1. President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov held talks with President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping in Beijing. As a result of the talks, a solid package of bilateral documents was signed.
During the talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov said that today work is underway to increase the volume of gas supplies from Turkmenistan to China, taking into account the growing needs of the Chinese economy and the possibilities of the resource base of Turkmenistan. In this regard, the process of substantive discussion of the project for the construction of the fourth line of the gas pipeline is underway.
Among other agreements is the creation of a joint center of traditional medicine in Ashgabat.
2. From January 9, two new intercity bus routes Ashgabat-Serakhs-Ashgabat and Ashgabat-Archman-Ashgabat will be launched in Turkmenistan. The cost of a bus ticket between Ashgabat and Serakhs will be 35 manats, and between Ashgabat and Archman - 15 manats.
3. The deadlines for admission to graduate school, doctoral studies and for applicants in Turkmenistan in 2023 have been published. Applications are accepted from February 1 to 28, 2023. Entrance examinations for postgraduate studies, events for admission to doctoral studies and applicants are held from March 1 to 24, 2023. Enrollment in postgraduate, doctoral studies and applicants is made from April 1, 2023.
4. Abnormally cold weather is expected throughout Turkmenistan. On January 9, cold will come to the north of the country, and on January 10 - to the southern regions. In some areas, the temperature is expected to be 10-16 degrees below the climatic norm. Such cooling will last until the middle of the second decade of January. In the north, frosts up to 15-20 degrees can be expected, and in some places below -20°.
5. The US State Department has granted Türkiye’s official request to change the republic's name in its official documents so that it is written in accordance with Turkish phonetic norms. Instead of the traditional English name Turkey, the US Foreign Office will now use the word Turkiye in all official documents.
6. Women in Saudi Arabia have been given the right to perform the Hajj without being accompanied by a male member of their family. Saudi Deputy Minister for Hajj and Umrah Abdel Fattah Mashat said the country's authorities had decided “not to require the presence of a mahram for women performing the Hajj this year”. Mandatory pilgrimage to the places of Muslim shrines in Mecca and Medina - hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. This year, the Hajj rites will take place at the very end of June.
7. “Real Madrid” are interested in “Borussia” Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham. The Spanish giants are ready to pay more than 120 million euros for the England midfielder. Representatives of the Madrid club are confident that in January the negotiations will move forward significantly.
8. The International Judo Federation on its official website published the next world rating, which also includes athletes from Turkmenistan. The highest position in the ranking among men belongs to Hakberdy Jumayev - 74th in the weight category up to 60 kg. In the women's ranking, Zulhumar Dashkinova has the best position - 74th place in the weight category up to 63 kg. Turkmenistan ranks 66th in the ranking of national teams. In total, 172 countries are represented in the world judo ranking. Top three: Japan, Russia and France.
