2026, day 301 Good morning from Asia, and to another set of government warnings to stock up on food and water. Because reasons. GEOPOLITICS: 🌍🔥 ‘Pezeshkian says Middle East can solve own issues without US’ (AJ); ‘Egypt, Iran discuss expanding regional consultations to avert renewed conflict’ (Arab News); ‘Omani FM calls for Middle East non-aggression pact at UK meeting’ (Arab News); ‘Overseas Handler Linked to Iran Behind Foiled RAF Air Base Attack’ (WSJ); ‘Nuclear Inspectors See No Evidence Iran Fixed Bombed Sites’ (BBG); ‘Princess Reema calls for global campaign to defeat Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen’ (Al Arabiya); ‘Yemen’s army accuses Houthis of mutilating bodies of fallen soldiers’ (Arab News); ‘Saudi Arabia ramps up Yemen aid with major projects during Yemeni leader’s visit’ (Arab News); ‘Jordan says it killed more than 20 Islamic State militants in airstrikes on Syria’ (Reuters); ‘Iraqi court sentences six French men to life in prison for Islamic State membership’ (Reuters); ‘European Leaders Split Over Phone Call to Putin’ (NYT); ‘Washington discusses Russian deals for US oil majors in Ukraine peace talks’ (FT); ‘Inside Donald Trump Jr’s Mongolian hunting trip with a Kremlin-linked businessman’ (FT); ‘Nord Stream sabotage suspect under ‘direct command’ of Ukrainian army’ (FT); ‘Poland signs three-year defence cooperation plan with U.K.’ (Euronews); ‘Three of Britain's four nuclear deterrent submarines put to sea’ (The Times); ‘EU divisions persist on ‘associate member’ label for Canada’ (Politico) - “The bloc can’t agree on controversial status just 48 hours before Montreal summit”; ‘It’s hard breaking up with Washington: Why Canada’s European defense turn has limits’ (Politico); ‘Flavio Bolsonaro’s passports cancelled: Brazilian police source’ (AFP); ‘Flávio Bolsonaro Leaves Brazil for the U.S. After Election Defeat’ (NYT); ‘Washington to issue Flávio Bolsonaro US visa after election loss’ (FT); ‘Rubio warns Venezuela's Machado: Street protests won't get you democracy’ (Axios); ‘We Went to Cuba to See How the Fuel Crisis Is Forcing Havana to Open Its Economy’ (WSJ); ‘Xi Wants to Play Peacemaker. Trump Has Other Ideas for a Historic Summit’ (WSJ) - “Plus, Xinjiang goes from blacklisted to global trade hub, Xi’s purges echo Stalin’s, and Kim Jong Un makes a surprise trip to China”; ‘5 things to watch out for in 2027 US defence bill aimed at countering China’ (SCMP); ‘US Army queries industry’s ability to build 21,000 Infantry Squad Vehicles’ (Defense News); ‘Why is the US reluctant to give South Korea wartime control of its troops?’ (SCMP); ‘Indonesia-Singapore spats escalate over haze, energy, MSCI’ (Nikkei Asia); GEOECONOMICS: 🌍✈️ ⛴️ 🚛 ‘Lula faces a fiscal reckoning after Brazil’s market rout’ (FT); ‘Mexico Trade Chief Expects Results on US Talks in Next Few Days’ (BBG); ‘Trump praises Canadian separatists amid delicate trade talks’ (Axios); ‘Trump Moves to Weaken Methane Emissions Rules for Oil and Gas’ (WSJ); ‘Global carmakers search for new China strategy as market share slips below 30%’ (SCMP); ‘HP and Asus shift some PC making back to China due to AI-driven cost hikes’ (Nikkei Asia); ‘CAP deal sparks fears farm subsidies could flow to food industry’ (Rapporteur); ‘Google attacks UK over ‘unlawful’ AI plans’ (Telegraph); POLITICS: 🗳️ ‘No clear winner in Israeli parliamentary election, exit polls suggest’ (FT); ‘Trump Associates Try to Understand Chances for Unity Government, Prefer Government Without Ben-Gvir’ (Ynet); ‘Trump says will respect US midterm results ‘if they’re honest’’ (Al Arabiya); ‘Senate control could hang in limbo for weeks after Election Day’ (Axios); ‘Socialist civil war engulfs Los Angeles mayor race’ (Axios); ‘Xi’s Corruption Purges Upend Hunt for China’s Next Top Leaders’ (BBG); MARKETS: 📈 ‘How Hong Kong went from a yuan gateway to a complete currency ecosystem’ (SCMP)

2026, day 300 Good morning from Asia - and it’s more election > geopolitical > geoeconomic > market drama, this time switching focus from the Americas to the Middle East. GEOPOLITICS: 🌍🔥 ‘Netanyahu reportedly pressured military to attack Iran in run-up to election’ (Guardian); ‘Report: Zamir the only security chief to oppose pre-election military action against Iran’ (ToI) - “Channels 12 and 13 reported Monday that if Netanyahu forms the next government, he will likely fire Zamir if the Israel Defense Forces chief does not resign first”; ‘UKMTO reports vessel on fire off Iraq’s coast’ (Reuters); ‘These Maps Show Why It’s So Hard to Recover the World’s Lost Fuel Supplies’ (WSJ); ‘Mecca defence alliance members in Tehran to defuse Iran-US, Yemen tensions’ (AJ); ‘Egypt parliament authorizes al-Sisi to bolster Saudi defenses amid regional attacks’ (Al Arabiya); ‘Hezbollah readies for new regional war with funds from Iran, sources say’ (Reuters); ‘Jordan launches air strikes in Syria in response to a fatal church shooting’ (AJ); ‘Syria al-Qaeda affiliate commander among three dead in strike: Defense ministry source’ (Al Arabiya); ‘PKK-linked Yazidi group to hand over arms to Iraqi government’ (AFP); ‘Turkey’s Erdogan says criticism of Libya maritime deal has no legitimate basis’ (Reuters); ‘Trump's Board of Peace taps ex-Biden aide to lead Congress outreach’ (Axios); ‘Zelenskyy calls out monthlong wait for Hegseth to sign off on Patriot missiles’ (Euronews); ‘Salvini’s anti-Ukraine pledge puts Meloni under pressure’ (Rapporteur); ‘Europe's top NATO powers pledge greater defence role, reaffirm US alliance’ (France24); ‘Labour accused of falsifying defence spending’ (Telegraph) - “Sir Ben Wallace claims military budget has been artificially inflated to make it appear on course for Nato target”; ‘Serbia’s student victory raises hopes of an EU reset’ (Euronews); ‘Canada and Europe want to reshape the global order. But whose vision will prevail?’ (Politico); ‘What message is China sending with latest footage of ‘no-notice’ DF rocket drill?’ (SCMP); GEOECONOMICS: 🌍✈️ ⛴️ 🚛 ‘EU Plans to Hit China With More Import Curbs in Early 2027’ (BBG); ‘EU loan to Airbus threatens trade truce with US, Trump trade official warns’ (FT); ‘Italy, Poland back von der Leyen's joint EU energy purchasing’ (Rapporteur); ‘Britain in talks with EU over free movement’ (Telegraph) - “Officials discuss options including rejoining bloc or single market as PM seeks to reset relations with Brussels”; ‘'The U.S. is coming closer to our position': Carney describes slight intensification of trade talks’ (National Post); ‘Win for Lula boosts China’s foothold and gives Brazil rare earths leverage’ (SCMP); ‘Africa food security under threat due to Iran war, trade officials warn’ (AJ); ‘Black Sea attacks cut Ukraine wheat exports to Indonesia, Bangladesh’ (Nikkei Asia); POLITICS: 🗳️ ‘Lula’s comeback puts brakes on Latin America’s rightward surge’ (Euronews); ‘Trump says Brazil election looked 'rigged', defeated Bolsonaro's party recognizes Lula win’ (Reuters); ‘Brazil: defeated Flávio Bolsonaro ordered to surrender passports’ (Guardian); ‘Netanyahu, desperate, now tells us we’ll all die if we don’t re-elect him’ (ToI); ‘Netanyahu, with Trump’s backing, could lose election and still lead a divided Israel’ (WaPo) - “Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, ahead in the polls, has ruled out a partnership with Benjamin Netanyahu, but some in the Trump administration are discussing the idea”; ‘Justice Dept. charges James Comey, ex-FBI director, for a third time’ (WaPo); ‘Trump announces $1M rewards for voter fraud tips ahead of midterms’ (The Hill); ‘Former Miss Switzerland accuses Donald Trump of rape’ (Telegraph); ‘French government fails to convince students to stop protests’ (Politico); MARKETS: 📈 ‘Brazil’s currency plunges most since 1999 after Lula’s surprise victory’ (FT)

2026, day 296 Good morning from Asia - and it’s another 2026 weekend wondering if war will restart. GEOPOLITICS: 🌍🔥 ‘Trump says US may renew strikes against Iran, 'do another little Epic Fury'’ (JPost); ‘On The Brink Of Epic Fury Round Two?’ (TWZ) - “Israeli Air Force operations, ship movements, ominous messaging and more point to the possibility that the war with Iran is about to erupt again”; ‘US could strike Iran this weekend, envoy says’ (AFP); ‘Iran has detailed plans to hit Gulf undersea cables if war resumes, officials say’ (Reuters); ‘US evacuating diplomats and families from Middle East embassies over escalation fears’ (CNN); ‘Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, Turkey slam Israel, call for end to Houthi attacks’ (Al Arabiya); ‘European, Middle East ministers urge US-Iran diplomacy, not new attacks’ (AJ; ‘India Says Modi, Netanyahu Discuss West Asia Over Phone Call’ (BBG); ‘Seven killed as gunmen open fire at church in Jordan in 'terrorist' attack, authorities say’ (Reuters); ‘Netanyahu vows West Bank military operation after attack kills two Israeli soldiers’ (WaPo); ‘UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon needs ‘to go’: US envoy’ (Al Arabiya); ‘Israel Says It Sanctioned Firm for Supplying Fuel to Hezbollah’ (BBG); ‘Zelenskyy says Ukrainian, Russian and US negotiators to meet in November in Abu Dhabi’ (Reuters); ‘Ukraine says satellite access still restricted despite Trump saying otherwise’ (WaPo); ‘Melania Trump secures ceasefire in Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky, White House says’ (Euronews); ‘Romania blames Russia for new deadly attack on ship’ (Rapporteur); ‘RAF simulates nuclear strike with France for first time’ (Telegraph); ‘Macron denounces deadly shooting near Paris as 'racist terrorist attack' ‘US, allies and China vie for influence through Pacific security deals’ (SCMP); ‘US-China strategic competition to keep escalating as world watches on, Rudd says’ (SCMP); ‘China warns against space arms race, urges equal rights for all in outer space’ (SCMP); ‘Japan weighs rebranding energy, AI as defense spending under Trump pressure’ (Nikkei Asia) - “Step closer to achieving 3.5% of GDP”; ‘Can Japan become a player in the Arctic?’ (Japan Times); ‘At Florida rally, Trump revives idea of US military intervention in Cuba after Iran’ (AP); GEOECONOMICS: 🌍 ✈️ ⛴️ 🚛 ‘Trump to Remove Some Tariffs on Canada in Bid to Help Susan Collins’ (WSJ); ‘Canada ‘working hard’ to reach trade deal with U.S., Trump says’ (Globe & Mail); ‘U.S. is taking in a lot of Canadians, immigration numbers up 142%’ (National Post) - “Build Canada group says brain drain is a real issue”; ‘Germany leads push against EU's 'associate membership' label for Canada’ (Politico); ‘US Proposes Curbs on Investment in Chinese Biotech Firms’ (BBG); ‘US renews push for EU to soften Big Tech rules’ (Politico); ‘European CEOs warn against surrendering frontier AI to US and China’ (Politico) - “Leaving the AI race means Europe will be saddled with “leftovers,” says Arthur Mensch”; ‘Europe considers new quotas and tariffs to stem Chinese imports’ (SCMP); ‘China's automaking rise spurs German industry's turn to arms’ (Nikkei Asia); ‘Top ICC official urges EU to act ‘as soon as possible’ on US sanctions’ (Politico); ‘Trump's diesel price relief efforts grow costlier as election nears’ (Reuters); ‘First Russian diesel from Putin-Trump deal heading for US, data shows’ (Reuters); POLITICS: 🗳️ ‘DOJ sues to delay Alaska election results if GOP incumbent loses’ (Axios); ‘France bolsters security as businesses fear renewed unrest during Saturday protests’ (Euronews); ‘Italy preparing with elite troops and drone surveillance for 24 October protests’ (Euronews); MARKETS: 📈 ‘Oil hits $117 for first time since April on fears of flare-up in Iran hostilities’ (FT); ‘Gold drops below $4,000 as ‘haven’ asset joins market sell-off’ (FT); ‘Beijing tightens rules on outbound capital to better shield Chinese assets’ (SCMP)

2026, day 295 Good morning from Asia - and yet again major drama in geopolitics, politics, and now markets. GEOPOLITICS: 🌍🔥 ‘Iran says seven ships hit in Hormuz Strait, warns US of wider response’ (AJ); ‘IDF Chief says no operational need for strike on Iran before Israeli election’ (ToI); ‘Iranian regime faces war at home as militant coalition opens new front’ (Australian); ‘Egypt says Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb are national security concerns’ (Al Arabiya); ‘Yemeni military says 512 Houthis neutralized' in 780 strikes over 24 hours’ (Al Arabiya); ‘Major Yemeni City Running Out of Food and Water as Houthis Encircle It’ (NYT); ‘Turkey to host regional, European FMs for talks on regional conflicts: Source’ (Reuters); ‘Ukraine orders children, families to leave two eastern cities’ (AFP); ‘Trump Called Musk and Asked Him to Lift Ukraine Starlink Restrictions’ (WSJ) - “System appeared to be working more normally on Thursday, soon after the call”; ‘Palantir says NATO Al system has no 'kill switch' after Starlink disruptions in Ukraine’ (Euronews); ‘The risks of letting Xi help carve up Ukraine’ (Telegraph); ‘Europe auditions negotiators to face off with Putin’ (Telegraph); ‘Denmark stocks up on long-range missiles from US, Norway’ (Rapporteur); ‘Britain has only one ship to repair cables threatened by Russia’ (Telegraph); ‘Every Briton should stockpile water and food supplies, government advises’ (Guardian); ‘Russia lashes out at Netanyahu over antisemitic bot allegations: 'We are shocked'’ (Ynet); ‘U.S. escalates claims of Canadian election influence’ (Axios); ‘Quad confirmed, Manila envoy signals likely 'Squad talks before Trump-Xi summit’ (SCMP); ‘Pentagon, Lockheed agree to 10-year deal for 850 F-35 jets’ (Defense News); ‘Pentagon Launches 120-Day "Sprint" to Field Counter-UAS Armed USVs’ (Naval News) - “to defend surface fleets against low-cost drone threats”; ‘Euronaval 2026: Global Naval Shipbuilding Surges 50%’ (Naval News) - “China now vastly outproducing the US”; GEOECONOMICS: 🌍 ✈️ ⛴️ 🚛 ‘Trump invokes Cold War-era Defense Production Act for oil production, refining’ (Reuters); ‘US to fund speculative nuclear fusion venture backed by investors with ties to Trump’ (FT); ‘Scott Bessent shrugs off 'systemic' AI risks at closed-door investor conference’ (FT); ‘Unvetted Al agents are accessing U.S. bank accounts’ (Axios); ‘Hacking attempts surge as companies, governments rush to patch PHP flaws’ (Reuters); ‘‘'Jensen's nightmare': Huawei, DeepSeek narrow Al chip ecosystem gap with Nvidia’ (SCMP); ‘South Korea's Lee bets $1tn on Gwangju as future tech hub’ (Nikkei Asia) - “President aims to secure economy, legacy by investing AI gains in faded southern city”; ‘EPP threatens to block budget overhaul over farm funding’ (Rapporteur); ‘EU November vote could reopen Brazilian poultry imports’ (Rapporteur); ‘No timeline to resume formal trade talks with U.S., chief negotiator says’ (Globe & Mail); ‘Carney, Erdogan launch 'strong and resilient' Canada-Turkiye partnership’ (AJ); ‘EU mulls sanctions reprieve for Chinese fabric-maker accused of aiding Russia’ (SCMP); ‘China-made cancer drug to go on sale in US after Americans travel to buy it’ (SCMP); POLITICS: 🗳️ ‘In Wake of Riots, French Authorities Ban Some Protests’ (NYT); ‘Student Protests Mushroom Across Europe, Exposing Bleak Views of the Future’ (NYT); ‘Trucker blockades in southern Italy ramp up pressure on Meloni’ (Politico); ‘Merz’s eastern nightmare is far from over’ (Politico) - “prospect of the AfD’s biggest win yet haunts his chancellorship”; ‘Fake polls fooled the political world. Now the midterms face a trust crisis’ (The Hill); ‘US judge orders Trump to sit for deposition in $10bn lawsuit against BBC’ (Guardian); MARKETS: 📈 ‘Nasdaq tumbles while Treasuries soar as Meta rekindles AI spending fears’ (FT); ‘French Bond Stress Deepens as Spreads Widen to 15-Year High’ (BBG)

2026, day 294 Good morning from Asia - and once again War & Peace is the theme… GEOPOLITICS: 🌍🔥 ‘IRGC vows invasion as defence doctrine turns ‘offensive’’ (AJ); ‘Middle East Oil Flows Near Prewar Levels Defy Hormuz Attacks’ (BBG); ‘U.S. Sanctions Law Firm, Shipping Agents and Nine Vessels in Iran Shadow Fleet Crackdown’ (gCaptain); ‘Netanyahu says ‘toppling’ Iran government only way to end threat’ (AFP); ‘U.S. and Israel Draw Up Plans for Renewed Strikes on Iran After Elections’ (NYT); “In the past few hours, there has apparently been a change in the American position in favor of a preemptive strike on Iran” @YehoshuaMeiri; ‘Diplomats Race to Head Off Escalation With Iran’ (WSJ); ‘Israeli military conducts massive "power projection" operation near Iran's border’ (Axios); ‘Three Killed in Attacks on Aramco Oil Field, Saudi Airport’ (BBG); ‘U.S. Orders Diplomats to Depart Saudi Arabia Amid Houthi Strikes’ (Reuters); ‘China, Djibouti say all countries should enjoy freedom of navigation in Red Sea’ (Reuters); ‘Sisi says Egypt would defend Saudi territory but rules out attack on Yemen’ (Reuters); ‘Egypt rejects Libyan approval of maritime deal with Turkey’ (Reuters); ‘Israel condemns Libya-Turkey deal on maritime boundaries’ (AFP); ‘Qatar, Pakistan, Indonesia, Turkey Sign Defense MOU’ (BBG); ‘Hezbollah rebuilding military capabilities in Beirut as IDF prepares for possible renewed fighting’ (JPost); ‘Hamas threatens another Oct. 7-style attack on Israel in unprecedented warning’ (Ynet); ‘Israeli forces fire ‘indiscriminately’ during incursion in southwestern Syria’ (AJ); ‘Elon Musk’s Starlink Speed Cap Has Scrambled Ukraine’s Defenses’ (WSJ); ‘’Very difficult to defeat' — How Russia uses mesh networks inside drones to precision-strike Kyiv’ (Kyiv Independent); ‘Germany’s military warns of ‘significant’ Russian sabotage threat’ (Reuters); ‘Putin sends fishing trawlers to spy on Britain’ (Telegraph); ‘Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says he supports ceasefire, trilateral talks with US and Russia’ (Reuters); ‘Kremlin open to new Ukraine peace talks as Russia frees US teacher Stephen Hubbard’ (Euronews); ‘Talking to Putin: Europe seeks a negotiator-in-chief for Ukraine’ (Politico); ‘EU to press Canada and UK for more Ukraine funding’ (Politico); ‘Brussels pitches deeper EU-UK ties ahead of summit’ (Rapporteur); ‘Weidel pledges Germany Schengen exit if EU can’t protect borders’ (Rapporteur); ‘Argentina’s Milei calls Spain PM Sanchez a ‘dictator’ in Madrid visit’ (AFP); ‘Canada-EU summit to seek ways to lessen dependence on United States’ (Globe& Mail); ‘The extremely Canadian pastime of holding an unsuccessful secession referendum’ (National Post); ‘Taiwan’s Iran-style attack drone could swamp PLA air defences: analysts’ (SCMP); ‘China says it allowed Philippines to resupply warship amid diplomatic tensions’ (SCMP); ‘China defies Mao's support for Japan in Russia islands row’ (Nikkei Asia) - “A subtle shift in stance comes as Beijing-Moscow partnership deepens”; ‘South Korea, US spar over transfer of wartime command’ (Nikkei Asia) - “American general says 'new standards' need to be upheld before transfer”; GEOECONOMICS: 🌍 ✈️ ⛴️ 🚛 ‘AI Just Found a Bug That Puts up to 70% of the World’s Websites at Risk’ (WSJ); ‘China is moving past a ‘GDP-first’ mindset. Can local officials get with the programme?’ (SCMP); ‘US colleges scale back cooperation with Chinese institutions after Pentagon’s push’ (SCMP); ‘Top Democrat says chip restrictions are ‘key lever’ for US AI edge over China’ (SCMP); POLITICS: 🗳️ ‘US accuses Canada of election interference ahead of midterms’ (AJ); ‘AIPAC to stop officially endorsing US political candidates following criticism’ (JPost); ‘India orders release of top ‘Cockroach’ movement leaders’ (AFP); MARKETS: 📈 ‘The oil market's 2027 relief hopes are fading fast’ (Axios); ‘Oil Rises as Deadly Saudi Attack Fans Middle East Supply Fears’ (BBG)

2026, day 292 Good morning from Asia - where the rumour is North Korea’s Kim is dead, opening the risk of civil war in a hermit kingdom with nukes. GEOPOLITICS: 🌍🔥 ‘Iranian hardliners say the time for nuclear weapons has come’ (FT); ‘Iran's Hormuz authority adds 122 vessels to its 'non-conformity' list’ (AJ); ‘Egyptian parliament delays vote on military support for Saudi Arabia’ (AJ); ‘Qatar plans new defence partnership and warns of energy crisis 'peak'’ (Euronews); ‘Syria fears imminent Israeli-backed Druze offensive in Sweida, official tells 'Post'’ (JPost); ‘Hegseth meets Netanyahu on unannounced Israel visit’ (Axios); ‘Chinese premier slams 'blatant' US aggression against Iran’ (AJ); ‘Russia offers to process Iranian uranium amid differences over talks’ (AJ); ‘Lavrov backs Iran, hours after Trump says Russia doing 'very little' to help Tehran’ (Euronews); ‘Trump says he would be open to meeting with Xi and Putin’ (WSJ); ‘Trump slams Zelenskyy amid Russia sanctions rift and says 'somebody else' should negotiate for Ukraine’ (Guardian); ‘5 fights that will shape NATO’s next Russia war plan’ (Politico); ‘Labour cuts £2bn from Army front line’ (Telegraph); ‘Finland seeking one million land mines as it eyes Russian threat’ (AJ); ‘The EU heads into a perfect political storm’ (Politico); ‘160 people reported killed in escalating drone attacks across Sudan’ (AJ); ‘Ethiopia PM warns Eritrea of 'severe consequences' if supports enemies’ (AFP); ‘US, Cuba trade barbs at UN ahead of sanctions vote’ (Reuters); ‘Trump signals uncertainty about meeting N. Korean leader in China next month’ (Korea Times); ‘President reaffirms push to reclaim wartime OPCON by 2028’ (Korea Times); ‘Taiwan, Philippines kindle maritime cooperation in face of Chinese pressure’ (Nikkei Asia); GEOECONOMICS: 🌍 ✈️ ⛴️ 🚛 ‘Saudi Arabia to postpone 'Davos in the desert' after Houthi attacks’ (FT); ‘Former OpenAI Worker Accused of Bugging Discussed Job with Saudi Royal’ (WSJ); ‘Venezuela oilfield hiring picks up as first wave of investment builds’ (Reuters); ‘Oil tanker rate surge pushes Asia, Europe refiners into the red’ (Nikkei Asia); ‘North Sea strikes could severely disrupt UK fuel supplies, union warns’ (Guardian); ‘US-China negotiators race to nail down concrete deals as Shenzhen Apec looms’ (SCMP); ‘US sanctions 5 Chinese entities over ex-Google engineer’s AI trade secrets theft’ (SCMP); ‘US orders DeepSeek removed from federal systems, citing national security risks’ (SCMP); ‘Japan plans certifications for data centers, cloud services to curb China risk’ (Nikkei Asia); ‘Rubio pitches US business in Central Asia, says China ties need not suffer’ (SCMP); ‘New Zealand adds Brazil, Canada talks as India pact starts’ (Reuters); ‘Honduras targets Chinese shops, state builder as President Asfura sits on Taiwan pledge’ (SCMP); ‘Japan launches mission to make first return trip to Mars’ (FT); POLITICS: 🗳️ ‘French PM orders ‘localised’ curfews in response to looting and unrest’ (Politico); ‘EU liberal chief urges conservatives to shun far right ahead of big election year’ (Politico); ‘Albanian PM Rama accuses anti-government protesters of crossing 'red line' amid violent demonstrations’ (Euronews); ‘Carney warns Alberta not to stumble into ‘Brexit’’ (Politico); ‘Lasting impact expected from historic Alberta referendum, regardless of result’ (National Post); ‘Congress Is Broken. Here’s How Seven Candidates Would Fix It.’ (WSJ); ‘Secret pay-for-play text rocks Trump White House’ (Axios); ‘Brazil's Bolsonaro, Lula spar in first debate as personal attacks fly’ (Reuters); ‘Indian court extends detention of ‘Cockroach’ leaders’ (AJ); MARKETS: 📈 ‘French bond sell-off intensifies after riots and looting’ (FT); ‘US defence stocks tumble as investors bet on Democratic election sweep’ (FT); ‘CME plans tungsten futures as demand for weapons rises’ (FT); ‘Musk says will give Spacex share to every kid in America'’ (AFP)

2026, day 289 Good morning from Asia - another quiet weekend looms, it seems… GEOPOLITICS: 🌍🔥 ‘Iran-backed militias sending money back to cash-starved IRGC, U.S. says’ (Axios); ‘CENTCOM chief: US has blocked Iran from exporting $25b worth of oil’ (AP); ‘Amid Houthi attacks, UK advises against all but essential travel to Saudi Arabia’ (Reuters); ‘Saudi-led coalition intercepts missiles, drones as IDF prepares for strikes on southern Lebanon’ (JPost); ‘Iran is backing and encouraging escalated Houthi attacks: Senior Saudi diplomat’ (Al Arabiya) - “Krimly also pointed to Russian and Chinese involvement”; ‘Trump says Israel has ‘been very helpful to Saudi Arabia’ amid fight against Houthis’ (ToI) - “US president also claims normalization between Jerusalem and Riyadh could be back on the table, ‘maybe more than ever’”; ‘Saudi Arabia needs Iron Dome and David's Sling against Houthis, but Israel is in no rush’ (Ynet); ‘EU eyes more financial support for Ukraine after US pivot’ (FT); ‘Ukraine Hurries to Build Defenses Against Russia’s Jet-Powered Drones’ (WSJ); ‘Ukraine advances in occupied Donetsk as Trump hands Putin diesel deal’ (AJ); ‘Trump: White House didn't impede satellite system in Ukraine’ (Axios); ‘Musk approached Trump to slow Starlink to Ukraine’ (Telegraph); ‘EU faces growing pressure to plug Ukraine’s Starlink gap’ (Politico); ‘Is This the Breaking Point for Trump and Zelensky?’ (NYT); ‘EU leaders clash over migration, Ukraine and budget in Brussels — but delay big decisions’ (Politico); ‘EU agrees to fund Ukraine – but not itself’ (Rapporteur); ‘How Russia plans to revive its ties with Slovakia’ (Politico); ‘Sanchez rejects criticism of Spain's migration policy: 'Words do not match reality'’ (Euronews); ‘Albanian PM blames ‘foreign hands’ for unrest as student protests intensify’ (AJ); ‘RAF finds mystery drones over U.K.’ (Telegraph); ‘Researchers find uptick in U.S. influence campaigns targeting Alberta referendum as vote looms’ (Globe & Mail); ‘Alberta will pay a price to leave Canada, and a bigger price to get back in’ (Globe & Mail); ‘Paraguay’s tech minister defies Beijing sanctions, says Taiwan ties ‘not up for negotiation’’ (SCMP); GEOECONOMICS: 🌍 ✈️ ⛴️ 🚛 ‘Republicans turn on Donald Trump’s tariffs in battle for ‘political survival’’ (FT); ‘China unveils draft export controls on AI technologies and chips’ (FT); ‘New details emerge in US investigations of Chinese-American scientists over China links’ (SCMP); ‘Von der Leyen eyes curbs on Chinese chemicals, machinery next’ (Politico); ‘EU seeks faster China de-risking with new diversification tool’ (Nikkei Asia) - “France, Germany aim to let UK off localization rules for alignment on Chinese-made cars”; ‘China warns EU not to ‘fantasise’ on trade approach as Brussels confirms new ‘kill switch’’ (SCMP); ‘Malaysia’s shoppers love Chinese e-commerce. Its factories pay the price’ (SCMP); ‘Vietnam weighs barring foreign purchases of houses’ (Nikkei Asia); POLITICS: 🗳️ ‘White House Press Secretary Is Out One Week After Her Appointment’ (WSJ); ‘Federal Judge Dismisses Trump Lawsuit to Block New York City Sanctuary Laws’ (WSJ); ‘Judge threatens Trump with sanctions over BBC case’ (Telegraph); ‘Burnham declares £500m 'class war' on councils’ (Telegraph); MARKETS: 📈 ‘US annual budget gap hits nearly $2 trillion, largest in 5 years’ (Reuters); ‘Big Tech stocks suffer biggest weekly drop since ‘liberation day’’ (FT); ‘Oil hits five-month high of $110 on new escalation in Middle East’ (FT); ‘Lagarde’s book plug raises questions about ECB ethics standards’ (Politico) - “The ECB president strongly encouraged reporters to buy her memoir, Lady First, during a press conference last month”; ‘MSCI Ignites Indonesia Market Reckoning After Months of Warnings’ (BBG); ‘Intel chief says White House will not meddle in its semiconductor business’ (Nikkei Asia)

2026, day 288 Good afternoon from the air over Asia - and “Roads? Where we’re going we don’t need roads!” GEOPOLITICS: 🌍🔥 ‘'We'll knock it out fast': Trump threatens Iran's Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site with strikes’ (JPost); ‘Iran’s precision strikes picked apart Gulf infrastructure, blunting US war plans’ (Reuters); ‘How the Houthis are helping Iran turn Saudi Arabia into a pressure point’ (Reuters); ‘Houthis attack Yemen’s presidential palace’ (Economist); ‘US sanctions leave Iranians facing flight cancellations and soaring costs’ (AJ); ‘China says Israel should stop its ‘forced establishment’ of West Bank settlements’ (Reuters); ‘Rethinking defense ties with US, Israel eyes shift from patronage to partnership’ (ToI); ‘Mideast war alters global bunker buying patterns, industry execs say’ (Reuters); ‘Trump weighs easing restrictions on Russian and Iranian ‘shadow fleet’’ (FT); ‘Trump’s Deal With Russia Inflames War He Vowed to Swiftly End’ (NYT); ‘Trump and Putin’s ‘terrible’ alliance threatens to strain EU’s resolve on Ukraine’ (Politico); ‘Sanctions won't ease until Russia stops war, von der Leyen says’ (Euronews); ‘Order to limit Starshield for Ukraine came from inside White House, sources say’ (Reuters); ‘Russia builds major new drone attack base in six weeks, satellite images show’ (Reuters); ‘Ukraine hits Russian refinery as Zelenskiy says 'we're done' with Trump's energy truce’ (Reuters); ‘Ukraine's resumption of strikes on Russian refineries is 'disgrace', Trump says’ (Reuters); ‘Ukraine pushes for European alternatives to US air defences and Starlink amid tensions with Washington’ (Euronews); ‘Britons must prepare to make sacrifices for war, head of the British Army warns’ (Forces News); ‘Milei adviser claims UK being ‘colonised by Islam’ as Falklands row grows’ (Guardian); ‘Costa angers EU leaders as splits mar summit’ (Politico) - “Divisions over energy prices and the bloc’s seven-year budget expose unhappiness over European Council president’s performance”; ‘Mark Carney shows middle powers how to handle a dangerous world’ (Economist); ‘Carney urges Albertans to vote against separating from Canada’ (Globe & Mail); ‘Envoy says China could ‘easily win’ conflict as Manila claims it is ‘thinly veiled threat’’ (SCMP); ‘North Korea's pact with Russia built to outlast Ukraine war’ (Nikkei Asia); GEOECONOMICS: 🌍 ✈️ ⛴️ 🚛 ‘Venezuela's Oil Recovery Gains Momentum as New Drilling Rigs Arrive’ (OilPrice); ‘European oil refineries’ margins collapse as input costs soar’ (FT); ‘U.S. Targets Central Asia's Energy and Critical Minerals in Major Trade Push’ (OilPrice); ‘Tech Firms In Talks Over Metals Supply, Says Wanblad’ (MiningM); ‘Lutnick Throws the Future of U.S.-Mexico Trade Talks Into Further Doubt’ (WSJ); ‘Canadian market share of U.S.-made vehicles tumbles 20% in first half of 2026’ (Globe & Mail); ‘China mulls new tech export bans covering AI, biotech and solar power’ (SCMP); ‘China's BYD turns to local assembler in Malaysia after shelving plant plan’ (Nikkei Asia); ‘G7 economies plan simulated AI attacks on banks as cyber fears rise’ (FT); ‘UK government courted UBS over London HQ move’ (FT); ‘Healey poised to launch raid on banks’ (Telegraph); POLITICS: 🗳️ ‘US probes Omar’s decades-old immigration paperwork with eye toward deportation: Sources’ (Reuters); ‘Trump sues California to prevent counting 20,000 voters' ballots’ (Axios); ‘Inside India's electoral overhaul that removed 130mn voters’ (FT); MARKETS: 📈 ‘US Fed chair warns of financial stability risk as investment rises’ (Nikkei Asia); ‘Anthropic’s valuation slashed by $500bn’ (Telegraph); ‘French debt worries spill into stocks, driving biggest underperformance since 2010’ (FT); ‘Can Zimbabwe’s ZiG win trust and replace the US dollar?’ (AJ); ‘Indonesia stocks plunge after MSCI signals possible downgrade in status’ (Nikkei Asia)

2026, day 287 Good morning from Asia - Just look at some of the headlines below! GEOPOLITICS: 🌍🔥 ‘Iran Guards say cargo ship sank in Hormuz after hitting mine’ (AFP); ‘US says it destroyed Iranian-affiliated vessel conducting surveillance last week’ (ToI); ‘PM: Attack on Iran ‘not convenient’ now, but signs show Israel’s enemies preparing assault’ (ToI); ‘The Space Force Showed Us Its Weapons Used in Iran and Venezuela’ (WSJ); ‘Iran targets Starlink asiẠỊtool of war' with hints of more internet curbs’ (AJ); ‘Houthis attack Saudi Aramco headquarters’ (FT); ‘The Houthis Are Building an Advanced Missile With Chinese Parts’ (WSJ); ‘Israel warns of Gaza aid crisis as merchants strike over Hamas threats’ (Ynet); ‘Rubio tells Ethiopia's Abiy that countries must respect neighbors' sovereignty’ (Al Arabiya); ‘Cairo 'not serious' about joining Mecca pact, offer to help Saudis is symbolic, expert tells ‘Post' (JPost); ‘Why Russia believes it can finally crush Ukraine this winter’ (Telegraph); ‘Burnham to speed up missile delivery to Ukraine’ (Telegraph); ‘Ukrainian military's access to Starlink satellite internet suddenly restricted’ (Guardian); ‘Trump offered Ukraine enhanced security guarantees’ (Telegraph); ‘Kremlin says Ukrainian drones hit two Russian oil refineries, Kyiv denies’ (Reuters); ‘German prosecutors accuse Ukraine of Nord Stream sabotage’ (FT); ‘Russia arrests Japanese journalist for 'spying' on disputed islands’ (Telegraph); ‘Terrorists have the capacity to unleash havoc like never before’ (Telegraph); ‘Trump hails Greenland as 'second to none' for security of US and Europe’ (Politico); ‘Kemi Badenoch Slammed By White House Amid Farage Chagos Islands Row’ (Huff Post); ‘Burnham prepares to hand more power to EU judges’ (Telegraph); ‘Hegseth calls US$1.5 trillion defence budget critical' to counter China’ (SCMP); ‘How long will China’s top military body remain hollowed out?’ (SCMP); ‘How a new US Army unit could challenge the PLA's strategy in a Taiwan conflict’ (Nikkei Asia); ‘Japan weighs considering nuclear-powered subs in updated security policies’ (Nikkei Asia); ‘North Korea: We launched submarine-fired cruise missiles as part of drill’ (Reuters); GEOECONOMICS: 🌍 ✈️ ⛴️ 🚛 ‘The global economy and the art of living dangerously’ (FT) - “It would be nice to think that the world will become less shock-prone, but it probably won't”; ‘War, Rates and a Global Economy That Won't Break’ (BBG); ‘Vance announces plan to use wartime authority to boost fuel production at Texas refinery’ (The Hill); ‘Russia expects first diesel contracts with US in 'next few days': Official’ (AFP); ‘IEA warns European diesel prices could rise as crunch lasts into 2027’ (Euronews); ‘Taiwan and Trump confirm plans for Alaska LNG cooperation’ (Nikkei Asia); ‘Iran's central bank governor dismisses claims of economic collapse amid US blockade’ (Reuters); ‘China State Media Warns EU Against 'New Tricks After Car Deal’ (BBG); ‘EU to Lift Sanction on Chinese Firm to Save an ASML Supplier’ (BBG); ‘Europe’s leaders abandon the race for frontier AI’ (Politico); ‘China's export engine hits fastest pace since February with 36% growth’ (SCMP); ‘EU leaders to 'urgently' call for new trade weapons to tackle China shock’ (SCMP); ‘Who blinks first? 'It probably has to be Carney' to restart U.S. talks, trade analysts say’ (National Post); ‘Stelco owner could be forced to divest assets if layoffs proceed, Joly warns’ (Globe & Mail); POLITICS: 🗳️ ‘Turkey seizes control of opposition TV channel as Erdoğan tightens grip on media’ (Ynet); ‘DOJ gives California 48 hours to check voters or face lawsuit’ (Axios); ‘Americans are losing faith in their fellow voters’ (Axios); ‘Canada would never interfere in U.S. elections, Joly says after ambassador's accusation’ (Globe & Mail); MARKETS: 📈 ‘US chip stocks slide as inflation and Al debt fears unsettle investors’ (WSJ)

2026, day 286 Good morning from Asia - even to the 130 million Chinese citizens who may not actually exist, according to the Wall Street Journal, following a rumour around for some time. GEOPOLITICS: 🌍🔥 ‘Saudi Aramco HQ attacked in suspected Houthi strike’ (FT) - “Iran-backed militants retaliate after Riyadh-led coalition targets sites in Yemen’s capital”; ‘Trump says Houthis trying to increase oil prices before US elections’ (AJ); ‘Saudi-led coalition says it carried out operation targeting Houthi war supplies’ (Al Arabiya); ‘Saudi Arabia says Houthis will face consequences for attacks on Kingdom’ (Al Arabiya); ‘Erdogan tells MBS Turkey will stand by Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks’ (Reuters); ‘Inside Trump, Netanyahu's dilemma: Strike Iran before elections or wait’ (Axios); ‘Iran Fortifying Nuclear Sites and Rallying Its People for Return to Fighting’ (WSJ); ‘Iran sees ‘false flag’ operations after UK blames IRGC for airbase incident’ (AJ); ‘Iran prepared for ‘all war scenarios’: Government spokesperson’ (Al Arabiya); ‘Iran warning it could invade neighbors if war resumes’ (ToI); ‘Why Trump is going for Zelenskyy’s jugular’ (FT); ‘As Russian missiles slip through Kyiv's air defenses without warning, officials say US intelligence sharing remains intact. For now’ (Kyiv Independent); ‘From no cards to many: Europe warns Trump not to waste Ukraine’s leverage’ (Politico); ‘Drone Attacks on Ships Sailing Near NATO Waters Present Fresh Threat for the Alliance’ (WSJ) - “European leaders, who have accused Russia of brazen assaults on their soil, contend with strikes on ships skirting their waters”; ‘Russia funnels nearly half its budget into defence, cutting social spending’ (Euronews); ‘Trump either ‘a useful idiot’ or purposefully weakening Europe, says MEP Glucksmann’ (Politico); ‘Ursula von der Leyen calls for tough migration measures in letter to leaders’ (Politico); ‘Poll: Spaniards say Ceuta crisis could spark armed conflict with Morocco’ (Politico); ‘Violence in Paris as tens of thousands turn out for student protests across France’ (Euronews); ‘India’s Top Diplomat Encouraged by US Talks, Defends Russia Ties’ (BBG); ‘U.S. Defense Startups Flock to Taiwan to Build China-Free Drones’ (WSJ); ‘Is this the best time for US strategists to push for abandoning ambiguity on Taiwan?’ (SCMP); ‘While Trump Floats a Kim Meeting, North Korea Flaunts Its U.S.-Range Missiles’ (WSJ); ‘Japan looks for off-ramp from Trump's ICC feud before US sanctions kick in’ (Nikkei Asia); ‘Anduril awarded contract to expand US Army’s next-gen battlefield command system’ (Defense News); GEOECONOMICS: 🌍 ✈️ ⛴️ 🚛 ‘A Demographic Mirage May Be Distorting China’s Economic Ambitions’ (WSJ); ‘How not to revive Europe’s auto industry’ (FT) - “The EV market shows how legacy EU companies continue to fail when it comes to countering Chinese competition”; ‘France's EU budget red lines: tax tech, buy European’ (Rapporteur); ‘Europe paid Russia $209bn for energy since 2022, far below Moscow’s $320bn claim’ (Euronews); ‘Merz, De Wever and Meloni: EU needs regulation brake’ (Rapporteur); ‘Saudi Arabia plans hybrid format for marquee FII conference after attacks, sources say’ (Reuters); ‘Peru governor touts Chinese interest in deep-water port pitched as Chancay alternative’ (SCMP); ‘Trump Renews Battle to Upend Offshore Wind Farms in the U.S.’ (BBG); POLITICS: 🗳️ ‘White House asks US envoy to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign’ (FT); ‘Prime minister attempts to rally nervous colleagues’ (AFR); MARKETS: 📈 ‘Investors brave US Treasury rout to lock in highest yields in decades’ (FT); ‘Fed’s Williams Currently Sees No Need for Rate Hike in 2027’ (BBG); ‘Long Bonds Would Benefit From a Surprise Fed Hike’ (BBG); ‘BOJ Is Said to Lean Against Back-to-Back Rate Hike in October’ (BBG); ‘Swiss Lawmakers Back ‘Too Big to Fail’ Tax in Latest Blow to UBS’ (BBG)

2026, day 285 Good morning from Asia - and another humdinger in a year of dings that hum. GEOPOLITICS: 🌍🔥 ‘Iran sets crosshairs on ‘US-UAE’ oil shuttle out of Strait of Hormuz’ (AJ); ‘Houthi missile attack targets Saudi capital Riyadh for third day in a row’ (AJ); ‘Saudi capital's airport to remain shut this week as airlines cancel services’ (Reuters); ‘Saudi warning system stayed silent before deadly airport attacks’ (Reuters); ‘Saudi Airport Carnage Pressures Trump to Boost US Role in Yemen’ (BBG); ‘Cowering MBS faces biggest challenge to Saudi ambitions’ (Telegraph) - “Crown Prince takes cover as Houthi missile strikes close down airport before prestigious summit”; ‘Saudi Arabia eyes raising pipeline oil export capacity to 10 million bpd: Energy minister’ (Reuters); ‘The Gulf has entered a new era of instability. If its leaders think they can rely on old alliances, they are wrong’ (Guardian); ‘UK imposes new sanctions on Iran over RAF Fairford incident’ (FT); ‘EU establishes training mission for Lebanese army’ (AFP); ‘Lebanon vows firm action after seizing explosives including those linked to assassinations’ (AFP); ‘Netanyahu has lost Trump, and Israel has lost America’ (Ynet); ‘US hopes diesel deal can 'soften' Moscow on peace talks, sources say’ (Reuters); ‘Putin is breaching Trump’s ‘energy ceasefire’, Zelenskyy says’ (FT); ‘Putin is ready to stop attacks on Ukraine, but only on election day, RIA reports’ (Reuters); ‘Trump turns on Europe after Putin deal’ (Telegraph) - “US president threatens to close scheme allowing Kyiv’s allies to buy vital weapons”; ‘Nato’s supreme commander warns Moscow against attacks in Europe’ (FT); ‘Bosnia warns US of pro-Russia Serb enclave’s lobbying efforts’ (FT); ‘Britain, Brexit and the cat-flap option’ (FT) - “The political, strategic and economic momentum for a reversal of Brexit is growing”; ‘Carney makes case for united Canada ahead of Alberta separation vote’ (Globe & Mail); ‘Hackers cause French supermarket fridges to catch fire’ (Telegraph); GEOECONOMICS: 🌍 ✈️ ⛴️ 🚛 ‘The diesel crisis is testing the limits of globalisation’ (FT) - “Seemingly rational choices by individual states will weaken collective energy security and accelerate fragmentation”; ‘Trump’s Diesel Deal Irks Allies and Is Unlikely to Reduce Prices’ (BBG); ‘Diesel shock may be just getting started. Brace for mortgage pain’ (AFR) - “Donald Trump will learn next month just how angry rising fuel costs can make voters, but such price increases will also polarise Australia even more, given time”; ‘Japan needs to build an LNG safety net for the next energy crisis’ (Nikkei Asia) - “Tokyo must boost number of suppliers to form overlapping layers of protection”; ‘France to raise stake in struggling miner Eramet’ (FT) - “Paris set to become top shareholder as states race to secure critical mineral supplies”; ‘China faces uphill battle to wean tech firms off Nvidia chips’ (FT); ‘China’s Weakening Economy Is Creating a Lost Generation’ (WSJ); ‘How a Mexico-U.S. trade deal could set the terms for Canada’ (National Post); ‘Business faces a more interventionist Washington post-midterms’ (Axios); ‘Meta Says New Muse Model Hits AI Frontier After Aggressive Push’ (BBG); POLITICS: 🗳️ ‘German Coalition Falls Deeper Into Turmoil After Minister Quits’ (BBG); ‘Trump Says He’s Considering Whether to Fire Kimberly Guilfoyle’ (WSJ); ‘Ilhan Omar’s Home Is Searched by Federal Agents’ (WSJ); ‘Musk has spent $276 million on midterms to help Republicans retain control of Congress’ (Reuters); MARKETS: 📈 ‘Record price for physical Brent shows how badly the world wants oil now’ (Nikkei Asia); ‘Frenzied Stock-Options Trading Shows Individual Investors Are Still Hungry for Risk’ (WSJ); ‘Weaker growth must be accepted to defeat inflation: RBA’ (AFR); ‘Goldman Says Market Is Underestimating How Far Yuan Can Rise’ (BBG)

2026, day 284 Good morning from Asia - and everything is up in the air geopolitically,… including planes no longer flying to, or even over, Saudi Arabia. GEOPOLITICS: 🌍🔥 ‘Saudi and Yemeni Airports Are Hit in New Round of Strikes’ (NYT); ‘Saudi Arabia's Dammam airport attacked, drone intercepted in Eastern Province’ (Al Arabiya); ‘Oil chiefs pull out of Riyadh energy congress after airport missile strike’ (FT): ‘Air Travel Emerges as Dangerous Front Line in Global Conflicts’ (WSJ) - “Missile launches have led airlines to abandon a critical flight path through Saudi airspace, which had connected two of the world's biggest economic engines”; ‘Yemeni military says over 900 Houthis neutralized in major offensive’ (Al Arabiya); ‘Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, Turkey demand immediate halt to Houthi attacks’ (Al Arabiya); ‘UAE stands in solidarity with Saudi Arabia after airport attack’ (Al Arabiya); ‘Iran says US response to its proposal to reopen Strait of Hormuz was 'insufficient'’ (Al Arabiya); ‘Hormuz attacks intensify as efforts to end war on Iran stall’ (AJ); ‘Deadly air strike kills dozens at Sudan gold mine near Egypt border’ (AJ); ‘From Russia with interference: Burnham first PM to confirm Kremlin role in Brexit vote’ (Observer); ‘Russia steps up bid to kill European defence chiefs, spy agencies warn’ (FT); ‘Poland detains suspect in alleged assassination attempt on PM, defense minister: Tusk’ (Al Arabiya); ‘'Putin will drag you into the war, former Ukrainian foreign minister tells Europeans’ (Politico); ‘US threatens to block arms for Ukraine over attacks on Russian refineries’ (FT); ‘Russia strikes power plants in Ukraine despite 'energy ceasefire' announced by Trump’ (Euronews); ‘Ukraine will hold elections if Russia agrees to 60-day ceasefire, Zelensky says’ (Reuters); ‘Kurt Campbell on US deterrence, the Quad, Aukus and Taiwan after Xi-Trump summit’ (SCMP) - “Veteran US diplomat says containing China is impossible, but urges Washington to shore up its regional partnerships”; ‘Rubio Urges Portugal and Europe to Reduce Dependence on China’ (BBG); ‘Japan should sell arms to Taiwan: ex-army chief’ (Taipei Times); ‘Military police's role to be expanded to combat: MND’ (Taipei Times); ‘North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles, adding to streak of weapons tests’ (Korea Times); ‘Korea's role in combined command set to grow after OPCON transfer’ (Korea Times); GEOECONOMICS: 🌍 ✈️ ⛴️ 🚛 ‘Can Russia meet Trump's diesel demands?’ (FT); ‘Record price for physical Brent shows how badly the world wants oil now’ (Nikkei Asia) - “Gap between crude scheduled for delivery and futures is the widest ever”; ‘Putin aide looks to boost Russian shipbuilding ties with China during visit’ (SCMP); ‘VW chief calls for France and Germany to co-operate on China car fightback’ (FT); ‘China’s CXMT unveils ‘key progress’ on chip structure pursued by Samsung, SK Hynix’ (SCMP) - “Memory chip giant says its proprietary transistor design could increase storage density and improve efficiency”; ‘Stamp duty revenue plunges as property downturn bites’ (AFR); POLITICS: 🗳️ ‘India's 'Cockroach' movement plans more protests after release of leaders’ (FT); ‘Pakistan imposes emergency rule over Imran Khan's provincial government’ (Reuters); ‘Trump could face a new threat in January: A Democratic Senate’ (WaPo); ‘The big unknown behind Democrats' polling leads’ (Axios); ‘Talarico campaign denies claim he was treated at mental health facility’ (BNO); ‘Sánchez bets on housing crisis to stay in power’ (Rapporteur) - “Polls favour the right as Spain’s prime minister fights for survival”; MARKETS: 📈 ‘Oil falls on hopes Russia-Ukraine energy ceasefire will boost supplies’ (Reuters); ‘When Companies Stop Driving a Hard Bargain, This Fed Official Starts Worrying’ (WSJ); ‘Why Economists Think Higher Bond Yields Are Here to Stay’ (WSJ); ‘France’s Bond Turmoil Raises the Specter of Contagion in Europe’ (BBG)

2026, day 283 Good morning from Asia - a normal 2026 Sunday with another major Middle East airport in flames, tankers being hit, Trump and Zelenskyy at loggerheads, Russia reportedly arming Iran, and political scandals. GEOPOLITICS: 🌍🔥 ‘At Least 12 Killed, Hundreds Injured at Saudi Airport in Houthi Strikes’ (WSJ) - “Direct hits on two Riyadh airport terminals by Iran-backed militants were deadliest attack in kingdom in more than a decade; military vows response”; ‘Yemeni government’s military says its forces advancing against Houthis’ (AJ); ‘Trump says aware of Riyadh airport attacks, will decide on joining strikes against Houthis’ (Al Arabiya); ‘Iran said still able to produce missiles and drones, is being armed by Russia’ (ToI); ‘Oil tanker explodes after striking naval mine in Hormuz, IRGC claims - report’ (Reuters); ‘UAE rescues 22 crew members after oil tanker catches fire in Gulf’ (Reuters); ‘US military says it disabled cargo vessel trying to bypass Iran blockade’ (Reuters); ‘Hamas facing internal unrest as Israel detects plans for renewed attacks, official says’ (JPost); ‘Eritrea urges UN to act against Ethiopia’s ‘declaration of war’’ (AFP); ‘Pentagon, Raytheon sign $6.3B deal to replenish US missile interceptor supply’ (Defense News); ‘Trump Calls On Ukraine to Stop Hitting Russian Refineries—and Replace Zelensky’ (WSJ) - “The clash marks a new low point in White House relations with Kyiv as Russia escalates its bombing of Ukrainian cities”; ‘US warns Kyiv that strikes on Russia jeopardise intelligence-sharing’ (FT); ‘Trump’s deal with Putin will not deter Zelensky from playing his strongest card’ (Telegraph) - “Ukraine responds to US buying Russian diesel by continuing its relentless attacks on oil facilities”; ‘Ukraine hits second major tech site, expanding range of targets inside Russia’ (Reuters); ‘As Russia escalates its war, the EU realises its support for Ukraine won't be enough’ (Euronews): ‘The Nordic Formula for Prospering in a Dangerous, Fragmented World’ (WSJ) - “Sweden and Denmark are pouring money into defense, tightening ties with each other and Europe—and moving beyond the U.S. It’s paying off”; ‘China hails ‘constructive’ trade talks with EU as both sides seek ties in AI, new energy’ (SCMP); ‘Are Chinese military aircraft already using a new joint air facility in Laos?’ (SCMP); ‘US Army activates new multi-domain task force to ‘deny, disrupt’ enemies in Indo-Pacific’ (Defense News); ‘Rubio cites ‘necessity’ of U.S. sanctions on ICC in call with Japanese counterpart’ (Japan Times); ‘Video Cameras Are Everywhere—and Now They Are Being Hacked for War’ (WSJ); GEOECONOMICS: 🌍 ✈️ ⛴️ 🚛 ‘House Republican, invoking Reagan, moves to block Trump's Russia oil deal’ (Axios); ‘Bipartisan bill barring U.S. purchase of Russian oil on the horizon: Fitzpatrick’ (The Hill); ‘Toyota offers low-cost financing in Thailand to ward off cheap Chinese EVs’ (Nikkei Asia); ‘The blue miracle’ (Globe & Mail) - “Fish farming in Xinjiang is being sold as proof that technology can overcome geography. The reality is more complicated”; ‘Tehran mayor announces nationwide measures to ‘freeze’ goods prices’ (AJ); ‘In Korea, towns compete to host prisons as population declines’ (Korea Times); ‘A Good Job Is Hard to Find for an Indian University Graduate’ (BBG); POLITICS: 🗳️ ‘India detains thousands, locks down Delhi to foil election chief protest’ (Reuters); ‘Transcript reportedly captures PM’s top aide asking stenographer to falsify Oct. 7 records’ (ToI) - “Braverman asked PM’s stenographer in January 2024 to change timestamp on secure call between PM and his military secretary, was told twice that doing so was illegal”; ‘Revealed: BBC reporter’s history of glorifying murder of Jews’ (Telegraph); ‘Germany warns EU that €159B budget cuts are not enough’ (Politico); ‘Guilfoyle furor rises as Trump stops short of expressing support’ (The Hill)

2026, day 282 Good morning from Asia, back from leg one of a tiring roadshow. GEOPOLITICS: 🌍🔥 ‘Trump hits International Criminal Court with sanctions after Nobel goes to former judge’ (WaPo); ‘Trump: Norway is corrupt, I should have gotten 8 Nobel Prizes’ (Ynet); ‘Houthi strikes on Riyadh airport killed three Saudis as war escalates’ (Reuters); ‘UN envoy warns Yemen has returned to ‘full-scale war’, urges dialogue’ (AJ); ‘Eritrea and Ethiopia accuse each other of provoking war as Tigray rebels retreat’ (F24); ‘Kremlin says Trump welcomed Russia’s effort in Iran deal’ (AJ); ‘Iran Guards Ability to Build Missiles as Trump Eases Attacks’ (BBG); ‘UAE says Omani flydubai co-pilot planned suicide attack on Tel Aviv flight’ (Reuters); ‘IDF says Lebanon strike targeted Syrian operative who was plotting attacks on behalf of Iran’ (ToI); ‘Putin tells Trump peace talks are unlikely, cites Ukraine drone attacks’ (AJ); ‘Ukraine’s Operation Vivaldi foils Russia’s plan to encircle the Donbas, ISW analysis shows’ (Euronews); ‘Trump backstabs Zelensky for five minutes of midterm relief’ (Telegraph); ‘U.S. official: Trump cut deal with Putin after Zelensky ignored his requests’ (Axios); GEOECONOMICS: 🌍 ✈️ ⛴️ 🚛 ‘Trump agrees deal with Putin for Russia to release diesel on to global market’ (FT); ‘Zelensky tells Axios Trump's diesel deal with Putin "not fair and not honest"’ (Axios); ‘Oil and gas production disrupted as Hurricane Isaias barrels towards Gulf’ (FT); ‘Donald Trump pressures Mexico for energy deals in crunch trade talks’ (FT); ‘Venezuela Wants to Return to the Days When Its Oil Fields Were Booming—With U.S. Help’ (WSJ) - “Foreign investors return but find busted pipelines, chronic blackouts and industry hollowed out by years of neglect”; ‘Soaring freight rates threaten Asia's appetite for US crude’ (Reuters); ‘EU to explore windfall tax on energy companies’ (FT); ‘The Desperate Hunt for AI Computing Power Is Upending Silicon Valley’ (WSJ) - “Bitter rivals are forming alliances and executives are having to personally intervene over the scramble for resources to fuel the AI boom”; ‘Powerful earthquake hits Panama, triggers tsunami warnings’ (CBC); ‘China agrees to slash EU hybrid car exports in half, putting brake on trade war’ (SCMP); ‘The Trump administration is suspending Microsoft from a green card program, alleging fraud’ (AP); ‘Japan PM faces calls for immigration cap as she weighs policy on foreigners’ (Nikkei Asia); POLITICS: 🗳️ ‘Flávio Bolsonaro, scion of a Brazilian political dynasty now eyeing victory’ (FT); ‘Labour hails byelection win as return of leftwing voters after Starmer era’ (Guardian); ‘Get used to multi-party [UK] politics, it’s here to stay’ (FT); ‘The Week Mamdani Started to Lose His Grip on the Left’ (WSJ); ‘Trump’s Focus on Illegal Voting Spurs Surge in Justice Department Prosecutions’ (WSJ); ‘D.C. judge bars DOJ from gathering states’ voter lists to find noncitizens’ (WaPo); ‘Trump backs livestreaming of Fort Hood shooter’s execution’ (Telegraph); ‘Melbourne’s wealthy Liberal donors pay homage to Pauline Hanson’ (AFR); ‘India Cancels Trains, Floods Capital with Police to Block Protests’ (NYT) - “A planned protest against a sweeping voter roll revision prompted police to order a virtual shutdown of New Delhi, the capital. The country’s highest court intervened”; ‘Only one-third of Israelis want Netanyahu to remain in power, Hebrew University study reveals’ (JPost); MARKETS: 📈 ‘Donald Trump launches committee to investigate Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook’ (FT); ‘US 10-year Treasury yields risk hitting 6% for first time since 2000, Pimco says’ (FT)

2026, day 280 Good morning from Asia - and it’s not just protests, war, plague, blow-outs and blowups to focus on, but maybe even alchemy. GEOPOLITICS: 🌍🔥 ‘Trump’s Retreat: From the Gulf to Britain, American Forces Pull Back’ (NYT); ‘CIA Offers Buyout to Entire Workforce as Part of Trump Makeover’ (WSJ) - “Spy agency’s workforce receives buyout-style offer”; ‘Military ordered to be ready for possible Iran strikes as Trump weighs timing’ (Axios); ‘Attacks on tankers in Hormuz hit highest of any week since start of Iran war, sources say’ (Reuters); ‘Houthi Attacks Kill Three at Saudi Airports, Including in Riyadh’ (BBG); ‘Syria weighs military aid for Saudi Arabia amid Yemen war, sources say’ (Reuters); ‘Syria set to emerge as Hormuz bypass option for Iraq’s crude oil’ (Reuters); ‘Lebanon's Hezbollah gets $200 million from Iran to help displaced, sources say’ (Reuters); ‘Trump says ‘we don’t think’ Russian plague case is a bioweapon’ (WaPo); ‘EU ambassadors wave through largest-ever list of Russia sanctions’ (Euronews); ‘Kubilius warns against narrowing EU military mobility emergency system’ (Rapporteur); ‘Deadly drone attacks raise questions over Europe’s Black Sea defences’ (Euronews); ‘EU quietly braces for nightmare scenario of multiple-casualty hybrid attack’ (Politico); ‘MEPs urge tougher action against China as tensions hit ‘critical point’’ (Euronews) - “The resolution calls China “a decisive enabler” of Russia’s war in Ukraine and says the EU should take action against China’s weaponisation of rare eaths”; ‘Rubio warns Europe faces ‘inflection point’’ (Politico) - “Rubio used the Acropolis as a backdrop for demanding Europe return to ideals of ancient Greece and turn away from “a world devoid of risk of failure.””; ‘Student protest unrest spreads across Europe’ (Axios); ‘Quebec election win for separatists could crimp Carney's response to Trump’ (Reuters); ‘Elon Musk calls on Quebec, Alberta and Saskatchewan to separate from Canada’ (Globe & Mail); ‘Trump urged Xi to talk to Takaichi and lift export curbs on Japan, sources say’ (SCMP) - “The Chinese president wasn’t receptive to the requests during last month’s summit, warning of the risk of Japanese militarism”; ‘Australia will buy Japan frigates despite budget cuts: finance chief’ (Nikkei Asia); GEOECONOMICS; 🌍 ✈️ ⛴️ 🚛 ‘EU-China trade talks begin in Beijing amid escalating pressure’ (AJ); ‘EU Plans Import Cap on Chinese Hybrid Cars to Protect Sector’ (BBG); ‘‘China already has spies’ at US AI labs, former Anthropic researcher warns’ (SCMP); ‘US issues first outbound investment fine over Chinese robotics AI deal’ (SCMP); ‘Why China’s export engine may hit a ceiling as trading partners face limits’ (SCMP) - “Exports likely to keep growing in near term but could face pressure in the years ahead, analysts say”; ‘Japan to help Hormuz-dependent Philippines bolster oil reserves’ (Nikkei Asia); POLITICS: 🗳️ ‘Lawmakers Want Colleagues to Promise They Will Accept Midterm Election Results’ (WSJ); ‘US Republicans, independents express low trust in election integrity: Poll’ (AJ); ‘Migrants run this town. Why is it voting for One Nation?’ (AFR); MARKETS: 📈 ‘Oil Gains on Report Trump May Order Iran Strikes Before Midterms’ (BBG); ‘Diesel price jumps after IEA says no additional fuel will be released’ (FT); ‘France just set the bond market on fire again’ (BBG); ‘Italy Explores Buying MTS Bond Market to Ensure Debt Control’ (BBG); ‘Iran war blows near-£12bn hole in Britain’s public finances’ (FT); ‘US government bonds steady after strong 10-year Treasury auction’ (FT); ‘Oracle, Broadcom and SpaceX Seek Blockbuster Debt Deals to Pay for AI Chips’ (WSJ); ‘SpaceX credit risk jumps on worries over its borrowing spree’ (FT)

2026, day 279 Good morning from Asia - a grim anniversary, grim bond yields, and grimaces in geopolitics and geoeconomics. GEOPOLITICS: 🌍🔥 ‘National Security Council warns Iran could attack Israel, Jews on Oct. 7 anniversary’ (ToI); ‘Satellite images show renewed activity at secret Iran nuclear site bombed by IDF’ (JPost); ‘Vance: Iran must scale back uranium enrichment to end war’ (Reuters); ‘White House denies Trump suggested Iran should ‘take out’ US cities’ (AFP); ‘Trump is gaining the upper hand over Iran. It may not matter’ (Telegraph) - “Experts warn that, despite US success in reopening Strait of Hormuz, a settlement could take years”; ‘Iran Ramps Up Ship Attacks in Hormuz as Oil, Gas Flows Climb’ (BBG); ‘Ships’ captains paid $100,000 a month to transit Strait of Hormuz’ (FT); ‘Yemen forces claim control over strategic Taiz mountain peak’ (AJ); ‘Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says intelligence shows Russia is preparing massive attack’ (Reuters); ‘Russia’s Volgograd oil refinery stopped after October 2 drone attack, sources say’ (Reuters); ‘Armed individuals from Belarus threaten Latvian soldiers at border, followed by another breach’ (Kyiv Independent); ‘Europe is learning the wrong lesson from Russia's drone war’ (Kyiv Independent) - “Europe’s security architecture remains slow, fragmented, and expensive to mobilize across agencies and national boundaries”; ‘Pentagon names 4 directed-energy weapons for counter-drone program at US bases’ (Defense News); ‘Lithuania takes further step towards lifting nuclear weapons ban’ (Euronews); ‘France fires upgraded nuclear-capable missile from submarine for first time’ (Defense News); ‘Trump blames mass protests in France on ‘out of control mass migration’ and Islam’ (Politico); ‘EU proposes gradual defence integration for candidate countries’ (Rapporteur); ‘Former German spy chief arrested for attempted treason, obtaining state secrets’ (Reuters); ‘MI6 fears German spy chief leaked British secrets’ (Telegraph); ‘Attack aircraft, military vehicles visible at new China-Laos base, satellite images show’ (Reuters); ‘Indonesia to take delivery of first Chinese J-10CE fighter jets in 6 months, report says’ (SCMP); ‘Xi leaves Japan uncertain on China summit at APEC’ (Nikkei Asia); ‘US firm to make battle-tested drones in Taiwan, boosting supply chain resilience’ (SCMP); ‘Anduril plans shipyard to manufacture parts for US Navy’s top submarines’ (FT); ‘The Silent Electronic Battleground Shaping the Future of Warfare’ (WSJ) - “From spoofing hypersonic missiles to jamming drone signals, combat zones are in the grip of an electronic arms race”; ‘Mexico’s Sheinbaum Is Getting Fed Up With Playing Nice With the U.S.’ (WSJ); GEOECONOMICS: 🌍 ✈️ ⛴️ 🚛 ‘Ukraine says no to EU membership without access to selling grain’ (Politico); ‘EU-China trade tensions: Five things to know as Brussels and Beijing face crunch talks’ (Euronews); ‘China plans late entry into WHO leadership race, sources say’ (Reuters); ‘Donald Trump says he is considering suspending federal petrol tax’ (FT); POLITICS: 🗳️ ‘Spanish election threatens to blow up Brussels’ political balance’ (Politico); ‘State parliament elects Germany’s first far-right speaker since second world war’ (Guardian); ‘French Government Is Willing to Bypass Parliament to Pass Billions in Cuts’ (WSJ); ‘Green member behind Zionism motion is friends with al-Qaeda terrorist’ (The Times); ‘Quebec referendum is unlikely under PQ minority government, say political watchers’ (National Post); MARKETS: 📈 ‘The S&P 500 Hits a New Record High, Powered by Tech—and Not Much Else’ (WSJ); ‘Uncertainty mounts in Singapore after China tightens offshore trust rules’ (Nikkei Asia); ‘After cordial Xi-Trump summit, could China’s US dollar pivot cause tremors?’ (SCMP); ‘Fed eyes AI, tariffs, energy for inflation outlook’ (Axios)

2026, day 278 Good morning from Asia - to more war, more plague, more tariffs threatened, more rises in bond yields, and more elections. GEOPOLITICS: 🌍🔥 ‘Trump's top national security aides meet secretly at Camp David on Iran, Yemen’ (Axios); ‘Saudi-Backed Forces Launch Fight to Free Bab al-Mandeb From Houthis’ (WSJ); ‘Yemen forces reclaim strategic port city Mocha from Houthis’ (AJ); ‘Turkiye, Pakistan agree Saudi Arabia military deployment under Mecca pact’ (AJ); ‘US approves over $2 bln in weapons sales to UAE, Kuwait, Egypt’ (Al Arabiya); ‘Ethiopia’s PM insists on access to Red Sea despite regional conflict threat’ (AJ); ‘US envoy holds rare meeting with Sudan’s top general in push to seek end to fighting’ (AP); ‘Iran insists it controls Hormuz as rial hits record low and exports dry up’ (Euronews); ‘US warns foreign financial institutions not to do business with Iran’ (AFP); ‘Bucking lone wolf assessments, Trump says he ‘personally’ believes Iran responsible for flydubai attack’ (ToI); ‘Donald Trump says US pulled bombers from UK after ‘threats’’ (FT); ‘Putin’s nuclear threats no longer work’ (FT) - “The weakening of Russian deterrence has global implications — and they are not all positive”; ‘Ukrainian drones reportedly strike Moscow Oblast in mass attack near Russia's capital’ (Kyiv Independent); ‘Trump's Ukraine-Russia peace gambit begins to unravel. Again’ (Kyiv Independent); ‘Turkish grain ship sinks in Black Sea after deadly drone attack’ (Euronews); ‘Conservatives propose £10bn ‘Britannia Shield’ inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome’ (Guardian); ‘EU countries shoot themselves in the foot when they veto sanctions’ (FT) - “A recent move by France makes talk of ‘strategic autonomy’ look like hot air”; ‘Hungary poised to lift block on Ukraine's EU bid’ (Rapporteur); ‘US Army tests counter-drone tech at Mexican border as cartel drone use rises’ (Reuters); ‘Cuba and US maintain 'channels of communication' but no negotiations, diplomat says’ (Reuters); ‘Mainland Chinese favour diplomacy to achieve Taiwan reunification with caveats: survey’ (SCMP); GEOECONOMICS: 🌍✈️ ⛴️ 🚛 ‘The US said China was priming a trade superweapon. Then it vanished.’ (Reuters) - “ ‘Merz and Macron want the EU to hit back harder — and faster — against trade threats’ (Politico); ‘Donald Trump poised to ease red diesel limits in attempt to quell fuel inflation’ (FT); ‘The Mighty American Consumer Is Crashing Through Inflation and Driving Growth’ (WSJ); ‘EU risks becoming sick man of the world if it doesn’t reform quickly’ (Reuters); ‘Ottawa to turn defence procurement agency into Crown corporation, sources say’ (Globe & Mail); ‘China's economic reset starts at city hall’ (Nikkei Asia) - “Beijing is replacing land-driven growth with revenue tied to consumption”; POLITICS: 🗳️ ‘In a Major Boost for the Right, Another Bolsonaro Nears Brazil’s Presidency’ (NYT); ‘Bolsonaro wins endorsements from right-wing rivals for Brazil election runoff’ (Reuters); ‘Right-wing wave in Brazil's Congress boosts Bolsonaro camp ahead of presidential runoff’ (Reuters); ‘Quebec heads to the polls with focus more on Trump than independence’ (Reuters); ‘Europe’s last socialist heavyweight Sánchez calls snap Spanish election for Nov. 29’ (Politico); ‘Giorgia Meloni seeks to trademark her voice to counter AI deepfakes’ (FT); ‘From school blockades to violence: what is driving student protests in France?’ (Euronews); MARKETS: 📈 ‘Treasuries Slump Pushes Long-End Yields to Fresh 24-Year Highs’ (BBG); ‘French central bank head warns country at risk of being ‘strangled by interest rates’’ (FT); ‘Bond turbulence means it’s time for the ECB to put QT on hold’ (FT); ‘Nasdaq Hits New Record as Bond Yields March Higher’ (WSJ)

2026, day 276 Good morning from Asia - and another quiet mass protests, ‘Nazis’, 🌍 rearmament, and “are markets stable?” Sunday. GEOPOLITICS: 🌍🔥 ‘Military buildup, secret Camp David talks: What’s Trump up to?’ (Gulf News); ‘US remains 'hell-bent' on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, says Hegseth’ (JPost); ‘Iranian diplomats "kicked out" of U.S. after ignoring order to leave’ (Axios); ‘“The Iranian foreign minister has sought asylum in the U.S.," rumors about Araqchi are stirring the corridors of New York’ (La Sicilia); ‘Yemeni army strikes Sanaa and Saada; Houthis: We attacked Aramco facility in Riyadh’ (Ynet); ‘Somalia won’t accept Israeli presence ‘under any circumstances’: President’ (AJ); ‘Tigray rebels abandon regional capital in Ethiopia’ (AFP); ‘Flydubai hijacker’s hateful rants while studying at British university’ (Telegraph); ‘Woman dies of plague in Siberia, dozens under quarantine’ (AFP); ‘Russia pledges to continue massive strikes on Kyiv, urges foreign diplomats to leave city’ (Reuters); ‘Russia bombs Kyiv bridge in new tactic to carve city in two’ (Telegraph); ‘Ukraine will hit Russian refineries in response to Moscow's 'new doctrine' of airstrikes, Zelenskiy says’ (Reuters); ‘5 Russian missiles and drones exploded on Moldova's territory in overnight attack against Ukraine, Sandu says’ (Kyiv Independent); ‘U.S.-Russia Talks on Ukraine Now Involve an Oil Deal Tied to Trump Allies’ (NYT); ‘Ukraine war fatigue fuels defense-spending downgrade plan in Italy’ (Defense News); ‘Streeting: Trump is right to demand Britain spend more on defence’ (Telegraph) - “Defence Secretary insists UK must step up to be war-fighting ready by 2030”; ‘Labour ‘betraying’ special-forces veterans to bolster EU ties’ (Telegraph) - “Retired generals accuse Sir Chris Bryant of prioritising relations with Ireland over the interests of former soldiers”; ‘Does the EU want Britain back?’ (FT); ‘Azerbaijan, Turkey and Uzbekistan join forces in major military exercise’ (Euronews); ‘Chinese troops line up for Russia’s Tsentr-2026 exercise as military ties tighten’ (SCMP) - “The mass drill involved tens of thousands of personnel from SCO countries to apply lessons from Ukraine war, Moscow says”; ‘Hegseth indicates some US troops could be redeployed from Europe to Western Hemisphere’ (The Hill); ‘US to deploy NMESIS anti-ship system on Japanese island closest to Taiwan for first time’ (SCMP) - “Unprecedented deployment during joint drills this month comes amid high tensions between Beijing and Tokyo”; ‘Turkish arms group eyes Japan ties in air defense and underwater drones’ (Nikkei Asia); ‘Japan to develop low-cost cruise missile that overwhelms air defenses’ (Nikkei Asia); ‘Unusual Rest Breaks for Xi Jinping Sucked Hours Out of Summit With Trump’ (WSJ); ‘N. Korea's Kim oversees hypersonic missile launch, calls for bolstering war deterrent’ (Korea Times); GEOECONOMICS: 🌍 ✈️ ⛴️ 🚛 ‘Truckers Are Using Every Trick They Can to Survive Soaring Diesel Prices’ (WSJ); ‘UK faces worst winter energy crisis since 2022, suppliers warn’ (Telegraph); ‘China launches anti-dumping probe into European chemical exports’ (FT); ‘New AI Czar Unveils Goals, Members of White House Task Force’ (WSJ); POLITICS: 🗳️ ‘Lula Is the Brazilian Left’s Last Hope—And Its Biggest Problem’ (WSJ) - “If he loses a re-election bid, it could shut his party out of power for years”; ‘Trump Announces Another Payment to Voters Ahead of Midterms’ (WSJ); ‘High school students in Paris' deprived suburbs spark national protest movement’ (Reuters); ‘Nearly 500,000 people protest in Madrid over Spain's housing crisis’ (Euronews); ‘Elephant in the room’ (Globe & Mail) - “Alberta separatists offering fresh water and oil in exchange for American support – Republican operatives have provided tactical assistance.” MARKETS: 📈 ‘Treasuries are losing their moneyness’ (FT); ‘Bessent Downplays Worries on Rising Yields, AI Bubble Concerns’ (BBG)