Stephen M. Bland
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Stephen M. Bland
@stephenmbland.bsky.social
110 followers 180 following 5 posts
Managing Editor & Head of Investigations @timesca.com - author, journalist & expert specializing in Central Asia & the Caucasus.
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timesca.com
Latest from our @joelucbarnes.bsky.social Almaty pushes metro expansion to tackle traffic and smog but experts say real progress hinges on faster buses safer streets and pedestrian friendly planning https://ow.ly/lfNl50Xu0x0 #Almaty #Kazakhstan #Transport #UrbanPlanning
Metro Expansion Key to Almaty Infrastructure Plans - The Times Of Central Asia
Next year, Almaty plans another incremental step in the development of its public transport infrastructure with the opening of a new station at Kalkaman. This
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November 19, 2025 at 7:01 PM
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l0mbroso.bsky.social
Don't miss the most authoritative perspective on Central Asia out there. @timesca.com @pannierb.bsky.social @joannalillis.bsky.social
November 17, 2025 at 11:54 AM
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timesca.com
Latest from our Stephen M. Bland Kyrgyzstan braces for winter power shortages with planned cuts strained reservoirs and urgent plant repairs as hydropower dependent states across Central Asia face similar pressures https://ow.ly/ZFPS50Xu0rw #Kyrgyzstan #EnergyCrisis #Winter #CentralAsia
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan Brace for Winter Power Shortages - The Times Of Central Asia
As winter approaches, Kyrgyzstan is rolling out emergency measures to soften the impact of expected electricity shortfalls. The government has announced a new
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November 19, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Reposted by Stephen M. Bland
timesca.com
Tokayev caps a diplomatic hat trick balancing Washington Moscow and Beijing amid speculation he could serve as a trusted channel between Trump and Putin https://ow.ly/VFlr50Xrgbj Kazakhstan #Tokayev #Russia #USA #Geopolitics #C5Plus1Summit
Between Trump and Putin: Tokayev Emerges as a Regional Diplomatic Powerbroker - The Times Of Central Asia
In a striking display of diplomatic balancing, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ended 2025 with a high-profile state visit to Moscow, where he and
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November 13, 2025 at 8:01 PM
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l0mbroso.bsky.social
Another home run. Don't miss this SCA podcast with @pannierb.bsky.social and Michael Hilliard, two experts on anything CA. Thanks to @timesca.com 👏👏👏
November 14, 2025 at 1:31 AM
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timesca.com
Latest from our @pannierb.bsky.social Kyrgyzstan enters a high-stakes election marked by fierce local races strict anti-fraud vows and a push to clean up politics https://ow.ly/Q2Tc50XrV70 #Kyrgyzstan #Elections #Politics #CentralAsia
Kyrgyzstan Elections 2025: Short Campaign, High Stakes - The Times Of Central Asia
Campaigning for seats in Kyrgyzstan’s upcoming parliamentary elections is underway, and it is already shaping up to be a race unlike anything seen before in
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November 14, 2025 at 7:20 PM
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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
Reposted by Stephen M. Bland
timesca.com
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
Reposted by Stephen M. Bland
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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timesca.com
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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timesca.com
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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timesca.com
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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timesca.com
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
Reposted by Stephen M. Bland
timesca.com
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
Reposted by Stephen M. Bland
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
Reposted by Stephen M. Bland
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
Reposted by Stephen M. Bland
timesca.com
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