#Central Asia

A firefight on the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border has left five people dead, including two Tajik guards. Dushanbe has blamed the Taliban for failing to secure the border, increasing regional tensions.

A 10-year-old Tajik boy was killed in a Moscow school on Dec. 16. As Russian officials ignore evidence of ethnic motives, the attack highlights a growing crisis of xenophobia in the country.

A Kazakh woman's protest for her husband, who disappeared into China, has led to her house arrest and a crackdown on the rights group Atajurt. The case highlights Kazakhstan's difficult balance between Chinese influence and human rights.

Japan is making a calculated move into Central Asia to counter Chinese and Russian influence. This isn't just diplomacy; it's a new strategy for resource security.

Kazakhstan's new 'LGBT propaganda' law isn't just a domestic issue. It's a geopolitical signal with major implications for tech firms and foreign investors.