Call for South Africa Nominations: International Competition in Islamic Sciences and Arabic Language – Fully Funded Opportunity to Represent South Africa in Russia

Arabic National Essay Competition for South African High Schools and Universities 2026 and Arabic Language and Cultural Day Highlight the Growth of Arabic Language Education in South Africa

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined his vision for the priority areas of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s development at the 25th SCO Heads of State Council meeting in Tianjin, China, on Sept. 1, reported the Akorda press service. His remarks spanned security to trade and logistics, as well as digitalization and environmental issues.

ASTANA — Artificial intelligence has become a mandatory discipline across all universities in Kazakhstan. A total of 93 universities have already integrated AI into their academic programs, while 20 institutions have launched 25 new educational tracks, said Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Gulzat Kobenova.

This year marked three decades since the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a foundational document that has shaped the nation’s political, social, and economic trajectory since its independence. For a country that emerged in 1991 from the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Constitution of 1995 provided both a legal framework and a vision for building a sovereign state. Thirty years on, Kazakhstan’s constitutional journey offers valuable insights into state-building, democratic development, and adaptation to a changing world.

This September, Astana will once again become the center of global interfaith dialogue as it hosts the VIII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. Scheduled for 16–18 September 2025, the forum will gather more than 100 delegations from around 60 countries, uniting spiritual leaders, heads of international organizations, scholars, and representatives of public life under the theme “Dialogue of Religions: Synergy for the Future.”

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is undertaking a comprehensive modernization and digital transformation of its railway sector through infrastructure upgrades and the implementation of digital solutions to enhance efficiency, increase transit volumes, and strengthen its position as a key international logistics hub.

ALMATY – Starlink satellite internet officially became available in Kazakhstan on Aug. 13. Operated by SpaceX, the network of low-Earth orbit satellites offers high-speed, reliable internet access, including in remote and hard-to-reach areas, reported the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry.

ASTANA — The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has unveiled its Transport Projects Observatory, a powerful new tool designed to monitor and coordinate over $234 billion in infrastructure investments across 13 countries participating in the Eurasian Transport Network (ETN). As of July 1, 2025, the Observatory is tracking 325 development projects aimed at enhancing transport connectivity throughout the region.

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres signed a host country agreement on Aug. 3 to establish the UN Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty, the Akorda press service reported