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Technology

Sponge cities: how Europe is learning to turn rain from a problem into a resource

The 'sponge city' concept, developed in China in the early 2000s, involves absorbing, retaining and reusing rainwater through green spaces and permeable surfaces. European cities including Malmö, Rotterdam and Copenhagen are already applying similar solutions, and the European Commission is promoting them in the 2025 Water Resilience Strategy. Experts warn: sponge cities are a powerful but not universal tool for protection against floods and drought.

4 min read
World

Poland plans to give railway security authority to neutralize drones

The Polish government has published a draft amendment to the railway transport law expanding the powers of the Railway Security Service (SOK): use of counter-drone means, use of weapons to destroy drones, recording of interventions and pursuit of suspects on private territory. The measure follows sabotage on the Warsaw–Lublin line in November and comes amid concerns over Russian hybrid operations.

2 min read
World

Travel designers, privacy and wellness: the main luxury tourism trends of 2027

According to industry reports from Virtuoso, Lemongrass and Signature Travel Network, luxury tourism in 2027 is shifting from conspicuous opulence to thoughtfulness: privacy, 'travel designers', slow train journeys and river cruises are in vogue, along with hotels that help guests recover. Europe will take seven of the ten spots in the top destinations ranking.

4 min read
Economy

Experts: Renewables growth saved Turkey $21.5 billion on fuel imports over the decade

Global Energy Monitor analysts note that over ten years Turkey has almost entirely abandoned new coal projects: of the 54.5 GW pipeline from 2014, only a few proposals remain. Wind and solar account for a third of installed capacity, and by 2035 the country plans to bring their combined capacity to 120 GW. According to the energy ministry's estimate, clean energy displaced fossil fuel imports worth $21.5 billion in 2015–2025.

3 min read
World

Vatican: Pope Leo XIV's health cannot be taken 'for granted', Archbishop Gallagher says

The Vatican's top diplomat Archbishop Paul Gallagher told the BBC that the news of Pope Leo XIV's illness is 'a kind of turning point'. The Pontiff underwent surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung at Rome's Gemelli hospital, after which he was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma. The Vatican reports a steady improvement in his condition.

3 min read
Technology

UN adviser: data centers have become a 'new front line', and Europe should slow down construction of AI gigafactories

Mehdi Paryavi, a UN adviser and founder of IDCA, believes that strikes on data centers in Ukraine, Russia and the Middle East should prompt Europe to reconsider its plans for placing AI infrastructure. Meanwhile, the European Commission is running a tender to create up to seven AI gigafactories, with applications closing on 12 November.

3 min read
World

Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Russia Exposed an International Drug Group

Special services of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Russia, in a joint operation, curbed the activities of an international group smuggling drugs from Afghanistan via the 'Northern Route'. Two participants were detained in Tyumen, and 30 kg of Afghan hashish worth about 300 thousand dollars was seized.

1 min read
Economy

Omani Voltamp Energy to Expand Cooperation with Uzbekistan: Solar Plants and Transformers

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with the chairman of the board of directors of Oman's Voltamp Energy, Sayyid Ayman al-Busaidi, at the first meeting of the Investors' Council in the fuel and energy sector. The parties agreed to implement the company's current and new projects based on a 'roadmap'; key topics are the construction of solar photovoltaic power plants and the production of high-voltage transformers.

2 min read
World

Islom Madaminov appointed deputy governor of Fergana region

Islom Madaminov, who previously worked as an adviser on trade and economic affairs at the Uzbekistan embassy in Saudi Arabia, has been appointed deputy governor of Fergana region — head of the regional investment, industry and trade department.

1 min read
World

Death toll from floods in Istanbul rises to four

Heavy rains caused flooding in Istanbul; four people died. On Wednesday, 261 mm of precipitation was recorded — a record in the city's modern history. Rescuers evacuated 3,057 people, and classes were suspended in several provinces.

1 min read
Science

Fiji's Naidiri village revived a dying fishery by planting corals

Residents of the Fijian village of Naidiri have been restoring fish stocks since 2009: they created a protected zone on the Coral Coast, and since 2011 young people have been planting corals and mangroves — in 2023 alone, 18,000 corals and 10,000 mangroves. After a heat wave with water temperatures up to 39°C, about 20% of the corals survived — 'super-corals' resistant to warming, which are now being transplanted into deeper waters near Suva. Sharks have returned to the reef.

3 min read
World

CENTCOM: Iran cut off from maritime trade, US blocked $25 billion in oil exports

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.

2 min read
Science

Hong Kong engineers develop 3D-printed bricks for building houses on Mars

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.

1 min read
World

In autumn 2026, 140 million seedlings will be planted in Uzbekistan under the Yashil Makon project

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.

3 min read
Uzbekistan

In Tashkent, the family of a deceased 16-year-old girl is receiving social assistance, her brother is receiving psychological support

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.

1 min read