Central Asia

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attend a joint news conference in Istanbul on Apr. 10: they reaffirmed their strategic partnership.
Opinion

Erdogan and Putin battle it out for control of the Black Sea

Tussle adds to growing list of places where the veteran strongmen are squaring off

26 April 2021
A man receives a COVID-19 vaccination in Germany: Currencies in countries where vaccine rollouts have made progress have fared better than those where they have lagged.
Markets

Coronavirus vaccination rate now on investors' radar

Pound and dollar rise as vaccines boost give UK and US economies

18 April 2021
In this Sept. 11, 2011 file photo, U.S. soldiers sit beneath an American flag raised to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks at Forward Operating Base Bostick in Kunar province, Afghanistan.
International relations

Top US envoy Blinken makes unannounced visit to Afghanistan

Trip comes a day after Biden announced all remaining US troops will leave country

15 April 2021
Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov votes in the constitutional referendum in Bishkek on April 11.
Politics

Kyrgyz referendum grants Japarov full power: preliminary results

Armed with revised constitution, president faces pressure to keep promises

12 April 2021
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov takes part in his inauguration ceremony in Bishkek in January. Just a few months earlier, he was in a jail cell.
Politics

Kyrgyzstan power play culminates in Sunday constitution vote

President Japarov poised to gain virtually total control in 'huge shift'

10 April 2021
An Azerbaijani flag on an oil platform in the Caspian Sea: Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan reached a deal in January to jointly develop a Caspian Sea oil field.
International relations

Turkey's Central Asia tug-of-war with Russia intensifies

China and US also active in pursuing resources and regional clout

9 April 2021
China Telecom shareholders will vote on April 9 to decide whether to list the stock in Shanghai.
Your Week in Asia

China Telecom EGM, LG's smartphone future, Andy Li hearing

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

4 April 2021
Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov arrives for the Japanese emperor's enthronement in 2019: His succession plans are stirring speculation as his son rises through the ranks.
Politics

Is Turkmenistan's secretive presidency becoming a family affair?

Son of Berdymukhamedov 'the protector' rises amid political and economic changes

27 March 2021
Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan recently signed bilateral agreements with Uzbekistan intended to boost activity in the virtually idle port of Gwadar. 
Belt and Road

Pakistan promotes Belt and Road port for Central Asian trade

Move expected to increase volume of goods moving through Gwadar

18 March 2021
Afghan security officials stand guard on the outskirts of Helmand, Afghanistan, on Feb. 8. Amid growing distrust over the future of peace talks, Taliban leaders have called commanders back from their winter break earlier than usual.
Interview

Indonesia seeks to broker Taliban peace deal in Afghanistan

Former Vice President Kalla reveals travel to Kabul and Qatar for talks

24 February 2021
Vials of the Sputnik V vaccine, officially called Gam-COVID-Vac, are seen on a production line in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Coronavirus

Russia pulls ahead of China in Central Asia vaccine diplomacy

Sputnik V gains traction as working with Beijing grows politically awkward

7 February 2021
Uzbek president Shavkat Mirziyoyev's country is joining east Asian nations such as Japan and South Korea in aiming for carbon-neutrality by 2050.
Environment

Uzbekistan joins global carbon neutrality race to 2050

European reconstruction bank signs on to assist Central Asian nation

31 January 2021
Sadyr Japarov, who was in prison a little over three months ago, positioned himself as a "man of the people" and trounced his election rivals.
Politics

China and Russia to test Japarov after Kyrgyz election cakewalk

Central Asian state's new president faces pressure to deliver as economy sinks

11 January 2021
Kyrgyzstan presidential candidate Sadyr Japarov attends an election rally on Dec. 30. As recently as October, he was serving a 10-year sentence for organizing a kidnapping.
Politics

Kyrgyzstan election odds favor strongman rule after 2020 turmoil

Prison-to-presidency populist Japarov expected to win Sunday as China watches

8 January 2021
In an interview with Nikkei Asia, SOCAR's vice president said "there are no obstacles left to build new pipelines in the Caspian Sea." (Source photos by Reuters and AP)
International relations

Azerbaijan readies gas for EU as Central Asia energy hopes soar

Caspian output to reach Europe while Turkmenistan eyes supplier role, SOCAR says

30 December 2020
Workers remove a fence around Kyrgyzstan's house of parliament in Bishkek, which was stormed by protesters in October following the tainted parliamentary election.
International relations

China offers cash-strapped Kyrgyzstan a glimmer of hope on debt

$35m deferral would temporarily ease pressure amid COVID and political upheaval

3 December 2020
A handicapped man walks past in heavy dust storm during nationwide lockdown in Allahabad on May 5: we must ensure that no one is left behind.
Opinion

Empowering the disabled in a post-COVID world

Disability inclusion must be central to the region's response to build back better

2 December 2020
Kyrgyzstan's new Acting President Sadyr Japarov speaks in parliament in Bishkek on Oct. 16, less than two weeks after he was sprung from jail.
Politics

Kyrgyzstan prison-to-presidency power grab proceeds as China frets

Expert sees 'Trump effect' behind Acting President Sadyr Japarov's rapid rise

30 October 2020
Kyrgyzstan's President Sooronbay Jeenbekov, shown here after a vote at an Oct. 4 parliamentary election, resigned Oct. 15.
Politics

Kyrgyzstan president quits, saying he doesn't want to shoot citizens

Convicted kidnapper emerges as contender to lead chaotic Central Asian country

16 October 2020
The blast site hit by a rocket in Ganja, Nagorno-Karabakh region, pictured on Oct. 11: in a hyper-nationalistic world the danger of smaller conflicts fueling regional wars is much greater.
Opinion

Turkey's disruptive Caucasus power play risks regional war

Three big reasons why the world should care about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

15 October 2020
A demonstrator wears the Kyrgyzstan national flag during a protest against the results of a parliamentary election in the capital Bishkek on Oct. 6.
Politics

Kyrgyzstan faces political vacuum as president denounces 'coup'

Tainted election results declared invalid in bid to quell unrest

7 October 2020
Taiwan's ban on Chinese streaming service iQiyi will take effect on Sept. 4.
Your Week in Asia

Hong Kong COVID testing, Taiwan iQiyi ban, and India GDP

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

30 August 2020
Women in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on July 13: The country continues to insist it is coronavirus-free.
Coronavirus

WHO leaves Turkmenistan in COVID gray zone as neighbors face surge

Central Asian nation says it has no cases but is advised to act like it does

18 July 2020
Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov arrives at the Kremlin before the Victory Day Parade in Moscow on June 24.
Politics

Kyrgyzstan internet law raises fears for free speech in COVID fog

Critics say bill, ostensibly aimed at false virus info, would enable corruption

3 July 2020
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the opening ceremony of a hospital in Istanbul on May 21. (Anadolu Agency)
Health Care

Turkey opens Japan-funded hospital as virus spreads

Erdogan says latest facility 'will play a critical role' in coronavirus battle

24 May 2020