Turkmenistan

1. President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov sent a telegram of congratulations to the head of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov on the occasion of his birthday. In his message, the head of the Turkmen state noted the achievements of Kyrgyzstan in the political, economic and social spheres under the leadership of President Sadyr Japarov. He also emphasized the dynamic development of relations between the two countries and thanked his Kyrgyz colleague for his contribution to strengthening the interstate dialogue.

2. Ahal-Teke horse breeding art and traditions of horse decoration were included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Ahal-Teke horses have long been known for their outstanding qualities. A whole layer of traditions has developed around them - from naming rituals to equestrian competitions and wedding ceremonies. Knowledge and skills of horse breeding are passed on from generation to generation in Turkmenistan and are part of the historical and cultural heritage of the country.

3. An exhibition of export goods of the Republic of Türkiye opened today at the Expo Center of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan. Participants in the opening ceremony heard a greeting sent by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. The current exhibition, designed to demonstrate the promising capabilities of Turkish commodity producers, will become an effective platform for the exchange of best practices and developments in the field of new generation technologies.

4. The decline in the level of the Caspian Sea is a pressing problem that requires an integrated approach, close attention and study. This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov, at a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Caspian states in Moscow. The minister emphasized the need to create a five-party working group to study problems associated with lowering water levels in the Caspian Sea. He noted the importance of developing measures to prevent and mitigate the consequences of shallowing. Turkmenistan expressed its readiness to prepare a draft legal document in this area.

5. The 10th Turkmen-American business forum was held in Ashgabat. It was attended by leaders and representatives of relevant government and business structures of the two countries. During the forum, the importance of such meetings for promoting fruitful trade and economic cooperation and stimulating investment activity was emphasized.

World

6. Beijing once again topped the ranking of science cities in the world. This is the seventh year in a row that the Chinese capital has been ranked first in the Nature Index. According to the latest statistics, Beijing ranks first in the world in the patent fund in the field of artificial intelligence. The Chinese capital also has an average of 218,3 patents for inventions per 10 thousand residents, which permitted it to take first place among the country's cities in this indicator.

7. Dubai authorities have announced plans to build one of the world's largest artificial marine reefs. The Dubai Reef project, which will be developed over an area of 600 sq. km, is designed to increase fish stocks, preserve the environment and improve food security. The construction of an artificial reef in Dubai is an important step in the UAE's strategy to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

Sport

8. According to the results of the 6th round of the group stage of the AFC Champions League in the “West” zone, 8 of the 16 participants in the playoffs became known. Places in the 1/8 finals were booked by 4 clubs from Saudi Arabia “Al-Hilal”, “Al-Nasr”, “Al-Ittihad” and “Al-Feiha”, two from Uzbekistan – “Nasaf” and “Navbahor”, “Al -Ain” from the UAE and Iranian “Sepahan”. Another 8 participants will be known after the completion of the group stage of the AFC Champions League in the “East” zone. The draw for this stage of the tournament will be held on December 28 in Kuala Lumpur. The matches of the 1/8 finals of the AFC Champions League will be held in February-April 2024. The final will be held in a two-match format: May 11 and 18 next year.

9. Argentinean Lionel Messi, a striker for the American football club “Inter Miami”, has been named Athlete of the Year by Time magazine. In the summer of 2023, Messi moved to an American club, and in the autumn, he received the “Ballon d'Or” for a record eighth time. Together with the Argentina national team, the striker won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In August, Messi won the League Cup, which included teams from the Major League Soccer and the Mexican Championship, and became the record holder for the number of titles.