Eurasia / News
Taliban forces women to wear burkas to access hospitals
Women in the western Afghan city of Herat are reportedly being denied access to public hospitals unless they wear a burka, according to medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières.
Turkish military cargo plane flying from Azerbaijan crashes in Georgia
At least 20 personnel were on board aircraft that spiralled from sky and exploded in flames.
Kyrgyz leaders past and present attack each other over power crisis
President Japarov, meanwhile, claims enemies are trying to bring him down, warns: “From now on, you will only see a coup in your dreams."
Bottleneck of truck traffic on Kazakh-Russian frontier slowly clearing
Local media outlets indicate that graft may be involved.
First deals struck at US-Central Asia summit include Boeing aircraft, mining and agricultural machinery agreements
Secretary of State Marco Rubio commits to visiting each of region’s five countries.
Opium output down in Afghanistan as synthetic drug trade increases: UN
Afghanistan’s opium cultivation fell sharply this year, yet the United Nations has warned that the country’s illicit economy is increasingly shifting towards synthetic drugs.
Turkey arrests directors of fuel retailer TP after SOCAR complaint
Police describe around 18,500 tonnes of fuel as "missing".
First Russian wheat train reaches Armenia via Azerbaijan as Baku-Tbilisi route reopens after decades
Azerbaijan has lifted all post-war restrictions on freight transit to Armenia.
Turkmenistan reveals electricity export aspirations
Ashgabat building Caspian power plant.
New members expected to join EU by 2030 as enlargement momentum builds
Top European Commission officials say admitting new member states to the European Union by 2030 is now a “realistic goal”.
Northern Afghanistan hit by M6.3 tremor
A powerful earthquake has struck northern Afghanistan, leaving at least four people dead and scores injured, according to local officials. The numbers are expected to rise significantly.
Interpol rejected Kyrgyzstan journalist arrest request as “political”, says OCCRP
Red Notice system “was created to locate dangerous criminals around the world, but our authorities have chosen to use it to persecute journalists”, says pursued reporter.
Pashinyan urges end to ‘Soviet KGB worldview’ in Armenian-Azerbaijani relations
In an animated speech, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called for a fundamental reset in the way Armenians and Azerbaijanis perceive one another, urging both nations to move beyond Cold War-era "KGB" mentalities are stil at play.
US push to pressure Iran providing fresh incentive for trans-Caspian pipeline
Turkmenistan showing interest in the idea.
Kyrgyzstan bans three media titles as “extremist organisations”
Populist-nationalist president Sadyr Japarov, due to meet Donald Trump next week, denies introducing authoritarian controls.
Ex-Georgian prime minister Garibashvili charged with large-scale money laundering
Garibashvili faces up to 12 years in prison after prosecutors accused him of secretly engaging in business dealings worth $6.5mn while in office.
Trump Administration striving to strike critical minerals deal with Kazakhstan
Pushing for US firm to win rights to develop major tungsten deposits.
Tajikistan’s Grand Mufti scolds ‘Botox beauty’
Lip flips and anti-wrinkle injections condemned as sinful by Islamic jurist.
Mongolia’s PM to stay in power after court rules dismissal illegal
Observer says opponents of Zandanshatar Gombojav “rushed and sloppily handled motion” to dislodge him. Second attempt to vote him out not expected.
Central Asian states registering impressive trade gains
Success despite the lack of access to a seaport.