1345 stories
US CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper said Iran, except for humanitarian aid, is deprived of maritime imports and exports. According to him, the US prevented the export of $25 billion worth of Iranian oil, froze crypto assets worth about $350 million, and the Strait of Hormuz remains open to shipping.
Researchers in Hong Kong are creating 3D-printed building blocks from materials that could be sourced on Mars. The mixture of sand, gelatin and genetically modified yeast that secretes adhesive proteins is inspired by freeze-dried fruit. The blocks are being tested under simulated Martian conditions, but equipment delivery and power supply remain obstacles.
The Forestry Agency reported that in the autumn season of 2026, 140 million seedlings are planned to be planted in Uzbekistan. The campaign will proceed in stages by region starting November 1. Also, 257 'green gardens' and parks will be created, about 4,200 'forest mentors' have been assigned to mahallas, and from 2027 the 'Mahalla Greening' package and the 'Yashil Lot' system will be introduced.
On October 12, 2026, a 16-year-old girl died at her home in the Almazar district of Tashkent; the investigation confirmed suicide. The body was discovered by her younger brother born in 2013. The Inson Center organized assistance for the family, the brother is receiving psychological support, and law enforcement agencies are conducting investigative actions.
Game 4 of the MLB playoff series between the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays was postponed to Saturday after heavy rains flooded Progressive Field. The Guardians lead the series 2-1, and four games in four days are now possible.
During the annual IMF and World Bank meetings in Bangkok, hundreds of protesters, including farmers and human rights organizations, demanded a revision of the funds' policies. Oxfam and activists called spending-cut demands misguided amid inflation, while the IMF insists on rebuilding fiscal buffers, and experts speak of 'two bad options' for developing countries.
Chancellor John Healey, speaking at IMF meetings in Bangkok, said airport expansion, including Heathrow's third runway,
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney warned at a rally in Edmonton that forces outside the country are seeking to divide Canada ahead of the Alberta referendum scheduled for Monday. The vote will determine whether a second, binding referendum on the province's separation should be held. Carney also emphasized Alberta's role in Canada's energy independence and the Pacific Link pipeline project.
The British maritime agency UKMTO reported that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains roughly 70% below pre-war levels amid ongoing attacks on commercial vessels. Over the week, 125 outbound and 129 inbound transits were recorded, along with 12 attacks, including the sinking of a container ship after it was struck by a projectile on October 13.
Canadian Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said that the American steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs could be forced to sell its Canadian assets if it cuts up to 500 employees at Stelco. Ottawa cites job-preservation commitments made when Stelco was purchased in 2024 under the Investment Canada Act. Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lorenzo Goncalves called the government's actions 'bullying' and attributed the layoffs to Trump administration tariffs.
During exercises of the Norwegian Home Guard near Oslo Airport, soldiers discovered that rented Chinese Deepal (Changan) cars recorded video from cameras: who got into the vehicles, routes driven, and access codes to military facilities. It is unknown whether the recordings were transmitted to third parties. The army continued using the cars until the end of the exercises and preferred local restrictions to an outright ban.
The IRGC Navy stated that a supertanker carrying more than 2 million barrels of oil struck a sea mine in the Strait of Hormuz, causing an explosion and fire. Iran called the vessel 'illegal' and accused it of disabling navigation systems. US Central Command (CENTCOM) maintains that the strait is controlled by the US and remains open.
A Mexican court sentenced three men to 158 years and nine months in prison each for the murder of brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their friend Carter Rhoad in 2024. The trio was killed during a surfing trip in Baja California during an attempted robbery. The court also ordered the defendants to pay compensation to the victims' families.
California authorities on Friday ordered mandatory evacuations in five zones of Orange County due to the rapidly spreading Norte fire, which started in San Clemente. The fire grew from 10 to 50 acres in roughly 30 minutes, and structures are threatened. In addition, two other fires in Southern California — Henderson and Bryson — remain uncontained.
According to The Economist, the Iranian rial has lost half its value in a year, inflation has reached 90%, and last month, for the first time since 1979, no oil was shipped for export. The US has supplemented sanctions with a military blockade of ports. Whether the pressure will force Tehran to stop the war now in its eighth month remains unknown.
According to the Uzhydromet forecast for October 17, variable cloudiness without precipitation is expected in most regions of Uzbekistan, with temperatures of 20–25 degrees. In Tashkent, 22–24 degrees. Rain is possible in foothill and mountain areas, in high mountains turning to snow in places.
Actor and entrepreneur Mark Wahlberg presented at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco the concept of Municipal Gym — the first club, spanning 32,000 square feet, will open in December near Las Vegas. The project is positioned as an affordable alternative to expensive longevity clubs: for $99, they promise three blood tests and an hour with a doctor, while competitors charge tens of thousands of dollars per year.
The Australian government has introduced the Digital Duty of Care bill to parliament, which would require social media platforms to let users turn off recommended content and see only posts from accounts they follow. The initiative was backed by the 'Fix Our Feeds' campaign; critics, including the Trump administration, fear censorship, while implementation raises doubts given difficulties with the already existing social media ban for children.
