A new normative law regarding military service has been approved by government: instead of two years of service, recruits have the choice of an alternative month-long preparatory duty provided they pay a fee of USD 2.200

A group of women in Kulob started a mushroom cultivation business last April; in June they sold their first batch of oyster mushrooms, earning over 10.000 somoni (about €840) and showing it can be quite a profitable business

Controls on the movement of heavy vehicles have been strengthened by the Ministry of Transport; mobile teams visited cement works, coal mines, sand and gravel pits to explain the importance of complying with modified requirements

The country has geared its health strategy towards an approach that brings health care closer to communities, offering a range of services in one place, close to where people live, including dentistry, non-communicable diseases, child and maternal health

The new law on parental responsibility, now entitled 'Responsibility for the upbringing and education of children Act', reflects the fact that responsibility for children now extends to all participants in the educational process