This week in Astana and beyond, Qazinform News Agency presents a roundup of the top headlines that shaped the past seven days in Kazakhstan. 1. Kazakhstan's new Сonstitution enters into force: What will change for the government and citizens Kazakhstan's new Constitution entered into force on July 1, 2026.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev personally took part in drafting the text, giving the document special legitimacy and underscoring its close connection with society. 2. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Irakli Kobakhidze hold narrow-format talks in Astana Greeting the Georgian Prime Minister, Kazakh President Tokayev described the visit as highly significant for boosting the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and Georgia.
Prime Minister Kobakhidze, in his turn, said that his country attaches great importance to relations between Georgia and Kazakhstan and expressed his pleasure that both countries’ partnership has reached the level of a strategic partnership. 3. Kazakhstan introduces AI into oil and gas industry and digitizes subsoil use - President Kazakhstan is expanding the use of artificial intelligence across its oil and gas sector and digitizing subsoil management to improve industrial efficiency, resource oversight, and investor access to geological data.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said these initiatives are part of a broader strategy to modernize the economy and strengthen the country's attractiveness for international investment. 4. Astana named among safer cities in global Crime Index Astana ranked among the safer cities in the 2026 Mid-Year Crime Index by City, with a Crime Index of 33.3 and a Safety Index of 66.7, placing it alongside cities with relatively low perceived crime levels.
The ranking is based on user perceptions rather than official crime statistics. 5. Archaeologists discover new Golden Horde artifacts in Northern Kazakhstan The Zhantai tract has emerged as one of the expedition’s most significant discoveries. During the initial stage of excavations, archaeologists identified evidence of a large architectural structure here.
The findings were evidenced by numerous fragments of burnt bricks, which are uncommon in later historical periods, as well as by LiDAR and ground-penetrating radar survey results. 6. Aqzhan – “ Pure Soul ” - Brand of the Great Steppe