Kyrgyzstan
COMMENT: Competing Trans-Afghan transport routes could split Central Asia
Central Asia is bottled up by an unstable Afghanistan. It would dearly love to open a southern corridor that leads to the huge and lucrative markets of Southeast Asia that could transform the economy of the region.
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After decades of neglect, Central Asia awakening to trade possibilities with Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar welcomes two Central Asian leaders in June.
Crypto token launched in Kyrgyzstan by Moldovan oligarch facilitates sanctions-dodging billions for Russia, says report
“A7A5” said to be first stablecoin pegged to ruble. Russian defence sector bank also behind it.
Central Asia has become “like a girl whose house is full of suitors”, analyst says
Powers including China, Russia, the US and the EU “all promise something to the bride” in scramble for resources such as critical minerals.
Xi signs treaty to elevate China's ties with Central Asia at Astana summit
Document refers to "permanent good-neighbourliness and friendly cooperation". Chinese leader takes jab at US, saying trade and tariff wars "produce no winners".
PANNIER: Central Asia’s space race
A satellite in orbit offers a nation prestige, essential data in handling natural disasters and, controversially, a blanket “kill switch” for the internet during unrest.
Central Asia’s agricultural sector facing heat this coming growing season
Dry and warm conditions expected to heighten irrigation needs.
CENTRAL ASIA BLOG: Tajikistan plays role as one of world’s pre-eminent water diplomats at glacier summit, but Rogun dam remains a hard sell
Experts from near and far met in Dushanbe to discuss danger posed by melting of giant ice sheets. But was “blue-washing” obscuring threat of titanic hydro project?
Russia bringing in de facto visa regime for Central Asia nationals, say critics
Rights campaigners, meanwhile, hit out at digital controls on migrants in country that they say will be used to corner people into joining armed forces.
Kyrgyzstan takes down tallest statue of Lenin
Monument in Osh replaced with a flagpole. Officials move quickly to explain why Moscow should not be offended.
Kyrgyzstan offers to help Tajikistan build artificial glaciers
Each "ice tower" costs between $3,000 and $4,000 and can store up to 50,000 cubic metres of water. Kyrgyz have already built around 30.
Taliban: Making an investment pitch
A lot may have changed, but the Taliban can’t escape recent history.
Water will one day be more valuable than oil in Central Asia, warns Tajik analyst
Melting of glaciers in Tajikistan’s mountains a grave threat to region’s water security.
Watchdog warns of Kyrgyzstan using security apparatus to “dismantle independent journalism” after detentions
President’s spokesman claims those detained were writing “hit pieces against the state”.
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China shifts from global banker to leading debt collector
Once the primary provider of capital across much of the world, Beijing now finds itself at the receiving end of record repayments, particularly from some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable nations.
M360 GSMA Eurasia event spotlights rich promise of mobile tech, 5G and AI
Mobile technologies and services said to have generated 7.7%, or $220bn, of GDP across region last year.
Tajikistan faces uphill climb to wire the country
Dushanbe has slowest Internet in Eurasia.
China filling void left by USAID’s dismantling
Small and Beautiful marks next phase of Belt & Road Initiative.
United States has image problem in Central Asia
Public perceptions toward Washington rapidly swing from positive to negative.
COMMENT: Amid shrinking civic space, will the EBRD still uphold its democratic mandate?
As the global Democracy Index recorded a historic low in 2024, institutions tasked with upholding democratic values are under increasing pressure to adapt.