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Aziz Karimov
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Aziz Karimov

Aziz Karimov — tafs uz coverage of world. News, key facts and context in English, Uzbek and Russian.

Editorial pseudonym. These names are tafs uz editorial pseudonyms. Portraits are illustrations; profiles identify the publication’s topic bylines rather than individual journalists’ biographies. The tafs uz editorial desk is responsible for the publications.

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World

Beijing is aging: by 2035 a third of residents will be over 60

According to Beijing Daily, by 2035 the share of Beijing residents over 60 will exceed 33%, which could make the city a 'super-aged' megapolis. At the end of 2025, the city was home to 5.29 million people over 60 — 24.3% of the permanent population. The authorities are strengthening support measures for the elderly, while China, according to Reuters estimates, will allocate about 180 billion yuan in 2026 to programs aimed at boosting the birth rate.

Aziz Karimov
1 min read
World

UN WFP cuts Gaza aid by a third due to funding shortfall

The UN World Food Programme announced it is cutting food aid in Gaza by roughly a third: about 500,000 people will lose monthly support, with the number of recipients falling from 1.6 million to 1.1 million. Rations have been halved, hot meals reduced from 250,000 to 150,000 per day, and cash payments reduced for 75,000 families. The reason is a funding shortfall: the organization lacks $450 million for the next six months. According to the UN, 1.4 million people in Gaza, two-thirds of the population, fac

Aziz Karimov
4 min read
World

Alberta votes on question of referendum on secession from Canada

Residents of the Canadian province of Alberta vote Monday on 10 questions, the main one being whether to begin the process toward a binding referendum on secession. Prime Minister Mark Carney calls for unity amid a trade war with the US, while polls show support for independence at less than a quarter of residents.

Aziz Karimov
4 min read
World

OECD publishes PISA results: leadership of China, Singapore and Macao amid declining basic skills

The OECD presented PISA results in September 2026, involving more than 760,000 15-year-old students from 91 countries and economies. Four regions of China lead in science (597) and mathematics (612), Singapore in reading literacy (535), and Macao in computational problem solving (572). A decline in OECD countries' average scores over 2015–2025 and a growing share of students not reaching the baseline level were noted.

Aziz Karimov
2 min read
World

More than 200 arrested in Milan on second day of riots over cost of living

In Milan, on the second day of clashes during a protest against the cost of living, police arrested more than 200 people since Saturday. Police used tear gas and water cannons, and shops near the Duomo square were looted. Mayor Giuseppe Sala spoke of a 'new phenomenon', while Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called a security meeting for Monday.

Aziz Karimov
2 min read
World

Birdwatching becomes the leading travel trend: 2027 promises to be the 'year of birdwatching'

Tour operators report a sharp rise in demand for ornithological tours: GetYourGuide reports a 65% year-on-year growth in bookings from January to August 2026, while Voyageurs du Monde reports a 57% rise in the second half of the year. Experts name the Danube Delta, northern Greece, Portugal and Iceland as the best destinations in Europe, while the AllClear Travel ranking is topped by Manu National Park in Peru and the Tambopata Reserve.

Aziz Karimov
3 min read
World

Japanese PM Takaichi sends offering to Yasukuni Shrine, China protests

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday sent a personal monetary offering to Yasukuni Shrine on the occasion of the autumn festival, and earlier sent a ritual masakaki offering. The shrine was also visited by the land minister and a ruling party representative. China's Foreign Ministry lodged a stern protest, calling the shrine a symbol of Japanese militarism.

Aziz Karimov
2 min read
World

Pennsylvania residents reject $10,000 checks from data center developer

In Hazle Township, Pennsylvania, developer NorthPoint Development is offering every household $10,000 and a $165 million fund to win support for a data center construction project. Residents call the offer a bribe and continue their resistance: a court has halted construction, and local authorities have imposed a moratorium. The conflict reflects a growing wave of protests against data centers across the US ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

Aziz Karimov
3 min read
World

Uzbekistan's population exceeds 39.5 million — National Statistics Committee data as of October 1, 2026

According to the National Statistics Committee, as of October 1, 2026, the permanent population of Uzbekistan stood at 39,535,225 people — 692.2 thousand (1.8%) more than a year earlier. The calculations take into account the census results. Samarkand (4.46 million) and Fergana (4.29 million) regions lead, while Syrdarya region has the fewest residents (965 thousand).

Aziz Karimov
1 min read
World

French government under pressure after weekend of mass riots and looting

After Saturday, when more than half a million people protested against rising prices and deteriorating public services, followed by riots, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is convening an emergency cabinet meeting. Around 1,000 police officers were injured and some 1,500 shops were looted. Macron addressed the nation, but his speech was criticised for lacking specifics.

Aziz Karimov
3 min read
World

Thousands take to the streets across Europe over the rising cost of living

Over the past weekend, mass protests against rising prices, unaffordable housing, low wages and overstretched public services took place in several European countries. In France, according to Euronews, between 550,000 and 800,000 people took to the streets; a number of cities saw riots with arson and looting. Actions were also held in Belgium, Portugal and Italy.

Aziz Karimov
3 min read
World

Pensions at the Center of Spain's Election Campaign: Deficit, Public Debt and the Baby Boom

After Pedro Sánchez called early elections for 29 November 2026, Spain's pension system is again at the center of debate. The monthly pension bill has reached a record ~€14.5 billion, the social security deficit is at its lowest since 2011 (0.4% of GDP), but more than 20% of the system's revenues are state budget transfers, and the debt to the treasury has exceeded €136 billion. Experts disagree: Fedea puts the underlying deficit at ~€70 billion (4.15% of GDP). Ahead lies the mass retirement of the baby-boom generation.

Aziz Karimov
5 min read
World

Talarico and Paxton Face Off in Texas: A Battle for a U.S. Senate Seat

On November 3, 2026, U.S. Senate elections will be held in Texas, where Democrat James Talarico, a 37-year-old former teacher and seminary student, will face Republican Ken Paxton, the 63-year-old state attorney general and MAGA supporter. Both appeal to Christianity, but offer opposing visions of policy. The race has proven competitive in a state where Democrats have not won a statewide election since 1994.

Aziz Karimov
4 min read
World

Second Day of Protests at Colombia's National Museum Over Removal of More Than 30 Exhibits

Clashes between demonstrators and police continued for a second consecutive day outside the National Museum in Bogota. The trigger was an order from the administration of President Abelardo de la Espriella to remove more than 30 exhibits dedicated to feminist movements, LGBTIQA+ rights, and the campaigns of Carlos Pizarro. The authorities call the action a 'cultural counter-revolution' and say political indoctrination in museums is unacceptable.

Aziz Karimov
2 min read
World

Putin proposed a trilateral summit with Trump and Xi on Ukraine on the sidelines of APEC in Shenzhen

According to The Wall Street Journal, during his October 9 call with Trump, Putin proposed a trilateral meeting with Xi Jinping in November on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen. Trump did not agree but is open to the idea. Peskov confirmed that discussions are ongoing. Ukraine is not expected to take part in the talks; Zelensky criticizes the easing of pressure on Moscow.

Aziz Karimov
4 min read
World

IRGC: Tanker hits mine and catches fire in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that an oil tanker in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz struck a naval mine, causing a fire on board the vessel. According to the IRGC, the tanker had switched off all positioning and navigation systems since the start of its voyage and attempted to pass along an 'unauthorized' southern route. This is already the third such incident in several days.

Aziz Karimov
2 min read