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Almaty and Astana Maintain Economic Lead as Central Asia’s Cities Race to Catch Up

By Ayana Birbayeva in Central Asia,Editor’s Picks on 9 September 2026

ALMATY – Almaty and Astana are likely to retain their position as Central Asia’s leading economic centers, even as Tashkent and Bishkek record rapid growth and invest heavily in their future expansion. Kazakhstan’s two largest cities benefit from an economic scale, financial infrastructure and established business ecosystems that have been …

The Semipalatinsk Treaty at 20: Enduring Logic of Nuclear-Free Central Asia

By Dauren Aben in Editor’s Picks,Opinions on 9 September 2026

Kazakhstan Expands Air Links to Southeast Asia with New Singapore Route

By Dana Omirgazy in International on 8 September 2026

Experts: Kazakhstan’s AI Balancing Could Challenge Old Logic of Geopolitical Rivalry

By Aida Haidar in Editor’s Picks,International on 9 September 2026

Kazakhstan Announces Teams for 2026 FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand

By Alina Zhalmaganbetova in Sports on 9 September 2026

EBRD Supports Alatau Zharyk’s Grid Modernization Program

By Dana Omirgazy in Business on 9 September 2026

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Editor's Picks

The Semipalatinsk Treaty at 20: Enduring Logic of Nuclear-Free Central Asia

Twenty years ago today, representatives of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan gathered in Semipalatinsk, now Semey, to sign a...

Almaty and Astana Maintain Economic Lead as Central Asia’s Cities Race to Catch Up

BY Ayana Birbayeva

ALMATY – Almaty and Astana are likely to retain their position as Central Asia’s leading economic centers, even as Tashkent...

Experts: Kazakhstan’s AI Balancing Could Challenge Old Logic of Geopolitical Rivalry

ASTANA – For decades, Kazakhstan has built its foreign policy around a principle central to its place in the world:...

Kazakhstan Takes Lead as Central Asia Expands Space Cooperation

BY Aida Temerkhan

ASTANA — Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a Central Asian space hub as the nation expands its satellite and spacecraft...

Caspian Sea’s Decline Raises Water Security Concerns As Kazakhstan Strengthens Management

BY Ayana Birbayeva

ALMATY – The rapid decline of the Caspian Sea is emerging as one of Kazakhstan’s most complex water and environmental...

Joint Statement by Ministers of Foreign Affairs of States Parties on Occasion of 20th Anniversary of Signing of CANWFZ Treaty

BY

We, the Foreign Ministers of the States Parties to the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia (hereinafter referred...

US Lawmaker Urges End to Cold War-Era Trade Restrictions on Kazakhstan

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S&P Sees Stronger Bank Oversight in Kazakhstan as Credit Growth Slows

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Kazakhstan Enters Top 50 Most Peaceful Countries As Global Peacefulness Declines, Report Shows

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Editor's Picks

The Semipalatinsk Treaty at 20: Enduring Logic of Nuclear-Free Central Asia

Twenty years ago today, representatives of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan gathered in Semipalatinsk, now Semey, to sign a...

Almaty and Astana Maintain Economic Lead as Central Asia’s Cities Race to Catch Up

BY Ayana Birbayeva

ALMATY – Almaty and Astana are likely to retain their position as Central Asia’s leading economic centers, even as Tashkent...

Experts: Kazakhstan’s AI Balancing Could Challenge Old Logic of Geopolitical Rivalry

ASTANA – For decades, Kazakhstan has built its foreign policy around a principle central to its place in the world:...

Kazakhstan Takes Lead as Central Asia Expands Space Cooperation

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ASTANA — Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a Central Asian space hub as the nation expands its satellite and spacecraft...

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Opinions

The Semipalatinsk Treaty at 20: Enduring Logic of Nuclear-Free Central Asia

Twenty years ago today, representatives of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan gathered in Semipalatinsk, now Semey, to sign a...

Next Opportunity in Central Asian Wealth Management: Singapore-AIFC Corridor

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For much of the past three decades, the international wealth-management conversation has centred on a relatively small number of financial...

Kazakhstan Is Upgrading Its Oil Export Strategy—Here’s How

BY Joseph Shumunov

Astana is looking for more ways to move its oil. Russia, its principal export outlet, is rife with disruptions. Damage...

Kazakh Elections: Another Stage in Long-Term Political Modernization

BY László Vasa

It would be a mistake to assess the significance of Kazakhstan’s parliamentary elections, held on Aug. 23, solely through the...

How SCO Can Drive Transition to Renewable Energy in Central Asia

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The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) may soon become a central regional platform promoting clean energy in Central Asia. It is...

Teachers at Heart of President’s Vision: NU Researchers on Kazakhstan’s Education Future

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Kyrgyzstan in Hot Seat: Japarov Hosts 25-Year SCO Milestone

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Opinions

The Semipalatinsk Treaty at 20: Enduring Logic of Nuclear-Free Central Asia

Twenty years ago today, representatives of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan gathered in Semipalatinsk, now Semey, to sign a...

Next Opportunity in Central Asian Wealth Management: Singapore-AIFC Corridor

BY Rainer Michael Preiss

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Kazakhstan Is Upgrading Its Oil Export Strategy—Here’s How

BY Joseph Shumunov

Astana is looking for more ways to move its oil. Russia, its principal export outlet, is rife with disruptions. Damage...

Kazakh Elections: Another Stage in Long-Term Political Modernization

BY László Vasa

It would be a mistake to assess the significance of Kazakhstan’s parliamentary elections, held on Aug. 23, solely through the...

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