• KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00201 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.66%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00201 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.66%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00201 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.66%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00201 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.66%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00201 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.66%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00201 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.66%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00201 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.66%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00201 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.66%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
16 February 2025

Viewing results 133 - 138 of 418

Kazakhstan Reinstates Kulans in Wild Natural Habitats

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources has announced the successful reintroduction of  kulans — Asiatic wild asses — to the country’s Ile-Balkhash and Altyn Dala nature reserves. As a result of overhunting and competition for grazing with other livestock, wild kulans became extinct in Kazakhstan in the 1930s. To restore the species' population, long-term projects were implemented. Between 1953 and 1961, 14 kulans were transported from Turkmenistan to Barsakelmes Island in Kazakhstan and in 1982, when their number reached 200, the animals were transferred to the mainland Altyn-Emel National Park. Today, the country boasts two large herds of kulans in the Barsakelmes Reserve and the Altyn-Emel National Park, with that in the latter, numbering 3,965, representing the largest in Kazakhstan. The steady growth of the kulan population has also made it possible to resettle the animals in other historical habitats. On September 28-30, 43 kulans were transported from the Altyn-Emel National Park to the Ile-Balkhash Reserve in southern Kazakhstan and a further 24 kulans were released into temporary enclosures on the Altyn Dala Reserve in the central Kostanay region. In a move to reintegrate other indigenous species in the region, Kazakhstan has also reintroduced Przewalski's horses and Turan tigers to their historical habitats this year.

Scientists Attempt to Unlock the Secrets of Turkic Runes in Altai

Russian scientists have started deciphering unique Turkic runic inscriptions in Altai, dating back to the VI-X centuries AD. Speaking at the International Conference “Mountain Altai - the ancestral home of the Turks,” Alexander Vasiliev, head of the Oriental History Department of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, reported that whilst some 120 such texts have been identified, a significant number has yet to be deciphered due to a lack of "keys". According to Vasilyev, problems in evaluating inscriptions arise as a result of the different graphic systems used by Turkic peoples in various historical periods. Hence, researchers face a difficult task in making these texts accessible and determining the exact nature of the archaeological objects found. Historians also note that with the emergence of Mongolian vertical writing, the influence of the Turkic writing system began to weaken. Previous attempts to decipher these texts using Iranian and Finno-Ugric languages, proved unsuccessful. Assuming that the key to understanding the inscriptions lies in one of the ancient Turkic languages, scientists are now focusing on the Chuvash language, which retains ancient features, or the Kypchak language group. The decipherment of Turkic runic inscriptions began with the discovery of the famous Orkhon-Yenisei texts in Mongolia in the 19th century. In 1893, Danish scholar Wilhelm Thomsen was the first to successfully decipher these ancient texts using analogies to ancient Turkic words such as “tengri” (sky). These inscriptions, dating from the 7th to 10th centuries, recount the lives of the Turkic kagans and their victories. In addition to the Orkhon texts, significant inscriptions have been found in the Yenisei Valley and the Altai Mountains. An international conference in Manzherok, in the Altai Republic, brought together scholars to discuss not only the problems of deciphering the Turkic script but also the formation of the Turkic civilization and the history of cultural interaction between the Turks and other peoples, including Slavic cultures.

Turkey Replaces “Central Asia” with “Turkestan” in New History Curriculum

Turkey’s Ministry of National Education has unveiled significant changes to its history curriculum, replacing the phrase “Central Asia” with “Turkestan.” Experts say this shift reinforces national identity and instills stronger patriotism in future generations. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed the importance of the unity of the Turkic world: “We will work shoulder to shoulder to make the coming period the era of the Turks by extending our vision of the ‘Turkish Century’ to the Organization of Turkic States.” Professor Ahmet Taşagıl explained the historical meaning of the term Turkestan to TRT Haber. “The word Turkestan, meaning ‘homeland of the Turks’, has been used since the earliest periods of history. In the second half of the 19th century, due to the Russian invasion, the concept of Central Asia was introduced and spread instead of the name Turkestan,” he mentions. Associate Professor Ramin Sadık commented on the decision of the Ministry of Education for TRT Haber. “Our appeal to the concept of Turkestan and its inclusion in textbooks by the Ministry of National Education is a very correct decision. Both Turkey and Turkestan mean a region where the Turks predominantly live,” Sadık said. The expert notes that during efforts to create a shared history, geography, literature, maps, and alphabet for the Turkic world, the Ministry of National Education’s decision to use “Turkestan” in textbooks, even for children, is a significant step. He believes this change is a crucial start and a valuable contribution to Turkey, the entire Turkic world, and its partner countries. Experts say the change is part of a broader strategy to strengthen ties in the Turkic world, including creating a shared history, literature, maps, and alphabet.

Uzbekistan Aims to Attract 15 Million Foreign Tourists by 2030

In an article, “Uzbekistan Attracts More and More Foreign Tourists to the Country”, published on the popular online portal Tiger’s Media in Poland, Dunyo reports that Uzbekistan plans to increase the number of foreign tourists to 15 million by 2030. As stated by Tiger's Media, “this number is twice as much as the 6.6 million tourists who came to the country in 2023. In 2023, tourism brought about $2.1 billion to the economy and created about 70 thousand new jobs." The portal adds that “to attract the attention of young travelers, Uzbekistan is also attracting bloggers and social network activists with more than 10 million subscribers,” Uzbekistan is located on an important part of the ancient Silk Road. Cities of the republic, such as Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, important trade centers in ancient times, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, known for their architecture, including madrasahs, mosques, and bazaars. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that tourism revenue made up 2.35% of Uzbekistan’s GDP last year. Other countries in Central Asia are likewise looking to boost their tourism industry. In June, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke bluntly about infrastructure weaknesses that must be fixed. Kyrgyzstan, meanwhile, is focusing on its rugged, mountainous landscape, citing riding and hiking and “hunting with eagles” among its main attractions.

Uzbek Teachers Highlight Rising Interest in English and Other Foreign Languages

Interest in learning foreign languages in Uzbekistan is growing year by year, with English proving by far, the most popular. The English language is taught in Uzbekistan's schools from the 1st to the 11th grade. More advanced classes are offered by colleges or universities and in an ever- increasing number of  educational centers specializing in teaching English. Regarding young people's interest in the language,  Abbas Khan Mekhmonaliev, a teacher at the “English Team” language learning center, told The Times of Central Asia: “There is much to admire when it comes to the new generation in Uzbekistan, especially their passion for learning English. In the past, many young people studied English primarily to meet university entrance requirements. However, times have changed. Today, young people are thinking more broadly: learning English is no longer just a stepping stone to an education that opens the door to a future career. Young Uzbeks dream of going abroad to visit and succeed, and English is key to opening up global opportunities. This focus is about more than just language proficiency; it is about a distant future in which their lives will be more prosperous, fulfilling, and globally connected." According to Mekhmonaliev, English dominates other languages, especially amongst ambitious young people who see their peers succeed abroad by mastering English. In addition, they see it as an essential step towards promoting and achieving international recognition for Uzbekistan. “Several factors are responsible for the growing interest in learning English among the youth of Uzbekistan," explained Mekhmonaliev."First, English is the key to good career opportunities at home and abroad, as many employers require English. Second, access to global information, culture, and education, mostly in English, encourages young people to learn languages. Finally, studying or working abroad has become more attractive, and English is an important tool for achieving these ambitions and broadening their horizons.” Reiterating this stance, Rano Jurakulova, with over ten years of teaching English, commented, “Due to international education opportunities, better job prospects, and the influence of globalization, more and more young people are eager to learn English.” According to UNESCO data, Uzbekistan ranked fifth globally in terms of the number of students studying abroad in 2021. In recent years, the number of people wishing to study and work in Turkey has risen significantly and as of September 2024, over 55 thousand citizens of Uzbekistan received a residence permit for the country. As a result, the demand for studying the Turkish language has also increased.  Turkish language teacher, Mohinur Qurbonmuradova, connects the increase in the number of language learners with the requirement of a language certificate for enrolment in master’s and doctoral studies : “90% of students study the Turkish language for this purpose. It is easy and a language close to Uzbek. Learning English takes a little longer." However, aside from attaining the certificate, she adds that very few are interested in learning Turkish. For many, English is no longer just an academic requirement but a powerful tool that opens doors to global educational opportunities, employment,...

Laughter Amidst Ruins: Rediscovering Tajikistan’s Resilience Through Comedy and Cultural Exchange

The UN General Assembly's Human Rights Council recently condemned the government of Tajikistan for its failure to implement the recommendations of a 2019 study by UN representatives. The study focused on the unreconciled atrocities and societal wounds caused by the civil war that swept through the republic after the collapse of the Soviet Union. More than 60,000 people died in this war, and more than 250,000 fled the republic. Reading this news, I was reminded of and reflected on post-war Tajikistan, which I visited in the late summer of 2000. At that time, the country had been in a state of fragile peace for two years, and you could still feel the tension in the air. Since my visit to the country in 2000, the Tajik Civil War has been reflected on by many people in the arts. In the same year that UN researchers were raking up the old tragedy, the film Kazbat was released in Kazakhstan. This movie is a military drama about the real deaths of 17 soldiers of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan (now the National Guard), who fell into an ambush in Tajikistan on April 7, 1995. A little earlier, in 2017, Russian writer Vladimir Medvedev released the novel Zakhok, which talks about the horrors of that six-year war through the struggles of a single family, where the mother is Russian, and the children are half Tajik. My visit to this war-torn country was for a reason most wouldn’t have expected - a comedy festival. The group that I traveled with consisted of my teammates, Almaty residents, as well as people from other Kazakh, Uzbek, and Kyrgyz cities. Despite coming from all over Central Asia, we ended up in Tajikistan for the first international СVN festival (СVN - Club of the Funny and Inventive) in Central Asia. СVN is an improv and sketch comedy competition involving students that originated in Soviet times, the point of which is to satirize the surrounding reality through theatrical skits and question-based improv. Due to its satirical nature, СVN was banned for two decades during the Soviet-era. It was later revived during Perestroika, and, in the shortest possible time, became a phenomenon in all universities in Russia and across almost all of post-Soviet space. In Kazakhstan, СVN was developed immediately after the collapse of the USSR. Alma-Ata, which was the capital city back then, organized its own league, which included teams from the leading national universities of that time - Kazakh State University, Narkhoz, Almaty Institute of Transport Engineers, and Almaty State Medical Institute. I belong to the second generation of СVN players. Our task was to popularize this game throughout the republic and attract not only universities but also colleges and schools. Later, the new СVN league went beyond Kazakhstan, starting with friendly meetings with universities from Bishkek, Tashkent, and other Central Asian cities. Then, the International League of СVN, which was created and headed by Alexander Maslyakov, who passed...