BISHKEK (TCA) — The Publisher’s note: Central Asia is an important geopolitical area between Europe, Russia and China. It is in Central Asia that world powers have confronted each other for centuries; it is here that China needs to succeed with its new Silk Road Belt for direct access to the Western markets; and it is here that a large wealth of raw materials has its origin. Every week thousands of news appears all over the world in printed and online media and it is quite understandable that many of them may escape the attention of busy readers. At The Times of Central Asia, we strongly believe that more information can better contribute to peaceful development and better knowledge of the region, and for this reason we are presenting this Weekly Digest of Central Asia which compiles what other media have reported during the past week.

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TASHKENT (TCA) — As the new leadership in Uzbekistan pursues a new policy towards its southern neighbor, Afghanistan, which is focused on trade and economic cooperation, infrastructure and a gas-pipeline project, we are republishing this article by Fozil Mashrab, originally published by The Jamestown Foundation’s Eurasia Daily Monitor:

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ASHGABAT (TCA) — On July 1 the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat kicks off its seventh annual Summer Film Screenings, featuring three recent American blockbusters. The films will be shown in July at theaters in Turkmenistan’s cities of Ashgabat, Balkanabat, Dashoguz, Mary, Turkmenbashi, and Turkmenabat.

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DUSHANBE (TCA) — Tajikistan, as well as Kyrgyzstan, possesses huge hydro power resources for electricity generation, but the country mainly produces electricity in summer and experiences power shortages and consequent blackouts in winter. Improved regional cooperation with neighboring countries in the power sector can help Dushanbe solve the problem. We are republishing this article on the issue, originally published by EurasiaNet.org:

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KABUL (TCA) — A member of the Afghan parliament from Helmand Province and local residents have told Russia’s Sputnik Afghanistan news agency that the US military could be smuggling uranium, as well as other rare elements and natural resources, out of the village of Khanashin in the country’s southern province of Helmand.

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TASHKENT (TCA) — Tanotrade AG company of Switzerland plans to build an electrical equipment manufacturing plant, Nukuselektroapparat, in Nukus, the main city of Uzbekistan’s northwestern Karakalpakstan autonomous region, the Jahon information agency reported.

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