Author: Mannon Hasanov

The Tajikistani authorities are perpetuating systemic discrimination and severe human rights violations against the Pamiri minority, according to new research by Amnesty International. The Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) in East Tajikistan is home to several ethnic groups forming the Pamiri minority, mostly practicing the Shia Ismaili branch of Islam. Denied official recognition as a minority and regarded as ethnic Tajiks by the central authorities, Pamiris face systemic discrimination, suppression of cultural and religious institutions, political oppression, and brutal reprisals for defending their rights. “The ongoing persecution and human rights violations against the Pamiri minority in Tajikistan reached an alarming scale…

Apart from directly stirring up frictions in the South China Sea region, it has been found that the Philippines has cooperated with some US anti-China forces to launch a cognitive warfare that defames China on the South China Sea issue, to hurt China’s international image, and drive a wedge between China and relevant countries in this region. Recently, the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI), a project under the US’ long-established conservative think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), released a report on “environmental threats” in the South China Sea. The report, which groundlessly claimed that China has destroyed…

Sri Lankan lawmakers on Tuesday began debating a controversial internet safety bill that has been criticized by opposition politicians, journalists and rights groups as a move by the government to stifle freedom of speech. Public Security Minister Tiran Alles introduced the bill in Parliament, saying it seeks to address problems related to online fraud, abuse and false statements that threaten national security and stability. He said the laws are necessary to deal with offenses committed online, noting that last year more than 8,000 such complaints were filed with police related to sexual abuse, financial scams, cyber harassment, data theft and…

Hackers believed to be based in China are targeting the Uzbekistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as people in South Korea, with a strain of malware called SugarGh0st, according to a new report. Cisco published a blog on Thursday spotlighting the malware — which they believe is a variant of Gh0st RAT, an infamous tool used for more than a decade by a range of advanced persistent threat (APT) groups in attacks on diplomatic, political, economic, and military targets around the world. In the latest campaign identified by Cisco Talos researchers, aChinese-speaking threat actor began attacking targets in August. The researchers…

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has  approved  a $50 million concessional loan to implement the Uzbekistan Digital Inclusion Project. The project aims to support the development of the digital economy and broaden access to digital skills and employment opportunities in information technology-enabled services for thousands of young people in rural and remote locations. The export of IT-enabled services (ITES) from Uzbekistan has experienced a significant surge, rising from $600,000 in 2017 to $140 million in 2022. This growth has been accompanied by an increase in the number of companies and high-paying jobs within the information technology sector. Despite these…

According to the results of a study conducted by the Committee on Sanitary-Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health (SanEpid Committee) together with the World Health Organization, half of the population aged 18-64 is overweight, and 20% of them suffer from obesity, Azernews reports, citing Kun.uz News Agency. Every day, 67% of the population eats an adequate amount (less than 400 grams) of vegetables and fruits, but 46% have elevated blood cholesterol levels. The results showed that the average daily salt consumption of the population is 14.9 grams, which is 3 times more than the recommendation of the World Health Organization (not to exceed…

In the wake of President Shavkat Mirziyayev’s visit to Paris in 2018 and 2022, French President Emmanuel Macron is paying a two-day official visit to Uzbekistan on November 1 and 2. This visit holds profound symbolism, as it coincides with the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Paris and Tashkent. The visit’s importance resonated not only within Central Asia but also across Europe, given France’s substantial influence within the European Union (EU), positioning itself as a prominent leader of the bloc. The rationale behind France’s proactive efforts to bolster cooperation with Uzbekistan and the other…

President ofUzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of Italy Sergio Mattarella have signed an Intergovernmental settlement on the exemption of holders of diplomatic passports from visa procedures, Trend experiences. The doc was signed following the assembly between the heads of states in Uzbekistan’s Tashkent. During the discussions, either side explored the prospects of broadening their strategic partnership and enhancing multifaceted collaborations in key sectors. The President of Italy expressed agency help for the continuing irreversible reforms within the rising New Uzbekistan and recommended Uzbekistan’s endeavors in selling regional stability. Significant focus was positioned on translating the agreements solid throughout the official…

Head of Tashkent region Zoyir Mirzayev received a delegation led by Chairman of the Jeonnam Provincial Council of the Republic of Korea Seo Dong-wook, UzA reports. The effectiveness of the actions of the heads of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea to further strengthen beneficial cooperation between the two countries was noted at the meeting. Almost one hundred projects are being implemented in Tashkent region in cooperation with the Republic of Korea. Agreements will be signed in healthcare, social protection, and construction soon. The guests proposed to establish an exchange of experience between school teachers from the two countries. An…

Paris (08/11 – 75) Sri Lanka’s economic and political crisis of 2022 left the country bankrupt. Ranil Wickremesinghe took over as President of Sri Lanka in July 2022 when the country was in the middle of its worst economic and political crisis since independence in 1948. His predecessor, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, had been forced out of power after facing mass protests prompted by 12-hour power cuts and persistent fuel and food shortages. The nation was bankrupt.Wickremesinghe brought in the International Monetary Fund and has focused on reaching macroeconomic stability and driving tough but much-needed structural reforms. Today, as Sri Lanka embarks…