To Be or Not to Be...? Someone’s grief, and someone’s drinking party

Traditions of the Kyrgyz people were being formed with the help of economic, trade, domestic and other relations with kindred and other tribes that were closely related to the geography of their ha...

Iran of the 60s: unsuccessful attempt to reform

After the coup of 19 March 1953 in the socio-political history of Iran there were fundamental changes: the powers of parliament were limited and the absolute power of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi was...

Topic: Regional rivalry in the Middle East.

In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran are two countries that claim to leadership in the region. With a powerful resources and political potential these countries are the...

Science & Technology, Cental Asia

Turkmenistan adopted Electoral Code
07.05.2013
Cental Asia|Science & Technology|Turkmenistan

The Majlis (Parliament) of Turkmenistan at its regular meeting of the fourth convocation adopted a decision on the approval of the Electoral Code developed in accordance with international norms and standards, the Government of Turkmenistan reported on Tuesday.

EDB to provide loan for large-scale wind power plant construction in Kazakhstan
06.05.2013
Cental Asia|Kazakhstan|Science & Technology

The First Wind Power Plant Ltd. (a 100-percent subsidiary of Samruk-Green Energy LLP and the Eurasian Development Bank signed an agreement in the capital of Kazakhstan on a credit line worth 14.2 billion tenge (151.28 tenge = 1 dollar) to finance the turnkey construction of the first large wind power plant (WPP) in Kazakhstan, according to a statement by the First Wind Power Plant Ltd.

According to the statement, the wind plant will be built at the Yereimentau site (Akmola region). Its capacity will total 45 megawatts.

Astana-Almaty high speed railway to be constructed in Kazakhstan
01.04.2013
Cental Asia|Kazakhstan|Science & Technology

It is planned to start constructing the Astana-Almaty high speed rail line in 2013, Kazakh Minister of Transport and Communications Askar Zhumagaliyev said during a government hour in the Majilis (a lower chamber of the Kazakh parliament) on Monday.

"It is planned to begin constructing the railway this year," he said. "The travel time between the two large cities of the republic will be reduced from 12 to five hours."

Electricity rates to up in Uzbekistan from April 1
25.03.2013
Cental Asia|Science & Technology|Uzbekistan

Uzbekenergo State Joint Stock Company (JSC) has announced the increase of electricity rates from April 1, 2013.

According to the company, the cost per kW/h of electricity will increase by 7.4 percent - to 112.2 soum (104.4 soum previously).

For houses equipped with electric stoves, the cost per kW / h of electricity will be increased to 56.1 soum from 52.2 soum.

The previous increase in electricity prices was undertaken in Uzbekistan in October 2012. Then the growth of electricity tariffs amounted to 7 percent.

The official exchange rate on March 22 is 2035.05 sum / $ 1.

Turkmenistan schedules launch of first space satellite for 2014
27.02.2013
Cental Asia|Science & Technology|Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan scheduled the launch of the first national satellite for late 2014, the Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper reported.

At present, French company Thales Alenia Space, which won a tender, is engaged in the development and construction of the spacecraft, under the contract signed with the Turkmen government.

In the Turkmen market, Thales is known as a developer and supplier of advanced high-tech aeronavigation equipment for the country's airports since 1991.

Tajikistan constructing 14 new small HPPs
15.02.2013
Cental Asia|Science & Technology|Tajikistan

At present, construction of 14 new small hydropower plants continues in Tajikistan, Asia-Plus reported on Friday with reference to the country's Energy and Industry Ministry.

According to the report, after commissioning of these facilities, the number of small HPPs in the country will reach 296 units.

According to the Energy and Industry Ministry, at present there are 282 small hydropower plants with total capacity of 25,200 kW in Tajikistan.

According to the report, 17 new small stations with total capacity of over 1,800 kW started their operation.

EU supports examination of Kambarata hydropower station’s construction in Kyrgyzstan
15.02.2013
Cental Asia|Science & Technology|Kyrgyzstan

EU Special Representative to Central Asia, Patricia Flor, taking part in the fourth high level conference 'EU - Central Asia: Environment and Water Cooperation Platform' held in Bishkek on Thursday has supported an independent examination of the construction of the Kambarata hydropower plant in Kyrgyzstan, Avesta says.

According to uznews, in an interview, Patricia Flor expressed support to countries lying below the river flow, namely to Uzbekistan.

Iran says "will listen" to proposals during nuclear meeting in Kazakhstan
12.02.2013
Cental Asia|Kazakhstan|Science & Technology

Member of Iran's negotiating team with P5+1 group, Mostafa Dolatyar said that at the upcoming nuclear meeting in Kazakstan, Iran will listen to the proposals of the opposing side, ISNA reported.

Talking to the journalists, Dolatyar noted that thus far Iranian side has not received any formal proposals from the P5+1 group members.

"We were supposed to receive new proposals," Dolatyar said. "Later it turned out the proposals were very much the same as we received from P5+1 during the talks in Moscow."

Tajikistan, Germany discuss development prospects in energy sector
04.02.2013
Cental Asia|Science & Technology|Tajikistan

Energy and Industry Minister of Tajikistan Gul Sherali met with German Ambassador to Tajikistan Doris Hertrampf on Saturday, Asia-Plus reports on Monday.

Azerbaijani IT company presents tax administration modernization project in Kyrgyzstan
04.02.2013
Cental Asia|Science & Technology|Kyrgyzstan

"e-Government creation experience based on example of Azerbaijani IT company SINAM's tax administration modernization project (ITAS) and technological innovations of Oracle information technologies" conference was held in Bishkek, the company said today.

According to the Information Policy Department of Kyrgyz Government, representatives of presidential apparatus, parliament, government, donor community, banks and other institutions and companies were invited to participate at the conference.