The Times Of Central Asia | Eurasian Publication & News Online

Just a few years ago, conversations about psychotherapy in Kazakhstan were conducted in hushed tones, as if acknowledging “weakness” or personal failure. Today, mental health is gradually entering the public sphere: teenagers seek support, parents attend training sessions, and adults increasingly view therapy as a practical tool for emotional self-regulation. ...

Iran

Central Asia Updates from Mideast Conflict

Kazakhstan has expressed sorrow over the deaths of young students in what appeared to be an air strike that hit a girls’ primary school in the southern Iranian city of Minab. “I received the news of the death of 160 schoolgirls in Iran - with deep distress. The interruption of...

Iran

Iran Volatility Tests Central Asia’s Overland Corridors

The current escalation around Iran holds the potential for transforming the long-term geopolitical configuration of Eurasia, including Central Asia. In the short and medium term, aside from the security and safety of its citizens, Central Asia's main concern is economic, because it puts stress on overland rail and trucking routes...

Iran

Central Asia Confronts Iran War Fallout as Trade Routes and Citizens Come Under Pressure

Central Asian governments are racing to protect citizens and keep trade moving as the U.S.–Israel war with Iran widens across the Middle East, disrupting airspace and driving up shipping and energy costs. The effects of the conflict are reaching a region that has spent the past four years trying to...

Afghanistan

Three Main Principles of Kazakhstan’s Afghan Policy

August 15, 2026 will mark five years since the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan. This substantial period can be assessed in different ways, particularly given the widespread skepticism at the outset regarding the Taliban’s ability to govern effectively and build relations with other countries. The situation in Afghanistan remains...

UNESCO World Heritage List

Two Architectural Monuments from Kazakhstan Included in UNESCO’s Tentative World Heritage List

Two landmark architectural monuments in Kazakhstan, the Zharkent Mosque and the Ascension Cathedral, have been added to UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites. The announcement was made by State Counselor of Kazakhstan Erlan Karin. Inclusion on the Tentative List is a mandatory preliminary step before a site can be...

Sunkar Podcast

Central Asia and the Troubled Southern Route

00:00 / 00:00

Opinions

Opinion: Mirziyoyev in Washington – New Deals Expected Amidst Peace Diplomacy

Javier M. Piedra

Opinion – The “Board of Peace” and Afghan Diplomacy: A View from Kabul

Dr. Bismillah Mangal

Opinion: Kazakhstan’s Constitutional Referendum – Strategic Reset or Institutional Consolidation?

Raza Syed

Opinion: Afghanistan and Central Asia – Security Without Illusions

Aidar Borangaziyev

Opinion: The New Silk Road to the Sea – Connecting Central Asia to Karachi and Gwadar

Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo & Engineer Arshad H. Abbasi

Breaking into Project Vault: A U.S. Role for Central Asia’s Strategic Minerals

Dr. Eric Rudenshiold

Opinion: Tokayev’s National Kurultai Address: A Moral Message, Not a Political One

Javier M. Piedra

Opinion: Central Asia–Japan Summit Signals Shift in Eurasian Geoeconomics — and Russia’s Waning Role

Anvar Nazirov

Opinion: Iranian Unrest Creates Opening for U.S., Partners in Central Asia

Nilaya Magidish

Opinion: Prospects for Central Asia’s Access to Persian Gulf Infrastructure

Timur Serikuly

Opinion: Is Uzbekistan Importing a Future Crisis?

William Cui

Opinion: Kazakhstan Bets Big on AI to Power Local and Global Growth

Altair Akhmetov

Business & Economy

Oil Industry

Junda Oil Refinery Modernization in Kyrgyzstan Set for Completion by August 2026

Kyrgyzstan’s largest oil refining facility, the Junda (Zhongda) refinery in the town of Kara-Balta, approximately 60 kilometers west of Bishkek, is undergoing a major modernization project scheduled for completion by July 31, 2026. The $193.75 million upgrade is expected to increase domestic fuel production and strengthen the country’s energy security. On March 2, a delegation from the National Investment Agency of Kyrgyzstan, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, and the Kara-Balta municipality visited the refinery to monitor implementation of the investment agreement signed in July 2024 with China Petrol Company Zhongda LLC. Owned by a Chinese investor, the refinery has...

AI Regulation

Kazakhstan Adopts Pragmatic AI Regulation in Financial Sector

Iran

Iran Volatility Tests Central Asia’s Overland Corridors

GDP Forecast

S&P Global Ratings Expects Kazakhstan’s GDP Growth to Slow in 2026

Oil and Gas

Kashagan and Karachaganak: Will Kazakhstan’s Claims Lead to Changes in the Shareholder Structure?

Asian Development Bank

Asian Development Bank to Invest $5.5 Billion in 15 Projects in Kazakhstan by 2029

Kazakhstan's government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a memorandum of understanding to implement 15 major projects worth approximately $5.5 billion in the period 2026-2029. The initiatives, focused on infrastructure, digitalization, and sustainable development, aim to strengthen the country’s transit capacity and investment appeal. According to an official statement, the memorandum lays the groundwork for large-scale projects in regional connectivity, disaster resilience, water resource management, modernization of housing and utilities infrastructure, and housing market development. ADB will also continue financing private-sector initiatives, including projects in agriculture, transport, and logistics. Priority areas include transport and logistics infrastructure, emergency response...

SCAT Airlines

Largest Aircraft Maintenance Center in Central Asia Under Construction in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines, in partnership with Boeing, has begun construction of a new maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) center in Shymkent. The facility is expected to become the largest aircraft maintenance complex in Kazakhstan and across Central Asia. The capsule-laying ceremony, held on February 27, was attended by Shymkent Mayor Gabit Syzdykbekov, Deputy Transport Minister Talgat Lastayev, and Boeing Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Eurasia, India, and South Asia Paul Righi. According to the Ministry of Transport, the center will specialize in servicing Boeing aircraft, including the Boeing 737 (Classic, NG, and MAX), Boeing 757 and 767 models,...

Agriculture

Escalation in the Middle East Threatens Kyrgyzstan’s Agricultural Export Potential

Escalating tensions in the Middle East are putting pressure on Kyrgyzstan’s export routes, a significant portion of which previously transited through Iranian territory. Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and on the Caspian Sea have provided Kyrgyz producers with access to markets in the Middle East and Europe. According to the National Statistical Committee of Kyrgyzstan, cattle exports from Kyrgyzstan declined fivefold in 2024. In 2025, domestic meat prices rose sharply amid what authorities described as uncontrolled exports of cattle carcasses, primarily to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. In response, the State Antimonopoly Service introduced maximum retail prices for lamb and beef...

Migration Policy

Kazakhstan to Focus on Skilled Migrants in New Migration Policy

Kazakhstan is shifting toward a more pragmatic migration policy aligned with the needs of the national economy. The government’s newly approved Migration Policy Concept through 2030 prioritizes attracting in-demand highly skilled professionals and encouraging internal migration to regions experiencing labor shortages. According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, the number of foreign labor migrants in Kazakhstan reached 16,100 in 2025. Minister of Labor Askarbek Yertayev said that greater emphasis will be placed on assessing the professional qualifications of foreign workers. Priority will be given to specialists with relevant education, work experience, and competencies sought in the domestic labor market....

Local Politics

Pink Tax

Gender Pricing and Tax Policy in Kazakhstan: Does a “Pink Tax” Exist?

Women often pay more for everyday goods, from hygiene products to personal care services. In public discourse in Kazakhstan, this phenomenon is often referred to as the “pink tax.” But does such a tax exist, or are these differences the result of market pricing strategies? Is a “Pink Tax” Recognized Under Kazakhstan’s Tax Code? If understood literally as a separate levy established in the Tax Code, the so-called “pink tax” does not exist in Kazakhstan. The country’s tax system includes corporate and individual income taxes, value-added tax (VAT), excise duties, social tax, property taxes, and other mandatory payments. There is...

Water Management

Kazakhstan’s Reservoirs Prepared for Spring Flooding

TCA Interviews

Kyrgyzstan Between the Russian World and Global Chaos: An Interview With Deputy Prime Minister Edil Baisalov

Education

Kazakhstan Moves to Require Content Creators and Online Course Authors to Confirm Qualifications

Kamchybek Tashiyev

After Firing Close Ally Tashiyev, Japarov Says Goal for Kyrgyzstan is Unity

Agriculture

Farmers, Courts, and Investors: Examining Recent Land Disputes in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan’s agricultural sector is once again in the spotlight following a recent report by Human Rights Watch and the Uzbek Forum for Human Rights, which raised concerns about the treatment of cotton and wheat farmers under what it describes as a coercive state production system. At the same time, local agricultural representatives argue that the situation is more complex and that recent legal and institutional changes have improved farmers’ ability to defend their rights. The debate intensified earlier this year after complaints from farmers in parts of the Syrdarya region, particularly in the Xovos district, regarding land seizures linked to...

War in Ukraine

Why Tajikistan Does Not Prosecute Individuals for Participation in the War in Ukraine

Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine has been ongoing for nearly four years, and media outlets have repeatedly reported that citizens of Tajikistan are participating in the fighting. However, Tajikistan’s authorities state that no criminal cases have been initiated against citizens on these grounds. The country’s top law enforcement officials have explained their position. At a press conference, Khabibullo Vokhidzoda said that over the past year no citizen of Tajikistan had been prosecuted for participation in Russia’s war in Ukraine. He noted that many of those involved hold Russian citizenship. According to Vokhidzoda, such individuals are legally obligated to fulfill the...

Power Struggle

Japarov Breaks the Kyrgyz Tandem

When Kamchybek Tashiyev returned to Bishkek from medical travel abroad after losing his post as Chairman of the State Committee for National Security (GKNB), as well as the deputy chairmanship of the Cabinet of Ministers, he returned to a system already being disassembled. Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov dismissed him on February 10, ending a five-year arrangement in which the presidency and the security apparatus were closely fused. The decision deliberately dismantled the governing tandem that had defined Kyrgyzstan’s power structure since 2020. The immediate question was whether this was a closing of an episode or the opening of a new...

Arkadag

Turkmen Arkadag Without “Unnecessary” People: Crackdown on Residents Without Jobs or Registration Intensifies

The “smart” city of Arkadag, developed at the initiative of Turkmenistan’s National Leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, has once again become the focus of a campaign to “clean up” its population, according to Turkmen.news. Local officials are reportedly conducting apartment inspections to identify residents who do not hold official employment in the city. Inspectors are said to be focusing on three main criteria: possession of a local residence permit, confirmed employment in Arkadag, and the degree of kinship with the property owner. The legal basis for these inspections remains unclear, but reports indicate that authorities are taking a strict approach, requiring individuals...

International Affairs

United Kingdom

UK Expands Strategic Engagement in Central Asia Amid Growing Global Competition

The world’s largest economies have recently increased their focus on Central Asia. The United Kingdom, alongside the U.S., the European Union, and China, is seeking to strengthen partnerships in a region that was previously not among its top foreign policy priorities. Britain Replicates an Established Format Throughout the years of independence, Kazakhstan and its regional neighbors were often perceived as operating within Russia’s sphere of influence. The war in Ukraine and broader geopolitical shifts have altered international attitudes toward Central Asia. Major powers are now intensifying dialogue with the region, with particular emphasis on economic cooperation. At the end of...

Iran

Central Asia Updates from Mideast Conflict

Iran

Central Asia Confronts Iran War Fallout as Trade Routes and Citizens Come Under Pressure

Iran

Central Asian Countries Scramble to Help Nationals in Mideast Conflict Zone

Taliban

Pakistan Declares “Open War” with Afghanistan’s Taliban as Cross-Border Attacks Escalate

Iran

Iran War Tests Emerging C5–Azerbaijan Solidarity

In an effort to coordinate responses to the Mideast conflict, the foreign ministers of the five Central Asian countries, as well as Azerbaijan, have spoken together by telephone about the widening crisis. The call marked one of the clearest signs yet that the Central Asian “C5” format is evolving beyond economic coordination into an operational diplomatic mechanism during external crises. While the group has met frequently in recent years with major partners, direct coordination over a fast-moving conflict on its periphery reflects a shift toward more structured regional crisis management. The consultation also builds on the expansion last year of...

Afghanistan-Pakistan Border

Uzbekistan Urges Restraint as Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Clashes Escalate

Armed clashes along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border have intensified, prompting Uzbekistan to call for restraint and a diplomatic resolution. Active hostilities reportedly began after Afghan forces opened fire on Pakistani military posts in mountainous areas along the Durand Line in northwestern Pakistan, according to media reports on February 27. Officials in Uzbekistan view stability along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border as directly linked to Central Asian security. Potential regional risks include the proliferation of illegal weapons, drug trafficking, militant activity, refugee flows, and possible disruptions to trade and transit corridors. Uzbekistan has expanded economic and infrastructure cooperation with Afghanistan in recent years, making...

Iran

Escalation with Iran at the Epicenter: How Central Asian Countries Are Reacting

Over the past weekend, the Middle East has once again become a focal point of global tensions. At the center of the escalation is Iran, a country with which Central Asian states intensified engagement last year following the visit of President Masoud Pezeshkian to the region. As events unfold, the potential regional and economic consequences have become a key concern for Central Asian leaders. Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev responded swiftly on February 28, as Iran was reportedly preparing a retaliatory strike targeting not only Israel, which, together with the U.S., had assumed responsibility for the latest escalation, but also several...

Iran

President Tokayev Reaffirms Support for Gulf States During Regional Crisis

Updated March 1 - President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sent messages of support to the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan reaffirming Kazakhstan’s solidarity with their peoples during what he described as a “difficult period of profound challenges.” Messages were conveyed on Saturday to the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, underscoring Kazakhstan’s commitment to the sovereignty and security of its partners in the Arab world. The information was confirmed by presidential adviser and press secretary Aibek Smadyarov, according to Qazinform. On Sunday, Tokayev sent a similar message to...

Life & Culture

Shchuchinsk Cafe Fire

Death toll in cafe gas explosion in Kazakhstan rises to 9

A cafe owner in northern Kazakhstan is under arrest for alleged negligence after a gas explosion and fire that killed nine people. The explosion occurred at the Plov Center cafe in the town of Shchuchinsk in Akmola region, outside the capital Astana, early on February 27, killing seven people, including six cafe workers and the 16-year-old daughter of one of the employees, city officials said. Two injured people later died, according to the city. It attributed the death toll to the regional health department. More than two dozen people were injured, and about half of them were hospitalized, according to...

Healthcare

Psychological Support in Kazakhstan: Growing Demand, Changing Stigma, and the State’s Move Toward Regulation

UNESCO World Heritage List

Two Architectural Monuments from Kazakhstan Included in UNESCO’s Tentative World Heritage List

Entrepreneurship

Founder of inDrive Sees Kindred Spirit in Olympic Champion’s Father

International Women's Day

How Much is Berdymuhamedov’s 8 March “Gift” to Turkmen Women Actually Worth?

Animal Rights

Why Tajikistan Lags Behind Global Animal Welfare Standards

While animals are legally recognized as sentient beings and, in some countries, effectively regarded as family members, their legal status in Tajikistan remains ambiguous. The absence of a dedicated animal protection law, the continued shooting of stray animals, and illegal wildlife trade point to a systemic issue that extends beyond animal welfare. Tajikistan has not adopted a specific law on animal protection, despite ratifying the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in 1997, which calls for the protection of wild and domestic fauna. In practice, regulation of stray animal populations often consists of culling by shooting. At the same time,...

Pharmaceuticals

EBRD Provides €20 Million Loan to Expand Uzbekistan’s Pharmaceutical Production

Uzbekistan is taking further steps to strengthen its pharmaceutical industry and healthcare system through new investment and sector reforms aimed at reducing reliance on imported medical products. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced a loan of up to €20 million to its long-term client Samarkand England Eco-Medical (SEEM) and its sister company, Bayan Medical. Both companies produce intravenous solutions, including sodium chloride, glucose, and amino acid infusions, as well as generic and specialized medicines in tablet and capsule form. The financing will support the installation of new production lines at SEEM, enabling the company to expand...

Anar Burasheva

From Africa to Antarctica: How Kazakh Mountaineer Anar Burasheva Conquered Seven Continents

Mountaineer Anar Burasheva is the first Kazakh woman to climb the highest peaks on all seven continents and has already summited three of the world’s fourteen eight-thousanders. Her path is demanding and dangerous, yet, as she notes, it is achievable with discipline and preparation. On some summits, she can remain only for a few seconds, as lingering would be unsafe; on others, she is able to pause briefly, take in the view, and absorb the scale of the landscape. Above 8,000 meters, however, one rule always applies: descend on time. In an interview with The Times of Central Asia, Burasheva...

Society

Weaponizing the Past: Russian Commentators Invoke Famine in Attacks on Kazakhstan

The concept of a “besieged fortress,” adopted by the Kremlin in the second half of the 2010s, increasingly conflicts with Russia’s earlier foreign policy doctrine, under which post-Soviet states were expected to remain within Moscow’s sphere of influence. That doctrine relied on alliances across the post-Soviet space, with Central Asia often described as an area of privileged interest. By contrast, the “besieged fortress” narrative assumes encirclement by enemies and frames external communication less in diplomatic than in military terms. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, officially termed a “special military operation” by Moscow, has now lasted longer than the Soviet Union’s...

Justice

FLEX Exchange Program

Uzbek FLEX Finalist Returns Home After Alleged Harassment by Host Father in Indiana

An Uzbek high school student selected for the prestigious FLEX exchange program has returned home after her family alleged she was subjected to sexual harassment by her host father in the United States. The claims were made public by her father, Dr. Aziz Boltayev, in a detailed Facebook post. Uzbek officials have confirmed that they requested explanations from program representatives, while the U.S. side has not issued a public statement. Dr. Boltayev’s daughter was one of nearly 60 finalists from Uzbekistan selected in 2025 for the Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX), had traveled to the United States to complete her...

India

Delhi Police Arrest Man After Large Theft Targeting Uzbek Visitor

Legal System

Why Tajikistan’s Courts Rarely Hand Down Acquittals

Crime

Uzbekistan’s 2026 Reform Program Introduces Life Imprisonment for Pedophilia

Violence against women

Second Uzbek Woman Confirmed Dead in Istanbul Murder Case

Extradition

Kazakhstan Suspends Extradition of Navalny Associate as Courts Weigh Asylum Claim

Kazakhstan has suspended the extradition of Yulia Yemelyanova, a former staff member of Alexei Navalny’s St. Petersburg office, to Russia. Yemelyanova was detained in Almaty in August 2025 after the Russian authorities requested her transfer. The Prosecutor General’s Office halted the extradition after her lawyers filed appeals linked to her asylum claim. Earlier this month, authorities approved Russia’s request despite her pending asylum application. Her lawyer subsequently stated that he would challenge that approval before the Supreme Court. Russian investigators have accused Yemelyanova of theft linked to a 2021 case. Her defense rejects the charge and argues that the prosecution...

U.S. Sanctions

U.S. Sanctions Uzbek Citizen Over Alleged Cybercrime Links

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on an Uzbek citizen over alleged involvement in cybercrime activities linked to Russian actors, according to an official press release published on the agency’s website. OFAC reported that Azizjon Mamashoyev, a citizen of Uzbekistan born in 1987, was added to the sanctions list under regulations related to Russia-linked activities. U.S. authorities allege that he participated in cyber operations and maintained connections with individuals suspected of conducting malicious cyber activities. The announcement included identifying details, listing Mamashoyev’s date of birth as February 20, 1987, and confirming...

Social Media

Opinion: Tajikistan Narrows Online Extremism Liability — Debate Intensifies in Uzbekistan

Tajikistan’s Prosecutor General has reported a decrease in terrorist and extremist crimes. Officials attributed the decrease to the easing of penalties for “likes” and shares on the internet, which came into force in early May 2025, when the authorities stated that “liking” certain types of online materials and sharing them on social networks would no longer, in themselves, constitute a criminal offense. From 2018 onward, criminal liability was applied to the distribution, storage, or public endorsement of materials deemed extremist or prohibited. According to human rights groups, more than 1,500 Tajiks were imprisoned under the policy. Following recent changes, however, Prosecutor...

Crocus City Hall Terrorist Attack

Prosecutor Seeks Life Sentences for Crocus City Hall Attack Defendants

A state prosecutor has asked the Moscow City Court to sentence the alleged perpetrators of the Crocus City Hall attack to life imprisonment in a maximum-security penal colony. The request was made during closing arguments, lawyer Daniil Gauthier, who represents victims in the case, told RBC. According to the report, Fariduni Shamsiddin, Dalerjon Mirzoev, Muhammadsobir Faizov, and Saidkrom Rachabalizoda are charged with undergoing training for the purpose of carrying out terrorist activities, illegal arms trafficking, participation in the activities of a terrorist organization, and committing a terrorist act under several articles of the Criminal Code. The state prosecutor also requested...

Environment

Environmental Pollution

Uzbekistan Introduces Incentives for Major Industrial Polluters to Reduce Environmental Impact

Uzbekistan’s government has approved new measures aimed at encouraging large industrial enterprises to reduce their environmental footprint. Resolution No. 85 establishes regulations to incentivize environmental impact reduction efforts by industrial enterprises classified as Category I and Category II facilities based on their level of environmental impact. These categories include enterprises considered to have significant or moderate effects on the natural environment. Under the new framework, incentives will be introduced in two stages. At the first stage, an enterprise that installs a background air pollution monitoring station will be eligible for relief from previously assessed outstanding compensation payments for environmental damage....

Environment

Environmental Damage Assessed at Ritz-Carlton Tashkent Construction Site

Wildlife Conservation

Uzbekistan Strengthens Protection of Argali Sheep and Other Rare Species

Traffic Regulations

Kazakhstan May Introduce Traffic Restrictions Based on Beijing Model

Water-Saving Technologies

Kyrgyzstan Plans Full Transition to Water-Saving Irrigation in Issyk-Kul Region

Nature Reserve

What Is Happening to Tajikistan’s Main Nature Reserve?

International experts have warned of a potential water crisis in the Tigrovaya Balka nature reserve, while Tajik authorities maintain that the situation remains stable and that systematic measures are underway to preserve the ecosystem. At the center of the debate are the water regime of the Vakhsh River, the condition of the tugai forests, and growing anthropogenic pressure. In November 2025, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) published an assessment describing the state of the reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as “alarming.” Experts link the primary risks to changes in the river’s hydrological regime. Regulation of the...

Water Scarcity

Central Asia and the Global Water Crisis: A Test of Governance and Cooperation

Water scarcity is rapidly transforming from a regional environmental concern into one of the defining global security challenges of the 21st century. UN-linked assessments estimate that around four billion people experience severe water scarcity for at least one month each year, and nearly three-quarters of the global population lives in countries facing water insecurity. Against this backdrop, Central Asia is not an exception but rather a concentrated example of global dynamics: climate pressure, population growth, and inefficient resource management. Regional initiatives, including proposals put forward by Kazakhstan, therefore have the potential to contribute not only to stability in Central Asia...

Earthquakes

New Earthquake Jolts Almaty, Highlighting Central Asia’s Seismic Threat

Many residents of Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, have known since childhood what to do in the event of an earthquake. Children are taught to stand near load-bearing walls or structural beams in their homes, as these areas are considered more resistant during tremors. Many households keep an emergency kit with water, food and blankets in an accessible place. Such precautions are not excessive: Almaty experiences regular seismic activity. The latest significant tremor occurred on February 17, with an epicenter located 74 kilometers northeast of the city. The earthquake registered a magnitude of 5.0. City residents left their homes and offices...

Air Pollution

Choking on Smog: Air Crisis in Öskemen Deepens

Heavy smog and sustained NMU-II adverse meteorological conditions reported by Kazhydromet continue to affect the city of Öskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk) in eastern Kazakhstan, after authorities moved all students in grades 0–11 to remote learning on February 2. The decision followed several days of windless weather and a temperature inversion that trapped pollutants close to the ground. According to Kazhydromet forecasts, unfavorable meteorological conditions are likely to remain in place, limiting dispersion. Air quality monitoring platforms show persistent spikes in fine particulate matter, raising renewed health concerns among residents. Data from IQAir indicates that PM2.5 concentrations in Öskemen have at times reached...

Iran War Tests Emerging C5–Azerbaijan Solidarity

Latest

Features

Features

Latest

Sunkar Podcast

Sunkar Podcast

Opinions

Opinions

Javier M. Piedra

Dr. Bismillah Mangal

Raza Syed

Aidar Borangaziyev

Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo & Engineer Arshad H. Abbasi

Dr. Eric Rudenshiold

Javier M. Piedra

Anvar Nazirov

Nilaya Magidish

Timur Serikuly

William Cui

Altair Akhmetov

Business & Economy

Business & Economy

Junda Oil Refinery Modernization in Kyrgyzstan Set for Completion by August 2026

Asian Development Bank to Invest $5.5 Billion in 15 Projects in Kazakhstan by 2029

Largest Aircraft Maintenance Center in Central Asia Under Construction in Kazakhstan

Escalation in the Middle East Threatens Kyrgyzstan’s Agricultural Export Potential

Kazakhstan to Focus on Skilled Migrants in New Migration Policy

Local Politics

Local Politics

Gender Pricing and Tax Policy in Kazakhstan: Does a “Pink Tax” Exist?

Farmers, Courts, and Investors: Examining Recent Land Disputes in Uzbekistan

Why Tajikistan Does Not Prosecute Individuals for Participation in the War in Ukraine

Japarov Breaks the Kyrgyz Tandem

Turkmen Arkadag Without “Unnecessary” People: Crackdown on Residents Without Jobs or Registration Intensifies

International Affairs

International Affairs

UK Expands Strategic Engagement in Central Asia Amid Growing Global Competition

Iran War Tests Emerging C5–Azerbaijan Solidarity

Uzbekistan Urges Restraint as Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Clashes Escalate

Escalation with Iran at the Epicenter: How Central Asian Countries Are Reacting

President Tokayev Reaffirms Support for Gulf States During Regional Crisis

Life & Culture

Life & Culture

Death toll in cafe gas explosion in Kazakhstan rises to 9

Why Tajikistan Lags Behind Global Animal Welfare Standards

EBRD Provides €20 Million Loan to Expand Uzbekistan’s Pharmaceutical Production

From Africa to Antarctica: How Kazakh Mountaineer Anar Burasheva Conquered Seven Continents

Weaponizing the Past: Russian Commentators Invoke Famine in Attacks on Kazakhstan

Justice

Justice

Uzbek FLEX Finalist Returns Home After Alleged Harassment by Host Father in Indiana