The President of Turkmenistan held a working meeting, Turkmenistan and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement on the Hajj in 2025, the Turkmen equestrian group “Galkynysh” will perform at the 47th circus festival in Monaco and other news

Turkmenistan

1. President Serdar Berdimuhamedov held a working meeting with the participation of Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Atahalliyev and velayat hyakims, at which the state of affairs in the agricultural sector and regions of the country, as well as the progress of implementation of the National Rural Program, were reviewed. The head of state noted that the agricultural sector faces such important tasks as supplying the population with high-quality agricultural products, as well as providing the national industry with raw materials.

2. The Office of the Mufti of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed a bilateral Agreement on the performance of Hajj in 2025. The document was signed on the sidelines of the fourth international conference and exhibition “Hajj and Umrah Services”, which are being held in the city of Jeddah.

3. The famous Turkmen equestrian group "Galkynysh" will present a unique show with the participation of graceful Akhal-Teke horses at the 47th International Circus Festival in Monte Carlo, which will be held from January 17 to 26. The International Circus Festival in Monte Carlo is considered one of the most prestigious events in the world of circus art. This year, the organizers promise to break several records, presenting the public with an unprecedented program in which the best artists from all over the world will take part.

4. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, a meeting was held between the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Mahri Bashimova and the Ambassador of the European Union to Turkmenistan Beata Peksa. The parties exchanged views on current issues of interaction between Turkmenistan and the EU in the political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian fields.

5. The Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Kazakhstan Batyr Rejepov and the Ambassador of the Netherlands in Astana Nicolaas Jakob Schermers held a meeting where they discussed the prospects for the development of bilateral cooperation. During the meeting, the Turkmen side invited the Netherlands to take part in events dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s neutrality in 2025. It was also proposed to support Turkmenistan’s initiative to establish a “Group of Friends of Neutrality for Peace and Security” at the UN.

World

7. For three years now, not a single case of attack on banks has been recorded in Denmark. The massive transition to digital payments, according to analysts, has become the main reason for the decrease in the number of bank robberies. The government's 2015 initiative to promote cashless transactions significantly changed the country's financial landscape, making traditional bank branches less attractive targets for criminals. The statistics speak for themselves: if in 2000, 221 bank robberies were registered in the country, then after 2017 the number of such crimes began to decline rapidly, reaching zero in 2022.

Sport

8. Serdar Azmoun, forward of the Iranian national team and the Shabab Al-Ahli football club, congratulated her dad Khalil on Father's Day, which is celebrated in Iran on January 13. Serdar thanked his father for teaching him the right attitude towards life and people, becoming an example for him both in sports and in life.Serdar Azmoun was born in the Iranian city of Gombede Kavus in the Golestan province. The region is located on the border with Turkmenistan, most of the population are ethnic Turkmen, like the athlete’s family.

9. 36-year-old British boxer Tyson Fury announced his retirement after defeats from Ukrainian Alexander Usik. In December, Usik defeated Fury in a fight by unanimous decision and retained the world heavyweight champion titles according to various boxing organizations.