TURKEY
Police raided the headquarters of Halk TV, one of Turkey’s leading opposition-aligned television stations, following the authorities’ decision to take control of it and appoint a trustee. Broadcasts have been suspended and 11 people have been detained during house searches.
The operation forms part of an investigation into the broadcaster’s owner, Cafer Mahiroğlu, who is suspected of corruption, bid-rigging and money laundering. Mahiroğlu is believed to be abroad. With Halk TV, the number of television networks placed under the control of the Deposit and Savings Insurance Fund (TMSF) since March 2025 has risen to ten.
NEPAL
The Nepalese government has proposed an allocation of over 559.7 billion Nepalese rupees (approximately 3.28 billion euros) for the reconstruction of infrastructure damaged by floods, landslides and other monsoon-related disasters. The plan comprises 504 projects, which have been submitted to the Ministry of Finance for approval. The largest share of the funds is earmarked for the road network, with over 374 billion rupees requested for works outside the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli corridor and a further 48.26 billion for affected areas along the corridor itself. Works are also planned on bridges, water supply systems, irrigation, healthcare, schools, agriculture and emergency communication systems. Implementation remains subject to ministerial approval.
INDIA
The Foreigners’ Registration Office (FRRO) in Mumbai has served actor Imran Khan, a US citizen holding an OCI card – the document for Indians residing abroad – with a notice requiring him to leave India by 28 October. The order was issued following a complaint by Kirit Somaiya, a senior figure in the BJP – the Hindu nationalist party – who objected to the actor’s participation in demonstrations against the head of the Electoral Commission, Gyanesh Kumar. Khan, the nephew of Bollywood star Aamir Khan, had been detained by the police during the protest. The actor stated that he had taken part as a citizen, to defend freedom of movement and expression.
CHINA-MONGOLIA
A massive fire that has broken out in recent days in the Mongolian province of Dornod, on the border with Russia and China, is reigniting Beijing’s concerns over cross-border environmental emergencies. Fanned by strong autumn winds and drought, the flames have spread rapidly towards the Chinese region of Inner Mongolia, with thousands of firefighters mobilised. The incident highlights a recurring risk: since the start of the year, fires have already devastated over 1 million hectares of land in Mongolia.
HONG KONG
In Hong Kong, a coalition of Christian groups has signed a petition against the ‘Halloween Month’ campaign, promoted by the city’s tourism board throughout October. The signatories are calling on the government to halt the initiative, arguing that Halloween is a Western festival linked to the cult of death, evil spirits and the dark world. They also object to the use of public funds to celebrate a festival deemed harmful to the well-being of the younger generation.
ARMENIA
Armenia’s Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, has inaugurated the Amulsar gold mine, a project that had been on hold since 2016, despite ongoing environmental protests that had blocked access to the site in 2018. Pashinyan described the opening of the controversial mine, which took place without protests, as a “success story”. The mine is located in the Armenian province of Vayots Dzor, near the tourist resort of Ermuk, and is operated by Lydian Armenia, a subsidiary of Lydian International, registered in the British offshore jurisdiction of Jersey.
RUSSIA–UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
In the third quarter of this year, the United Arab Emirates was the most popular destination for Russian citizens looking to buy property abroad, accounting for 37 per cent of enquiries. Georgia and Turkey also feature among the top five countries for property purchases. Among the countries most sought after by Russians for overseas property purchases are also Georgia, in third place after Thailand, and Turkey, in fourth; Mauritius and Oman tied for fifth place, with a combined share of 9 per cent, each accounting for 4.5 per cent of total demand for overseas property from Russians.
