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Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — China is ready to expand trade with Uzbekistan, increase imports of Uzbek products and deepen cooperation in several sectors, including energy, artificial intelligence and modern agriculture. Chinese Premier Li Qiang made the statement during an official visit to Uzbekistan, the Xinhua news agency reported.
Yakutia's Ministry of Transport and Road Management has reported that ferry crossings across the region are beginning to close. The Yakutsk – Nizhny Bestyakh crossing on the Lena River is expected to operate until 23 October 2026, after which it will switch to an off-season timetable with higher fares. The Kachikatsy – Mokhsogollokh crossing is expected to run until 20 October 2026.
Trend has published its chronicle of the 44-day Patriotic War for 18 October. The war began on 27 September 2020, when Armenian armed forces carried out large-scale provocations along the front line, and Azerbaijan responded with a counteroffensive later named “Iron Fist”. The 44-day war ended roughly 30 years of occupation and restored Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.
Uzbekistan has adopted a presidential decree on establishing the Tashkent International Academy of Fashion. Under the decree, the academy will be a state higher education institution operating within the system of the Light Industry Development Agency.
In North Macedonia, the main opposition party SDSM said in a written statement that farmers across the country face rising costs and a lack of support, while agricultural product prices have risen much more slowly. According to the party, agricultural production costs increased by 8.8 percent, while product prices rose by only 2.3 percent.
Kazakhstani citizens will be able to transfer up to 100% of their accumulated pension savings to private management. The Committee for Regulation and Control in the Sphere of Social Protection of the Population of the Ministry of Labour of Kazakhstan announced this.
In the village of Pavlovka in Nuriman district, Bashkortostan, Raziya and Rafat Ibrahimov grow more than 200 grape varieties in a large greenhouse covering their entire yard. Rafat Rafaelevich, who spent 38 years at Gazprom before retiring, says his interest in working the land dates back to childhood.
Six years have passed since the village of Khudafarin in Jabrayil district was freed from Armenian occupation. Qafqazinfo reports that on October 18, 2020, the 22nd day of the Patriotic War that began on September 27, 2020, the Azerbaijani Army liberated the historic Khudafarin bridges and Khudafarin village.
The Russian government has extended the validity of agreements on modernizing oil refining capacity until 1 July 2027. At the same time, requirements for the quality of gasoline produced have been adjusted. The decree was signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held talks on 17 October with a Chinese delegation led by Premier Li Qiang of the State Council. The sides discussed strengthening their strategic partnership, joint investment projects and cooperation in key economic sectors. Li Qiang conveyed greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping.
On 17 October 2026, the 6th Pile Peace Festival was held in Pile with the participation of President Tufan Erhürman and Greek Cypriot administration leader Nikos Christodoulides. The event was organised by the Turkish and Greek Cypriot village headmen of Pile together with the Pile Office of the UN Peacekeeping Force (UNFICYP).
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov has proposed a special trust fund to protect Lake Issyk-Kul, pledging an initial 10 million US dollars from the state budget. As reported by the Kabar news agency, he called on international donors and financial institutions to support the initiative.
Turkey's first floating production platform, Osman Gazi, has been sent from Filyos Port, where its infrastructure was built, to its service location in the Black Sea.
Bulgarian National Radio's programme "Bulgaria Today" aired on Friday, 16 October 2026, at 16:00. The programme was scheduled to open with a news bulletin covering the day's main developments.
Gross output of construction in Kyrgyzstan reached 380 billion soms in January–September 2026, according to the National Statistics Committee. The figure is 1.6 times higher than in the same period of 2025.
An inquiry into the Filo Jet ship disaster, which killed 28 people off the coast of Girne on 30 August, has extended the detention of nine suspects by seven days. At the eighth hearing at the Girne District Court, police presented new findings from the ship's VDR recordings. The suspects are being investigated on charges of causing death through negligence and carelessness, and police said the charges could change as the investigation proceeds.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is holding an open dialogue with investors in the fuel and energy sector, presidential press secretary Sherzod Asadov said.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said at a press briefing in Yerevan on October 16 that Iran is concerned about the presence of the United States in the region and around it in any form. He said Tehran believes Armenia will not take any step against Iran's security.
Tatarstan's State Road Inspectorate has described driving into the oncoming lane as a dangerous maneuver. It said that performing such a maneuver in prohibited places puts everyone on the road at risk of death.
Technology
Turkey aims to create 100,000 technology startups with a combined value of $100 billion by 2030. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the statement while speaking at the 13th Innovation Week of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) in Istanbul.
Aisen Nikolaev, head of the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic and chair of the State Council's energy commission, took part in a session of the international forum Russian Energy Week. Heads of federal agencies, nuclear and hydropower generators, regional leaders and lawmakers discussed launching a new investment cycle in the electricity sector and the mechanisms for attracting investment in generation facilities.
North Macedonia's Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski met Alper Aktaş, Türkiye's newly appointed ambassador to North Macedonia. The talks focused on developing bilateral cooperation and strengthening the partnership between the two countries, according to information relayed by MIA.
Independent candidate for the bashkan (head) of Gagauzia, Kornel Dudnik, has pledged to carry out a financial, economic and administrative audit of the autonomous region within the first 100 days of his term, should he be elected. He made the commitment as he launched his election campaign.
Equalization transfers from the republican budget to local budgets in Kyrgyzstan are set to total 1.24 billion soms in 2027, 33.5% less than the approved 2026 budget, according to data from the Ministry of Finance. The reduction amounts to 626.1 million soms. The ministry explains the cut by growth in receipts from some taxes. Under a new methodology, the basis for equalization is the difference between income and expenditure indicators.
Today's top Turkic news: Uzbekistan-China ties, Samarkand visit, Kulubaev-Rubio talks, Northern Cyprus festival and Turkmen desertification centre.
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