The Cloudwards analytical project published the Internet Freedom by Country in 2026 report. It analyzed data from various sources across four key categories to measure how easy it really is for netizens in each country to access online sites and services. These categories include torrenting, adult content, political and civic content, and VPN accessibility. The
A Government meeting on April 7 chaired by Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov discussed issues of developing coal energy and implementing the National Project on Coal-Fired Power Generation. Bektenov noted that the project provides for the commissioning of about 8 GW of additional capacity over 5 years through the construction of 8 new power
On April 6, Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor attended the first meeting in Washington D.C. of the U.S.-Uzbekistan Business Investment Council alongside Uzbekistan’s Head of the Presidential Administration Ms. Saida Mirziyoyeva. Speaking at the meeting, Special Envoy Gor stated, “President Trump understands the importance of Central Asia, and especially Uzbekistan, in
The project of the Zangezur Corridor was high on the agenda of the second meeting of heads of government of the member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) held in Baku, Azerbaijan on April 2. Founded in 2009 to foster comprehensive cooperation among Turkic-speaking nations, the OTS includes Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and
Kazakhstan has approved regulations for equipping shelters for the population protection. The new standard covers basements, underground parking lots, and other subterranean spaces, according to the press service of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan. In Kazakhstan, a new standard for shelters in case of emergencies has come into effect from January 1,
Bekhzod Khashimov, an economist and researcher at the University of Wisconsin, analyzed the current state of Tashkent’s urban environment. He’s come to the conclusion that despite high-quality private services in the Uzbek capital, public services remain in a critical state, Tashkent Today reported. The expert points to the following infrastructure issues: • Inaccessible environment: sidewalks
According to the 2026 Index of Economic Freedom published by The Heritage Foundation, Uzbekistan scored 60.3 points and ranked 86th globally, improving its result by 2.3 points from the previous year. This moved the country into the moderately free category. Notably, Uzbekistan’s current score is already above the 2026 global average of 59.9, the Uzbek Ministry of Investment, Industry
A large share of expenditure on food remains the main indicator of low well-being of the population in Kazakhstan. In 2025, spending on food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 13.9% compared to the previous year, and has increased almost six-fold since 2010, finprom.kz reported citing data from the Bureau of National Statistics. Despite the growth
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Uzbekistan annually consumes 23% more water than nature can replenish. The country’s “water stress” level has reached 123%, officially confirming that the crisis has moved from prediction to reality, Tashkent Today reported. The situation remains uneven in the Central Asian region. Turkmenistan recorded
UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nowais visited the city of Samarkand, as part of her official visit to Uzbekistan, where she took part in the opening of the UN Tourism Thematic Office “Tourism on the Silk Road”, according to the Uzbek Tourism Committee. One of the key highlights of the program was the official inauguration
In China’s Fujian province, discussions were held regarding the localization of production and the launch of new Chinese enterprises with investments of up to $1.2 billion in Kazakhstan, according to the Kazakh Ministry of Trade and Integration. This was announced following the visit of Kazakhstan’s Minister of Trade and Integration, Arman Shakkaliyev, to Fujian province.
In 2025, microcredit organizations in Kyrgyzstan issued loans totaling approximately $983 million to more than 1.685 million recipients, according to the latest data released by the National Statistical Committee. Compared to 2024, the number of microloan recipients increased 1.5-fold and the amount of microloans issued grew by almost 32%, reflecting the growing role of microfinance in a
Some meetings happen exactly where different worlds meet. That was the feeling of a meeting in Montevideo between Marat Akhmedjanov, the founder and patron of the Eurasian Creative Guild (London), and the Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan in Uruguay, Martín Soca. Latin America knows how to surprise, and Uruguay in particular. The country is often called
On April 5, 2026, Tashkent will host the 8th Tashkent International Marathon. This prestigious sporting event, held for eight consecutive years, has become one of the largest sports events in the country. More than 15,000 participants from over 30 countries are expected to take part, the Tourism Committee has announced. The marathon is an international
The situation on Kazakhstan’s roads has been deteriorating in recent years. According to the Legal Statistics Committee of the Prosecutor General’s Office, while 13,300 road accidents were recorded in the country in 2020, last year there were more than 36,100 road accidents, or 2.7 times more. However, the number of vehicles has not increased significantly
The President of Uzbekistan has signed a decree on developing a rapid response system for a sharp deterioration in air quality. By the end of 2026, the country will legislate an action plan that includes both protective measures for the population and restrictions for businesses, Tashkent Today reported. The planned measures include: • Alerts: prompt
Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport on March 30 launched a direct passenger route to Uzbekistan’s capital Tashkent, the first non-stop passenger service from the southern Chinese city to Central Asia, Xinhua reported. The airport said the route, operated by Uzbekistan Airways, marks its first new international route launched this year. The service will run once a
From May 31 to June 5, 2026, the international exhibition of environmental technologies, Eco Expo Central Asia 2026, will take place in Samarkand. The event will be held in parallel with the 8th Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), giving it particular significance and ensuring a high level of international participation, Uzbekistan’s National Committee
As part of an official visit to China, Kazakh Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev participated in the “Export to China – SCO Selection” forum, which became one of the key platforms for promoting Kazakh exports to the Chinese market. Opening the forum, the Minister emphasized that Kazakhstan views China as a strategic partner
On April 1, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in a tree-planting event as part of the nationwide “Yashil Makon” initiative and launched the National Dendrological Park project. The National Dendrological Park is being established in Tashkent on an area of 108 hectares. This year, an in vitro laboratory, as well as centers for medicinal plants,