At its inaugural meeting, the Management Council of the Tamchy Special Financial Investment Territory (Tamchy SFIT) appointed its senior leadership. Aiaz Baetov, remaining in his capacity as Minister of Justice, has been elected Chair of the Council, Ali Ijaz Ahmad and Bakyt Sydykov (remaining in his position of the Minister of Economy and Commerce) have been appointed as Deputy Chairs.

These activities marked a decisive shift from legislative groundwork to operational readiness for the Tamchy SFIT. The newly appointed leadership team is mandated to build a fully functioning Managing Company before it launches resident operations.

The meeting also approved the financial centre’s development plan, internal operating procedures, and an inaugural package of regulatory measures. The Managing Company has been charged with completing the full regulatory framework, designing the resident services ecosystem, and establishing the International Centre for Dispute Resolution, which will resolve disputes under common law principles.

The council also established the Managing Company, appointing Talantbek Imanov as its Head. The ManagingCompany will serve as the SFIT’s principal operating body, responsible for resident registration, licensing, and infrastructure development across a territory of approximately 6,000 hectares.

Alongside the regulatory build-out, SFIT Tamchy is also actively expanding its team. Qualification standards for key roles have been established and applications are open for core positions. Recruitment is already under way across the centre, including the selection of a Chair and judges for the International Centre for Dispute Resolutionwith recognised international

credentials. A search is under way for candidates of international standing who will refresh the initial composition and strengthen the Council.

In the summer of 2026, the SFIT’s first business centre — housing the offices of the Managing Company — will open on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul, marking the launch of formal engagement with businesses and theonboarding of its first residents.

“The Tamchy SFIT is being established as a favourable jurisdiction for international capital deployed across Central Asia: grounded in English common law principles, served by independent justice, and operated to the standards investors expect of leading financial centres,” said Aiaz Baetov, Chair of the Tamchy SFIT Management Council.

“Issyk-Kul sits at the intersection of the region’s largest markets — Central Asia, China, and the Middle East. Yet the nearest international financial centre is thousands ofkilometres away. Companies tend to operate out ofjurisdictions that offer transparent rules, professional teams, and independent arbitration. That is precisely theinfrastructure we are building here from scratch as acritical linchpin to support the region’s growing economic integration,” said Ali Ijaz Ahmad, Deputy Chair of the Tamchy SFIT Management Council.

Former presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has distanced himself from a viral report claiming he won 45 million votes in a purported presidential primary election of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), describing the report as false and misleading.

The claim, which circulated widely on social media and some online platforms, alleged that Obi emerged victorious in an imaginary party primary held by the NDC.

However, the Peter Obi Media Office has dismissed the report in its entirety, stating that no such political party primary ever took place.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the media office spokesperson, Ibrahim Umar, the figures being circulated were described as “entirely false” and without any basis in reality.

“The attention of the Peter Obi Media Office has been drawn to certain 45 million primary vote figures currently circulating on social media and various news platforms, purporting to be the breakdown of official results from an imaginary primary by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), ascribed to Mr Peter Obi,” the statement read.

The office clarified that no primary election was conducted and no results or figures were generated from any such process, urging the public, supporters, and media organisations to disregard the report.

It further stressed that official information regarding Mr. Obi’s political engagements would only be released through verified and authorised communication channels.

The statement also accused those behind the publication of attempting to misrepresent and drag the former presidential candidate into fraudulent narratives.

Former Southampton and Royal Antwerp forward Victor Udoh has died at the age of 21 in Nigeria, with reports describing the circumstances of his death as “under suspicious circumstances.”

According to the Mirror UK, Udoh was found dead in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, although the exact cause of death remains unknown at the time of reporting.

The Mirror UK reports that the young striker had recently returned to Nigeria following the end of his stint with Czech club Dynamo České Budějovice, which he joined after leaving Southampton in 2025.

Udoh, who previously signed for Southampton on a three-and-a-half-year deal, spent seven months at the club but did not make a senior appearance before departing by mutual consent in search of regular playing time.

Before his move to England, he had been with Belgian side Royal Antwerp, where he rose through the ranks after joining from Abuja-based Hypebuzz. He impressed at reserve level, scoring 12 goals in 21 matches, and later made 28 first-team appearances for the club.

Reports show that he was regarded as a promising talent during his early career in Europe, with his development attracting attention before his move to Southampton.

Further details surrounding his death have not yet been confirmed by authorities. (Vanguard)