Latest posts by Adil Nurmakov from January, 2008
Kyrgyzstan: Seamstresses come out of the shadows
Genderstan sheds light on women in Kyrgyzstan working as seamstresses in very harsh conditions — in small rooms stuffed with sewing machines and people, sewing day and night for prices like a couple of dollars for a piece of easy-made clothes.
Uzbekistan: Nadira's Story
Ben links to a few stories discussing Nadira Alieva’s new London theatre show, in which she recounts her life before and after she met ex-ambassador to Uzbekistan Craig Murray.
Afghanisan: Dangers of Poppy Eradication
Barnett R. Rubin continues to keep a close eye on the heated discussions concerning the prospects and possible results of opium poppy crop eradication in Afghanistan.
Afghanisan: Rifts within the Taliban
Bipasha Ray reports on some striking news in the development of the Taliban insurgency, which could point to increasing internal rifts.
Uzbekistan: Perpetuum Mobile?
Ibragim says that a teenager from the academic school in Samarqand, Uzbekistan, allegedly invented a “perpetual” car engine powered by a very unusual kind of fuel – air.
Turkmenistan: Common Sense and Enlightened Absolutism
Maciula wonders about the real meanning of the last steps of the President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov’s mean for Turkmenistan: beginning of democratization or return to normality dictated by common sense.
Afghanistan: Holbrooke on Bush’s “ineffective” counter-narcotics plan
Bipasha Ray reports that former UN Ambassador Richard Holbrooke tackles the issue of the Bush administration’s counter-narcotics policy in Afghanistan calling the billion-dollar-per-year plan the “single most ineffective program in the history of American foreign policy”.
Kazakhstan: German Journalist Attacked in Astana
Ben reports that German journalist Marcus Bensmann was seriously injured in an attack on his life in Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan.
Uzbekistan: No Refuge from the Cold
Nathan reports that Uzbeks are suffering from severe shortages of heat and natural gas. Winter gas shortages have been par for the course in Uzbekistan in recent years, but with this winter being particularly cold, they’re having a much greater impact this year.
Kazkahstan: IKEA Comes to Kazakhstan
Joshua Foust reports that IKEA, the discount Swedish retailer which furnished a swath of my apartment, is penetrating the Kazakhstani market with opening two giant stores in Kazakhstan—one in Astana, and one in Almaty.
Afghanistan: New Report on the ‘Forgotten War’
Bipasha Ray reviews the new report by European Council on Foreign Relations calling for U.S. and European governments to “overhaul their strategies and strike a ‘grand bargain’ to stabilise the country”.
Afghanistan: Cold weather victims increase
Mohammad Fahimsays that extremely cold winter causes harsh humanitarian problems in Afghanistan, with the number of people killed by cold weather and heavy snow in several Afghanistan provinces over the past four weeks has risen to over 300.
Kazakhstan: Kazakh Billionaire Noticed in London
Steve LeVine says the Kazakhstan billionaire Horelma Peramam has just spent 50 million pounds ($97 million) in the largest new residential property sale in U.K. history.
Turkmenistan: How about Buying a Flat in Ashgabat?
Maciula comments on Berdymukhammedov’s new decree on home loans and the true reasons of its introduction, which he believes lies in the sphere of simply filling up the empty multistorey apartment blocks.
Kazakhstan: A Girl from Provincial Town Leads International Reality Show
Lena B-va reports on a girl from the northern Kazakhstani town of Temirtau, and how successfully she represents Kazakhstan on the international contest “Hello Jurmala” in Latvia.
Turkmenistan: Now Safe for Clowns
Nathan says that there has been a shift in policy in Turkmenistan. The new plan is to reopen an opera house, resume circus shows and build a cinema in the capital Ashgabat.
Tajikistan: Children and Energy Crisis
Vadim translates an excerpt from a news report about a baby who died in a hospital because of electricity cut-off in Tajikistan amidst continuing energy defivit in the country.
Kyrgyztsan: “I do not believe” campaign goes national
Asel informs that “I do not believe” campaign activists, who have started their activities after the parliamentary elections they believe were fraudulent, are planning to create a powerful nationwide youth movement.
Kyrgyztsan: Economic Freedom Index
Mirsulzhan reviews the latest Index of Economic Freedom released by the Heritage Foundation and looks at the Kyrgyzstan's place in the rating.
Central Asia: Potential Water Wars
Marat analyses potential conflicts in Central Asia that may arise in near – or not so near – future following the deficit of water resources in these countries.
Afghanistan: How to produce opium
Bipasha Ray says that Intrepid Independent reporter Patrick Cockburn finds that Afghans are helping Iraqi farmers grow poppy and produce opium, as traditional crops of oranges and pomegranates prove to be insufficient to provide a living wage.