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The capital city of the Republic of Mari El, Yoshkar-Ola, is currently hosting the first Mari International Ethnic Film Festival. The cultural event brings together cinema industry professionals and creators from Russia, CIS nations, Asia, and Europe.
Approximately 30 films have been selected for the festival's overall program. In the feature-length film competition category, six cinematic works will be showcased, including the historical drama "Magtymguly Pyragy" (directed by Muzaffarkhan Erkinov), which was co-produced by Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
The competing films are being evaluated by an international jury comprising industry experts from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Iran, Hungary, and Russia.
The festival schedule features a short film competition, dedicated children's screenings, masterclasses, professional networking sessions, and special movie presentations. Dedicated to the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia (2026), the festival aims to strengthen inter-ethnic harmony through cinematography, preserve cultural diversity, and promote global awareness of cultural heritage. The official awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on June 19 at the Yakov Eshpay Mari State Philharmonic.
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Specialists at the International Science and Technology Park of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, led by Durdymyrat Gadamov and Altyn Rahmanova, have developed a new-generation bio-agent designed to neutralize soil methane emissions. The solution utilizes local bacteria adapted to the regional climate, which harness methane monooxygenase to convert methane into carbon dioxide and water.
Methane is a major contributor to global warming, with a heat-trapping capacity in the atmosphere significantly higher than that of carbon dioxide. The newly developed bio-agent features high efficiency in industrially congested areas, cost-effectiveness through the use of local raw materials, and complete safety for human health and the environment.
This scientific breakthrough aligns with Turkmenistan's sustainable development strategy, supporting its commitments under the Global Methane Pledge to enhance environmental oversight in the energy sector.
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