The Taliban government has suspended chess in Afghanistan over gambling concerns. It has also suspended the Afghanistan National Chess Federation (ANCF), Chess.com reports. The Afghan online news service Khaama Press reported on Sunday that the country’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice has banned chess due to “religious considerations.” Chess-related activities in
The cultural stage of Ashgabat became the venue for the world premiere of the choreographic and digital show RITUALS—a unique artistic project blending the ancient traditions of Turkmenistan with contemporary dance and digital arts. The event on May 10 marked an important milestone in the development of cultural ties between Europe and Turkmenistan, the Delegation of the
Kazakhstan continues its confident cultural offensive on the world stage: two short films and works by an artist from Kazakhstan will participate in the 7th ECG Film Festival in London. The films will be shown on May 26 and 27 at the Lumiere Romford Cinema, The Mercury Shopping Centre. ECG Film Festival promotes films of
Russia’s non-profit organization for international cooperation, Eurasia, with the support of Kyrgyzstan’s Cabinet of Ministers, will build a cultural and amusement park in the village of Orok near Bishkek. According to Eurasia, the new park will symbolize the friendship between the peoples of Russia and Kyrgyzstan. A presentation of the project took place late in
On May 1, a grand opening ceremony was held in Khiva for the Arda Khiva International Tourist Center. The new complex is home to 17 hotels and guesthouses, 9 restaurants, open-air and indoor aqua parks, a 3,000-seat amphitheater, 5 cinemas and concert halls, exhibition pavilions, 70 retail stores, 300 market stalls, 11 artisan houses, an
Kazakhstan’s creative economy is gradually becoming a powerful engine of economic growth, transforming traditional approaches to the country’s development. A look at the data and trends in the sector raises the question: could Kazakhstan become a new centre of creative power in the region? Here below is an article on the issue, written by Irina
Uzbek writer, cultural figure, and storyteller Gulchekhra-begim Makhmudova invites young readers on a breath-taking journey through time, legend, and imagination with her four-part children’s book series, Adventures of the Spirit of Time, now available in English from Hertfordshire Press. Originally published in Russian between 2021 and 2022, the series quickly won the hearts of readers
On the 5th and 6th of April, the heart of Karakalpakstan — the city of Nukus — hosted the inaugural Aral Culture Summit, a landmark event bringing together intellectuals, artists, environmentalists, and representatives of international organisations to rethink the role of culture in the age of climate challenges. Where the waves of the Aral Sea
Lusine Aleksanyan is a maxillofacial surgeon and a young author from Armenia. Her book, “And a Butterfly Soared,” was published in 2024 in the UK, following her victory in a literary competition organized by the Eurasian Creative Guild. Here below is an article about this talented person, originally published by OCA Magazine: The best investment
On April 6, the British holding Silk Road Media and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan signed a cooperation agreement aimed at developing the international tourism brand of this autonomous region in northwestern Uzbekistan. The signing ceremony was held as part of the Aral Culture Summit in Nukus, emphasizing the importance of
The French Alliance in Bishkek presents the Francophone Week in Bishkek from 4 to 12 April 2025. This week of events is organized jointly with the Embassies of France, Switzerland, the Delegation of the European Union, the Embassies of Belgium, Canada, and Morocco. The program includes educational, cultural and entertainment events. This year’s festival theme
Navruz originated in Central Asia and a number of Eastern countries in ancient times, when Zoroastrianism reigned here. Gradually, it acquired its own forms and outlines. It was enriched by new customs, rituals, and the experience of everyday life and it turned into a tradition. The answer to the question about the age of Navruz
An educational and amusement theme park, SilkRoadLand, may appear in Uzbekistan, becoming the world’s first oriental edutainment park and an attractive tourist destination. The following article by Taina Kaunis, originally published in the latest issue of OCA Magazine, reveals the details of this fascinating project: The modern world, despite certain economic and political tensions, supports
A grand event dedicated to the celebration of International Nowruz Day took place at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on March 18. The event was attended by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, heads of diplomatic missions, staff of the UNESCO Secretariat, and representatives of the Kyrgyz diaspora in France, the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry reported. The Ambassador
On March 17, as part of the official visit of Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon to the Russian Federation, a virtual ceremony of the start of construction of two important social and humanitarian facilities in Tajikistan was held in the Kremlin. Rahmon and Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the construction of the State Russian Drama Theater
A presentation of the new 54th issue of OCA Magazine was held in London on March 8th as a part of the Navruz celebration. The event brought together representatives of creative professions and diplomats from the embassies of Central Asian countries. The new issue of the magazine focuses on the economic issues of the region
A monument dedicated to world-renowned Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov was unveiled on February 27 at Villa Grazioli park in Rome. The opening of the monument was an initiative of the Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in Italy as part of efforts to promote and popularize Kyrgyzstan’s cultural heritage. The marble monument was created by Kyrgyz
The Eurasian Creative Guild (ECG), with the support of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in London and ORZU Arts, is organizing a vibrant celebration of Navruz, a spring festival that embodies the rich cultural heritage of Eurasia. This special event will welcome the arrival of spring, a time of renewal and inspiration, and showcase the beauty
Archaeologists have found the remains of two medieval cities in the mountains of eastern Uzbekistan, a discovery that could shift our understanding of the ancient Silk Road, as this trade route between the East and West was long believed to have linked lowland cities, BBC News reported in October 2024. But using remote sensing technology,
‘The Legends of Great Silk Road: Adventures of the Spirit of Time’ is a new book by Uzbek author Gulchekhra-Begim Makhmudova, published in English by Hertfordshire Press in London. This book gives an opportunity to discover for your children (and for yourself) the magical world of the legendary Great Silk Road. In ‘Adventures of the
