China has simplified the entry rules for citizens of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov went on vacation, Ashgabat started a month dedicated to World No Tobacco Day in Turkmenistan and other news

Turkmenistan

1. The President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov assigned the duties of Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan to Deputy Foreign Minister Vepa Hajiyev for the period of Rashid Meredov's labor leave.

2. Passengers arriving from Turkmenistan to China were permitted to take an antigen test instead of the mandatory PCR test for COVID-19. The corresponding announcement was posted by the Chinese Embassy in Turkmenistan on the official website. In accordance with regulations, the passenger must be tested 48 hours before boarding the aircraft.

3. Preparations are underway in Ashgabat for the Conference and Exhibition “International transport and transit corridors: interconnection and development”, which will be held in the Turkmen capital on May 3-4. According to the organizers of ITCC-2023, more than 700 delegates have already registered to participate in the events. Of these, 600 will participate in person and over 100 online.

4. Events dedicated to World No Tobacco Day have started in Turkmenistan. Throughout the month, educational and preventive actions, conferences and meetings, creative competitions and sports competitions will be held. On the first day of May, an action organized by the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan in partnership with the WHO Country Office was held in “Ashgabat” park. During the campaign, volunteers held a quiz, the winners of which were waiting for gifts from the organizers.

World

5. Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma has become a visiting professor at the University of Tokyo. Jack Ma lectures at the university on management and business start-ups, and he will also advise students on their research topics. During the pandemic, the businessman lived in Tokyo, where he was invited to lecture on a contract basis. Jack Ma's contract this year ends in October but will be renewed annually.

6. Released on April 20, the film “The Challenge” by Russian director Klim Shipenko from April 27 to 30 collected 301 million rubles and topped the rental rating in Russia and the CIS countries. For two weeks since the beginning of the rental, “The Challenge” has collected 842,1 million rubles. In second place in the ranking is the tape “Yaga and the Book of Spells”, which collected 57,7 million rubles, in third – “John Wick – 4” with 25.4 million rubles. “The Challenge” was the first ever feature film to be filmed in outer space on the International Space Station.

Sport

7. The solemn opening ceremony of the men's world boxing championship was held in Uzbekistan. Turkmenistan is represented by 10 athletes at the competitions. The tournament will run until May 14. Fights will be held in 13 weight categories. The prize fund of the championship will be 5,2 million dollars. The winners will receive 200 thousand USD each, silver medalists 100 USD, and bronze medalists 50 USD. More than 640 athletes from 104 countries, including seven reigning world champions, take part in the competition.

8. The return match of the preliminary round of the Cup of Turkmenistan on football between “Arkadag” and “Energetik” will be held today at the “Energetik” stadium in Mary. The match will be served by a team of referees headed by Alibek Sapayev from Dashoguz. The first game between these teams ended with the victory of “Arkadag” - 4:0. The winner of the pair “Arkadag” – “Energetik” will play against “Kopetdag” in the quarterfinals.

9. The tandem of juniors from Turkmenistan took second place in the Asian team online chess championship. Amanmuhammet Hommadov and Lala Shohradova, who made up the mixed double team in the under-18 category, scored 15 team points out of 18 possible, losing only to Indonesia, which scored 16 points. Third place on the podium went to the Philippines with 13 points.

10. FIFA President Gianni Infantino will visit Uzbekistan on May 5-6. During the visit, the head of FIFA will get acquainted with the ongoing work to popularize football in Uzbekistan and take part in the discussion of cooperation projects related to the further development of football in the country. Infantino will get acquainted with the football infrastructure of Uzbekistan, inspect the base of national teams created in cooperation with FIFA, and also hold meetings with AFU officials. During the working week, Infantino will also visit Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.