Politics

26 May 2024
Registan Square in Samarkand. Uzbekistan is positioned to be a transport hub of the Eurasian continent. (Photo by Akira Takemura)
"Not enough time, not enough support": Uzbekistan, a landlocked country slightly bigger than California, is facing the consequences of a history of poor irrigation, with rising salinity slashing the size of usable growing areas.
Asia Insight

Uzbek farmers battle to save cotton, wheat crops from mortal enemy: salt

Growing salinization crisis bites as cotton exports to Bangladesh skid 80% in 5 years

7 May 2024
A worker helps operate a gas field in Uzbekistan in June 2023. Methanol obtained from natural gas can be used to churn out raw materials for products ranging from plastics to films.
Economy

Uzbekistan chases chemical hub dream with Chinese polymer tech

Nation aims to export value-added products made from its natural gas

13 April 2024
Wind turbines in Kazakhstan's Almaty region. Japan and five central Asian countries have inaugurated a new ministerial-level dialogue on decarbonization.
Climate Change

Japan launches new decarbonization dialogue with Central Asia

Tokyo aims to blunt Russian and Chinese influence in key region

27 September 2023
Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is greeted at a local polling station during early presidential election in Tashkent on July 9.
Politics

Uzbek president reelected for seven-year term in snap election

Mirziyoyev wins 87.1% of vote in race without viable opposition

10 July 2023
Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev applauds during a signing ceremony on the sidelines of the China-Central Asia Summit in Xi'an, China on May 18. 
Politics

Uzbekistan leader Mirziyoyev eyes third term in weekend polls

Presidential election comes after Central Asian nation hit by deadly unrest

8 July 2023
Afghanistan's ruling Taliban inspect the scene of an operation against Islamic State militants at a hideout on the outskirts of Kabul in November 2021.
Terrorism

Afghanistan-based extremists spark terror fears in Central Asia

Islamic State's branch beefing up propaganda to recruit Uzbek, Tajik fighters

10 June 2023
According to government figures, 90.2% of participants in the April 30 referendum voted in favor of revising the constitution.
Opinion

Uzbekistan's improved constitutional rights are meaningless

Law already guaranteed freedoms, no reason to expect implementation

8 May 2023
Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev votes in Tashkent on April 30. The passage of constitutional reforms could allow him to stay in power until 2040.
Politics

Uzbekistan votes 'yes' to new constitution in victory for president

Mirziyoyev wins more time as critics question promises of more power to the people

1 May 2023
Uzbeks cast ballots in Tashkent during the country's 2021 presidential election.
Opinion

Uzbekistan's revised constitution can support democratic transition

Citizens have come to expect protection of rights and freedoms

29 April 2023
Police officers are seen outside a Marion Biotech office in Noida, India, on Dec. 29. Uzbekistan says 18 children died after consuming the company's cough syrup.
Pharmaceuticals

India probes cough syrup linked to Uzbekistan child deaths

Allegations echo Gambia scandal, casting new doubts on 'pharmacy of the world'

29 December 2022
The Taliban's foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, in January: He attended a conference in Tashket this week, where he offered assurances about terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil.
International relations

ISIS-K threat to Uzbek railway dream opens doors for Taliban

Isolated Afghan rulers offer Central Asia assurances at conference

27 July 2022
An Uzbek law enforcement officer guards a street in Nukus, the capital of the northwestern Karakalpakstan region, on July 3. Officials say 14 protesters and four officers were killed during recent unrest.
Politics

Unrest overshadows dream of IT-powered 'new Uzbekistan'

Net blackout, bans on Twitter, TikTok at odds with courtship of tech investors

7 July 2022
An Uzbek worker pushes raw cotton: The International Labor Organization says forced labor in the industry has fallen to negligible levels.
International relations

Uzbekistan hopes for 'white gold' rush after cotton boycott lifted

Crop has been both a boon and a curse for the Central Asian nation

17 March 2022
The delayed TAPI gas pipeline promises to link Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India, but security risks threaten this and other regional connectivity projects.
International relations

India's first Central Asia summit to focus on Afghan risks, trade

Shared security challenges loom over Thursday's talks and port, pipeline hopes

26 January 2022
The India-funded Chabahar Port in Iran in early 2019. New Delhi wants the site to become a gateway to trade with Central Asia. (Photo by Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
International relations

Spotlight on trade gateway as India hosts talks with Central Asia

Sunday discussions look set to focus on New Delhi-funded port in Iran

18 December 2021
Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has presided over economic -- but not political -- liberalization.
Politics

Uzbekistan election spotlights economic reforms, static politics

Popular leader Mirziyoyev considered a shoo-in with no room for real opposition

22 October 2021
The cargo center in Termez in southern Uzbekistan is a base for trade with Afghanistan. The Uzbek government has proposed extending a railway from there to as far as the southern Afghan city of Kandahar. (Photo by Yohei Ishikawa)
Interview

Afghanistan should be regional trade hub, says top Uzbek senator

Politician Safoyev says neighbor needs north-south transport corridor

21 October 2021
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his government have launched an ambitious diplomatic campaign aimed at stabilizing the region around Afghanistan. (Source photo by Reuters)
Afghanistan turmoil

Pakistan lobbies neighbors to push for inclusive Afghan government

Islamabad ready to offer recognition if Taliban forms multiethnic regime

26 August 2021
Uzbek president Shavkat Mirziyoyev's country is joining east Asian nations such as Japan and South Korea in aiming for carbon-neutrality by 2050.
Environment

Uzbekistan joins global carbon neutrality race to 2050

European reconstruction bank signs on to assist Central Asian nation

31 January 2021
Women in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on July 13: The country continues to insist it is coronavirus-free.
Coronavirus

WHO leaves Turkmenistan in COVID gray zone as neighbors face surge

Central Asian nation says it has no cases but is advised to act like it does

18 July 2020
A bridge construction site of the Bar-Boljare highway, pictured in June 2018: for Montenegro any concerns were far outweighed by the potential economic benefit of the new road.
Opinion

For developing world, Belt and Road Initiative is best deal around

China's infrastructure offer supports economic growth in Europe, Africa and Asia

6 May 2020
A Kazakh crew disinfects the streets of the capital, Nur-Sultan, on March 25. The country was the first to record COVID-19 cases in Central Asia.
Coronavirus

Central Asia virus responses run gamut from crisis to nonchalance

Pandemic tests economies, health systems, China ties -- and folk remedies

1 April 2020
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lambasted China for its treatment of its Muslim minorities on his visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
International relations

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan spurn US call to confront China

Pompeo's plea to end 'repression' of Muslim minorities also draws Chinese ire

13 February 2020
Foreign students in Japan are allowed to work in unskilled-labor positions, such as convenience store work, for up to 28 hours per week. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi) 
Japan immigration

Japan intensifies crackdown on student visa overstayers

Number of countries subject to stricter checks to increase tenfold

11 February 2020
Despite the fanfare surrounding use of Gwadar port for trade with Afghanistan, experts say the facility has a long way to go before China sees any return on its investment.
Belt and Road

Beijing-backed Pakistan port opens as hub for Afghanistan trade

Gwadar challenges Indian interests in region, but China's ROI remains unclear

23 January 2020
Central Asia's most populous country has the veneer of a multiparty system but no true opposition.
Politics

Uzbekistan election exposes limits of image-polishing reforms

China's economic influence will inevitably become political, experts say

19 December 2019
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in a written interview with the Nikkei Asian Review, said joining the World Trade Organization and cracking down on corruption are among his immediate priorities.
Interview

Uzbekistan plans over $6bn in joint projects with Japan

President Mirziyoyev to pitch resource development during Japan trip

18 December 2019
Tetsu Nakamura speaks to Nikkei on Sept. 14, 2018 in Fukuoka. (Photo by Mamoru Yago)
Obituaries

Japanese doctor who watered Afghan deserts: Nakamura in his own words

Tetsu Nakamura talked about his life and mission in 2018 Nikkei interview

9 December 2019
Tetsu Nakamura in the Gamberi Desert, Afghanistan in 2008
Obituaries

Tetsu Nakamura: Humanitarian who devoted his life to Afghanistan

Slain Japanese doctor wanted to 'shine light into dark corners'

5 December 2019