Otabek Yusupov — tafs uz coverage of world. News, key facts and context in English, Uzbek and Russian.
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At the 52nd session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Baghdad, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran may not join the draft resolution on Yemen if, in his words, justice and balance are not included in it. He also noted that the '7-day plan' for negotiations with the US remains on the table.
Otabek YusupovOn the night of October 18, Russia and Ukraine exchanged massive strikes. Drones hit an oil terminal and an Ozon warehouse in St. Petersburg, a VK data center in Leningrad Oblast; one person was killed and five injured in the city. According to the Ukrainian side, two people were killed and 12 injured as a result of Russian strikes. Russian air defense reported 1,015 drones shot down.
Otabek YusupovFarewell ceremonies and funerals for 75 people, including women and children, whose remains were recovered from the rubble of homes destroyed by Israeli strikes in the first months of the war, were held in Gaza City on Saturday and Sunday. According to Gaza's civil defence, the dead belonged to roughly 20 families. The agency continues search operations but faces a shortage of equipment.
Otabek YusupovUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio departed for Samarkand to take part on October 19 in a meeting of the foreign ministers of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan in the 'C5+1' format. He is accompanied by a delegation of American business. Before departure, Rubio explained the timing of the visit as a convenient time for the region's leaders and emphasized Washington's desire to strengthen relations with partners.
Otabek YusupovAt the World Travel Awards Europe 2026 ceremony, held on 17 October in the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro, Lisbon won the titles of Europe's leading city destination and leading cruise destination. Portugal was named Europe's leading destination, Montenegro the leading nature destination, while Turkish Airlines and Zurich Airport topped the transport categories.
Otabek YusupovIran's parliament on October 18 approved Mehrdad Ahlaki Ketabchi as defense minister: 237 votes in favor, 15 against. He replaces Aziz Nasirzade, who died on February 28 at the start of the US and Israeli attack. Ahlaki declared readiness to respond to possible use of the American GBU-43/B bomb and promised an 'unexpected and large-scale' response in case of a new attack.
Otabek YusupovThe Rome Court of Appeal is due in October 2026 to decide the fate of the 'Giudizio Universale' case — Italy's first climate lawsuit against the state, filed in 2021 by the group A Sud together with more than 200 organizations and citizens. In 2024, the court of first instance refused to hear the case on its merits, holding that civil courts have no authority to assess the government's climate policy. The plaintiffs appealed, citing precedents and new scientific data.
Otabek YusupovNATO fighters escorted an unidentified object, believed to be a drone, in Lithuania's Biržai district near the Latvian border on Sunday morning. According to the Latvian army, the object was likely not shot down and may have exploded on its own. The day before, Romania reported downing two Geran-family drones over the Black Sea.
Otabek YusupovSouth Korean Prime Minister Han Song Sook stated that Seoul will seek to resume dialogue with Pyongyang and peaceful coexistence of the two Korean states.
Otabek YusupovOn the night of October 18, Saint Petersburg and the Leningrad Region came under a massive drone attack. Governor Alexander Beglov reported fires at civilian infrastructure facilities and an oil terminal, restrictions on Pulkovo airport operations, and no casualties. Leningrad Region Governor Alexander Drozdenko stated that 126 drones were shot down. VK confirmed an attack on its data center but assured that its services are operating normally, although monitoring services recorded an increase in complaints about VKontakte.
Otabek YusupovEmmanuel Macron arrived in Kuwait on October 19, beginning a tour of four Gulf countries — followed by the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar. The visit is timed to the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations and will be the first visit by a French leader to Kuwait since Nicolas Sarkozy in 2009.
Otabek YusupovThe Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan announced that on October 18–22 traffic will be periodically restricted in Samarkand on the city's entry roads and 16 central streets. The reason is the meeting of the foreign ministers of Central Asia and the United States in the C5+1 format (October 19–20) and the global summit on children's well-being (October 21–22), which are expected to be attended by guests from more than 100 countries. A number of exceptions and detour routes are in effect.
Otabek YusupovRescuers evacuated dozens of critically endangered orangutans from forest fire zones in Kalimantan and Sumatra. Months of smog have worsened air quality in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and East Timor, affected around 2,400 flights and led to school closures. Malaysia proposed a regional cooperation mechanism within ASEAN.
Otabek YusupovOn October 16, officers of the Tashkent Traffic Police (UBD) held a 'preventive event' at school No. 183 in the Chilanzar district, during which three nine-year-old pupils who rode in the front seat of their fathers' cars were called to the front of the class and told their parents would be summoned to draw up a protocol. A video published by the UBD press secretary gained 7.7 million views and drew criticism. The Ministry of Preschool and School Education said the event had not been coordinated, and the children's ombudsperson and human rights activists called the actions a violation of children's rights.
Otabek YusupovAccording to Eurostat, in 2025 12.1% of EU residents (about 46 million people aged over 16) could not afford regular leisure due to the costs involved. The highest rate is in Greece (27.3%), the lowest in Croatia (3.9%). Leisure is less accessible to women than to men, and income level explains only part of the differences between countries.
Otabek YusupovThe British agency UKMTO reported that a tug traveling south was struck by two unknown projectiles northeast of Khor Fakkan in the UAE. One person sustained minor injuries, the vessel was damaged but continued on its way. The exact time of the incident has not yet been confirmed.
Otabek YusupovAFP describes one day in the life of Kyiv resident Anastasia Zhmutska, who combines caring for her three children, working at a hospital, and living under constant air strikes and power outages. Since January, more than 190 people have been killed in Kyiv, and attacks on the power grid have led to electricity disruptions.
Otabek YusupovOfficers of the Tashkent Region Police Department and Nurafshan Police, together with the Cybercrime Fighting Department, stopped a Nexia 3 in the Bektemir district of Tashkent and found eight packages of hashish weighing 100–150 grams each hidden in a passenger's baby doll. According to the MVD, 56-year-old G.A. was transporting drugs from Ferghana Region for sale; in an MVD video she said an acquaintance had promised her $200 for delivering the packages. A criminal case has been opened under Part 6 of Article 273 of the Criminal Code.
Otabek Yusupov
