Oct 22, 2026, 09:00 AM UTC

The United States carried out air strikes targeting Iranian missile launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first American strikes on Iranian territory in a month, according to US Central Command. Iranian media confirmed six naval personnel died in recent US attacks as military hostilities resumed.

Despite the military escalation, Qatari-mediated diplomatic discussions remain active. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi outlined Tehran's terms to US officials, demanding an immediate end to the American naval blockade, the release of frozen Iranian assets, and a full cessation of hostilities. However, US President Donald Trump stated Washington will demand financial compensation from Tehran over past casualties, complicating potential agreement efforts.

Sources: Le Figaro, Le Monde, Le Soir, Libération, RTBF Info.

Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel has sharply criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan after the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) regained executive authority in Istanbul’s Üsküdar district following a municipal council vote.

Speaking at a public rally in Üsküdar Square, Özel addressed Erdoğan directly over the political shift, asking: "Is this your democracy?" He argued that the council's decision disregarded the electorate's democratic mandate, which had previously awarded the district to the CHP.

Separately, in a television interview on Koza TV, Özel defended Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş’s recent meeting with Erdoğan, noting that routine dialogue between municipal leadership and the Turkish presidency remains essential for local governance.

Sources: Bianet, Cumhuriyet

Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko announced criminal charges against Semen Kryvonos, director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), accusing him of document forgery and orchestrating a fake adoption to avoid prosecution. Local media reported that Kravchenko left the country in an official vehicle shortly after publishing his statement.

In response, NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) stated that Kryvonos had not received a formal notice of suspicion. The anti-graft bodies characterized Kravchenko’s accusations as an attempt to obstruct an ongoing investigation targeting a criminal ring involving senior officials in the President's Office and current lawmakers. Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy requested parliament swiftly approve Kravchenko’s removal.

Sources: NEXTA, OCCRP, The Insider, Радіо Свобода, Українська правда

Former French presidential candidate Ségolène Royal confirmed she has secured the required endorsements to compete in the upcoming left-wing primary. Socialist Party First Secretary Olivier Faure also announced his candidacy, bringing the total field to seven participants for the vote jointly organized by the Socialist Party and Place Publique.

Royal pointed to remaining support within the party, though her recent remark calling rival Raphaël Glucksmann a "media darling" drew attention following prior pledges to refrain from internal attacks. The two-round primary is scheduled for October 9–10 and October 16–17. Meanwhile, Communist Party leader Fabien Roussel confirmed he will not join the primary, opting instead for an independent 2027 presidential bid.

Sources: La Tribune, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Libération.

Kyiv municipal and central Ukrainian authorities are intensifying winter preparation efforts amid growing threats from Russian strikes against the nation's energy grid. Local officials have urged residents to stock up on food, water, and power supplies, while the government coordinates protective shelter construction around critical infrastructure and plans partial relocations for mobility-impaired citizens.

Despite these official measures, former officials and investigative journalists have expressed sharp skepticism regarding the capital's readiness. Former Restoration Agency head Serhiy Sukhomlyn stated that winter preparedness relies largely on "a warm winter and the inaccuracy of Russian strikes." Furthermore, analysts highlighted significant procurement delays, warning that critical backup power systems for Kyiv's water utility might not be operational until 2027.

Sources: Liga net, NV, Радіо Свобода, Українська правда.