Caravanserai
  2. Security

    2021-10-15

    Uighur IS suicide bomber spotlights Taliban's risky ties with China

    Beijing is achieving its political, security and economic ambitions by using the Taliban to suppress Uighurs in Afghanistan -- a reckless move that threatens to ignite sectarian strife, analysts say.

  3. Terrorism

    2021-10-14

    High social media use among Kyrgyz youth raises concerns over extremist recruitment

    Forty-three percent of elementary school children and 95% of high school pupils have social media profiles -- making them potential targets for extremist recruiters, analysts warn.

  4. Diplomacy

    2021-10-13

    Kazakhstan envisions Almaty as regional hub for Afghan aid

    The UN has approved a proposal by the Kazakh president to create a humanitarian hub in Almaty to deliver international aid to Afghanistan.

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Spotlight

Concerns mount over link between Chinese phones and security risks

The Xiaomi -- the most popular smartphone in Europe -- was found to contain a built-in censorship tool, while national security risks continue to trouble world governments.

Concerns mount over link between Chinese phones and security risks
  1. Economy

    2021-10-13

    Chinese project set to displace a half-million residents in Pakistan

    Chinese economic ventures frequently inflict high costs on impoverished dwellers living in the way of bulldozers.

  2. Human Rights

    2021-10-12

    Migrants in Russia lose outspoken defender amid increasing lawlessness

    Russian authorities last month banned Valentina Chupik from the country in apparent retaliation for her criticism of Russia's mistreatment of Central Asian migrants.

  3. Crime & Justice

    2021-10-11

    China seen as new centre for Iran's money-laundering operations

    China has been providing Iran cover for various money laundering and illegal activities as the ties between the two regimes deepen after the 25-year agreement was signed in March.

  1. Security

    2021-10-08

    Concerns mount over link between Chinese phones and security risks

    The Xiaomi -- the most popular smartphone in Europe -- was found to contain a built-in censorship tool, while national security risks continue to trouble world governments.

  2. Analysis

    2021-10-08

    Tense ties: Isolated Iran acts out, tries to intimidate Azerbaijan

    Increasingly isolated in the region, Tehran appears to be acting out, this time creating tensions with Baku over a military exercise on its border.

  3. Security

    2021-10-07

    Uzbek authorities crack down on extremists radicalising youth online

    Authorities in September detained nearly 70 suspects accused of recruiting for banned extremist groups.

  4. Security

    2021-10-07

    US embassy donates 20 jeeps to Tajik special forces

    The security aid comes in the wake of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and concerns about violence spilling over the border.

  5. Politics

    2021-10-06

    International community demands answers from Russia on Navalny poisoning

    Opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned in Russia with the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok in August last year, and the international community has given Russia 10 days to provide answers.

  6. Diplomacy

    2021-10-05

    Taliban takeover puts relationship with Iran on the rocks

    Iran appears to have preferred the Taliban, which Tehran supported militarily for years, as an opposition force in Afghanistan. Now with the Taliban in power, Iran is singing a different tune.

  7. Politics

    2021-10-04

    Chinese economic retaliation causes heavy losses for Kazakh companies

    A freeze on the movement of goods along a key trade route is linked to Kazakhstan's criticism of Beijing's Xinjiang policies, say analysts.

  8. Human Rights

    2021-10-01

    China's 'sinicisation' plan does away with mosque domes, Islamic theology

    Beijing's sinicisation policy includes removing mosques' minarets and domes, and replacing the adhan with the national anthem. Imams and worshippers say they are powerless to resist.

  9. Transportation

    2021-09-30

    Kyrgyz workers demand 16 months' back wages from Chinese company

    A construction project carried out by Longhai Road and Bridge Corp. has been riddled with legal, financial and structural problems for more than 5 years, and Kyrgyz workers are fed up.

  10. Elections

    2021-09-29

    Kazakhs denounce fraud in Russian elections

    Russia's State Duma elections marked 'an obvious backslide from democracy and squeezing out of dissent', according to one observer.

  11. Environment

    2021-09-29

    USAID supports drought-stricken farmers in Kazakhstan

    More than 200 households affected by livestock deaths will receive financial assistance to meet their primary needs, according to USAID.

  12. Terrorism

    2021-09-28

    Years on, Tajik families continue to suffer from recklessness of extremism

    The Khoshimovs lost both sons to extremism and are now struggling to raise 3 orphaned grandchildren and give them a good education so they don't make the mistakes of their parents.

  13. Security

    2021-09-27

    Russian company's hand in Kazakhstan's e-government platform raises alarm

    A Kremlin-linked company will have access to Kazakh citizens' health data, data on their family members, physical address, and information about their assets and tax payments.

  14. Diplomacy

    2021-09-24

    China pledges 'unconditional' support for Taliban while Afghans lose freedoms

    While much of the world has adopted a wait-and-see approach to engagement with the Taliban, China has shown it is ready to build -- or buy -- friendly relations with the group.

  15. Human Rights

    2021-09-23

    Russian lawmaker's tirade against 'immigrant scum' violates hate speech law

    Aleksei Zhuravlev, a State Duma deputy, wants to confine Central Asian migrants to labour camps before being 'shipped out'. His comments appear to have violated Russia's own criminal code.

  16. Diplomacy

    2021-09-23

    US to donate another 500 million COVID vaccine doses, totalling over 1 billion

    The pledge from President Joe Biden at the COVID-19 summit brings the total US commitment of donated vaccine doses to 1.1 billion -- more than the rest of the world combined.

  17. Environment

    2021-09-22

    European Bank cleans up poisonous Soviet uranium dumps in Central Asia

    Tajikistan has expressed concern about the presence of enough left-over uranium at its tailing dumps to enable the manufacture of 'dirty bombs' for terrorism purposes.

  18. Security

    2021-09-21

    China's saber-rattling alarms its watchful, fearful neighbours

    Taiwan's recent exercise simulating an invasion by China serves as a stark reminder to bordering countries in Central Asia and elsewhere of Beijing's growing belligerence.

  19. Health

    2021-09-21

    US donates 115,000 Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses to Tajikistan

    Tajikistan soon will have eight 258-liter Ultra Cold Chain freezers to store the Pfizer vaccines. This is the first time Tajikistan will be using that technology.

  20. Human Rights

    2021-09-20

    OSCE report details terrorists' recruiting, trafficking of Central Asians

    Women, children and labour migrants are prime targets for the 'Islamic State' and other terrorist groups seeking to recruit and exploit vulnerable people, the report says.

  21. Media

    2021-09-17

    Kazakhs say 'thanks but no thanks' to China's Kazakh-language propaganda

    Editors at the People's Daily say they are making every effort to 'globalise the Chinese dream and China's voice' by disseminating truthful, comprehensive information. Kazakhs are rolling their eyes.