AKIPRESS.COM - With the new year's quickly approaching, it's the time of the year to remind our readers Top 10 most read news of AKIPRESS.COM in 2018:

Women in Turkmenistan banned to drive cars

Authorities banned women in Turkmenistan to drive the car in the middle of December 2017 regardless of existence of driving licenses. In January 2018, the patrol police started seizing women’s driving licenses and impounding cars.

President of Kazakhstan approves a new Kazakh alphabet based on Latin script

In February 2018, President of Kazakhstan signed a decree approving a new Kazakh alphabet based on Latin script. The change should be fully effective by 2025.

The new Latin alphabet of Kazakh language consisting of 32 letters was approved in October 2017.

9 tons of gold spilled out of cargo plane in Yakutia

9 tons of gold, diamonds and platinumspilled out of a cargo plane in Yakutia on March 15 when the An-12 plane's door broke down during the take off from the airport, eyewitnesses told YakutiaMedia news agency.

The police cordoned off the runway where the precious metals scattered and switched the airport to an enhanced control mode. 

Presidents of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Uzbekistan and the Prime Minister of Hungary to attend World Nomad Games opening ceremony

Presidents of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Uzbekistan and the Prime Minister of Hungary confirmed their attendance at the opening ceremony of the 3rd World Nomad Games. The 3rd WNG opened on September 2 in Cholpon-Ata, Issyk-Kul.

Moment of attack on tourists in Tajikistan caught on camera (video)

Radio Ozodi received a footage from unknown author showing the moment of attack on a group of foreign tourists in Tajikistan. 

Footage shows how a car that hit the tourists turns around and hits them again in an apparent intended attack. 

The tourists were attacked on July 29. 4 foreigners, including 2 Americans, 1 citizen of the Netherlands and 1 citizen of Switzerland were killed in hit-and-run. 3 others were injured.

Trafficking 'Tears of Allah' heroin in juice bottles from Afghanistan to Canada through Kyrgyzstan foiled

Kyrgyz anti-drug police foiled drug trafficking channel from Afghanistan to Canada through the territory of Kyrgyzstan (Bishkek).

The perpetrators transported heroin in juice bottles, the Interior Ministry said in a statement on March 20.

Citizens of Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Canada were involved in the drug trafficking.

The suspects are accused of setting up a channel for smuggling of hard drugs made in Afghanistan. The highly-addictive liquid heroin which is called ''Tears of Allah'' was transported by trucks en route Djelalabad (Afghanistan) — Khujand (Tajikistan) — Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) in juice bottles.

Helicopter of Kyrgyz Air Defense Forces crashes injuring 4

MI-8 helicopter of the Kyrgyz Air Defense Forces crashed during the rescue operation on July 9, the General Staff reported. 

The strong wind is blamed for the accident.

4 people were injured in a crash, the statement said.

Helicopter with mountain climbers makes crash landing in Tajikistan, one dies

During transportation of mountain climbers, who ascended to the Isomoili Somoni peak in Tajikistan, the Mi-8 helicopter had a heavy touchdown at the Fortambek glacier, the Emergency Committee of Tajikistan said.

The helicopter had a crash landing at the Fortambek glacier on August 12 at the height of 4,200 meters, spokesperson Umeda Yusufi said.

A governmental commission was set up to investigate reasons and circumstances of the incident. Two helicopters with rescuers and health professionals were dispatched to the place of the incident, she said.

The helicopter was carrying 13 tourists from Russia, one national of Belarus, one Spanish citizen. According to preliminary report, one died as a result of crash landing.

Black cars banned in Turkmenistan since 2018

Exploitation of black cars in Turkmenistan was banned since January 2018.

The new requirements led to the increase of prices of services for repainting cars in car-care centers. Painting of car before cost $500, now it costs already $1000.

Import of black cars in Turkmenistan was banned since January 2015. At that time, the customs officials could not explain the ban.

President of Kyrgyzstan rules to sack Government of Sapar Isakov

President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbai Jeenbekov ruled to sack the Government of Kyrgyzstan on April 19, 2018 after the Parliament voted to express no confidence in the Government.

On April 17, the minority coalition of the parliament found the government's job done in 2017 unsatisfactory citing non-execution of the state budget of $3.335 billion, ineffective preparation for the heating season, lack of state control over the modernization of the Bishkek CHPP, failing to pilot launch on time the Safe City project in two cities, and drafting of an unfavorable for Kyrgyzstan agreement on Kumtor mine.

Isakov, 40, was appointed as the Prime Minister on August 26, 2017 by then-President Almazbek Atambayev.