On January 19, Bishkek took the leading position in the global ranking of cities with the most polluted air, according to data from the World Air Quality project. The air quality index (AQI) in the capital reached 396, which falls into the "hazardous" category.
According to the results of last year, China has for the first time in history exceeded the mark of 10 trillion kilowatt-hours in electricity consumption. This information was published on the website of the State Administration for Energy of the People's Republic of China, the agency reports. Photo for illustration According to the agency's clarification, in 2025, the total electricity consumption in the country amounted to 10.4 trillion kilowatt-hours, which is 5% higher than the
In Bishkek, over the past two days, 9 people with injuries caused by icy conditions have sought help at the emergency clinical hospital. This was reported by Deputy Chief Physician Ilim Manapov on the air of "Birinchi Radio" on January 19. Of all the injured, 7 received outpatient treatment, while 2 were hospitalized. Among the injured, 4-5 people were skiing, and two fell on the street.
A meeting was held in Naryn to discuss plans for organizing press tours for journalists and bloggers aimed at developing the tourism sector and increasing the region's tourism potential. On January 19, the governor of the region held discussions with business representatives involved in tourism. Meeting participants considered the possibility of inviting both local and foreign journalists and bloggers to participate in the press tours.
The startup from Kazakhstan, Cybernet AI, has introduced a unique automatic speech recognition (ASR) model specifically designed for Turkic languages, as reported by the Astana Hub portal. This latest development is capable of accurately recognizing several languages, including Kazakh, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Turkish, Tatar, and Azerbaijani, as well as combinations of Turkic-Russian speech. This will significantly improve the quality of voice services for both businesses and government institutions.
Photo IAEA. Changing climate conditions contribute to mosquito breeding The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in collaboration with the Austrian city of Graz has presented the first results of an experiment aimed at sterilizing male mosquitoes. This was reported by the UN News Service. The methodology used may serve as the basis for a new pest control strategy that includes safe mass breeding and radiation sterilization of insects.
In accordance with the instruction of the mayor of Osh, Jenishbek Toktorbaev, the process of demolishing trading pavilions has begun in the Alisher Navoi Park. This information was received from the city municipality. During a morning inspection, the mayor emphasized the need for a complete reconstruction of the park in order to create comfortable conditions for the recreation and leisure of residents.
The Union of Writers of Kyrgyzstan made an official statement in response to recent comments by Syimyk Zhapikeev, the former head of the Financial Police, regarding the work of the outstanding writer Chingiz Aitmatov. This statement was prompted by an interview that appeared on the YouTube channel of journalist Ernist Kyazov. The information was conveyed to the editorial office of VB.KG by representatives of the Union of Writers.
The livestock market in the Sokuluk district has become the subject of an inspection. According to information provided by the district administration, from January 17 to 18, 2026, raids were organized at the municipal livestock market, which is managed by the municipal enterprise "Taza-ayyl" in the Sary-Ozyon rural area.
At a meeting of the Committee of the Jogorku Kenesh, which deals with finance, budget, and entrepreneurship, a bill "On Amendments to the Law on Public Procurement" was approved in three readings. The Minister of Economy and Commerce, Bakyt Sydykov, explained that the purpose of this document is to ensure the effective use of budget funds at both the republican and local levels, as well as to optimize and simplify public procurement procedures.
Deputy Dastan Bekeshev expressed the opinion that there is a need to abandon the judicial pursuit of alimony, calling the existing system ineffective. At a meeting of the Committee of the Jogorku Kenesh on Finance, Budget, Entrepreneurship, and Competition Development on January 19, he proposed conducting a study to find out how many parents fail to meet their alimony obligations, to investigate the reasons for this, and to determine how much time is spent on the alimony collection process.
- A presentation of a new pilot project took place in Bishkek, during which a solar photovoltaic station with a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) was installed on the roof of one of the commercial properties. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Economy. As indicated by the ministry, the implementation of this project was made possible thanks to the support of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce.
On January 17-18, a raid called "Teenager - Night" took place in the city of Manas. This information was announced by the press service of the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Jalal-Abad region. According to law enforcement data, parents of children who were found on the streets at night without adult supervision were fined a total of 40,000 soms.
The Bishkek electric grid enterprise, part of OJSC "NESC," is actively engaged in the implementation of an automated commercial electricity metering system (ACEMS). This was reported in statements from the organization itself. The main task facing the ACEMS is to improve the distribution of electricity, enhance control over consumption, and ensure accurate accounting.
On January 19, during a meeting of the relevant committee of the Jogorku Kenesh, Deputy Umbetaly Kydyraliev expressed the opinion that there is a need to review the amounts of state scholarships for athletes. He noted that the maximum payment is 60,000 soms; however, considering the rise in prices and the level of inflation, this amount is insufficient for athletes who strive for high results on the international stage. Kydyraliev called on the State Agency for Sports, together with the
At a meeting of the relevant committee of the Jogorku Kenesh, Deputy Gulsharakan Kultaeva criticized the practice of involving well-known bloggers in state cultural events. She urged the Ministry of Culture to place more emphasis on professional ethics in this area. “The film industry requires a high level of culture. It is wrong to invite only popular bloggers from social media just because sponsors allocate funds for this. We must put a stop to such phenomena,” she noted.
According to IQAir, on January 19, 2026, at 5:00 PM, the air quality index in Bishkek was 217 AQI. This level is considered very unhealthy.
The Department of Individual Housing Construction and Urban Development, in collaboration with district administrations and other responsible authorities, continues its activities on land amnesty. According to information provided by the press service of the Bishkek City Hall, the commission operating in the Sverdlovsk district has confirmed 154 applications. Of these, 122 materials were submitted to the Main Department of Urban Development and Architecture for the preparation of necessary
The Union of Writers of the Kyrgyz Republic expressed the need for a legal assessment regarding the statements made by Syimyk Zhapikeev. The organization emphasized that the works of Chingiz Aitmatov and his legacy hold an important place in the culture of Kyrgyzstan, and such statements are unacceptable. In the statement from the Union of Writers, it is said: "We, the collective of the Union, express our position regarding the claims about Chingiz Aitmatov. Words that demean the honor and
The Autonomous Non-Profit Organization "Eurasia" proudly announced a new online course titled "Personal Brand. How to Stand Out." This course will provide participants with the opportunity to learn for free and is available to those from various countries. Registration for the course will begin on January 20. The program is designed for those who seek to enhance their professional communication and effectively promote themselves on social media. Participants will learn how
On January 19, Bakyt Torobayev held a meeting with Farid Talyshly, the permanent representative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Kyrgyzstan. This was reported by the press service of the Cabinet. During the discussion, the focus was on cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and the IMF.
Deputy of the Jogorku Kenesh Dastan Bekeshev has proposed the idea of abandoning the existing alimony system, suggesting instead the implementation of a new model of state assistance for children whose parents have divorced. According to Bekeshev, the current mechanism for collecting alimony demonstrates low efficiency and often does not provide children with the necessary financial means for a normal existence.
As a result of the knife attack in Bishkek, a suspect has been detained, as reported by the press service of the Leninsky District Police Department. According to the police, on January 17, 2026, at about 7:05 AM, a signal was received at the Leninsky District Police Department from one of the hospitals regarding the hospitalization of a 29-year-old citizen, A.K., with a stab wound. An operational investigative group was dispatched to the scene. Law enforcement officials found that A.K. sought
On January 18, a railway disaster occurred in the Spanish town of Adamus, resulting in the deaths of at least 39 people and more than 120 injuries. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic. According to preliminary data from Spanish authorities, there are no citizens of Kyrgyzstan among the injured or deceased. The Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in France has not received any requests for assistance from Kyrgyz nationals.