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North Korea announced the test of two types of submarine-launched cruise missiles off its east coast. This came a day after Kim Jong Un's visit to a defense industry museum and several days after South Korea's hypersonic missile test. Experts note that hypersonic weapons are a new manifestation of a long-standing arms race but do not change the balance of power.
Aziz KarimovA hot and dry summer, which ECIU says would have been practically impossible without climate change, cut Europe's grain harvest forecast by roughly 16.7 million tonnes and cost farmers more than €3 billion. Farmers in Spain, Germany and Sweden describe how crop diversification and soil restoration help them survive droughts and frosts, and call on authorities to change the support system. A hot and dry summer, which ECIU calls virtually impossible without climate change, cut Europe's grain harvest forecast by roughly 16.7 million tonnes and cost farmers more than €3 billion. Farmers in Spain, Germany and Sweden describe how crop diversification and soil restoration help them survive droughts and frosts, and they call on authorities to change the support system.
Aziz KarimovBerlin has urged Zagreb to constructively resolve bilateral disagreements that threaten to derail Montenegro's EU accession — the most advanced candidate. Croatia previously handed over a list of eight demands. Germany, France and Luxembourg are pressuring Zagreb, while the European Commission is involved in talks between the parties.
Aziz KarimovGermany's Federal Minister of Labour and SPD co-leader Bärbel Bas announced her departure from all government and party posts after the death of her stepdaughter. She said the decision was also influenced by intensified public attacks from the CDU/CSU. According to Süddeutsche Zeitung, Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized her work pace while knowing about her personal tragedy; his chancellery neither confirmed nor denied this.
Aziz KarimovThe World Health Organization called on states to strengthen protection of populations from lead poisoning. According to the organization's estimate, lead exposure causes more than 3.5 million deaths annually, and hundreds of millions of children are at risk. The statement was made ahead of International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (October 18–24).
Aziz KarimovUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with the Financial Times that the moratorium on strikes against Russian energy infrastructure has ended. Donald Trump called the resumption of strikes a 'disgrace' and said Zelensky is harder to negotiate with than Putin. The Kremlin claims Kyiv is coming into conflict with US peace efforts, while Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy system continue.
Aziz KarimovThe European Environment Agency on 13 October published the report 'Competitiveness by nature', proposing six 'no-regret' measures: from climate adaptation and the circular economy to AI, education, public trust and EU leadership in global standards. According to the agency, sustainable development strengthens rather than undermines Europe's competitiveness.
Aziz KarimovA federal court of the Southern District of California ordered the resumption of registration in the Diversity Visa program for fiscal year 2027. Under the court ruling, Secretary of State Marco Rubio must open registration on October 18 by midnight Eastern Time, with an application period of 30 days. The lottery was suspended in December 2025 after the shooting at Brown University.
Aziz KarimovOn October 15, 2026, a shooting took place at an elementary school in the city of Bend, Oregon. According to local police, three children and one teacher were killed. According to CNN, the shooting was carried out by a 16-year-old teenager, who was detained by a local resident before police arrived. This is the 36th school shooting in the United States since the beginning of 2026.
Aziz KarimovAfter Russian strikes on the evening of October 15, part of Kyiv was left without electricity and water pressure dropped — reported by Ukraine's Ministry of Energy and Mayor Vitali Klitschko. In Lutsk, debris of downed drones damaged power lines. The New York Times, citing Gazeta, reports a Russian plan to attack the power systems of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa, which, according to estimates, could leave the cities with almost 90% of their electricity cut off.
Aziz KarimovDonald Trump said in a Newsmax interview that the conflict in Ukraine will eventually be resolved, but, in his view, possibly without Zelensky's involvement, since he 'does not want a deal.' Trump also criticized Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil refineries and noted that negotiating with Zelensky is harder than with Putin.
Aziz KarimovMass protests continue in the capital of Albania for the third day in a row. Demonstrators threw stones and firecrackers at police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons; fires broke out in the city center, and shops and banks were damaged. What began as student protests against the cost and quality of higher education escalated into a challenge to the government of Prime Minister Edi Rama: protesters joined the Flamingo movement, which opposes a resort project linked to Jared Kushner.
Aziz KarimovThe National Statistics Committee reported that in 2025 the country registered 46.8 thousand fewer births than in 2024. The President announced plans to transfer liquefied gas supply to the private sector by 2027. Fines for early marriages have also been increased, the tuition contract payment deadline in universities has been extended, and in Tashkent complaints about the smell of hot water are being investigated.
Aziz KarimovThe administration of St. Petersburg has banned foreign citizens working on the basis of a work patent from employment in medicine, hairdressing, cosmetology, retail trade, and physical culture. The restrictions are in effect until the end of 2026 and do not apply to citizens of EAEU countries or foreigners with a work permit. Employers have been given a deadline of December 15. The authorities explain the measures as a fight against informal employment.
Aziz KarimovOn October 15, a shooting occurred at an elementary school in the US. According to DW citing local police, three children aged five, eight, and eleven, as well as a teacher, were killed. According to CNN, the shooter was a 16-year-old teenager who, according to police reports, was shot dead before law enforcement arrived. The number of injured remains unknown.
Aziz KarimovBy Presidential Decree PQ-375 dated October 14, 2026, a child center named 'Najot' based on the 'Barnahus' model is being established in Samarkand. Procedural actions with minor victims will be carried out in specialized rooms, recorded on video, and may be used in court without summoning the child. Starting in 2027, child victims and witnesses will receive free legal assistance from specially trained lawyers.
Aziz KarimovActing Head of the UNICEF Office in Uzbekistan Geoffrey Ijumba welcomed the signing of a law aimed at improving the system of protecting children from all forms of violence. According to him, the changes expand state legal aid for affected children and strengthen accountability in educational institutions. The upcoming opening of the 'Najot' center based on the Barnahus model was also noted.
Aziz KarimovDeputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva told Euronews that Zelensky received an invitation to the events on 23 October marking the 70th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution. The visit has not yet been confirmed. The day before, Ukraine adopted a law on the educational rights of minorities, after which the EU opened two new accession negotiation clusters — four out of six in total. On Friday, at the EU summit in Brussels, Zelensky's first bilateral meeting with the Hungarian prime minister is scheduled.
Aziz Karimov
