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The 77th session of the Executive Committee of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was held in Geneva, Switzerland. The Turkmen delegation was led by Amanmukhammet Sazakov, Chairman of the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan.
The average subsistence minimum in Kyrgyzstan reached 9,890 soms and 28 tyiyn per month in the third quarter of 2026, according to the National Statistics Committee. Compared with the second quarter, the figure increased by only 17 soms.
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.
Kazakhstan is developing new projects to advance the nationwide Taza Qazaqstan initiative, Qazinform News Agency reports. Vice President Erlan Karin announced the plans on his social media accounts.
Six children were taken to hospital for medical examinations after a road accident near the Druzhba monument in Ufa, the capital of the Republic of Bashkortostan in Russia. According to rescuers, a Kia, a Mercedes and a BMW collided, and a minivan overturned.
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.
The annual TO:KU FEST 2026 festival, dedicated to Yakut animation, took place on 17 October at the Marfa and Sergey Rastorguyev State Circus of Yakutia in Yakutsk. The event was organised by Tooku, the children's television channel of NVK Sakha. The programme included a concert, master classes, games and other entertainment for children and parents.
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.
Uzbekistan has proposed raising the monthly basic electricity norm from 200 kWh to 350 kWh for residents of non-gasified areas and territories with natural gas supply interruptions. Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance Khurshed Mustafayev announced the proposal at an October 14 press conference.
Shortages of nurses, health technicians, midwives and dental assistants are growing in North Macedonia. It is reported that about 40 nurses leave the public health system every month. Low wages, poor working conditions and criticism that merit is not respected in hiring are cited as the main causes.
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.
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.
Kazakhstan will mark Republic Day on October 25. For the national holiday, more than 120 solemn, cultural and educational, sports, environmental and social events are planned in Astana. The programme includes concerts, exhibitions, plays, sports tournaments, festive campaigns and the opening of new facilities. The information was reported by 24KZ, citing the official website of the Astana akimat.
Bashkortostan Health Minister Airat Rakhmatullin said he has taken personal control over the treatment of a 35-year-old woman and her seven-month-old child. The two were injured in a collision involving three cars in Ufa, and they are being treated in hospital in serious condition.
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Bulut was unanimously elected rector of International Balkan University (IBU) on 15 October 2026, following a rector election held under Article 97 of North Macedonia's Law on Higher Education. The vote took place across the university's six faculties and one vocational college and was conducted on the basis of a free, direct and secret ballot.
Taçoy said the strike at K-Pet will not cause any fuel shortage in the country. He said the fuel and gas the market needs is being supplied by an alternative supplier.
The social gasification potential in Yakutia exceeds 14,000 homes, according to the head of the republic, Aisen Nikolaev, who spoke at the Russian Energy Week forum.
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.
The government of Russia's Bashkortostan republic has outlined a plan to support families through 2030. Deputy Prime Minister and Sports Minister Ruslan Habibov chaired a meeting on a new action plan developed with the Agency for Strategic Initiatives. The main goal, according to the government, is to strengthen the institution of the family and preserve the nation.
Society
From 1 January 2027, 22 of the 36 types of state benefits in Kazakhstan will continue to be granted without taking into account the family's welfare category. Labour and Social Protection Minister Askarbek Yertayev announced this at a briefing at the SCC, according to a Kazinform correspondent.
Ünal Üstel, leader of the National Unity Party (UBP) and prime minister, said a list of 72 prospective MP candidates had been approved by the party assembly, adding: “On October 24 we will give the country a democracy festival.”
Kazakhstan's Minister of Labour and Social Protection, Askarbek Yertayev, said at an SCC briefing who will make up the most socially vulnerable population category after the reform. He stated that there are 128,000 such families across Kazakhstan.
North Macedonia's Health Ministry has announced new protocols that will allow multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment to be delivered in regional hospitals, so patients will no longer need to travel to Skopje every month for medication or treatment. Health Minister Saso Klekovski said the Neurology Clinic follows about 2,000 MS patients, of whom 1,800 are receiving active treatment.
Mehmet Kale Kişi, General Secretary of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) in Northern Cyprus, said allegations of corruption and irregularity have caused serious unease in society and shown a strong will for change. Speaking on the BRT programme Açık Konuşalım, hosted by Levent Kutay and Baykan Gürses, he said the party is preparing for elections with the goal of a stable five-year government.
Today's top Turkic news: Uzbekistan-China ties, Samarkand visit, Kulubaev-Rubio talks, Northern Cyprus festival and Turkmen desertification centre.
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