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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.
The Wall Street Journal, citing sources close to Saudi intelligence, reports that Iran provided Yemeni Houthis with assistance in attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil infrastructure, energy facilities and airports, including an attack on Riyadh airport in which, according to reports, more than 10 people were killed. The assistance included operating drones and missiles, training specialists and sharing intelligence. In July, two flights were made from Iran to Houthi-controlled areas.
On the night of October 16, four Moscow airports and Pulkovo temporarily suspended operations due to the threat of Ukrainian drone attacks. Restrictions were also in effect at airports in Penza, Saratov, Ufa and other cities. According to Agentstvo's calculations, in the first two weeks of October the total time of restrictions at Moscow airports reached 101 hours, compared to 46 hours in September.
On 17 October large-scale actions will take place in France: according to a source close to the Interior Ministry, 500 actions and around 90 protests are planned. 'Yellow vests' may join the student demonstrations, which have lasted four weeks. The authorities fear violence, the police union has filed a complaint against the state, and the number of injured police officers has reached 937.
According to DW, Donald Trump used his right to temporarily postpone the sanctions provided for by Lindsey Graham's bill, known as the 'hell sanctions.' Postponed are 500-percent tariffs on Russian goods and 100-percent tariffs on products from countries helping Moscow circumvent restrictions. The duration of the decision is not defined.
Representatives of Uzbekistan's Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Digital Technologies held an online meeting with Ericsson's leadership. The company called Uzbekistan a strategically important market and outlined possible areas of cooperation: 5G networks, radio systems, and upgrading telecom infrastructure. A visit by an Ericsson delegation to the country is planned by the end of 2026.
Danish jewellery company Pandora has opened a plant in Ho Chi Minh City that it calls the world's largest production complex for jewellery made of precious metals. The investment amounted to $150 million, capacity is up to 60 million items per year, and employment is 7,000 people. The plant will be Pandora's first production facility outside Thailand.
On the evening of October 16, Kharkiv was hit by a second series of missile strikes in one day; Dnipro was also shelled. According to local authorities, one person was killed and four wounded in Dnipro. In the morning strikes on Kharkiv, two people died and 22 were injured. The mayor reported the use of an S-8000 'Banderol' missile.
In the village of Neftchilar, Bulakbashin district (Andijan region), after the October 10 crash involving a HOWO truck that, according to official data, claimed three lives, residents spoke of a years-long series of accidents on the descent from the pass. Authorities cite the absence of an alternative road and the need for funding.
According to data cited by Kun.uz, over 10 million foreign tourists came to Uzbekistan in nine months. Kyrgyzstan led in visitor numbers with 2,844,201 people, followed by Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. The three Central Asian countries account for about 73% of the total flow.
