News
– African countries are feeling the economic fallout of the US-Israel war on Iran, with rising fuel and fertiliser prices threatening food security, trade officials have warned. Ministers from the region and a senior UN trade official raised the concerns
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an interaction with members of parliament from BRICS nations during the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi. Modi and the visiting parliamentary delegates exchanged perspectives on a wide range of issues. The two-day
Business
– Microsoft said on Monday it is offering voluntary buyouts to a wide range of employees as it balances a costly artificial intelligence infrastructure build-out with capital efficiency. The new voluntary exit offer covers certain workers in the United States,
– South Korea posted the second-largest current account surplus among major economies in the second quarter, exceeding the combined surpluses of Germany and Japan. The country’s surplus reached $116.63 billion in the April-June period, according to central bank data reported
– Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu announced that trade between Russia and Oman surged 22-fold during the first seven months of 2026, reaching a total of $1.5 billion. He disclosed these figures on Tuesday, October 20, during a meeting
– Preliminary figures from the Ministry of Finance indicate that Japan experienced a trade shortfall of 536.6 billion yen in September, driven by faster growth in imports compared to exports. During this period, exports increased by 16.7% year-on-year to 10.9723
– South Korea’s exports saw a significant increase, more than doubling from the same period last year in the first 20 days of October, reaching $61.6 billion thanks to record-breaking semiconductor shipments. The Korea Customs Service announced the data on
– Brent crude reached $110 a barrel on Friday for the first time since May amid rising Middle East tensions that fueled worries over tighter supplies. Brent futures for December expiration closed $3.94, or 3.7%, higher at $109.86, marking the
Technology
– Scientists from Russia and China have developed an ultrasonic welding technology that doubles the strength of metal joints, TV BRICS reported. The report cited South Ural State University, known as SUSU, whose researchers carried out the work with Chinese
– Samsung Electronics revealed its advanced memory and storage strategies for artificial intelligence infrastructure during the 2026 OCP Global Summit. The company showcased its plans at the event held in San Jose, California, from October 12 to 15. The presentation
– Meta has launched its most advanced artificial intelligence models to date, named Muse Wonder and Muse Wonder Full. These new systems are tailored for tasks involving coding, long-duration AI agents, and complex personal or professional activities. According to Meta,
– The European Commission has introduced a new EU Critical Communication System designed to link first responders across borders within Europe. This initiative aims to connect national networks used by police, firefighters, emergency medical services, and civil protection teams. Covering
