Olam News

Oil Prices Decline Amid Ukraine Peace HopesThe international energy market is once again showing volatility. Oil prices slipped slightly on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, as hopes grew for potential peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, a plan reportedly being pushed by US President Donald Trump. In Asian trading, Brent crude dropped $0.07 to $66.53 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for September delivery slid $0.06 to $63.36 per barrel. The more active October WTI contract also fe...

South African Music Goes GlobalSpotify has officially released the Global Impact List 2025, highlighting South African tracks with the biggest international influence. Out of 30 songs listed, two names stood out above the rest: Tyla and DJ Maphorisa. The list is based on international streaming performance during the first half of 2025. The results confirm that Amapiano and South African pop are no longer just regional sounds but global exports shaping today’s music industry.Tyla’s Global Dom...

Thousands of Israelis poured into the streets and halted daily activities in a nationwide strike demanding an immediate end to the Gaza war. The demonstrations, held across major cities, reflect a growing rift between public opinion and government policy. While surveys indicate that the majority of citizens favor halting the fighting, Israel’s leadership has signaled its intention to expand military operations in Gaza.Widespread Protests Across the CountryProtesters gathered in Tel Aviv, Jeru...

Chapter 1 – An Unexpected EncounterThe rain poured heavily, as though the sky had decided to release everything it had been holding since morning. Droplets struck the rooftops, slid down windows, and crashed onto the pavement in endless rhythm, turning the entire city into one vast orchestra of water. The streets, usually filled with the impatient honking of cars, now echoed with hurried footsteps and umbrellas opening like flowers under the storm. On the corner of a quiet lane stood a little...

The Shocking Act in Sin CityLas Vegas made global headlines after an unusual incident at XS Nightclub, Wynn Las Vegas. A French man named Dylan Desclos successfully impersonated Justin Bieber and even performed on stage in front of thousands of fans. The incident took place on Saturday night, August 16, 2025. Desclos, who has been known as a Bieber lookalike for years, entered the venue with a group pretending to be the singer’s new management team. His uncanny resemblance to Bieber fooled bo...

Hamas has officially agreed to the latest ceasefire proposal in Gaza after lengthy negotiations mediated by Egypt and Qatar. The announcement, confirmed by a group official to mediators, marks a significant turning point in the prolonged conflict that has claimed tens of thous ands of lives and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis.The Latest Ceasefire ProposalAccording to international reports, the ceasefire will last for 60 days, focusing on halting military operations and initiating a pha...

The official launch of ChatGPT Go in India marks a new chapter for OpenAI in making artificial intelligence more affordable. Announced by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on X on August 19, 2025, the service is introduced as an initial strategy to reach broader markets with a lower subscription cost compared to existing global plans. Sam Altman emphasized that India is the first country to access ChatGPT Go. He described this move as an effort to make ChatGPT affordable in a massive market while gatheri...

The Cold War reached a dramatic turning point in May 1960 when a CIA-operated U-2 spy plane was shot down over Soviet territory. The mission, meant to collect intelligence from high altitudes, instead became one of the most explosive incidents in modern espionage history. As the aircraft spiralled downward, tail first, the world witnessed the collapse of a fragile diplomatic trust between two nuclear superpowers.The U-2 MissionThe Lockheed U-2 was a state-of-the-art reconnaissance aircraft de...

An unusual phenomenon has once again captured international attention. Residents of the United States and Canada have been shocked by sightings of wild squirrels whose bodies are covered with large, wart-like lumps filled with pus. This disturbing appearance quickly earned the nickname “zombie squirrels.” Photos and videos of the animals spread rapidly across social media, sparking both fear and curiosity about what was happening to these creatures.Origins of the Zombie Squirrel PhenomenonRep...

CMB International Securities, a subsidiary of China Merchants Bank, made history by launching a 24/7 crypto trading service in Hong Kong on August 18, 2025. The initiative makes CMB International the first Chinese bank-affiliated securities firm to legally provide crypto services under the oversight of Hong Kong regulators. This move further strengthens Hong Kong’s ambition to position itself as a global hub for digital assets and marks a new chapter in institutional adoption of cryptocurrenc...