Author: Batir Kodirov

Tajikistan officially banned the hijab, imposing hefty fines in its latest move to curb Islamic influence. The Central Asian nation of Tajikistan officially prohibited the wearing of hijabs and other “alien garments” this week, as the country’s parliament passed a new bill regulating Islamic clothing and Eid celebrations. The bill, approved by the upper house of parliament, Majlisi Milli, on June 19, comes after years of an unofficial clampdown on the hijab in the Muslim-majority country. Under the new law, individuals wearing hijabs or other banned religious clothing could face hefty fines of up to 7,920 somonis (approximately $700). Companies…

DataVolt, a unit of Saudi-based investment holding company Vision Invest, has reached an agreement with Uzbekistan for setting up sustainable data centers in the country and making it the first fully renewable data centre campus in the region. Vision Invest group has developed and owns and operates over $95 billion worth of critical infrastructure assets, including in renewable power generation, seawater desalination, green hydrogen, cooling, and water treatment and reusage.  With a presence spanning Riyadh, Dubai, and California, DataVolt is a major player in development and operation of future-ready, innovative, environmentally conscious data centres for a connected world. An Memorandum…

Entrepreneur from Tashkent Salim Abduvaliev, known as “Salimbay” or “Salim Boyvachcha,” was detained as a suspect in illegal possession of weapons, the Main Department of Internal Affairs of the capital reported on December 5. The 73-year-old businessman was detained procedurally as he is suspected of illegal possession of weapons. The Main Department of Internal Affairs did not provide other details of the case or the preventive measure chosen for Abduvaliev. Salim Abduvaliev is one of the most famous patrons and philanthropists in the post-Soviet countries. He allegedly has ties to the criminal world, for example, several years ago the U.S.…

AKIPRESS.COM – The infrastructure in Uzbekistan has been prepared for the import of natural gas from Russia from October 1, oilexp.ru says. “We are ready to receive Russian gas from October 1. Our gas pipelines are adapted to receive high-pressure gas,” said the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan. Gazprom signed a contract with the authorities of Uzbekistan at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum for the supply of natural gas on June 16. Later, the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan explained that the agreement was concluded for two years, deliveries are planned to begin on October 1, the volume of purchases…

AKIPRESS.COM – First Deputy Director of the Civil Service Development Agency under President Otabek Khasanov met with Director General of the UAE Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) Laila Obaid Al Suwaidi, UzA reports. An action plan was developed to develop cooperation between the two organizations following the talks with the FAHR leadership and officials during the visit of a delegation of the Civil Services Development Agency to the UAE at the beginning of this year. Cooperation on the activities defined in this action plan has started. They will be held online from September 21 to October 16 on the competency…

Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, countries communicate their nationally determined contributions (NDCs), which define targets, measures, and policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the adverse effects of climate change. To help its developing member countries (DMCs) achieve their climate commitments, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has elevated its ambition to deliver climate financing to its DMCs to $100 billion from 2019 to 2030. Under Strategy 2030, ADB has committed to align 75% of its operations with climate change goals. ADB is working to solidify its role as Asia and the Pacific’s climate bank. It has established a dedicated NDC…

Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan signed a new Road Map for the development of energy cooperation for the years 2023-2025. The agreement was signed by Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy, Parviz Shahbazov, and Uzbekistan’s Energy Minister, Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry. The roadmap covers 14 key sectors, including hydrocarbon resource exploration and production, renewable energy sources, energy sector reform, efficient energy resource utilization, energy transition, and decarbonization. It also outlines avenues for the exchange of insights and expertise related to hydrogen production. Minister Shahbazov expressed optimism about the future of the energy partnership between the two nations. He noted that the roadmap envisions…

Avicenna (born 980, near Bukhara, Iran [now in Uzbekistan]—died 1037, Hamadan, Iran) was the most famous and influential of the philosopher-scientists of the medieval Islamic world. He was a polymath regarded both in the West and East as one of the most significant thinkers and writers of the Islamic Golden Age. Avicenna was particularly noted for his contributions to the fields of Aristotelian philosophy and medicine. He composed the Kitab al-Shifa (Book of the Cure), a vast philosophical and scientific encyclopedia, and Al-Qanun fi al-tibb (The Canon of Medicine), which is among the most famous books in the history of medicine. Iran…

15-km elevated metro or tram line will be erected from Dustlik metro station (former Chkalov) to New Tashkent city, which is under construction. This plan was unveiled by the presidential candidate from the UzLiDeP party Shavkat Mirziyoyev at a rally in Tashkent city today. According to him, the line will have a daily 115,000 passenger capacity. “We will expedite efforts to ensure environmental stability in the capital, turning it into one of the megacities with clean air,” the candidate added. By 2030, the volume of harmful emissions into the atmosphere will be reduced by 50%, or by 150,000 tons, he…

Speaker of the Parliament of Mongolia Zandanshatar Gombozhav met with President of The Asia Foundation Laurel Miller. Zandanshatar noted that The Asia Foundation has been making a valuable contribution to the development of parliamentary democracy in Mongolia since 1990. He expressed confidence that bilateral cooperation based on mutual trust and friendly relations will continue successfully in future. “The Parliament amended the Constitution in May, increasing the number of deputies to 126 and introducing a mixed electoral system, to strengthen parliamentary democracy and increase representation. The quota of women candidates was increased to 30% in order to increase the participation of women at the…