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The European Commission has unveiled a six-priority strategy against human trafficking: technology, cooperation with the private sector, combating organised crime, migration risks, crisis preparedness and protection of vulnerable people. According to the EC, more than 20,000 victims were registered in the EU in 2023–2024 — an increase of 16.1%.
Alphabet's Waymo has been approved to participate in Ontario's automated vehicle pilot program. The vehicles will first drive through Toronto under manual control to build HD maps, followed by tests with a safety operator and, eventually, a commercial service.
The Central Bank of Uzbekistan announced that on the weekend of October 17–18, branches of 24 commercial banks will be open: currency exchange and money transfer points will operate there. Working hours may vary depending on the branch.
Speaking at the COP17 leaders' summit in Yerevan, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the American-Israeli war against Iran is causing serious damage to the country's ecosystems and called for international mechanisms to protect biodiversity. The presidents of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan also spoke.
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said that, at the request of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, an EU–Turkey meeting will take place in October to create conditions for resuming talks on the Cyprus issue. He also commented on the UN envoy's visit, migration, ETS2 and EU budget negotiations.
On World Food Day (October 16), the Gaza Health Ministry reported 466 deaths from malnutrition since 2024, including 157 children and 189 elderly people. More than 158,000 cases of acute malnutrition among children under 5 have been recorded. The UN declared famine in Gaza in August 2025. According to the ministry, by the end of 2026 more than 1.4 million people will be in a food crisis situation.
Palo Alto startup Elorian, which raised $55 million at a $300 million valuation before launching any product, has introduced the Glimpse model in research preview status with an API and chat interface. The model repeatedly returns to the original image during reasoning — cropping regions, extracting video frames, and running code for measurements. By the company's estimates, Glimpse outperforms GPT-6 Astra in reasoning over scientific charts and short video descriptions.
Nurse Rebecca Louise Burwood, who worked as deputy manager of the Bryn Yr Haul care home in Mold (Flintshire), has been found guilty of misappropriating £750,000 from a 99-year-old resident. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) found her unfit to practise and struck her off the register. According to the hearing, between 2017 and 2023 she obtained power of attorney, withdrew more than £370,000 from the account, obtained the victim's £400,000 house and spent the money on renovations, cars and, it was claimed, cosmetic surgery.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with the head of Turkey's Cengiz Holding Mehmet Cengiz and the chairman of Saudi ACWA Muhammad Abunayyan. They discussed the construction of thermal power plants, modernization of power grids, and expansion of cooperation in energy, geology, infrastructure, and high technologies.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that the decision on Ukraine's leadership should be made by the Ukrainian population, not by Donald Trump. At the same time, he partially supported Trump's criticism of Volodymyr Zelensky, recalling his promise to serve only one term. Lukashenko also expressed confidence that peace is possible this year or next year.
A24 has released the documentary «You Can See Everything» directed by Lance Oppenheim featuring comedian Nathan Fielder, filmed during the last month of Elizabeth Holmes' freedom before the start of her 11-year sentence for fraud. In the film, Holmes claims she did not commit a crime, while her husband Billy Evans shows an AI avatar of his wife and refuses to present evidence of an allegedly distorted quote in The New York Times.
Early on Friday morning an explosion occurred near a house in the Stanhope Street area of north Belfast. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) reported an operation in response to a security alert: cordons have been established and local residents are being evacuated. Belfast city councillor JJ Magee called the incident a 'pipe bomb attack' and said no one was injured. The cause of the explosion and the extent of the damage have not been disclosed by police.
24-year-old Aissata Diallo founded Tressfecta, a company making products for textured hair. Her first project, Plait Pilot, aims to automate the separation of kanekalon hair before braiding, which can take hours. The company is pre-launch, working on a prototype and preparing for a funding round.
The Vatican reported that 71-year-old Pope Leo XIV is recovering quickly after removal of the lower lobe of his right lung due to adenocarcinoma. On Sunday he will hold the traditional midday Angelus prayer — the exact location has not yet been named. Doctors are awaiting biopsy results to determine whether additional treatment is needed.
Rising energy prices amid the Iran conflict are intensifying inflationary pressure in major economies. The Fed, ECB and Bank of Japan raised rates in September, while the Bank of England held them, but three committee members voted for an increase. Economist Hugh Dixon warns of possible stagnation of growth and recessions in several G7 economies by 2027.
The Bundestag held debates, initiated by the Left Party, on recognizing the genocide of the Herero and Nama peoples in German South West Africa (1904–1908). Descendants of the victims demand unconditional apologies and reparations, criticizing the €1.1 billion aid agreement. Experts note that formal recognition by parliament is still lacking.
On October 5, 2026, in southern Iran, the brother and husband of 28-year-old mother of two Maryam Yarmohammadi attacked her with knives and mutilated her; she died in hospital, and both were arrested. About 50 relatives protested against the arrests. The case caused a public outcry and once again drew attention to the scale of 'honor killings' and gaps in the protection of women in Iran's legal system.
24-year-old William Chapman died from a tiger attack at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on 11 October. The Yorkshire Ambulance Service reported two possible cases of staff accessing his medical data without lawful grounds, launched an investigation and notified the ICO. A coroner's hearing was told he died from multiple injuries and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
