Uzbekistan’s traditional wordsmiths seek legacy in a changing world Changing tastes threaten askiya, a centuries-old Uzbek tradition that prizes wit, improvisation, and mastery of language. Dec 16, 2021
Tajikistan: Little person’s bigtime courts controversy A charismatic, handicapped singer has gone viral, triggering appearances with Russian superstars and a member of the ruling family. Dec 13, 2021
Uzbekistan: Female tech entrepreneur cuts out the middleman Her social media bot promises to help Uzbek farmers get their goods to market while increasing their profit margins. Joanna Lillis Dec 13, 2021
Uzbekistan pulls the plug on ‘negative influence’ TikTok festival Tashkent is regretting its early embrace of the Chinese app. Dec 8, 2021
Kazakhstan: Polluters brace for sting of carbon tax The threshold of permitted CO2 emissions will decline annually by 5.4 percent through 2025. Almaz Kumenov Dec 8, 2021
Kazakh TikTokers conquer the world, incite suspicion at home The world’s most popular TikTok house is in Almaty. Not all locals are happy about it. Almaz Kumenov Dec 7, 2021
Facing yet more toxic waste, Kazakh town says NIMBY A grassroots environmental campaign has implications far beyond the small Kazakh town where it started. Artyem Sochnev Dec 3, 2021
Kazakhstan: Energy shortages push crypto miners to the exit Grid inefficiencies and the small-timer surge are leaving some miners in a tough spot. Daniyar Moldabekov Nov 26, 2021
Kazakhstan looks to nuclear amid crypto-driven energy shortage The country no longer has a choice, the president says. Almaz Kumenov Nov 22, 2021
Uzbekistan: People no longer in the dark about power shortages Until now, officials had been silent about ongoing power cuts, even calling them a thing of the past. Nov 10, 2021
Kazakhstan seeks to buy electricity from Russia amid crypto shortages Officials blame an 8 percent spike in consumption on crypto miners from China. Almaz Kumenov Nov 8, 2021
Notorious Kazakh steel town’s ‘magnetic dust’ attracts attention ArcelorMittal Temirtau has begun engaging, but air quality is not improving. Artyem Sochnev Nov 5, 2021
Kazakhstan capital to drain treasured wetlands, breaking promise The wetlands are critical to the local watershed and home to at least 172 bird species. Almaz Kumenov Oct 26, 2021
Turkmenistan: Cheap wheat for cheap gas Turkmenistan needs food staples and energy-rich Kazakhstan is, surprisingly, short of gas. The mechanics of a deal and more in our weekly briefing. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Oct 26, 2021
Kazakhstan turning ‘blind eye’ to Chinese corporate polluters – watchdog Government agencies and Kazakh-Chinese companies are using the pandemic to shield themselves from scrutiny. Oct 20, 2021