Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 21st of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Japan and five Central Asian nations have unveiled a range of initiatives aimed at strengthening critical minerals supply chains and fostering broader regional cooperation, following their first summit in Tokyo on Saturday.
Kyrgyzstan is increasingly being described as one of the fastest growing economies in Central Asia.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce said a set of Afghan–Kyrgyz meetings in Kabul on Wednesday ended with business agreements worth “more than USD 156 million” and new steps to formalise trade ties, including the opening of a Kyrgyzstan Trade House in the Afghan capital.
A major financing agreement has been signed for the construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, a flagship cross-border infrastructure project expected to reshape transport connectivity across Central Asia.
Kyrgyzstan has joined the TRACECA multilateral permit system, a move analysts say will deepen regional integration, cut transport costs and ease cross-border trade, opening new routes to Europe and the Black Sea.
The Taliban leadership in Afghanistan skipped a major regional meeting in Tehran on Sunday, with analysts saying the absence is “not a deliberate political signal” but reflects timing and existing diplomatic ties.
Azerbaijan has long understood the importance of fostering strong relations with its Central Asian neighbours as the country is strategically located at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Kazakhstan is assessing the scale of damage and potential losses following a recent attack on infrastructure operated by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, a key export route for the country’s oil.
UNESCO is preparing to celebrate the first ever World Turkic Language Family Day on 15 December, following a decision by UNESCO’s General Conference in Samarkand establishing the date as an annual observance.
Energy ministers from the Turkic States have agreed to expand cooperation on key oil, gas, and green energy projects at an event hosted by Türkiye this week. It's a significant move towards regional energy collaboration.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has revised its outlook for the economies of Central Asia and the Caucasus by raising its growth forecast for 2026
Central Asia has been one of the important arenas of international geopolitics, dictating power dynamics with its abundant natural resources and strategic location.
Uzbekistan will introduce a nationwide system to assess the resilience of officials and civil service candidates to corruption risks from 2026, according to a presidential decree adopted this week.
The Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) is rapidly transforming into a strategic regional hub, offering member states an independent geopolitical path, analysts say.
The C5+1 meeting between Central Asian leaders and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington in early November signals the ascent of Central Asia to the status of a pivot in the bipolar geopolitical order.
Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi spoke to his Tajikistani counterpart Sirajuddin Muhriddin regarding the recent security crisis along their shared border.
President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedow has signed the “On Virtual Assets” law, which will officially legalise cryptocurrency mining and exchange activities in the country from 1 January 2026.
Kazakhstan has called on Ukraine to stop striking the Black Sea terminal of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) after a major drone attack forced a halt to exports and caused serious damage to loading equipment.
Kyrgyzstan is preparing to hold snap parliamentary elections on Sunday, 30 November 2025, after the Jogorku Kenesh (parliament) dissolved itself in September.
The Japanese government is preparing to host a landmark summit with the leaders of the Central Asian states, expected to take place in Tokyo in December 2025.
As the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC) gains renewed momentum, Central Asia and the European Union (EU) are working to turn long-standing connectivity ambitions into concrete trade routes, investment deals and infrastructure upgrades.
Russia has proposed a comprehensive programme to equip the forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) with modern weaponry, aimed at strengthening collective security across the Eurasian region.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
