Turkmenistan and the United States have intensified bilateral cooperation following high-level diplomatic meetings in Ashgabat focused on education, business, digitalisation and economic partnership. Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashit Meredov and US Deputy Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers...
Residents of Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province have staged large-scale protests against the Taliban’s decision to suspend mining activities, demanding the immediate reopening of gold-washing and small-scale mining operations. Demonstrators say the restrictions have cut off a vital source of income...
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s June 2026 visit to North Korea highlighted a major shift in Beijing’s approach to the Korean Peninsula. Unlike his 2019 trip, Chinese statements made no reference to denuclearisation, underscoring how changing regional dynamics have pushed...
Afghan Taliban forces opened fire on demonstrators in the western city of Herat on 9 June during protests against the reported detention of women and girls for alleged violations of hijab rules. Local media reported casualties, while Taliban officials...
Mali's junta leader Assimi Goita and Benin's newly elected President Romuald Wadagni have agreed to revive bilateral relations and relaunch the Mali-Benin joint commission, marking a significant step toward deeper cooperation after years of limited engagement. The agreement was...
Uzbekistan and the United States are seeking to deepen trade and investment cooperation, with talks focused on converting growing American business interest into concrete projects, jobs and economic opportunities. The discussions took place during a meeting between Saida Mirziyoyeva,...
Russia’s security services detained up to eight Muslim clerics and community representatives in May 2026, including former regional muftis and leaders linked to the Spiritual Board of Muslims (DUM), the Kremlin-backed body representing Muslims in Russia. The arrests, carried...
Syrian authorities have arrested 235 people allegedly linked to the Islamic State (IS) group during operations conducted over the past three months, according to the Interior Ministry. Officials said the suspects belonged to seven cells operating across several provinces,...
Afghan media executive Saad Mohseni has come under fire after saying that life in Kabul appears “very normal” under Taliban rule, prompting accusations that he was downplaying restrictions on women and helping legitimise the regime. The remarks were made...
Iranian authorities have intensified legal action against individuals accused of collaborating with the United States and Israel or maintaining ties with foreign-based media. On 9 June, judicial officials announced new prosecutions, additional property seizures, and the discovery of equipment...