Politics

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
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
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
A bridge construction site of the Bar-Boljare highway, pictured in June 2018: for Montenegro any concerns were far outweighed by the potential economic benefit of the new road.
Opinion

For developing world, Belt and Road Initiative is best deal around

China's infrastructure offer supports economic growth in Europe, Africa and Asia

6 May 2020
A Kazakh crew disinfects the streets of the capital, Nur-Sultan, on March 25. The country was the first to record COVID-19 cases in Central Asia.
Coronavirus

Central Asia virus responses run gamut from crisis to nonchalance

Pandemic tests economies, health systems, China ties -- and folk remedies

1 April 2020
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lambasted China for its treatment of its Muslim minorities on his visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
International relations

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan spurn US call to confront China

Pompeo's plea to end 'repression' of Muslim minorities also draws Chinese ire

13 February 2020
Foreign students in Japan are allowed to work in unskilled-labor positions, such as convenience store work, for up to 28 hours per week. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi) 
Japan immigration

Japan intensifies crackdown on student visa overstayers

Number of countries subject to stricter checks to increase tenfold

11 February 2020
Despite the fanfare surrounding use of Gwadar port for trade with Afghanistan, experts say the facility has a long way to go before China sees any return on its investment.
Belt and Road

Beijing-backed Pakistan port opens as hub for Afghanistan trade

Gwadar challenges Indian interests in region, but China's ROI remains unclear

23 January 2020
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin: The Russian leader announced in September that the EAEU would start talks on a trade deal with India.
International relations

Russia woos India to sign trade pact with Eurasian Economic Union

Moscow hopes to show global heavyweights take its bloc seriously

15 January 2020
Central Asia's most populous country has the veneer of a multiparty system but no true opposition.
Politics

Uzbekistan election exposes limits of image-polishing reforms

China's economic influence will inevitably become political, experts say

19 December 2019
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in a written interview with the Nikkei Asian Review, said joining the World Trade Organization and cracking down on corruption are among his immediate priorities.
Interview

Uzbekistan plans over $6bn in joint projects with Japan

President Mirziyoyev to pitch resource development during Japan trip

18 December 2019
Tetsu Nakamura speaks to Nikkei on Sept. 14, 2018 in Fukuoka. (Photo by Mamoru Yago)
Obituaries

Japanese doctor who watered Afghan deserts: Nakamura in his own words

Tetsu Nakamura talked about his life and mission in 2018 Nikkei interview

9 December 2019
Tetsu Nakamura in the Gamberi Desert, Afghanistan in 2008
Obituaries

Tetsu Nakamura: Humanitarian who devoted his life to Afghanistan

Slain Japanese doctor wanted to 'shine light into dark corners'

5 December 2019