10 Places to Visit in Central Asia This Autumn
Autumn is the perfect time for a change of scenery and a getaway to the mountains, lakes, or historic cities.
Politics
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Uzbekistan to Chair the CIS as Mirziyoyev Proposes Joint Centre to Combat Cybercrime
Uzbekistan will assume the chairmanship of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) on January 1, 2027.
CIS Leaders to Meet in Turkmenistan: What Will Presidents Discuss in Avaza?
On October 9, the CIS Council of Heads of State will meet in Turkmenistan’s Avaza National Tourist Zone.
'Slavic Caravan' sets off: First block train launched between Uzbekistan and Belarus
The first direct block train, Slavic Caravan, departed on 30 July from Orsha-Vostochnaya station in Belarus for Chukursay station in Uzbekistan. The service marks the first practical outcome of the agreements reached during the state visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Belarus on 9 July 2026.
Kazakhstan Holds First Elections for the New Qurultai
On August 23, 2026, Kazakhstan held its first elections for the Qurultai, the country’s new unicameral legislative body.
Kosherbayev and Rubio Discuss Strategic Partnership and President’s G20 Visit
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev held a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss bilateral cooperation, preparations for the Kazakh president’s visit to the United States for the G20 Summit, and the current situation surrounding the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC).
Science
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Kazakhstan and Belgium Join Forces to Develop AI for Early Parkinson’s Detection
Kazakhstan’s Astana Hub and Belgium’s Ghent University are launching a joint artificial intelligence and mathematics lab at the Alem.ai International Centre in Astana.
Kazakhstan to Establish Centers Focused on Future Technologies
Kazakhstan plans to develop its own technologies with support from Chinese partners. The joint projects will focus on several areas, including renewable energy, artificial intelligence and data storage technologies.
Kazakhstan Sets a World Record in AI
Kazakhstan Sets a Guinness World Record for the Largest Number of Participants in an AI Hackathon
Central Asian Students Win at International Financial Security Olympiad
Students from Central Asia were among the winners and medalists at the VI International Financial Security Olympiad, held in Krasnoyarsk from September 27 to October 2.
Kyrgyzstan Reaches Space: Country’s First National Satellite Launched into Orbit
Kyrgyzstan has taken its first step toward developing its own space program. On October 1, the country’s first national satellite was launched into orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
✦ Special Project
An editorial special project · Central Asia Tourism Board
The Silk Road Today
A multimedia long read by The Stans on what unites the countries of the region — from trade corridors to a shared heritage.
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Tourism · Destination
Another Side of Central Asia: Craft Towns, Ancient Legends and Mountain Lakes
Beyond the well-trodden tourist routes, Central Asia reveals a different side of itself: silk workshops in Uzbekistan, ancient rock carvings in Kazakhstan, walnut forests in Kyrgyzstan, and the spectacular mountain lakes of Tajikistan.
Central Asia
10 Places to Visit in Central Asia This Autumn
Autumn is the perfect time for a change of scenery and a getaway to the mountains, lakes, or historic cities.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan Awaits MrBeast: Popular YouTube Creator to Visit Tashkent
American YouTuber MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) will visit Uzbekistan. On October 9, he will take part in a public event in Tashkent at the invitation of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF).
Kyrgyzstan
Bishkek Plans to Offer Foreign Tourists Tours of Parliament
Kyrgyzstan’s Jogorku Kenesh plans to organize weekly guided visits for foreign tourists. The initiative was proposed by Parliament Speaker Marlen Mamataliev.
Culture & Society
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CultureKazakh Filmmaker Wins International Award for AI-Generated Film
Kazakh filmmaker Myrzakhan Zhumakhan won the Best Character award at the international Astana AI Film Festival 2026.
6,000 Participants, 25 Countries and a 42.2 km Marathon: Bishkek Hosts Snow Leopard Run
The seventh Bishkek Snow Leopard Run took place on October 18 at Manas International Airport.
Checkmate: Uzbekistan Wins the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand
Uzbekistan’s men’s national chess team has won the 46th World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand.
Games of the Future 2026 in Numbers: Highlights from the Tournament in Astana
More than 800 athletes from over 50 countries, 453 million views, and nearly 29,000 spectators. Astana has wrapped up the Games of the Future 2026, one of the world's largest international tournaments combining digital and traditional sports.
Ashgabat to Host International Children’s Chess Tournament
The first international Kids Expo–Chess Cup will take place in Ashgabat on August 19–20. Young chess players from more than 15 countries are expected to take part in the tournament.
Kazakhstan hosts the first-ever world university team chess championship
Almaty has become the venue for the final stage of the first-ever FIDE World University Team Chess Championship, marking another milestone in Kazakhstan's growing role on the global chess stage.
Gastronomy
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Gastronomy · Guide
Khiva Enters the Guinness World Records Thanks to Its Melons
The international melon festival Kovun Sayli 2026, held in Khiva, has set a world record. It has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records for hosting the largest melon tasting, with the highest number of melon varieties sampled at a single event.
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