Author: Majdiyya al-Ismael

The national football teams of Tajikistan and Pakistan have refused to play in friendly matches against Russia. A match against Tajikistan had been set to take place in December, but the federation declined, saying they already had matches booked for those dates. Pakistan has also cancelled an October game against Russia due to a lack of preparation time. However, the Pakistanis said they would play in December. When the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, Russian teams were barred from competing in any FIFA or UEFA championships. As a result, the team has had to settle for friendly matches. The Russians…

On Wednesday May 29, the top Tajik diplomat Sirojiddin Muhriddin, heading a government delegation, participated in the Third Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs “Central Asia – Italy” in the C5+1 format, which took place in Rome. According to the Tajik MFA information department, the parties discussed the prospects for the expansion of cooperation between the countries of Central Asia and Italy in the political, economic, trade, water and energy, environmental protection, transport, tourism and educational sectors. They reportedly also exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues being of mutual interest, including current threats and challenges,…

Warsaw, Berlin (25/3 – 80) A diverse group of Pamiri and Ismaili interest groups gathered to discuss the terror attack in Moscow. “We reject the notion this were Pamiris or Ismailis representing us”, said one of the spokespeople, who want to remain anonymous out of fear of persecution by the Tajik authorities. “They are Takfiris”, he said. Non-believers, apostates to the cause. The majlis (meeting) was called after Moscow was quick to blame Tajik immigrants for the terror attacks. Previous warnings were ignored by Moscow. “We as a Pamiri community do not belief in the use of violence against the…

President Kassym-Joomart Tokayev approved the new government of Kazakhstan under the leadership of Olzhas Bektenov. The names of the ministers were published on primeminister.kz. Most of the ministers remained from the old government. Four ministers were replaced: Nurlan Baibazarov was appointed Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of National Economy instead of Alibek Kuantyrov, Madi Takiyev became Minister of Finance instead of Erulan Zhamaubaev, Akmaral Alnazarova was appointed Minister of Healthcare instead of Azhar Giniyat, and Chingis Arinov became the new Minister for Emergency Situations instead of Syrym Shariphanov. Members of the government who remained in their positions included First Deputy…

The head of the European Commission has called for action to bring Western Balkan countries closer to the European Union. “We need decisive action, right now, to bring Western Balkan partners closer to us. The new growth plan for the Western Balkans is all about this. It has the potential to double the size of the region’s economy, within a decade,” Ursula von der Leyen said after a one-day EU-Western Balkans Summit in Brussels on Wednesday. Von der Leyen said the EU is ready to open accession negotiations on Cluster 1 – fundamentals of the bloc – with both Albania…

Russia needs fresh meat for its meat grinder of a war in Ukraine. So it’s using cannibals. In the best traditions of the late Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Kremlin uses convicted criminals of all sorts as soldiers and pardons those who fight in its war against Ukraine as “Heroes of the Special Military Operation.” Two convicted killers, who ate the flesh of their victims, have recently joined the heroes’ cohort and were reportedly pardoned by Russian authorities and released, several Russian media outlets reported. Sibir.Realii, a Russian branch of Radio Liberty, reported that Denis Gorin, a cannibal from…

In August, Abu Dhabi’s twofour54 announced the launch of an ambitious 40-hectare studio site with the aim of attracting more international productions to the United Arab Emirates. Called twofour54 Studios, the complex will be located in the extended area of Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi. It will comprise 11 soundstages, six adaptable sets and a 3,000-square-metre water tank. It will also feature 7,000 square metres of office space and a host of other facilities equipped for film and TV production, post-production and screenings. The studio has been described as “future-proof ”, making it one of the latest strides the country is taking to position…

The quality of the internet has been severely compromised by restrictions placed on the market. The first step to solving a problem is admitting that it exists. Telecommunications regulators in Tajikistan have taken a surprising step in that direction by reportedly admitting this week that a staggering 95 percent of the country’s territory is covered by only outdated 2G mobile connections. This situation is in no small part due to the State Communications Service itself. In addition to regulating the sector, the service and the people running it are also major market players, albeit in highly nebulous ways that would be unthinkable…

Ukraine said Saturday its forces struck a shipyard in the port city of Kerch, on the east coast of the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula. Since launching its counteroffensive against Moscow’s forces this summer, Kyiv has ramped up attacks on the Black Sea peninsula that Russia seized in 2014. “On the evening of November 4, the Armed Forces of Ukraine carried out successful strikes on the maritime and port infrastructure of the Zaliv shipyard in the temporarily occupied Kerch,” Kyiv’s army said. It did not provide further detail, and AFP was not able to immediately verify Ukraine’s account. Crimea’s Russian-installed governor Sergei…

Russian firms based in the United Arab Emirates are coming under greater scrutiny from local banks as the Gulf state faces increased US pressure to tackle sanctions evasion and ramps up efforts to get off a global organization’s watch list. The UAE attracted a flood of Russian money in the first year after President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Ukraine, with firms finding banking quick and easy to navigate. That process has gradually grown more arduous, with rejections increasingly common, because the UAE is showing less appetite for sanctions-related risk and pushing to get off the so-called gray list,…