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Sports

Kazakhstan’s Rybakina Defeats World No. 1 Sabalenka for WTA Finals Title

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan didn’t make it past the round-robin stage in two previous appearances at the WTA Finals. On Saturday, she defeated world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6 (0) to win the elite competition for the first time, collecting a record $5.23 million in prize money and 1,500 ranking points. Russia-born Rybakina, 26, was unbeaten in the eight-player tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia that the WTA describes as the “crown jewel” of women’s tennis, winning matches against Amanda Anisimova, 2023 WTA Finals champion Iga Swiatek, alternate Ekaterina Alexandrova and Jessica Pegula. Rybakina improved to 6-8 in her head-to-head against Belarusian Sabalenka, who was also undefeated in her path to the final. “Because the singles finalists are coming into this match undefeated, the champion will take home $5.23 million, the largest payout in women's sports history,” the WTA said ahead of the final. It also said: “An undefeated tournament results in 1,500 ranking points.” Sabalenka won this year’s U.S. Open and reached the Australian Open and Roland Garros finals. Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, had won two WTA 500 titles but did not advance past the fourth round at any of the majors this year. She picked up momentum on faster surfaces in the late-year Asian swing with her big serve, and hammered 15 aces in a three-set victory over American Pegula in the semifinals in Riyadh. The WTA Finals were played on indoor hard courts at the King Saud University Indoor Arena. As champion, Rybakina joins Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, and Serena Williams and other luminaries who have won the season-ending event.

Society

Turkmen Border Guards Delay Medical Aid for Seriously Injured Man at Shavat Checkpoint

At the border between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, a seriously injured man was forced to wait for hours at the Shavat checkpoint after Turkmen border guards refused to allow immediate medical evacuation while verifying his documents. The incident involved a married couple from Kunya-Urgench, Turkmenistan, who were en route to visit relatives in Uzbekistan’s Andijan region when they were involved in a car accident on October 13. The man, who was sitting in the front seat, sustained multiple injuries, including broken ribs, a fractured shoulder and foot, and numerous bruises and lacerations. His wife, who was in the back seat, suffered only minor bruises. Following the accident, both were taken to the Khorezm Regional Hospital in Urgench, Uzbekistan, where the man underwent treatment for nine days. His injuries required extensive casting. On October 22, an Uzbek medical commission declared him fit for transport and approved his transfer to Turkmenistan for further treatment. An ambulance transported the patient to the Shavat checkpoint, accompanied by a doctor and his wife. At approximately 11:00 a.m., Turkmen border guards carried the man, still on a stretcher, across the border, assuring the family that an ambulance had already been dispatched from Dashoguz. However, no medical team arrived for another five hours. The man remained on a stretcher on the ground beside the border post until 4:00 p.m., while his wife repeatedly pleaded with officers to call the ambulance again. Although the border guards assisted the man twice when he needed to relieve himself, they did not provide medical assistance. It later emerged that officials were conducting background checks, verifying the authenticity of the couple’s visas, and contacting Ashgabat as well as the Uzbek embassy to confirm the couple’s stated purpose of visiting relatives rather than engaging in commercial activity. When the ambulance eventually arrived, yet another obstacle emerged: Dashoguz Regional Hospital refused to admit the patient, citing concerns over the validity of the diagnosis and the origin of the medical documentation. Only after the intervention of higher authorities was the man finally admitted for treatment.

Coal Industry

Coal Mine Explosion in Tajikistan Kills Six Afghan Workers

Six Afghan workers have been killed in a coal mine explosion in Tajikistan’s Sughd region, according to local sources cited by Tasnim News Agency. The blast occurred in the Ayni district, where all six victims were reportedly working underground at the time. Rescue operations are still underway, and the bodies have yet to be recovered. Sources say five of the deceased were from Afghanistan’s Daikundi province and one from Lal wa Sarjangal district in Ghor province. Tajik authorities have not yet released the official identities of the victims. Earlier this year, a similar incident occurred in another Sughd coal mine, where eight Afghan miners, also from Daikundi, lost their lives, according to Etilaatroz. Local residents and mine workers report that such tragedies are becoming increasingly frequent due to unsafe working conditions, lack of protective equipment, and minimal regulatory oversight. Hundreds of Afghan nationals work in Tajikistan’s coal mines, often in hazardous and unregulated conditions. “We are not allowed to complain or talk to the media. If we do, we risk being fined or deported,” one Afghan worker told a local news outlet. Many report being employed without formal contracts, with employers failing to provide adequate workplace safety measures. Experts note that widespread unemployment and economic hardship in Afghanistan have driven many young men to seek employment abroad, particularly in Central Asia. Jobs in mining, construction, and seasonal agriculture remain common, but often come without legal protections or health insurance. Local observers estimate that more than 14 Afghan workers died in coal mine accidents in Tajikistan in 2024 alone. This latest incident comes just days after northern Afghanistan was struck by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that killed at least 27 people and injured nearly 1,000 others.

Podcast

Pannier and Hillard’s Spotlight on Central Asia @ The Times of Central Asia – New Episode Now Available

As Managing Editor of The Times of Central Asia, I’m delighted that, in partnership with the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, from October 19, we are the home of the Spotlight on Central Asia podcast. Chaired by seasoned broadcasters Bruce Pannier of RFE/RL’s long-running Majlis podcast and Michael Hillard of The Red Line, each fortnightly instalment will take you on a deep dive into the latest news, developments, security issues, and social trends across an increasingly pivotal region. In the new episode, available from Sunday, November 2, the team will take a deep dive into what is happening with Central Asian-Azerbaijani relations. In recent years, ties between the countries of Central Asia and Azerbaijan have grown much stronger. There are many good reasons for this and for believing this partnership will continue to expand. Join us to learn more.

Literature

TCA Interview: Author Judith Lindbergh on Her Novel “Akmaral”, Set on the Kazakh Steppe

In recent years, many international writers have written books about Kazakhstan. One of these is the American author Judith Lindbergh, whose latest historical novel, Akmaral, is set on the Kazakh steppe. TCA: The story of Akmaral is related to Central Asia, and particularly, Kazakhstan... JL: Absolutely correct. Akmaral is about a nomadic woman warrior on the Central Asian steppes in the 5th century BCE. It’s based on archaeology that many of your readers are likely familiar with: the Siberian Ice Maiden discovered in Tuva and the Issyk Golden Warrior of Kazakhstan. These two burials were just the beginning of my research, which also included the writings of the Greek historian Herodotus about the Amazon warrior women who fought in the Trojan War. I delved deeply into the history, landscape, and cultures of Central Asia, both ancient and modern. In writing my novel, I worked hard to understand how people lived, and still live, on the steppes: their traditional nomadic ways of herding and hunting, and especially how this ancient, often-forgotten culture fits into the broader story of human civilization. [caption id="attachment_38735" align="aligncenter" width="349"] Judith Lindbergh[/caption] TCA: How did the idea to write such a novel come about? JL: It all started with a documentary about the Siberian Ice Maiden. I love ancient history and archaeology, especially when they reveal truths about women’s lives. The Ice Maiden burial was fascinating. Her body was so well preserved that I could almost imagine her standing before me. I wanted to understand how she might have lived, and to uncover the mystery of why she was buried in such an isolated place. As I continued my research, I realized that she was not the only important female burial from that era in Central Asia. There were, in fact, countless others. Many women who had died of war wounds were buried with weapons. I began combining these burials in my imagination to create my main character, Akmaral, which I learned means “White Deer.” The name felt connected to the Siberian Ice Maiden’s famous tattoo, which became an important spiritual symbol in my novel. I used extensive research to try to accurately represent what life might have been like for these ancient women. In historical fiction, as in history itself, women rarely play significant roles in public life. Yet these artifacts and burials show us that many nomadic women once held important military and spiritual positions. There are almost no works written in English about nomadic peoples, including the real life and history of the Kazakhs. In fact, nomads were people who lived freely and truly in their time. And now we are not able to glorify their values, their way of life. What do you think about this? You’re right that there’s very little written in the West about the Sarmatians, or really much about Central Asia at all. I wanted to bring my fascination with this vital, “forgotten” part of history to new readers. In many ways, it can be hard for modern...

Gender Equality

UN Women and ACWA Power Partner to Advance Gender Equality in Uzbekistan

UN Women and ACWA Power Uzbekistan have signed a landmark agreement to promote women’s empowerment, marking the first-ever collaboration between a United Nations agency and a private company in Uzbekistan. As part of the 12-month partnership, ACWA Power will contribute $50,000 to support initiatives under UN Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) programme. The project seeks to strengthen women’s participation in education and the labor market through gender equality training, leadership development, and the launch of a pilot Gender Equality Curriculum at Shirin College. It also includes capacity-building in gender-based violence prevention and the organization of a national Women’s Empowerment Forum. [caption id="attachment_38684" align="aligncenter" width="1206"] Image: ACWA Power[/caption] UN Women, which officially began operations in Uzbekistan in May 2025, will provide technical expertise and training to support national gender equality goals. ACWA Power, Uzbekistan’s largest investor in renewable energy, will oversee project implementation and funding. The partnership aligns with Uzbekistan’s ongoing national reform agenda, particularly the Strategy for Achieving Gender Equality 2030 and the National Programme for Increasing the Activity of Women in Economic, Political, and Social Life (2022-2026). These initiatives aim to create equal opportunities and broaden women's participation in education, public service, and the economy. [caption id="attachment_38685" align="aligncenter" width="1206"] Image: ACWA Power[/caption] “Partnering with UN Women allows us to advance concrete initiatives that promote safer workplaces, fairer opportunities, and stronger representation of women in Uzbekistan,” said Dr. Jon Zaidi, Country General Manager of ACWA Power Uzbekistan. “By investing in training, curricula, and leadership development, we aim to help embed practices that benefit institutions, companies, and communities alike.” “This partnership demonstrates how private sector engagement can accelerate progress on gender equality,” added Ceren Guven Gures, Head of the UN Women Central Asia Liaison Office and Representative of the UN Women Kazakhstan Country Office. “With ACWA Power’s support, we will expand opportunities for women and strengthen protections in education and the workplace.”