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Education Social

Uzbekistan Ranked Fifth for Number of Students Studying Abroad

According to Statista, based on UNESCO data, Uzbekistan ranked fifth globally in terms of the number of students studying abroad in 2021. Chinese and Indian students top the list. The number of Chinese students studying abroad was one million, and Indian students, 508,000. Vietnam, Germany and Uzbekistan are next on the list, with 137,000 students from Vietnam, 126,000 from Germany, 110,000 from Uzbekistan, 106,000 from France, 103,000 from the U.S., and 99,000 from Syria studying abroad. The U.S. has become the main country receiving foreign students, enrolling 833,000 in 2021, with Britain in second place with 601,000. The figures are part of the World Migration Report 2024. UNESCO has reported that international students numbered 2.2 million in 2001, and this had increased to 6.39 million by 2021.

Transport Tourism Social Railway Domestic Violence Women's rights

A Steep Rise in Popularity of Women-Only Carriages on Kazakhstan’s Trains

Since the beginning of this year, some 70,000 women in Kazakhstan have opted to travel by train in carriages designated as "women's cars". According to data provided by the national carrier "Kazakhstan Temir Zholy" (KTZ), this is a steep rise from the 34,000 who used the same carriages in 2023. Introduced at the beginning of 2021, the service which female travelers deem safer and more comfortable than mainstream carriages, has now been used by over 359,000 women. Outlining the initiative, KTZ explained that tickets for women's cars, available on eight trains, are sold only to women and are staffed exclusively by female conductors. Any males traveling must be seven years' old or under. With reference to forward planning, the company stated, "A social survey is currently being conducted on the project. Once collated, the results should provide a better understanding of the needs and preferences of passengers, and subsequently, help determine a strategy for its future development." The need to launch women-only cars in Kazakhstan was spurred by public outrage following the rape of a female passenger by two conductors on a high-speed train traveling the 'Talgo' route between Astana and Aktobe in the fall of 2018. During the ensuing high-profile case in July 2019, conductors Zhetes Umbetaliyev and Kolkanat Kurmaniyazov were found guilty and sentenced to prison.

Saudi Arabia Social Uzbekistan Central Asia Culture Investments Education

Saudi Al Faris International Proposes to Open Schools in Uzbekistan

According to the Dunyo news agency, Uzbekistan's ambassador to Saudi Arabia Nodirjon Turgunov met with the chairman of the education company Al Faris International, Osama bin Salih, to discuss introducing Al Faris schools to Uzbekistan. Al Faris schools are among the best in Saudi Arabia, and operate to the international IBO standard. Bin Salih commented: “We are ready to establish international schools based on one hundred percent of our own capital or with Uzbek partners. In these schools, education is provided in accordance with international standards, studies are conducted on the basis of strict requirements of foreign and local languages. In addition, preschool educational institutions will be established, where children under the age of six will be given intensive lessons in preparation for primary school."

Culture Social Uzbekistan Central Asia Tourism

Healing Properties of Uzbekistan’s Chashma Spring Draw Curious Tourists

It’s Sunday morning, and a nice breeze is blowing. Due to favorable weather, many people are paying a visit to the Chashma complex in Nurota, in the Navoi region of Uzbekistan. The complex is one of the most visited holy places by Central Asian Muslims, and thousands of tourists from all over the world flock here every year. The Times of Central Asia decided to see how popular the tourist spot is. This historical complex includes the Chilustun Mosque, the Chashma Spring, the Panjab (Beshpanja) Well, the Panjvaqta Mosque, and Sheikh Abul Husan Nuri Mausoleum. The people of Nurota district mainly speak Tajik, in which the word Chashma means "holy spring." In the 9th century, the Chilustun Mosque was built at Chashma; it was rebuilt in the 16th century during the rule of Amir Timur. The mosque, erected near the holy spring, has a dome-shaped sundial with cylindrical windows, which sits in the heart of the mosque. In addition, the art of wood carving and other examples of Central Asian national decoration were skillfully used in the construction of the mosque. Panjvaqta Mosque is located next to Chilustun. This mosque was built between 1570 and 1582 upon orders from Abdullah Khan II, the Emir of Bukhara. Today, the building consists of a large dome with two-sided porticos. All of its columns are made of mulberry and elm wood, and the base is made of marble. The main focus of visitors is the Chashma Spring. Local resident, Zilola Safarova has said that 40,000 years ago, a meteorite fell from the sky in this place and radiated light for a hundred days. As a result of the meteorite, a crater was formed and a holy spring with healing properties appeared. The people of Nurota believe this legend, and many are of the opinion that the name Nurota is related to this event. Chashma's water flows through thousands of kilometers of underground passages at a rate of 290 liters per second, and the temperature of its water remains constant in all seasons of the year at 19.5° Celsius. The spring's highest recorded flow rate was 400 liters per second. Furthermore, Chashma's water is said to have healing properties. It was found that it contains trace amounts of gold, which is said to be a cure for gastrointestinal diseases. It has long been known that iodine in water is a cure for goiters, and rare bromine is known as a cure for nervous disorders. Meanwhile, silver contained in the water ensures that its mineral composition is well preserved. Microbiologists say that this holy water contains 15 useful trace elements which have the ability to calm a person and may have a positive effect on the body. If one pays attention to the entire picture here, there are fish in the Chashma, which are called river marinka. These fish have an average lifespan of 17 years, and clean the streams from which spring water emerges out of sand. That sand ensures a moderate flow...

Energy Economy Social Electricity supply

Tajikistan Abolishes Electricity Rationing

The end of a system of electrical power rationing was announced by Bakhtiyor Rakhmatzoda, deputy head of the Electric Distribution Networks Company in Tajikistan. In early March, after an abnormally warm winter, snow suddenly fell in the country, which almost immediately led to an accident at the Nurek Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP). As a result, the entire country was left without electricity, water and cell phone services for several hours, as reported by the Russian news portal, Sputnik. After the restoration of the power supply, a rationing system to limit energy use was introduced. In most districts, power for lighting was supplied only for two hours in the morning, and two hours in the evening. The authorities explained the rationing by pointing to the high consumption of electricity - which was logical due to the cold weather at the beginning of spring. They also noted that there was not enough water in the Nurek Reservoir. Now, all restrictions have been lifted, according to Rakhmatzoda. "The country's population has access to electricity 24 hours a day, and the limit is no longer in effect," he said. Still, residents of Tajikistan are complaining on social media about power outages not only in the regions, but also in Dushanbe. The blackouts in some districts were due to technical problems or repair work, the deputy head of the Electric Distribution Networks stated.

Water Disputes Legislation Uzbekistan Economy Agriculture Kazakhstan Social

Favorable Water Volumes Forecast for Uzbekistan’s Amu Darya and Syr Darya Rivers

According to the news agency UzA, Uzbekistan's Minister of Water Management Shavkat Hamroyev told a parliamentary hearing that watersheds from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers are forecast as favorable this year. The announcement was made in response to Muqaddas Tirkasheva, a member of the lower house of parliament, who inquired, "water limits are agreed with Central Asian countries every year. Today, when we meet with voters, they often refer to the water shortage. There are concerns about whether the construction of the Qosh Tepa canal will affect the water of Amu Darya. How does this year's forecast volume of water in the Amu Darya, Syr Darya, Zarafshan rivers compare to previous years? What measures are being taken to ensure guaranteed water supply to economic sectors?” Minister Hamroyev continued, "there are agreements among five countries regarding water allocations. Our recent meeting in Shymkent addressed reservoir water levels. Due to this year's precipitation, it's anticipated that water levels in the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers will match last year's levels. Projections suggest 85–90% water in the Syr Darya and 90–95% in the Amu Darya compared to historical averages. Our reservoirs currently hold 1.5 billion cubic meters more water than last year."