In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, Ukraine has successfully targeted a Russian chemical plant using UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles, according to a statement from the Ukrainian military on Tuesday. The strike, described as a ‘successful hit,’ reportedly breached Russian air defenses, marking a critical development in Ukraine’s efforts to disrupt Moscow’s military-industrial capabilities. The Bryansk Chemical Plant, identified as a key facility producing gunpowder, explosives, and rocket fuel components, was the focus of this ‘massive combined missile and air strike.’ The Ukrainian military emphasized the plant’s role in supplying materials for ammunition and missiles used against Ukrainian territory. While Moscow has yet to comment on the attack, the strike underscores Kyiv’s determination to target strategic Russian assets despite Kremlin warnings against Western military aid. The attack coincided with a joint statement from UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and other European leaders, pledging to intensify economic and defense industry pressure on Russia until President Vladimir Putin agrees to peace negotiations. Meanwhile, tensions remain high as Russia launched an overnight air attack on Kyiv, with witnesses reporting explosions consistent with air defense operations. The latest developments follow a recent meeting between former US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during which Trump expressed reluctance to supply Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine. Trump’s proposed talks with Putin in Budapest were also postponed, citing concerns over a ‘wasted meeting.’ As the war continues, Russia currently controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, annexed in 2014.
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NRIs in UAE: Setting up a shipbuilding business in India after retirement
The Indian government has unveiled a transformative financial package worth approximately Rs700 billion to bolster the maritime sector, offering lucrative opportunities for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and global investors. This initiative, designed to address India’s minimal share in global shipbuilding output, focuses on four key areas: enhancing domestic capacity, improving long-term financing, promoting greenfield and brownfield shipyard development, and advancing technical capabilities and skilling. The package includes three major schemes: the Shipbuilding Assistance Scheme (Rs250 billion), the Maritime Development Fund (Rs250 billion), and the Shipbuilding Development Scheme (Rs200 billion). Collectively, these schemes aim to generate Rs4.5 trillion in investments, produce 2,500 vessels, and create a 4.5 million gross tonnage capacity, positioning India as a maritime self-reliant nation. Additionally, the initiative seeks to build resilient supply chains and reduce dependence on foreign ships. For NRIs like those in the UAE considering post-retirement ventures in India, this presents a promising opportunity to leverage their expertise in shipbuilding and related industries. Beyond maritime advancements, India has made significant strides in innovation, climbing from the 81st position in 2015 to the 38th in 2025 on the Global Innovation Index (GII). This growth is driven by robust ICT services exports, a vibrant venture capital landscape, and advancements in technology, including the development of semiconductors and 6G infrastructure. Furthermore, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is making progress in internationalizing the rupee, with plans to establish reference rates for cross-border trade transactions, starting with the Indonesian Rupiah and the UAE Dirham. These measures aim to enhance the rupee’s acceptability in global trade, though full implementation will require time and increased transaction volumes.
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Armenia to host world tourism communication forum this month
Armenia is set to host the World Tourism Communication Forum from October 23 to 25, 2025, in Yerevan. Organized by the Tourism Committee of the Ministry of Economy, the event, titled “Tourism Talks: Connecting People, Places, and Perspectives,” aims to foster meaningful dialogue and collaboration between public and private sectors. The forum will bring together global leaders, policymakers, and communication experts to explore how strategic communication can shape the future of tourism. Lusine Gevorgyan, Chairman of the Tourism Committee of Armenia, emphasized the forum’s goal to highlight the role of communication in building trust, inclusion, and sustainable tourism growth. The event will feature keynotes, panel discussions, workshops, and interactive dialogues on themes such as intercultural communication, destination branding, and community-driven narratives. Distinguished moderators, including UN Tourism Regional Director Cordula Wohlmuther and BBC Studios’ Sergey Stanovkin, will lead the sessions, ensuring insightful discussions and actionable takeaways for participants.
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ChatGPT-maker OpenAI releases browser in attempt to rival Google
OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has introduced a groundbreaking artificial intelligence-powered web browser named ChatGPT Atlas, aiming to compete with industry giants like Google’s Chrome. Launched on Apple’s MacOS operating system, Atlas eliminates the traditional address bar, a staple of conventional browsers, and is designed to integrate seamlessly with ChatGPT. According to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the browser is ‘built around ChatGPT,’ offering users a unique, AI-driven browsing experience.
Atlas features a paid ‘agent mode’ exclusively for ChatGPT subscribers, enabling the chatbot to autonomously conduct searches and enhance browsing efficiency by leveraging contextual information. This innovation is part of OpenAI’s broader strategy to monetize its AI investments and expand its user base, which has grown to 800 million weekly active users as of October, according to Demandsage.
To further attract users, OpenAI has forged partnerships with e-commerce platforms like Etsy and Shopify, as well as booking services such as Expedia and Booking.com. However, industry experts like Pat Moorhead, CEO of Moor Insights & Strategy, remain skeptical about Atlas’s ability to challenge Chrome or Microsoft Edge, citing the reluctance of mainstream and corporate users to switch from their preferred browsers.
The launch of Atlas coincides with growing scrutiny of Google’s dominance in online search, following a recent ruling that declared the tech giant an illegal monopolist. Despite calls for Google to divest its Chrome browser, no such action was mandated. Meanwhile, the adoption of large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT for search purposes is on the rise, with Datos reporting that 5.99% of desktop searches now involve LLMs—more than double the figure from a year ago. Google, too, is heavily investing in AI, prioritizing AI-generated answers in its search results.
As OpenAI continues to innovate, the tech industry watches closely to see if ChatGPT Atlas can carve out a significant niche in the competitive browser market.
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Why Trump made breakthrough in Gaza but can’t with Putin over Ukraine
Planned talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to address the nearly four-year-long conflict in Ukraine have been indefinitely suspended. The anticipated summit, initially proposed to take place in Budapest within weeks, was canceled following the abrupt halt of preliminary discussions between the two nations’ top diplomats. Trump emphasized his reluctance to engage in what he termed a ‘wasted meeting,’ signaling a pause in diplomatic efforts. This development marks another twist in Trump’s ongoing attempts to mediate an end to the Ukraine war, a task that has proven far more complex than his recent success in brokering a Gaza ceasefire. Trump’s diplomatic strategy, which has oscillated between pressuring Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, has yet to yield tangible results. While Trump has threatened sanctions on Russian energy exports and considered arming Ukraine with advanced weaponry, he has also faced pushback from European allies concerned about regional destabilization. Putin, meanwhile, appears to be leveraging Trump’s eagerness for a deal to influence U.S. policy, as seen in previous summits that yielded no concrete outcomes. Zelensky, who left a recent White House meeting empty-handed, noted Russia’s waning interest in diplomacy as Ukraine’s military prospects improved. Trump, who once vowed to end the war swiftly, now acknowledges the formidable challenges of achieving peace in a conflict where neither side is willing to concede.
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North Korea has fired ballistic missiles toward the east, Seoul says
North Korea has resumed its ballistic missile testing activities after a five-month hiatus, launching multiple suspected short-range missiles on Wednesday. The missiles were fired from a location south of Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. While the exact trajectory and landing points remain undisclosed, the launches were directed northeastward, raising regional tensions just days before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea. The APEC summit, scheduled for October 30 to November 1, focuses on economic integration and trade, with no military agenda. However, North Korea’s actions have drawn significant attention, as experts suggest the tests may be a strategic move to assert its nuclear capabilities and demand international recognition as a nuclear weapons state. South Korea has heightened its surveillance and is collaborating closely with the U.S. and Japan to monitor the situation. Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed that the missiles did not enter Japan’s territorial waters or exclusive economic zone. This marks the first ballistic missile test since South Korean President Lee Jae Myung took office in June, pledging to restore peace on the Korean Peninsula. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has intensified weapons development since his nuclear diplomacy with former U.S. President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019. Despite recent hints at resuming talks, Kim’s display of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at a military parade earlier this month underscores his commitment to expanding North Korea’s nuclear arsenal. The Hwasong-20 ICBM, described as the country’s most powerful nuclear weapon system, could be test-launched in the coming months, further escalating tensions in the region.
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AI-driven observability gains momentum as enterprises embrace hybrid work and cloud
As digital transformation accelerates across the Middle East, enterprises are increasingly prioritizing observability to address the challenges of performance, visibility, and control in hybrid and cloud-dependent environments. The shift to remote work, widespread cloud adoption, and the growing complexity of IT ecosystems have made observability — the ability to monitor, analyze, and optimize digital experiences — a critical focus for CIOs and IT leaders.
Riverbed Technology, a leader in network optimization, is positioning itself at the forefront of this evolution. At GITEX, the company unveiled its latest innovations in observability and performance acceleration, including Riverbed IQ Ops, a platform enhanced with AI and machine learning capabilities. These tools enable predictive analysis, automated remediation, and integration with third-party systems like ServiceNow, empowering IT teams to proactively manage performance and security across distributed environments.
Salman Ali, Riverbed’s Senior Manager for Solution Engineering in the GCC, emphasized the strategic use of AI in their approach. “We’re not just adding AI for the sake of it,” he said. “We’re using causal AI and generative algorithms to deliver actionable insights, break down silos across infrastructure, applications, and networks, and unify observability across the enterprise.”
Riverbed’s methodology focuses on data quality and relevance. Its platform collects, filters, and analyzes data to ensure AI delivers meaningful outcomes, from forecasting IT issues to correlating performance metrics across domains. This unified observability model is particularly valuable in hybrid work scenarios, where consistent access and performance are essential regardless of user location.
The company is also playing a pivotal role in the UAE’s digital transformation journey. As organizations migrate services to the cloud and digitize operations, Riverbed provides visibility into user behavior, service adoption, and performance metrics — both before and after migration. “Digitization has enabled us to give companies the right visibility into how services are used and where enhancements are needed,” Ali explained.
Looking ahead, Riverbed identifies three major trends driving demand for observability: digitization, cloud adoption, and hybrid work. As applications move further from users, the need for deep visibility and control becomes more urgent. “The more digital we become, the more we need to understand our environments,” Ali noted. “Observability is the foundation for that understanding.”
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Humphreys denies ‘smear’ campaign against Connolly
In the final televised debate of the Irish presidential campaign, candidates Heather Humphreys and Catherine Connolly faced off on RTÉ, addressing allegations of a smear campaign and key policy issues. Humphreys, backed by Fine Gael, denied accusations that her campaign had targeted Connolly’s past work as a barrister. Connolly, an independent candidate supported by left-wing parties including Sinn Féin, defended her legal career, stating that recent criticisms had ‘absolutely no basis.’ She emphasized her adherence to client confidentiality and the ‘cab rank’ rule, which obligates barristers to accept cases within their expertise. The Bar of Ireland supported this principle, affirming it as a professional duty. Connolly also addressed her stance on foreign policy, particularly regarding Gaza, and her willingness to engage with international leaders, including US President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Humphreys expressed regret over her role in the government during the pandemic, which imposed strict restrictions preventing families from being with dying loved ones. The debate highlighted the candidates’ contrasting approaches to domestic and international issues as Ireland prepares to elect its 10th president on Friday.
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Champions League: Liverpool’s Ekitike returns to face floundering Frankfurt
Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike is set to face his former club Eintracht Frankfurt in a crucial Champions League encounter on Wednesday, as both teams grapple with inconsistent form this season. Frankfurt, once a Bundesliga powerhouse, has seen a dramatic decline since their historic third-place finish last year, which secured their Champions League berth. This season, the Eagles have managed just one win in their last five matches across all competitions, conceding a staggering 18 goals in the process. Their defensive vulnerabilities could prove a golden opportunity for Liverpool’s misfiring attack, which has struggled to find its rhythm in recent games. Ekitike, who joined Liverpool in a £69 million ($92 million) deal this summer, was Frankfurt’s standout player last season, netting 22 goals and providing 12 assists in 48 appearances. His departure, alongside other key players like Omar Marmoush and Randal Kolo Muani, has left Frankfurt in a rebuilding phase, marked by flashes of brilliance and moments of chaos. Despite their struggles, Frankfurt’s youthful squad showed promise with a 5-1 victory over Galatasaray in their Champions League opener, only to suffer a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid in their next outing. Liverpool, currently on a four-game losing streak, will be looking to capitalize on Frankfurt’s defensive frailties to reignite their season. Sporting director Timmo Hardung believes the match could be a turning point for Frankfurt, stating, ‘It will be a completely different game. Liverpool. Champions League. There’s nothing better in football.’
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Pen pals from Canada and Singapore meet for the first time after 43 years
In a heartwarming tale of enduring friendship, two women from Canada and Singapore met face-to-face for the first time after 43 years of correspondence. Their journey began in 1983 when they were paired as pen pals through a school project. Over the decades, they exchanged countless letters, sharing personal milestones, cultural experiences, and life stories. This week, their long-awaited reunion took place in Newfoundland, Canada, marking a poignant moment in their decades-long bond. The meeting was filled with laughter, tears, and a deep sense of connection, as they finally bridged the physical distance that had separated them for so long. Their story highlights the enduring power of friendship and the unique connections that can be forged through simple acts of communication.