Central Asia

The Turkic world is on the edge of a historic revival

The Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States is ready to welcome Uzbekistan as a new member while Turkmenistan expects to become an observer state.

Why the Hindu Right hates one of India's most renowned historians

The eminent historian’s scholarship undermines Hindutva’s project to saffronise India’s past.

Can Uzbekistan's new leader reform the country?

If the Uzbek president wants genuine reform of religious freedoms in the country, he faces a steep uphill battle.

Kyrgyzstan's ex-president arrested after violent clashes

The stand-off between former president Almazbek Atambayev and his successor and former protege President Sooronbai Jeenbekov, risks destabilising the Central Asian nation, which hosts a Russian military air base and is a major centre for gold mining.

Kyrgyz officer dies after security forces storm ex-president's home

Kyrgyz forces were reported pulling out of a village after an unsuccessful raid to try to arrest the country's ex-president Almazbek Atambayev at his residence in an operation that left one serviceman dead and dozens of people injured.

The odd couple: China's deepening relationship with the Taliban

China's first engaged the Taliban to protect its interests in Afghanistan in the 90s. Decades later, history repeats itself.

Russian capsule carrying three docks with space station

The launch took place on the same date that NASA's Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the Moon in 1969, marking a defining moment in the so-called "space race" with the Soviet Union.

Russian, North American astronauts return to earth

NASA astronaut Anne McClain, veteran cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko of Roscosmos, and Canadian Space Agency record-holder David Saint-Jacques touched down on the steppes of Kazakhstan at 0247 GMT, NASA said.

UN counterterrorism chief visits China's East Turkistan region

The Chinese foreign ministry says in a statement Sunday that Vladimir Ivanovich Voronkov traveled to Beijing and the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region from Thursday to Saturday last week.

Turkey rejects 'fait accompli' in Jerusalem - President Erdogan

The leaders of Turkey, Russia, Qatar, China, and Iran arrived for Asian cooperation summit in Tajikistan, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged the world to respect UN resolutions and the historical and legal status of Jerusalem.

Analysis: How strong is the Russian-Chinese alliance?

Despite an increase in ties between the two countries, Russia still remains a minor partner for China, which, for now at least, has much stronger trade with the US and EU.

Ally of Kazakhstan's longtime ex-leader wins presidency

The Central Election Commission says Kassym-Jomart Tokayev won nearly 71 percent of the vote with all the ballots counted. The results have not yet been formally confirmed.