Banco Santander agreed a three-year cooperation framework with NVIDIA (NVDA.O) to develop AI capabilities using NVIDIA's AI infrastructure.

KYODO reported on Sunday that Prime Minister TAKAICHI's cabinet approval rating slid to 49.1% in an Oct. 17-18 poll, the lowest since she took office in Oct. last year. The decline follows criticism of her handling of the resignation of the agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister, who quit Wednesday after remarks about cutting road-construction funding to local governments that do not support him were reported. KYODO said 57.7% of respondents felt TAKAICHI's decision to remove the minister was too late and 81.5% said his resignation was warranted. The minister had been appointed in last month's cabinet reshuffle and was publicly rebuked by TAKAICHI in parliament after the remarks surfaced earlier this month.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC Navy) said on the 19th an oil tanker it described as "non-compliant" struck a sea mine in the southern Strait of Hormuz, exploded and caught fire. In a statement published by IRGC-affiliated Sepah News, the navy said the vessel had switched off GPS and navigation systems and ignored rules while attempting to exit the Strait via an "unauthorized" route. The IRGC Navy warned it will take "severe and decisive measures" against any ships that disable navigation or identification systems while transiting the Strait or the Persian Gulf.