Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan became Aug. 6 the fifth member of a Moscow-backed economic bloc of former Soviet countries, a move firmly linking the Central Asian state to Russia at the risk of disrupting trade with China.

Nuclear-armed rivals Pakistan and India will start the process of joining a security bloc led by China and Russia at a summit in Russia later this week, a senior Chinese diplomat said on July 6, the first time the grouping has expanded since it was set up in 2001. 

Israel and Pakistan have expressed deep condolences on the death of former Turkish President Süleyman Demirel, who received a state funeral on June 19.

Four people were detained in a Kayseri-based police operation early on June 3 over an allegation of fraud in a military school examination, where the detainees allegedly gave candidates copies of the exam.

The operation was initially conducted in Ankara and Kayseri while further operations were expected to be held in other provinces.

A global risk map shows countries in the Balkan region have only a low to medium risk of terrorist attacks.

Launched on Wednesday by Aon Risk Solutions, a leading global risk management groups, in partnership with the Risk Advisory Group, the map provides insight for businesses aiming to reduce their exposure to risk.

"Serbia wants cooperation, but not CSTO membership"

BELGRADE -- Milovan Drecun said on Tuesday that Serbia, a militarily neutral country, advocates cooperation with all alliances, including the CSTO.

BELGRADE - The head of the Serbian parliamentary delegation to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Milovan Drecun, said on Tuesday that Serbia, a militarily neutral country, advocates cooperation with all alliances, including the CSTO.

Uzbekistan on March 29 declared its presidential ballot valid after more than the required third of voters turned out in an election that 77-year-old strongman incumbent President Islam Karimov is almost certain to win.
 

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Northern Fleet, units of the airborne forces and the Western Military District on full combat alert from 08:00 Moscow time on Monday.

This was announced by Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu, who explained that these developments are part of snap checks, TASS news agency reports.

Kazakhstan on Thursday temporarily banned imports of cheap Russian diesel fuel and petrol to avert surplus and keep its own oil refineries running.

According to Deputy Minister for Energy Magzum Mirzagaliyev, the ban will be in force for the next 45 days.