Kazakhstan Seen as Regional Leader in Sustainable Development, UN Expert Says

in International on 16 May 2026

ALMATY — Kazakhstan has the potential to become a regional model for inclusive and sustainable development, according to a United Nations expert, who praised the country’s economic and digital progress while calling for faster environmental reforms and broader civic participation. Following an official visit to Kazakhstan, UN Special Rapporteur on the …

Young Kazakhs to Study Tien Shan Glaciers in Research Expedition 

By Nagima Abuova in Nation on 17 May 2026

Kazakhstan Showcases Contemporary Steppe Identity at Venice Biennale

By Aiman Nakispekova in Culture,Editor’s Picks on 17 May 2026

British Director Captures Life of Central Asian Tortoise in One of World’s Harshest Landscapes

By Assel Satubaldina in Editor’s Picks,International on 17 May 2026

Almaty Mountain Cluster Project Aims to Redefine Tourism in Central Asia

By Ayana Birbayeva in Tourism on 16 May 2026

Batyrkhan Shukenov: Voice That Taught Us What Home Means

By Aida Haidar  in Culture,Editor’s Picks on 17 May 2026

Most Popular Stories
Day | Week | Month

Videos

Climate Crisis Is Here: Central Asia Sounds the Alarm

Samarkand Blew Our Mind: Journey to Silk Road Jewel

AI Will Break Capitalism — And No One Is Ready

Japan Eyes Kazakh Oil, Dubai Flights Suspended & Turkic Trade Push | Kazakhstan News Digest

Were Kazakh Women More Free Before?

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

More videos

Videos

Climate Crisis Is Here: Central Asia Sounds the Alarm

Samarkand Blew Our Mind: Journey to Silk Road Jewel

AI Will Break Capitalism — And No One Is Ready

Japan Eyes Kazakh Oil, Dubai Flights Suspended & Turkic Trade Push | Kazakhstan News Digest

Were Kazakh Women More Free Before?

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

More videos

Editor's Picks

Batyrkhan Shukenov: Voice That Taught Us What Home Means

BY Aida Haidar 

There are songs that don’t just become popular. Instead, they settle into the bloodstream of a country. Over time, they...

British Director Captures Life of Central Asian Tortoise in One of World’s Harshest Landscapes

BY Assel Satubaldina

ASTANA – Would you spend nearly two weeks following one of the slowest creatures on Earth? British director Saxon Bosworth...

Kazakhstan Showcases Contemporary Steppe Identity at Venice Biennale

BY Aiman Nakispekova

ASTANA – Kazakhstan presented its national pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia on May...

Tokayev Urges Greater Turkic Cooperation as Global Uncertainty Grows

BY Ayana Birbayeva

ALMATY — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev rejected claims that the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is evolving into a geopolitical or...

Kazakhstan and Türkiye Recast Their Eurasian Role

BY Assel Satubaldina

ASTANA – When Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arrived in Astana this week, the language of brotherhood between Kazakhstan and Türkiye sounded...

Tokayev Proposes Turkic AI Network and Digital Integration at Turkic States Summit

BY Ayana Birbayeva

ALMATY – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed creating a network of artificial intelligence centers, a joint Turkic IT hub and a...

Sound, Stage and Sport: Weekend Lineup of Experiences

BY Fatima Kemelova

ASTANA – This weekend in Astana and Almaty promises a dynamic mix of theater productions, live music, sports events and...

News Digest: Foreign Media on Middle Corridor, Türkiye-Kazakhstan Cooperation and Migration Reforms

BY Dana Omirgazy 

ASTANA – The Astana Times has made a selection of articles on Kazakhstan featured in international media worldwide this week....

Tokayev, Erdoğan Highlight AI, Logistics and Industrial Cooperation at Kazakh-Turkish Business Forum

BY

ASTANA – Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the Kazakh-Turkish business forum on May 14, where they emphasized expanding...

Kazakhstan and Türkiye Deepen Strategic Ties as Trade and Transit Ambitions Grow

BY Assel Satubaldina

ASTANA — Kazakhstan and Türkiye signed the Declaration on Eternal Friendship and Expanded Strategic Partnership on May 14 as the...

From Education to Energy: Kazakhstan and Türkiye Expand Strategic Partnership Through New Agreements

BY

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan participated via videoconference in the opening ceremony of the Khoja...

Kazakhstan and Türkiye Strengthen Strategic Alliance, Target $15 Billion in Trade

BY Dana Omirgazy 

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reaffirmed the strong strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and Türkiye during...

More stories

Editor's Picks

Batyrkhan Shukenov: Voice That Taught Us What Home Means

BY Aida Haidar 

There are songs that don’t just become popular. Instead, they settle into the bloodstream of a country. Over time, they...

British Director Captures Life of Central Asian Tortoise in One of World’s Harshest Landscapes

BY Assel Satubaldina

ASTANA – Would you spend nearly two weeks following one of the slowest creatures on Earth? British director Saxon Bosworth...

Kazakhstan Showcases Contemporary Steppe Identity at Venice Biennale

BY Aiman Nakispekova

ASTANA – Kazakhstan presented its national pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia on May...

Tokayev Urges Greater Turkic Cooperation as Global Uncertainty Grows

BY Ayana Birbayeva

ALMATY — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev rejected claims that the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is evolving into a geopolitical or...

More stories

Opinions

Kazakhstan and Türkiye Recast Their Eurasian Role

BY Assel Satubaldina

ASTANA – When Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arrived in Astana this week, the language of brotherhood between Kazakhstan and Türkiye sounded...

Kazakhstan’s New Social Formula: Balance Over Sacrifice

BY Aigul Zabirova

More and more Kazakhs say that everything matters. This is not an inability to choose, but evidence of a structural...

‘Going Green’ is Not Western Conception: Ecology is Part of Kazakh Cultural Heritage 

BY

What does it mean to be in harmony with nature? The recent Regional Ecological Summit, which took place April 22-24...

In the Rhythm of Samskara: Middle Powers’ Values for Values-Based World Order 

BY Miras Zhiyenbayev

The crisis of the world order is usually described as a crisis of rules. That is only half true. It...

OSCE, Kazakhstan, and Central Asia: a Partnership for Ecological Resilience

BY Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu

I am delighted to be back in Astana this week. At the kind invitation of President Tokayev, I’m pleased to...

Tashkent Int’l Financial Center Advances Investment Reform with Legal Certainty and Enforceability

BY Sobir Kurbanov

Uzbekistan’s launch of the Tashkent International Financial Center (TIFC) marks an ambitious and strategically important step in its ongoing economic...

Progress Isn’t Perfect, And That’s What Makes It Human

BY Ayana Birbayeva 

There is a certain expectation we carry when we think about technological progress. It is often imagined as a straight...

From Tradition to Transformation: Rethinking Volunteering in Central Asia

BY Haoliang Xu, Toily Kurbanov

There is a word in Kazakhstan—Asar. It describes a simple but powerful idea: when someone is in need, the community...

Kazakhstan’s Day of Lovers Highlights Love, Tradition and Identity

BY Aiman Nakispekova

ASTANA – Kazakhstan celebrates the Day of Lovers on April 15, known as Kozy Korpesh – Bayan Sulu Day, in...

Kazakhstan Was Launchpad for First Human in Space, What Comes Next?

BY Aida Haidar 

ASTANA – When Yuri Gagarin lifted off on April 12, 1961, from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan became the starting point of...

My Summer Memories From Peak Komsomolsky

BY Aizhan Arshabayeva

This summer I was in the mountains of the Zailiysky Alatau on a multi-day trek to Komsomolsky Peak. The air...

Work Forward: AI for Everyone

BY Aigerim Omirzhankyzy

I walk into the office and think about my daily meetings, emails, and deadlines. All familiar. But something new makes...

More stories

Opinions

Kazakhstan and Türkiye Recast Their Eurasian Role

BY Assel Satubaldina

ASTANA – When Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arrived in Astana this week, the language of brotherhood between Kazakhstan and Türkiye sounded...

Kazakhstan’s New Social Formula: Balance Over Sacrifice

BY Aigul Zabirova

More and more Kazakhs say that everything matters. This is not an inability to choose, but evidence of a structural...

‘Going Green’ is Not Western Conception: Ecology is Part of Kazakh Cultural Heritage 

BY

What does it mean to be in harmony with nature? The recent Regional Ecological Summit, which took place April 22-24...

In the Rhythm of Samskara: Middle Powers’ Values for Values-Based World Order 

BY Miras Zhiyenbayev

The crisis of the world order is usually described as a crisis of rules. That is only half true. It...

More stories

Infographics