

For more than three decades, economic integration in Central Asia has been shaped by ambitious declarations, multilateral communiqués, and periodic...

Addiction to Games: Silent Mental Health Crisis

BY Temirlan Nurtazin

Gambling looks harmless enough. A spin of the wheel or a quick bet on a football game appear to be...

AI for Inclusive Growth: New Frontier in India–Kazakhstan Cooperation

BY Y.K. Sailas Thangal

India’s hosting of the Artificial Intelligence Summit in New Delhi on Feb. 19-20, 2026, under the theme “Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan...

Kuwaiti-Kazakh Diplomacy: Model for Sustainable International Cooperation

BY Abdulhamid Hamid Al-Kba

In a world accelerating with geopolitical and economic transformations, the relations between Kuwait and Kazakhstan stand out as a unique...

How Central Asia’s Financial Markets Are Quietly Taking Shape

BY Gustavo Pessoa

For much of the past three decades, Central Asia has been viewed primarily through the lens of commodities, infrastructure and...

Advancing Middle Corridor Integration: Azerbaijan’s Growing Role as Key Trade Gateway

BY Fuad Shahbazov

On November 25, the first meeting of the Eurasian Transport Route (ETR) International Association under the chairmanship of Azerbaijan was...

Between Dollar and Dragon: Geopolitics of Rising Yuan

BY Sobir Kurbanov, Vlad Paddack

The U.S. dollar still anchors global finance, but the system is evolving at the margins. The Chinese renminbi remains a...

Volunteerism as Way of Life in Kazakhstan

BY Aiman Nakispekova

This year has been designated the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development, recognizing the vital role volunteers play in...

Galloping Through Cultures: How Horses Connect Humanity

Every time the Chinese New Year approaches, I find myself paying closer attention to the animal of the year. Not...

Constitution as Strategy: Why Kazakhstan Is Rewriting the Rules Now

BY Miras Zhiyenbayev.

The world is sliding into geoeconomic fragmentation: trade and investment are increasingly filtered through security logic, and predictability is becoming...

More stories

Opinions

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

BY Rassul Kospanov, Vlad Paddack

Foreign ministers and senior officials from more than 50 countries convened on Feb.4 in Washington for the United States’ inaugural...

From Steppe to Spotlight: Kazakhstan’s Cultural Boom

BY Zarina Zhumanova

The night Jennifer Lopez came to Astana, the city was different. The streets were crowded with people from all of...

From Declarations to Corridors: Rethinking Economic Integration In Central Asia

BY Rafis Abazov

For more than three decades, economic integration in Central Asia has been shaped by ambitious declarations, multilateral communiqués, and periodic...

Addiction to Games: Silent Mental Health Crisis

BY Temirlan Nurtazin

Gambling looks harmless enough. A spin of the wheel or a quick bet on a football game appear to be...

More stories

Infographics