Stephen M. Bland
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Stephen M. Bland
@stephenmbland.bsky.social
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Managing Editor & Head of Investigations @timesca.com - author, journalist & expert specializing in Central Asia & the Caucasus.
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timesca.com
Our Spotlight on Central Asia podcast with @pannierb.bsky.social doing a deep dive into the C5+1 summit listen to the new episode on November 16 https://ow.ly/hNZP50XrfL8 #CentralAsia #TCAPodcast #Geopolitics #OxusSociety #C5Plus1Summit #CentralAsiaPodcast
Pannier and Hillard's Spotlight on Central Asia @ The Times of Central Asia - New Episode Now Available - The Times Of Central Asia
As Managing Editor of The Times of Central Asia, I’m delighted to announce that, in partnership with the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, from October
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November 13, 2025 at 7:01 PM
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Kazakh activists condemn proposed LGBT propaganda ban warning it threatens human rights and mirrors repressive regional laws https://timesca.com/kazakhstan-parliament-advances-bill-to-ban-lgbt-propaganda/ #Kazakhstan #HumanRights #FreedomOfExpression #Equality #Legislation #LGBTQRights
Kazakhstan Parliament Advances Bill to Ban ‘LGBT Propaganda’ - The Times Of Central Asia
Activists and human rights defenders in Almaty have condemned proposed legislative amendments aimed at banning so-called “LGBT propaganda” in Kazakhstan.
timesca.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:01 PM
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timesca.com
Latest from our @pannierb.bsky.social Kyrgyzstan prepares for snap parliamentary elections on November 30 with nearly 600 candidates competing for 90 seats https://ow.ly/l1U750XlZS3 #Kyrgyzstan #Elections #Politics #Democracy #Parliament #CentralAsia
Kyrgyzstan Election 2025: New Rules, New Map, Same High Stakes - The Times Of Central Asia
Kyrgyzstan is conducting snap parliamentary elections on November 30. The deadline for would-be candidates to hand in their forms was October 30.
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November 3, 2025 at 8:01 PM
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timesca.com
Latest from our Stephen M. Bland the November 6 C5+1 summit in Washington brings Central Asian leaders together with the US to advance cooperation on critical minerals connectivity and regional security https://ow.ly/xTeb50Xo9sa #USA #CentralAsia #Geopolitics #Trade #C5Plus1Summit
Deals, Not Declarations: U.S.–Central Asia Cooperation at Summit Crossroads - The Times Of Central Asia
A landmark summit between the United States and the five Central Asian republics is scheduled for November 6 in Washington, D.C., bringing together the
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November 7, 2025 at 12:51 AM
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timesca.com
Latest from our @joelucbarnes.bsky.social Kazakhstan’s young researchers drive a homegrown AI revolution with models like KazLLM and Oylan reflecting local language and culture https://ow.ly/S1Rb50Xq790 #AI #Education #KazLLM #DigitalTransformation #KazakhstanTech
Made in Kazakhstan: Building an AI for a Nation - The Times Of Central Asia
On a cold November morning at Al-Farabi University in Almaty, students gathered in a drafty lecture hall, many still wrapped in their coats. The setting was
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November 11, 2025 at 6:02 PM
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Kazakhstan’s President Tokayev lands $17B in U.S. deals — from Boeing jets to critical minerals — during his Washington visit.
Trump even hints at a future trip to Kazakhstan.
#Kazakhstan #US #C5Plus1 #Investment #Diplomacy timesca.com/tokayev-secu...
Tokayev Secures $17B in U.S. Deals, Trump Hints at Kazakhstan Visit - The Times Of Central Asia
The summit between the leaders of the United States and the five countries of Central Asia was the primary focus of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s
timesca.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:44 PM
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Kazakh AI artist Ilona Brazhnik turns digital myth and beauty into viral art redefining creativity in the neural age https://ow.ly/B2kw50Xl7g6 #Kazakhstan #AIArt #Creativity #DigitalArt #IlonaBrazhnik #AIArtists
AI Creator Ilona Brazhnik on Kazakh Myths and Creative Freedom - The Times Of Central Asia
Alena Brazhnikova, better known by her pseudonym Ilona Brazhnik, is in many ways a product of her time. A decade ago, she was transferring art onto skin as a
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October 31, 2025 at 9:00 PM
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timesca.com
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
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
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October 30, 2025 at 9:01 PM
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timesca.com
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
Petropavl – A City of Two Tales - The Times Of Central Asia
No one seems to like the name Petropavl.
timesca.com
October 29, 2025 at 11:00 PM
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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
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.
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October 28, 2025 at 11:00 PM
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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
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
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October 29, 2025 at 12:00 AM
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l0mbroso.bsky.social
A must read from @pannierb.bsky.social for anyone following CA energy politics. 👏👏👏
October 23, 2025 at 10:11 PM
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timesca.com
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
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.
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October 24, 2025 at 11:00 PM
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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
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
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October 23, 2025 at 10:00 PM
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timesca.com
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
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
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October 23, 2025 at 11:00 PM
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olaskoolkitchen.bsky.social
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
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
timesca.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:46 PM
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timesca.com
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
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
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October 21, 2025 at 11:00 PM
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timesca.com
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
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
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October 17, 2025 at 9:00 PM
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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
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
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October 21, 2025 at 10:01 PM
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timesca.com
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
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
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October 15, 2025 at 9:00 PM
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timesca.com
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
October 14, 2025 at 9:00 PM
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timesca.com
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
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
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October 14, 2025 at 10:01 PM
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timesca.com
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
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
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October 10, 2025 at 10:00 PM
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timesca.com
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
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
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October 10, 2025 at 9:00 PM
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timesca.com
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
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
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October 9, 2025 at 11:00 PM