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In the Jarkurgan district of Surkhandarya region, a video spread on social media showing a 5th-grade student of school No. 19 driving a neighbor's Spark car. The regional Road Safety Department (UZAVTODOR/UBDD) reported that a preventive talk was held with the child and his mother, and lawful measures were taken. The boy said he regrets what happened.
According to The New York Times, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez transferred $1 million to the campaign fund of Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. The race is considered one of the most competitive in the 2026 cycle and could be key to control of the Senate.
According to the government Taiz Siege Mitigation Office, Houthi shelling in the south and west of the province killed three civilians and wounded five. The Yemeni army reported repelling a major Houthi attack on the al-Shaqab front and carrying out airstrikes on their positions. The Houthis did not comment on the army's statements.
On Saturday, October 17, the 'No Kings' movement organized more than 3,000 events across the US under the slogan 'No Kings: Vote Early'. Unlike previous actions aimed against Donald Trump's policies, this time the emphasis is on mobilizing voters for the midterm elections on November 3. Organizers call the day nonpartisan; Trump's opponents fear attempts to challenge the results.
The British maritime agency UKMTO reported that a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile approximately 68 nautical miles northeast of Al Jubail in Saudi Arabia. The incident occurred on Friday at 09:00 GMT, but the report arrived with a delay. All crew members were evacuated and, according to the operating company, are safe. No environmental impact was reported.
An environmental photography contest dedicated to nature and the interaction between humans and the environment has announced its results. Belgian documentary photographer Alain Schroeder received the award for best photo story in the ‘Rescuing Orangutans’ category, shot on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Among the winners are also works by Jan Pokluda featuring a red-breasted thrush and by Imre Potó depicting a night forest.
On October 16, 1948, actress Hema Malini was born in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. To mark the date, Gazeta prepared a quiz on her films. Key works: 'Seeta Aur Geeta' (1972), 'Sholay' (Revenge and Law), 'The Gardener', 'Veer-Zaara'.
White House Press Secretary Katia Zacharia is leaving the post five days after her appointment, The New York Times and other outlets reported. The White House confirmed she is 'transitioning out' of the role. Trump denied firing her and said he advised her to 'reconsider'. The appointment sparked controversy over Zacharia's claims of being a lawyer: she admitted she never took the bar exam. Her first briefing lasted less than 15 minutes.
Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally, promises to cut France's contributions to the EU budget and stop funding Ukraine six months after winning the presidential election. Experts warn this could undermine the entire system of European aid to Kyiv, including a €90 billion loan. Zelensky responded that Le Pen is 'not familiar with the details,' while Meloni confirmed that support for Ukraine remains unchanged.
In the Jarkurgan district of the Surkhandarya region, a fifth-grade student drove a neighbor's Chevrolet Spark and posted a video online. According to the road safety department of the regional internal affairs directorate, a preventive talk was held with the child and his mother. It is reported that lawful measures were taken, but their nature is not specified.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung addressed citizens on the social network X, urging them not to give up on life and to seek help from professionals. According to official data, 14,144 people died by suicide in the country in 2025; the rate fell from 29.1 to 27.8 per 100,000 population but remains the highest in the OECD. From January to July 2026, the number of such deaths decreased by 12.3%. The government approved a prevention program through 2030 aimed at reducing the rate to 18.9.
A study published in the journal Pollutants covered the territory from the Altai foothills to the Arctic Circle. Snow samples were collected in 2021–2023 at 23 stations. Scientists noted an increase in average microplastic content, a predominance of fibers, and a rise in the chemical hazard index of polymers while the potential ecological risk remained low.
Paris 2024 Olympic judo champion Diyora Keldiyorova will compete at the Aktau Asian Open 2026 in Kazakhstan — her first competition in two years. She will enter her usual category, up to 52 kg. In total, 25 judokas will represent Uzbekistan, and the tournament concludes on October 18.
The Russian Embassy in Saudi Arabia, in an interview with Izvestia, recommended that Russian citizens not travel to the kingdom until air service is restored. The reason was the temporary suspension of Riyadh airport operations after Houthi attacks: in October, King Khalid International Airport was hit by five major attacks, the most destructive on October 10 killed 18 people. No evacuation of Russians is planned.
Pakistan's Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, speaking to AFP on the sidelines of the annual IMF and World Bank meetings in Bangkok, said the country has so far withstood the shock of rising energy prices caused by the war with Iran, but strikes on the infrastructure of Saudi Arabia and Gulf states raise concerns about the long-term outlook.
Minister of Preschool and School Education Erkinjon Turdimov said the meeting discussed measures to reduce bureaucratic burden on teachers, cut the number of meetings and raise their status. The quality of preschool preparation and improvement of school standards were also considered.
As a result of overnight exchanges of strikes between Russia and Ukraine, three people were killed and 35 wounded. Zelensky said Russia attacked more than 15 energy facilities — one of the largest strikes on the sector. The Russian Armed Forces reported intercepting 610 Ukrainian drones, while Ukraine reported 293 downed targets out of more than 330 launched.
In the Tashkent region, a large drug crime group consisting of members of a transnational criminal community was detained while attempting to smuggle drugs from a neighboring republic. The group's leader, previously convicted, was caught red-handed during the seizure of 13 kg of hashish from a stash. In the Buka district, a drug dealer was detained while selling 2 kg of opium for $20,000. The total weight of seized drugs is equivalent to 75,000 single doses; criminal cases have been opened.
