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Xinhua Headlines: China makes major strides in fight against desertification, shares lessons with world

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:45:51 GMT

(260422) -- BEIJING, April 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- An aerial drone photo taken on June 30, 2025 shows the border area between the Tengger Desert and a sand-controlling project in Zhongwei, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Wetland wealth: Aligarh's Shekha Jheel designated as Uttar Pradesh's 12th Ramsar site

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:32:20 GMT

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 22 (ANI): In a major boost to India's environmental conservation efforts, the Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary in Aligarh has officially been designated as a Ramsar Site.

The announcement marks a significant milestone for Uttar Pradesh, bringing the state's total number of Wetlands of International Importance to 12, while elevating India's national tally to 99.

CM Office, U

(SP)CHINA-HAINAN-SANYA-ASIAN BEACH GAMES-OPENING CEREMONY (CN)

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:17:39 GMT

(260422) -- SANYA, April 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Artists perform before the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Eshan Malinga registers third-best IPL figures among SRH overseas bowlers

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:00:34 GMT

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], April 22 (ANI): Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], April 22 (ANI): Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pacer Eshan Malinga delivered a standout performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL), registering the third-best bowling figures by an overseas player for the franchise during their clash against Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Tuesday.

Eshan achieved this fea

(SP)CHINA-HAINAN-SANYA-ASIAN BEACH GAMES-WATER POLO-WOMEN'S ROUND-ROBIN FINAL (CN)

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 07:16:48 GMT

(260422) -- SANYA, April 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Players of China's Hong Kong pose for photos after the water polo women's round-robin final match between China and China's Hong Kong at the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)

Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary in UP added to Ramsar list, marking 12th site in state and 99th in India

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 06:33:03 GMT

New Delhi [India], April 22 (ANI): Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav has announced the designation of Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, as a Ramsar site.

In a post on X, Yadav said the recognition would support local livelihoods, biodiversity conservation, and water and climate security.

He noted that the development makes it Uttar Pradesh's 12th

UK special forces resigning en masse over war crimes probe media

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:49:12 GMT

Soldiers are reportedly resigning as an inquiry examines alleged killings of civilians and cover-ups during operations in Afghanistan and Syria

Soldiers from the UK's elite SAS force are resigning in significant numbers over fears of prosecution following human rights investigations into alleged war crimes, British media reports.

The probe largely focuses on British special forces operation

UK special forces resigning en masse over war crimes probe - media

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:49:12 GMT

Soldiers are reportedly resigning as an inquiry examines alleged killings of civilians and cover-ups during operations in Afghanistan and Syria

Soldiers from the UK's elite SAS force are resigning in significant numbers over fears of prosecution following human rights investigations into alleged war crimes, British me

AFGHANISTAN-NANGARHAR-FLOODS-AFTERMATH

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:15:49 GMT

(260421) -- NANGARHAR, April 21, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Kids walk by flooded areas in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, April 13, 2026.

TO GO WITH "Feature: Afghan families stripped of everything as floods ravage homes, harvests" (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

Over 11.6 lakh Indians return from West Asia amid conflict; 12 seafarers rescued from Iraq

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:32:57 GMT

New Delhi [India], April 21 (ANI): The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday highlighted one of the largest voluntary repatriations and travel management exercises in recent times as India prioritises the safety of its 1-crore-strong diaspora in the Gulf.

In a significant briefing on the evolving security situation in West Asia, the MEA announced that over 11,61,000 passengers have travelled from the regi

Tashkent to host 2027 World Para Athletics Championships

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:32:42 GMT

New Delhi [India], April 21 (ANI): Tashkent has been confirmed as the host city for the 2027 World Para Athletics Championships, marking the first time the prestigious competition will be staged in Uzbekistan and the wider Central Asian region.

The announcement was made by World Para Athletics, which confirmed that the world's largest single para-sport event will be held at the Olympic City Main Stadium in June 2

Ashwin shoots down idea of second-string Indian T20I team made using IPL stars

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:59:51 GMT

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], April 21 (ANI): Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin shot down the idea of creating two separate T20I teams for Team India, saying that the caps of the national side at the senior-most level cannot be 'distributed for free' and instead there should be 'A' team tours happening to give players more exposure.

Ashwin was speaking on 'Ash Ki Baat', amid the media reports of the id

Wider Europe Briefing: The EU's First-Ever Armenia Summit

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:08:12 GMT

Welcome to Wider Europe, RFE/RL's newsletter focusing on the key issues concerning the European Union, NATO, and other institutions and their relationships with the Western Balkans and Europe's Eastern neighborhoods.

I'm RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak, and this week I am drilling down on two issues related to Armenia: the first-ever EU-Armenia summit and the bloc's new mission to the South Caucasus nation.

Activist Arif Aajakia slams Pakistan ahead of Pahalgam attack anniversary, questions global silence

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:32:25 GMT

London [UK], April 21 (ANI): As the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack is set to be observed tomorrow, human rights activist Arif Aajakia has shared strong views on terrorism, Pakistan's role, and the global response.

Speaking ahead of the anniversary, Arif Aajakia alleged that Pakistan had been 'attacking India with impunity, thinking India will not respond.' Referring to the nature of the attack, h

Qalibaf Says Iran Ready To Reveal 'New Cards' In War With US, Israel

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:05:00 GMT

New posts

07:29

Seized Iranian Ship May Have Had Dual-Use Cargo

The Iranian-flagged container ship Touska, which was seized by US forces on April 19, was likely carrying items Washington considers dual-use, meaning goods with possible civilian and military applications, maritime security sources told Reuters on April 20.

The vessel, part of the sanctioned company Islamic Republic of Iran Shipp

Trump Says He Does Not Want To Extend Cease-Fire

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:05:00 GMT

New posts

15:00

Trump Says He Does Not Want To Extend Cease-Fire

US President Donald Trump (file photo)

US President Donald Trump has said he does not want to extend a cease-fire with Iran, which is due to expire on April 22.

Speaking to CNBC on April 21, Trump said he did not wish to prolong the current cessation of hostilities with Tehran, saying We don't have that much time and adding

US Seizes Another Ship For Carrying 'Material Support' To Iran

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:05:00 GMT

New posts

13:54

US Seizes Another Ship For Carrying 'Material Support' To Iran

The US Department of Defense announced that its military forces had boarded a sanctioned ship called the M/T Tifani without incident in South Asian waters on the night of April 20.

"We will pursue global maritime enforcement efforts to disrupt illicit networks and interdict sanctioned vessels providing material supp

Indian Embassy in Azerbaijan hosts vibrant Indian food festival in Baku

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:01:22 GMT

Baku [Azerbaijan], April 20 (ANI): The Embassy of India in Azerbaijan successfully organised a grand Indian Food Festival on Sunday at the Embassy premises in Baku. Diverse Indian cuisines, cultural performances, and diplomatic engagements highlighted the event.

The day-long event brought together the rich flavours, colours, and cultural heritage of India, attracting a large and enthusiastic gathering. The festiv

India U17 men's football team to play two friendlies against Qatar in Doha

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:31:41 GMT

New Delhi [India], April 20 (ANI): The Indian U17 football men's team will play two friendly matches against Qatar on April 25 and 28, in Doha, Qatar.

The friendlies, India's last two preparatory games before the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026, will be played behind closed doors. Both matches will kick off at 21:30 IST, according to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) release.

The Blue Colts are c

Hormuz Crisis Has Supercharged The Middle Corridor Trade Route

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:43:42 GMT

While diplomatic efforts struggle to stabilize access to the Strait of Hormuz amid tensions between the United States and Iran, Eurasian trade is increasingly being redirected toward overland alternatives, with the Trans-Caspian Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor, emerging as a key diversification route in Eurasian logistics.

The World Bank described the Middle Corridor back in 2023 as a strategic

West Asia conflict: Over 11 lakh passengers travel back to India

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:33:28 GMT

New Delhi [India], April 20 (ANI): As the two-week ceasefire window in West Asia inches closer to the end on April 22, India has evacuated over 11 lakh passengers from the region through continuous flight ops from various countries in the region, to alternate routes.

The details were shared by Aseem Mahajan, Joint Secretary (Gulf) in the Ministry of External Affairs, during an inter-ministerial press briefing her

Former Afghanistan pacer Shapoor Zadran battles life-threatening disease, critical in ICU at a New Delhi hospital

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:32:47 GMT

New Delhi [India], April 20 (ANI): Former Afghanistan left-arm fast bowler Shapoor Zadran is battling for his life in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital in New Delhi, according to ESPNcricinfo. Shapoor is suffering from Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a life-threatening disease, in which the immune system starts failing.

Shapoor has been receiving treatment since January for an advanced stage o

Pandemic of fascism looming over West Moscow

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:28:45 GMT

Some countries have embraced historical revanchism by seeking to revisit the Soviet victory over Nazism, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said

The West is being swept by a "pandemic of historical revanchism" as it seeks to erase the memory of World War II and rewrite the Soviet victory over Nazi ideology, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has warned.

Zakha

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-HORQIN-SAND CONTROL (CN)

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 08:15:32 GMT

(260420) -- TONGLIAO, April 20, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Workers plant trees at an anti-desertification project area in Horqin Left Wing Rear Banner of Tongliao City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, April 19, 2026. The sandy area of this project is nearly 3,000 mu (200 hectares), which is the last mobile and semi-mobile sandy land to be treated in Horqin Left Rear Banner. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-TONGLIAO-SPRING PLOUGHING (CN)

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 03:15:22 GMT

(260420) -- TONGLIAO, April 20, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A farmer drives agricultural machinery to plough the fields in Horqin Left Wing Rear Banner of Tongliao City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, April 19, 2026. The ploughing work in Tongliao, a granary of eastern Inner Mongolia, is drawing to a close ahead of the peak period of corn sowing. It is learned that Tongliao's corn planting area in 2026 is expecte

Learning Chinese unlocks cultural bridges, lifelong opportunities for Afghan youth

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 14:45:31 GMT

JALALABAD, Afghanistan, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Every morning, with firm determination and hope for a bright future, 20-year-old Bakhtiar Aryubzi walks into the Chinese-language classroom at Nangarhar University in eastern Afghanistan.

For him and a growing number of young Afghans, mastering Chinese is more than a practical skill; it is a pathway to connect cultures, foster understanding, and open doors between Afgh

AFGHANISTAN-NANGARHAR-CHINESE LANGUAGE COURSE

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 12:16:35 GMT

(260419) -- NANGARHAR, April 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Students attend a Chinese language class at Nangarhar University in Jalalabad, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, April 12, 2026. Under the framework of Afghanistan's Confucius Institute, a Chinese language course was established at Nangarhar University in 2018. Since then, it has provided opportunities for more than 130 Afghan youth to learn Chinese.

TO GO WITH "Fe

KAZAKHSTAN-ALMATY-CHINA-ACADEMIC SEMINAR-COOPERATION

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 06:48:43 GMT

(260419) -- ALMATY, April 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan Han Chunlin addresses an international academic seminar titled "China-Kazakhstan Community with a Shared Future: Prospects for All-round Cooperation under New Geopolitical Realities" in Almaty, Kazakhstan, April 16, 2026. TO GO WITH "China-Kazakhstan academic seminar focuses on all-round cooperation" (Xinhua/Li Renzi)

Rashid Khan blessed with baby boy

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 15:34:01 GMT

New Delhi [India], April 18 (ANI): Afghanistan bowler Rashid Khan has been blessed with a baby boy.

On Saturday, Rashid took to Instagram and shared the good news with his fans.

'Alhamdulillah Welcome to the world my little prince Keep us in your prayer,' he captioned the post, sharing a glimpse of the new born.

Rashid and his wife have named their son 'Azlan'.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Ra

AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-CARPET EXPORTS

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 12:45:17 GMT

(260418) -- KABUL, April 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A salesman displays a carpet in Kabul, Afghanistan, April 18, 2026. Afghanistan exported carpets and rugs worth 18 million U.S. dollars over the past year, with shipments going to 37 countries, the official Bakhtar News Agency reported on Saturday.

TO GO WITH "Afghanistan exports carpets, rugs worth 18 mln USD in 1 year" (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

Xinhua Commentary: Japan's growing ties with NATO risks importing bloc confrontation into Asia-Pacific

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:45:19 GMT

Under Takaichi's leadership, Japan has intensified efforts to develop "counterstrike" capabilities, increase military spending, and relax arms export restrictions. Coupled with closer ties to NATO, these moves mark a clear departure from its postwar pacifist principles.

TOKYO, April 18 (Xinhua) -- An unusually large delegation of around 30 NATO ambassadors visiting Tokyo this week involves more t

TURKMENISTAN-MARY-CHINA-DING XUEXIANG-GAS FIELD-GROUNDBREAKING

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 01:45:32 GMT

(260417) -- MARY, April 17, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's special representative Ding Xuexiang, also Chinese vice premier and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends the groundbreaking ceremony of the fourth phase of the Galkynysh gas field with National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turk

Turkmenistan, China launch expansion of giant gas field

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 01:34:48 GMT

ASHGABAT, 18th April, 2026 (WAM) -- Turkmenistan and China broke ground Friday on works to expand production at the giant Galkynysh gas field.

Turkmenistan, which holds the world's fourth-largest gas reserves, has exported nearly all its production to China since 2009, when the Central Asia-China pipeline opened.

Galkynysh, in the Karakum desert about 400 kilometres (250 miles) east of the capital Ashgabat,

Hungary: Top EU Court Rules Anti-LGBT Law Unlawful

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 23:00:00 GMT

(Budapest, April 22, 2026) - The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruling on April 21, 2026, against Hungary's 2021 anti-LGBT law is an

Pakistan: Surge in Forced Returns of Afghan Refugees

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:30:00 GMT

(New York) - Pakistani authorities have sharply escalated abusive raids, arbitrary detentions, and forced returns of Afghan refugees following renewed border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Human Rights Watch said today. Police operations have left thousands of already vulnerable Afghan refugees, including child

EU seeks closer ties with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:29:42 GMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Union intends to intensify cooperation with Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey within its strategy to develop transport and energy links toward the Black Sea and Central Asia, European Commissioner Marta Kos said ahead of a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.

"Today we see how well-founded the European Commission's Black Sea strategy is.

Amnesty says Azerbaijan failed to protect conflict victims

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:24:17 GMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Amnesty International, in its annual report published on April 21, highlighted violations of international humanitarian law by Azerbaijan.

The report states that Azerbaijani authorities failed to ensure accountability and protection for people affected by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In October 2025, the European Court of Human Rights obliged Azerbaija

Armenian president to visit Kazakhstan

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 07:58:05 GMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan will travel to Kazakhstan to participate in a UN regional environmental summit titled "Shared Vision for a Sustainable Future," to be held in Astana from April 21 to 23.

During the visit, bilateral meetings are also planned with high-level leaders of Kazakhstan and other partner countries.

Source: PanArmenian

Azerbaijan sends new diesel batch to Armenia

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:36:12 GMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - On April 21, another batch of petroleum products was sent from Azerbaijan to Armenia - 16 rail tank cars carrying 974 tons of diesel fuel, APA reports.

As of April 21, a total of 7,610 tons of diesel fuel, 979 tons of AI-92 gasoline, and 2,955 tons of AI-95 gasoline have been delivered from Azerbaijan to Armenia.

Earlier, Armenia's State Revenue C

Aliyev reports start of Armenia-Azerbaijan trade ties

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 05:45:23 GMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said trade relations have begun between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

He made the statement in a message addressed to participants of the 82nd session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Report.az reports.

Aliyev noted that significant changes have taken place in the South Caucasu

Fidan expects Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal soon

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 02:26:38 GMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said after the Antalya Diplomacy Forum that he hopes a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia will be signed soon.

"Turkey hopes that the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia will be signed as soon as possible," he said, according to Report.az .

Fidan added that normalizing relations among Aze

Central Asias Ascent: From Geopolitical Object to Collective Actor

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:30:46 GMT

Islam Supyaldiyarov

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Apr 21 2026

pavel_miheev.list.ru/Depositphotos

In a 2024 article,Navigating New Realities: Central Asias Role in Contemporary Geopolitics, my co-authors and I argued that the Central Asia was experiencing a structural change. Driven by Russias war in Ukraine and the growing ambitions of China, we contended that the regions states were no longer objects of influence but

Irans 10-point Plan Is Still a Workable Basis for Negotiations

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 02:20:20 GMT

The US government under Donald Trump has twice used disingenuous negotiations with Iran to provide cover for attacking it, inJune 2025and again beforelaunchingthe current war in February. Now it is trying to do so for a third time.

by Nicolas J. S. Davies

On April 8, the US and Iran began a two week ceasefire, after Trump accepted a ten point peace plan drawn up by Iran as a workable basis on which to negot

Kyrgyzstan receives over 220 mln USD in remittances in February 2026

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:45:20 GMT

BISHKEK, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Remittances to Kyrgyzstan reached 224.2 million U.S. dollars in February 2026, according to data released Wednesday by the country's National Bank.

The central bank said that the majority of transfers, totaling 208.2 million dollars, originated from Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, while 16 million dollars came from non-CIS countries.

The largest share of t

Azerbaijan non-oil revenues beat forecast by 8.8 pct in Q1

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:45:32 GMT

BAKU, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Azerbaijan's non-oil and gas revenues exceeded the budget forecast by 446.1 million manats (about 262.4 million U.S. dollars), or 8.8 percent, in the first quarter of 2026, the finance ministry reported Wednesday.

The sector generated 5.53 billion manats (3.25 billion dollars) in January-March, accounting for 57.7 percent of total state budget revenues.

Tax authorities accounted

Economic Watch: Foreign investors eye long-term opportunities as China opens wider

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:23:08 GMT

TIANJIN, April 22 (Xinhua) -- A woman from Mongolia recently finished her first round of chemotherapy at Perennial General Hospital Tianjin, China's first wholly foreign-owned tertiary general hospital. Following the treatment, her tumor marker levels dropped significantly.

"Booking an appointment was easy. The medical team was professional and attentive, and they quickly provided a treatment plan," she said.

Afghanistan launches agricultural fair to strengthen domestic production

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:15:15 GMT

KABUL, April 22 (Xinhua) -- A four-day exhibition showcasing agricultural, livestock and handicrafts products opened in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, on Wednesday, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock announced.

The fair aims to promote marketing, foster business relationships, and showcase domestic products to investors as well as local and international markets, according to a ministry stateme

Major road projects completed in eastern Afghanistan's Khost province

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:15:23 GMT

KABUL, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Afghan authorities have completed several major road construction projects in Khost city, the capital of eastern Afghanistan's Khost province, the provincial government said in a statement on Wednesday.

The projects, with a total investment exceeding 21 million afghanis (around 328,000 U.S. dollars), are designed to strengthen urban infrastructure, improve transportation conditions, a

1st LD Writethru: Kazakhstan confirms suspension of oil transit to Germany via Russia

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:15:23 GMT

ALMATY, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Kazakh Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov on Wednesday confirmed the suspension of Kazakh oil transit to Germany via Russia through the Druzhba pipeline, the Kazinform news agency reported.

Reports have circulated that Russia may halt oil transit from Kazakhstan to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline starting May 1, though there has been no official confirmation from Moscow, according t

Urgent: Kazakhstan confirms suspension of oil transit to Germany via Russia

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:15:21 GMT

Uzbek, Chinese communities mark Int'l Chinese Language Day with poetry, art showcase in Tashkent

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:45:27 GMT

TASHKENT, April 22 (Xinhua) -- About 300 people gathered here on Tuesday to celebrate International Chinese Language Day with a comprehensive showcase and performance of Chinese character art and poetry.

Co-hosted by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation of China's Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of the Arts, and the Confucius Institute at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, the

Uzbek president, WHO chief discuss health cooperation

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:15:15 GMT

TASHKENT, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus here on Tuesday to discuss modernizing the country's healthcare system and deepening cooperation.

During the meeting, Mirziyoyev noted that cooperation with WHO has reached a qualitatively new level, the Uzbek presidential press service said in a news release.

Kazakhstan's second nuclear power plant to be built near Lake Balkhash

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:15:42 GMT

ALMATY, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Kazakhstan's second nuclear power plant will be built on the shores of Lake Balkhash in southeastern Kazakhstan, the Kazinform news agency reported on Tuesday.

Three potential sites for the second plant are currently under consideration, with the final construction site to be announced later, the report said.

At least three nuclear power plants are planned in Kazakhstan by 205

China steps up efforts in field observation to protect grassland ecology

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:48:47 GMT

BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- China has established 167 national field observation and research stations across the country to strengthen grassland protection, a veteran grassland scientist told a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday.

These stations play a crucial role in China's ecological civilization construction and major disaster prevention and control, said Xin Xiaoping, director of the national observat

Feature: Afghan families stripped of everything as floods ravage homes, harvests

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:45:16 GMT

JALALABAD, Afghanistan, April 21 (Xinhua) -- "We have nothing. We don't have a house to live in, and we don't have anything to wear either," said Shir Khan, standing amid the mud and silt that now fill his courtyard in a village on the outskirts of Jalalabad city, the capital of eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province. "The flood destroyed everything."

The raging waters not only swept away all the family's hous

ICRC launches aid operation for conflict-affected communities in Afghanistan

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 07:45:12 GMT

KABUL, April 21 (Xinhua) -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), together with its partners, launched a humanitarian operation on Tuesday to deliver urgently needed assistance to conflict-affected communities in eastern Afghanistan's Nuristan Province.

The operation is being carried out in coordination with the Afghan Red Crescent Society and the World Food Programme in Afghanistan.

Accord

Afghanistan signs MoUs to bolster disaster response

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 06:45:15 GMT

KABUL, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's National Disaster Management Authority has signed five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with leading domestic and international partners over the past month, the authority announced Tuesday.

The agreements focus on enhancing disaster risk reduction, delivering urgent assistance to affected communities, conducting nationwide public awareness campaigns, and implementing l

(China Economic Roundtable) Xinhua Headlines: Major provincial economies leveraging innovation prowess to fuel China's high-quality development

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:46:37 GMT

BEIJING, April 20 (Xinhua) -- China's major provincial economies are steadily consolidating the foundation of national economic stability while unleashing momentum for progress, delivering high-quality development and expanding high-standard opening-up to fuel the country's overall growth.

These provinces are the locomotives of the world's second-largest economy. Ten provincial-level regions -- Guangdong, Jiangs

World Taekwondo President praises Uzbekistan for staging of junior worlds

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:45:57 GMT

GENEVA, April 20 (Xinhua) -- World Taekwondo President Choue Chung-won on Monday praised the successful staging of the World Junior Championships at the recently opened Olympic City in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

From April 12 to 17, a total of 986 athletes from around the world competed at the Martial Arts Sports Complex, which will also host the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup at the Aquatics Center in October and

Table tennis world champion Fang to represent Kazakhstan, excluding three majors

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:17:56 GMT

BEIJING, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Fang Bo, a former member of China's men's table tennis team that won World Cup and World Championships titles, announced on Monday that he would represent Kazakhstan in future competitions, excluding the Olympic Games, World Championships and World Cup.

"I announce my return and will represent Kazakhstan," Fang wrote on Chinese social media platform Weibo. "I have established cooper

"Study in China" exhibition held in Kyrgyzstan

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 14:15:28 GMT

BISHKEK, April 20 (Xinhua) -- The third "HSK: Study in China" exhibition was held in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, on Sunday, where over 20 Chinese universities presented Kyrgyz students with study options in China.

At the opening ceremony, Kyrgyz Minister of Science, Higher Education and Innovation Gulzat Isamatova said the event, an important effort to strengthen Kyrgyz-Chinese cooperation in education, woul

Over 6,000 Afghan refugees repatriated from Pakistan in single day

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:15:10 GMT

KABUL, April 20 (Xinhua) -- At least 6,148 Afghan refugees returned to Afghanistan from neighboring Pakistan in a single day on Sunday, Afghanistan's High Commission for Addressing Returnees' Problems reported on Monday.

The returnees crossed into the country through the Torkham border crossing in eastern Nangarhar province and the Spin Boldak border crossing in southern Kandahar province, the commission said, a

China's economic performance contributes positively to broader global stability: Uzbek expert

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 09:45:11 GMT

"China's performance sends a reassuring signal that one of the world's main growth engines is still functioning well and can contribute positively to broader global stability," said an Uzbek expert in an interview with Xinhua. #ChinaEconomy

4.2 mln Afghans face acute shelter crisis in 2026: UN

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 06:15:10 GMT

KABUL, April 20 (Xinhua) -- At least 4.2 million people in Afghanistan will require emergency shelter and non-food items throughout 2026, according to the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat).

"We must act now to ensure adequate housing for all," it said in a report.

Displacement, natural disasters and deepening economic hardship have compounded vulnerabilities across the country, making

Attempts to smuggle arms foiled, 95 pistols seized in E. Afghanistan

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 05:45:07 GMT

KABUL, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Afghan security forces in the fight against illegal arms and arms trafficking have intercepted a car and recovered a huge quantity of weaponry, including 95 pistols, in eastern Afghanistan's Khost province, said a statement of the national army stationed in the eastern region on Monday.

Based on an intelligence report, personnel of the national army launched operations in Nadir Shah K

Hungary's Nagy takes men's epee title at Westend Grand Prix in Budapest

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 01:15:57 GMT

BUDAPEST, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Hungary's David Nagy snatched the men's epee title at the FIE Westend Grand Prix, helping the host nation secure one gold and and one silver medal as the three-day competition concluded here on Sunday.

In the men's event, Nagy, 26, came from behind to defeat Kazakhstan's Yerlik Sertay 15-12 in the final, held at the Papp Laszlo Budapest Sports Arena in front of a home crowd.

Uzbekistan, Rwanda establish diplomatic relations

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:45:12 GMT

TASHKENT, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan and Rwanda have officially established diplomatic relations, according to Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov.

A joint communique on the establishment of diplomatic ties was signed Saturday by Saidov and Rwanda's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Olivier Nduhungirehe on the sidelines of the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Trkiye, Saidov said

Poultry farm worth 1.2 mln USD established in N. Afghanistan

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 11:45:19 GMT

KABUL, April 19 (Xinhua) -- A poultry farm costing 1.2 million U.S. dollars has been established in northern Afghanistan's Balkh province, reported the official news agency Bakhtar on Sunday.

Covering 6 acres of land outside the provincial capital Mazar-i-Sharif, the poultry farm has created job opportunities for 30 people, the media outlet said, adding that the government would encourage the private sector to i

Afghanistan's rail freight reaches over 6 mln tons in one year

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 08:45:06 GMT

KABUL, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The volume of goods transported through Afghanistan's railway network reached about 6.1 million metric tons over the past 12 months, up 39.1 percent year-on-year, a government official said on Sunday.

Mohammad Ashraf Haqshinas, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Works, said the largest share of commercial freight, approximately 4.2 million metric tons, was transported through nor

Anti-drug police seize large narcotics hauls, dismantle factory in Afghanistan

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 08:45:02 GMT

KABUL, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Afghan counter-narcotics police have seized significant quantities of illegal drugs and dismantled a drug production facility during a series of operations across multiple provinces, the Ministry of Interior Affairs said on Sunday.

According to a statement issued by the ministry, a total of 309 kg of narcotics was confiscated in northern Afghanistan's Kunduz province, while an additio

Feature: Learning Chinese unlocks cultural bridges, lifelong opportunities for Afghan youth

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 07:15:05 GMT

For him and a growing number of young Afghans, mastering Chinese is more than a practical skill; it is a pathway to connect cultures, foster understanding, and open doors between Afg

Central Asia emerges as key force in global rare metals competition: Uzbek deputy FM

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 17:45:47 GMT

TASHKENT, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Central Asia is emerging as a significant force in the global competition for rare metals, Uzbek Deputy Foreign Minister Muzaffar Madrakhimov said Saturday at the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

Madrakhimov noted that expanding cooperation in innovation and technology, particularly in the processing of critical minerals, has become a strategic priority for the region. These joint ef

Over 86,000 Afghan refugees return home in 1 month: UN

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:45:16 GMT

KABUL, April 18 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that more than 86,000 Afghan migrants returned to the country from Iran and Pakistan within one month, according to local media Tolonews on Saturday.

The report described the scale of returns as a significant humanitarian concern, highlighting challenges related to reintegration, access to essential services, and t

Floods affect over 73,000 people across Afghanistan: UN

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 08:45:08 GMT

KABUL, April 18 (Xinhua) -- More than 73,000 people have been affected by recent floods across 31 provinces in Afghanistan over the past 12 days, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said, according to local media Tolo news on Saturday.

According to the report, the floods have caused extensive damage, destroying thousands of homes, agricultural land, and key infrastructure, including roads. Displaced famil

Afghanistan exports carpets, rugs worth 18 mln USD in 1 year

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 08:45:03 GMT

KABUL, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan exported carpets and rugs worth 18 million U.S. dollars over the past year, with shipments going to 37 countries, the official Bakhtar News Agency reported on Saturday.

"About 6,000 square meters of carpets and 4,000 square meters of rugs were exported over the past year," Bakhtar quoted Abdullah Rahman Qul, head of the Carpet Union in Afghanistan, as saying.

"The m

Afghanistan launches construction on 71-mln-USD ring road section

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 07:15:12 GMT

KABUL, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Construction has begun on a 50-km section of the Qaisar-Laman ring road in western Afghanistan's Badghis province, the Ministry of Public Works said on Saturday.

The project, with an investment of more than 4.6 billion afghanis (over 71 million U.S. dollars), was launched in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. It is expected to be com

5.3-magnitude earthquake strikes northeastern Afghanistan

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 03:45:15 GMT

KABUL, April 18 (Xinhua) -- A 5.3-magnitude earthquake hit northeastern Afghanistan early on Saturday morning, with strong tremors felt in the capital, Kabul.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey's earthquake information network, the quake occurred at around 7:24 a.m. local time. The epicenter was located in northeastern Afghanistan at 36.62 degrees north latitude and 70.79 degrees east longitude, with a foca

New gas field project to further boost China-Turkmenistan energy cooperation: Chinese vice premier

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 22:45:11 GMT

MARY, Turkmenistan, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's special representative Ding Xuexiang said here Friday that the smooth commencement of the fourth phase of the Galkynysh gas field will further elevate energy cooperation between China and Turkmenistan to a new level.

Ding, also Chinese vice premier and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China

Chinese vice premier says Luban Workshop in Turkmenistan enhances friendly cooperation

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 22:15:11 GMT

ASHGABAT, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang said here Thursday that the Luban Workshop in Turkmenistan has turned from a blueprint into reality, injecting new momentum into the friendly cooperation between China and Turkmenistan.

Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while attending the unvei

Fourth Circuit backs anonymity in Afghan refugee adoption case

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:42:53 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (CN) - The Fourth Circuit upheld a protective order Wednesday shielding the identity of an Afghan family involved in a custody dispute with a