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The charter of the Union of Supreme Audit Institutions of Turkic States was signed in Antalya on October 24.

According to Turkish media reports, representatives from Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan expressed their support for the document, which establishes the legal framework for the organization’s activities.

Speaking at the meeting, the current chair of the Union and head of the Turkish Court of Accounts, Metin Yener, recalled that the declaration on the establishment of the Union of Supreme Audit Institutions of Turkic States was signed in Istanbul on November 22, 2025.

He expressed confidence that the new structure would facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience among Turkic states.

“The charter is not merely a legal document, but a declaration of a shared vision for the future. It will enable us to harmonize common auditing standards, share best practices, and strengthen the principles of transparency and accountability. Ultimately, all of this will have an impact on both the performance of public institutions and people’s quality of life,” Yener said.

Alikhan Smailov, chairman of Kazakhstan’s Supreme Audit Chamber, noted that signing the document marked the beginning of a new era in cooperation among the audit institutions of Turkic countries. He also emphasized that Astana was ready to host the Union’s next meeting in 2029.

Almazbek Akmatov, head of the Accounts Chamber of Kyrgyzstan, and Mehriddin Abdullayev, first deputy chairman of Uzbekistan’s Accounts Chamber, also highlighted the importance of cooperation in auditing.

Nasir Sadigov, deputy chairman of Azerbaijan’s Chamber of Accounts, addressed the participants via videoconference.

Kubanichbek Omuraliev, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), attended the ceremony.

U.S. President Donald Trump has left open the possibility of renewed military strikes against Iran if Washington and Tehran fail to reach an agreement.

Speaking to reporters in Florida, Trump was asked whether the United States might resume attacks on Iran.

‘Do you really think that if I had such an intention, I would tell you about it? There is a possibility of that. But there is also a possibility of reaching a good deal,’ Trump said.

He added that the outcome remained uncertain, stating: ‘I can see this through to the end. Or perhaps they will make a deal. I don’t know for sure. In any case, we will win.’

Azerbaijan have secured their second consecutive victory at the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival in Baku, defeating Andorra 1-0.

The team, coached by Famil Khalilov, claimed the win in a match held at the Hovsan Sports Complex on October 25. Hasan Mahmadov scored the decisive goal to secure the victory for the young Azerbaijani side.

Azerbaijan’s next opponents are Australia. The match is scheduled to kick off at 19:30 at Pitch 10A of the Hovsan Sports Complex.

The team opened their tournament campaign with an emphatic 6-0 victory over Timor-Leste on October 24.

The inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival is being held in Baku from October 24 to 30, 2026. The event brings together teams from 189 FIFA member associations.

The tournament features an eight-a-side format, with matches consisting of two 20-minute halves. Teams compete in a group stage before being divided into six tiers based on their results.

The format ensures that all teams continue playing throughout the event, giving young footballers valuable international experience. The winners of each tier will be decided on October 30.

A video highlighting the opening ceremony of the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival hosted in Baku was shared on the official social media accounts of President Ilham Aliyev.

The official opening ceremony of the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival was held at the Baku Crystal Hall on October 24. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, their family members, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino watched the ceremony.

The match held following the opening ceremony between the Azerbaijan and Timor-Leste national teams ended with a 6-0 victory for the Azerbaijani national team.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has expressed gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for the organization of U-15 World Cup and Festival in Baku.

In a post on his Instagram account, FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the opening ceremony held in Baku as a historic day and fantastic event.

“I thank Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Deputy Prime Minister Samir Sharifov, the government, those at AFFA officials led by President Rovshan Najaf, my colleagues at FIFA, and everyone helping deliver this special competition. We are giving every young talent a chance and uniting the youth from 189 FIFA Member Associations across all six confederations to create special memories at their first-ever FIFA World Cup event,’ the FIFA President said.

The official opening ceremony of the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival was held at the Baku Crystal Hall on October 24. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, their family members, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino watched the ceremony.

The match held following the opening ceremony between the Azerbaijan and Timor-Leste national teams ended with a 6-0 victory for the Azerbaijani national team.

A meeting was held on October 24 at the Central Office of the New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) between Tahir Budagov, YAP Deputy Chairman and Head of the Central Office, and Hakki Safak Ses, adviser to the chairman of Turkiye’s Victory Party (Zafer Party), at the initiative of the latter party.

Conveying greetings from Victory Party Chairman Ümit Özdag, Hakki Safak Ses expressed his party’s interest in establishing ties with the New Azerbaijan Party. He also asked that the possibility of a delegation representing his party visiting Baku to discuss these matters be considered.

He noted that the Victory Party had viewed with serious dissatisfaction and concern the campaign against Azerbaijan launched recently by certain political circles in Turkiye. The adviser emphasized that Ümit Özdag had made his position clear from the outset, strongly objecting to these developments and unequivocally stressing in all his public statements that no force had the right to interfere in Azerbaijan’s internal affairs.

“Azerbaijan, as an independent and secular state, is free to make its own decisions, and any attempts to interfere in its internal affairs are absolutely unacceptable,” he said.

Referring to a statement issued by the New Azerbaijan Party’s press service on the matter, Hakki Safak Ses noted that YAP’s justified position had also received support from Turkish society.

He stated that the biased views of the 31 individuals declared persona non grata by Azerbaijan and banned from entering the country did not reflect the position of the Turkish people.

“Recent developments have once again confirmed that the Turkish people respect Azerbaijan’s independent and principled policy, which is based on national interests, friendship and brotherhood. All negative developments that undermine Turkish-Azerbaijani unity must be unequivocally prevented. The Victory Party’s position is that concrete legal measures should be taken against individuals in Turkiye who conduct negative propaganda against Azerbaijan,” the adviser added.

Tahir Budagov thanked him for the greetings and asked him to convey his own greetings to Ümit Özdag.

Expressing serious regret over the slanderous and defamatory campaign against Azerbaijan conducted by certain political circles in Turkiye, including individuals holding senior government positions and representing the ruling party, Tahir Budagov thanked the Victory Party and its chairman for their unequivocal support for Azerbaijan’s justified position.

The YAP Deputy Chairman emphasized that launching a biased campaign against Azerbaijan unexpectedly, at a time when relations between Azerbaijan and Turkiye had reached their highest level, was a serious historical mistake.

Recalling Azerbaijan’s significant contributions to solidarity and cooperation across the Turkic world, as well as to strengthening the position of the Organization of Turkic States in the modern system of international relations amid complex geopolitical developments, Tahir Budagov stressed that the current situation was unacceptable, as it also undermined this process.

“Throughout their history, relations between Azerbaijan and Turkiye have faced various challenges. Thanks to the will of our peoples, these relations have overcome every test with honor and emerged even stronger. Today, attempts to exert pressure on our country’s independent policy based on the principle of secularism are unacceptable, and Azerbaijan cannot be made to abandon its chosen path,” he said.

The meeting also addressed prospects for future cooperation between the New Azerbaijan Party and the Victory Party.

A spectacular premiere of Giacomo Puccini’s opera Turandot has taken place on the stage of the Heydar Aliyev Palace. The Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater presented its new production of the famous opera to prolonged applause. The performance featured world-renowned tenor and People’s Artist of Azerbaijan Yusif Eyvazov.

Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, attended the premiere.

The new production of Turandot, staged in Azerbaijan for the first time in 98 years, was specially created for the Baku stage.

The production is directed by Mikayil Mikayilov, with Mustafa Mustafayev serving as set designer. Honored Cultural Worker Tehran Babayev is the production’s executive artist, while Elnur Ismayilov is the director. Honored Artist Sevil Hajiyeva worked on the choral parts as choirmaster. The choreography was created by People’s Artist Madina Aliyeva and Honored Artist Anar Mikayilov.

Three different casts are taking part in the production. Each of the three premiere performances features different soloists in the roles of Turandot and Calaf, as well as a different conductor.

On October 24, the role of Calaf was performed by People’s Artist Yusif Eyvazov, director of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater and one of the country’s most internationally renowned opera singers. The role has become a signature part of Eyvazov’s repertoire. The performance also marked the celebrated tenor’s debut in the role in Azerbaijan.

That evening, Italian soprano Carmen Giannattasio performed the role of Turandot, while Italian maestro Beatrice Venezi conducted the orchestra.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the performance, Eyvazov described the premiere of Turandot as a historic event. He noted that the opera had returned to the Azerbaijani stage after 98 years.

According to the People’s Artist, the new production presented by director Mikayil Mikayilov and set designer Mustafa Mustafayev is of a very high standard. Azerbaijani artists will also be joined by international opera soloists.

Director Mikayilov added that the theater company had devoted considerable effort to the production.

“We hope that audiences will appreciate our efforts and enjoy the performance. This is a landmark event of great significance for our theatrical culture,” he said.

Turandot is one of Giacomo Puccini’s best-known operas. The three-act work is based on the play of the same name by Carlo Gozzi, with a libretto by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni. The opera premiered at Teatro alla Scala in Milan on April 25, 1926, under the baton of Arturo Toscanini.

Audiences in Baku first saw the opera in 1928, just two years after its world premiere. The Baku production was the first staging of Turandot in the Soviet Union.

Puccini worked on Turandot from the summer of 1920 until his death in 1924, but he did not live to complete the work. The opera’s final section was completed by Franco Alfano based on Puccini’s musical sketches.

The plot revolves around the love story of the cruel Princess Turandot and Prince Calaf. As in Gozzi’s fairy tale, Turandot challenges her suitors to solve three riddles, declaring that anyone who answers correctly will win her hand in marriage, while those who fail will be executed.

After a series of trials, Calaf solves the riddles and ultimately marries Turandot, who finally surrenders to the power of his love.