tafs uz editorial desk

Three key conditions for permanent living on Mars named

A junior researcher at the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences outlined three key tasks for permanent human habitation on Mars: reliable communication between Earth and Mars, cargo and sample transport between the planets, and sustaining human life on Mars. China plans the Tianwen-3 mission around 2028 to return Martian soil samples by about 2031. Despite harsh conditions, Mars is seen as the most achievable target beyond the Earth–Moon system.

Who is arming whom? A map of world arms deliveries

Based on SIPRI data, the article examines the main partners of major arms exporters. It highlights two approaches: broad cooperation like the US versus dependence on a single recipient, and notes Ukraine as the largest importer in 2021–2025 due to military aid.

Citizenship and passport in one day: Zhaparov gave instructions to officials

Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Zhaparov ordered that ethnic Kyrgyz be issued citizenship and passports within one day. He made the statement at a meeting with residents of Batken after a woman from Uzbekistan, married to a Kyrgyz man, said she had long been unable to obtain citizenship. Zhaparov also noted that ethnic Kyrgyz from Afghanistan and Tajikistan still have kairylman status.

A calf with legs growing from its head was born in Australia

In Australia, a calf nicknamed Spider was born with extra legs growing from its head. Veterinarian Megan Smith said she had never seen such a case in her 20-year career. Specialists suggest the cause may be the "parasitic twin" phenomenon, genetic mutations, or developmental disruptions. The surgery to remove the extra legs lasted about an hour and a half, and the calf's condition quickly improved.

In YeIda, one in three students failed to reach the basic level in mathematics

According to Eurostat data cited by Naked Science, the share of students with low mathematics results has increased in almost all European countries compared to 2018. In North Macedonia it rose from 61% to 68%, while in Estonia, despite the best result (17.2%), the figure worsened from 10.2%. Norway saw the sharpest decline, with the share nearly doubling from 18.9% to 38%. Turkey was the only country with a slight improvement, from 36.6% to 35.7%. PISA assesses mathematical literacy across six levels, with level two considered basic — the minimum skills needed to live and work in modern society.

A resident of Kasansay promised cheap loans via Telegram and received 250 million sums

In the Kasansay district of the Namangan region, a man was detained who promised to arrange low-interest loans via Telegram and received more than 250 million sums from citizens. He created a fake 'Microcredit' page in the messenger, asked users to transfer money to bank cards in advance, and then stopped responding. The suspect had previously been convicted of fraud. A criminal case has been opened under Article 168 of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan; investigative actions continue.

The new prime minister's first deputy will coordinate the work of state bodies and governors in three areas

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree on October 9 to improve the executive structure of the Cabinet of Ministers, introducing the position of First Deputy Prime Minister — Minister of Education and Science, to which former Syrdarya governor Erkinjon Turdimov was appointed. He will coordinate education, science and healthcare, overseeing relevant ministries, agencies and regional governors. A 12-person secretariat will be established, and the Cabinet's executive staff was set at 243. The president explained the appointment by declining quality of education.

Man dies after falling from a roller coaster in the US

At the Six Flags Over Georgia amusement park in Georgia, one person died and several others were injured in an incident on a ride. Police did not specify which ride was involved, but footage shows the stopped Goliath roller coaster. Six Flags suspended similar rides at nine other parks as a precaution. Witnesses said the man fell out of his seat and struck parts of the ride before hitting the ground.

NASA Showed a 'Piece of the Moon' in Madagascar

NASA published an orbital photo of Madagascar's Saririaki massif, where light-colored anorthosite rocks resemble the Moon's highlands. Geologists had studied the massif long before: in 1998, researchers led by Lewis Ashwal dated the anorthosites' crystallization to about 660 million years ago, linking later alterations to the assembly of Gondwana. Lunar anorthosites, by contrast, are over four billion years old, like the famous 'Genesis Rock' brought back by Apollo 15 astronauts in 1971.

UzAuto Motors: there is no plan to sell cars with no down payment

Reports on social media claimed that Chevrolet Damas, Cobalt, Tracker and Onix cars were being sold with no down payment on installment terms. UzAuto Motors' press service denied these reports, stating that no such sales plan exists for any model. The company asked the public and social media users not to spread unverified and misleading false information. Earlier, from October 7, UzAuto Motors began selling the Cobalt and Damas on installments without bank participation, with down payments of 50% and 30% respectively, noting that the number of cars was limited.

No respite for Ukraine despite Trump’s energy truce announcement

As an aside, you might notice a new look and feel to our newsletter from today. Good news: you can now also read Europe Today every morning in French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. But first, some breaking news: Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev has said that two more ships have been hit by drones in the Black Sea, one of which sank. Ukraine has blamed previous such attacks on Russia, accusing Moscow of seeking to choke off Kyiv’s vital maritime export route. More . Ukraine under

A 35-Year Debt Burden: Ukraine Will Repay Its Debt Until 2061

Ukraine plans to repay its debts to international financial institutions by 2061. TASS, calculating based on data from Ukraine's Ministry of Finance, reported that the country's total payments to the IMF and the World Bank will amount to about $128.86 billion. Ukraine's state debt has grown significantly, and the 2027 budget deficit is estimated at about $96 billion, or 37% of GDP.

Russia strikes Kharkiv and Kyiv: at least five killed

On the night of October 13, Russia launched another large-scale strike on Ukraine. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported three killed and 11 wounded in the city. On the evening of October 12, Russian forces attacked Kyiv with ballistic missiles and drones, killing two people and wounding 11. Ukraine's Air Force said it failed to declare an air alert in advance because data on missile launches from Russian territory arrived late.

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In Uzbekistan, 43,000 bank cards have been blocked since the beginning of the year over fraudulent schemes

Uzbekistan's Ministry of Internal Affairs reported 17,483 cybercrimes solved this year, with damages of over 209.9 billion soums returned to more than 19,000 citizens. Over nine months, the joint MIA and Central Bank system prevented the illegal withdrawal of 77.3 billion soums and blocked 43,001 bank cards linked to criminal activity. Authorities also shut down over 38,000 phishing programs, protecting more than 668,000 citizens. However, the ministry acknowledged that current measures are not yet sufficiently effective, criticizing cybersecurity work in Tashkent and several regions.

Central Bank fined 8 banks

In September 2026, the committee held its 8th meeting, reviewing 37 issues and adopting relevant decisions. Of these, 21 concerned registration and licensing, including registration of amendments to the charters of credit institutions, recording microfinance organizations in the register, accreditation, and issuing a license to a payment organization. Permissions to acquire shares in the charter funds of credit institutions and candidates for members of banks' supervisory boards and management, as well as key personnel, were also considered. Another 16 issues concerned the financial condition of credit and payment organizations, including compliance with Central Bank directives and prudential ratios, and the results of inspections at banks and non-bank credit organizations. Issues of testing within the financial services 'regulatory sandbox' were also reviewed. The names of the fined banks and the fine amounts were not disclosed.

"I would really like to do that": Trump speaks out about a third term

Donald Trump, at a meeting with Republican supporters in Ohio, expressed a desire to remain president for a third term, which contradicts the 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution.

In Samarkand, a grandmother and grandchild died after being hit by a Cobalt car while riding a scooter

A fatal traffic accident occurred in the Paxtachi district of the Samarkand region. According to Kun.uz, on October 9, a man riding a scooter with his spouse and grandchild collided with a Cobalt car. The 57-year-old woman and her 2-year-old grandchild died, while the scooter driver was hospitalized in serious condition. The regional Road Safety Department stated that the Cobalt driver swerved to avoid a cyclist, lost control, and collided with the electric scooter. For reference, in the first 9 months of 2026, 563 accidents involving mopeds and scooters occurred, killing 89 people and injuring 488.

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Before the lesson is even over: NATO presents the 'Theory of Victory'

According to DW, NATO's supreme commander in Europe, Alexus Grinkevich, presented the alliance's new 'Theory of Victory' concept on October 12 at a security conference in Warsaw. It outlines three stages of action against a potential aggressor — Block, Blunt and Break — from detecting signs of attack preparation in advance to disabling the enemy's military system. Grinkevich stressed that NATO's aim is not a strategic defeat of the adversary state but the military defeat of attacking forces, and said he does not consider war inevitable.