Dangerous Faith in Four Leading Wheels: How All-Wheel Drive Creates a False Sense of Security on Winter Roads

The Misconception of All-Wheel Drive Power Many drivers, when purchasing all-wheel drive vehicles, are convinced that this gives them additional capabilities. For example, if the car easily starts on an icy slope, it is perceived as a sign of the vehicle's high abilities. However, this is a misconception, as all-wheel drive really only helps during starting and acceleration. When it comes to braking, nothing actually changes. Cars, regardless of the type of drive, brake with the same

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned about fraudsters acting on behalf of the Consular Department

Recently, there have been cases of fraud in the Kyrgyz Republic involving honorary consuls of foreign states. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that unknown individuals are impersonating the director of the Consular Department, S. Jumakadyrov uulu, sending messages or making calls requesting urgent contact with some "coordinator from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs" to discuss issues related to their work. As emphasized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, such communications

The deputies raised the issue of increasing the amount of the social contract

At the meeting of the Jogorku Kenesh, Deputy Toktobubu Ashymbaeva raised the issue of the need to increase the amount of the social contract. In her opinion, the current size of the contract is insufficient, and she proposed to send a corresponding proposal to other government bodies, including the cabinet of ministers. Deputy Minister of Finance Nurbek Akzholov confirmed that this issue will be considered further.

Official training of the Kyrgyzstan national team before the match with Indonesia. Photos

Today, January 29, the Kyrgyzstan national futsal team is preparing for their second match in the Asian Cup, which is taking place in Indonesia. This time our athletes will face the Indonesian team, and the game will start at 18:00 Bishkek time.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic urges Kyrgyz citizens to be cautious in the USA due to street demonstrations

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic once again draws attention to the need for caution for citizens in the USA amid ongoing street protests in various cities across the country. In a press release, the agency emphasizes that to prevent possible negative consequences, it is strongly recommended to avoid participating in mass events, protests, and demonstrations. Additionally, citizens should always carry identification documents and check the validity of their immigration

Uch-Kurgan Hydroelectric Power Station: In 2026, the station's capacity will increase by 18 MW due to reconstruction

- The project for the modernization of the Uch-Kurgan Hydroelectric Power Station continues to be implemented. This information was provided by the press service of JSC "Electric Stations". According to the company's data, the work under the second package is being carried out by the general contractor — the Chinese company CNEEC (China National Electric Engineering Co. Ltd.).

In the city of Osh, the land under the building with commercial establishments, where the "Kekejev" cafe and the "Ernis Costumes" store are located, is set to be returned to the state.

The mayor of the city of Osh, Jenishbek Toktorbaev, along with representatives of relevant services, visited the "Zhetigen" school. During the visit, he expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of food for students in the cafeteria, instructing measures to be taken to improve the situation. Additionally, he ordered a check on the legality of the construction of a commercial facility on the premises of the educational institution.

Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan Disagree on School Curriculum

The issue of reforming the school curriculum has become a subject of disagreement between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. In Kazakhstan, a decision was made to maintain the traditional model of education, where students continue to study algebra, geometry, physics, chemistry, and biology as separate subjects. Zhuldyz Suleimenova, the Minister of Education of Kazakhstan, announced the suspension of the integration of these disciplines after consultations with educators and an analysis of potential

The deputy was outraged by the demand for certificates of the origin of money in exchange offices.

At a meeting of the Jogorku Kenesh, Deputy Gulya Kozhokulova expressed dissatisfaction with the requirements of exchange offices. According to her, when exchanging amounts over 100,000 soms, it is necessary to provide certificates of the origin of funds. The deputy pointed out that these measures were introduced by the National Bank.

Traffic is open in the passes of Kyrgyzstan, there are no restrictions

As of January 29, 2026, all passes in Kyrgyzstan are open for vehicle traffic, and there are no restrictions for transport. According to the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Kyrgyz Republic, specialists from road maintenance enterprises are working around the clock. They are engaged in snow removal from the roads and spreading anti-icing materials.

Dawn on Winter Fishing

Oleg Zayichenko, a professional photographer from the village of Sokuluk, shared impressive photos of winter nature taken during fishing. “Winter nature during fishing always amazes me. Imagine a morning when a frosty silence reigns around, and a red disk of the sun appears in the sky, magnified by the cold air. The sunrise transforms the frozen world into a fantastic landscape, where light and shadow create alien pictures. On clear days, the ice and snow crystals sparkle in the sun like

In Osh, they will widen Osh Street and check the legality of the construction of the "Zhetigen" facility.

On January 28, the mayor of the city of Osh, Jenishbek Toktorbaev, conducted a morning raid on Osh Street accompanied by the heads of relevant services. This street falls under the territorial management of Manas-Ata. During the raid, plans were announced to expand the street to four lanes. Work will be carried out on the section from Raimbekov Street to Kasymbekov Street. This expansion will create a new alternative route to the international airport of Osh. In this regard, actions have begun

Life in the Regions: Issyk-Kul Resident Kamchybek Chotoev Built an Airplane at 70, Fulfilling a Childhood Dream

Kamchybek Chotoev, a 70-year-old resident of the village of Kadji-Sai in the Ton district of the Issyk-Kul region, has fulfilled his long-standing dream — he has built his own airplane by acquiring the necessary parts. He was born on September 2, 1956, and studied at the "Communism" school in the village of Törtkül.

In Kyrgyzstan, seven fires were registered in five regions within a day

In the past 24 hours in Kyrgyzstan, specifically in the Chui, Osh, Jalal-Abad, Issyk-Kul, and Talas regions, seven cases of fires have been registered. According to information from the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic, 11 fire departments were involved in extinguishing these fires.

The price of gold has exceeded $5,500 per troy ounce

On the commodity exchange, gold reached a new record, exceeding the mark of $5,500 per troy ounce. This data was obtained during trading sessions. As of Wednesday evening, the price of gold on the New York Comex exchange was $5,584.3 per troy ounce.

Bishkek City Hall: Violations of Child Safety Requirements Identified at the Private School "Creative Taalim"

A working group, which included Bishkek Deputy Mayor Victoria Mozgacheva, conducted an on-site inspection of the private school "Creative Taalim" following complaints from city residents. During the inspection, it was found that there are serious violations of safety standards on the school premises. In particular, there is free access to the boiler room, which is a high-risk facility, and an open excavation was discovered. Additionally, cases of unsanitary conditions were recorded

In Kyrgyzstan, developers of new generation textbooks for three subjects have been selected

The Ministry of Education of Kyrgyzstan has organized a competition to select authors and developers of new generation textbooks as part of the transition to a 12-year education system. As clarified by the ministry's press service, the competition was held in two stages and covered three subjects: "Kyrgyz Language" (for grades 1–12), "Geography," and "History" (for grades 7–12).

The capacity of the Uch-Kurgan Hydroelectric Power Station will increase by 36 MW by the end of 2026.

In 2026, it is planned to modernize two hydro units — No. 1 and No. 2 at the Uch-Kurgan HPP. According to the Ministry of Energy, this project is being implemented as part of Package-2, with the general contractor being the Chinese company CNEEC (China National Electric Engineering Co. Ltd.). The parallel reconstruction of the units will significantly reduce the time required for modernization and increase the overall efficiency of the project. Currently, preparatory and engineering works for

Children of Migrants and Social Issues: The Prosecutor of the At-Bashinsky District Named the Causes of Juvenile Delinquency

In the territory of the At-Bashinsky district of the Naryn region, 6 crimes were committed by minors in 2025. The prosecutor, Aibek Shermatov, spoke about the situation regarding crime involving minors. According to the prosecutor, building a strong and developed state requires the protection and full development of the younger generation—the future of the country—in physical, intellectual, moral, and spiritual terms. In other words, protecting children's rights is one of the most

Sadyr Japarov Introduced a Moratorium on Tax Inspections for Businesses Until the End of 2026

President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov signed a decree on January 28, which introduces a temporary moratorium on tax audits for entrepreneurs. The main goal of this decree is to support and stimulate business activities, ensure stable economic growth, improve the investment climate, and protect the rights and legitimate interests of entrepreneurs. The decree aims to prevent unnecessary interference by government bodies in entrepreneurial activities.

In 2026, KFB will launch projects in the field of precious metals and activate the currency market.

The Kyrgyz Stock Exchange (KFB) has announced the modernization of its IT infrastructure with the support of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and the implementation of Quik software. This was reported by the exchange's press service. Talant Omuraliev, Chairman of the Board of Directors of KFB, noted that the main goal of the exchange for 2026 is significant technological renewal. “Our task is to create a modern ecosystem in which exchange instruments will be available to every citizen

The Ministry of Health intends to strengthen support for doctors and bring specialists back from abroad

At a recent meeting of the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, Minister Kanbek Dosmambetov shared the current issues facing healthcare. Among them, he highlighted the deterioration of infrastructure, the high burden on management processes, and staff turnover. Despite these challenges, Dosmambetov noted that the sector has significant potential in terms of professional personnel. In his speech, the minister emphasized the strategic vision for the development of the healthcare system,

A Tourism School is Planned to be Established at Issyk-Kul with the Support of Austria

The issue of creating a tourism school in the Issyk-Kul region became a key topic during an online meeting held on January 27, 2026, between the Minister of Education of the Kyrgyz Republic, Dogdurkul Kendirbaeva, and the Austrian delegation. The Ministry of Education of the Kyrgyz Republic reported that the main goal of this event was to discuss areas of cooperation in vocational, technical, and tourism education, as well as technology transfer in accordance with the previously signed Joint

In 2026, a parallel reconstruction of two hydroelectric units is planned at the Uch-Kurgan Hydroelectric Power Station.

Work is underway on the modernization project of the Uch-Kurgan HPP, as reported by the Ministry of Energy of Kyrgyzstan. The contractor CNEEC is actively engaged in completing tasks within the framework of the second package. In 2026, it is planned to simultaneously carry out the reconstruction of hydro units No. 1 and No. 2 at the Uch-Kurgan HPP, which will allow for a reduction in the modernization timeline and increase the efficiency of project execution.

In France, gender and sexual violence manifests as early as elementary school

The Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic has set priorities for 2026. Focus on oncology and reducing mortality.

During a recent meeting of the Board of the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, priority areas for work in 2026 were established. Health Minister Kanybek Dosmambetov noted that among the main tasks is the modernization of the healthcare system. This includes updating medical infrastructure, ensuring the population has access to quality and affordable medicines, modern medical products and equipment, as well as developing human resources in this field.

Fire destroyed a house in the village of Aral, Chuy region

In the Chuy region, in the village of Aral on Shosseynaya Street, an incident occurred that resulted in the complete destruction of a residential house by fire. This information was provided by the press service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES).

Life in the Regions: Lawyer from Talas, Aizat Syrgak kyzy, Becomes a Chess Coach and Takes Children to Championships

Aizat Syrgak kyzy, originally from the village of Aral in the Talas region, currently resides in the city of Talas and holds the position of Executive Director of the Chess Federation of the Talas region. In an interview with a Turmush correspondent, she noted that she graduated with honors from the Kyrgyz State Law Academy, obtaining both a bachelor's and a master's degree. By profession a lawyer, she worked in this field; however, in recent years, her activities have become related

The Minister of Labor is checking the implementation of the new benefits for residents of high-altitude areas.

During his trip, the minister visited the Kochkor district, where he familiarized himself with the work of the local administration. He held a meeting with employees responsible for the allocation of monthly benefits to residents of high-altitude settlements. Sagynbaev also examined the issues faced by citizens when applying for and processing payments. At the meeting, information was presented about the implementation of a new benefit. In particular, it is planned that 930 citizens will be

Tajikistan denies reports of the death of 16 Afghans at a coal mine

Restrictions on the Import of Animals from India Introduced in Kyrgyzstan

The import ban applies to animals susceptible to the Nipah virus. The veterinary service urges citizens to avoid purchasing animal products of questionable origin and to pay attention to the presence of necessary veterinary accompanying documents. The Nipah virus is a dangerous zoonotic disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans. The situation regarding this issue is under constant monitoring by the relevant authorities.

National Bank: The total amount of money in circulation as of January 1, 2026, amounted to 300.8 billion soms

In the IV quarter of 2025, the commercial banks of the country received 1,680,175.6 million soms in their cash registers, which is 264,920.6 million soms, or 18.7 percent, more compared to the IV quarter of 2024. The dynamics of cash inflows to banks is presented in Chart 1:

In Kyrgyzstan, 48 cases of maternal mortality were registered in 2025

In Kyrgyzstan, there has been an increase in cases of maternal mortality in 2025, as reported by Health Minister Kanaybek Dosmambetov at a ministry board meeting. During this period, 48 cases were registered, corresponding to a rate of 34.8 per 100,000 live births. This figure is 35.4% higher than last year, when 36 cases were recorded (25.7 per 100,000). The minister noted that maternal and child mortality rates are important markers of the state of healthcare and must remain a focus, as they

The volume of cash in circulation in Kyrgyzstan increased by 24.4%

According to the report from the National Bank, at the end of the IV quarter of 2025, there was a noticeable increase in cash in circulation in Kyrgyzstan, as well as an increase in the volumes of cash inflows and withdrawals in commercial banks. As of January 1, 2026, the total amount of cash reached 300 billion 778.3 million soms. Of this amount, 36 billion 166.7 million soms were held in bank cash registers, while 264 billion 611.6 million soms were outside the banking system. This means

The Cabinet continues to transform land in Uzun-Kyr into an industrial-logistics center

- The Cabinet of Ministers is actively engaged in the transformation of land plots in the Uzun-Kyr district, located in the Issyk-Ata region, for the creation of a trade and logistics center. According to the resolution issued on January 19, 2026, a plot of 5 hectares, previously used as irrigated arable land, has been reclassified from agricultural land to land designated for industry, transport, and communications, as well as other needs.

Kyrgyzstan and Austria Discussed the Issue of Opening a Tourism School at Issyk-Kul

According to information provided by the press service of the Ministry of Education, Kyrgyzstan and Austria held discussions regarding the establishment of a tourism school at Issyk-Kul.

Infant mortality in Kyrgyzstan decreased by 4.2%

In 2025, Kyrgyzstan reported a decrease in infant mortality, as announced by Health Minister Kanbek Dosmambetov at a meeting of his department's board. According to the minister, the infant mortality rate was 13.5 per 1,000 live births, which represents a 4.2% decrease compared to the previous year.

Exchange rates for January 29

As of January 29, 2026, the National Bank has summarized the official exchange rates of foreign currencies against the som. Comparison with the previous day shows the following data:

Import of animals from India to Kyrgyzstan temporarily restricted due to Nipah virus

As of January 28, 2025, temporary measures regarding the import of animals and animal products from India have been implemented in Kyrgyzstan. This decision was made by the Veterinary Service for Animal Husbandry, Pastures, and Feed in response to reported cases of the Nipah virus, as stated by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Kyrgyz Republic. The measures taken aim to protect the veterinary and sanitary safety of the country.

Visibility in Bishkek and the Chui Valley may drop to 500 meters

According to data provided by the Hydrometeorological Service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, fog is expected in Bishkek and the Chui Valley over the next three hours. Due to deteriorating weather conditions, visibility on the roads may decrease to 500 meters.

Rosa Rasulbek kyzy became the best player of the tournament in the Maldives. Photo

The athlete from Kyrgyzstan, Roza Rasulbek kyzy, was named the best player of the international volleyball tournament held in the Maldives. According to the Volleyball Federation of the Kyrgyz Republic via Sport AKIpress, the Beefaan 2026 tournament took place from January 15 to 23 and gathered six teams, including legionnaires from India, Sri Lanka, and Kyrgyzstan.

A moratorium on tax audits for businesses has been introduced in Kyrgyzstan until the end of 2026.

On January 28, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Japarov, signed a decree that establishes a temporary moratorium on tax control for business entities. This measure is aimed at supporting businesses and stimulating their development, improving the investment climate, protecting the rights of entrepreneurs, as well as preventing excessive interference from government bodies in their operations.

Kyrgyzstan and China to Conduct Joint Research on the History of the Kyrgyz People

On January 28, during a meeting with Gao Xiang, the president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Secretary of State of the Kyrgyz Republic, Arslan Koichiev, discussed issues related to scientific cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and China, as well as the interaction of analytical centers from both countries. Koichiev noted that Gao Xiang is a recognized expert in the history of China, particularly during the Qing dynasty, and his views on contemporary international relations generate

The Mayor of Osh Criticized the Quality of Food at "Zhetigen" School

During a morning raid, the mayor of Osh, Jenishbek Toktorbaev, visited the "Zhetigen" school to assess the conditions created for students. City press service specialists reported that during the inspection, he expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of food in the school cafeteria. Toktorbaev noted that the food prepared for the children was not up to standard and demanded that responsible parties take measures to rectify the situation. Additionally, the mayor instructed the

Folk Legends: The Mountain in the Chui Region Where Genghis Khan's Treasures May Be Hidden

Mount Batyy, located in the Issyk-Ata district of the Chui region, is known among locals by another name — Botvey. With a height of 3,800 meters, this natural landmark is situated in a hard-to-reach rocky area, dividing the mountains of the Issyk-Ata district into two zones: Batyy and Ayak-Kol.

Asian Cup: Match Review Kyrgyzstan - Iran. Video

In the first round of the group stage, which took place on January 27, Kyrgyz futsal players faced the team from Iraq. As a result, the game ended with a score of 4:2 in favor of the Iraqi national team.

WHO warns of possible further spread of the Nipah virus

The Nipah virus is a deadly disease for which there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment. Recently, a local outbreak of the disease was recorded in West Bengal: five cases have been confirmed, including a doctor, a nurse, and a healthcare worker. As a result, about 100 people who were in contact with the infected individuals have been placed under quarantine.

The fastest economic growth rates in Central Asia: a Kazakh expert listed the changes in Kyrgyzstan

In an interview with the Kabar agency, Aydar Amrebaev, director of the Center for Comparative Political Studies of Kazakhstan, highlighted the changes that have occurred in Kyrgyzstan since the inauguration of President Sadyr Japarov. The expert noted that under Japarov's leadership, the country has experienced economic growth of 11.1% — one of the highest rates in Central Asia. “The nationalization of the Kumtor deposit has been a significant step. Previously, the proceeds from its