Many thanks to my friend Barry Smiler for being October’s sponsor. Do take a look at his climate site, which nicely complements mine. He recently added some nifty enhancements to his Research page. And for your climate listening pleasure, he suggests this little song.
“The global economy is muddling through against the odds. But a storm is coming… potential flashpoints for trouble are everywhere. The situation in the Middle East is deteriorating… Oil stocks are running low… Meanwhile, massive US investment in AI has pushed up the cost of borrowing and resulted in shortages of capital for non-AI sectors.
“Governments are coming under pressure to rein in spending or raise taxes [but] there is little appetite for a new era of austerity, and finance ministers know it. If they follow through on the tough talk and actually deliver painful measures, the backlash is likely to be brutal.”
“The era of ultra-low borrowing costs is over: OECD chief.
“OECD Secretary General Mathias Cormann discusses higher borrowing costs, fiscal and inflation pressures, risks around AI investment, and the need for coordinated U.S.-China adjustment as global imbalances widen.”
“Tech market sell-off deepens amid fears over US inflation and AI debt…
“South Korea’s benchmark Kospi 200 index, which is heavily skewed towards the companies that make memory chips, fell more than 8% overnight to a six-month closing low, triggering circuit breakers that brought trading to a halt at various points.”
“Default fears leap as investors panic over AI debts…
“Credit default swap (CDS) spreads for AI-infrastructure giant CoreWeave and tech titan Oracle soared to historic highs on Thursday, 15 October 2026… Amid mounting skepticism over the multi-billion-dollar monetization timelines for AI hardware, investors are rushing to hedge default risks across the tech sector.”
“Why the AI investment boom could spark the next financial crisis…
“At some point, something is bound to break somewhere. Tellingly, global fund managers believe hyperscalers’ capital expenditures are the most likely source of a “systemic credit event”…the fact that such a massive bet is based on such uncertain foundations is deeply concerning. The “everything trade” is an accident waiting to happen.”
“Failure to activate Hormuz fertiliser plan could trigger food crisis, UN official says…
““It’s absolutely crucial to get the deal in the next few weeks. Otherwise, we will miss the planting season,” he said in an interview in Bangkok, on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings.”
“According to shipping industry data examined in the October edition of World Grain, the International Grains Council’s Grains and Oilseeds Freight Index (GOFI) rose from 138 points in early January to 187 by mid-September, an increase of approximately 35.5%.”
“Ship attack reports near Hormuz reach record high as oil exports slow…
“Twelve vessels were attacked between 5 and 11 October – the largest number of weekly strikes reported to the UK’s Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency since the US-Israeli war with Iran began. The previous week saw 10 ships reporting attacks.”
“Record Tanker Rates Leave Heavy Crude Stranded in the Americas.
“The Middle East crisis has driven tanker rates to all-time highs and created a shortage of vessels. This oil logistics problem is now causing a ripple effect, tipping the heavy crude market in North and South America into oversupply—while Asia and Europe grapple with a shortage of heavy grades.”
“Global diesel prices set to rise again, warns IEA…
“The Paris-based IEA, which has co-ordinated the global response to the current energy crisis, said spiralling prices in the shipping market meant “delivered diesel prices” may be on the rise again on the three continents.”
“Trump weighs easing restrictions on Russian and Iranian ‘shadow fleet’.
“A White House desperate to lower fuel costs ahead of US midterm elections could allow blacklisted vessels back into global trade… It also marks an abrupt turn in US policy more favourable to Moscow as it seeks to unfreeze sovereign assets and apparently throttled Ukraine’s access to Starlink satellites crucial to its defence in the war with Russia…”
“Key US voters say economy is getting worse ahead of midterms, exclusive poll finds…
“The majority of those surveyed were pessimistic about the economy, with three-quarters of Americans saying they are concerned about a recession while 61% wrongly believe that the US is already experiencing one… The poll shows growing weariness across the political spectrum over high prices.”
“Progress toward a US-Mexico tariff deal has stalled, WSJ reports…
“Negotiations for a U.S.-Mexico tariff agreement have stalled due to opposition from U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. According to a Wall Street Journal report published on 15 October 2026, advanced trade talks hit a standstill over disagreements regarding U.S. levies on vehicles and metals.”
“Doug Ford warns Trump’s tariff war with Canada is here to stay.
“Ontario Premier Doug Ford says two years of “crisis” and “chaos” have cemented a new reality: Canada’s relationship with the United States has permanently changed — and American tariffs are here to stay.” …“We need to be prepared for the long haul,” Ford told an Empire Club luncheon on Wednesday that drew 1,200 attendees in downtown Toronto.”
“Denmark pushes back as Trump touts Greenland oil and mineral deals.
“Denmark has demanded that US resource exploration in Greenland respect the island’s laws amid President Donald Trump’s claim that oil, gas and mineral extraction will soon begin there. The Danish Foreign Ministry reaffirmed on Wednesday that last month’s agreement between Denmark, Greenland and the US did not alter the rules for extraction.”
“UK households have paid extra £13,961 on bills since 2021 amid soaring inflation, TUC says.
“UK households have paid almost £14,000 on average in additional costs for mortgages, loans, energy and water bills over the past five years, according to a report urging the chancellor to tackle soaring living costs at the budget.”
“Eurozone Industrial Resilience Falters as Energy Shock Bites.
“There are concerns energy costs and extreme weather are putting the brakes on the bloc’s industrial momentum… Industrial production fell 0.5% from the previous month, following a downwardly revised 0.3% decline in July, the statistics agency Eurostat said Thursday.”
“The French have a phrase for it: “un engrenage,” a vicious spiral. That’s what France is in. Several crises have been long in the making; each now threatens to accelerate the others… There is no easy way out. Whoever wins the presidential election in May will struggle to win a parliamentary majority in the legislative election that follows in June, setting up further political turmoil.”
“Portugal’s Housing Protest Draws Thousands After Police Clashes.
“Thousands of people took to the streets of Portugal’s second-largest city Thursday to protest against the country’s soaring home prices after the police clashed with demonstrators in the early morning hours, increasing pressure on the government to act.”
“Truckers threaten to shut down Italy with national strike amid fuel-price squeeze…
“he Conftrasporto truckers confederation said Thursday that the nation’s lorry drivers may be forced to bring the country to a standstill to draw attention to their plight amid the squeeze caused by soaring fuel prices… “The situation is very concerning because the excessive price hikes affecting the trucking industry have created a highly tense situation among transport companies…””
“Student protests in Albania turn violent as demonstrators clash with police.
“Tens of thousands of students have taken to the streets of Tirana, the Albanian capital, setting alight a government building and two banks and hurling stones at police during a protest over rising education costs and corruption.“
“Seven sailors missing after drones strike tankers near Romania’s Black Sea coast…
“Romania’s president, Nicușor Dan, described the situation in the Black Sea as serious. “Commercial ships are being attacked and sunk,” he wrote on X. “Seafarers killed, injured and missing very close to the shores of Romania and Bulgaria. This is unacceptable and it has to stop.””
“Trump slams Zelenskyy as Ukraine resumes strikes on Russian oil refineries.
“Russia says Ukraine has targeted an oil refinery in Ryazan, about 180km (110 miles) southeast of Moscow, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was “done” with an energy ceasefire unilaterally announced by United States President Donald Trump over the weekend.”
“Ukraine runs out of Patriot interceptor missiles as Zelensky and Trump clash over war…
“For months, Zelensky has repeatedly warned that Ukraine is running out of the US-made Patriot interceptor missiles, which are one of the few defensive weapons capable of knocking down a ballistic missile. But the interceptors are both expensive and in short supply globally.”
“China Is Winning The Trade War And Losing At Home.
“On one screen, exports are going absolutely gangbusters. Overseas shipments surged 36% in September from a year earlier… On the other, evidence is mounting that President Xi Jinping’s domestic economic troubles are intensifying fast… Bottom line, expect Beijing to take fresh steps to prop up the economy in the days and weeks ahead.”
“Taiwan to Curb AI Chip Exports to China as Part of US Trade Deal…
“Taipei plans to add artificial intelligence servers and cutting-edge semiconductors to a list of controlled items, Taiwan’s Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin told Bloomberg News. After the measures take effect, he said, shipping restricted AI hardware to China will become a criminal offense under the Foreign Trade Act.”
“Philippines hits back at Chinese envoy over ‘thinly veiled threat’ of force.
“The Philippines has publicly rebuked Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan after he stated that China “may easily win” an armed confrontation but chooses not to use force because “we love peace”. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) described the remarks as a “poor choice of words” that conveyed a “thinly veiled threat of the use of force…””
“Hundreds of people protested a petrol shortage that authorities have blamed on supply disruptions on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on Thursday, as hours-long queues built up at gas stations. Officials urged residents to stay calm this week… Indonesia has already been grappling with fuel shortages this year since the start of the Iran war that has disrupted global energy supplies.”
“Thousands of sugarcane farmers staged widespread protests across Karnataka, demanding a minimum price of Rs 5,500 per tonne and urgent government intervention to resolve their concerns. The agitation disrupted traffic on several major highways, with vehicles stranded…”
“Cheap weapons, growing fears: Inside the Taliban’s drone campaign against Pakistan…
“Since the conflict between Pakistan and the Taliban began in February of this year, the Taliban have deployed armed first-person-view (FPV) drones – small quadcopters carrying munitions such as mortar shells – to attack Pakistani positions near the border. They have also used larger, fixed-wing suicide drones…”
“School headscarf ban sparks rare protests in Azerbaijan and row with Turkey.
“Last Monday the education ministry in Azerbaijan began enforcing new uniform rules, turning away female pupils wearing hijabs. Protests began outside state schools in the capital, Baku, and in several southern districts including Masally and Jalilabad.”
“US sanctions leave Iranians facing flight cancellations and soaring costs.
“In late September, travellers could still fly directly from Tehran to Dubai in less than three hours, with a ticket costing between $100 and $200. Less than a month later, it can take up to 18 hours to make the same journey and cost more than $1,000.”
“Gulf states have downplayed damage caused by Iranian strikes: Report…
“Reuters’ assessment is likely to cast new doubt on how Gulf states describe strikes on their territories. For example, Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry said that a Houthi drone strike caused a “limited fire” at the headquarters of the kingdom’s national oil company, Aramco, in Dhahran. But Reuters reported on Wednesday that the headquarters suffered “extensive damage”.”
“Two Syrian pipelines damaged amid spate of sabotage attacks on energy infrastructure.
“Two pipelines carrying gas and oil products were damaged in separate incidents in Syria, state media reported, the latest disruptions to the country’s energy infrastructure following a series of suspected sabotage attacks.”
“Rubio presses Lebanon on confiscation of weapons from Hezbollah.
“Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has discussed the confiscation of explosives intended for use against Israel during a telephone call with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Lebanese Presidential Palace has announced.”
“The halt to commercial shipments, including fruit and winter clothing, cuts off a key source of food and other critical supplies as fears mount ahead of the encroaching winter… The suspension is raising fears about affordability, with humanitarian workers saying a combination of aid and a robust commercial market is needed to keep prices under control…”
“Missile strikes on Saudi Arabia throw F1 season finale into chaos…
“Formula One’s season-ending double header in Qatar and Abu Dhabi has been thrown into fresh doubt amid escalating violence in the region. F1 insists the plan remains unchanged, but uncertainty within teams and F1 staff will be growing…”
“Yemen’s Houthis fired missiles at the presidential palace complex in the southern city of Aden on Thursday, killing five people, the government said, as the Saudi-led coalition listed dozens of Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure in recent weeks.”
“Celebrations in Somaliland after Trump calls it ‘totally different country’ from Somalia…
“Hundreds of people rallied in Somaliland’s capital Hargeisa on Wednesday, waving US and Somaliland flags, celebrating US President Donald Trump calling it “a totally different country.” …Waving US and Somaliland flags — some of which were emblazoned with Trump’s face — they shouted, “Victory to Somaliland” and “Long live America.””
“Ethiopian forces expand control in Tigray as militia claims Eritrean losses…
“Solomon Hailemariam, spokesperson for the TPF, said Eritrean forces had sustained significant casualties during the fighting. But Eritrea’s Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel rejected the claims as false in comments to local media.”
“Rival communities clashes in South Sudan’s Lakes state leaves scores dead…
“South Sudan’s Information Ministry confirmed that about 70 people were killed, including four soldiers, but that the exact toll had yet to be verified. Mbabazi Riesty Loduma, a resident of Rumbek said Tuesday, “We saw people running with their children to save them from the people who were fighting, cause the fighting was continuing from the other side.””
“Kinshasa braces for potential conflict as Kabila joins M23 [Congo]…
“…as Joseph Kabila returns to centre stage with a new alliance with the M23 rebels, political leaders in Congo are having to choose sides. Also, the US is calling for restraint in Ethiopia as a rights group warns that the conflict in Tigray is already taking a toll on civilians.”
“Argentina Pauses Local Dollar Bond Sales as Debt Wall Nears.
“Argentina is balking at selling dollar debt in the local market following a surge in borrowing costs, complicating its efforts to meet billions in debt payments next year… The sudden surge in borrowing costs has disrupted the country’s proactive financial roadmap.”
“Around 150 British Paratroopers joined locally trained reservists to “war-game” an amphibious assault followed by close-quarters combat missions across the territory, according to The Times. The six-day training exercise sought to emulate the Operation Sutton landings that repelled the Argentine invasion in May 1982.”
“Why U.S. Airstrikes Are Failing to Stop the Global Cocaine Boom…
“Thirteen months into the initiative, Colombian navy divers are detecting greater use of “parasites”—metal modules packed with cocaine that traffickers bolt onto the hulls of freighters preparing to steam out of this country’s largest Pacific port.”
“…hardship has begun to engulf virtually every aspect of Cuban society with even greater force, following the US oil blockade and financial sanctions that ultimately brought the Caribbean nation’s economy and the state’s social protection programs to the brink of collapse.”
“Mauritius reels from worst riots in decades after woman shot by police…
“Protests over water shortages and the high cost of living that started a week ago erupted into violence on Friday when a woman was shot and wounded by police at a roadblock. The circumstances of the shooting are not clear, but the officer has since been arrested and remanded in custody.”
“Famine-scarred southern Madagascar braces for El Nino…
“Even before the full impact due in the coming months of the El Nino warming pattern, which experts have said is on course to be the strongest on record, people in Madagascar’s far south are already going hungry… In Madagascar, international aid cuts and spiking inflation caused by the Middle East war add to the threat of severe hunger.”
“Climate change could trigger global financial crisis, insurers warn…
“Senior insurance industry whistleblowers warn that rising climate-related losses and declining insurance availability could create systemic financial risks comparable to the 2008 mortgage crisis… “These are not just risks that will affect some of the population, they are fundamental and systemic economic risks.””
I rely on donations and tips from my readers to keep the site running. Every little bit helps. Can you chip in even a dollar? Buy me a coffeeor become a Patreon supporter. A huge thank you to those who do subscribe or donate.
You can read the previous “Economic” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with a “Climate” thread.
With apologies, I must head to the mainland for dental treatment so will be away from my station tomorrow and Wednesday; back on Thursday with a “Climate” thread.
Many thanks to my friend Barry Smiler for being October’s sponsor. Do take a look at his climate site, which nicely complements mine. He recently added some nifty enhancements to his Research page. And for your climate listening pleasure, he suggests this little song.
“Developing nations face triple shock from energy crisis, El Niño and borrowing costs, UN warns…
“Speaking before the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok this week, the UNDP’s administrator, Alexander De Croo, called for “solidarity and global action”. “Developing countries, their hands and legs are being pulled in different directions: it’s truly hard for them,” he said.”
“World Bank in crisis aid talks with dozens of nations amid global shocks…
“As reported by Reuters, the World Bank’s president Ajay Banga is in discussions with 30 to 40 countries about potential crisis aid to help them manage energy shocks and price increases triggered by the war in the Middle East, its president said.”
“The bond crisis is about to ripple out into the real economy.
“…government debt is the benchmark against which every other financial instrument is measured. When the cost goes up, so does everything else… As borrowing costs soar, the fallout for mortgages, businesses and households will be severe.”
“The International Energy Agency urged members to speed up pledged diesel releases and consider supplying more as global markets tighten.
“IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol urged governments that have yet to fully deliver oil stocks promised under the March collective action to accelerate those releases where possible.”
“…While the Russian volumes are unlikely to have a significant effect on global diesel shortages, they will also provide limited benefit to Russia’s war effort — despite criticism from Ukraine over the US deal. If Russia shipped 3mn tonnes per month, exporters would earn about $1.2bn more over six months than if existing restrictions remained in place…”
“The world needs Ukraine’s grain. Its farmers are running out of reasons to plant…
“…after 11 years of growing a range of crops in the Odesa region of southern Ukraine, Oleksandr Chumak has had enough. Storage facilities across both Ukraine and Russia are filled with millions of tons of produce that would normally be sent to Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa — but are instead trapped in the warring countries.”
“Why China is importing a record amount of gold — and what it means for prices…
“The buying spree reflects Beijing’s push to cut its dependence on the dollar, and Chinese households’ lack of safe alternatives, with analysts expecting sustained demand for the bullion in a struggling economy. The People’s Bank of China added about 23 tonnes in September…”
“China’s debt interest costs are soaring above U.S. levels and growing faster than any other budget category as Beijing struggles to prop up growth…
“China’s spending on interest payments skyrocketed 341% between 2013 and 2025, faster than any other major budget category. By comparison, total spending jumped 102% in that span, with outlays on social security and employment up 207%, science and technology up 137%, and defense up 141%. To be sure, U.S. debt-interest spending looks grim too…”
“Economist on US debt: ‘The problem is we’re not resilient’…
“What would set a crisis off? “A shock like a bigger war than we had in Iran,” Taiwan, “a cyberattack, some out-of-the-box shock,” Rogoff said. “The problem is we’re not resilient.” The debt, “depending on how you measure it,” is “hitting an all-time high, going much higher,” he explained.”
“American ranchers wrestle with soaring costs – and their loyalty to Trump…
“Many farmers and ranchers across the US say they are being hit from all sides. Recent years have been difficult, with drought affecting crops and already historically low cattle herds. But they say government policies have added to the strain.”
“‘Some aren’t going to make it’: how pressure on farmers threatens UK food security…
“Crop growers such as Burrows are ploughing and cultivating their fields, preparing the ground – hardened and dried out during the long, hot summer – for their next crop. But machinery requires fuel, and the cost of red diesel …has almost doubled since the conflict in Iran began in late February.”
“From farms to high schools, France is a nation on edge…
“The country is wavering between revolt and despair as it faces a whirlwind of crises: devastating heatwaves, spiralling debt, spiking interest rates, rising cost of living, housing shortages, increasing unemployment, and protests over conditions in high schools.”
“A dead pensioner, a snap election and protesters camping in tents: Inside Spain’s housing crisis…
“When 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal received an eviction notice from the apartment she’d lived in for more than 70 years, she could not have imagined that the letter would send thousands onto the streets.”
“In critical October meetings, European leaders face winter energy squeeze amid mounting global pressures…
“European ministers and leaders meet through October as the EU heads into a winter of high energy prices and tight gas supplies, with pressure mounting to act on China and an intensifying El Niño darkening the global outlook.”
“US threatens to block arms for Ukraine over attacks on Russian refineries…
“The US message… included threats to cut off intelligence sharing and Purl — the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List mechanism for procuring US weapons for Ukraine. “They are calling Kyiv . . . they are calling everyone [in Europe],” said an official who received a call from a US defence official.”
“Ukraine strikes Yandex data centre in third attack on Russian tech giant…
“Earlier this week, Yandex said it was struggling to maintain its services after two of its five data centres were hit in Ukrainian strikes. Both Russia and Ukraine have stepped up attacks on infrastructure in recent months as the war between them continues in its fifth year following Russia’s full-scale invasion.”
“Russia attacks multiple power plants after Trump energy ceasefire claim…
“The Ukrainian president said on social media a drone had hit a power plant in Kyiv on Sunday, leading to power outages in the capital. Shortly after, he said there had been a strike on the CHP-5 power plant in the eastern city of Kharkiv, adding:“Ukrainian skies have been infested with Russian ‘shaheds’ [drones] all day.””
“North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles off east coast, Seoul says…
“North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles off its east coast on Monday, South Korea’s military said, amid tensions over border landmine explosions that injured three South Korean soldiers last month. Seoul said the missiles were launched from Pyongyang…”
“China sanctions ministers from Paraguay and Belize over Taiwan ties…
“China’s foreign ministry cited national sovereignty and security as reasons for the measures, saying some Belize and Paraguay politicians have been “anti-China” in pushing for their nations to maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan.”
“Young men live in fear of being snatched off the streets and sold to Myanmar’s army…
“”I worry, but I have to go out to work,” says the 26-year-old tuk tuk driver, who asked that his real name be omitted out of fear for his safety. “My family call me all the time and remind me not to drive passengers too far; to be careful who I take as a passenger… I have to be vigilant all the time.”
“Manipur MLA urges govt to deploy three companies of forces in violence-hit Kamjong.
“The Manipur Government has been urged to deploy three companies of State forces to strengthen the border in Kamjong district following fresh reports of violence in which several persons were killed and more than a dozen houses burnt.”
“Delhi sees more protests as freed ‘cockroach’ group’s leaders vow to fight on…
“Abhijeet Dipke – who began the movement in May after India’s Chief Justice likened some jobless young people to “cockroaches” – and other leaders were arrested on arrival in Delhi on Saturday. They were freed on Sunday. Dipke said “the CJP will neither back down nor be intimidated” in his first comments after his release.”
“Pakistan imposes emergency in stronghold of jailed ex-PM Imran Khan.
“Pakistan’s president declared a state of emergency and suspended the provincial government of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan on Sunday, the president’s office said, following allegations it had failed to tackle Islamist militancy.”
“Iran hits tanker in Sohar and two in Hormuz, US disables bulker.
“Attacks on commercial shipping continued apace at the weekend as Iran widened its threats to the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman… Meanwhile US forces in the region carried out their first strike on an Iranian linked vessel in the region in a month. US Central Command said it forces disabled the Panama-flagged Ocean Molica…”
“Israeli forces enter southern Syrian valley, block farmers…
“Syria says such actions, along with the leveling of land, violate the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. Damascus has repeatedly demanded a full Israeli withdrawal from Syrian territory, calling Israel’s actions illegal under international law and urging the international community to help secure its withdrawal.”
“Hunger and malnutrition stalk Gazans, a year on from ceasefire…
“Every day, Gazan mother Niyaha al-Masri spends six exhausting hours or more queueing at a community kitchen in the hope of getting some food for her family. It has been a year since a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel was supposed to allow food to flood into the ruined territory, yet widespread hunger persists there.”
“Houthis warn airlines and passengers not to use Riyadh airport after fresh attack kills 12 people…
“The dramatic escalation comes after President Donald Trump said on Saturday the US “may” join Saudi strikes on Yemen’s Houthi forces after at least 18 people were killed in airport attacks over recent days.”
“Clashes reported in Yemen as Houthis advance towards Taiz.
“Heavy clashes have been reported between Houthi fighters and Yemeni- forces near the strategic southern city of Taiz, Al Jazeera’s Yousef Mawry reports from Sanaa on what losing the city could mean for Yemen’s internationally recognised government.”
“At least 139 dead including children after migrant boat capsizes off Djibouti…
“Another 84 people are still missing after the incident, which, according to survivors, happened near Guhere, north of the fishing town of Obock, during the night of 8-9 October when the boat was travelling from Djibouti to Yemen. Eighty-two people, all Ethiopian nationals, survived the capsizing…”
“Ethiopian troops enter Adigrat in Tigray, near the Eritrean border.
“Ethiopian government forces entered Adigrat in northern Tigray after rebel fighters withdrew, heightening tensions with neighbouring Eritrea. The two neighbours cut off diplomatic ties last week. Al Jazeera’s Hamza Mohamed reports.”
“Air strikes kill dozens of gold miners on Sudan-Egypt border…
“The attack, south of the remote Halayeb triangle, east of the River Nile, is the second of its kind this year. It comes amid growing concern in Egypt over large-scale displacement from the three-and-a-half-year conflict in Sudan, which has spurred a cross-border exodus.”
“As tensions soar in the African horn, Egypt prepares to deploy troops to Somalia…
“Technical military teams from Egypt, including advisors, trainers and officers, are reportedly busy preparing for the deployment of army troops to Somalia, the first such move in the Horn of Africa nation, since the signing of a joint military cooperation agreement between the two sides in 2024.”
“Clashes kill 26 in disputed Sudan-South Sudan border region.
“The violence broke out on Tuesday at the Amiet Common Market, the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei said. “We are actively engaging with the leaders of the two communities who have reiterated their commitment to dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the hostilities,” said Lieutenant General Ganesh Kumar Shreshta…”
“UN alarmed as number of displaced in central Sahel reaches nearly four million…
“The number is more than double that of six years ago, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said, before a wave of coups in a region bedevilled by instability and violence… “The crisis is being compounded by continued attacks affecting civilians, climate-related shocks and severe humanitarian funding shortfalls,” the UNHCR said in a statement.”
“The blockade, the boat killings and the plan to take Cuba…
“United States Army planners are counting the military police, combat surgeons and engineers needed to put troops on Cuban soil. Behind these operations is a single offensive: cut Cuba off from fuel, seize control of the surrounding sea lanes and plan to overthrow its government by force.”
“…A trademark pledge of President Trump is to stay out of “endless wars.” Yet if ever there were a conflict destined to go on forever, it’s the armed effort to defeat the suppliers of mind-altering substances in the face of robust consumer demand.”
“The massive AI capital expenditure cycle is forcing bond markets to re-evaluate the risk profiles of tech giants… [there is a] divide between optimistic equity markets and highly cautious fixed-income creditors. While shareholders value exponential future earnings, bondholders focus strictly on downside protection and the exact structural mechanics of repayment…”
“Banks are now trying to offload the AI data center debt they just underwrote…
“The AI boom still runs on the assumption that credit stays open indefinitely at reasonable terms. Six months of a bank struggling to sell $38 billion in loans is the clearest evidence yet that assumption is being tested in real time, not in some theoretical downturn still years away.”
“Fixated on AI, the world has forgotten what is staring it in the face: nuclear annihilation…
“The accelerating proliferation of advanced nuclear weapons is bringing ‘end times’ closer by the day… The fragmentation of the rules-based international order provides aggravating context… Unresolved forever wars in Palestine, Iran, Ukraine, Myanmar, Yemen and Sudan are base components of a third world war.”
I rely on donations and tips from my readers to keep the site running. Every little bit helps. Can you chip in even a dollar? Buy me a coffee or become a Patreon supporter. A huge thank you to those who do subscribe or donate.
You can read the previous “Economic” thread here. I’ll be back on Thursday with a “Climate” thread.
Many thanks to my friend Barry Smiler for being October’s sponsor. Do take a look at his climate site, which nicely complements mine. He recently added some nifty enhancements to his Research page. And for your climate listening pleasure, he suggeststhis little song.
“Some climate tipping points are being studied far more than others…
“…we found no systematic tendency for tipping elements with lower estimated thresholds (that is, elements presumed to tip earlier) to attract more scientific attention. Some receive thousands of studies; others, with similarly low estimated thresholds, receive hundreds or fewer…
“What makes a tipping point unusual is not simply that a system changes. The change may happen abruptly. It may reinforce itself. The system may settle into a different state or fail to return to its previous one even if the original pressure is reduced.”
“This July was the worst on record for wildfires in England, provisional data shows, with England experiencing a clear upward trend in the total number of wildfires recorded.
“This summer has been a stark reminder of the vulnerability of the UK to climate breakdown, after punishingly hot and dry weather turned large parts of the countryside into a tinderbox.”
“12 million French homes now at risk of clay-related cracks…
““The clay in our soils is like a sponge,” Ms Goldsztejn said. “It contracts during droughts and then swells when it becomes saturated with water.” The phenomenon is not new, but climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of the drought and rainfall cycles that drive it.”
“Fishermen are particularly concerned that persistently low water levels could endanger native fish species and others that have long inhabited the river… Even decades after the devastation of World War II, the Danube still bears the scars of the siege of Budapest. As water levels continue to fall, some of the wartime remains of Margaret Bridge have once again emerged from the river.”
“A wave of rainstorms that have broken an unseasonable balmy spell caused flooding and damage across Italy on Thursday. In Rome, fire fighters were called out 120 times as streets were flooded and trees felled by high winds. There was extensive flooding and disruption to transport in Naples…”
“A double, violent tornado has ripped through the city of Marsala in Sicily on Friday injuring a number of people and causing widespread damage to several buildings.
“Italian news media reported the two tornadoes struck the Trapani area in the early hours of Friday morning and was described as “devastating”.”
“Counterfeit seeds threaten African farmers’ crops and climate resilience: Study…
“Counterfeiters can dye or repackage grain and sell it as branded, certified seed, Mabaya said. “The problem arises because certified seed looks exactly like ordinary grain but sells for a much higher price, in some cases several times more for hybrid maize. That price gap creates a strong incentive for fraud.””
“Property, worth thousands of dollars, was destroyed by the hailstorm that tore off roofs, broke windows and flooded the buildings. One family whose home was destroyed sought shelter in their car, which was the safest place to sleep.”
“Mind blowing October heat continues. 47.2C [117F] Sweihan is HOTTEST OCTOBER DAY EVER IN THE EMIRATES. Record High Minimums: 31.9C Dubai; OMAN: 31.5 Buraimi, 30.8 Sunaynah.” [Extreme Temps]
“On Camera, Powerful Winds Rip Off Roof Of Kerala [SW India] School, Cars Damaged…
“A major tragedy was narrowly averted at a school in Kerala’s Kannur district after a sudden spell of violent winds ripped off a massive metal roof, sending it crashing onto a nearby building and damaging three parked cars.”
“A violent hailstorm strikes the Punjab region [N India] with giant and exceptional hailstones.
“A farmer in the Punjab region documented the fall of massive hail balls with record-breaking sizes following a powerful thunderstorm, where the weight of some chunks exceeded half a kilogram, causing severe damage to rice crops and house roofs.” [Arab Storms]
“Heavy Rain, Hailstorm Lash Haridwar [Uttarakhand, N india]: Vehicles And Property Damaged.
“A heavy spell of rain, followed by a powerful hailstorm, rocked Haridwar on Friday (Oct 9), damaging cars, bikes, and houses across the city and its surrounding areas. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who was returning from Haldwani to Dehradun, diverted his helicopter to hailstorm-hit Bazpur to assess crop damage.”
“Climate change is reshaping the Himalayas and making climbing more dangerous.
“Jamling Tenzing, 61, said Nepal’s recent natural disasters were not isolated events but a stark warning about the mounting dangers facing mountain communities as glaciers melt and weather patterns become increasingly unpredictable… “Natural disasters are not isolated incidents. They are an extreme warning to all of us,” Jamling said.”
“Amid heartache of Nepal flooding disaster, fear remains…
“In an update from Kathmandu, UNICEF spokesperson James Elder highlighted the traumatic experience of 16-year-old Sahara, who he met this week at a technical training supported by the agency. “Her mum was swept away by the floods and killed. Through tears, Sahara told me, ‘It’s not nice to live without a mum.’””
“Shiranuka re-breaks its October record today with 24.4C [75.9F]. Absolutely abnormal warmth for Hokkaido in October and it will get MUCH warmer next week. Let’s expect an avalanche of records. Historic.” [Extreme Temps]
“On October 9, the eastern part of Hainan Island [southern China] was struck by torrential rain, with peak 24-hour rainfall reaching 373.8mm [14.7 inches], triggering severe flooding.”
“Heavy rains trigger flooding in Philippines’ Cebu communities…
“Rubelyn Rollorata, 36, captured the flooding on video at around noon and shared it on TikTok. She said the affected residential area is located near a creek, where floodwaters quickly rose after the heavy rain. “How to explain this when there is no typhoon, but it is flooding like this after heavy rain! Just keep fighting!” Rollorata wrote.”
“Vietnam mobilizes troops after heavy rains trigger flash floods and raise risks of landslides.
“In Hue, the country’s former imperial capital known for its centuries-old palaces, rainfall over the past three days exceeded 800 millimeters (31.5 inches), increasing the risk of flash floods and landslides. The rain was heaviest in coastal lowlands and hilly areas in the city’s south.”
“Prachin Buri floods ease as death toll reaches 24…
“The severe flood situation in Prachin Buri, Thailand, has begun to steadily improve, with water levels dropping across the province’s main river. However, local authorities have confirmed that 24 people have died as a result of the disaster.”
“36.3C [97.3F] Kuantan MALAYSIA Monthly record broken 8 days out of 8 (it already broke a dozen times that of September). OCTOBER HIGHEST MINIMUMS – MALAYSIA: 26.8 Kuantan – broken for the 9th time! 25.8 Bengkulu and 25.6 Pakanbaru INDONESIA.” [Extreme Temps]
“Malaysia shuts schools as haze from Indonesian fires chokes Southeast Asia…
“The move, which affected roughly two million students, came as Kuala Lumpur recorded an Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of about 170. The API is a government-run measure of air quality. Singapore, at the southern end of the Malay Peninsula, saw its air quality fall into the “very unhealthy” range, according to IQAir.”
“Deadly wildfires leave Borneo wildlife scrambling for fresh water…
“As freshwater pools dried up and village ponds turned brackish, Planet Indonesia found dehydrated wildlife moving closer to homes and the coast in search of water. “We have never had findings like this before,” said Adam Miller, co-founder of Planet Indonesia, in a statement sent to Mongabay.”
“As of Oct. 8, Antarctic sea-ice extent is more than 4.5 standard deviations below the 1991-2020 daily mean, ranking second lowest for the day behind Oct. 8, 2023.” [Prof Eliot Jacobson]
“The central Pacific Ocean just broke a temperature record. Experts say it might signal a new kind of El Niño…
“The world is on the brink of crossing a critical warming threshold, raising the question of whether the current conditions can be considered a new normal for future El Niños… As climate change intensifies, the big worry is that certain regions will be primed for extreme conditions even before an El Niño strikes.”
“PERU – Lima min 22.9 max 27.4 Hottest October day and night in history; ECUADOR: Min 26.8 Guayaquil – Hottest October night in ECUADOR again! CHILE: Min 20.0 [68F] Iquique- First tropical night ever in October.” [Extrem Temps]
“ECUADOR HIT by MAJOR HAILSTORM — Quito Streets Buried in Ice!
“A historic hailstorm buried parts of Quito, Ecuador, under thick layers of ice… trapping vehicles and disrupting public transportation… The storm struck the Ecuadorian capital after days of severe weather had already strained the city’s drainage systems and transportation network.”
“Chile declares part of Santiago disaster zone after heavy rains.
“Chile on Friday declared part of the capital Santiago a disaster zone after torrential rains triggered flash floods and mudslides, leaving at least six people injured and forcing evacuations, according to local media reports.”
“The Story Behind Paraguay’s Giant Hail: Heat, Humidity And El Niño…
“Paraguay’s Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) points to extreme heat, humidity and the El Niño climate pattern. With another storm system forecast from Thursday 8 October, Paraguay’s giant hail is making headlines all around the world.”
“Brazil’s Bolsonaro Promises a Sharp Pivot on Climate and the Amazon…
“Bolsonaro backs the expansion of oil production into the mouth of the Amazon River — one of Lula’s more controversial initiatives in the Amazon. Both support paving a federal highway that cuts through hundreds of miles of preserved rainforest.”
“Smoke from wildfires disrupted daily life in Brazil’s largest Amazon region city of Manaus on Friday as the country’s dry season approached its peak.
“The city, the capital of Amazonas state, suspended in-person work at municipal administrative offices, citing worsening air quality. Public school classes were canceled, and residents were urged to wear face masks.”
“MINIMUM of 27.2C [81F] at Lethem in The Amazons, near the Brazilian border Hottest October night in history. Previous record: yesterday. Lethem has broken records of all months of 2026,previously were from 2025, 2024 and 2023. Insane.” [Extreme Temps]
“Guatemala: Floodwater Swallows Plaza As Heavy Rain Hits Guatemala…
“Footage recorded overnight shows floodwater covering the plaza in the municipal center, with rain continuing to fall. Guatemala’s disaster management agency, CONRED, was monitoring the flooding after rainfall in the preceding hours, according to information published on October 8.”
“Incredible. After the hottest July, August, and September on record, October is off to an absolutely blazing start across the contiguous U.S.
“The first week of the month averaged an astonishing 5.20°F above the 1991–2020 mean. Could we really be heading for FOUR CONSECUTIVE record hot months?” [The Global Warmer]
“Hurricane Isaias makes landfall in Florida and hammers Gulf coast…
““The storm is here. Buckle down at this point. Don’t be getting out on the roads,” Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, said at a news conference, adding flash flooding would be a hazard “throughout the region”.”
“Hurricane Isaias will bring a serious flood threat to both coastal and inland areas..
“I’m concerned about how much rain could fall across the southern Appalachians, including Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, from Saturday into Sunday, as extremely moist air rises up into the mountains, intensifying the rainfall.” [Ben Noll]
“At least eight people were injured when an Avianca flight encountered severe turbulence and had to make an emergency landing in Miami early Friday.
“Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said that one person was rushed to a trauma center with severe injuries while seven others were taken to area hospitals in ambulances after the plane landed shortly after 3 a.m. Friday. The airline said nine people — three crew members and six passengers — were affected…”
“Rachel prompts 1st Southern California tropical storm watch since 2023…
“Tropical Storm Rachel has prompted rare watches in Southern California, and is forecast to sweep into the Southwest bringing flooding rain, strong wind gusts and enhancing coastal flooding to cities like San Diego and Las Vegas… Major Hurricane Simon [will be] raking southwest Mexico, including Puerto Vallarta.”
“Newport Beach Declares Local Emergency Amid Coastal Flooding.
“The city of Newport Beach declared a local emergency Friday in response to coastal flooding that inundated streets on the Balboa Peninsula, with officials warning that high surf and elevated tides could cause additional flooding through the weekend.”
“Hoping for a ‘new normal’ climate is pointless. We must learn to adapt.
“Once-rare weather extremes will arrive more often, with more intensity and often lasting longer, like this year’s record-breaking European heatwaves. We can no longer take a 30-year average of past extreme weather and extrapolate that into the future. We don’t know what will emerge as the atmosphere undergoes very rapid change at rates humans have never experienced.”
“Extreme Weather Is Everywhere Now—How to Prepare Your Home…
“Location, location, location… [we recommend] living somewhere that won’t leave you stranded in a crisis—walking distance to a food store, pharmacy or ER—is smart. Bonus points for an address higher on a hill, where flood risk is mitigated. Avoiding property that abuts forestland can lower the risk of wildfires.”
“Whether it is an evening edible, a CBD product or simply rethinking the traditional cocktail after a long day, cannabis is increasingly associated with how people unwind, manage stress and spend their downtime. As extreme weather disrupts everyday routines, could marijuana offer a different way to cope?”
“‘Overshoot is not a reason to surrender’: UN calls for accelerated climate action ahead of COP31 summit.
“As the world is heading to exceed the 1.5°C target, Ms Mohammed urged states not to give up. “Overshoot is not a reason to surrender,” she said in Tuvalu. “It is a call to accelerate – to make overshoot as short and small as possible and bring temperatures back down below 1.5 as quickly as possible.””
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You can read the previous “Climate” threadhere. I’ll be back on Monday with an “Economic” thread.
Many thanks to my friend Barry Smiler for being October’s sponsor. Do take a look at his climate site, which nicely complements mine. He recently added some nifty enhancements to his Research page. And for your climate listening pleasure, he suggeststhis little song.
“Soaring logistics costs set to push food prices up before Christmas, industry leaders warn.
“Higher freight and logistics costs driven by ongoing instability along key global trade routes could push global food and drink prices up by at least 10% by Christmas, new research by the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply has warned.”
“Both Russia and Ukraine are losing control over the transit of their massive grain flows… Both countries entered late summer with large crops they cannot ship: Russia with a grain and legume harvest near 141.8 million tonnes, 88 million of it wheat, and Ukraine with 84.6 million tonnes of grain and oilseeds.”
“Turkey says Russia, Ukraine increasing attacks in Black Sea ahead of winter.
“Intensifying attacks by Russia and Ukraine ahead of the winter are further endangering navigational safety in the Black Sea, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Thursday, adding that world powers must not allow the region to be turned into a new front in the war.”
“Why Trump and Iran may now be waiting out the midterms…
“Iran appears to have succeeded in its apparent effort to use the midterm elections to inflict political pain on Trump. It has failed, however, to turn that pressure into a retreat in which the president ends the war on its terms — one reason why an Iranian escalation in the next three weeks cannot be ruled out.“
“Treasury sanctions 17 tankers linked to Iran’s ‘shadow fleet’ in economic pressure campaign…
“The new sanctions are part of “Operation Economic Outcast,” the name given to the U.S. pressure campaign against Iran. The new designations are aimed at further limiting Iran’s ability to transport and profit from petroleum and petrochemicals.”
“How a Shadow Economy in Asia Is Keeping Iranian Oil Flowing…
“These ship-to-ship, or S.T.S., transfers are a common practice in the petroleum industry… But in recent years, an Iranian shadow fleet has also used such transfers to illegally transport and sell millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil in the waters around Malaysia in evasion of American sanctions.”
“Earlier this week, analysts from Kpler said that the number of tankers traversing the Strait of Hormuz has dropped to the lowest in two months amid renewed attacks on vessels in the waterway—right after tanker-tracking outlets said oil flows out of Hormuz are back to pre-war levels.”
“Rates on the U.S. Gulf-to-Japan route are also skyrocketing and one supertanker, the so-called very large crude carrier (VLCC) capable of shipping up to 2 million barrels of oil, has been reportedly offered at a total fee of $82 million for the journey, up by 50% from just three weeks ago, Bloomberg reports.”
“Isaias hits Category 2 as diesel concerns mount and Gulf energy insurance risks come into focus.
“Hurricane Isaias strengthened into a Category 2 storm on Thursday afternoon as it moved toward the northern Gulf Coast. It has shut down a large share of Gulf oil production and put fresh pressure on an energy system already struggling with near-record diesel prices.”
“US farm debt is at a record. Official data might be undercounting it.
“The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that inflation-adjusted U.S. farm debt has reached a record $605 billion. However, an investigation has revealed that official federal tracking data may be significantly undercounting how much American farmers actually owe.”
“More than half of Canadians are avoiding buying American goods, poll finds…
“The Canadian consumer pushback follows deepening trade friction between Washington and Ottawa. The U.S. recently enacted an import ban targeting roughly $1 billion in Canadian goods, including dairy items, motorcycles and alcoholic beverages.”
“Lorry drivers and haulage operators across the UK are facing a severe spike in diesel thefts, as record-high fuel prices transform the fuel into “liquid gold” for criminal gangs…
“Operators report single raids where highly organized thieves siphon up to £50,000 worth of fuel from yard tanks directly into waiting vans.”
“The number of Britons defaulting on credit card debt has risen for six consecutive quarters for the first time since the financial crisis in a sign that households are coming under severe pressure as a result of the Middle East conflict.”
“Bank governor urges John Healey to use budget to allay market fears amid bond turmoil…
“The Bank of England governor, Andrew Bailey, has urged the chancellor, John Healey, to agree a budget that reassures financial markets after the UK’s medium-term borrowing costs hit a fresh 19-year high… Recent dramatic moves in government bond markets have been driven by international factors, but will increase the pressure on Healey…”
“France Is Veering Toward a Potential Debt Crisis, a Warning to the World…
“France has emerged as the European epicenter of global turmoil in bond markets and serves as a warning to politicians around the world contending with higher borrowing costs. It’s a perilous financial backdrop to the protests… France shows how quickly the situation can escalate when investor sentiment turns sour.”
“‘I can’t take it anymore’: School blockades spark national crisis as French students continue to protest…
““I’m here because I can’t take it anymore,” said Daniela, 15, sitting by her school’s blockade. “We have one nurse for 2,000 students, no maths teacher, no toilet paper and classrooms that reach 40C [104F] in the summer.” Throughout the day teens built picket lines, sang the national anthem and faced off with riot police.”
“Retail and consumer goods remains Europe’s ‘most distressed sector’, with pressure reaching its highest level since the Global Financial Crisis.
“The latest Weil European Distress Index found distress across the retail and consumer goods sector rose to +8.1 in August, up from +6.0 a year earlier and increasing on the previous quarter.”
“China exports around €1 billion ($1.12 billion) more in goods and services a day to the EU than flows the other way. Many in Europe blame this on unfair trade practices by Beijing, including using state subsidies and price dumping to undercut European rivals. Beijing has rejected those claims.”
“How Japanese bond yields, Chinese competition are stoking euro-zone fears.
“Surging Japanese bond yields and aggressive Chinese manufacturing competition are exposing structural and fiscal fault lines across the eurozone, hitting its largest economies—France and Germany—particularly hard… these twin external forces are severely compounding the region’s deeper underlying crises.“
“In a tactical shift in recent weeks, Russia has expanded daytime missile and drone attacks against Kyiv, targeting key bridges and the city centre. It has also resumed strikes on the energy grid, triggering power cuts that has Kyiv locals braced for a repeat of last winter, when heating and power were knocked out for days as temperatures hit -20C.”
“Ukrainian Drones Hit Yandex Data Center, Industrial Facilities Across Russia…
“The attack marks the first confirmed strike against Russian data infrastructure since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, weeks after Moscow launched attacks against Ukrainian data centers. Yandex confirmed that operations at the facility in the town of Sasovo were fully suspended while emergency teams worked to contain the damage…”
“Why North Korea is at the heart of South Korea’s strange rift with Ukraine…
“Experts say South Korea’s defensive and confrontational stance may be part of a balancing act. As US support to Ukraine appears to be waning under Donald Trump’s quid pro quo foreign policy, Seoul may not want to antagonise Russia, which it sees as a potential diplomatic intermediary with Pyongyang, they say.”
“Japan and Ukraine further ties as Tokyo weighs unprecedented security linkup.
“While the diplomatic tension between Seoul and Kyiv over a secret transfer of North Korean prisoners of war has captured international media attention in recent weeks, Japan and Ukraine have been quietly ramping up their engagements.”
“Japan is facing the most severe and complex security environment since Second World War, says Fumio Kishida…
“Kishida separately stated that China’s activities in the South China Sea are increasing regional tensions. Responding to the publication’s questions by email, he called interconnectedness the key to South Asia’s prosperity.”
“China’s military and coast guard presence in South China Sea waters claimed by the Philippines nearly doubled last month, Manila said yesterday…
“Manila last month monitored 101 Chinese navy and coast guard ships around Philippine-garrisoned Thitu Island (Jhongye Island,), Second Thomas Shoal (Renai Shoal,), Sabina Shoal (Sianbin Shoal,) and Chinese-controlled Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Island,).”
“Satellite images show attack jets stationed at a new Chinese military facility in Laos, which opened last week and gives Beijing’s air force its first foothold in mainland south-east Asia.
“Images provided by the commercial satellite provider Vantor show eight light attack aircraft positioned at Ban Keun airport alongside what appear to be more than a dozen military vehicles lined up in rows.”
“Myanmar: Poverty deepens as families face multiple shocks with limited resources…
““Myanmar may no longer dominate international headlines, but the hardships facing millions of people continue to deepen,” said Kanni Wignaraja, UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific. The UN continues to highlight multiple problems facing the people of Myanmar, which has been engulfed in civil war since the military seized power in February 2021.”
“India’s ‘Cockroach’ party accuses government of mass detention of members ahead of weekend protest…
“India’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which began as a satirical movement but is now emerging as a political force among gen Z’s, says authorities have begun detaining its members en masse… Thousands are expected to march to Jantar Mantar, the designated protest site in the capital, New Delhi, on Saturday, amid mounting anger in the world’s largest democracy.”
“The Afghan Taliban’s Growing Drone War Against Pakistan…
“The Afghan Taliban procures its drones from a mix of sources, including commercially available platforms, systems obtained through regional networks, and locally modified or assembled equipment. This has made drone technology more accessible and harder to control.”
“Drones, explosions and soldiers in bulldozers: surrounded by Israelis in Lebanon’s ‘model town’…
“At night, Israeli soldiers patrol so close to Yaghi’s home in West Zawtar that she can hear their voices. By day, she is often trailed by a small Israeli surveillance drone as she toils in her garden. Booms echo throughout the morning as Israel’s military destroys homes in the surrounding occupied towns…”
“‘Every day there is killing’: Gazans face Israeli strikes despite ceasefire as peace deal stalls…
“Fida died on 21 September from a gunshot wound to the head. She is among more than 1,400 people in Gaza who have been killed in Israeli attacks since the start of the ceasefire on 10 October last year, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the UN.”
“Houthis claim attack on Riyadh airport as airlines suspend flights to Saudi capital…
“Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis say they have struck Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh airport with a ballistic missile, badly damaging a plane and leading some airlines to suspend flights to the capital… Witnesses heard explosions in Riyadh, including a large blast at the King Khalid international airport…”
“From Aden to Sanaa, Yemenis struggle to deal with soaring living costs…
“With salaries for large segments of the workforce either unpaid or irregularly disbursed – and the prices of goods and services rising – Yemen’s economic struggles have been compounded by a divided banking system that has made moving money between different parts of the country increasingly complicated.”
“Eritrean troops move deep into Ethiopia’s Tigray region, residents tell BBC…
“Fighting in the region broke out two weeks ago after months of tension between the government and the party that controls Tigray, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Both blame one another for violating a 2022 deal that ended a two-year civil war.”
“In Somalia, war cuts off aid for entire populations threatened by famine.
“Violent clashes between rival government factions have further worsened the food crisis affecting nearly seven million Somalis. Fleeing drought and hunger, refugees continue to pour into camps where humanitarian organizations have a presence, as the Islamist group Al-Shabab has banned them from certain areas.”
“Sudan rebel-held areas face deepening famine, disease crisis, official says.
“Deteriorating humanitarian and medical conditions in rebel-held pockets of Sudan’s Darfur region are killing around six people a day as crop failures, disease, and aid shortages bite, a local official said on Thursday.”
“Global analysis reveals how armed conflict erodes farmland and potential food production…
“…conflict-affected areas lost approximately 249,667 km2 (96,400 square miles) of cropland between 2000 and 2020… The dietary energy associated with the crops that could have been produced on this land was estimated to be sufficient to meet the minimum annual requirements of approximately 255.54 million people.”
“Bullet and blast injuries … and a constant need for blood: inside South Sudan’s overwhelmed trauma wards…
“Some patients require several operations. Every week, the medics receive at least two or three “very difficult” injuries from bullet or blast injuries to the chest and abdomen that need multiple surgeries, Mirosavljev said. For such patients, surgery is only the beginning. “They need a lot of blood; they need a lot of support,” he said.”
“‘Someone else will do it for less’: refugees in Kenya are powering tech for dwindling pay…
“Tech companies have built some of their most powerful tools on datasets handled by precarious workers, including refugees, in low-income countries. But their pay, which was never high, appears to be vanishing as entry-level tech work disappears.”
“Cars torched and shops looted as anti-migrant violence erupts in South Africa.
“Clashes broke out on Thursday in Soweto, a sprawling township outside Johannesburg, the country’s largest city, and Durban, a major port on the east coast. The violence comes amid growing anger over a court ruling requiring the government to remove barriers that had prevented some migrants from applying for asylum.”
“Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro and his wife charged over torture allegations.
“Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were charged in the US state of New York with conspiring to commit torture in connection with allegations that they tortured political opponents to maintain their power.”
“US seizes 90 fuel shipments to Cuba as energy blockade tightens…
““HSI Miami and our federal partners stopped millions of dollars in fuel from reaching a sanctioned Cuban entity,” Homeland Security Investigations wrote in a post on X. “If you attempt to evade U.S. sanctions, you will face the consequences.””
“Revealed: Cartels’ plot to booby-trap cocaine subs bound for Europe…
“Drug cartels plan to deploy fleets of booby-trapped submarines to smuggle cocaine into Europe, The Telegraph has learned. The unmanned vessels will be rigged with explosives that detonate if police or the armed forces attempt to board them, military intelligence has warned.”
“AI Debt Spree Hammers Tech Debt as Traders Rush to Reprice Risk.
“The rush to finance AI is rattling investors in the more than $10 trillion US corporate market, sparking a repricing of risks around some of the biggest technology companies that’s showing up in spiking prices for credit insurance, heightened volatility and weakening preformance.”
““My core conviction is that the AI bubble will either burst in 2027 or in 2028, so sometime in the next two years,” Klement said in an interview. Hyperscalers’ free cash flows are largely depleted, while the cost of debt is rising quickly and becoming prohibitive for these firms, he said.”
“Iran War Energy Shock Puts Hydrogen Back on the Table…
“Green hydrogen is still massively expensive to produce, reducing its potential for commercial scaling, while gray and blue hydrogen relies on the same fossil fuels that many global markets are trying to move away from. But scientific breakthroughs are piling up to expand the hydrogen rainbow…”
“‘Inner Degrowth’: An engineer on why the energy crisis and our inner emptiness are the same problem…
“Starting as a believer in green hydrogen. What changed? … one afternoon, in front of a spreadsheet with my business partner, I did the full count for one common chain… Of every 100 units of renewable electricity you put in, only 20 to 25 come out at the end. That isn’t a problem better engineering can fix. It’s thermodynamics.”
I rely on donations and tips from my readers to keep the site running. Every little bit helps. Can you chip in even a dollar? Buy me a coffeeor become a Patreon supporter. A huge thank you to those who do subscribe or donate.
You can read the previous “Economic” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with a “Climate” thread.
Many thanks to my friend Barry Smiler for being October’s sponsor. Do take a look at his climate site, which nicely complements mine. He recently added some nifty enhancements to his Research page. And for your climate listening pleasure, he suggeststhis little song.
“Global Food Prices Rise as Cereal and Sugar Costs Surge, UN Says. Sugar prices climbed 6.1% in September, their third consecutive monthly increase.
“World food prices rose in September, as transportation disruptions and weather concerns limited supplies and lifted prices for several crop-based commodities, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization said.”
“World Faces Risk Cocktail From AI, Oil and Debt, Says IMF Chief.
“Global governments must act urgently to address challenges from an unbalanced AI boom, a prolonged energy shock and record debt piles, the International Monetary Fund said as it prepares to host economy chiefs from around the world next week.”
“Oil prices rise as storms and air strikes threaten supply.
“Oil prices rose on Wednesday as the market weighed supply constraints from a storm heading for US oil-producing regions and attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis on Saudi Arabia against increased supplies of Middle East crude.”
“The world has nearly burned through its oil stockpile buffer, executives say.
“Global oil inventories have fallen to critical stress levels, leaving the market fragile and highly vulnerable to severe price spikes. Energy executives speaking at the Energy Intelligence Forum in London warned that governments and energy firms have nearly exhausted their accessible stockpile buffers…”
“Vitol chief warns of tanker shortage and risk of $200-a-barrel oil.
“Speaking at the Energy Intelligence Forum in London, Hardy highlighted that while crude oil is successfully flowing out of the Gulf following naval protection in the Strait of Hormuz, the market faces a major new bottleneck due to a global shortage of oil tankers.”
“An LNG carrier owned by Greek shipping magnate Maria Angelicoussis has become the latest target in Iran’s campaign to disrupt traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
“The 159,900-cbm Maran Gas Mystras (built 2015) was struck by an unidentified object late on Monday while sailing near the embattled waterway…”
“$100,000 salary, $50,000 bonus: Hormuz risk sends tanker captains’ pay to new highs…
“The rise in crew pay is part of a much broader increase in the cost of moving oil through Hormuz. Freight rates for cargoes travelling through the strait have climbed to about $1.3 million per day this week, compared with $20,000 to $50,000 a day last year, according to the FT.”
“Marine fuel price surge adds to shipping industry woes…
“Most ships use very-low-sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO), which was widely adopted after tougher international sulphur limits came into force in 2020. The price of VLSFO in Singapore has risen from $433 per tonne in January to about $824, according to Dalila Laskar, head of oil research at interdealer company Oil Brokerage.”
“‘Minimal relief’: Trucking groups pan Trump’s diesel executive order…
“The statements from groups representing both major trucking companies and independent truckers — typically close Trump allies — cast doubt on the president’s claims Monday that the move would save truckers hundreds of dollars and help bring down the cost of goods across the economy.”
“US trade balance sinks deeper into the red as imports hit record high.
“The deterioration reported by the Commerce Department on Oct 6 was despite President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariffs on imports, which he has argued are meant to shrink the trade gap… Economists have long argued that the US does not have the capacity to produce enough goods to meet its consumption needs.”
“US stocks hit record high, shrugging off bond market turmoil.
“The artificial intelligence boom keeps rolling, sending stocks climbing: The S&P 500 rose 0.58% on Tuesday and closed at 7,819 points, a record high. The S&P 500 clinched its first record high since mid-August and closed above 7,800 points for the first time ever.”
“Distressed U.S. leveraged loans hit pandemic-era high, with tech leading the way…
“Technology accounts for more distressed loan volume than any other sector, making up 39% of the total — equivalent to $54.4 billion — according to JPMorgan strategists including Nelson Jantzen. Software companies face a refinancing challenge as more than $100 billion of maturing debt comes due…”
“Google makes a fresh bet on nuclear power as the AI energy crunch intensifies.
“The deal comes as AI data centers gobble up power, leaving companies worried about their ability to secure sufficient energy for future endeavors. All the while, the energy crunch has rippled through local communities, sparking community resistance and political pushback.”
“‘It really hammers people’: Scottish islanders hit by highest diesel prices in UK…
“As fuel costs rise, islanders have started taking jerry cans to the mainland to stock up on cheaper fuel, even to just save a few pennies a litre, Ryan says. Normally, the cans are used in the winter to stock up when high winds and choppy seas disrupt deliveries to the islands and pumps run dry.”
“UK’s Job Slump Now Longer Than During Financial Crisis, PMI Says…
“…the outlook has darkened since a resurgence in energy prices last month that has prompted traders to ramp up bets on the Bank of England raising interest rates several times to stop inflationary pressures spreading across the economy.”
“France’s Appetite for ‘Magic Money’ Has Turned Into a Debt Bomb.
“France is on the precipice of a dangerous financial spiral. Following decades of government overspending and reliance on cheap borrowing—often colloquially termed “magic money”—a global surge in interest rates has transformed the eurozone’s second-largest economy into one of the continent’s primary financial vulnerabilities.”
“Riot police fire teargas as 250,000 take part in schools protests across France.
“Officers also carry out baton charges as students, staff and parents march in cities including Paris, Marseille and Lyon… Police have fired teargas at protesters as more than 250,000 pupils, teachers and parents demonstrated across France on the biggest day yet of a campaign for better high school conditions…”
“Sánchez announces 21 urgent housing measures after nationwide protests ahead of snap election [Spain]…
“Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s coalition government lacked a majority and suffered a bruising legislative defeat when right-wing opposition parties voted down emergency decrees to address the housing crisis. He has called an early election for 29 November in response to the pressure.”
“State parliament elects Germany’s first far-right speaker since second world war…
“The AfD, which is classed as “rightwing extremist” by the eastern state’s intelligence agency, won nearly 44% of votes in elections last month, dealing a hammer blow to Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and his centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU).”
“Sweden to deploy Patriot missiles to NATO hub in Poland.
“Sweden will replace Patriot support from the Netherlands and the operation will start in December. It will deploy around 100 military personnel from the air defence unit in Halmstad, the government said. Sweden last week announced that it was deploying Gripen fighter jets to Poland as part of a NATO airspace surveillance mission.”
“Lithuania takes further step towards lifting nuclear weapons ban.
“Lithuania has taken a step towards removing a constitutional ban on nuclear weapons from its territory… Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that Lithuania’s move, alongside broader plans to expand US and NATO military infrastructure in the region, risked further escalating tensions.”
“Ukraine says no to EU membership without access to selling grain…
“The potential accession of Ukraine to the EU raises fundamental questions about farm support and imports. Ukraine exports millions of tons of grain to the world market and sells to the EU under a strict quota regime. Some countries, such as Poland, have blocked grain imports from Ukraine to protect their own farming sectors.”
“Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned a “horrific” Russian attack on a vessel carrying corn in the Black Sea.
“The ship’s captain was killed in the strike involving two drones, Zelensky said, and another sailor was unaccounted for. Eleven crew members – nationals of Azerbaijan and India – have been rescued.”
“At least two killed in fire caused by ‘massive strikes’ on Kyiv.
“The capital has come under increased attack in recent weeks as winter approaches, with air raid sirens wailing nearly constantly to warn of incoming Russian strikes. Residents hunkered down in subway stations early on Wednesday, hauling duffel bags, sleeping mats and blankets, after the military issued alerts for Kyiv and other parts of the country.”
“Naval drone hits oil tanker off Russian resort city Sochi, triggering massive blaze…
“Russia and Ukraine have targeted commercial shipping around the Black Sea since the conflict began, and Russia has recently attacked grain vessels carrying Ukrainian goods near the coast of Romania. There was no comment from Kyiv on the attack.”
“Ukraine’s Defense Ministry has said that the country has destroyed more than half of Russia’s oil refining capacity…
“Ukraine has utilized new deep-strike weapons to target Russia’s petrochemical infrastructure to deny the Kremlin war-running revenue from oil exports.”
“North Korea warns U.S. over Taiwan while Kim pledges support for Russia…
“In a separate report by state media KCNA on Wednesday, North Korean leader Kim pledged continued support for Russia and its war effort in a birthday message to Russian President Vladimir Putin… North Korea has strengthened ties with China and Russia in recent years…”
“North Korea Warns South Not to Cross Border by Even ‘Millimeter’…
““If a jackboot or a spark of fire from the ROK goes even a millimeter beyond the border to violate our territory, the border guard forces of the DPRK will take an immediate and powerful counteraction,” North Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday, referring to both countries by the acronyms of their official names.”
“Japan’s 10-year bond coupon tops budgeted rate in ‘sci-fi’ spike.
“The Finance Ministry raised the coupon rate on newly issued 10-year government bonds to 3.1 percent per year, the highest level in 30 years, reflecting the increase in long-term interest rates… The increase in the rate will translate into higher interest payments on government debt and could eventually squeeze the government’s fiscal leeway.”
“When Asia’s central banks turn bond vigilante on Trump.
“With US national debt over $40 trillion and Treasury yields at 5.3%, Asian creditors are increasingly discontent with America’s bad behavior… both Tokyo and Beijing – which holds $618 billion of Treasuries, down from a 2013 peak of $1.32 trillion – have legitimate reasons to worry about the safety of the national savings they’ve entrusted to the US.”
“World Bank Warns Asia Is Running Out of Money to Fight Energy Shock.
“Asian countries have responded more aggressively than others to the energy supply crunch caused by the U.S. and Israeli war on Iran and now they are running out of resources to continue their response, the World Bank warned in a new report.”
“India’s opposition protests pile pressure on Modi government…
“Analysts say the protests are being held with an eye to regional elections next year, particularly in Uttar Pradesh. “These protests will keep on happening [in the run-up to the polls] in a bid to corner the government,” Sanjeev K. Sharma, general secretary of the Indian Political Science Association, told Nikkei Asia.”
“As some Afghans escape the Taliban, other refugees are forced to return.
“Afghanistan is now in its sixth year of Taliban rule. Their return has brought economic collapse and deep uncertainty, especially for the country’s young people. Many Afghans are still trying to flee… At the same time, more than six million people who had escaped are now returning, some of them deported from neighboring countries.”
“Iran poised to exploit security vacuum as US leaves Iraq…
“The immediate threat to the Kurdistan region isn’t a full-scale military invasion, but rather a slow, calculated chipping away of its autonomy, said Hesam Dastpish, a Middle East analyst based in Brussels. He describes Tehran’s overarching strategy toward Erbil as hostile and heavily focused on containment.”
“Türkiye condemns Israel’s deepening incursion into Syria…
“”We strongly condemn Israel’s erosion of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement by resuming its activities along the so-called ‘Sufa 53 line’ in Syria’s Quneitra province and its attempts to create new faits accomplis in Syria,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.”
“Turkey and Pakistan to send troops to Saudi Arabia under defence pact.
“The three signatories of the August Mecca Joint Defence Agreement met in emergency session in Riyadh and agreed to move immediately to “rapid deployment” of military forces, uniting NATO’s second-largest army, the Islamic world’s only nuclear state and the largest Gulf power.”
“Yemen is spiralling into another civil war that could swiftly engulf in the entire region.
“The worse the fighting becomes in Yemen, the greater the impact on the world economy… The overall situation remains very explosive, unless Washington and Tehran pull back from the brink and opt for a negotiated deal.”
“‘Illegal Aggression’: Somalia Warns Israel Over Military Base in Somaliland | Firstpost Africa.
“A major geopolitical flashpoint has emerged in the Horn of Africa, as Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud issued a severe warning condemning Israel’s reported plans to establish a military naval base and secure airport access in the strategic port city of Berbera, located within the breakaway territory of Somaliland.”
“Tigray rebel groups ‘forcibly recruiting boys as young as 15’ as fighting spreads.
“As renewed fighting has threatened a fresh humanitarian crisis in the northern region of Ethiopia, reports are emerging that a new alliance of armed groups in Tigray has been forcibly recruiting men and boys to its ranks.”
“Sudan’s al-Burhan rejects talks, vows to retake all territory from RSF.
“Sudan’s military chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has promised to seize “every inch” of territory under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), rejecting negotiations to end three and a half years of war.”
“Kenya confirms first Ebola case as man dies in Nairobi after DRC return…
“The outbreak has claimed more than 4,000 lives, according to figures released by the government on Friday, and confirmed cases have reached 8,300 across seven provinces, making it the worst Ebola epidemic in Congo’s history.”
“Mali’s army says it has taken Kidal from Tuareg rebels, with Russia’s help…
“The Tuareg separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) movement announced earlier in the day that it had carried out a “strategic and controlled withdrawal” from Kidal. It cited the “disproportionate use of aerial assets by Russian mercenaries from Africa Corps”.”
“Algeria is significantly asserting its geopolitical and geoeconomic power across the Sahara and the Sahel, deploying a mixture of aggressive infrastructure investment, targeted energy aid, and a rare assertive military posture. This shift marks a direct push by Algiers to quell disorder along its southern borders…”
“Colombia launches joint task force to protect pipeline and fight ELN rebels.
“Colombia’s president launched a joint task force Monday that will fight rebel groups and drug gangs in the country’s northeast, as the government changes its strategy in dealing with criminal groups, replacing peace talks with various military offensives.”
“‘Desperate’: How Venezuela’s power cuts fuel growing public anger.
“The hum of the kidney dialysis machine that Onasis Munoz is connected to suddenly stops. The fluorescent lights overhead flicker out, and his room at a clinic in Valencia, Venezuela, is plunged into darkness.”
“Coast Guard Says it Stopped Ships Carrying Fuel to Cuba.
“The Coast Guard has intercepted two small boats it says was carrying illegal fuel to Cuba as the United States enforces an fuel blockade aimed at Cuba’s Communist government… The moves show that the Trump administration is employing the military — and not just threats of tariffs — to enforce a fuel blockade on Cuba.”
“Haiti postpones elections amid gang violence and political chaos.
“The Provisional Electoral Council said Tuesday that presidential and legislative elections planned for December and February would be postponed indefinitely. The country has been without a leader since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.”
“Tree nearly as old as US torn down to expand Mexico border wall.
“A 200-year-old cottonwood tree has been cut down to make way for an expansion of a US-Mexico double border wall. Activists staged protests for months and camped at the tree to prevent it from being cut down.”
I rely on donations and tips from my readers to keep the site running. Every little bit helps. Can you chip in even a dollar?Buy me a coffee or become a Patreon supporter. A huge thank you to those who do subscribe or donate.
You can read the previous “Economic” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with a “Climate” thread.
Many thanks to my friend Barry Smiler for being October’s sponsor. Do take a look at his climate site, which nicely complements mine. He recently added some nifty enhancements to his Research page. And for your climate listening pleasure, he suggests this little song.
“The world cannot afford an AI bubble right now… Populations are on the move. Income growth has flatlined for a generation. Having printed money to keep things ticking along, the central banks are out of options.
“Much of the AI bubble today is financed by shadow banking, or private credit… and many of the financing deals are circular. The rising cost of securitising these vast infrastructure bets is another ominous sign…. The winter could be long and cold for everyone, and a precursor to political realignments we can’t even begin to imagine.”
“…the funding model of the AI boom now resembles an elaborate Ponzi scheme, and it could already be approaching its limits… analysts are running the numbers and are finding that to justify the sort of share prices the hyperscalers now command, future earnings will have to increase as much as 45 times in the next six years…”
“We could be sleepwalking into a repeat of the 2008 financial crisis…
“Today’s regulatory environment shows all the warning signs: excessive leverage, market concentration, weakening underwriting standards, opaque financial engineering, deregulation, and misplaced faith in market discipline. Not to be overly alarmist, but these most certainly represent significant red flags and reason to worry.”
“War, Cyber Attack Could Trigger Next Financial Crisis, RBI Says…
“The next financial crisis could originate from a source outside the world of finance, Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra said Saturday. “It may begin with a geopolitical event, or cyber attack or a technological failure that affects the financial system through multiple channels,” Malhotra said…”
“G7 to release 100 million barrels of oil and diesel, will it curb prices?
“…Atkinson, the energy expert, said the G7’s fuel release is welcome but “doesn’t deal with the fundamental problem that the global supply remains lower than normal”. Atkinson told Al Jazeera that “seven months after this war started in the Middle East, we are still in a situation where the global supply of crude oil or products remains significantly below pre-war levels”.”
“Fuel Price Shock Pushes Global Gas Car Sales Below 50% for First Time.
“Gasoline-only cars fell below 50% of global new vehicle sales for the first time, as the Hormuz crisis and record fuel prices accelerated the shift toward EVs. EV sales surged across major markets, with European BEV sales jumping 52% year-over-year in August…”
“The global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market has entered a severe crisis, completely reversing expectations of a 2026 supply surplus. Driven by geopolitical conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the market is bracing for unprecedented price volatility ahead of winter.”
“Tanker costs soar 43-fold as Hormuz tensions reshape global oil trade.
“Rates for very large crude carriers, or VLCCs, have surged to an unprecedented $1.3 million per day, according to Poten data. The figure is roughly 43 times the level recorded in early January, when the benchmark Middle East Gulf-to-Far East route cost about $30,000 per day.”
“Shipping sector seeks counter-drone protection as attacks raise operating risks.
“Rising attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea, Gulf and wider Middle East are pushing shipping companies to strengthen onboard defences against drones. Demand is increasing especially among operators of oil and gas cargoes and ships serving offshore energy infrastructure, as conflict-related threats disrupt trade routes and lift freight rates.”
“Iran says Hormuz to remain closed until US meets conditions…
“The US should know “that the era of wasting time and dictating unilateral demands is over”, Ghalibaf said, adding Iran’s position remains “clear and definite”. He emphasised that “the Strait of Hormuz will not open until our seven conditions based on the Islamabad memorandum are met”…”
“How deadlock in the Ukraine war is crippling global food prices…
“Ukrainian exports fell an astonishing 75 per cent year-on-year in the first two weeks of August as Russia stepped up its attacks, striking ports more than 70 times in July and early August and hitting vessels on 62 occasions, according to port authorities.”
“Soaring diesel prices take their toll on US farmers in midwest corn belt…
“Estimates suggest that the war with Iran, damaged refineries in Russia and regional diesel supply disruptions could add an additional $12,500 in fuel costs for every 1,000 acres of crops harvested… “Farmers are price takers. It’s not just fuel – it’s chemicals, it’s seed, it’s the cost of equipment,” laments Hamilton.”
“U.S. Rushes to Withdraw Bombers From U.K. Air Base After New Threats.
“The United States rushed over the weekend to withdraw all 12 B-1 Air Force bombers from an air base in southern England after commanders received new threats about an Iran-backed plot against the installation, two U.S. officials said on Sunday. The withdrawal was highly unusual: Such moves are rarely made so quickly…”
“One-in-three could struggle with a £1,000 emergency cost without borrowing [UK].
“A large number of UK residents are living hand-to-mouth, according to a new study, with a poll showing that a third of respondents would need to borrow money to meet an emergency cost… 32% would struggle to afford a sudden £1,000 bill without financial support – while 11% are unable to regularly save for such an eventuality.”
“The amount the UK Government pays to service nearly £3trillion of national debt will exceed what it needs to borrow just to balance the books next year, official figures show.
“The news will make grim reading for the Chancellor, John Healey, as he tries to make the sums add up in his maiden Budget later this month.”
“Strikes by North Sea oil workers could ‘severely disrupt’ UK fuel supplies.
“A looming strike by oil workers in the North Sea could “severely disrupt” UK fuel supplies, the Unite union has said, adding that staff were left with no choice after a breakdown in pay talks with the Texas oil company Apache.”
“Rhine water levels fall to new record low, stalling fuel logistics.
“Water levels on the Rhine river slumped to fresh record lows for the second time in a week, Oct. 1, the German water authority reported, preventing fuel tanker deliveries from making their way inland and dashing hopes for a rapid rebound in traffic ahead of peak winter demand levels.”
““Decades of policy incentives, such as tax advantages, left Europe’s vehicle fleet far more diesel-heavy than regions like the US,” Bruegel analyst Georg Zachmann told Deutsche Welle earlier this week. “As a result, the EU is structurally long on gasoline, which it exports, and short on diesel, which it must import.””
“Whispers of Contagion Risk Are Returning to Europe’s Bond Market…
“Traders are on the alert for signs of contagion in Europe’s government bond market after a selloff triggered memories of the region’s debt crisis 15 years ago… On Thursday, something snapped: French bonds tumbled further along with the likes of Italy, Belgium and Greece, recording some of their biggest spread moves in years.”
“Is France’s Debt Crisis Becoming a Problem for the Euro?
“…The common currency fell to a 17 month low on Monday, declining around 0.7% against the dollar as investors reacted to mounting concerns about France’s high debt levels and political gridlock ahead of next year’s presidential election.”
“France lycée protests: hundreds of schools shut as chaos engulfs country…
“France’s education minister said lessons would be “totally or partly suspended” at up to 500 high schools on Monday after several days of sometimes violent protests against teacher shortages, dilapidated school buildings and overcrowding in classrooms.”
“‘This can’t go on’: tens of thousands protest against housing crisis in Spain.
“Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets of Madrid and other Spanish cities as they step up demands for action to tackle a mounting housing crisis after government measures were struck down by the opposition… Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, may call a snap election for November…”
“Hungary set to drop veto on Ukraine and Moldova EU bid progress.
“The procedural breakthrough follows a step-by-step parallel deal struck between Kyiv and Budapest. Hungary’s new Prime Minister, Péter Magyar, instructed national diplomats not to block letters regarding the progression of the talks after Ukraine’s parliament officially registered a draft law expanding education rights for national minorities.”
“Russia intensifies strikes on Kyiv as German Chancellor arrives to pledge support.
“Aerial warfare has intensified further, with Moscow targeting cities across Ukraine using difficult-to-intercept ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones, while Kyiv has launched strikes against Russian commercial interests and oil infrastructure.”
“Moscow says it will step up strikes on Ukraine after Kyiv vows to hit Russian oil refineries…
“Writing on Telegram, Russia’s Defense Ministry said, “Strikes by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation against military and military-industrial facilities, as well as related infrastructure in Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine, will be intensified.””
“Russia’s nuclear plants are ageing. Who will pay to dismantle them?
“…For the time being, however, Russia appears to be postponing the most costly stages of decommissioning. Rather than fully dismantling reactors soon after shutdown, it often places them in long-term “safe” storage, transferring much of the financial and technical burden into the future.”
“North Korea fires ballistic missile after Seoul demands apology over border mine blasts.
“North Korea’s Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un, has said that her country tested an intermediate-range strategic missile. The launch came a day after she ridiculed Seoul’s demand for an apology for what it said were North Korean mines that wounded three South Korean soldiers.”
“They survived World War II and lost decades, but not 2026. Japan’s century-old businesses are disappearing at a record pace…
“Japan’s long-established businesses are being tested by factors ranging from a shrinking domestic market and labor shortages to succession challenges, experts told CNBC. Bankruptcies among Japanese businesses with more than 100 years of history are occurring at a record pace…”
“China closes record number of banks as economic growth slows.
“China closed a record 670 banks last year, or nearly one in four lenders, as Beijing pushes to de-risk amid slowing economic growth. Nearly all were rural banks, which “remain the weakest part of the system, with poor asset quality, low capitalization, and governance shortcomings,” Fitch wrote.”
“The Philippines accused China’s military and coast guard on Sunday of harassing Filipino government aircraft and boats in two areas of the disputed South China Sea.
“A J-16 fighter interfered with a Filipino Cessna 208 turboprop that was conducting a “routine military patrol” near Scarborough Shoal on Saturday, a Philippine armed forces statement said.”
“Mass protests demanding poll chief resignation shake India for third day…
“Thousands marched in Mumbai on Sunday, while others gathered for a third day of demonstrations in New Delhi. The protests began on Friday demanding that Election Commission of India (ECI) chief Gyanesh Kumar step down due to reports that he has overseen voter-roll revisions removing millions from electoral lists.”
“Pakistan vs. Afghanistan: From allies and neighbors to war…
“”The Taliban are simply not prepared to take orders from Islamabad,” adds Thomas Ruttig, co-director of the Afghanistan Analysts Network, a think tank working between Kabul and Berlin. “They won’t let anyone outside interfere.” This means the Pakistani policy of supporting the Taliban in order to gain influence in Afghanistan hasn’t worked.”
“Iranian rial at new low, as cenbank sells dollars to support currency.
“The Iranian rial has crashed to a historic new low against the US dollar on the open market, prompting a massive $2 billion emergency currency intervention by the Central Bank of Iran. Despite state banks launching a large-scale dollar-selling program to steady the market, the intervention has failed to stem the slide.”
“Clashes erupt in Christian town in central Syria…
“Suqaylabiyah, in the Ghab Plain of Hama, has about 16,000 inhabitants who are mainly Greek Orthodox. Its population was down from 20,000 in December 2024. Many loyalists of the regime in the town fled after the downfall of Al Assad.”
“Erdogan And Netanyahu On A Collision Course Neither Can Afford.
“hus far, no direct confrontation has occurred between Israel and Turkish troops in Syria but a flashpoint gets closer to reality every day. Meanwhile, Erdogan’s triumph of pushing out Russia and Assad feels increasingly vulnerable and potentially untenable in a Syria so easy to destabilize.”
“West Bank: Palestinians ‘harassed’ by settlers’ increasing use of drones.
“Palestinians and activists report an increased use of drones in the occupied West Bank, particularly by the army and settlers, to whom the government supplies the drones directly. The drones are used to intimidate, monitor, demolish and make daily life unbearable.”
“Houthis claim strike on Aramco site as Yemen fighting intensifies…
“In a statement posted on X on Saturday, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group had carried out a “military operation with ballistic missiles and drones” that targeted Aramco in Riyadh.”
“Yemen’s Saudi-backed government launches military drive to retake all Houthi-held territory…
“The announcement sets an ambitious goal for the embattled government, which recently lost swathes of the country’s Red Sea coastline and areas around the Bab al-Mandab strait – a chokepoint for international shipping – after a lightning offensive by the Iran-backed Houthis.”
“Four African leaders issue joint declaration as Ethiopia war escalates.
“Ethiopia has accused Egypt, Eritrea and Sudan of backing the armed alliance fighting its government. Officials from all three countries have denied involvement. Earlier on Sunday, el-Sisi said that cross-border challenges required “a dialogue, not confrontation”.”
“How Ethiopia’s Renaissance Dam Is Redefining Nile Basin Geopolitics.
“…the power struggle over the world’s longest river has reached a critical turning point. The full operation of Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has shattered Egypt’s historic water hegemony, transforming a regional resource dispute into a high-stakes geopolitical battle over sovereignty, security, and sustainable development.”
“Ethiopia’s malaria resurgence raises questions over GERD reservoir risks…
“A recent JAMA study, published online in August 2026, investigated whether emerging drug-resistance and diagnostic-escape mutations in malaria parasites were contributing to Ethiopia’s resurgence. The introduction noted that the national malaria programme attributed the increase to climatic variability and disruptions to health services and vector-control interventions.”
“‘No Help’: Aid Arrived Too Late as Ebola Spread in a Congolese Town…
““There was no help, not even a bit,” said Godefroy Banzani, a senior nurse in Mangala, recalling how the town felt abandoned in the early weeks of the outbreak. Experts say that what happened in Mangala underscores how this Ebola outbreak became the largest and fastest-growing that Congo has ever seen.”
“Libyan unity talks upended as warlord’s son linked to drone attacks on fuel facilities.
“Allegations that the son of the Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar oversaw a “terror cell” that launched drone attacks on fuel storage facilities and power stations in western Libya have upended plans for the Tripoli-based government of national unity (GNU) to continue cooperating with Haftar on a plan to unify the country.”
“Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has said that his country sent fighter jets to Niger in late August to help thwart a “coup attempt” that shook the capital, Niamey.
“The confirmation came in excerpts from Tebboune’s interview with local media outlets that was broadcast on Saturday ahead of its full release.”
“The Bolsonaro comeback that has stunned Brazil [bad news for Amazon rainforest]…
“There will be rejoicing in the White House as Flávio Bolsonaro, the anointed heir of his jailed father, Jair, secured an against-the-odds triumph in the first round of Brazil’s general election on Sunday. Although he fell short of the majority needed to avoid a second round, it will take something extraordinary to stop him now…”
“The 2029 tipping point: Western populations are about to start shrinking, piling pressure on public finances…
“Aging populations affect economies through slower economic growth, greater pressure on public finances from pension and care costs, changing consumer demand, and shifts in real interest rates and sovereign yields, Olivier Chemla, vice president of credit strategy and standards at Moody’s, told CNBC…”
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About This Site
Weekday updates on both climate change and the global economy. Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.
“The global economy is muddling through against the odds. But a storm is coming… potential flashpoints for trouble are everywhere. The situation in the Middle East is deteriorating… Oil stocks are running low… Meanwhile, massive US investment in AI has pushed up the cost of borrowing and resulted in shortages of capital for non-AI sectors. 
“The era of ultra-low borrowing costs is over: OECD chief.
“Tech market sell-off deepens amid fears over US inflation and AI debt…
“Default fears leap as investors panic over AI debts…
“Why the AI investment boom could spark the next financial crisis…
“Failure to activate Hormuz fertiliser plan could trigger food crisis, UN official says…
“Global Grain Freight Costs Surge.
“Ship attack reports near Hormuz reach record high as oil exports slow…
“Record Tanker Rates Leave Heavy Crude Stranded in the Americas.
“Global diesel prices set to rise again, warns IEA…
“Trump weighs easing restrictions on Russian and Iranian ‘shadow fleet’.
“Key US voters say economy is getting worse ahead of midterms, exclusive poll finds…
“Progress toward a US-Mexico tariff deal has stalled, WSJ reports…
“Doug Ford warns Trump’s tariff war with Canada is here to stay.
“Denmark pushes back as Trump touts Greenland oil and mineral deals.
“UK households have paid extra £13,961 on bills since 2021 amid soaring inflation, TUC says.
“Eurozone Industrial Resilience Falters as Energy Shock Bites.
“France Is No Longer in Control of Its Destiny…
“Portugal’s Housing Protest Draws Thousands After Police Clashes.
“Truckers threaten to shut down Italy with national strike amid fuel-price squeeze…
“Student protests in Albania turn violent as demonstrators clash with police.
“Seven sailors missing after drones strike tankers near Romania’s Black Sea coast…
“Trump slams Zelenskyy as Ukraine resumes strikes on Russian oil refineries.
“Ukraine runs out of Patriot interceptor missiles as Zelensky and Trump clash over war…
“China Is Winning The Trade War And Losing At Home.
“Taiwan to Curb AI Chip Exports to China as Part of US Trade Deal…
“Philippines hits back at Chinese envoy over ‘thinly veiled threat’ of force.
“Hundreds hold protest over Bali fuel shortage.
“Highway blockades spread as Karnataka sugarcane farmers seek better prices [India]…
“Cheap weapons, growing fears: Inside the Taliban’s drone campaign against Pakistan…
“School headscarf ban sparks rare protests in Azerbaijan and row with Turkey.
“US sanctions leave Iranians facing flight cancellations and soaring costs.
“Gulf states have downplayed damage caused by Iranian strikes: Report…
“Two Syrian pipelines damaged amid spate of sabotage attacks on energy infrastructure.
“Rubio presses Lebanon on confiscation of weapons from Hezbollah.
“Israel halts commercial goods from entering Gaza; Hamas denies tax claims…
“Missile strikes on Saudi Arabia throw F1 season finale into chaos…
“Houthi missiles strike Yemen presidential palace, killing five.
“Celebrations in Somaliland after Trump calls it ‘totally different country’ from Somalia…
“Ethiopian forces expand control in Tigray as militia claims Eritrean losses…
“Rival communities clashes in South Sudan’s Lakes state leaves scores dead…
“Kinshasa braces for potential conflict as Kabila joins M23 [Congo]…
“Argentina Pauses Local Dollar Bond Sales as Debt Wall Nears.
“British troops train to take back the Falklands…
“Why U.S. Airstrikes Are Failing to Stop the Global Cocaine Boom…
“Hunger in Cuba Reaches Alarming Levels.
“Mauritius reels from worst riots in decades after woman shot by police…
“Famine-scarred southern Madagascar braces for El Nino…
“Climate change could trigger global financial crisis, insurers warn…
“Developing nations face triple shock from energy crisis, El Niño and borrowing costs, UN warns…
“World Bank in crisis aid talks with dozens of nations amid global shocks…
“The bond crisis is about to ripple out into the real economy.
“The International Energy Agency urged members to speed up pledged diesel releases and consider supplying more as global markets tighten.
“Can Russia meet Trump’s diesel demands?
“The world needs Ukraine’s grain. Its farmers are running out of reasons to plant…
“Why China is importing a record amount of gold — and what it means for prices…
“China’s debt interest costs are soaring above U.S. levels and growing faster than any other budget category as Beijing struggles to prop up growth…
“Economist on US debt: ‘The problem is we’re not resilient’…
“American ranchers wrestle with soaring costs – and their loyalty to Trump…
“‘Some aren’t going to make it’: how pressure on farmers threatens UK food security…
“From farms to high schools, France is a nation on edge…
“A dead pensioner, a snap election and protesters camping in tents: Inside Spain’s housing crisis…
“In critical October meetings, European leaders face winter energy squeeze amid mounting global pressures…
“US threatens to block arms for Ukraine over attacks on Russian refineries…
“Ukraine strikes Yandex data centre in third attack on Russian tech giant…
“Russia attacks multiple power plants after Trump energy ceasefire claim…
“North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles off east coast, Seoul says…
“China sanctions ministers from Paraguay and Belize over Taiwan ties…
“Young men live in fear of being snatched off the streets and sold to Myanmar’s army…
“Manipur MLA urges govt to deploy three companies of forces in violence-hit Kamjong.
“Delhi sees more protests as freed ‘cockroach’ group’s leaders vow to fight on…
“Pakistan imposes emergency in stronghold of jailed ex-PM Imran Khan.
“Iran hits tanker in Sohar and two in Hormuz, US disables bulker.
“Israeli forces enter southern Syrian valley, block farmers…
“Hunger and malnutrition stalk Gazans, a year on from ceasefire…
“Houthis warn airlines and passengers not to use Riyadh airport after fresh attack kills 12 people…
“Clashes reported in Yemen as Houthis advance towards Taiz.
“At least 139 dead including children after migrant boat capsizes off Djibouti…
“Ethiopian troops enter Adigrat in Tigray, near the Eritrean border.
“Air strikes kill dozens of gold miners on Sudan-Egypt border…
“As tensions soar in the African horn, Egypt prepares to deploy troops to Somalia…
“Clashes kill 26 in disputed Sudan-South Sudan border region.
“UN alarmed as number of displaced in central Sahel reaches nearly four million…
“The blockade, the boat killings and the plan to take Cuba…
“What Are U.S. Soldiers Doing in Ecuador?
“”The huge lurking leverage of AI hyperscalers…
“Banks are now trying to offload the AI data center debt they just underwrote…
“Fixated on AI, the world has forgotten what is staring it in the face: nuclear annihilation…
“Some climate tipping points are being studied far more than others…
“This July was the worst on record for wildfires in England, provisional data shows, with England experiencing a clear upward trend in the total number of wildfires recorded.
“12 million French homes now at risk of clay-related cracks…
“Mer de Glace [French Alps] has lost in thickness (on average across its entire surface!) 3.6 m this summer! 
“Danube Water Levels at Record Low Again.
“Records warmth in Europe moving East:
“Rainstorms cause flooding, damage across Italy.
“A double, violent tornado has ripped through the city of Marsala in Sicily on Friday injuring a number of people and causing widespread damage to several buildings.
“Counterfeit seeds threaten African farmers’ crops and climate resilience: Study…
“HISTORIC HEAT IN CONGO – 37.2C [99F] at Brazzaville yesterday is HOTTEST OCTOBER DAY IN CONGO HISTORY.
“Zimbabwe hailstorm destroys churches, homes.
“ABSOLUTE MADNESS 47C IN THE EMIRATES:
“33.8 [92.8F] Hanimaadhoo is HOTTEST OCTOBER DAY IN MALDIVES HISTORY.
“On Camera, Powerful Winds Rip Off Roof Of Kerala [SW India] School, Cars Damaged…
“A violent hailstorm strikes the Punjab region [N India] with giant and exceptional hailstones.
“Heavy Rain, Hailstorm Lash Haridwar [Uttarakhand, N india]: Vehicles And Property Damaged.
“Climate change is reshaping the Himalayas and making climbing more dangerous.
“Amid heartache of Nepal flooding disaster, fear remains…
“Record again in Hokkaido [Japan]!
“On October 9, the eastern part of Hainan Island [southern China] was struck by torrential rain, with peak 24-hour rainfall reaching 373.8mm [14.7 inches], triggering severe flooding.” 
“Heavy rains trigger flooding in Philippines’ Cebu communities…
“Vietnam mobilizes troops after heavy rains trigger flash floods and raise risks of landslides.
“Prachin Buri floods ease as death toll reaches 24…
“Record heat never ends in Southeast Asia:
“Malaysia shuts schools as haze from Indonesian fires chokes Southeast Asia…
“Deadly wildfires leave Borneo wildlife scrambling for fresh water…
“Breaking News! 
“The central Pacific Ocean just broke a temperature record. Experts say it might signal a new kind of El Niño…
“Another avalanche of records in SOUTH AMERICA:
“ECUADOR HIT by MAJOR HAILSTORM — Quito Streets Buried in Ice! 
“Chile declares part of Santiago disaster zone after heavy rains.
“The Story Behind Paraguay’s Giant Hail: Heat, Humidity And El Niño…
“Brazil’s Bolsonaro Promises a Sharp Pivot on Climate and the Amazon…
“Smoke from wildfires disrupted daily life in Brazil’s largest Amazon region city of Manaus on Friday as the country’s dry season approached its peak.
“Record heat again in GUYANA:
“Landslide sweeps through Venezuelan town, leaving dead and missing.
“Guatemala: Floodwater Swallows Plaza As Heavy Rain Hits Guatemala…
“EXTRAORDINARY. INSANE MINIMUM of 30.5C/87F at Santa Rosalia, MEXICO.
“Incredible. After the hottest July, August, and September on record, October is off to an absolutely blazing start across the contiguous U.S.
“Hurricane Isaias makes landfall in Florida and hammers Gulf coast…
“Hurricane Isaias will bring a serious flood threat to both coastal and inland areas.. 
“At least eight people were injured when an Avianca flight encountered severe turbulence and had to make an emergency landing in Miami early Friday.
“Rachel prompts 1st Southern California tropical storm watch since 2023…
“Newport Beach Declares Local Emergency Amid Coastal Flooding.
“Hoping for a ‘new normal’ climate is pointless. We must learn to adapt.
“Extreme Weather Is Everywhere Now—How to Prepare Your Home…
“Cannabis Helps Weather Extreme Storms…
“‘Overshoot is not a reason to surrender’: UN calls for accelerated climate action ahead of COP31 summit.
“Soaring logistics costs set to push food prices up before Christmas, industry leaders warn.
“How the Ukraine War Is Leaving Wheat to Rot.
“Turkey says Russia, Ukraine increasing attacks in Black Sea ahead of winter.
“Why Trump and Iran may now be waiting out the midterms…
“Treasury sanctions 17 tankers linked to Iran’s ‘shadow fleet’ in economic pressure campaign…
“How a Shadow Economy in Asia Is Keeping Iranian Oil Flowing…
“Brent Holds Above $100 as Hormuz Tanker Traffic Hits Two-Month Low…
“Supertanker Rates Hit Record $1.4 Million a Day…
“Isaias hits Category 2 as diesel concerns mount and Gulf energy insurance risks come into focus.
“US farm debt is at a record. Official data might be undercounting it.
“More than half of Canadians are avoiding buying American goods, poll finds…
“Lorry drivers and haulage operators across the UK are facing a severe spike in diesel thefts, as record-high fuel prices transform the fuel into “liquid gold” for criminal gangs… 
“Credit card defaults reach financial crisis levels [UK].
“Bank governor urges John Healey to use budget to allay market fears amid bond turmoil…
“France Is Veering Toward a Potential Debt Crisis, a Warning to the World…
“‘I can’t take it anymore’: School blockades spark national crisis as French students continue to protest…
“Retail and consumer goods remains Europe’s ‘most distressed sector’, with pressure reaching its highest level since the Global Financial Crisis.
“EU envoy in China to avert trade war…
“How Japanese bond yields, Chinese competition are stoking euro-zone fears.
“Kyiv entering ‘survival’ mode amid Russian strikes surge…
“Ukrainian Drones Hit Yandex Data Center, Industrial Facilities Across Russia…
“Why North Korea is at the heart of South Korea’s strange rift with Ukraine…
“Japan and Ukraine further ties as Tokyo weighs unprecedented security linkup.
“Japan is facing the most severe and complex security environment since Second World War, says Fumio Kishida…
“China’s military and coast guard presence in South China Sea waters claimed by the Philippines nearly doubled last month, Manila said yesterday…
“Satellite images show attack jets stationed at a new Chinese military facility in Laos, which opened last week and gives Beijing’s air force its first foothold in mainland south-east Asia.
“Myanmar: Poverty deepens as families face multiple shocks with limited resources…
“India’s ‘Cockroach’ party accuses government of mass detention of members ahead of weekend protest…
“The Afghan Taliban’s Growing Drone War Against Pakistan…
“Drones, explosions and soldiers in bulldozers: surrounded by Israelis in Lebanon’s ‘model town’…
“‘Every day there is killing’: Gazans face Israeli strikes despite ceasefire as peace deal stalls…
“Houthis claim attack on Riyadh airport as airlines suspend flights to Saudi capital…
“From Aden to Sanaa, Yemenis struggle to deal with soaring living costs…
“Eritrean troops move deep into Ethiopia’s Tigray region, residents tell BBC…
“In Somalia, war cuts off aid for entire populations threatened by famine.
“Sudan rebel-held areas face deepening famine, disease crisis, official says.
“Global analysis reveals how armed conflict erodes farmland and potential food production…
“Bullet and blast injuries … and a constant need for blood: inside South Sudan’s overwhelmed trauma wards…
“‘Someone else will do it for less’: refugees in Kenya are powering tech for dwindling pay…
“Cars torched and shops looted as anti-migrant violence erupts in South Africa.
“Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro and his wife charged over torture allegations.
“US seizes 90 fuel shipments to Cuba as energy blockade tightens…
“Revealed: Cartels’ plot to booby-trap cocaine subs bound for Europe…
“AI Debt Spree Hammers Tech Debt as Traders Rush to Reprice Risk.
“AI Bubble Risks Worst S&P 500 Crash Since 2008, Strategist Says…
“Iran War Energy Shock Puts Hydrogen Back on the Table…
“‘Inner Degrowth’: An engineer on why the energy crisis and our inner emptiness are the same problem…
“Global Food Prices Rise as Cereal and Sugar Costs Surge, UN Says. Sugar prices climbed 6.1% in September, their third consecutive monthly increase.
“World Faces Risk Cocktail From AI, Oil and Debt, Says IMF Chief.
“Oil prices rise as storms and air strikes threaten supply.
“The world has nearly burned through its oil stockpile buffer, executives say.
“Vitol chief warns of tanker shortage and risk of $200-a-barrel oil.
“An LNG carrier owned by Greek shipping magnate Maria Angelicoussis has become the latest target in Iran’s campaign to disrupt traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
“$100,000 salary, $50,000 bonus: Hormuz risk sends tanker captains’ pay to new highs…
“Marine fuel price surge adds to shipping industry woes…
“‘Minimal relief’: Trucking groups pan Trump’s diesel executive order…
“US trade balance sinks deeper into the red as imports hit record high.
“US stocks hit record high, shrugging off bond market turmoil.
“Distressed U.S. leveraged loans hit pandemic-era high, with tech leading the way…
“Google makes a fresh bet on nuclear power as the AI energy crunch intensifies.
“‘It really hammers people’: Scottish islanders hit by highest diesel prices in UK…
“UK’s Job Slump Now Longer Than During Financial Crisis, PMI Says…
“France’s Appetite for ‘Magic Money’ Has Turned Into a Debt Bomb.
“Riot police fire teargas as 250,000 take part in schools protests across France.
“Sánchez announces 21 urgent housing measures after nationwide protests ahead of snap election [Spain]…
“State parliament elects Germany’s first far-right speaker since second world war…
“Sweden to deploy Patriot missiles to NATO hub in Poland.
“Lithuania takes further step towards lifting nuclear weapons ban.
“Ukraine says no to EU membership without access to selling grain…
“Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned a “horrific” Russian attack on a vessel carrying corn in the Black Sea.
“At least two killed in fire caused by ‘massive strikes’ on Kyiv.
“Naval drone hits oil tanker off Russian resort city Sochi, triggering massive blaze…
“Ukraine’s Defense Ministry has said that the country has destroyed more than half of Russia’s oil refining capacity…
“North Korea warns U.S. over Taiwan while Kim pledges support for Russia…
“North Korea Warns South Not to Cross Border by Even ‘Millimeter’…
“Japan’s 10-year bond coupon tops budgeted rate in ‘sci-fi’ spike.
“When Asia’s central banks turn bond vigilante on Trump.
“World Bank Warns Asia Is Running Out of Money to Fight Energy Shock.
“India’s opposition protests pile pressure on Modi government…
“As some Afghans escape the Taliban, other refugees are forced to return.
“Iran poised to exploit security vacuum as US leaves Iraq…
“Türkiye condemns Israel’s deepening incursion into Syria…
“Turkey and Pakistan to send troops to Saudi Arabia under defence pact.
“Yemen is spiralling into another civil war that could swiftly engulf in the entire region.
“‘Illegal Aggression’: Somalia Warns Israel Over Military Base in Somaliland | Firstpost Africa.
“Tigray rebel groups ‘forcibly recruiting boys as young as 15’ as fighting spreads.
“Sudan’s al-Burhan rejects talks, vows to retake all territory from RSF.
“Kenya confirms first Ebola case as man dies in Nairobi after DRC return…
“Mali’s army says it has taken Kidal from Tuareg rebels, with Russia’s help…
“Algeria projects its power in the Sahara.
“Colombia launches joint task force to protect pipeline and fight ELN rebels.
“‘Desperate’: How Venezuela’s power cuts fuel growing public anger.
“Coast Guard Says it Stopped Ships Carrying Fuel to Cuba.
“Haiti postpones elections amid gang violence and political chaos.
“Tree nearly as old as US torn down to expand Mexico border wall.
“The world cannot afford an AI bubble right now… 
“Before AI can kill us the bubble will burst…
“We could be sleepwalking into a repeat of the 2008 financial crisis…
“War, Cyber Attack Could Trigger Next Financial Crisis, RBI Says…
“G7 to release 100 million barrels of oil and diesel, will it curb prices?
“Fuel Price Shock Pushes Global Gas Car Sales Below 50% for First Time.
“The world is facing an almighty LNG crunch.
“Tanker costs soar 43-fold as Hormuz tensions reshape global oil trade.
“Shipping sector seeks counter-drone protection as attacks raise operating risks.
“Iran says Hormuz to remain closed until US meets conditions…
“How deadlock in the Ukraine war is crippling global food prices…
“Soaring diesel prices take their toll on US farmers in midwest corn belt…
“U.S. Rushes to Withdraw Bombers From U.K. Air Base After New Threats.
“One-in-three could struggle with a £1,000 emergency cost without borrowing [UK].
“The amount the UK Government pays to service nearly £3trillion of national debt will exceed what it needs to borrow just to balance the books next year, official figures show.
“Strikes by North Sea oil workers could ‘severely disrupt’ UK fuel supplies.
“Rhine water levels fall to new record low, stalling fuel logistics.
“Europe’s Diesel Woes Just Got Even Worse…
“Whispers of Contagion Risk Are Returning to Europe’s Bond Market…
“Is France’s Debt Crisis Becoming a Problem for the Euro?
“France lycée protests: hundreds of schools shut as chaos engulfs country…
“‘This can’t go on’: tens of thousands protest against housing crisis in Spain.
“Hungary set to drop veto on Ukraine and Moldova EU bid progress.
“Russia intensifies strikes on Kyiv as German Chancellor arrives to pledge support.
“Moscow says it will step up strikes on Ukraine after Kyiv vows to hit Russian oil refineries…
“Russia’s nuclear plants are ageing. Who will pay to dismantle them?
“North Korea fires ballistic missile after Seoul demands apology over border mine blasts.
“They survived World War II and lost decades, but not 2026. Japan’s century-old businesses are disappearing at a record pace…
“China closes record number of banks as economic growth slows.
“The Philippines accused China’s military and coast guard on Sunday of harassing Filipino government aircraft and boats in two areas of the disputed South China Sea.
“Mass protests demanding poll chief resignation shake India for third day…
“Pakistan vs. Afghanistan: From allies and neighbors to war…
“Iranian rial at new low, as cenbank sells dollars to support currency.
“Clashes erupt in Christian town in central Syria…
“Erdogan And Netanyahu On A Collision Course Neither Can Afford.
“West Bank: Palestinians ‘harassed’ by settlers’ increasing use of drones.
“Houthis claim strike on Aramco site as Yemen fighting intensifies…
“Yemen’s Saudi-backed government launches military drive to retake all Houthi-held territory…
“Four African leaders issue joint declaration as Ethiopia war escalates.
“How Ethiopia’s Renaissance Dam Is Redefining Nile Basin Geopolitics.
“Ethiopia’s malaria resurgence raises questions over GERD reservoir risks…
“‘No Help’: Aid Arrived Too Late as Ebola Spread in a Congolese Town…
“Libyan unity talks upended as warlord’s son linked to drone attacks on fuel facilities.
“Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has said that his country sent fighter jets to Niger in late August to help thwart a “coup attempt” that shook the capital, Niamey.
“The Bolsonaro comeback that has stunned Brazil [bad news for Amazon rainforest]…
“The 2029 tipping point: Western populations are about to start shrinking, piling pressure on public finances…