Daily updates on climate change and the global economy.

Daily updates on climate change and the global economy.
Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.

Daily updates on climate change and the global economy.
Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.

Daily updates on climate change and the global economy.
Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.

Daily updates on climate change and the global economy.
Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.

Huge thanks to this month’s sponsor, Kimberley Hare, Facilitator of ‘The Edge’ Retreat, and Author of “At the Edge: What is Mine to Do, and Who Can I do it With?” She was kind enough to interview me for this book.


“World War III Has Already Begun – And Businesses Need To Take Note.

“The sudden collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s despotic regime in Syria this weekend highlights the interconnectedness of a growing number of global conflicts, revealing a hard truth that most of us would rather not think about too deeply: World War III has already begun.”

https://www.forbes.com/sites/brycehoffman/2024/12/08/world-war-iii-has-already-begun–and-businesses-need-to-take-note/


“Record Leveraged Loan Deals Mask Emerging Frailty [US]…

““We believe the increase in defaults in the loan market is directly attributable to the high interest-rate environment, leaving borrowers with very little margin for error,” said John Broz, managing director and portfolio manager on the leveraged credit team at PPM America, Inc.”

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-07/record-leveraged-loan-deals-mask-emerging-frailty-credit-weekly?embedded-checkout=true


“UK job vacancies fall at fastest rate since pandemic as business confidence slumps…

“In a damaging blow to the government efforts to boost growth, the latest monthly report on the job market from accountancy firm KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) found demand for staff declined at a “sharp and accelerated pace” last month.”

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/dec/09/uk-job-vacancies-fall-at-fastest-rate-since-pandemic-as-business-confidence-slumps


“Investors dump French debt as political crisis grows…

“Prime minister Michel Barnier resigned last week after losing a no-confidence vote over the country’s deficit-cutting budget… The collapse of the government is fuelling fears in the market about the state of France’s public finances and the Elysee’s failure to get a grip on the problem.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/12/08/investors-dump-french-debt-as-political-crisis-grows/


“VW, workers clash in latest round of talks over factory shutdowns.

“Volkswagen and labour representatives will hold a fourth round of talks over wage cuts and possible plant closures, in what has become an increasingly bitter standoff that will be flanked by strikes at the carmaker’s main German sites on Monday.”

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/vw-workers-clash-latest-round-talks-over-factory-shutdowns-2024-12-09/


“Far-right backers protest after Romanian court cancels presidential election.

“Romanian far-right candidate Calin Georgescu and over 100 supporters rallied at a Bucharest polling station to protest against the cancellation of Sunday’s presidential election, which a top court annulled after allegations of Russian interference.”

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20241208-thieves-romanians-demand-to-vote-after-scrapped-elections


“Donald Trump calls for Russia’s Vladimir Putin to reach ‘immediate’ settlement with Ukraine…

“The US president-elect wrote on social media on Sunday that [Volodymyr] “Zelenskyy and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness”. He called for “an immediate ceasefire” and said “negotiations should begin”.”

https://news.sky.com/story/donald-trump-calls-for-russias-vladimir-putin-to-reach-immediate-settlement-with-ukraine-13270115


“Germany, France and Poland condemn use of force against protesters in Georgia.

“The foreign ministers of Germany, France and Poland have strongly condemned “the disproportionate use of force” against peaceful protesters and the targeting of the opposition and media representatives in Georgia.”

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ap-germany-poland-france-antony-blinken-b2660554.html


“Russia has voiced strong opposition to NATO’s expansion into Southeast Asia, emphasizing concerns about militarization in the region.

“”We do not want to see the militarization of this region, nor [do we want] NATO expansion to this part of the planet,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said, addressing the 15th Asian conference of the Valdai Discussion Club.”

https://news.az/news/russia-warns-against-natos-southeast-asia-expansion


“China starts military movements after Taiwan leader’s first foreign trip.

“Taiwan’s defence ministry said it had observed naval flotillas from the People’s Liberation Army’s northern, eastern and southern theatre commands as well as from the coastguard entering waters around Taiwan and the western Pacific.”

https://www.ft.com/content/0e0a7e9e-8bbf-49e0-aea9-8f7dac958792


“China loosens monetary policy for first time in 14 years.

“China’s stocks rose and bond yields fell after the country’s leaders changed their stance on monetary policy to “moderately loose” from “prudent” for the first time in 14 years to boost an economy teetering on deflation.”

https://www.ft.com/content/7a9c963c-b1af-4c92-860e-f57dc546cf1f


“Japan’s bankruptcies set to hit 11-year high in 2024, data shows.

“In November, 841 Japanese companies went bankrupt, bringing the January-November tally to 9,164, already exceeding last year’s total, data from the credit research agency showed. The 2024 bankruptcy figure will likely exceed 10,000 for the first time since 2013, when 10,855 firms went bankrupt.”

https://www.reuters.com/world/japan/japans-bankruptcies-set-hit-11-year-high-2024-data-shows-2024-12-09/


“South Korea president banned from leaving country as ruling party accused of ‘second coup’.

“South Korea’s president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has been banned from leaving the country, as opposition politicians accused his party of staging a “second coup” by refusing to impeach him over his botched declaration of martial law last week.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/09/south-korea-ruling-party-accused-of-second-coup-as-opposition-pushes-for-new-impeachment-vote


“Debt crisis: Why Karnataka is not alone. Many Indian states are grappling with rising debt burdens that threaten their financial stability…

“The rising public debt crisis in Indian states, exemplified by Karnataka’s fiscal challenges, highlights broader structural issues in state-level financial management. Public debt, a key fiscal health indicator, reveals troubling trends across the nation.”

https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/debt-crisis-why-karnataka-is-not-alone-3309035


“Clashes kill 6 Pakistani troops, 22 militants near Afghan border…

“Area security officials said that dozens of heavily armed TTP militants staged a multipronged attack on the security outpost in the town of Thall, resulting in the deaths of six paramilitary troops and injuries to several others in the ensuing gun battles.”

https://www.voanews.com/a/clashes-kill-6-pakistan-troops-22-militants-near-afghan-border/7890923.html


“Iran ‘dramatically’ increases uranium enrichment as nuclear bomb fears grow.

“Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Tehran was growing its capacity to enrich uranium at up to 60 per cent purity, bringing it closer to the 90 per cent weapons-grade threshold.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/06/iran-increases-uranium-enrichment-nuclear-bomb-fears/


“‘New history written’ says HTS leader al-Julani in Syria victory speech…

“The leader of the main Syrian opposition armed group that seized Syria’s capital, Abu Mohammed al-Julani, has said the Syrian people are the “rightful owners” of the country after the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, and declared a “new history” has been written for the entire Middle East.”

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/8/hts-leader-al-julani-arrives-in-syrias-capital-delivers-victory-speech


“US pounds ISIS camps in Syria after Assad flees.

“The U.S. carried out a major round of airstrikes on Islamic State targets on Sunday, and warned the terror group against trying to regain strength in the country after rebels took over the government.”

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/08/us-troops-stay-syria-shaheen-00193192


“Israel seizes land on Syrian border and bombs Damascus.

“Benjamin Netanyahu said IDF troops had captured a buffer zone in the Golan Heights on the same day a lightning rebel offensive toppled the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/08/israel-seizes-land-on-syrian-border-and-bombs-damascus/


“Netanyahu is set to take the witness stand for the first time in his corruption trial in Israel…

“Netanyahu is on trial for accusations of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate affairs. Netanyahu denies wrongdoing, but his appearance on the witness stand will be a low point in his decades-long political career…”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/12/09/israel-benjamin-netanyahu-corruption-trial-gaza-war/d5af3526-b5fa-11ef-8afa-452ab71fe261_story.html


“Somalia accuses Ethiopia of undermining sovereignty with arms smuggling.

“Somalia has reiterated its warning to Ethiopia, accusing its neighbour of undermining Somali sovereignty through arms smuggling and militia recruitment. The allegations mark a new flashpoint in regional tensions as Mogadishu struggles to consolidate security and governance.”

https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2024/Dec/199278/somalia_accuses_ethiopia_of_undermining_sovereignty_with_arms_smuggling.aspx


“Fighting erupts in Sudan’s Blue Nile and White Nile states…

“The fighting in the Blue Nile and White Nile states is the latest in a series of clashes between the army and the RSF, which have been battling for control of Sudan since April.”

https://sudantribune.com/article294392/


“Burkina Faso junta fires prime minister, dissolves government.

“No reason was given for the dismissal of Apollinaire Joachim Kyelem de Tambela, who was named as premier in October 2022 after the coup that brought Captain Ibrahim Traore to power.”

https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20241207-burkina-faso-junta-chief-dismisses-pm-dissolves-government


“How a uranium mine became a pawn in the row between Niger and France.

“In the latest sign of a dramatic deterioration in relations, Niger’s military rulers appear increasingly determined to drive France out of any significant sector in their economy – and particularly uranium mining.”

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czjd70mzge2o


“The first-ever ‘tomb’ for nuclear waste, located nearly 1,500 feet below the surface, will soon be sealed off from humans for 100,000 years to break down safely.

“Finland’s $4 billion Onkalo project consists of a six-mile network of underground tunnels designed to store the country’s 6,500 tons of uranium waste generated by a nearby nuclear power plant.”

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14154371/nuclear-waste-tomb-Finland-closed-humans-centuries.html


“Shimane Nuclear Power Plant No. 2, which had been shut down since the Fukushima nuclear accident… has resumed operation…

“Ahead of the restart, it was pointed out that there was no effective way for about 450,000 people living within a 30-kilometer radius of the nuclear power plant to evacuate safely in the event of an accident.”

https://www.mk.co.kr/en/world/11188845


“Stark Chernobyl images show aftermath decades on from world’s worst nuclear disaster.

“Photos taken over the past few years show the impact of the explosion and the evacuation of the 30,000 inhabitants from the nearby town of Pripyat who fled the fallout and left everything behind to fall into ruin.”

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3289155/stark-chernobyl-images-show-aftermath-decades-worlds-worst-nuclear-disaster


“Rival packs of stray dogs scavenging for scraps around the Chernobyl fallout zone may be evolving faster than other animals to survive in one of the most hostile environments on Earth…

“Miraculously, the wild dogs are still able to breed and endure extreme winters while relying on scraps from tourists.”

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/chernobyl-dogs-1986-nuclear-disaster-b2661021.html


“‘Disease X’ Outbreak Widens as UN Sends Health Team to Congo…

“Since Oct. 24, 406 cases of an undiagnosed illness with symptoms of fever, headache, cough, runny nose and body ache were reported in the Panzi health zone in the southwestern province of Kwango, the WHO said Sunday in a statement.”

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-08/-disease-x-outbreak-widens-as-un-sends-health-team-to-congo


“An Ancient Killer Is Rapidly Becoming Resistant to Antibiotics, Study Warns.

“According to recent research, the bacterium that causes typhoid fever is evolving extensive drug resistance, and it’s rapidly replacing strains that aren’t resistant… Even worse, these strains are spreading globally at a rapid rate.”

https://www.sciencealert.com/an-ancient-killer-is-rapidly-becoming-resistant-to-antibiotics-study-warns


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You can read the previous “Economic” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with a “Climate” thread.