The Times Of Central Asia | Eurasian Publication & News Online

Washington, D.C. – The United States and Kazakhstan have finalized the largest locomotive agreement in history, a $4.2 billion deal that underscores American industrial strength and deepens ties between the two nations. The announcement came following a call between President Donald Trump and Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, which officials say...

Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions

Faith and Diplomacy: Kazakhstan Reconciles Religious Leaders

On September 17-18, 2025, Kazakhstan’s capital hosted the 8th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. The event reinforced what has become increasingly evident: the Congress is evolving into a meaningful instrument of global dialogue, one President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev hopes to leverage in his broader efforts to reform the...

Child Poverty

Uzbekistan Halves Child Poverty in Four Years

Uzbek-U.S. Realtions

Insider’s View: Uzbekistan–U.S. – A New Era of Environmentally Friendly and Energy-Efficient Investment

Today, environmentally friendly and energy-efficient projects are no longer just a fashionable trend but a factor of global competitiveness. Uzbekistan, once regarded as a country with a resource-based energy system and limited opportunities for the adoption of modern technologies, is now becoming a hub for “green” investment and innovation. A...

UN General Assembly

Opinion: Almaty as a Model for the Future: Central Asia’s Role in the Global Agenda

Almaty is gradually becoming a hub for resolving issues of not only regional but also global significance. The recent opening of the UN Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and Afghanistan here was an event no less significant than the 80th anniversary session of the General...

Human Trafficking

Ukrainian Prosecutors Say 13 Uzbek Workers Held in “Inhumane Conditions”

Japan

From Hydropower to Human Capital: Japarov Plans Strategic Visit to Japan

Internet Access

Next Stop, Wi-Fi: Kazakhstan Pilots Satellite Internet on Rails

Just a few years ago, internet access on passenger trains in Kazakhstan seemed like an unattainable dream. Today, this service is becoming a reality. In an interview, Anuar Akhmetzhanov, Chairman of the Board of JSC Passenger Transport, told The Times of Central Asia that providing passengers with access to high-speed...

Sunkar Podcast

Astana International Forum 2025: Rethinking Global Dialogue

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Opinions

Opinion: China’s Diplomatic Power Play Unfolds in Tianjin

Andrei Matveev

Opinion: Gas, Geopolitics, and Realism: U.S.–Turkmenistan Talks Signal Shift

Javier M. Piedra

Insider’s View: From Reform to Rights – Strengthening Uzbekistan’s Legal Foundations

Akmal Saidov

Opinion: Washington Meeting and the Shifting Geopolitics of the Caspian

Farid Shafiyev

Opinion: Over the Past Eight Years, New Uzbekistan Has Absorbed Over $113 Billion in Foreign Investments

Professor Durbek Akhmedov

Opinion: Why Russia May Stop Oil Supplies via the CPC

Andrei Matveev

Opinion: Ghosts of the Gulag – A View From the Ground

Askar Alimzhanov

Opinion: Ghosts of the Gulag: Kazakhstan’s Uneasy Dance With Memory and Moscow

Manon Madec

Opinion: A Sea of Discord? Intensifying Military Drills Threaten Stability in the Caspian Region

Andrei Matveev

Kazakhstan in Afghanistan: From Rhetoric to Infrastructure

Aidar Borangaziyev

Opinion: As Kazakhstan-China Trade Booms, Tokayev and XI Strengthen Relations

Javier M. Piedra

Opinion: The U.S. Dollar Loses Its Luster as the Uzbek Som Shines

Arindam Banik

Business & Economy

Electricity

Kyrgyzstan Faces Power Shortages Amid Record Low Water Levels at Toktogul Reservoir

Kyrgyz authorities have warned of potential rolling blackouts this winter due to critically low water levels at the country’s main hydropower facility, the Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Station. At a press conference in Bishkek, Energy Minister Taalaibek Ibraev reported that as of mid-September, the Toktogul reservoir had accumulated just 10.8 billion cubic meters of water, 1.5 billion cubic meters less than at the same time last year. The shortfall significantly limits the country’s electricity generation capacity during peak winter demand. “Kyrgyzstan is facing a persistent energy crisis, exacerbated by insufficient water reserves amid global warming and rising demand for electricity,” Ibraev...

Hydropower

EDB to Fund Feasibility Study for Kyrgyz Hydropower Cascade

Internet Access

Next Stop, Wi-Fi: Kazakhstan Pilots Satellite Internet on Rails

Eurasian Development Bank (EDB)

Uzbekistan Approves Share Purchase Plan to Join Eurasian Development Bank

Future Games

Future Games 2026 in Kazakhstan Face Possible Delay Over Funding

Energy Modernization

Kazakhstan to Invest $24 Billion in Energy Modernization

Kazakhstan has launched a National Project to modernize its energy and utility sectors for the period 2025-2029, with planned investments of 13 trillion tenge (over $24 billion). The initiative aims to upgrade existing infrastructure and construct new power generation, transmission, and water supply systems. Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev announced the preliminary cost estimate during the “National Project for the Modernization of the Energy and Utility Sectors: Opportunities for Kazakh Business” conference. According to Bozumbayev, the funds will support the repair and construction of 86,000 kilometers of utility networks and add 7.3 GW in new generation capacity. “Today, we have...

Agricultural Export

Kazakh Wheat Flour Enters U.S. Market

Kazakhstan has reached a new milestone in diversifying its agricultural exports with the inaugural shipment of wheat flour to the United States. A 50-ton batch recently arrived in New York, marking the beginning of what could become a regular supply channel. Marketed under the Eurasian Legacy brand, the flour is now available on Amazon and Walmart. It retails for $14.50 per 1.36 kg package on Amazon and is advertised as non-GMO and glyphosate-free. Each package bears the label “Product of Kazakhstan,” highlighting the country’s positioning as a producer of environmentally friendly, high-quality food products. According to the QazTrade Center for...

Web Summit

Uzbekistan to Host First-Ever Web Summit Spotlight in Central Asia

Uzbekistan will host its first Web Summit Spotlight on September 27 in Tashkent, marking a significant milestone for the country’s growing tech sector. The Ministry of Digital Technologies and IT Park Uzbekistan, co-organizers of the event, confirmed the announcement in an official press release. The event is being held in partnership with Web Summit, one of the world’s most prominent technology conferences, which draws more than 70,000 participants each year to its flagship gathering in Lisbon. In recent years, Web Summit has expanded globally with editions in Rio de Janeiro, Qatar, and Vancouver. Tashkent will now join this lineup, positioning...

poverty reduction

Uzbekistan Aims to Cut Poverty Rate to 6% by End of 2025

Uzbekistan aims to cut its national poverty rate to 6 percent by the end of 2025, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced at the opening of the third international forum From Poverty to Prosperity in Namangan on September 17. The forum brought together representatives from more than 30 organizations and approximately 200 experts, including Islamic Development Bank President Muhammad Al-Jasser, Asian Development Bank Vice President Yingming Yang, Japan International Cooperation Agency Senior Vice President Sachiko Imoto, United Nations Special Representative for Central Asia Kaha Imnadze, and World Bank Global Director for Poverty Reduction Luis Felipe López-Calva. Mirziyoyev warned that the world is...

Local Politics

Jalal-Abad

From Jalal-Abad to Manas: Kyrgyzstan Writes Its Epic in Stone

On September 18, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov signed a law renaming the city of Jalal-Abad to Manas. Parliament had previously approved the bill unanimously on 10 September 2025, with lawmakers declaring that the change aims to strengthen national ideology and perpetuate the legacy of the Kyrgyz people’s national hero, Manas. The law will come into force ten days after its official publication. History of Jalal-Abad The city long known as Jalal-Abad sits in southern Kyrgyzstan, about 520 kilometers from Bishkek, near the Uzbek border. It traces its origins to a 19th-century caravanserai and spa. Jalal-Abad was first recognized as a...

Human Rights

Kazakhstan Criminalizes Forced Marriage in Landmark Legal Reform

Politics

Kyrgyz Parliament Reveals Real Reasons for Its Possible Dissolution

Politics

Kyrgyz Deputies Launch Initiative to Dissolve Parliament

Transport

Almaty Targets Scooter Safety After Tokayev Calls for Urgent Action

Kipling and Code: Tokayev Advocates Global AI Ethics Principles

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for the creation of an international body to address the ethical dimensions of artificial intelligence (AI) and to draft universal legislation regulating its development and application. Speaking at the VIII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana, Tokayev emphasized that technologies such as AI, big data, and bioengineering are transforming societies at a pace that outstrips the development of ethical and legal frameworks. “New challenges arise, freedom of choice and privacy, digital equality and security, the use of artificial intelligence and many other technologies. Universal moral values and ideals must be...

Transport

Kazakhstan Moves to Ban Electric Scooters from Sidewalks

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs is preparing new legislation that would prohibit electric scooters from being used on sidewalks, Deputy Minister Igor Lepekha announced. Initial restrictions on scooters were introduced in 2023, requiring riders to limit their speed to 6 km/h on sidewalks. However, compliance has been minimal, largely due to limited state enforcement and the failure of kick-sharing companies to implement speed-limiting technologies. The issue resurfaced at the highest level on September 8, when President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for urgent measures to improve pedestrian safety. Lepekha stated that previously rejected amendments to scooter regulations have now been redrafted. “These...

Religion

Kyrgyz Government Opens Islamic Academy to Strengthen Religious Education

On September 15, Kyrgyzstan inaugurated a state-funded Islamic Academy in the town of Tokmok, approximately 60 kilometers east of Bishkek. Established by presidential decree, the institution is designed to accommodate 400 students and aims to offer structured training in Islamic theology, as well as courses in Islamic finance and banking. Speaking at the opening ceremony, President Sadyr Japarov emphasized that global threats of extremism and radicalism, including in Central Asia, underscore the need for “objective, scientifically grounded religious education aligned with traditional Islamic values”. He stated that the academy would serve as a regional hub for training imams and promoting...

Mountaineering

Kyrgyz Parliament Considers Tighter Climbing Rules After Mountain Deaths

Kyrgyzstan’s parliament is looking at ways to make mountaineering safer after the deaths and presumed deaths of several climbers this year, including a Russian woman who was stranded for days on the highest mountain in the country. The debate comes as authorities promote Kyrgyzstan’s spectacular mountain landscapes in an effort to attract more tourists. A draft law that was introduced on September 4 in the country's parliament, the Jogorku Kenesh, would require mountaineers who plan to climb above 6,000 meters to get a permit and have insurance that covers medical assistance and evacuation. The bill, put forward by lawmaker Emil...

International Affairs

Water Management

Kazakhstan and China Expand Cooperation in Water Management

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has signed a memorandum of cooperation with Power China to strengthen bilateral collaboration in water management. The agreement outlines plans for modernizing hydraulic infrastructure, reconstructing irrigation systems, and enhancing technical capacity through training programs and specialist exchanges. It also includes provisions for digitalization, investment in water conservation, and the efficient use of water resources. The cooperation extends to scientific research, hydrogeology, and the training of groundwater management specialists. As part of the agreement, the fourth group of Kazakh water sector professionals is currently undergoing advanced training at Power China facilities. Since the beginning...

Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions

Faith and Diplomacy: Kazakhstan Reconciles Religious Leaders

UN General Assembly

Tokayev at the UN Underscores Kazakhstan’s New Diplomacy

Diplomacy

Tokayev’s Visit to New York: UN Speech, Investment Talks, Nuclear Power, and Digital Cooperation

Aviation

Kyrgyzstan Says It’s Close to Being Removed from EU Flight Ban

Azerbaijan

After Berdimuhamedov Sr.’s Visit, Azerbaijan to Gift Oil Tanker to Turkmenistan

On the sidelines of an investment forum in the Turkmen resort of Awaza, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Economy, Sahib Alekperov, announced that Baku will gift an 8,000-ton oil tanker to Turkmenistan. The gesture is intended as a symbol of goodwill and a marker of deepening relations between the two Caspian neighbors. From Symbolism to Infrastructure According to Alekperov, the tanker project is expected to be completed by the end of this year or early next. He emphasized that bilateral ties are increasingly rooted in practical cooperation. In August, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan signed a memorandum to expand international air services, aiming...

Transport and Logistics

Opinion: Bridging Histories, Building Futures – Central Asia, Pakistan, and the Dream of a Railway

On 5 September 2025, the Times of Central Asia published an article titled “Trans-Afghan Railway: Can Uzbekistan Build a Railway Through Afghanistan to Reach the Sea?” Reading it stirred something deep within me. The piece was not just about steel tracks or trade corridors - it was about dreams, history, and the future of a region I have long been passionate about: Central Asia. I am not a political analyst; I am an engineer by training and a student of history by passion. Having worked in Afghanistan and witnessed the landscape of its geography and politics up close, I feel...

UN General Assembly

Central Asian Presidents at UNGA-80: All Five Confirmed

New York, Sept 22, 2025 – Central Asia will have a strong presence at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA-80), with four of the region’s presidents confirmed to attend in person. One leader’s participation, however, remains unannounced. From Kazakhstan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is scheduled to be in New York from September 21 to 23. The Kazakh presidency confirmed that he will deliver his country’s national statement and meet with other heads of state on the sidelines of the high-level week. Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov is officially confirmed to be in New York from September 22 to September 25, where...

Japan

From Hydropower to Human Capital: Japarov Plans Strategic Visit to Japan

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov is preparing for a visit to Japan that underscores growing strategic ties between the two countries. Kyrgyz officials say they plan to sign energy and infrastructure agreements in Tokyo, including support for a training center for the national electric grid and upgrades at the Kurpsai hydropower plant, according to Trend, citing the Kyrgyz Energy Ministry. The same report notes that grant funding from Japan’s international cooperation programs will back grid training and modernization efforts. The timing reflects Tokyo’s recent step-up in activity vis-à-vis Central Asia. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, in late...

Life & Culture

Child Poverty

Uzbekistan Halves Child Poverty in Four Years

Uzbekistan has achieved a significant reduction in child poverty over the past four years. According to UNICEF Representative Regina Maria Castillo, the child poverty rate dropped from 21.5% in 2021 to just 11.4% in 2024, effectively cutting the figure in half. Speaking at an international forum in Namangan, Castillo credited deliberate government policy for the 10-percentage-point decline. She emphasized that government-funded social benefits, including child allowances and pensions, played a critical role in lifting families out of poverty. Without these support mechanisms, she noted, child poverty could have sharply increased during the same period. Castillo also highlighted the importance of...

Backstreet Boys

Backstreet Boys to Perform in Almaty on September 19 for City Day

Education

Turkmenistan Expands Educational Partnership with UK’s AQA

Snow Leopard Run 2025

Bishkek to Host Kyrgyzstan’s First-Ever Full Marathon as Part of Snow Leopard Run 2025

Almaty Museum of Arts

Kazakhstan’s Cultural Reawakening: Almaty Opens Its New Museum of Arts

Employment

Kazakhstan Recognizes Course Certificates as Equivalent to University Diplomas

Kazakhstan’s National Council for Professional Qualifications, in collaboration with industry experts, has approved a new National Qualifications Framework (NQF) that officially recognizes certificates from professional and advanced training courses as valid proof of education for employment purposes. Previously, only diplomas from universities, colleges, and technical schools were accepted. According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, the revised system now also includes non-formal and informal learning, skills and knowledge acquired outside traditional educational institutions over a person’s lifetime. The reform is based on the European Qualifications Framework and tailored to meet the evolving demands of Kazakhstan’s...

Drone Soccer World Cup

Kazakh School Teams to Compete at Drone Soccer World Cup in South Korea

Three school teams from Astana will represent Kazakhstan for the first time at the FIDA Drone Soccer World Cup 2025, set to take place in late September in Jeonju, South Korea, according to the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. Drone soccer, a South Korean innovation launched in 2016, is a rapidly growing esport. The game is played in a netted arena by two teams of five, each piloting spherical drones measuring 20-40 centimeters in diameter. The goal is to score by flying a designated drone, known as the drone-ball, through the opponent’s gate while defending one’s own. Matches...

Sports

Kazakhstan Football’s European Breakthrough Amid Grassroots Struggles

Kazakhstan’s football is undergoing a pivotal transformation. While FC Kairat made history this year by qualifying for the UEFA Champions League group stage and is set to face Real Madrid later this month, youth and grassroots football remain critically underdeveloped, according to a recent analysis by Ranking.kz. Mass Participation, Mixed Results Football remains the most popular sport in Kazakhstan. In 2024, approximately 1.5 million people played the game, accounting for a quarter of all those involved in organized sports. These figures exclude informal games played on streets or university campuses. There were 18,600 football groups and 8,100 futsal groups across...

Book Launch

Book Launch at the U.S. Capitol: New Uzbekistan: The Path of Shavkat Mirziyoyev

On September 16, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Washington, D.C., hosted a book launch at the Rayburn Building on Capitol Hill for New Uzbekistan: The Path of Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The event drew diplomats, congressional staff, and representatives from companies such as General Motors and Boeing. The keynote address was delivered by Sodyq Safayev, First Deputy Chairperson of Uzbekistan’s Senate. Other speakers included Husan Ermatov, the book’s Uzbek-language editor and advisor to Uzbekistan’s Ishonch newspaper; Eldor Aripov, Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan; Lisa Choate, President and CEO of American Councils; and Elena...

Justice

Animal Rights

Chinese Man Jailed in Tashkent for Pouring Boiling Water on Cat

A Chinese citizen in Tashkent has been sentenced to five days in detention after being found guilty of torturing a cat by repeatedly pouring boiling water on it, according to the animal protection organization “Mehr va Oqibat” (Kindness and Compassion). The incident occurred during the night of September 16-17, when a local resident contacted the group’s hotline after hearing the sound of a cat crying. Looking outside, the witness saw her neighbor, identified as Y.Z., a Chinese national, pouring boiling water onto the animal, which he had confined in a container to prevent it from escaping. Mehr va Oqibat promptly...

Women's Rights

Montenegro Will Not Extradite NeMolchi Founder to Kazakhstan

Corruption

Prestige or Coercion? Turkmen Police Questioned Over Costly Leader Watches

Domestic Violence

Tajikistan Launches Domestic Violence Hotline

Trump Administration

U.S. Deports 39 Uzbek Nationals, Thanks Uzbekistan for Cooperation

Human Trafficking

Ukrainian Prosecutors Say 13 Uzbek Workers Held in “Inhumane Conditions”

Prosecutors in Ukraine say they have detained four members of a human trafficking operation that exploited 13 Uzbek laborers and subjected them to humiliating treatment that included scheduled visits to the toilet. Two Chinese citizens, an Uzbek national and a Ukrainian woman used coercion and deception to recruit vulnerable people with few resources outside Ukraine and move them to the Kyiv region for use in forced work for profit, the Kyiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office said on Thursday. Images provided by the office show the farm workers standing in front of greenhouse-like structures covered in plastic tarpaulins in a rural area....

Crime

Kazakh Businessman Almaz Zaripov Detained in Bishkek

The State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan (SCNS) has confirmed the detention of Kazakh citizen Almaz Zaripov, president of the Agrarian and Industrial Union of Kazakhstan, in Bishkek. The arrest, which occurred at the end of August, followed a public appeal by Zaripov’s wife to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, which garnered widespread attention on social media. According to Kyrgyz authorities, the case stems from a March 2025 complaint by two Bishkek residents. The complainants allege that a 51-year-old man offered them a “lucrative business” opportunity involving grain imports from Kazakhstan. After transferring $2.5 million, the alleged supplier ceased communication and...

Police

Twelve Years On, Tajikistan’s Police Reform Struggles to Deliver Real Change

Launched in 2013, Tajikistan’s police reform aimed to modernize law enforcement, increase transparency, and build public trust. Twelve years later, while some progress is acknowledged, experts say the main objectives remain largely unfulfilled. Signs of Progress Sadriddin Saidov, chairman of the Sughd regional branch of the Bar Association, notes improved accessibility to law enforcement. “Now citizens can file complaints through hotlines or electronically, which means people can reach out at any time,” he said. In remote areas, mobile police units, minibuses outfitted as service offices, now provide legal consultations and assistance. Gulchehra Kholmatova, Head of the Legal Assistance Group of...

Asset Recovery

From Mansions to Classrooms: Kazakhstan Turns Corruption Assets into Public Good

Kazakhstan is actively reclaiming assets obtained through corrupt practices and redirecting them toward social development. Confiscated properties, including luxury mansions, high-end vehicles, and even ancient jewelry, are being allocated for public benefit, particularly in education, healthcare, and infrastructure. These efforts form part of a broader anti-corruption campaign under President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, which aims to transform stolen wealth into schools, hospitals, and public services while restoring public trust in government. Luxury Assets Reallocated for Public Use Over the past several years, billions of dollars in assets have been returned to the state budget. On September 5, officials announced that a luxurious...

Environment

Power Shortage

Kyrgyz Energy Minister Warns of Imminent Winter Power Shortages

Kyrgyzstan’s Energy Minister Taalaibek Ibraev has warned that the upcoming winter will be one of the most difficult in recent memory, with the country facing significant electricity shortages due to critically low water levels at the Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) reservoir. Toktogul is Kyrgyzstan’s largest energy facility, generating approximately 40% of the country’s electricity. According to Ibraev, the Toktogul reservoir currently holds 10.8 billion cubic meters of water, 1.6 billion cubic meters less than in 2024, when levels were already deemed critically low at 12.4 billion cubic meters. The “dead water level,” at which the turbines can no longer...

Desertification

Opinion: Turning Deserts Into Fields of Hope

Agriculture

East Kazakhstan Researchers Use AI and Drones to Boost Soil and Crop Management

Earthquake

Earthquake Shakes Bishkek; No Major Damage Reported

Aral Sea

Kazakhstan Sees Record Water Recovery in Northern Aral Sea

Green Energy

Astana Forum Signals Growing Momentum for Green Projects

Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a regional hub for green energy, with hydrogen emerging as a central focus. This direction was highlighted at the Second Central Asian and European Forum on Decarbonization Diplomacy, where hydrogen featured prominently on the agenda. At the forum, the Ministry of Energy presented an updated Concept for Hydrogen Energy Development aimed at attracting investment and laying the groundwork for the country’s first large-scale hydrogen projects. “By the end of this year, we expect to adopt legislation that will provide the foundation for hydrogen energy development in Kazakhstan. For us, this is not merely a goal,...

Kambarata-1

Experts Call for Seismic Study Ahead of Kambarata-1 Hydropower Construction

At a recent parliamentary session, Kanatbek Abdrakhmatov, director of the Institute of Seismology and president of Kyrgyzstan’s National Academy of Sciences, warned that seismic microzonation has not been conducted at the site of the planned Kambarata-1 hydropower plant (HPP), a critical prerequisite for infrastructure projects of this magnitude. Located in western Kyrgyzstan, the Kambarata-1 HPP is a joint venture between Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, with financial support from the World Bank. The facility is expected to have a capacity of 1,860 MW, with a reservoir volume of 4.5 billion cubic meters. The dam is projected to stand 256 meters tall...

China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway

Opinion: A Railway to the Future – Uzbekistan’s Bold Path to Connectivity and Carbon Cuts

I still remember the thrill of boarding the sleek high-speed train from Tashkent to Bukhara. What could have been an ordinary journey turned into something unforgettable - the kind of experience that stays alive in the memory long after the trip ends. The speed, the comfort, and above all, the hospitality of Uzbekistan Railways revealed more than just modern engineering; it was a glimpse into the vision of a country determined to connect its people and its future to the wider world. The resonance of this project is deep. The Silk Road was once the artery of global exchange, moving...

Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant (HPP)

Kyrgyz Energy Ministry Rejects Concerns About Seismic Safety of Future Kambarata-1 HPP

The Kyrgyz Ministry of Energy has dismissed concerns raised by leading seismologists about the seismic safety of the planned Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant (HPP), a flagship regional energy project jointly backed by Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Speaking at a parliamentary committee meeting on September 9, Kanatbek Abdrakhmatov, President of Kyrgyzstan’s National Academy of Sciences and Director of the Institute of Seismology, warned that the future dam may be vulnerable to strong earthquakes due to its proposed location. Seismic Warnings from Scientists “The dam is planned in a dangerous area, surrounded by mountains,” Abdrakhmatov said. “It may not withstand a powerful earthquake.”...

Tokayev at the UN Underscores Kazakhstan’s New Diplomacy

Latest

Features

Features

Latest

Sunkar Podcast

Sunkar Podcast

Opinions

Opinions

Andrei Matveev

Javier M. Piedra

Akmal Saidov

Farid Shafiyev

Professor Durbek Akhmedov

Andrei Matveev

Askar Alimzhanov

Manon Madec

Andrei Matveev

Aidar Borangaziyev

Javier M. Piedra

Arindam Banik

Business & Economy

Business & Economy

Kyrgyzstan Faces Power Shortages Amid Record Low Water Levels at Toktogul Reservoir

Kazakhstan to Invest $24 Billion in Energy Modernization

Kazakh Wheat Flour Enters U.S. Market

Uzbekistan to Host First-Ever Web Summit Spotlight in Central Asia

Uzbekistan Aims to Cut Poverty Rate to 6% by End of 2025

Local Politics

Local Politics

From Jalal-Abad to Manas: Kyrgyzstan Writes Its Epic in Stone

Kipling and Code: Tokayev Advocates Global AI Ethics Principles

Kazakhstan Moves to Ban Electric Scooters from Sidewalks

Kyrgyz Government Opens Islamic Academy to Strengthen Religious Education

Kyrgyz Parliament Considers Tighter Climbing Rules After Mountain Deaths

International Affairs

International Affairs

Kazakhstan and China Expand Cooperation in Water Management

After Berdimuhamedov Sr.’s Visit, Azerbaijan to Gift Oil Tanker to Turkmenistan

Opinion: Bridging Histories, Building Futures – Central Asia, Pakistan, and the Dream of a Railway

Central Asian Presidents at UNGA-80: All Five Confirmed

From Hydropower to Human Capital: Japarov Plans Strategic Visit to Japan

Life & Culture

Life & Culture

Uzbekistan Halves Child Poverty in Four Years

Kazakhstan Recognizes Course Certificates as Equivalent to University Diplomas

Kazakh School Teams to Compete at Drone Soccer World Cup in South Korea

Kazakhstan Football’s European Breakthrough Amid Grassroots Struggles

Book Launch at the U.S. Capitol: New Uzbekistan: The Path of Shavkat Mirziyoyev

Justice

Justice

Chinese Man Jailed in Tashkent for Pouring Boiling Water on Cat