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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.
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.
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.
The Turkish Embassy in Baku said in a statement on 17 October 2026 that a report titled “Behind the scenes of Minister Hakan Fidan's meeting at GYF”, published by Qafqazinfo and some other news outlets, was based on baseless claims.
Turkmenistan's President has signed a decree announcing a competition for the “Golden Age of Turkmenistan” award. The competition is open to workers in literature, culture and the arts, other creative people, amateur young singers and gifted children. According to the decree, its aim is to identify talented creative people who express the nation's culture, cultural heritage and ancient values through accomplished works, to select and encourage the best of them, to enrich Turkmen literature with large-scale works, and to further develop national art.
Politics
Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov chaired a regular meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers via a digital system, where a number of state matters were considered.
Politics
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov chaired the latest Cabinet of Ministers meeting via a digital system. Parliament Chairman D. Gulmanowa reported on ongoing work to modernise national legislation, including draft laws on e-commerce and state registration of rights to immovable property, as well as amendments to the Customs, Criminal and Civil Procedure Codes.
Cumhuriyetçi Türk Partisi (CTP) leader Sıla Usar İncirli met residents in Tepebaşı, Sadrazamköy and Kayalar, stressing that the party is ready for the 6 December elections. The meetings took place in darkness because of power cuts, and attendance was high. İncirli said, “CTP is the hope of the people. We will work hard so these bad days pass. We will take a deep breath. We will light this darkness they created together.”
The Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers has ordered the State Financial Intelligence Service to automate its receipt of data from financial institutions on discrepancies in beneficial ownership information. Cabinet Chairman Adylbek Kasymaliev gave the instruction in Cabinet Resolution No. 653 of 29 September.
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli issued a written press statement marking Azerbaijan’s 18 October Independence Restoration Day. He congratulated the country on the 35th anniversary of the Constitutional Act on State Independence, adopted by the Republic of Azerbaijan on 18 October 1991.
Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi said that no deal had been made with the PKK terrorist organization and no concessions had been granted, within the process aimed at fighting terrorism and ensuring public peace in the country. The statement was reported by Report.az, citing Haber Global.
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Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), shared a message on Azerbaijan's 18 October Day of Restoration of Independence. The message was reported by Anadolu Agency on 17 October 2026.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said a recruitment notice for 38,000 non-physician health personnel will be issued before 2026 ends. He made the announcement at a joint groundbreaking and opening ceremony for the Çapa and Esenyurt campuses of Istanbul University Hospital, held on the Çapa Faculty of Medicine campus in Istanbul.
Ünal Üstel, leader of the National Unity Party (UBP) and Prime Minister, said at a draw to set the order of parliamentary candidates that the party is preparing for the election with the works it has delivered and its projects for the new term. Üstel said: “Whatever we wrote into the government programme, we implemented. There is more than enough, nothing is missing!”
Kyrgyzstan has defined the main directions of its demographic policy for 2026–2030. The authorities intend to improve living conditions for families, expand access to education and healthcare, and create additional employment opportunities for parents, the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Migration said.
Ministers and senior officials responsible for information in member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) gathered in Astana for the 8th meeting, Egemen Qazaqstan reported. Attendees included First Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Kanat Yskakov, Deputy Secretary General Ömer Koçaman, and representatives from Uzbekistan, Türkiye, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan.
CTP's Sila Usar Incirli outlined her party's priorities at a youth discussion moderated by LDH Political Relations Secretary Hakkı Çinkılıç. On public finances, she said the budget her party would take over carries about 1 billion dollars in debt, and pledged that public services would be run on merit, transparency and accountability.
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has concluded his official visit to Armenia, held from 15 to 17 October, and returned to Bishkek on 17 October.
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Leader Sıla Usar İncirli said that once in power, her party would address problems in the water and energy sectors. Stating that her party is the people’s hope, İncirli said the CTP is ready for the 6 December elections.
Iran and Armenia have agreed to prepare a bilateral strategic document and to develop regional cooperation in the economy and transit links. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian made the announcement while commenting on the results of his visit to Armenia. The information was published by Pars Today.
The Kazakh government plans to end social benefits for wealthy citizens, a move expected to save 700 billion tenge in 2027 and almost 2.5 trillion tenge over three years. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said that shifting to needs-based payments would end the unfairness of wealthy and low-income families receiving the same support. The Ministry of Labour said about 1.38 million households, or 21% of recipients, will lose benefits, including those with incomes above 305,000 tenge per person per month who own large or medium businesses, several properties or premium cars.
Today's top Turkic news: Uzbekistan-China ties, Samarkand visit, Kulubaev-Rubio talks, Northern Cyprus festival and Turkmen desertification centre.
Read today's digest →