The Times Of Central Asia

01 Feb 2026

Central Asia, Home, Uzbekistan, Life & Culture, Uzbekistan Home, Features, Uzbekistan Life & Culture

Tata Steel Chess Contest Has A New Champion – From Uzbekistan

February 1, 2026
By Times of Central Asia

When he was a child, Nodirbek Abdusattorov dreamed of winning the elite Tata Steel Chess Tournament in the Netherlands. On Sunday, the 21-year-old from Uzbekistan did just that.

Abdusattorov secured the champion´s title after raising his point total to nine, playing with the black pieces in a final round victory over Indian Arjun Erigaisi. Another grandmaster from Uzbekistan, 20-year-old Javokhir Sindarov, came second with eight and a half points.

“I can’t express my happiness with words. It was a long way for me,” Abdusattorov said in an interview posted on the tournament website. He said he had come close to winning the contest in previous years, and finally doing so was a highlight of his career.

“I had a dream to win this tournament when I was a kid and finally my dream came true,” he said. “I just told myself: ‘Don’t let it slip this year.´”

Uzbekistan´s top player had six wins, six draws and one loss in the 13-round tournament.

“For three straight years, Nodirbek Abdusattorov was right there on top going into the final weekend. Three times, the title slipped through his fingers. This year, he came back and finished the story. From heartbreak to redemption,” the tournament said on X.

Abdusattorov won the FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship in 2021 and was part of the team from Uzbekistan that won gold at the 2022 Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India. FIDE is the international governing body of chess.

“I gave everything I had,” Abdusattorov said. “I don’t have plans for celebration but obviously I’m going to do something.”

Sindarov had four wins, nine draws and no losses at the Tata Steel event, where he was the only unbeaten player. He won the FIDE World Cup in 2025, qualifying for this year’s Candidates Tournament, which determines who can challenge the world champion. The current champion is India’s Gukesh Dommaraju.

Over the years, the Tata Steel tournament in the seaside town of Wijk aan Zee has attracted greats of the game including Garry Kasparov, Anatoly Karpov and Magnus Carlsen. The strong showing by Uzbek players in the 14-participant Masters competition this year shows the growing strength of chess talent in Uzbekistan.

31 Jan 2026

Home, Life & Culture, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan’s Rybakina Wins Australian Open, Her Second Major

January 31, 2026
By Times of Central Asia

Elena Rybakina became the first player from Kazakhstan to win the Australian Open on Saturday, defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the final in Melbourne.

Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, didn’t drop a set on her way to the final, capitalizing on her big serve and aggressive groundstrokes. She was down 0-3 in the third set against Sabalenka, but then won five consecutive games and closed out the match with an ace. She raised her arms in triumph and, after a brief embrace with the Belarusian at the net, jogged to her box to acknowledge her team.

“Thank you so much to Kazakhstan,” Rybakina, 26, said in her victory speech, nodding in the direction of a group of fans in the stands. “I felt the support from that corner a lot.”

The world No. 5 had lost to Sabalenka in three sets in the Australian Open Final in 2023. But Russia-born Rybakina defeated the world’s top player to win the WTA Finals in November after a year in which she won two WTA 500 titles but did not advance past the fourth round at any of the majors.

“I just hope that we’re going to play many more finals together,” Rybakina said in Melbourne.

Sabalenka has a head-to-head record of 8-6 over Rybakina.

30 Jan 2026

Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy

Kyrgyzstan Launches Unified Digital Tax Platform

January 30, 2026
By Vagit Ismailov

Almambet Shykmamatov, chairman of Kyrgyzstan’s State Tax Service (STS), has unveiled a new digital platform that consolidates all tax-related data into a single system. The automated tax analysis platform, Salyq Kuzot, enables online tracking of the tax status of every citizen and company operating in the country.

According to Shykmamatov, tax officials previously had to manually collect data on tax payments, insurance contributions, and financial statements from multiple sources and agencies. With the launch of Salyq Kuzot, this information is now integrated into a unified system, significantly improving efficiency.

During a demonstration of the system, the STS head showcased its functionality, including detailed reports on state budget revenues broken down by region, district, and city. The platform also allows for real-time identification of companies evading tax obligations.

The launch of Salyq Kuzot comes amid a broader national effort to reduce bureaucracy across public administration. Since early last year, the National Institute for Strategic Studies of the Kyrgyz Republic (NISI) has led reforms aimed at streamlining citizens’ interactions with state institutions and improving the efficiency of government operations.

As part of these reforms, redundant government bodies are being phased out. The National Statistical Committee of Kyrgyzstan, for example, has closed several regional offices, resulting in the layoff of approximately 100 employees.

One of the most significant policy changes is a new regulation prohibiting ministries and agencies from requesting information directly from citizens if the data can be obtained through interagency cooperation. The measure is intended to speed up administrative processes and reduce the bureaucratic burden on the public.

30 Jan 2026

Central Asia, Home, Uzbekistan, International Affairs, Uzbekistan Home, Uzbekistan International Affairs

Uzbekistan and Turkey Set $5 Billion Trade Target at Strategic Council Meeting in Ankara

January 30, 2026
By Sadokat Jalolova

At the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid an official visit to Turkey on January 29, marking a new phase in the deepening partnership between the two nations. The visit was centered around the fourth meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, co-chaired by the two leaders in Ankara.

Discussions focused on strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and Turkey, with an emphasis on political dialogue, trade and economic cooperation, transport connectivity, and cultural and humanitarian exchanges. The two presidents also exchanged views on regional and global developments, underscoring the growing coordination between Tashkent and Ankara on international platforms.

Both sides highlighted the steady growth in bilateral trade, the rising number of joint ventures, and increased direct flights between the two countries. Regular cultural exchanges and growing people-to-people contacts were cited as further evidence of the strengthening relationship.

Key areas for future cooperation include joint projects in industry, agriculture, and social protection, as well as enhanced collaboration in defense, security, and combating cybercrime.

The timing of the Strategic Council meeting was described as symbolic, taking place on the eve of Ramadan and ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Treaty on Eternal Friendship and Cooperation between Uzbekistan and Turkey. The two sides expressed satisfaction with the growing political dialogue and the convergence of their positions on many international issues.

The presidents reaffirmed their commitment to mutual support in international and regional organizations, including the United Nations, the Organization of Turkic States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Economic Cooperation Organization. Inter-parliamentary cooperation has also intensified, particularly through parliamentary friendship groups.

The leaders set an ambitious goal to increase bilateral trade turnover to $5 billion in the coming years. Expanding the list of goods covered under the Preferential Trade Agreement will be a key step toward achieving that target. Ahead of the visit, new priority areas for industrial cooperation were identified and will be implemented under a separate program.

Significant potential was noted for interregional cooperation, with delegations from all regions of Uzbekistan expected to visit Türkiye by the end of the year to develop joint projects. Cooperation will also be deepened in agriculture, horticulture, healthcare, and medical tourism.

The two countries agreed to intensify cultural and tourism ties through joint initiatives such as theater festivals, cultural weeks, historical film productions, and heritage restoration projects. In the education sector, the fourth Rectors’ Forum will be held in Bukhara this spring.

Following the Strategic Council meeting, Mirziyoyev and Erdoğan signed a Joint Statement and adopted a framework for cooperation within the comprehensive strategic partnership. A wide-ranging package of bilateral agreements was also signed, covering healthcare, education, military medicine, economic and financial cooperation, mining, transport corridors, special economic zones, nuclear safety, migration, religious affairs, foreign ministry cooperation for 2026-2027, light industry, and cultural collaboration.

At the conclusion of the visit, Mirziyoyev extended an official invitation to Erdoğan to visit Uzbekistan, reflecting the continued momentum and growing trust in bilateral relations.

30 Jan 2026

Central Asia, Home, Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan Home

Kyrgyzstan Suspends Private Driving Schools in Bid to Improve Road Safety

January 30, 2026
By Sergey Kwan

Kyrgyzstan has temporarily suspended the operations of all private driving schools as part of a sweeping reform aimed at improving driver education and road safety.

On January 29, President Sadyr Japarov signed a decree introducing a trial period, effective until August 30, 2026, during which driver training will be conducted exclusively through state-run driving schools.

The reform also mandates a significant extension of the training period from the current 2.5 months to 10 months. Authorities say the new measures are designed to reduce traffic accidents and eliminate corruption in the issuance of driver’s licenses.

As of 2025, Kyrgyzstan had 340 driving schools, including 74 state-run institutions and 266 privately operated ones. Officials cite systemic issues in the private sector, including substandard instruction, widespread corruption, and the illegal sale of licenses.

Daiyrbek Orunbekov, Head of the Information Policy Service under the Presidential Administration, addressed public concerns over the extended training period in a Facebook post on January 29.

He emphasized that the 10-month program is intended solely to improve driver competence and reduce accidents.

“A driver who has acquired sufficient knowledge poses no danger to themselves, passengers, or other road users,” Orunbekov wrote.

Under the new model, instruction will include both theoretical and practical training held two to three times per week, with each session lasting two to three hours. Some classes may be offered online. The curriculum will also cover psychological preparation and road ethics.

In response to critics who argue that the current 2.5-month course is adequate, Orunbekov said that meaningful learning cannot occur in such a short timeframe.

He cited international practices, noting that in many developed countries, driver training takes significantly longer. In Finland, the process can last up to a year and includes a probationary license period; in Germany, it ranges from six to twelve months; in Sweden and Norway, up to a year; and in the United Kingdom, Canada, the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand, it can take up to two years.

The reform follows concerning national road safety data. In 2025 alone, Kyrgyzstan recorded 8,456 traffic accidents, resulting in 900 deaths and 12,169 injuries. Over the past decade, more than 75,000 accidents have claimed over 9,000 lives.

According to Orunbekov, many current drivers lack even basic knowledge of traffic regulations and, in some cases, cannot recall where they were trained. He described this as a lingering consequence of a flawed and often corrupt driver education system.

30 Jan 2026

Business & Economy, Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan Business & Economy

Why Workers Are Leaving the Çalık Enerji Power Plant Construction Site in Turkmenistan

January 30, 2026
By Vagit Ismailov

One of Turkmenistan’s largest combined-cycle power plants is currently under construction on the Caspian coast. Despite offering record-high wages by local standards, the site is experiencing persistent staff turnover.

The project is being led by the Turkish company Çalık Enerji, which is building a 1,574 MW combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant in the village of Kiyanly in Turkmenistan’s Balkan region. While the workforce is largely made up of local residents, retaining staff has proven difficult.

According to former workers, even unskilled laborers can earn up to $2,856 per month, an exceptionally high salary for the region. This has attracted a steady stream of job seekers. However, many employees say the pay does not adequately compensate for the harsh realities of working on-site.

The primary reason cited for resignations is the extreme natural environment. The construction site lies between the Caspian Sea and an open expanse of steppe, where strong winds are a near-constant presence. Conditions worsen in winter, when workers endure eight-hour shifts outdoors in cold and windy weather, conditions that many find intolerable beyond a few months.

In addition to environmental challenges, workers point to strained relations with site management and internal conflicts among staff. They describe a lack of mutual trust between workers and middle managers, as well as growing tensions within crews.

Some have also reported interethnic clashes, particularly between Turkmen and Azerbaijani workers, despite both groups being Turkmenistani citizens residing in the same region. These disputes have occasionally escalated into physical altercations, further contributing to resignations.

Çalık Enerji signed a contract with the state-owned utility Turkmenenergo to carry out the Kiyanly project. The power plant will feature two units equipped with 9F.04 gas turbines, each with a capacity of 288 MW, and a D12 steam turbine produced by GE Vernova.