Economic growth in Central Asia and the Caucasus will remain relatively sluggish for at least the next 18 months, according to a new report issued by the Asian Development Bank.
Worldwide, 222 million women want to delay or avoid pregnancy but have no access to modern contraceptives. If they did, this would help prevent 21 million unwanted pregnancies; 79,000 maternal deaths and 1.1 million infant deaths.
The conflict between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan over three disputed gas fields in the Caspian Sea (Serdar/Kyapaz, Omar/Azeri, and Osman/Chirag) continues to escalate.
Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan are at it again, feuding over a lucrative patch of the Caspian Sea. Russia would likely be the chief beneficiary of Caspian discord, if it continues.
When shoppers in Turkmenistan went to the store this weekend, they were greeted by an unpleasant surprise: Bread prices had tripled and flour prices had doubled.
When it comes to the brewing arms race in the Caspian Sea region, no one can accuse Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov of navel-gazing. Ashgabat is now able to back its claims to some energy-rich patches of the sea with considerable firepower.
This week, all of Turkmenistan celebrated the 55th birthday of the country’s authoritarian leader, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, also known as Arkadag, meaning ”protector,” as he calls himself.
