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Turkmenistan to Chair the CIS in 2026: Highlights from the Leaders’ Summit in Dushanbe

11 Oct. 07:07

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On October 10, 2025, Dushanbe hosted a meeting of CIS leaders.
The capital of Tajikistan welcomed the heads of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Among the participants were President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, along with leaders from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, as well as the CIS Secretary General.

Turkmenistan Takes Over the CIS Chairmanship
A major outcome of the summit was the decision to grant Turkmenistan the CIS chairmanship in 2026. This move highlights Turkmenistan’s growing regional role and its commitment to neutrality and diplomacy. The next CIS summit is scheduled to take place in Turkmenistan in October 2026.

Security and Economic Cooperation in Focus
The leaders exchanged views on key challenges facing the region and adopted several joint initiatives. A new anti-terrorism and extremism cooperation program for 2026–2028 was approved, aiming to enhance legal frameworks, joint action mechanisms, and training.

Additionally, the CIS members endorsed a border security strategy running through 2030 to better protect the outer perimeters of member states.

In the economic domain, the summit yielded a declaration on regional energy security, focused on ensuring reliable energy supplies and safeguarding the stability of the fuel and energy systems.

Launch of the “CIS Plus” Platform
A significant innovation was the establishment of the “CIS Plus” format. This new platform is designed to foster cooperation between CIS members and external partners — including countries and international organizations — enhancing political dialogue and expanding trade and humanitarian ties.

The summit also saw the adoption of statements on global and historic matters, such as combating transnational crime and commemorating the anniversaries of the UN’s founding and the Chernobyl disaster.

















Singapore Pledges Up to $55,000 Per Child to Boost Falling Birth Rates

24 Aug. 12:48

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Facing a record drop in fertility rates, Singapore is significantly expanding its family support framework. According to Bloomberg, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced increases in direct financial assistance alongside enhanced housing benefits for young families.

Under the updated policy, every Singaporean child up to the age of 17 will be eligible to receive up to 70,000 Singapore dollars (approximately $55,000 USD) in total support, which includes cash payouts, educational grants, and related benefits. The government is also expanding paid parental leave and capping monthly out-of-pocket costs for government-subsidized childcare at 150 Singapore dollars.

These interventions aim to reverse a severe demographic decline, marked by last year's fertility rate drop to 0.87 children per woman, while over 20% of the country's population is currently aged 65 or older.