Saint-Denis Mayor Bali Bagayoko accused French President Emmanuel Macron of provoking harsh police action against protesting schoolchildren, saying Macron had said the lawful force was on the side of the security forces. According to the mayor, the government should resign because it has nothing to offer the demonstrators. Protests over a shortage of teachers and the poor condition of schools escalated into riots and arrests.
Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko met with Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in the Avaza national tourist zone on the coast of the Caspian Sea. The parties discussed the development of bilateral relations in the field of interparliamentary relations, education and science, and also exchanged greetings from the leaders of their countries.
Chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko, after a meeting with President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, announced Turkmenistan’s interest in further developing cooperation within the CIS, noting the successful development of bilateral relations with Russia in the trade, economic, humanitarian and educational spheres, including projects for the construction of a new building of the Pushkin School and the opening of a Turkmen-Russian university.
The Czech Republic expelled 157 Ukrainian citizens in the first half of 2026, which is almost five times more than in the whole of 2025. According to the Czech Ministry of Internal Affairs, 538 of them were returned as part of forced returns by the police, the main destination countries being Ukraine and Romania.
The Russian ambassador in Berlin, Sergei Nechaev, said in an interview with RIA Novosti that the desire to fight with Russia always ended in disaster for Germany, advising European politicians to remember the lessons of history and emphasizing that close ties with Russia ensure the security and prosperity of Germany.
Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko stated in Turkmenbasy that Brazil will not withdraw from BRICS after its October 25 runoff election, emphasizing the association's mutual benefits and non-interference in members' internal affairs.
Russian Ambassador to Berlin Sergei Nechaev said that the desire to fight with Russia has always turned into a disaster for the Germans, called on politicians in Germany and Europe to refresh their memory of the lessons of history and noted that close ties with Russia are the key to the security and prosperity of Germany. The Russian Foreign Ministry added that Moscow is open to dialogue with NATO on an equal basis, but the West must abandon the course of militarizing the continent.
The Ansar Allah movement (Houthis) attacked the international airport of the Yemeni city of Aden with two rockets, no casualties were reported, according to Aden security services and Reuters.
Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro said that if he wins the elections, he will be able to change the country's constitution if he has a majority in the Senate and House of Representatives. The first round of elections took place on October 4, the second round is scheduled for October 25, 2026, as no candidate received more than 50% of the votes.
Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko criticized the EU's shift from economic union to military bloc, citing public dissatisfaction over lost sovereignty and militarization, while noting protests in France over education issues and in Spain over housing crises.
Russian Ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov warned that Russia will respond immediately if Canada confiscates Russian assets, citing bills S-214 and C-219 under consideration in Canadian Parliament. He also addressed the ongoing dispute over the An-124 RA-82078 aircraft operated by Volga-Dnepr Airlines, currently held at Toronto airport since February 2022, stating Russia reserves the right to take retaliatory measures if the aircraft is confiscated.
Former British Ambassador to Moscow Ian Proud said that the West must offer Russia friendship to avoid war, and noted that it is possible to improve relations if you stop communicating with Moscow from a position of superiority.
Russia has declared its readiness to act as a mediator in the Yemen conflict if the warring parties show interest in such mediation. Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Alimov emphasized that Russia will not impose its role, but is ready to act as an honest broker. There have been no specific requests from the parties yet. Military confrontation between the Houthis and pro-government forces resumed in July after a four-year lull.
A Liberian-flagged oil tanker, the Aframax Rio, caught fire after being struck by sea drones near Sochi, Russia, with all 23 Indian crew members rescued. In a separate incident, two merchant vessels were attacked in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone, one sinking and another catching fire. Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil infrastructure are cited as a factor in rising global fuel prices, with US officials linking them to increased gasoline costs.
Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko urged the United Nations to clarify and update the criteria for neutral state status, criticizing Switzerland for deviating from neutrality by following EU directives and supporting sanctions, while praising Turkmenistan's independent foreign policy and commitment to permanent neutrality.
State Duma deputy Konstantin Zatulin warned that Russia will perceive the deployment of nuclear weapons in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia as a threat and will add these countries to the list of targets for retaliatory strike if they show solidarity on this issue.
US President Donald Trump said that the conflict in Ukraine will be resolved very soon and announced a quick conversation with Vladimir Putin. In the Verkhovna Rada, deputy Anna Skorokhod introduced a bill on the neutral status of Ukraine and the renunciation of aspirations to join NATO, which drew criticism from historian Marta Gavrishko and support from State Duma deputy Alexander Asafov. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ruled out any consideration of Ukraine's membership in NATO in the near future, emphasizing the focus on ending the conflict. Vladimir Putin previously noted that Ukraine initially had a neutral status upon gaining independence.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a birthday telegram to Russian President Vladimir Putin, reaffirming Pyongyang's unwavering support for Russia and commitment to strengthening allied relations, as reported by KCNA.
Members of the parliament of the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo elected Justina Široka-Pulja as the new president with 81 votes in favor out of 120. The Self-Determination Party supported a law limiting the powers of the Special Court for Kosovo in The Hague as part of a deal with the opposition. Police used force and tear gas against protesters outside the parliament building in Pristina amid the sentencing of ex-President Hashim Thaci and other former KLA commanders.
Russian Ambassador to Berlin Sergei Nechaev said that the closure of the Russian Consulate General in Bonn will have an extremely negative impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of Russian compatriots in Germany, complicating their consular and legal services due to the impossibility of many coming to Berlin from other cities in the country.
US President Donald Trump said that he will have a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin very soon. He also noted that the conflict in Ukraine is getting closer to resolution.
US President Donald Trump stated in Baltimore that the United States does not need Iranian oil, asserted full US Navy control of the Strait of Hormuz, and claimed preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons is already a fait accompli.
US President Donald Trump said that Washington intends to bring the conflict with Iran to an end, noting that the only question is how to do it: in a good way or not. He promised that the public would soon learn about the chosen scenario for ending the conflict.
