Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.

Illustrated Wildlife Book Captures Spirit of Kazakh Steppe
ASTANA — The Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK) unveiled the second edition of its richly illustrated science-popular book, “Steppe Mammals of Kazakhstan,” at a presentation in Astana on June 18. This expanded...

Kazakh Nomads and Authentic Tourism: Interview with Mongolia’s Cultural Envoy Dr. Gantemur Damba
This week The Times of Central Asia will be attending the CAMCA Regional Forum, which this year is being held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The CAMCA network is a collection of professionals and policymakers dedicated to sharing ideas, knowledge and...

Kazakh medical student’s life upended by Turkish intelligence over false allegations
Abdullah Bozkurt/ Stockholm Turkey’s notorious intelligence agency, Milli İstihbarat Teşkilatı (MIT), secretly designated a Kazakh medical student as a national security threat without providing any evidence, effectively destroying his future and...

Solana inks partnership with Kazakhstan Ministry to advance tokenized markets and crypto education
Solana announced that it has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kazakhstan government to advance the region’s crypto industry through education and boosting startups. In a recent post, the blockchain announced that the...

World Bank: Poverty Falls in Kazakhstan, but Inequality and Child Poverty Persist
The World Bank has released a comprehensive report on poverty in Kazakhstan, analyzing trends from 2006 to 2021. Presented to journalists in Almaty, the report paints a detailed picture of the country’s evolving socio-economic landscape. Defining...

Literary Magazine Gives Voice to Emerging Kazakh Writers and Poets
ALMATY – Sozday, a Kazakh independent literary magazine, provides a unique platform for emerging writers and poets, and established names, to share their stories with a broader audience. In an interview with The Astana Times, Ilya Odegov, the...

Kazakhstan Ranks 37th in Coursera Global Skills Report, Leads in Gender Inclusivity
ASTANA – Kazakhstan ranked 37th in Coursera’s Global Skills Report and 51st on the AI Maturity Index, reinforcing its stable position in the global landscape of digital and professional skills. The rankings are based on data from over 170 million...
Kazakh journalist's martial arts bond with China
14 years ago, Ilyas Mashanlo from Kazakhstan, driven by his passion for Chinese martial arts, came to China to study. After graduation, Mashanlo returned home and exchanged his nunchaku for a microphone, becoming a media professional. From a...
The Director of the CAREC Project Office in Turkmenistan paid a working visit to Kazakhstan
Publication date: 23 June 2025 Mergen Kepbanov, Director of the Project Office of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) in Turkmenistan, paid a working visit to Almaty, Kazakhstan, from June 17 to 19, 2025. During the visit, a...

President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan dies at age 78
MOSCOW (AP) — Islam Karimov, who crushed all opposition in the Central Asian country of Uzbekistan as its only president in a quarter-century of independence from the Soviet Union, has died of a stroke at age 78, the Uzbek government announced...

Kazakhstan Climbs to 60th Place in UNDP Human Development Index
ASTANA – Kazakhstan ranks 60th out of 193 countries and territories in the latest Human Development Index (HDI) published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This marks an improvement of seven positions compared to last year. Photo...

Bitget and UNICEF: A Game-Changing Partnership for Blockchain Education
In a pioneering move, Bitget has officially joined UNICEF’s Game Changers Coalition, embarking on a crucial mission to provide digital and blockchain skills to 300,000 young people across eight countries in 2025. This collaboration marks a...

Hearts transfer work continues as Uchenna Ogundu agrees deal in Turkey - Islam Chesnokov & Lawrence Shankland
The Nigerian forward is close to signing for Alanyaspor but Chesnokov and Shankland are ongoing Nigerian forward Uchenna Ogundu is set to stay in Turkey following transfer interest from various European clubs, including Hearts. The 19-year-old has...

UN Rules Gulnara Karimova’s Arrest Was Unlawful and Arbitrary
The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has determined that the 2014 arrest of Gulnara Karimova, daughter of Uzbekistan’s late President Islam Karimov, was both unlawful and arbitrary. The finding was published in a recent report...

Kazakhstan: Great musician's centenary honored in 'Alkissa' concert held in Beijing
Governor of Almaty region, Kazakhstan Marat Sultangaziyev gives his opening remarks before the concert in Beijing, on May 21, 2025. Photo: Dong Feng/GTThe Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in China hosted a concert - a program of the creative...
A Taste of Shaanxi in Astana
Try your hand at calligraphy, play time-honored games, and sip fragrant tea! At the Chang'an night gala, co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the Shaanxi Provincial Government in Astana, guests enjoyed a vibrant celebration of Chinese culture and...

Ankara crowned 'Tourism Capital of Turkic World' for 2026
Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Türkiye’s minister of culture and tourism, announced that Ankara, the capital city of Türkiye, has been officially designated as the “Tourism Capital of the Turkic World" for the year 2026. This significant decision was made...

Jammu and Kashmir Among Bottom Tier in Students Studying Abroad, Reveals MEA Data
by Umaima Reshi SRINAGAR: Despite India witnessing a steady increase in students going abroad for higher education over recent years, Jammu and Kashmir continues to contribute only a small fraction to this growing national trend. According to data...

Kazakhstan Develops AI-Driven Professional Standards Across Eight Domains
(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) ASTANA, Kazakhstan, June 13. The Government of Kazakhstan is developing professional standards using artificial intelligence (AI) for training specialists in eight key industries, Trend reports. In 2025, a cohort of...

Kazakhstan’s AIFC Presents Casebook on 18 Green Projects
ASTANA – The Astana International Financial Centre’s (AIFC) Green Finance Centre has published the Comprehensive Casebook on Sustainable Financial Instruments, showcasing 18 flagship projects with a total value exceeding $650 million, reported...