– An earthquake of magnitude 5.6 hit Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Saturday, October 17, with its epicentre near the city of Khuzdar. The German Research Centre for Geosciences reported the tremor and said it occurred at a depth of 10
Business
– Brent crude touched $110 a barrel on Friday for the first time since May as escalating Middle East tensions raised fears of tighter supplies. Brent futures for December delivery settled $3.94, or 3.7%, higher at $109.86, the highest close
– Remittances from Egyptians working abroad rose 27.2% in the first eight months of 2026 to a record $33.9 billion. The Central Bank of Egypt reported the figures on Tuesday, October 13. Inflows stood at $26.6 billion during the same
– Oman’s total electricity production rose 4.3% year on year through August 2026, reaching 37,481.8 gigawatt-hours. Output stood at 35,935.3 GWh during the same period of 2025. Preliminary data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information showed growth across
– Foreign capital inflows into Indonesia’s financial markets reached Rp131.1 trillion, about $7.33 billion, through early October 2026. Finance Minister Suahasil Nazara announced the cumulative figure during the government’s monthly state budget briefing in Jakarta. The Finance Ministry said government
– The African Union officially launched the Africa Credit Rating Agency, or AfCRA, in Mauritius on October 7. The new institution will focus on African sovereigns, companies and other issuers. AfCRA plans to provide independent credit assessments using African data,
Travel
Technology
– Samsung Electronics has presented new memory and storage technology strategies designed to improve the performance of artificial intelligence infrastructure. The company revealed the plans at the 2026 OCP Global Summit in San Jose, California, held from October 12 to
– Meta has launched Muse Wonder and Muse Wonder Full, a new family of advanced artificial intelligence models. The company built the systems for software development, AI agents and complex everyday tasks. They can assist with areas such as leases,
– The European Commission has proposed a new communications network for emergency and security services across Europe. The EU Critical Communication System, known as EUCCS, would connect national networks used by police, firefighters and medical responders. Civil protection authorities would
Apple has added a foldable model to the iPhone lineup with the debut of the iPhone Duo. The company introduced the device on Sept. 9, ahead of preorders opening Oct. 16. U.S. pricing begins at $1,999, while the starting price
Apple has introduced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max with upgrades to cameras, battery life and processing power. Both models use the new A20 Pro chip and a redesigned vapor chamber for sustained performance. Apple also added
Apple has introduced the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone, with availability scheduled for October 23. The handset opens to a 7.6-inch inner display and uses a 5.4-inch outer screen when closed. Both displays share the same aspect ratio and
Sports
Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal and Erling Haaland are among the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. Organizers announced the men’s shortlist on September 8 before the awards ceremony in London on October 26. Ousmane Dembélé, Rodri and

