Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.
Kazakhstan Leads Central Asia in Sustainable Finance, OECD Reports
The Astana Times
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July 11, 2025
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has positioned itself as Central Asia’s frontrunner in sustainable finance, according to a June 16 report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on Responsible Business Conduct for Sustainable...
Kazakh Foreign Minister Visits Kabul, Signs $500M Railway Deal as Mining Push Gathers Momentum
Times of Central Asia
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July 11, 2025
In a major step toward deepening regional engagement, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu arrived in Kabul this week, signaling a continuing shift towards pragmatic engagement in Astana’s policy towards Afghanistan. The visit resulted in...
USA - Workers are being deported
Indybay - California
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July 17, 2025
The promise to deport millions of immigrants is a central part of Trump's Make America Great Again program. In both presidential campaigns, he described immigrants as “terrorists, murderers, rapists” or “mentally ill.” After his re-election, he...
Kazakhstan’s Digital Revolution: From e-Government to AI Superpower
The Astana Times
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July 10, 2025
ASTANA – By 2025, Kazakhstan has emerged as a regional frontrunner in digital transformation – not only in fintech and IT exports, but also in the delivery of public services, AI development, and broadband connectivity. Now ranking among the...
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister visits Kabul, vows to expand ties
Ariana News
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July 11, 2025
Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs and head of the High Commission for Addressing the Problems of Returning Afghan Refugees, says over 500,000 Afghan migrants have returned from Iran in the past month alone — a...
Kazakhstan Launches Central Asia’s Most Powerful Supercomputer
The Astana Times
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July 10, 2025
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took part in the official launch of Kazakhstan’s new national supercomputer on July 9. Photo credit: gov.kz The new supercomputing cluster is powered by NVIDIA H200 graphics processors and delivers a...
Kazakhstan Reinforces Multivector Foreign Policy
The Jamestown Foundation
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Executive Summary: Kazakhstan has awarded Rosatom the contract to build its first nuclear power plant, signaling continued collaboration with Russia while simultaneously exploring future partnerships with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and...
Kazakhstan Nears Universal Coverage in Inclusive Education
The Astana Times
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July 9, 2025
ASTANA – As of 2025, Kazakhstan has ensured inclusive education in 70% of preschool institutions, 90% of general secondary schools, and 81% of technical and vocational institutions, Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Higher and Postgraduate...
Kabul, Astana Agree To Set Up Joint Road, Rail Transport Firms
MENAFN
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July 12, 2025
(MENAFN- Pajhwok Afghan News) KABUL (Pajhwok): Acting Afghan Industry and Commerce Minister Nooruddin Azizi and Kazakhstan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister have agreed to establish joint road and rail transport companies and facilitate...
Kazakhstan’s Bakhyt Khajibayev Wins Best Actor Award at SCO Film Festival in China
The Astana Times
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July 8, 2025
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s actor Bakhyt Khajibayev won the best actor award at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Film Festival on July 6 in the Chinese city of Chongqing. He was recognized for a leading role in “Operation Nabat,” a drama...
Digging Deeper: Kazakhmys Barlau’s Plan for Exploration, Talent, and Afghanistan’s Geology
The Astana Times
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July 11, 2025
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has set an ambitious national goal: to bring the level of Kazakhstan’s subsoil exploration to 2.2 million square kilometers. To put that in perspective, this is larger than the entire area of Saudi Arabia....
Comic Con Astana 2025: Kazakhstan’s Premier Geek Culture Festival Set to Break Records
Times of Central Asia
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July 11, 2025
Geek culture has become a vibrant facet of Astana’s tourist appeal, and on July 9, the city kicked off the fourth edition of Comic Con Astana, Kazakhstan’s flagship festival for anime, comics, and cosplay. Over the years, festival-goers have...
Russia offers diverse tourism and education opportunities: Sofia Malyavina
OERLive
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July 11, 2025
Russia is actively promoting its diverse tourism and education opportunities to a global audience, with a particular focus on visitors and students from Arab and Asian nations. This initiative was prominently showcased at the St. Petersburg...
Policy support, smart infrastructure: Xinjiang accelerates westward opening-up with combined measures
Global Times
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An airplane departs from Urumqi Tianshan International Airport File photo: VCG Five minutes - that is the maximum time a foreign traveler needs to spend at the tax refund counter in the new terminal 4 of Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in...
How ForteBank is Shaping Kazakhstan’s Banking Future
World Finance
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  In the fast-evolving financial landscape of Kazakhstan, ForteBank stands as a testament to pragmatic leadership and disciplined strategy. Under the stewardship of CEO Talgat Kuanyshev, ForteBank has entered a new chapter defined by universal...
Kazakhstan Sees Surge in Schengen Visa Applications with Germany Leading as Top Destination
The Astana Times
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July 7, 2025
ASTANA – The number of Schengen visa applications submitted by Kazakh residents reached a ten-year high in 2024, with nearly 180,000 applications filed, according to the latest data released by SchengenVisaInfo. Photo credit: ma8 – stock.adobe.com...
Kazakh Artist Brings Aitys Into Contemporary Space as Part of Venice Biennale Residency
The Astana Times
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July 7, 2025
ALMATY – The Italian Institute of Culture in Almaty hosts “Thin Walls / Aitys / Lost in Translation,” a solo installation by Kazakh contemporary artist Syrlybek Bekbotayev, on view between June 12 to July 12. The exhibition marks the final...
Astana: City That Dreams With Us – 1. Listening to Wind
The Astana Times
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July 6, 2025
When we think of Astana, the first thing that comes to mind is high-level visits of politicians and international summits. It’s a city of strategy, diplomacy, and national ambition. But beneath that polished, political surface lies something...
Kazakhstan sees surge in overseas branch campuses
The PIE news
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July 7, 2025
According to the country’s the ministry of science and higher education, universities from Russia, UK, Türkiye, South Korea, Germany, and Italy are set to open institutions in the central Asian country. The Moscow State Institute of International...
Astana: City That Dreams With Us – 2. Tailoring Dignity, Stitch by Stitch
The Astana Times
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July 7, 2025
When we think of Astana, the first thing that comes to mind is high-level visits of politicians and international summits. It’s a city of strategy, diplomacy, and national ambition. But beneath that polished, political surface lies something...