Russian "Gazprom" is developing detailed design documentation for the "Power of Siberia-2" gas pipeline to China, which will transport 50 billion cubic meters of gas per year. The cost of design work can reach 5-10% of the total budget, which is estimated at more than 30 billion dollars.
The Donald Trump administration has reached an agreement with Switzerland to reduce import tariffs to 15%, ending several months of trade confrontation. Switzerland will invest $200 billion in the US and relocate part of its production.
China's unofficial gold purchases could be 10 times higher than official figures, as the country seeks to diversify its assets away from the US dollar. China's total purchases in 2025 could reach 250 tons, more than a third of the total global demand from central banks.
Lukoil shares on the Moscow Exchange fell to 4,900 rubles, and the company's capitalization decreased by $9. 6 billion after new US sanctions. This led to the blocking of sales of foreign assets and problems with operations in international markets.
The International Energy Agency predicts that demand for oil and gas will grow for at least 25 years without global changes. This is due to the lack of new solutions in the fight against climate change and the changing position of countries regarding climate goals.
The European Commission has begun establishing a new intelligence body to improve the use of information from national intelligence services. The unit, being formed within the European Commission's Secretariat-General, will recruit staff from the EU intelligence community.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen avoided a meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the COP30 conference due to Brussels' demands for London to pay billions of euros. The British leader wanted to discuss dissatisfaction with EU demands for a payment of up to 6.5 billion euros to participate in the "credits for weapons" program and contributions to the EU budget.
The European Commission proposes to permanently freeze Russian assets in the EU and use the proceeds to finance Ukraine. Rejection of this plan could lead to annual EU expenditures of 5.6 billion euros, affecting the deficit and debt of individual states.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegset called on defense companies to accelerate the development and production of weapons, threatening their disappearance. He also announced the creation of a "deal-making team" to support Pentagon procurement.
The US Treasury Department said that Swiss oil trader Gunvor would not receive a license until Putin stops the war in Ukraine.
Leading Chinese air taxi developer EHang plans to transport passengers from airports to major cities for as little as $30. This will be possible through the operation of unmanned eVTOLs, which have received approval from the air traffic regulator for commercial operation.
Russians have started using jet gliders on Soviet-era aerial bombs to hit targets far behind the front lines, putting additional strain on Ukraine's air defense. Some of them are equipped with a jet engine, increasing their flight range to 200 km.
New EU member states may be subject to a "probationary period" of several years, with the possibility of suspending membership or expelling them from the bloc if they deviate from democratic principles.
Gopichand Hinduja, billionaire and co-owner of the Hinduja Group, has died at the age of 85 after a long illness. He was known as the richest man in the UK.
The UN warns of dangerous global warming of up to 2. 8°C, despite minor improvements in climate policy. A report by the organization, published ahead of climate talks in Brazil, points to rising emissions and the lack of significant impact of current policies on their reduction.
Serbia is considering early parliamentary elections as a way to stabilize the internal situation after mass protests. President Aleksandar Vučić proposed holding elections earlier to overcome political tensions.
Michael Jackson's estate secretly paid $2. 5 million to five plaintiffs who accused the singer of sexual abuse. This payment completed a settlement initiated in 2020 for $16.5 million.
Dmitry Peskov commented on reports of the cancellation of the meeting between Putin and Trump in Budapest on October 31. He urged to "focus on official wordings, not on media assessments."
The planned summit between Trump and Putin in Budapest has been canceled due to Russia's tough demands regarding Ukraine. The decision was made after a tense conversation between diplomats.
Germany plans to purchase up to 12,000 kamikaze drones from startups Helsing, Stark, and defense giant Rheinmetall for approximately 300 million euros. These drones are intended for the German brigade in Lithuania, which will defend NATO's eastern flank against Russia.
OpenAI head Sam Altman and his team signed multi-year deals with Nvidia, Oracle, AMD, and Broadcom worth $1. 5 trillion without involving external consultants. This drew criticism due to the lack of detailed financial terms and unconventional deal structures.
The Swedish group Saab is considering opening a plant in Ukraine for the final assembly of components for JAS 39 Gripen E fighter jets. This is due to an agreement between Ukraine and Sweden on the purchase of 100-150 combat aircraft.
US President Donald Trump this week imposed sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, using the surplus of oil on the global market to weaken Russia's war chest. This move was made possible by a significant drop in global oil prices, which allowed Washington to more aggressively target Russian oil.
The team of European Council President António Costa is changing the conclusions to persuade Belgium to support a €140 billion loan to Ukraine. EU leaders are discussing new wording that addresses the red lines of Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever.
The cyberattack that crippled Jaguar Land Rover became the most damaging cyber event in UK history, causing losses of £1. 9 billion. The incident affected over 5,000 British companies, and the government provided JLR with a £1.5 billion loan guarantee.
The meeting between the US Secretary of State and the Russian Foreign Minister was scheduled for October 30 in Budapest. This meeting was supposed to precede a possible US-Russia summit.
The EU is considering classifying ethanol as a hazardous substance, which could lead to a ban on its use in hand sanitizers. An internal ECHA recommendation from October 10 identifies ethanol as a toxic substance that increases carcinogenic risks and pregnancy complications.
EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas commented on the Financial Times article, which states that Donald Trump called on Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept Putin's terms. Kallas emphasized the resilience of Ukrainians and the negative consequences for the international order if the aggressor achieves its goals.
Donald Trump stated that he never discussed with Volodymyr Zelenskyy the possible transfer of Donbas to Russia. The US President believes that the parties should stop at the current lines and return home.
On October 17, Donald Trump urged Volodymyr Zelenskyy to agree to Moscow's terms to end the war, citing Putin's threats to "destroy" Ukraine. Trump insisted on handing over control of Donbas and reiterated the Kremlin's arguments.
