Kazakhstan produced 471,000 tons of refined copper in 2025, with global demand for copper significantly influencing the country's export landscape.

Kazakhstan has increasingly extradited Russians facing political charges in Russia since the beginning of the year, raising concerns for opponents of Putin seeking refuge abroad.

The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ALMATY – For the first time in the history of Kazakh tennis, four representatives of the country have simultaneously entered the top 10 of the world rankings, highlighting the steady progress of Kazakhstan’s tennis school and the systematic development of the sport, reported the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation on Feb. 23.  Leading the women’s national team,… The post Four Kazakh Tennis Players Break into World T...

The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. Gambling looks harmless enough. A spin of the wheel or a quick bet on a football game appear to be harmless entertainment. However in Kazakhstan, this game is becoming a silent threat. Ludomania, or gambling addiction, is on the rise as online casinos and betting apps become more popular. Families are falling apart, bank accounts… The post Addiction to Games: Silent Mental Health Crisis  appeared first on The...

Kazakhstan and France are moving into the active implementation phase of a significant 1 gigawatt wind power project, following a recent meeting between officials.

The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA — Foreign direct investment (FDI) stock from Asian countries into Central Asian economies grew 2.3 times between 2016 and the first half of 2025, rising from $29.9 billion to $68 billion, according to data from the Eurasian Development Bank. According to the bank’s Monitoring of Mutual Investments report released in January, the expansion reflects… The post Asian Investors Pour $68 Billion Into Central...

The British newspaper The Telegraph has included Kazakhstan's Bozzhyra Tract in the Mangystau Region in its list of the '10 deserts you must visit in your lifetime'.

The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA — Kazakhstan finished the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy with one gold medal, marking the country’s seco

The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA — The World Bank Group is preparing to launch its 2026-2031 partnership strategy with Kazakhstan as the country completes a previous phase of cooperation that delivered 14 projects worth $4.2 billion. The new framework aims to support Kazakhstan’s transition beyond a state-dominated, resource-driven growth model, said World Bank Country Manager for Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan… The post World Bank Count...

Life in the Kazakh steppe has historically been dictated by the strict seasonal order of nature, customary law, and pastoral rhythms, particularly during winter.

Kazakhstan's Mikhail Shaidorov, a gold medalist in men's figure skating, garnered significant attention for his 'Kung Fu Panda' suit at the Olympics gala.

S&P Global Ratings has affirmed Kazakhstan's long-term sovereign credit rating at 'BBB-' with a positive outlook, but highlighted risks related to oil and export routes.

The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA — Three striped hyenas and two wild dogs have arrived at Karagandy Zoo. All the animals are young and are still acclimating to the new environment, Kazinform reported on Feb. 18. Striped hyenas have been listed in the IUCN Red List since 2008. They are the only hyena species found outside Africa.  Two female… The post Karagandy Zoo Welcomes Rare Predators from Yerevan appeared first on The Astana Times.

During the second week of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Kazakhstan achieved historic results, including notable performances in ski jumping and top-10 finishes in speed skating.

Indonesia, Morocco, Kosovo, Kazakhstan, and Egypt have committed to sending troops and providing training for a police force as part of a proposed Gaza peacekeeping plan.

In 2022, Kazakhstan became one of the main escape routes for Russians fleeing wartime repressions and military service. In the weeks after the Kremlin announced a mobilization, more than 400,000 people entered the country from Russia. For many, it was just a stopover, but an estimated 50,000 to 80,000 stayed. Many Russians saw Kazakhstan as an obvious choice: they could travel there without international passports, and the Russian language is widely understood. And while Astana didn’t condemn...

Persian calligraphy exhibition, master class held at Eurasian National University in Kazakhstan  Tehran Times

Kazakhstan is reportedly moving to extradite Yulia Yemelyanova, a former Navalny volunteer, to Russia, where she is accused of stealing a mobile phone in 2021.

Registration has officially opened for the Regional Ecological Summit (RES 2026) in Almaty, Kazakhstan, allowing participants and guests to register through the event's official channels.

Oil majors operating Kazakhstan's Kashagan field have initiated arbitration proceedings to dispute a $4.6 billion fine.

Germany's carrier Lufthansa will restore regular flights to Almaty and Astana from Frankfurt am Main, with services set to resume on March 29.

The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s Astana Team claimed victory at the 2026 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament in Canada, winning the AA Elite division, the second-highest tier of the competition, reported the Kazakhstan Hockey Federation’s press service on Feb. 23.  According to Presidential Press Secretary Aibek Smadiyarov, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated the young hockey players on their… The p...

Kazakhstan has presented the procedures for voting and tabulating results in its upcoming national constitutional referendum, scheduled for March 15.

Shell is leading a group of oil companies in challenging a significant $5 billion environmental fine imposed in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan is moving beyond a traditional feedstock-based petrochemical model, accelerating investment in deep processing and large-scale polymer production.

The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has approved an $846 million IBRD guarantee to mobilize $1.41 billion in long-term commercial financing for rail connectivity and logistics in Kazakhstan.

What Does the Proposed Word Change in Kazakhstan’s New Constitution Draft Mean?  UzDaily.uz

The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ALMATY – Kazakhstan marked the legacy of the great philosopher Al-Farabi at the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in Rabat, Morocco, on Feb. 19, as part of ongoing cultural cooperation. Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Morocco Saulekul Sailaukyzy met with Director General of ICESCO Salim Al Malik, following an art exhibition “The… The post Kazakhstan Honors Al-Farab...

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are engaged in discussions to foster cooperation within the mining sector.

The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA — Financial institutions across Central Asia are accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence, with

The 'New Discoveries in the Archaeology of Kazakhstan' exhibition launched in Astana, presenting 300 rare artifacts and recent research findings from the Margulan Institute.

A new Kazakh-Italian Trade House has officially opened in Almaty, aiming to strengthen bilateral trade, economic, and investment cooperation between Kazakhstan and Italy.

Glencore is reportedly close to selling its zinc mining business in Kazakhstan for approximately $4 billion, according to Bloomberg.

Beijing Blasts Trump After US Releases New Details On Alleged 2020 Chinese Nuclear Test Update: Despite the Lunar New Year holiday, Beijing has made it known it is not best pleased with Washington digging up Nuke blasts from the past. Issuing a statement via state mouthpiece (@HuXijin_GT), the CCP suggested an ulterior motive for the timing of this announcement: "Trump is eager to resume nuclear testing and needs a plausible reason, and accusing China of conducting nuclear tests is the perfect pretext. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Yeaw stated on Tuesday that the US is prepared to conduct low-yield nuclear tests in response to alleged secret nuclear tests by China and Russia. The US is being far too hasty; having just fabricated rumors that China conducted an explosive nuclear test nearly six years ago, they are already announcing their own low-yield nuclear test. Washington's motives for spreading these rumors are too clear; they can't even be bothered to feign it." Hard to disagree with the latter point. *  *  * As Kimberley Hayek detailed earlier via The Epoch Times, a senior State Department official released additional evidence Tuesday in support of U.S. allegations that China conducted an underground nuclear test in June 2020, as global arms control frameworks unravel. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Yeaw, while speaking to a Hudson Institute meeting, discussed data from a remote seismic station in Kazakhstan that recorded a magnitude 2.75 “explosion” approximately 450 miles from China’s Lop Nur test grounds on June 22, 2020. “I’ve looked at additional data since then. There is very little possibility I would say that it is anything but an explosion, a singular explosion,” Yeaw said, underscoring that the data were not consistent with blasts from mining. “It’s also entirely not consistent with an earthquake,” said Yeaw, a former intelligence analyst and defense official who holds a doctorate in nuclear engineering. “It is ... what you would expect with a nuclear explosive test.” Yeaw argued that China tried to hide the event through decoupling, detonating the device in a spacious underground cavity to diminish seismic waves. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control Thomas DiNanno earlier this month accused China of performing such secretive nuclear arms tests and implementing measures to restrict seismic evidence. “Today, I can reveal that the U.S. Government is aware that China has conducted nuclear explosive tests, including preparing for tests with designated yields in the hundreds of tons,” DiNanno said. These claims back up Yeaw’s assertions of concealment tactics. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, which monitors global explosions, noted that available data do not allow for firm conclusions. Executive Secretary Robert Floyd said in a statement that the seismic monitoring station in Kazakhstan captured “two very small seismic events” 12 seconds apart on June 22, 2020. The organization’s network detects events equivalent to 551 tons (500 metric tons) of TNT or more, according to Floyd. “These two events were far below that level,” Floyd said. “As a result, with this data alone, it is not possible to assess the cause of these events with confidence.” China, a signatory to the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty but not a ratifier, rejected the initial U.S. accusation at an international conference this month. Beijing’s last acknowledged underground test occurred in 1996. The United States, which also signed but did not ratify the treaty, is legally bound to its terms under international norms. America’s final underground test was in 1992, with subsequent reliance on sophisticated simulations and supercomputers for warhead maintenance. President Donald Trump recently called on China to take part in trilateral talks with Russia to support the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), which ended Feb. 5. China refused the invitation, arguing that its arsenal is far smaller than those of the United States and Russia. The Pentagon estimates China’s current operational warheads at more than 600. The stockpile is expected to exceed 1,000 by 2030. The Federation of American Scientists, an organization working to minimize the risks of nuclear threats, tracks Russia as currently having 5,459 warheads, while the United States has 5,177. The New START accord expiration removes caps on deployed strategic warheads and delivery vehicles, potentially accelerating buildups. Russia and the United States said they would informally observe limits. Tyler Durden Thu, 02/19/2026 - 04:15

Cove Kaz and Tau-Ken Samruk have announced a partnership to develop a tungsten project in Kazakhstan.

As Demand Grows, US Nuclear Energy Industry Faces Looming Crunch In Reactor Fuel Supply Authored by John Haughey via The Epoch Times, The Department of Energy (DOE) has invested billions in incentivizing domestic production of enriched uranium for the commercial development of advanced nuclear reactors, including $2.7 billion issued last month to three companies to build centrifuges and processing plants necessary to produce fuel for reactor cores. Yet, a fuel crunch that could hobble President Donald Trump’s “nuclear renaissance” initiatives looms as soon as 2028, several experts warned during the two-day U.S. Nuclear Industry Council’s 13th annual Advanced Reactors Summit in Seattle that concluded Feb. 12.  “If America wants to lead in advanced reactors, we have to do the nuclear fuel here. Make no mistake about that,” Centrus Energy Senior Vice President Patrick Brown told more than 400 nuclear industry professionals on Feb.12. “Unfortunately, we’re really building from zero.” Right now, he said, less than 1 percent of the nuclear fuel that the nation’s 94 commercial reactors annually consume is produced domestically, and that is exclusively dedicated to the Pentagon. The nation’s commercial nuclear energy industry is “completely reliant on foreign imports” of enriched uranium, he said, primarily from Kazakhstan and Canada. Those imports include up to 5 percent from Russia that won’t be available soon. In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Congress in 2023 banned U.S. companies from importing Russian uranium. That ban goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2028. Brown said with the global nuclear fuel market already constrained, domestic industry’s scramble to revive enrichment—a process American companies invented and once dominated—is now a race to have supply available to meet demand as new reactors come online. Because that demand—spurred by the president’s May 2025 executive orders to license 10 new reactors by 2030 and quadruple commercial nuclear energy output by 2050—is likely to outpace domestic fuel production until the early 2030s, he said a timing shortage will emerge in 2028.  “That’s when we'll see that the problem is there’s not enough non-Russian supply” of enriched uranium to replace even the relatively small amount it now produces in a tight market where restrictions on one supplier impacts the entire market. “Fortunately,” Brown said, the industry and the Trump administration recognize there is an approaching gap between burgeoning demand and static supply, and has deemed restoring domestic capacity to enrich uranium a national security priority akin to “a second Manhattan Project.” The entrance of Urenco's uranium enrichment plant in Gronau, Germany. Urenco USA also operates a commercial enrichment plant in New Mexico and is among the few companies in the United States authorized to do so. Volker Hartmann/DDP/AFP via Getty Images Industry Must Respond The nation’s domestic nuclear fuel supply chain got a $2.7 billion boost when the Department of Energy on Jan. 5 issued awards to three domestic companies to enrich low-enriched uranium and high-assay low-enriched uranium. Securing $900 million awards each to build uranium enrichment plants are California-based General Matter in a former Paducah gaseous diffusion plant in western Kentucky, North Carolina-headquartered Orano Group’s Federal Services operation in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Maryland-based Centrus Energy’s uranium enrichment plant in Piketon, Ohio. Brown said unlike the array of demonstration projects the Department of Energy is sponsoring, such as the Energy Reactor Pilot Program that has 10 companies vying for federal funding if they can demonstrate functionality of their designs by July 4, 2026, enriching uranium is not a new process. “We’re not here to do science experiments, right?” he said. “We’re here to go big or go home. We’re not going home. The era of demonstration is over. We are moving onto large-scale commercial production.” Centrus is already licensed to produce low-enriched uranium and high-assay low-enriched uranium in its Ohio plant, he said. Its Technology and Manufacturing Center in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is the only domestic manufacturer of centrifuges needed for the enrichment process. It’s ready to gradually scale-up production. “We have the site. We have the facility,” Brown said. “We have the room to expand” at the Piketon plant, which is demonstrating with 18 centrifuges what could be replicated by thousands. “Our technologies are proven and are actively producing [high-assay low-enriched uranium] today,” he said. The Department of Energy award is designed to induce a long-term “demand signal” for investors and utilities, he said, by assuring them there will be ample domestic supply of enriched uranium available should they incorporate nuclear power into their grid expansion plans. However, Brown said, the Piketon plant and other projects nationwide are not expected to reach peak production until the early 2030s, meaning there could be more demand than supply until production can catch up. While the Department of Energy funding is critical in seeding domestic capacity to be self-sufficient in producing nuclear fuels, how swiftly that can be achieved is now up to the industry itself, he said, encouraging operators to begin negotiating “off take” agreements with Centrus and others engaged in uranium enrichment so they can secure their fuel supply and processors can commit to ramping up with confirmed orders. “This is the chicken-and-the-egg problem that [the Department of Energy] was trying to solve. They said, ‘Build the capacity and the advanced reactor development will come while we’re building it,’” Brown said. “That’s the message. So we need firm contracts to proceed to build further. So let us know. We’re ready.” Tyler Durden Sun, 02/15/2026 - 14:00

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted the importance of reliability in relations with the US, stating 'Reliability is the New Power' in an American magazine.

The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s foreign trade turnover remained broadly stable in 2025, increasing by 1.3% to reach $143.9 billion, according to the analytical report released by the Kazakh Association of Financiers on Feb. 23.  According to analysts, exports decreased by 3.2% over the year, while imports grew by 7.4%. As a result, the country’s trade surplus… The post Kazakhstan’s Foreign Trade Turnover Remains Stable...

High-level negotiations in Astana, Kazakhstan, under the 'RES 2026' initiative, are set to shape the next phase of the North Aral Sea's recovery, focusing on both engineering works and strategic discussions.

Vehicle production in Kazakhstan is projected to exceed 200,000 units in 2026, marking a 22% increase compared to 2025, indicating a boom in the country's automotive sector.

The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ALMATY – The partnership between Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom is increasingly grounded in trade, investment, production, skills and shared standards, Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev wrote in an article published in Intellinews on Feb. 19.  According to him, more than three decades after the establishment of diplomatic relations, cooperation between the countries is defined… The post Kazakhstan...

Lukoil accounts for about 2% of global oil production, with roughly one quarter of that coming from its international operations.

The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s Defense Minister, Lieutenant General Dauren Kosanov met with members of the third national peacekeeping contingent during a working visit to Almaty as they prepare for deployment to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force mission in the Golan Heights. The visit also included a presentation of a new defense innovation hub designed to… The post Kazakhstan Reviews Peacekeepers’ Read...

The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov chaired a meeting of the council aimed at improving the investment climate to advance agreements reached under the C5+1 format, emphasizing constitutional reform, economic modernization and deeper cooperation with U.S. investors. The meeting brought together representatives of the diplomatic corps, including newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan Julie… Th...

Kazakhstan, once a refuge for Russians fleeing war and military service in 2022, is now reportedly cooperating with Moscow against Russian exiles, marking a shift in its stance.

Kazakhstan commemorated the legacy of the renowned philosopher Al-Farabi at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) headquarters in Rabat.

S&P Global Ratings has affirmed Kazakhstan's long-term sovereign credit rating at 'BBB-', maintaining a positive outlook but flagging risks related to oil and export routes.

The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA — Three striped hyenas and two wild dogs have arrived at Karagandy Zoo. All the animals are young and are still acclimating to the new environment, Kazinform reported on Feb. 18. Striped hyenas have been listed in the IUCN Red List since 2008. They are the only hyena species found outside Africa.  Two female… The post Karagandy Zoo Welcomes Rare Predators from Yerevan appeared first on The Astana Times.

The 'New Discoveries in the Archaeology of Kazakhstan' exhibition opened in Astana on February 14, showcasing 300 rare artifacts and recent research.

This comes after the government announced reforms allowing tea factories to sell directly to...

In 2022, Kazakhstan became one of the main escape routes for Russians fleeing wartime repressions and military service. In the weeks after the Kremlin announced a mobilization, more than 400,000 people entered the country from Russia. For many, it was just a stopover, but an estimated 50,000 to 80,000 stayed. Many Russians saw Kazakhstan as an obvious choice: they could travel there without international passports, and the Russian language is widely understood. And while Astana didn’t condemn...

A US official says a seismic station in Kazakhstan collected evidence of an alleged China nuclear test at Lop Nur in June 2020.

A unique Puccini Dance Circus Opera is set to premiere at the Abay Theater in Almaty, Kazakhstan, as part of the ongoing centenary celebrations for the renowned composer and to foster cultural ties between Italy and Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan's reputation as a safe haven for Russian exiles is being challenged by a series of planned expulsions of dissidents, indicating Moscow's growing reach.