Kyrgyzstan

Reporters Without Borders called on Coalition for Media Freedom to take action against the liquidation of Kloop Media, known for its news website and journalistic investigations, after the Oktyabrsky District Court decided on 9 February to close it down

The National Bank of Kyrgyzstan entered the foreign exchange market for the first time since October 2023 and conducted its first intervention this year

Seven newly sworn Peace Corps Response Volunteers will begin a one-year assignment as ecotourism marketing specialists in Naryn, Issyk-Kul, Jalal-Abad, Osh and Chui, working with partners of the Kyrgyz Community Tourism Association

A new bus station was inaugurated in Bishkek at the intersection of the ring road and Alma-Ata Street to relocate the eastern bus station; it is served by minibuses that transport citizens to the different regions

During the best performing nine months of 2023, the country exported 9,9 tons of gold, or which 8 tons exported to Switzerland

The government has decided to remove the sunflower from the national flag, considered a symbol of servility; demonstrations have been banned in the centre of the capital, but on social media thousands of citizens say they are against the change

Water reservoirs and water basins will be built to address the country's water shortage; the reservoir construction programme will last until 2027

Hundreds of vendors in markets across the country demonstrated to protest the government's plan to introduce a new taxation system as of 1 January, which will increase taxes, demanding that the previous system, based on a fixed annual amount, be retained

Penalties for violating fire safety regulations have been tightened; the number of fires and the amount of property damage have been increasing since 2013, according to data from the Ministry of Emergency Situations

85% of women between 15 and 49 suffer from folic acid deficiency, nutrition expert Tursunai Mamyrbaeva said during the budget hearings in parliament, recalling how much this investment is also needed for the health of the children born to such women

The flag of Kyrgyzstan will not be changed, as some asked, as the procedure would mean spending billions of som; PM Tazabek Ikramov had pointed out earlier this month that the money could be used to build hospitals and kindergartens instead

Free training courses for migrant workers returning from abroad will start in Jalal-Abad in November