'Putin's chef' sanctioned for role in malign operations around the globe

Recent activities of organisations led by Yevgeny Prigozhin include military interventions in Libya, Syria, and the Central Africa Republic, and ongoing election interference in many countries.

Chinese military incursions send stark warning to neighbouring countries

Beijing has violated the sovereignty of Taiwan and India in recent weeks, sparking worry among China's other neighbours that this might be a new pattern.

Putin uses UN speech to market Russia's widely discredited COVID-19 vaccine

It was clear Putin used the world stage as an opportunity to market the vaccine and cash in on the demand, while nearly everyone remains skeptical of the drug's safety and effectiveness.

Kazakhstan prepares rollout for COVID-19 vaccine as trials continue

Workers are building a new drug plant in Zhambyl Province that is set to produce millions doses of a potential treatment by the end of the year.

Syrians speculate Russian air strikes aim to effect demographic change

Dozens of towns and villages in Syria have been emptied of their residents after ongoing waves of Russian air strikes, prompting locals to wonder what the Kremlin is thinking.

Fresh Russian military exercises raise security concerns in Central Asia

Large-scale military exercises initiated by Russian authorities in the country's south involve several states friendly to Moscow, and are prompting serious questions in Central Asia.

Weak COVID-19 responses undermining strongman regimes

Disregard for citizens' well-being and incompetence have shaken whatever trust citizens had in their leaders in countries such as China, Russia and Iran, analysts say.

Tehran's ethnic oppression continues with shutdown of Turkmen-language newspaper

Iranian authorities are striving to erase minorities' identity, say observers.

Plans for border city, trade centre mark latest Kazakh-Uzbek co-operation

A new Uzbek satellite city in Tashkent Province and Kazakh-Uzbek trade centre straddling the border will lead to closer trade relations between the two countries, observers say.

Putin, Lukashenka are in same sinking boat, observers say

Facing increasing opposition from voters, the two leaders are clinging to each other for support -- with Putin promising a $1.5 billion loan and Lukashenka vowing closer ties with 'our older brother'.

Kazakhstan eyes Russia's COVID-19 vaccine with caution

Kazakh doctors and Healthcare Ministry officials distrust the Russian coronavirus vaccine 'Sputnik V' and warn that it is contraindicated for high risk groups.

Central Asian journalists wary of Beijing's crackdown on free speech

'China is threatening us in a low-key manner,' a Bishkek-based journalist said, citing a barrage of Chinese propaganda directed at the region.

Navalny poisoning spurs hope for political awakening in Russia

Some voters vowed to support the opposition figure's movement in local elections September 13, as mounting evidence indicates the Kremlin in his attempted assassination.

Kyrgyzstan starts unusual, pandemic-stricken school year

Only first-graders are attending in-person classes; everybody else is studying remotely.

Pressure builds on Kremlin over its role in Navalny poisoning

Nations around the world are demanding answers from Moscow about the attempted assassination of the Russian opposition figure.

Turkmens studying in Russia seen particularly vulnerable to radical Islam

Once in Russia, young students have easy access to radical lectures and websites, and at the same time experience disheartening corruption and mistreatment from Russian officials.

Kremlin attempts media coup in Belarus as Russian strategists replace local reporters

Journalists in Central Asia condemned their Russian colleagues who agreed to replace journalists in Belarus and support Lukashenka's crackdown on demonstrators.

China aims to double nuclear arsenal in 10 years, expand military installations

A key focus for China's military is power projection, which translates to the establishment of military bases around the world.

China brags of normality as world continues to reel from pandemic

While the rest of the world suffers under lockdowns due to COVID-19, Beijing appears intent on making the country appear to have moved on. See what Chinese state media is doing.

Use of Novichok on Navalny points finger squarely at Kremlin

Germany cites 'unequivocal evidence' that Putin's main political rival was poisoned by the military-grade chemical agent, one that only Russian security agencies use.

In photos: Kyrgyz society adapts to coronavirus measures

The people of Kyrgyzstan have been compelled to change their way of life to adapt the devastating pandemic.

Facebook uncovers Kremlin-linked campaign bent on sowing US chaos

Trying out a new wrinkle, the Kremlin's Internet Research Agency duped real Americans to write for a website that bills itself as a 'global news organisation'.

Steep losses at Aeroflot, Gazprom highlight Russia's economic malaise

Central Asian migrants have been leaving Russia amid the worsening living and working situation.

Kazakhstan introduces online strategies for preventing extremism

In addition to in-person meetings, theologians, religious scholars, and psychologists in Kazakhstan are holding daily online conferences to fight extremism during the pandemic.