Oct 31, 2026, 04:30 AM UTC

Azerbaijan is seeking to expand the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) from a cultural alliance into a broader geopolitical platform encompassing security, energy corridors, and transport infrastructure. President Ilham Aliyev has outlined initiatives aimed at harmonizing strategic interests across Eurasia and strengthening the bloc's international standing.

However, reports diverge over leadership participation at the upcoming OTS gathering in Turkey. According to OC Media, Aliyev will skip the meeting for the first time in the organization's 17-year history due to growing political disagreements between Baku and Ankara. Meanwhile, state-aligned reporting emphasizes Baku's central role in deepening regional integration and promoting political alignment without addressing potential diplomatic friction.

Sources: OC Media, Trend News Agency

Romania’s Ministry of Environment is preparing to launch the Casa Verde Baterii program in October, allocating between 400 million and 500 million lei for residential energy storage systems. Departing from the previous first-come, first-served selection process, the updated framework will evaluate applicants using a scoring system based on co-financing levels and proposed storage capacity.

While state support has enabled some households to lower electricity costs and supply surplus energy to the grid, the initiative faces ongoing scrutiny. Prosumer representatives criticized draft criteria excluding homeowners who already possess battery storage, describing the provisions as "e de neînțeles" ("incomprehensible"). Additionally, applicants report administrative delays, excessive bureaucracy, and installation quotes vastly exceeding standard market prices.

Sources: Adevărul, Economedia, HotNews, Moldova1, Ziarul de Gardă.

Swedish authorities are raising alarms over the increasing involvement of minors in violent crime, online radicalisation, and gang activities.

Police recently identified more than 70 young individuals who responded to online advertisements posted by criminal networks seeking recruits. According to the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brå), gangs recruit children through digital platforms using financial incentives before resorting to relentless psychological pressure.

Simultaneously, law enforcement and social services are confronting violent online subcultures. In Växjö, a 13-year-old involved in a school knife attack was placed in emergency social care due to a high risk of continued violence. Authorities have linked several recent acts to digital networks where young people idolise mass murderers. Separately, courts recently remanded a teenager suspected of plotting a school murder, highlighting broader concerns over youth violence across Sweden.

Sources: 8 Sidor, Dagens Nyheter, Svenska Dagbladet, SVT, Sydsvenskan

Rights organizations and independent media outlets in Turkey have published data on gender-based violence for August. According to the We Will Stop Femicide Platform, 22 women were killed and 33 died under suspicious circumstances during the month, with over half of the fatal incidents occurring inside victims' homes. Separately, monitoring by independent news site Bianet recorded at least 25 women killed and 71 injured by men during the same timeframe.

In Siirt province, judicial authorities accepted an indictment against five individuals in connection with the death of a mother of four who went missing in late 2024. Investigators used telecommunications data, digital tracking, and technical surveillance to establish that the victim had been murdered, resulting in charges against her former husband, father-in-law, and brother-in-law.

Sources: Bianet, Cumhuriyet, TRT Haber

Montenegro's Court of Appeal has confirmed a verdict against businessman Duško Knežević and his co-defendants, according to an official statement from the judicial authority. Knežević, who was extradited to Montenegro earlier this year to face financial crime charges, continues to maintain his innocence.

Following the appellate court's decision, Knežević’s defense counsel reiterated calls for a comprehensive review of all indictments brought under former Chief Special Prosecutor Milivoje Katnić. The defense team emphasized that an independent audit of Katnić's past cases is required to guarantee judicial fairness, citing ongoing concerns over previous prosecutorial decisions. Knežević remains a central figure in several prominent legal matters across the country.

Sources: Dan