Oil prices experienced a significant surge of nearly 5% on Thursday, driven by fresh U.S. sanctions targeting major Russian energy companies Rosneft and Lukoil in response to the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Brent crude futures climbed by $2.98, or 4.8%, reaching $65.57 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose by $3.01, or 5.2%, to $61.51 per barrel. The sanctions, which extend measures previously imposed by Britain and the European Union, aim to pressure Moscow into agreeing to a ceasefire in Ukraine. The U.S. has warned of further actions if Russia fails to comply. The sanctions have forced major buyers of Russian oil, such as China and India, to reconsider their supply chains to avoid exclusion from the Western financial system. Indian refiners, including Reliance Industries, are reportedly planning to sharply reduce or halt imports of Russian crude. However, market analysts remain skeptical about the long-term impact of these sanctions, given Russia’s resilience in maintaining oil production and revenues despite previous measures. Oversupply concerns, fueled by OPEC+ production increases, have also tempered crude price gains. Meanwhile, U.S. demand for crude oil, gasoline, and distillates has strengthened, leading to a decline in inventories and supporting market sentiment.
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How Trump flip-flopped on the East Wing’s complete demolition
In a surprising turn of events, former President Donald Trump’s position on the demolition of the East Wing has undergone significant changes. Initially, the decision to dismantle the historic structure was met with controversy, as it aimed to pave the way for a lavish $250 million (£186 million) ballroom at the White House. Critics argued that the move disregarded the architectural heritage of the building, while supporters viewed it as a modernization effort. Trump’s fluctuating stance on the issue has sparked debates about the balance between preserving history and embracing progress. The demolition, now completed, marks a pivotal moment in the White House’s architectural evolution, raising questions about the long-term impact on its historical legacy and public perception.
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Dubai-Based startup SpeakUp reaches 30,000 users in five months
SpeakUp, an innovative Dubai-based technology startup, has achieved a remarkable milestone by amassing 30,000 users within just five months of its launch. This AI-powered platform is transforming the global event and public speaking industry by facilitating direct connections between event organizers and speakers, eliminating the need for traditional intermediaries. Since its inception, SpeakUp has experienced a consistent monthly user growth rate of nearly 20%, attracting users from diverse regions including North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The platform allows organizers to post speaking opportunities—ranging from conferences and summits to podcasts—while verified speakers can apply directly, streamlining the booking process and reducing delays typically associated with speaker bureaus or agent-led systems. Nick Zhuchkov, co-founder and CEO of SpeakUp, emphasized the company’s mission to simplify and democratize speaker-organizer interactions. ‘We designed SpeakUp to be intuitive, fast, and borderless, catering to everyone from grassroots podcast hosts to major international conferences,’ he stated. The platform integrates communication, smart recommendations, and booking into a single interface, leveraging artificial intelligence to match speakers with relevant opportunities. This automation has significantly reduced lead times for event planners, with most bookings occurring without manual negotiation. SpeakUp has also attracted high-profile users, including Uzair Merchant, a celebrated director in Hollywood and Bollywood, and Laura Buckwell, a renowned event host in the Middle East. The company has recently witnessed a surge in signups, with over 400 new users joining within a single hour during a recent evening. This momentum reflects a broader industry shift toward more efficient and accessible speaker engagement. SpeakUp is now focusing on expanding its product features and forging new partnerships across media, education, and events sectors, further solidifying its position as a game-changer in the industry.
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London student activist facing deportation to Egypt at risk of torture
Usama Ghanem, a 21-year-old Egyptian student at King’s College London (KCL), is at risk of deportation and potential imprisonment and torture in Egypt following his suspension from the university due to his pro-Palestine activism. Ghanem, who studied international relations and co-founded the House of Wisdom society to promote campus debate, has been a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights, including campaigning for KCL to divest from companies profiting from Israel’s actions in Gaza. His activism led to three disciplinary hearings in 2024 and 2025, culminating in his indefinite suspension. This suspension prompted KCL to inform the UK Home Office, which subsequently canceled Ghanem’s student visa and issued a removal notice. Ghanem’s lawyers argue that the university violated his human rights and discriminated against him for his anti-Zionist beliefs. They also highlighted his history of torture and imprisonment in Egypt for opposing President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, which led him to flee to the UK and develop PTSD. Despite KCL’s awareness of his traumatic past, the university has insisted he return to Egypt pending a review in August 2026. Ghanem expressed disbelief, stating that he never expected the university to send him back to a country where he faces grave risks. His case is part of a broader trend of UK universities cracking down on pro-Palestine activism, with institutions like KCL, LSE, and Manchester University issuing evictions and suspensions. KCL’s actions have drawn criticism, particularly given its past apologies for restricting free speech during a royal visit in 2019. Ghanem’s story underscores the tension between academic freedom and institutional responses to political activism.
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Dubai: Car catches fire on Oud Metha Road, causing up to 38-minute delay
A sudden vehicle fire on Oud Metha Road in Dubai caused substantial traffic disruptions on Thursday afternoon, with delays stretching up to 38 minutes. The incident occurred near Al Wasl Club, heading towards Al Khail, around 4 PM. Eyewitnesses reported a white sedan engulfed in flames on the roadside, with thick black smoke billowing from its bonnet. The scene led to a slow-moving queue as drivers cautiously navigated past the burning vehicle. According to Google Maps, a 2.3-kilometer stretch of the road was highlighted in red, indicating severe congestion. Dubai Police promptly issued a safety advisory, urging motorists to exercise caution in the area. Authorities have reiterated the importance of regular vehicle maintenance to prevent such incidents, particularly during the scorching summer months when overheating and fuel leaks pose heightened risks. Simple preventive measures, such as monitoring coolant levels, avoiding overloading, and inspecting wiring, can significantly mitigate the chances of vehicle fires.
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Portuguese-speaking media visit Mixue headquarters in Zhengzhou
In a significant cultural and economic exchange, media representatives from Portuguese-speaking countries visited the global headquarters of Mixue Ice Cream & Tea in Zhengzhou, Henan province, on Wednesday. This visit was part of the Global Mayors Dialogue Zhengzhou & 2025 International Mayor’s Forum on Tourism, highlighting the growing international interest in China’s business innovations. Helio Robalo, president of the National News Agency of Cabo Verde, expressed his admiration, stating, ‘Coming from afar to China, everything here feels refreshingly new. The visit provided a clear look into the company’s operations.’ As of June 30, Mixue boasts a global network of over 53,000 stores, with approximately 4,700 located outside mainland China, showcasing its expansive reach and influence in the global market.
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RTA announces auction of 3, 4, 5-digit exclusive licence plates
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced its 81st online auction, offering 300 exclusive three, four, and five-digit licence plate codes for private and classic vehicles. The available codes will include letters from A, B, I, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z. Registration for the auction will commence on Monday, October 27, with the bidding process set to begin on Monday, November 3, and run for five days. A 5% Value Added Tax (VAT) will apply to all sales, and participants must possess an active traffic file in Dubai. To participate, bidders must submit a security cheque of Dh5,000 payable to RTA, along with a non-refundable participation fee of Dh120. Payments can be made at RTA’s Customer Happiness Centres in Umm Ramool, Al Barsha, and Deira, or online via credit card on the RTA website (www.rta.ae). Winning bidders must complete payment within 10 working days post-auction, with options including cash (up to Dh50,000), certified cheque, or credit card for higher amounts.
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Duo fined for damaging grassland at Xinjiang landmark
In a recent development, authorities in Hami, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, have imposed fines on two individuals for causing significant damage to grassland at a prominent landmark. The site, which bears the phrase ‘Serve the People,’ was compromised when Zhang and Li, the individuals involved, drove an off-road vehicle into a restricted area without permission in 2024. Their reckless drifting maneuvers resulted in substantial harm to the grassland, an act that was later shared online, drawing widespread public attention and concern. The Yizhou District Forestry and Grassland Bureau disclosed the incident in a statement on Thursday, detailing the penalties. Zhang was fined 12,000 yuan ($1,683), while Li was fined 8,000 yuan. Both individuals accepted the fines without contesting the charges. This incident underscores the importance of preserving natural and cultural landmarks, highlighting the need for stricter enforcement of regulations to protect such sites from vandalism and unauthorized activities.
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Chinese biotech firms unveil advanced human-centric genomic model
In a landmark development at the 20th Annual Meeting of the International Conference on Genomics (ICG-20) in Hangzhou, BGI-Research and Zhejiang Lab unveiled Genos, an open-source Human-Centric genomic foundation model. This cutting-edge innovation, designed to operate at single-nucleotide precision across ultra-long DNA sequences, leverages high-quality human genomes from diverse global ancestries. Genos promises transformative applications across multiple domains, including public health, developmental biology, and scientific research. In public health, it enhances disease monitoring and informs targeted preventive measures. In developmental biology, it sheds light on gene regulation in tissue and organ formation. For scientific research, it predicts RNA expression from DNA sequences in seconds, a process that previously took weeks or months. Integrated into BGI’s DCS Cloud and the CNGB database, Genos empowers researchers to forecast cell expression levels, identify key candidate genes, and accelerate discoveries. Clinically, it collaborates with BGI’s GeneT deep reasoning model to diagnose genetic diseases, while in personal health, it generates personalized genomic reports via BGI’s BGE platform. The development of Genos was spearheaded by a cross-disciplinary team from the Foundation Model Training Program, a joint initiative by BGI-Research and Zhejiang Lab. This program united bioinformatics experts and computing specialists, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration that is driving life science research from data mining toward emergent intelligence.
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Ivory Coast candidates hold final rallies ahead of Saturday’s election
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast — The campaign for Ivory Coast’s presidential election reached its climax on Thursday as candidates held their final rallies ahead of Saturday’s vote. The West African nation, home to 30 million people, is poised to decide whether incumbent President Alassane Ouattara will secure a fourth term, extending his leadership to nearly two decades. Ouattara, 83, is running under the banner of the ruling party, Rassemblement des Houphouetistes pour la Paix, with the slogan “For a Great Nation.” His campaign has been marked by confidence, as evidenced by his rally in Abidjan, where he addressed supporters overlooking the city’s new bridges, declaring, “The dogs are barking but the caravan has moved already.” The election has drawn 8.7 million registered voters, with four opposition parties challenging Ouattara, though analysts deem their chances slim. Key opposition figures, including former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam and ex-President Laurent Gbagbo, were disqualified, sparking nationwide protests and hundreds of arrests. As the election approaches, Abidjan has slowed down, with shops closing in anticipation of potential violence, a recurring issue in Ivorian elections. Streets are adorned with Ouattara’s campaign posters, while those of his opponents are scarce, reflecting his strong position. “Ouattara will win in the first round,” said Ange Ouattara, a 25-year-old supporter, dismissing the opposition as inconsequential. The election’s outcome will shape the future of this cocoa-rich nation, with tensions high and the stakes even higher.