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Ads featuring "undressed" images of users found on Facebook and Instagram

The Tech Transparency Project found that Meta failed to follow its own advertising rules: since the beginning of the year, researchers identified 332 ads on Facebook and Instagram containing material depicting child sexual abuse, most created by using AI to undress ordinary photos of adults and children. The ads promoted AI image- and video-generating apps, many developed in China. Meta removed them after being notified, but its review system failed to catch them in time, and violation records for 113 ads did not explicitly mention child-related rule breaches.

Video. Kazakhstan’s first Open Asian Falconry Cup showcases ancient hunting heritage

Golden eagles, hawks and saker falcons featured in traditional hunting contests at the inaugural Open Asian Falconry Cup , the main competition of the fifth Shygys Salburyny International Festival . Participants came from Kazakhstan , Türkiye , Russia , China , Mongolia , Kyrgyzstan , Uzbekistan , Georgia , Spain and Hungary . Around 15,000 spectators attended the two-day event, which also featured sighthound races, the taming of unbroken horses, mounted archery, the horseback coin-picking cont

Cold water will be shut off in 15 mahallas of Uchtepa and 9 mahallas of the Shaykhantahur district

Drinking water supply will be temporarily suspended in the Uchtepa and Shaykhantahur districts of Tashkent from 09:00 on October 14 until 15:00 on October 15 due to repairs of a 300 mm main water pipeline on the section from Ipakchilik street to Faziltepa street. In the Uchtepa district, 15 mahallas will be affected, including Degrez, Bogichinor, Bekabad, Koryogdi, Khondamir, Nishabariq, Sharq Yulduzi, Shofaizbog, Pakhtakor, Kukcha Oktepa, Jurjoni, Abdulla Qodiri, Beshkayragach, Khayratiy and Davlatabad. In the Shaykhantahur district, 9 mahallas will be affected: Kukcha, Zafarobod, Khuvaydo, Buston, Ipakchi, Eski Jarariq, Shofaiz, Uzbekiston and Beltepa. Residents are asked to stock up on drinking water in advance; after the work is completed, water supply should be restored.

Winners of the national reading contest may have their military service term shortened by one month

A draft law adopted in the first reading by Uzbekistan's Legislative Chamber proposes shortening the service term of conscripted servicemen who won prize places in the "Ma'naviyat qalqoni" national reading contest by one month. Deputies proposed that the shortening be based on the serviceman's application. The draft also provides legal grounds for new contracts with flight-specialty graduates to retain qualified aviation personnel.

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Mandatory labeling also proposed for vegetable oil

The Tax Committee has put up for public discussion a draft Cabinet of Ministers resolution on digital labeling of vegetable oil. If adopted, mandatory labeling may come into force on July 1, 2027. The requirements will apply to oils under HS codes 1507–1515, including soybean, peanut, olive, palm, sunflower, safflower, cottonseed, coconut and rapeseed oils. Labeling will be done via barcoded stickers on consumer packaging, with producers and traders required to connect to the Asl Belgisi national system operated by CRPT Turon. Selling unlabeled oil will be considered a violation of trade rules. Public discussion runs until October 24.

Saudi Arabia shuts airport and vows a 'serious response' to the Houthis

Saudi Arabia suspended operations at King Khalid International Airport after strikes last week killed at least 18 people, the deadliest attack in the country in over a decade. Officials promised a serious response to the Iran-backed Houthis, who say their attacks are retaliation for Saudi aggression in Yemen.

Vatican says growth on Pope Leo XIV's lung was cancerous

Pope Leo XIV had part of his right lung removed during an operation on Tuesday after doctors found a cancerous growth, according to the Vatican. "To ensure the procedure was radical, the lower lobe of the right lung was removed," the Vatican said in a statement, whilst also confirming a diagnosis of a "pulmonary adenocarcinoma, as suspected from the pre-operative tests." "The Holy Father was in the operating room for about 3 hours, and the duration of the operation itself was around 90 minutes

Europe paid Russia $209bn for energy since 2022, far below Moscow’s $320bn claim

The European Commission disputed Russia's claim on Tuesday that the EU spent $320.7 billion (€286 billion) on energy from Moscow since 2022, citing a significantly lower figure, according to a Commission spokesperson. Contrary to Moscow's claims, Russia supplied the EU with €197 billion ($209 billion) worth of energy between March 2022 and July 2026, the Commission spokesperson said, citing COMEXT data, the official reference database managed by Eurostat. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexande

President of Uzbekistan Awards World Robotics Champions

Uzbekistan's robotics team won FIRST Global Challenge 2026, held October 7–10 in Incheon, South Korea, with about 190 countries participating. The team won all 16 matches, scoring 637 points — a competition record — and finished ahead of Mexico and China in the overall standings. As part of an international alliance with Venezuela, El Salvador and Moldova, they also won gold medals in the tournament final. On October 13, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev awarded state honors to the winners and their mentors, including medals «Sodik xizmatlari uchun» to head coach Ziyodulla Botakhanov and «Kelajak bunyodkori» to team members. The next tournament is expected in 2027 in Madrid.

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Two companies at the same address «competed» with each other in «Telecom Soft»'s 10 billion soum tender

«Telecom Soft» LLC held an electronic selection for the purchase of video surveillance equipment for automated traffic control systems with an initial price of 10 billion 316 million soums. The Chinese company «HAC Smart Technologies» won with a bid of $657,000 (7.76 billion soums), while «HMN Smart» was recorded as the reserve winner with $698,000 (8.24 billion soums). The «Revizor» channel noted that both companies have their head offices at the same address in Tianjin, China, and their websites are nearly identical, yet the commission found no conflicts of interest. «Telecom Soft» was registered in September 2023 and is majority-owned by «Uzbektelecom» (82.54%).

Tashkent lists addresses of gas shutdowns on October 14

On Wednesday, October 14, natural gas supply will be temporarily suspended in some mahallas of Tashkent due to repair work on gas pipelines. The restrictions will last from 10:00 to 18:00, the Hududgaz Poytaxt gas company reported. Affected areas include mahallas in Shaykhantahur, Chilanzar, Yakkasaray and Yunusabad districts, with thousands of households, multi-apartment buildings and wholesale consumers, including the Minor Jome mosque and the Embassy of Afghanistan, affected. Gas supply will be restored gradually after the work is completed.

In Tashkent, almost 25 kg of a potent substance was found in a parcel from China

In Tashkent, two men were detained while receiving a parcel from China containing almost 25 kg of pregabalin. The operation was conducted by State Security Service officers together with the anti-smuggling unit of the Tashkent-AERO customs complex. A criminal case has been opened under Part 1 of Article 246 of the Criminal Code; the detainees are in custody.

Woman taken to Turkey to work as a nanny was kept in a basement for 8 years and forced into prostitution

The deputy director of the Center for Combating Human Trafficking told Kun.uz about a case of an Uzbek woman who was taken to Turkey under the promise of a nanny job, sold, and forced into prostitution for 8 years while kept in a basement. She was identified during a police operation in Turkey and returned to Uzbekistan through the International Organization for Migration. The center provided psychological and psychiatric support, and work is ongoing to restore her children's documents.

Sweden's centre-left leader Magdalena Andersson again fails to form government

Sweden's Social Democratic party leader Magdalena Andersson said Tuesday she had failed to form a government with the three other parties in the left-wing bloc following last month's election. "My overall assessment is that progress has been made, but at the same time, the conditions are currently not in place to form a government that can be tolerated by the parliament," Andersson told a press conference. She spoke after reporting back to parliament speaker Andreas Norlen, who had tasked her

One dead, two arrested as Portugal seizes 3.7 tonnes of cocaine off Faro coast

Portuguese authorities have seized 3.7 tonnes of cocaine off the coast of Faro, in the Algarve, following an international operation against drug trafficking. In a statement, the Judicial Police (PJ) said the seizure, carried out on Sunday, came after "an investigation that led to the dismantling of a criminal group dedicated to introducing large quantities of drugs into the European continent through the use of high-speed vessels." The drugs were aboard one such vessel, "detected and intercep

First mobile palliative care service for children launched in Samarkand region

Since September 28, a mobile palliative care service for children with severe and incurable illnesses has been operating in the Samarkand region. More than 300 children in need of such assistance have been identified. Mobile teams of doctors, social workers and psychologists help children at home, relieve pain, develop individual care plans and teach parents necessary skills. The 'Inson' centers help families obtain social services and rehabilitation equipment. Construction of Uzbekistan's first children's hospice continues in parallel.

Two MIA officers who tried to cover up a crime in Chirchiq sentenced to six years in prison

A court in Chirchiq sentenced two internal affairs officers who tried to cover up a beating of citizen Sh. M. The victim was assaulted by a group, then pressured to withdraw his complaint and accept money, part of which was kept by the officers.

Murder on the wrestling mat: Verdict handed down to the man who stabbed a renowned wrestler in Denov

A verdict was issued against Doston Jabborov, born in 1997, who stabbed the renowned wrestler Nizomiddin Cho'tboyev in Denov district. On May 9, 2026, after his brother lost a kurash match, Jabborov, enraged by a reported scuffle involving his father and the wrestler, stabbed Cho'tboyev four times in front of his children. The wrestler died in the hospital. The defendant pleaded guilty, saying he did not remember how many times he stabbed the victim. The victim's son asked for a life sentence, but the court sentenced Jabborov to 19 years in prison under Article 97, Part 2 (j, l) of the Criminal Code, to be served in a general-regime colony.

Europe must switch to 'war-mode' defence production, Polish defence minister says

Poland’s Minister of National Defence and Deputy Prime Minister, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, said Europe must adopt a “war-mode” mentality in its defence sector or risk harming Europeans in the future. “I am actually an advocate for the war-mode when it comes to the production in defence sector,” he said at a press conference on the sidelines of the Warsaw Security Forum on Tuesday. “This is what the Russian Federation does at the moment. We cannot overlook this fact.” Russia shifted towards w

Mysterious incident at a maternity hospital: newborn baby goes missing

A newborn boy has gone missing from Maternity Hospital No. 1 of the Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. 19-year-old Mavzuna Akramova gave birth to a healthy boy on October 11 at around 10:00; the family left the facility at 16:00. At about 01:00 on October 12, hospital staff called the family to report the child missing. The institute confirmed the disappearance on October 13, saying the situation is under control and more details would follow once the child is found. According to Asia-Plus, surveillance footage shown to relatives allegedly shows a woman, possibly an employee, carrying the child away, though this has not been independently verified. Police are searching for the child and questioning more than 15 people. The child's whereabouts and the cause of the disappearance have not been officially disclosed; the investigation continues.

'Our future is being robbed': Greta Thunberg joins France student protests against school conditions

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg joined high school pupils campaigning for better learning conditions in France on Tuesday ahead of fresh nationwide demonstrations, with authorities and participants wary of further violence. The 23-year-old, who became famous as a teen for school strikes to demand action on climate change, stood among pupils demonstrating outside a school at the heart of the movement in the capital's largest suburb of Saint-Denis. Thunberg arrived at the Paul Éluard high school

Hungarian lawmakers vote to cut anti-LGBTQ+ legislation from Orbán-era law

Hungarian lawmakers voted on Tuesday to remove anti-LGBTQ++ provisions in a 2021 "child protection" law adopted under nationalist ex-leader Viktor Orbán. Parliament passed a bill to amend the law with 139 votes in favour and 51 votes against, marking the first significant reversal of Orbán's curbs targeting the LGBTQ++ community since pro-EU Prime Minister Péter Magyar took power in May. Instead of banning the "portrayal" or "promotion" of sexual and gender diversity in content accessible to c

Doniyor Yusupov appointed deputy khokim of Tashkent

Doniyor Yusupov has been appointed deputy khokim of Tashkent and head of the Directorate for the Operation of City Canals and Improvement of Adjacent Territories. Previously, he was deputy khokim of the Yunusabad district for construction, barrier-free environment, communications, ecology and greening. He graduated from the Tashkent Automobile and Road Institute and worked in road construction and repair organizations, as well as in the Yunusabad district khokimiyat, the capital's khokimiyat press service reports.

New restrictions against Russia: the EU is preparing the 23rd sanctions package

The European Commission has begun preparing a 23rd package of sanctions against Russia, which could be presented by the end of 2026. Germany and Poland are leading the initiative, and at the EU meeting on October 15 member states plan to focus on tightening restrictions on the Russian energy sector. Politico linked the move to recent Russia–US agreements on diesel fuel supplies. The previous, 22nd package covered about 1,600 companies and individuals tied to the Russian military-industrial complex, defense enterprises, their executives, and politicians involved in State Duma elections in Crimea, Donbas and Novorossiya.