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Diplomacy
Kyrgyz President Japarov Returns to Bishkek After Official Armenia Visit
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has concluded his official visit to Armenia, held from 15 to 17 October, and returned to Bishkek on 17 October.
Politics
Politics
“We are the people’s hope”: CTP leader says water and energy issues will be addressed
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.
Diplomacy
Iran and Armenia to draft strategic document, Pezeshkian says
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.
Society
Kazakhstan Plans to End Social Benefits for Wealthy Citizens
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.
Society
Residents to return to two Fuzuli villages by the end of this year
Residents will return to the Dovlatyarli and Pirahmedli villages in Azerbaijan's Fuzuli district by the end of this year. Taran Quluyeva, head of the public relations department of the Restoration, Construction and Management Service in Aghdam, Fuzuli and Khojavend districts, said so in comments to Trend's Karabakh bureau. She said restoration and construction work is continuing in both villages and is nearing completion.
Diplomacy
Tokayev and Hun Manet adopt joint statement
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet adopted a joint statement following negotiations, according to Egemen.kz, which cited the Presidential press service Akorda.
Politics
Üstel: We will host a democracy festival on 24 October
Prime Minister Ünal Üstel said a draw to determine candidates’ positions on the ballot paper will be held tomorrow, while quota candidates will be announced in the coming days. Noting that the UBP, the country’s largest party by membership, has also shown its strength in candidate applications, Üstel said the large number of people who applied to run was a sign of trust in the party.
Diplomacy
Holguin urges leaders to take necessary long-term decisions
The Politis newspaper reported that Maria Angela Holguin, the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy on Cyprus, has written an article addressed to the leaders. Holguin notes that over recent months Cypriots have encountered the terms "methodology", "substance" and "confidence-building measures" almost every day.
Energy
Cheapest Energy Is Saved Energy, Says President
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said in an open dialogue with investors in Uzbekistan's fuel and energy sector that the capacity each region needs will now be planned in advance, and ready projects will be put out to open tender. He noted that Uzbekistan has gained wide experience in preparing energy projects and working with investors.
Diplomacy
Japarov Briefs Media on Results of Armenia Visit
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov issued a statement for the media in Yerevan on 17 October 2026 on the results of his official visit to the Republic of Armenia. He thanked Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for the invitation to an official visit and praised the warm welcome and hospitality extended to the Kyrgyz delegation. Japarov described the trip as historic, as it was the first official visit to Armenia by a head of state of Kyrgyzstan.
Diplomacy
Baku Responds to Pashinyan's Proposal to Swap Enclaves
Discussions continue on the delimitation of the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the fate of enclaves and exclaves. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's approach to defining borders has brought the mechanisms for resolving these issues back into focus. Preserving territorial integrity and the conditions under which a possible land exchange could take place are at the centre of attention.
Diplomacy
Maria Angela Holguin: Window remains for comprehensive Cyprus settlement
UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus Maria Angela Holguin said she believes a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus issue is still possible. In a letter, she called on the leaders to take concrete steps on confidence-building measures and lay the groundwork for negotiations to resume.
Diplomacy
Armenian minister says Turkey border could open at any time
Armenian Foreign and Foreign Trade Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said the Turkey-Armenia border could open at any time. Speaking to journalists at the Leaders Summit held in Yerevan within COP17, Mirzoyan said: "Tomorrow we may wake up and see the Turkey-Armenia border open."
Diplomacy
Kyrgyzstan and Armenia sign a series of bilateral agreements
On 17 October, during President Sadyr Japarov's official visit to Armenia, a series of bilateral documents aimed at strengthening Kyrgyz-Armenian cooperation was signed in Yerevan.
Diplomacy
Erhürman Says He Did Not Receive the 19-Point Proposal Document
President Tufan Erhürman has said he received neither directly nor indirectly, through the UN, the document containing the “19-point ideas” of Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides. He made the remarks in an interview with the Greek Cypriot newspaper Politis.
Diplomacy
Tokayev Greets Cambodian Prime Minister at Akorda
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet arrived in Kazakhstan on an official visit and was met at the Akorda presidential residence by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Politics
UBP Announces 72 Applicants; 50-Person List Set on 24 October
Northern Cyprus's ruling National Unity Party (UBP) is continuing its candidate selection ahead of the general election set for 6 December. Prime Minister Ünal Üstel announced the names of 72 applicants who applied to the party. According to a UBP statement, the 50-person list will be determined by party members on 24 October. Üstel called on thousands of members to travel to Nicosia (Lefkoşa) for the preliminary vote.
Diplomacy
Japarov and Pashinyan hold face-to-face talks in Yerevan
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov held face-to-face talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan on October 17.
Economy
Kyrgyzstan Updates Tax Stabilization Rules for Large Investors
Kyrgyzstan's Cabinet of Ministers has approved a new regulation on the stabilization regime, which lets large investors keep favorable tax conditions for 10 years. Resolution No. 700, dated 15 October 2026, was signed by First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet Daniyar Amangeldiev.
Energy
Renewable energy's share of total generation rises to 31%
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is holding an open dialogue with investors in the fuel and energy sector. Calling energy the heart of development, Mirziyoyev stressed that a stable energy supply is important for entrepreneurs' capital and for people's confidence in tomorrow.
Diplomacy
Azerbaijan's CICA chairmanship extension signals high international trust
Azerbaijan's chairmanship of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) has been extended by another two years. Milli Majlis deputy Soltan Mammadov called the decision a clear reflection of the country's international standing, its contribution to the development of multilateral diplomacy, and the high trust it has earned globally. Day.Az reported that, speaking to Trend, Mammadov said the decision, taken at a time of growing geopolitical complexity and weakening trust between states, is the result of Azerbaijan's far-sighted foreign policy course.
Politics
Bulgaria carries out 140 operations against vote buying
Bulgaria's Interior Ministry (MVR) has carried out 140 operations against vote buying so far and opened two investigations linked to the cases. The report was published on Friday, 16 October 2026.
Education
Kyrgyzstan requires “El Umuty” scholarship holders to work at least five years
Kyrgyzstan's Cabinet of Ministers has adopted a resolution updating the model agreement for recipients of the President's international scholarship “El Umuty”. According to the press service of the Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Innovation, the main aim of the changes is to ensure targeted and effective use of state funds and to increase scholarship holders' responsibility for their contractual obligations.
Economy
Şimşek says fund-related legal rules to be completed by early 2027
Turkey's Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek said legal regulations to strengthen the fight against capital market crimes, including coordinated fund transactions, are planned to be completed by early 2027. In a social media post, he said regulations by the Capital Markets Board had increased transparency and strengthened investor confidence, citing the Fund Guide announced at the end of August.