Stephen M. Bland

Trump–Xi Meeting Reshapes Stakes Ahead of C5+1 Summit - The Times Of Central Asia The October 30, 2025, meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea, marked their first in-person contact

Latest from our Stephen M. Bland Trump and Xi meet in Busan ahead of the C5+1 summit as rare earth talks reshape Central Asia’s role in global supply chains https://ow.ly/W6GG50XkzAM #USChina #CentralAsia #RareEarths #Geopolitics #Trade #C5Plus1Summit

Petropavl – A City of Two Tales - The Times Of Central Asia No one seems to like the name Petropavl.

Latest from our @joelucbarnes.bsky.social in northern Kazakhstan the city caught between Petropavl and Qyzyljar stands as a living symbol of shared memory and uneasy belonging https://timesca.com/petropavl-a-city-of-two-tales/ #Kazakhstan #Identity #Petropavl #Qyzyljar

Tajikistan and the Taliban - Talking and Fighting - The Times Of Central Asia Peaceful coexistence is turning out to be complicated for Tajikistan and the Taliban government in Afghanistan.

Latest from our @pannierb.bsky.social Tajikistan’s cautious outreach to the Taliban faces setbacks as fresh border clashes highlight the fragility of their uneasy coexistence https://ow.ly/RRi950XjllX #Tajikistan #Afghanistan #Taliban #CentralAsia #BorderSecurity

The Artistic Brilliance of Central Asia Takes Center Stage at Sotheby’s - The Times Of Central Asia On October 29, Sotheby’s will host its Arts of the Islamic World and India sale, featuring a dazzling selection of manuscripts, ceramics, metalwork, and

Latest from our Ola's Kool Kitchen Sotheby’s showcases six centuries of Central Asian artistry in its Islamic Art sale, featuring rare Timurid and Samanid masterpieces https://ow.ly/JP5150XjlA2 #CentralAsia #Art #Sothebys #History #IslamicArt #SothebysAuction #ArtCollectors

A must read from @pannierb.bsky.social for anyone following CA energy politics. 👏👏👏

How U.S. and EU Sanctions Are Rippling Through Central Asia - The Times Of Central Asia Russia’s economy has faced renewed pressure following a fresh round of sanctions imposed this past week by both the European Union and the United States.

Sanctions on Russia are shaking Central Asia with energy ties and banks in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan under strain https://ow.ly/Zszt50XhHkP #Sanctions #Kazakhstan #Kyrgyzstan #Russia #Energy #CentralAsia #Geopolitics

Is TAPI Just ‘TA’ for Now? - The Times Of Central Asia The idea for the 1,800-kilometer Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) natural gas pipeline project has been around for 30 years. There has not been

Latest from our @pannierb.bsky.social Turkmenistan and Afghanistan advance TAPI pipeline with new section to Herat as regional tensions stall broader progress https://ow.ly/cEr950XgWBH #TAPI #Turkmenistan #Afghanistan #Energy #GasPipeline #CentralAsia

East Kazakhstan Falconry Festival Brings Together Guardians of Steppe Traditions - The Times Of Central Asia The fifth International Falconry Festival was held this month in East Kazakhstan, bringing together falconry masters and custodians of ancient culture from

Golden eagles soared and ancient traditions came alive at the International Falconry Festival in East Kazakhstan https://ow.ly/1yB650XgXUv #ShygysSalburyny #Kazakhstan #FalconryFestival #GoldenEagles #NomadicTraditions #BirdsofPrey

In The Kitchen: A Reflection of Taste and Art, Savoring the Color of Flavor - The Times Of Central Asia In the culinary world, all eyes have turned towards Almaty, as the city becomes the stage for In the Kitchen: Anniversary Edition, an international project

My Latest for @timesca.com Almaty turns up the heat as chefs and artists unite for a feast of flavor and vision timesca.com/in-the-kitch... #AlmatyEvents #HauteCuisine #Art #Food #InTheKitchen #KazakhstanCulture

Aliyev, Tokayev Pledge Deeper Cooperation as Azerbaijan Lifts Armenia Transit Ban - The Times Of Central Asia Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev began a state visit to Kazakhstan on Monday with a series of high-level meetings and a significant policy shift: Baku is

Latest from our Stephen M. Bland Azerbaijan lifts transit restrictions to Armenia during Aliyev’s state visit to Kazakhstan signaling a potential regional thaw https://ow.ly/mgVh50XfLG3 #Azerbaijan #Kazakhstan #SouthCaucasus #MiddleCorridor #AliyevVisit #CaucasusDiplomacy

Kazakhstan Urges Regional Cooperation to Save the Aral Sea - The Times Of Central Asia Kazakhstan has intensified its efforts to restore its portion of the former Aral Sea, calling on neighboring Central Asian states to increase their

Latest from our Stephen M. Bland Kazakhstan leads revival of the Aral Sea and urges stronger regional cooperation to save it https://ow.ly/Q4Tj50Xe6f8 #AralSea #Kazakhstan #ClimateAction #WaterSecurity #CentralAsia #WaterConservation #SaveTheAralSea

Q-Pop Is Back. Is Kazakhstan Ready This Time? - The Times Of Central Asia Around 2015, Kazakhstan saw the rise of Q-pop, led by the boy band Ninety One. A decade on, the cultural tension remains: while youth artists enjoy greater

A decade after Q-pop’s rise Kazakhstan’s youth artists push creative boundaries but silent limits on free expression remain https://ow.ly/1x6t50XfL29 #Qpop #Kazakhstan #NinetyOne #Youthculture #QpopScene

Uzbekistan Emerges as One of Europe and Central Asia’s Fastest-Growing Economies - The Times Of Central Asia Uzbekistan is on track to be one of the five fastest-growing economies in the broader Europe and Central Asia region next year, according to the World Bank’s

Latest from our Stephen M. Bland Uzbekistan among top five fastest-growing economies in ECA for 2025 says World Bank https://ow.ly/nuTc50Xc1Hi #Uzbekistan #WorldBank #CentralAsia #ECA2025 #EconomicGrowth

From October 19 TCA will launch the Spotlight on Central Asia podcast with @pannierb.bsky.social and Michael Hillard featuring Peter Frankopan author of The Silk Roads A New History of the World
https://ow.ly/68bz50XbmIo #CentralAsia #Podcast #CentralAsiaPodcast #Eurasia #PodcastLaunch

Kazakhstan’s Emerging Role in Global Rare-Earth Supply Chains - The Times Of Central Asia As Washington and Beijing escalate their economic confrontation, the scramble for stable rare-earth supply chains has broadened beyond East Asia. Attention is

Latest from our Robert M. Cutler global markets reel as Trump announces 100% tariffs on Chinese imports while Kazakhstan emerges as a key player in rare earth supply diversification https://ow.ly/SPp850Xbn2E #TradeWar #China #Kazakhstan #RareEarthElements #TariffImpact

Where Wings Grow: New Show at Aspan Gallery, Almaty - The Times Of Central Asia Let’s move Aspan Gallery from name to place, from reputation to reality. As one of the Kazakh galleries most visible on the fair circuit, known for its

Aspan Gallery’s Where Wings Grow in Almaty reimagines the steppe through themes of memory resilience and ecology https://ow.ly/xhiR50X9TiN #Kazakhstan #Art #CentralAsia #AspanGallery #WhereWingsGrow #AlmatyArt

From Belt and Road to Backlash: Edward Lemon and Bradley Jardine Discuss China in Central Asia - The Times Of Central Asia As China invests billions in Central Asian oilfields, railways, and cities, the region’s response is anything but passive. In Backlash: China’s Struggle for

Our Stephen M. Bland speaks to authors of Backlash, Bradley Jardine & Edward Lemon about how Central Asians are responding to China’s growing influence across the region https://timesca.com/from-belt-and-road-to-backlash-edward-lemon-and-bradley-jardine-discuss-china-in-central-asia/ #CentralAsia

Old Kazakhstan in Retreat: The Fate of Nazarbayev’s Allies - The Times Of Central Asia Since early 2022, the influence of the so-called “Old Kazakhstan” - the political and business circle that once surrounded former President Nursultan

Latest from our Jonathan Campion Kazakhstan continues reshaping power as Nazarbayev-era elites face trials asset seizures and shifting fortunes under the banner of New Kazakhstan https://ow.ly/fjbj50X9jEz #Kazakhstan #Politics #Reform

Russia–Central Asia Summit in Dushanbe Tests Putin’s Grip - The Times Of Central Asia Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Tajikistan on October 8 for a three-day state visit that includes a Russia–Central Asia summit in Dushanbe, and a

Latest from our Stephen M. Bland Putin in Tajikistan for Russia Central Asia and CIS summits as Moscow seeks to reaffirm influence amid migration tensions and shifting geopolitics https://ow.ly/BAJ850X9kF1 #Russia #Tajikistan #CentralAsia #CISSummit #Geopolitics

Putin in Tajikistan for CIS Summit Amid Migration Tensions - The Times Of Central Asia When President Vladimir Putin arrives in Dushanbe on 8 October for his first state visit, Tajikistan will briefly become the focal point of regional

Latest from our Stephen M. Bland Putin’s state visit to Dushanbe coincides with Russia–Central Asia and CIS summits as Tajikistan balances dependence on Moscow with rising migration tensions https://ow.ly/vHpq50X8Ity #Russia #Tajikistan #CIS #CentralAsia #DushanbeVisit

Silk Road Shipwrecks: Virtual Museum Opens Maritime Section - The Times Of Central Asia One of Central Asia’s most engaging new cultural projects took on a new dimension last month. The Silk Road Virtual Museum, an online collection of over 20

Latest from @jonathancampion.com Silk Road Virtual Museum expands with a new maritime section featuring shipwrecks and coastal trade bringing Eurasian history online for all timesca.com/silk-road-sh... #SilkRoad #VirtualMuseum #Culture #History #CentralAsia #MaritimeHistory #Shipwrecks

Learning About Glaciers: Scientists Extract Ice Cores in Tajikistan - The Times Of Central Asia A group of international scientists is on a complex, arduous expedition to learn more about the glaciers of the Pamir Mountains in Tajikistan, drilling and

Scientists launch high-altitude mission in Tajikistan’s Pamirs to drill deep ice cores before climate change erases vital records timesca.com/learning-abo... #Tajikistan #Pamirs #ClimateChange #ClimateScience #GlacierResearch

Kazakhstan’s Two Futures on Display at Energy and Digital Forums in Astana - The Times Of Central Asia As the temperatures in Astana dipped below zero this week, the capital played host to two international gatherings that offered sharply contrasting visions of

Latest from our @joelucbarnes.bsky.social Astana balances oil power and tech ambition as Kazakhstan bets on AI and digital growth timesca.com/kazakhstans-... #Kazakhstan #Astana #Energy #Tech #AI

Kyrgyzstan Snap Election: Democracy on Edge or Politics as Usual? - The Times Of Central Asia On September 25, Kyrgyzstan’s parliament voted to dissolve itself, clearing the way for snap elections. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia,

Latest from our @stephenmbland.bsky.social Kyrgyzstan heads for snap elections November 30 testing democracy and power balance timesca.com/kyrgyzstan-s... #Kyrgyzstan #Elections #Democracy #CentralAsia

After New York, a Shake-Up in Astana: Tokayev Resets His Foreign Policy Team - The Times Of Central Asia At the end of last week, the most talked-about news in Kazakhstan was the latest reshuffle in the upper echelons of government. Just one day after returning

Kazakhstan reshuffles top foreign policy posts as Tokayev pivots toward economic diplomacy and closer ties with Washington timesca.com/after-new-yo... #Kazakhstan #Politics #Diplomacy #US #CentralAsia #Tokayev

From Gas to Gigawatts: Uzbekistan Powers Ahead with Dual Nuclear Deal - The Times Of Central Asia Uzbekistan has confirmed it will be building a large nuclear power plant (NPP) with two 1000-megawatt (MW) reactors as the country prepares for a sharp

Latest from our @pannierb.bsky.social Uzbekistan is set to power the future with its first mix of large and small nuclear plants. timesca.com/from-gas-to-... #Uzbekistan #Energy #NuclearPower

Almaty Gears Up to Host Real Madrid’s Galácticos - The Times Of Central Asia Football fans across Kazakhstan are preparing for arguably the biggest sporting occasion in the country’s history on Tuesday. Kairat Almaty play their first

Latest from @joelucbarnes.bsky.social Kairat Almaty hosts Real Madrid in their first ever home Champions League match a historic night for Kazakhstan football timesca.com/almaty-gears... #Kairat #RealMadrid #UCL #Kazakhstan #Football #KairatAlmaty #ChampionsLeague #KairatVsRealMadrid

UNGA-80: How the Region Shapes and is Shaped by Global Diplomacy - The Times Of Central Asia At a moment of global fragmentation, the United Nations remains a stage where Central Asia can engage the world on equal terms. For Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan,

At a time of global fragmentation, Central Asia turns to the UN to amplify its voice. From water security to climate action, the region uses multivector diplomacy to balance rivalries and act as a bridge in global affairs. Follow our special coverage for more on this. timesca.com/how-the-regi...

The Unseen Animals of Central Asia: A Photography Exhibit by Bogna Wiltowska - The Times Of Central Asia For six months, Polish photographer Bogna Wiltowska documented animals in farms and slaughterhouses in Central Asia as a We Animals Fellow. On World Farmed

Polish photographer Bogna Wiltowska unveils a virtual exhibition on Oct 2 exposing the hidden lives of farmed animals in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan timesca.com/the-unseen-a... #AnimalPhotojournalism #CentralAsia #FarmedAnimals #AnimalRights #AnimalPhotography #BognaWiltowska

From Reform to Deals: Central Asia Steps Onto the Global Stage at UNGA-80 - The Times Of Central Asia Ecology, global instability, and the need for UN reform dominated the speeches of all five Central Asian presidents at the 80th session of the UN General

Central Asian leaders at #UNGA80 urged UN reform highlighted ecology and sealed major US deals showing the region’s growing global role timesca.com/from-reform-... #CentralAsia #UN #UNGA80