Huge thanks to November's sponsor, Byron Windhorst, who has asked me to post the following:
Many of the climate articles featured here find their way to the Climate Catastrophe Group on Facebook, which covers extreme weather events and related science. We have over 4,000 members but would warmly welcome new ones, who are keen to engage and participate.
"Breaking News! Code: y-axis alert!
"On November 1, 2026, the global sea-surface temperature anomaly exceeded 7 standard deviations above the 1982-2011 baseline for the first time, reaching 7.12 [now 7.22] σ.
"In "normal times" this would be about a 1-in-1,800,000,000,000 event." [Prof Eliot Jacobson]
https://x.com/EliotJacobson/status/2117640127686258977
"The norm (not that such a thing exists anymore) before the 2023 was that global Sea Surface temperature usually peaked in March. Today it's early Nov and we are seeing temperatures on par with March 2016 [also an El Nino year].
"The ocean is warmer today (in NOV) than the hottest day from a decade ago!" [Prof. Ryan Katz-Rosene]
https://x.com/ryankatzrosene/status/2118049713291419857
"Warming UK seas could 'fundamentally reshape marine ecosystems' - report.
"Warming seas around the UK and the wider north-east Atlantic could destabilise marine food webs, weaken ocean health and jeopardise food security by 2050, according to a four-year study."
"Christmas tree shortage warning as record-breaking summer heat kills thousands of young trees [UK].
"Growers across the country said exceptionally hot and dry conditions during the summer of 2026 had made it difficult for young trees to survive, raising concerns about future supplies of the festive staple."
"Extreme Heat Pushes Pyrenees Glaciers Toward Extinction.
"Glaciers in the Pyrenees recorded their third-largest annual thickness loss in 2025-2026 despite exceptionally heavy spring snowfall. Scientists warn that the remaining active glaciers could disappear within a decade."
https://www.telesurenglish.net/heat-pyrenees-glaciers-toward-extinction/
"Mont Miné Glacier [Switzerland] 2011 | 2026.
"The first time I saw Mont Miné, 15 years ago vs yesterday! In fifteen years' time, there will be nothing left. And human activity is entirely to blame."
[Melaine Le Roy]
https://x.com/subfossilguy/status/2117668323290657269
"This insidious tropical virus has now reached Switzerland as well. For the first time, the chikungunya virus has been transmitted locally in Switzerland.
"The cases were reported in Ticino. The virus is spread by mosquitoes and can cause severe joint pain."
"After the downpour in Hatay [Turkey], the stream overflowed, vehicles were swept away in flood waters.
"With the effect of the torrential rain that was effective in the Dörtyol district of Hatay, Karakese and Özerli Streams overflowed and vehicles were dragged in flood waters. Teams rescued citizens trapped in flooded houses and vehicles."
"EXTRAORDINARY EVENT - thousands of records from Algeria to South Africa:
"42.0 [107.6F] Dori, 40.6 In Guezzam, 42.7 N'Djamena = BURKINA FASO, ALGERIA AND CHAD HOTTEST NOVEMBER DAY EVER… ALSO NOVEMBER NATIONAL RECORDS: IVORY COAST 38.0 Mahandiana, CAMEROON 41.5 Garoua, CHAD 42.4 Mongo, NIGER 43.5 Tillaberi, NIGERIA 41.0 Sokoto." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2118053718679785561
"A massive hailstorm turns the desert white in the Ha'il region of Saudi Arabia
"The phenomenon is occurring amidst a period of atmospheric instability affecting several regions of the country, bringing severe storms, rain, and hail."
"Record broken and rebroken no-stop every day in MIDDLE EAST:
"Crazy MIN 29.4 [84.9F] Manama Int. Airport is BAHRAIN HOTTEST NOVEMBER NIGHT ON RECORD… 38.2 Abu Samra is QATAR HOTTEST NOVEMBER DAY IN HISTORY… Still Mins >30C in Kuwait and Emirates… OMAN 37.6 Suwaiq, MINIMUMS RECORDS IN IRAN: 28.0 Kish Island, 25.9 Bandarabbas." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2117691580706668890
"India Coffee Output to Miss Forecast After Below-Normal Rains…
"Production is expected to reach about 380,000 metric tons in the year ending March, more than 5% below the board's previous estimate, M.J. Dinesh, chairman of the state-run agency, said in an interview."
"Cyclone Murasu kills two in India's Andhra Pradesh after second storm in a week…
"The cyclone made landfall on Tuesday, leaving a trail of destruction across the state, according to the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority… several villages remained inundated and roads had been damaged, as authorities continued assessing the extent of the destruction."
https://news.az/news/cyclone-murasu-kills-two-in-india-s-andhra-pradesh-after-second-storm-in-a-week
"Absolute madness in CHINA:
"37C [98.6F] again and 30 more stations breaking November records (18 Tmaxes,12 Tmins). Already 200 records broken and hundreds more coming: the heat will just expand and get worse." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2117970196514418809
"EXTRAORDINARY- CLIMATIC HISTORY REWRITTEN.
"MIN 29.3 Bangkok Pilot, 28.6 Male, 29.2 Tondi, 27.3 Chittagong = THAILAND, MALDIVES, INDIA, BANGLADESH HOTTEST NOVEMBER NIGHT EVER."
[Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2117597930895151294
"Indonesia's fire-ravaged regions face rising flood threat.
"The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) on Tuesday urged residents nationwide to prepare for hydrometeorological disasters, including flash floods and landslides, as parts of the country enter the rainy season."
https://asianews.network/indonesias-fire-ravaged-regions-face-rising-flood-threat/
"Dozens of homes damaged as rare hailstorms hit West Java, Lampung.
"The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) attributed the hailstorms in West Java and Lampung to the development of mature cumulonimbus clouds, powerful storm systems capable of producing intense rainfall, strong winds and hail."
"Severe storms leave trail of destruction across NSW and Queensland.
"Widespread storms lashed millions across the two states through the afternoon, with a band of severe storm cells stretching hundreds of kilometres as they moved from inland towards the coast."
"Australia's Heavy October Rainfall Sparks Grain Quality Concerns…
"The country's 2026/27 wheat crop is being closely watched as Russia's war with Ukraine disrupts grain exports through the Black Sea. With supplies from two of the world's largest producers delayed, buyers from Southeast Asia to the Middle East are looking to alternative providers such as Australia and Argentina."
"Typhoons batter East Asia as El Niño makes Pacific 'burn with fever'.
"Wild weather is a way of life for people living along the coast in the Philippines, Taiwan, China and Japan. But the last few months have been extraordinary. A wave of intense and, at times, unpredictable storms exacerbated by the El Niño weather pattern has killed dozens, shuttered major airports and wiped out crops and infrastructure across a swathe of East Asia."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw33kgj7nkemo
"Super El Niño gathers strength after soaking Korea with unusual fall rains…
"Seoul also set a new record on Oct. 18 after 35.1 millimeters (1.4 inches) of rain fell in one hour. The developing El Niño was a major factor behind the frequent and heavy rainfall, the KMA said."
"As Waters Warm Off Japan, Fish DNA Is Turning Up Farther North Than Expected…
"In all, there was eDNA evidence that 126 species from 92 genera and 53 families were living outside their ranges. They were also outside of historical occurrence records, modelled core habitats and/or expert-delineated extent-of-occurrence."
"What a madness. It really looks like we're going to experience a second peak in this Super El Niño.
"It's something that doesn't usually happen. That instead of one El Niño coming, 'twins' arrive. But we're getting used to living through events that didn't used to happen." [Juan Bordera]
https://x.com/JuanBordera/status/2118031950493675754
"Because of this record El Niño, water temperatures near Peru and the Philippines are nearly the same!
"It's 83°F (28.4°C) near Peru and 84°F (29.0°C) near the Philippines. That's normal for the Philippines. For Peru, it's a remarkable 17.5°F (9.7°C) heat shift." [Ben Noll]
https://x.com/BenNollWeather/status/2117765816754274498
"Peru's minister of trade confirmed Tuesday that mango flowering on the country's northern coast has nearly ceased, putting the 2026-2027 harvest in crisis.
"APEM projects a 39.57% drop in fresh mango exports this season — from 223,686 to just 135,182 tons — while some growers warn the actual decline could reach 60%."
https://www.latintimes.com/peru-mango-harvest-crisis-el-nino-exports-600856
"Across a Fevered Pacific Ocean, Seabirds Are Starving.
"With massive heat waves and an intense El Niño reshaping the marine food web along the Central Coast of California, emaciated common murres are washing ashore in unprecedented numbers."
"Blue Whales Are Ditching the Galápagos, Possibly Because of El Niño…
"This is an odd development, because the areas surveyed (San Cristóbal, Isabela, Fernandina, the Santiago Islands, and the Bolívar Channel) are known for being places where blue whales are plentiful. In the month before the study began, 45 blue whales were seen in August alone."
"Right Whale Die-Off in Argentina Spreads to Adults as Scientists Test Water and Shellfish for Red Tide Toxins…
"Scientists now suspect two separate causes. Calf deaths have been linked to the bacterium Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, while a toxic algal bloom known as red tide is suspected in the adult deaths, MercoPress reported. To test the second idea, the monitoring program is adding water and shellfish sampling…"
"EXTRAORDINARY WORLD CLIMATIC HISTORY REWRITTEN:
"46.2 [115.2F] Mariscal Estigarribia is PARAGUAY HOTTEST DAY IN HISTORY."
[Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2118176447122825375
"The shocking videos of the hail that hit Córdoba, Santa Fe and Entre Ríos: a fall of 116 millimeters of rain was recorded [Argentina].
"The storms that advanced over the center and coast of the country during the last hours left hail, intense rains and gusts of wind in towns of Córdoba, Santa Fe and Entre Ríos. The phenomenon …caused complications in urban areas, significant accumulations of water and punctual material damage."
"A tornado destroyed an airport in southern Brazil and forced the cancellation of flights.
"A tornado caused significant damage on Wednesday at the Chapecó airport, in the west of the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina. The force of the wind broke the windows of the terminal building, ripped off metal structures and hit a plane that remained parked on the platform."
"ABSOLUTE INSANITY. Never happened anything like this:
"34.4C Vc Bird, 37.0 [98.6f] Flamingo = ANTIGUA and BONAIRE HOTTEST NOV DAY EVER… 28.0 Georgetown AP is GUYANA HOTTEST NOVEMBER NIGHT EVER; 28.2 ST MARTEN HOTTEST NOV NIGHT EVER; 35.1 Canefield DOMINICA NOV HOTTEST DAY EVER; 21.7 Cerro Sombrero CHILE NOV HOTTEST NIGHT; 28.2 Arriaga - MEXICO NOV HOTTEST NIGHT EVER etc. 100% of records destroyed everywhere." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2117443904740192727
"Tijuana River Wastewater Chemicals Are Now Detected in San Diego's Air…
"Wastewater chemicals enter the ocean near the river mouth. From there, coastal currents carry them northward and underwater, preserving a detectable fraction of the compounds until they cross the water-air boundary and enter the coastal atmosphere."
https://www.gadgetreview.com/tijuana-river-wastewater-chemicals-are-now-detected-in-san-diegos-air
"'Heavy loss': Torrential rain in Southwest takes out beloved rock formations.
"On Oct. 30, the owner of a tour guide company leading a group out to the Alien Throne — an otherworldly rock spire known as a hoodoo that's located on Navajo Nation land in northwestern New Mexico — reported that the structure had toppled. The following day, on Oct. 31, reports showed that several dozen miles to the east, the King of Wings structure had similarly fallen…"
https://www.sfgate.com/national-parks/article/southwest-hoodoos-collapse-flooding-22506850.php
"Catastrophic Flash Flood Warning in North Georgia.
"Emergency crews conducted water rescues and responded to mudslides Wednesday night as a catastrophic flash flood emergency gripped mountainous communities across north Georgia."
"FLORIDA'S EXTRAORDINARY DELUGE:
"Wait for it… An estimated 1.88 TRILLION gallons of rain in 57 hours across the area shown—enough to cover 145,000 football fields, including end zones, 30 feet deep! Radar estimates 30 inches near Palm Bay, with multiple torrential rainfall peaks stretching down Florida's east coast." [Jeff Berardelli]
https://x.com/WeatherProf/status/2117590204697506216
"HISTORIC SUMMER NIGHTS IN NOVEMBER. November records of HIGH MINIMUMS broken by up to 5F in Wisconsin:
"62F [17C] La Crosse, 62F Madison, 61F EU Claire, 56F Rhinelander, 58F Wausau and up to 10F in CANADA with MIN up to 63F and there will be 4/5 in a row like this." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2118002477002023260
"Record-breaking warmth sweeps over New England for early November…
"Boston typically only sees one day in November hit 70, and the record for the most consecutive 70-degree days or warmer in November is four, reached in 2020 and 2022. Thursday will likely tie that mark, and Friday holds an outside chance of reaching 70 in Boston, which would mean a new record entirely."
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/11/04/metro/new-england-warm-weather-records-forecast/
"Tropical fish in Massachusetts waters? Warming ocean temperatures are changing the catch.
"The Gulf of Maine is one of the fastest warming ocean regions on Earth. Since 1982, its surface temperature has increased by approximately 0.84 degrees Fahrenheit per decade, nearly three times the global ocean average."
https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/tropical-fish-massachusetts-waters-ocean-temperatures/
"Northern permafrost greening masks declining plant resilience, study finds.
"An international study jointly led by researchers from the Department of Geography and the Institute for Climate and Carbon Neutrality at the Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong (HKU), has revealed that vegetation resilience across Northern Hemisphere permafrost regions underwent a widespread reversal around 2008…"
https://phys.org/news/2026-11-northern-permafrost-greening-masks-declining.html
"Last month was the 2nd lowest Antarctic sea ice extent on record for the month of October.
"This was 1,760,000 km² below the 1981-2010 October average. Data from the NSIDC. "
[Zack Labe]
https://bsky.app/profile/zacklabe.com/post/3mzjq5cjlv22h
"Antarctica's permafrost is emitting worrying amounts of CO2…
"In 2020, the measurements showed an average of roughly 1.7 grams of CO2 creeping through 1 square metre of soil every day. "We were really surprised," says Ruggiero. By 2025, that rate had grown five-and-a-half fold to 9.5 grams per day. "The increase was amazing," he says, and entirely unexpected."
"World's wettest rainstorms are getting wetter, affecting flood and drought risk.
"The world's wettest rainstorms produce about half of the global annual rainfall. Now a study shows that these intense downpours have become shorter in duration and fewer in number, compressing the same amount of rain into quicker and more extreme events, with implications for flood and drought risk."
"Funding to help poorer countries cope with climate crisis has stalled, says UN…
"A new UN report has revealed that financial support for adaptation - which includes measures such as stronger infrastructure, early warning systems, flood protection and drought-resilient irrigation - is woefully short of what is needed and far behind even the inadequate promises that rich countries signed up to in 2021…"
"The great disaster divide: How the super-rich are profiting from global climate suffering…
"Billionaires are buying islands and building fortified compounds and underground bunkers — tech billionaires are increasingly at the forefront of this trend. This is a form of climate apartheid: the super-rich use their wealth and power to escape the consequences of the crises they largely helped create."
"November 2 was 1.98°C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial baseline.
"One more day?" [Prof Eliot Jacobson]
https://x.com/EliotJacobson/status/2117963453038211356
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You can read the previous "Climate" thead here. I'll be back tomorrow with an "Economic" thread.
The post 5th November 2026 Today's Round-Up of Climate News appeared first on Climate and Economy.
Huge thanks to November's sponsor, Byron Windhorst, who has asked me to post the following:
Many of the climate articles featured here find their way to the Climate Catastrophe Group on Facebook, which covers extreme weather events and related science. We have over 4,000 members but would warmly welcome new ones, who are keen to engage and participate.
"'Not enough energy' for the world due to geopolitical tensions, says Ducab chief…
""Given the geopolitical situation and crisis worldwide, there is not enough energy for the eight billion people in the world," Mr Mellagui said. "That's why we see the crisis going through the roof.""
"US strikes Iran's Qeshm Island on eve of election.
"The US has struck Iran on the eve of crucial midterm elections, as President Donald Trump and the Republicans have struggled to defend the unpopular war against the Islamic republic on the campaign trail."
https://www.ft.com/content/ebeaca62-8958-459a-be9d-d3d39e441a53
"Iran's IRGC says four tankers ablaze after hitting mines in Hormuz Strait.
"Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said four "rogue" oil tankers were destroyed after htting naval mines while trying to traverse a route in the Strait of Hormuz that is considered prohibited. The incident occurred south of the waterway, with the statement adding that IRGC forces also intercepted two other vessels."
"Hormuz Oil Flows Unlikely to Return to Pre-War Levels, Rystad Says…
""Achieving a comprehensive settlement would require addressing issues related to Iran's nuclear program, sanctions, Tehran-backed armed groups in the region, and the security of maritime shipping, while also taking into account Israel's security interests," Rystad Energy said in a report cited by Azeri news agency Trend."
"Global Diesel Crunch Set to Last Well Into 2027.
"Asia's oil import story these days is a reflection of the global oil markets—crude oil availability has significantly increased since the early summer lows and flows out of the Middle East have largely recovered, but supply of gasoline, and especially diesel, has sharply dropped since the Iran war began at the end of February."
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/Global-Diesel-Crunch-Set-to-Last-Well-Into-2027.html
"Democrats have seized the House of Representatives and the Senate in a devastating double blow to President Trump that could mark the beginning of the end for the MAGA era.
"In what amounted to a political earthquake, the midterm elections saw a series of deep-red states turn blue… Voters appeared to have passed a damning judgment on Trump's inability to bring down the cost of living for ordinary Americans…"
"Global stocks slide as Democratic wins stoke fears for AI boom.
"Global stock markets tumbled as the Democratic Party swept control of both chambers of the U.S. Congress and key state governorships in the midterm elections, sparking fears that the new political landscape could lead to stricter regulations and potential moratoriums on massive artificial intelligence data center rollouts."
https://www.ft.com/content/a0b18705-3bd8-4886-992c-b6062fdec6ea
"Global financial markets were already fragile. Big AI bets could break them.
"Financial markets are struggling under the weight of wars, soaring sovereign debt and trade tensions, with signs of trouble showing across the world — from the selloff in Japanese and French bonds to plunging emerging-market currencies. Now, the one trade that helped investors remain optimistic is starting to show cracks as well."
"The Intel stock collapse is getting worse — and the $3.7 trillion chip rout is spreading…
"Zoom out and the mess gets bigger. Chip and memory stocks have lost about $3.7 trillion in market value since Oct. 6, by Yahoo Finance calculations. Nvidia lost the most in dollars, but Intel's drop of nearly half is the steepest among the giants."
"Britain faces 'substantial' threat of recession if AI boom falters.
"The UK economy faces a substantial risk of recession if the current artificial intelligence boom underperforms or experiences a sharp correction. Because a significant portion of recent global productivity projections and market valuations are tied to aggressive AI adoption, a slowdown in this sector directly threatens British growth forecasts."
"Unite to escalate strikes at Apache North Sea platforms tied to Forties Pipeline System.
"The union said a previous stoppage in late October brought all seven offshore assets involved in the dispute to a standstill. Unite warned in October that disruption at the Charlie platform could affect the Forties Pipeline System (FPS), which transports crude from more than 80 North Sea oil and gas fields and handles about 29% of Britain's oil and 30% of its gas supplies."
"Students in Denmark to protest against financial aid cuts.
"Under the banner "Enough is Enough", 11 high school and university student associations plan to gather at Copenhagen's City Hall Square from 12:30 pm (1130 GMT), before marching to parliament over the proposed cuts to free up funds for defence spending."
"French pupils resume school blockades as country braces for more protests…
"From early morning in Paris and its suburbs, as well as in cities including Lille, Toulouse and Marseille, schoolchildren demanding more replacement teachers and repairs to buildings barricaded school entrances with wheelie bins. Police officers outside some schools attempted to drag the bins away and made arrests."
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/nov/02/franch-students-school-blockades-protests
"France's Crisis: No Central Bank to Print Currency…
""….despite the U.S. having a worse fiscal and debt situation than France, no one expects a U.S. default. The stark contrast between the U.S., a sovereign state, and France, which is not fully independent as it is subject to ECB decisions, creates this vulnerability. The liquidity crisis stemming from this could escalate into a solvency crisis.""
https://www.chosun.com/english/market-money-en/2026/11/03/DHE5AJTHNZEHXM5RI64E3EWV7Y/
"Poland's Constitutional Crisis Has Central Bank Chief on Ropes.
"The intensifying standoff between Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government and National Bank of Poland (NBP) Governor Adam Glapiński has brought the country's broader constitutional crisis directly into its financial sphere."
"Flights Across Europe Could See Cost Soar Next Year as Airlines Face Fuel Crisis, Ryanair CEO Warns…
"Michael O'Leary said Monday that ticket prices across Europe could rise between 10% and 20% next year as carriers struggle to absorb higher fuel expenses. The warning came as the Irish budget airline reported a 15% decline in first-half profit despite carrying more passengers."
https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/flights-across-europe-could-cost-192617125.html
"Europe on alert after supermarket freezers hit by cyber-attacks in 10 countries.
"A spate of cyber-attacks that hit supermarket chains across at least 10 European countries on Monday has prompted European Union officials to warn of a deliberate attempt to disrupt the food supply chain… No-one has yet admitted carrying out the cyber-attacks."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy8lm1m59mvo
"UK and European peacekeepers in Ukraine would be allowed to fire back at Russians…
"Details emerged as the UK and France set out Exercise Koalicja, which will take place later this month in Poland. It is an 11-country rehearsal of how European militaries could deploy rapidly to Ukraine if the war comes to an end."
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/nov/03/uk-european-peacekeepers-ukraine-fire-back-russians
"NATO's New Defense Plan Would Mean Strikes Deep Inside Russia…
"Top officers and officials from across the North Atlantic Treaty Organization gathered in June for the alliance's first-ever Deep Strike Symposium. Hosted by U.S. Air Force Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, NATO's top military commander, the discussions and wargame tackled a topic few attendees would have openly addressed until recently."
"Black Sea escalation is redrawing shipping's risk map.
"The Black Sea shipping war has crossed an important threshold. The question is no longer simply whether owners are prepared to send ships to Ukraine or Russia. Increasingly, it is whether they are prepared to enter substantial parts of the Black Sea at all."
"Russian strikes halt Kyiv trams as Ukraine warns of nuclear risk to Europe…
"Shmyhal said Russia had launched a massive attack overnight from Monday into Tuesday, deploying 289 drones, 17 ballistic missiles and 59 cruise missiles, with energy infrastructure once again the main target."
https://tvpworld.com/96287479/russian-strikes-halt-kyiv-trams-target-nuclear-plant-substation
"Ukraine resumes attacks on Russian oil refineries, threatening a fragile recovery in fuel supplies after months of strikes helped trigger the country's worst gasoline shortages in decades.
"Kyiv's forces struck Ufa over the weekend, home to three Rosneft PJSC refineries with combined processing capacity of about 470,000 barrels a day, as well as an industrial site in the Volga region where Lukoil PJSC's Norsi refinery is located."
"North Korea fires off 'several' missiles in latest weapons test…
"Pyongyang has ramped up weapons tests in recent months, including one of a "dispersal warhead of a strategic cruise missile" that it announced Tuesday. That announcement came just days after it said it had fired off cluster-bomb warheads for its tactical ballistic missiles."
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/11/04/asia-pacific/north-korea-missile-test-november-4/
"Debt fears swirling around state giant shine a light on China's post-property reality.
"As concerns over the financial health of a state-owned conglomerate rattled China's bond market over the past week, analysts said its challenges reflected the lasting toll of the country's prolonged property crisis, with local governments struggling to find sustainable alternatives beyond real estate to support their economies."
"Hong Kong Deal Boom Slows With Most IPOs Abandoned Since 2008…
"A wave of fundraising by mostly Chinese companies along the artificial intelligence supply chain has pushed Hong Kong listings proceeds above $50 billion in 2026 for just the third time in history. But dealmaking has slowed in the past three months as investors turned more cautious toward AI bets…"
"China's new nightmare: a Japanese containment arc in the Indo-Pacific…
"Japan mobilised its new Type 25 missile, with a reported 1,000km range, from Kumamoto for the system's first large-scale drill. The containment arc is no longer a concept; it has been exercised, coordinated and institutionalised under Tokyo's new Joint Operations Command."
"Fuel shortages in several regions are a stark warning that Indonesia is heading toward an energy crisis.
"After Bali and parts of Sulawesi, Kalimantan, and Sumatra, people in East Java are now struggling to obtain diesel and Pertalite gasoline. Supply shortages could spread to other regions, as quotas for these subsidized fuels are expected to run out before the end of the year."
https://en.tempo.co/read/2122885/fuel-crisis-looms
"Stranded cruise ship finally leaves Cambodia after forcing hundreds of passengers off…
"Passengers spent Tuesday unloading the last of their belongings from the vessel, and many said they did not expect to come back to the ship. "There are still many things on the ship that I wish I could take with me," said Shirine Thomas, of Wilmington, North Carolina, shortly after collecting some final items."
"Cambodia makes 'waiting villages' permanent amid border stalemate.
"Cambodia has decided to turn its six remaining waiting villages, housing about 21,000 people displaced more than a year ago by the border conflict with Thailand, into permanent settlements. About 10,000 of those still living in the camps are women, and 6,000 are children."
https://www.ucanews.com/amp/cambodia-makes-waiting-villages-permanent-amid-border-stalemate/115992
"China and India achieved diplomatic thaw. Now the Arunachal border is flaring up again…
"The disputed China-India border runs through a remote mountainous region. Throughout the decades, clashes along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the de facto border, have repeatedly triggered security crises between the world's two most populous nations."
"Afghan-Pakistan conflict hindering Central-South Asian trade.
"Central Asian trade with Pakistan is struggling to gain traction, underscored by Kazakhstan's downward revision of its annual bilateral trade turnover target with Islamabad. The ongoing conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan is the main factor hindering inter-regional commerce between Central and South Asia."
https://eurasianet.org/afghan-pakistan-conflict-hindering-central-south-asian-trade
"Israeli claims of Iran chemical weapons threat divide US officials…
"sraeli intelligence allegations that Iran may be preparing to use chemical weapons against its adversaries have sparked debate within the U.S. administration, with officials questioning both the reliability of the claims and Israel's intentions in raising the alarm, The New York Times reported Tuesday."
"Iranian television broadcasts urgent instructions to citizens on how to protect themselves against a potential nuclear strike…
"The guidance urged the implementation of urgent preventive measures to mitigate the impact of blast waves and reduce the risks of radioactive contamination. It also emphasized the necessity of being fully prepared to remain inside shelters or other safe locations for at least 24 consecutive hours."
"Airstrikes reveal fragile Jordan-Syria security partnership.
"Jordanian airstrikes that killed 10 people in southern Syria on 26 October have brought relations between Damascus and Amman to their most critical point since Assad's fall."
"Lebanon cuts power to public bodies as electricity crisis deepens.
"Lebanon's Ministry of Energy and Water has begun shutting down the supply of electricity to approximately 100 public institutions that have outstanding bill payments, according to local media. The decision, which began to take effect on Monday, marks a further escalation in Energy Minister Joe Saddi's dispute with the government."
"UN warns Gaza waste collection crippled by Israeli restrictions…
"Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a news conference that "partners supporting the collection of solid waste warn that only half of their vehicle fleet is operational… "That's because of persistent Israeli restrictions on the entry of enough engine oil and spare parts required to keep the vehicles running.""
"Aden Faces Severe Crisis as Gas Shortages Paralyze Transport and Daily Life [Yemen].
"The suspension of gas supply trucks and the closure of refueling stations have crippled public transportation, leaving commuters, students, and employees stranded at transit hubs. Local sources report that the scarcity of gas has forced many public transport operators off the roads."
https://www.khabaragency.net/news255265.html
"Houthis claim Saudi airport, airbase attacks, '3 drones intercepted'.
"The Saudi-led coalition said on Tuesday it had intercepted three drones targeting Saudi territory, one of them over the western Mecca region, while Yemen's Houthi group said it had launched drone and ballistic missile attacks on an airport and an airbase in southwestern Saudi Arabia."
https://www.chinadailyasia.com/hk/article/642226
"Israel deepens Somaliland ties with first ambassador, testing Horn of Africa balance…
"Diplomat Michael Lotem presented his credentials in Hargeisa, while officials laid the cornerstone for an Israeli embassy. The ceremony, announced by Israel's foreign ministry on Sunday, formalised a relationship that began with mutual recognition in December."
"Violence in northern Ethiopia pushing health system towards collapse…
"Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported in a statement released on Monday that the conflict between rebels from the northern Tigray region and the government in Addis Ababa had killed several civilians in recent days and strained medical facilities."
"Deadly RSF drone attacks reveal deep divisions between Sudan and Ethiopia.
"The Sudanese government's allegations that Ethiopia is behind a deadly wave of unmanned aerial assaults belie a deep and longstanding rift between the two countries, which threatens to intensify internal conflicts in both."
"'This petrol station is my home now': Malawi's fuel crisis forces desperate drivers to queue for days…
"Sombeja chews on a cold piece of fried mandazi - a doughy snack that has been the only food available. The Meru petrol station is no longer just a place of transit; it has transformed into a makeshift village of drivers in parked vehicles. In these queues, strangers form uneasy alliances."
https://www.aol.co.uk/articles/petrol-station-home-now-malawi-050002000.html
"Niger Imports Algerian Fuel by Tanker Truck to Ease Gasoline Shortage.
"Niger received a convoy of tanker trucks from Algeria in Agadez on Sunday, November 1, 2026. The country is seeking to contain a gasoline shortage after banning exports of super gasoline and diesel… According to Sonatrach, the fuel comes from the Adrar refinery, located in Sbaa, in Adrar wilaya."
https://energynews.pro/en/niger-imports-algerian-fuel-by-tanker-truck-to-ease-gasoline-shortage
"Western Sahara conflict risks 'escalation' as UN mission ends…
"UN peacekeepers are wrapping up a 35-year mission in the disputed territory of Western Sahara after the Security Council failed to renew their mandate, in a development that analysts warned could lead to open conflict between Morocco and Algeria."
https://www.ft.com/content/c2b2a523-da80-496e-9d5f-c17802ee2eb3
"El Salvador's President Takes a High-Stakes Gamble Confronting Haitian Gangs…
"What began as a targeted effort by President Nayib Bukele to locate four missing Salvadoran military-aviation technicians has rapidly expanded into a high-stakes, full-scale military campaign aimed at confronting the heavily armed gangs that dominate the Caribbean nation."
"Colombia bombing leaves four dead, including a baby…
"The bomb attack Sunday night in the western town of Planadas in Tolima department came as new right-wing President Abelardo de la Espriella steps up military operations against the country's drug-trafficking leftist insurgents. The rebels have in turn kept up attacks of their own…"
https://www.surinametimes.com/artikel/colombia-bombing-leaves-four-dead-including-a-baby
"Brazil's Farm Debt Crisis Puts Global Suppliers and China Trade Under Pressure.
"The reelection of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on October 25, 2026, has intensified uncertainty across Brazil's agricultural sector as record loan delinquencies and expensive credit threaten investment and international supply chains."
https://www.agrolatam.com/usa/news/brazil-farm-debt-crisis-global-suppliers-china-trade/
"Paraguay Central Bank Chief Resigns After Ueno Bank Collapse.
"Paraguay's central bank chief Carlos Carvallo has resigned following the collapse and permanent closure of Ueno bank, a crisis that has prompted the arrest of eight senior executives, exposed major public pension investments and disrupted electronic payments across the country."
https://www.telesurenglish.net/paraguay-central-bank-chief-resigns/
"Hedge funds warn of growing private credit risks as rates stay high…
"…some of the world's biggest hedge funds warn that risks are increasing in private credit as rising interest rates reshape conditions across the asset class. Tony Yoseloff, chief investment officer of Davidson Kempner Capital Management… points to higher interest rates, slowing business growth and a wall of debt coming due in 2027 and 2028."
"Insurers Didn't Learn From the Financial Crisis… In the past few weeks, a chorus of industry insiders has gathered to warn that insurers can be just as myopic about the long-term consequences of global heating as the most oblivious denier.
"For short-term profits, insurance companies are sacrificing the future well-being of their customers, the planet and ultimately themselves, these whistleblowers warn, with behavior echoing that of mortgage lenders before the 2008 financial crisis."
As a reader-funded publication, your one time and regular donations help keep this site going. If you value this work, please share it far and wide and consider a Patreon subscription or a one time Paypal donation. You can also support this work by buying a virtual coffee. Thank you!
You can read the previous "Economic" thead here. I'll be back tomorrow with a "Climate" thread.
The post 4th November 2026 Today's Round-Up of Economic News appeared first on Climate and Economy.
Huge thanks to November's sponsor, Byron Windhorst, who has asked me to post the following:
Many of the climate articles featured here find their way to the Climate Catastrophe Group on Facebook, which covers extreme weather events and related science. We have over 4,000 members but would warmly welcome new ones, who are keen to engage and participate.
"Extreme heat no longer confined to summer, extending health risks, study finds.
"A study of climate data from 1980 to the present showed a broad global expansion of extreme heat days outside of summer months, extending into spring and fall."
"World notches up hottest October on record as 500 academics call for courage on climate.
"Last month was the hottest October globally, increasing the odds that 2026 will the second-warmest since reliable records began, according to Zeke Hausfather, a prominent climate researcher, citing data from Europe's Copernicus Programme."
"Iceland Is War-Gaming an Ocean Current Collapse…
""One of the key roles of government is to identify threats and prepare society for them. This is how we approach volcanic eruptions and epidemics, and the same should apply to climate risks," Iceland's Minister of the Environment, Energy, and Climate Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson explained in a statement."
https://gizmodo.com/iceland-is-war-gaming-an-ocean-current-collapse-2000833638
"Her Daughter Died After a Beach Swim. UK Sewage Discharge Is Still Soaring…
"The latest UK water quality report from Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) reveals some sickening facts about conditions across the country: between January and August 2026, 1,687 people reported getting sick after surfing, swimming, or paddling. What's even worse, in Wales, 90% of reports came from spots classified as Good or Excellent."
https://www.surfer.com/news/uk-sewage-report-surfers-against-sewage-2026
"Summer production of French lettuce is down by 25% due to heatwaves…
"Successive heatwaves have particularly affected summer production, which is down by 25% year-on-year. This decrease in supply has been accompanied by a sharp rise in prices, which reached record levels in August."
"Massive Pile-Up on A14 After Hailstorm [N Italy]…
"A 'massive pile-up' involving about twelve cars—caused by a severe hailstorm—led to the closure of a stretch of the A14 near the Cesena toll booth, heading south. It happened—according to the Fire Brigade—around 9:30 am… At the same location, but heading north, another collision between cars was reported."
https://www.ilmattino.it/en/massive_pile_up_on_a14_after_hailstorm-9862364.html?refresh_ce
"Powerful storm tears through beach resort on Italy's southern coast.
"Surveillance footage captured the moment a tornado ripped through a beach resort restaurant in Castellaneta Marina, southern Italy, tearing off metal roofing and flattening a restaurant. Emergency teams secured the area and cleared debris, with no injuries reported."
"Storm causes widespread flooding on Rhodes, at least 60 vehicles swept away.
"Severe flooding on the southeastern Aegean island of Rhodes early Monday swept away at least 60 vehicles, inundated homes and businesses and forced schools to close in four municipal districts, authorities said."
"Heavy Rain Floods Homes in Türkiye's Bodrum, Car Swept Into Sea.
"Heavy rainfall has caused flooding in nine neighborhoods in Bodrum, in southwestern Türkiye's Muğla Province, inundating 17 homes and three commercial properties. One vehicle was swept into the sea, TRT Haber reports."
https://caspianpost.com/regions/heavy-rain-floods-homes-in-turkiye-s-bodrum-car-swept-into-sea
"Warmer seas and shifting pressure systems: The signs that suggest the Mediterranean's climate is 'tropicalizing'.
"…over recent decades, climates across the Mediterranean basin have begun to show signs of tropicalization: the process of transitioning toward a tropical climate. This is evident in several areas, including rising air and sea temperatures, shifting atmospheric patterns, and increasingly erratic rainfall."
https://phys.org/news/2026-10-warmer-seas-shifting-pressure-mediterranean.html
"Absolute madness on the Mediterranean - summer in November:
"Days >30C [86F] in Spain and Portugal; 40C in Algeria, 37C in Libya and Egypt (November record destroyed by 5C at El Tor today with 37.2C). Persistent cold stuck in Central Mediterranean, where not a single record has fallen in nearly 2 months in Italy (the only country). This pattern will continue for weeks." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2117339661441855843
"UNREAL, ABSURD HEAT ACROSS AFRICA:
"43.5 [110.3F] Tillaberi NIGER HOTTEST NOVEMBER DAY EVER. Also BURKINA 41.1 Fada N'Gourma; GHANA Min. 27.0 Wa; GABON 35.1 Franceville; ZAMBIA crazy all time record:42.2 Senanga >1000m asl; NAMIBIA 41.5 Katima Mulilo." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2117332304607817921
"Heatwave: Doctors urge Nigerians to eat water-rich fruits, stay hydrated…
"The experts identified watermelon, oranges, cucumbers and pineapples as water-rich foods that can supplement fluid intake and help maintain adequate hydration during periods of extreme heat. They also advised Nigerians to carry water bottles when going out."
https://punchng.com/heatwave-doctors-urge-nigerians-to-eat-water-rich-fruits-stay-hydrated/
"South Africa's water crisis deepens as outages, reservoir shortages and leaks hit communities…
"The crisis is unfolding across major urban centres, with Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni grappling with supply constraints in Gauteng, while parts of Pinetown South in KwaZulu-Natal have endured nearly two weeks of disruptions."
"INSANE, UNREAL, EVERY SINGLE RECORD PULVERIZED. After destroying 100% of all September and October records, every November record has been smashed in Middle East:
"In SAUDI ARABIA today Al Ahsa re-broke its record: 38.7C [101.7F]; Al Qaysumah a Min of 24.8C. 40C in The EMIRATES including the record of Abu Dhabi with 38.2C. MINIMUMS still >30C in KUWAIT (typical of JULY). Hotter next days! Eternal summer." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2117327430151217236
"Floods inundate farmland in eastern Syria, damage crops…
"Heavy rain over the past two days, accompanied by hail and strong downdraft winds, triggered flash floods across the two provinces, inundating farmland and cutting off several main and secondary roads, the Syrian state news agency SANA reported."
https://www.arabnews.com/middle-east/floods-inundate-farmland-in-eastern-syria-damage-crops-3009469
"INSANE NOVEMBER WARMTH IN SOUTHERN RUSSIA:
"NIGHT MINIMUMS of +16C [60.8F] in the Caucasus, with dozens of records smashed, including +15.9 Min. at Derbent, typical of the end of summer. October had already broken hundreds of records with mins. up to 24C. Insane." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2116871569423344067
"Armenia's bees face mounting threats from climate change, pesticides and disease.
""I have always thought that even if humans did not exist, bees would still produce honey. We change their natural habitat, upset the balance and put stress on the ecosystem," beekeeper Armine Abovyan tells CivilNet… "The past two years have been difficult: there was either no profit or very little…"
https://civilnet.am/en/news/1015026
"Kazakhstan Tree Planting Drive Faces Wildfires and Low Survival Rates…
"Kazakhstan is now in the sixth year of a program to plant two billion trees. By the end of 2025, authorities had reported approximately 1.6 billion plantings and seedings, although a later government report put the figure at 1.7 billion. In some years, most seedlings have failed to survive."
https://timesca.com/kazakhstan-tree-planting/
"Second cyclone in a week hits India's coastal areas.
"Cyclone "Murasu" with wind speeds of up to 120 km per hour (KMPH) hit India's southern coastal areas in the early hours of Tuesday, confirmed a local official belonging to the disaster management department. The most affected areas were in the country's southern state of Andhra Pradesh."
https://www.chinadailyasia.com/hk/article/642170
"On the morning of November 2, Qinzhou, Guangxi, China experienced localized torrential rain, with 263.3mm [10.3 inches] of rainfall recorded over four hours, triggering flooding."
[Jim Yang]
https://x.com/yangyubin1998/status/2117251454880854042
"CHINA had its HOTTEST NOVEMBER DAY EVER >37C [98.6F]… HISTORIC HEAT IN HONG KONG - 25.9 In the Hong Kong Observatory is HOTTEST NOVEMBER NIGHT EVER…
"Record heat also in JAPAN. 30.4 Tokorono - New November record."
[Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2116855673363571042
"South Korea: Heat illness insurance payouts surge fourfold in Gyeonggi's record summer.
"While the number of claims for heat related illnesses under Gyeonggi's climate insurance programme have doubled, the payouts for these illnesses' have more than quadrupled during the first six months of the current year, as record-breaking heat waves took a growing toll on residents' health this summer."
"LAOS did it again! 37.2 [99F] Sekong is NATIONAL RECORD FOR NOVEMBER.
"ABSOLUTE INSANITY ACROSS SE ASIA. Every record smashed. Some examples: MALAYSIA - 34.8 Malacca; THAILAND - 36.4 Chiang Mai, 36.2 Samut Prakan, 36.0 Pichit; MYANMAR - 37.8 Dawei."
[Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2117209434766340548
"Dozens of new cars were left submerged after a vehicle storage area in Subang was hit by flooding following heavy rain this afternoon [Malaysia].
"The incident went viral on social media through several photographs showing rows of new vehicles sitting in floodwaters. Based on images on social media, murky water could be seen covering almost the entire area."
https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/129106/dozens-of-new-cars-submerged-in-flash-flood
"Experts warn of long-term health risks as Indonesia's wildfire haze takes a growing toll…
"The family of the toddler, Yazlyn Syanindita, suspects she died because of the thick smog enveloping the city. "Her shortness of breath was so sudden," Yazlyn's grandfather, Sarno, told Mongabay Indonesia. "She had no previous illnesses.""
"Indonesia's severe drought threatens to disrupt China's vast battery industry…
"Indonesia is a vital link in the global electric car supply chain. The Southeast Asian nation is the world's biggest production hub for nickel, a metal that is converted into a component used in lithium-ion batteries. But a sharp drop in rainfall in the country is causing local nickel refineries to reduce output…"
"Two Missing After Landslide Sweeps Through Bali Glamping Resort…
"The landslide struck Eco Park Pelaga Glamping Retreat in Petang district at around 11 p.m., following hours of intense rainfall that began earlier in the afternoon. According to detikBali, 23 guests were staying at the property…"
https://thebalitimes.com/the-island/two-missing-after-landslide-sweeps-through-bali-glamping-resort/
"'Serious injuries or death': Giant hailstones warning as Queensland braces for destructive thunderstorms, possible tornadoes.
"Queensland is facing another round of potentially dangerous supercell thunderstorms after hailstones measuring up to 10cm battered parts of the state, with forecasters warning of a heightened risk of destructive winds and tornadoes."
"This record El Niño is forecast to peak at +4.1°C in December according to the new CanSIPS run, before fading to neutral or a relative La Niña by July…
"Ocean temperatures are now nearly 93°F (33.7°C) beneath the surface in the eastern Pacific, with anomalies as large as 19.8°F (11.0°C) — several degrees more anomalous than 1997 was at this time." [Ben Noll]
https://x.com/BenNollWeather/status/2116650127851135133
"Foreign Office issues advice after Galapagos declares flooding emergency…
"A statement on its website said: "Heavy rains have caused flooding on Santa Cruz Island, prompting Gobierno Galapagos to declare an emergency on 31 October. Road closures, power outages, and disruptions to travel to Baltra Airport have been reported."
"Storm in Guayaquil left more than 100 sectors flooded and one person dead [Ecuador].
"One hundred and fourteen sectors of Guayaquil were flooded after the strong storm that endured the city between the night of Sunday, November 1 and the early morning of this Monday, November 2. The latest report from Segura EP, issued at 07:35, also counts one person dead…"
"Chile declares agricultural emergency in 14 communes in Maule Region.
"Chile's Ministry of Agriculture has declared an agricultural emergency in 14 communes of the Maule Region, following damage to production caused by rains, hailstorm and strong winds, which have impacted various agricultural and forestry activities in the area."
"Bolivia declares national emergency over El Niño as drought hits over 78,000 families…
""Unlike in other years, when we waited for this blow from the environment to arrive, we have taken a decision, with international cooperation and national efforts, to pool financial and human resources to deal with this phenomenon", Paz explained in a message to the population."
"Storm causes widespread damage, power outages in southern Brazil.
"A powerful storm swept through the city of Maringa in southern Brazil early Monday, toppling trees and power poles, disrupting traffic and leaving thousands of properties without electricity, the Maringa Post reported."
"EXTRAORDINARY thousands of records from Chile to Canada in every single country. Never happened an insanity like this:
"COLOMBIA 37.9 Cucuta; 35.1 Canefield DOMINICA NOV HOTTEST DAY EVER; 28.2 Arriaga - MEXICO NOV HOTTEST NIGHT EVER; 24.2 Empalme BRAZIL… 21.7 Cerro Sombrero CHILE NOV HOTTEST NIGHT… PERU 24.2 Trujillo… ANTIGUA, ST KITTS, NEVIS NOV HOTTEST NIGHT EVER… MIN 30.9 Bonaire HOTTEST NIGHT EVER RECORDED IN CARIBBEAN & CENTRAL AMERICA." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2117443904740192727
"Flash Flooding In Los Cabos Forces Evacuations & Sweeps Cars Out To Sea [Baja California, Mexico]…
"Driven by a massive moisture plume and the remnants of Tropical Storm Vance, the unprecedented deluge dumped nearly seven inches of rain across the region in just a few hours. The sudden disaster triggered mass evacuations, swept vehicles directly out to sea, and forced emergency rescue crews into rapid deployment…"
https://thecabosun.com/flash-flooding-in-los-cabos-forces-evacuations-sweeps-cars-out-to-sea/
"A record-breaking marine heatwave continues along the Californian coast.
"Remarkably, as readings from Scripps Pier in La Jolla illustrate, the usual seasonal cycle (i.e., ocean cooling as summer transitions into winter) is completely absent-with ~75F water temperatures now into November!" [Daniel Swain]
https://x.com/Weather_West/status/2117451475911610613
"What the El Niño worst-case scenario would look like in California…
"Last week's flooding was so bad because of two events that are expected to worsen over the next few months: a record-hot ocean raising sea levels combined with higher-than-normal tides. A third factor would be powerful storms that bring big waves."
"Rivers hit historic levels in Southwest amid destructive floods…
"The first atmospheric river to hit the Southwest this season dumped up to five times the average rain for November in parts of the region, triggering destructive flooding for the second consecutive month."
"Hobbs declares statewide state of emergency over flash floods [Arizona]…
"Arizona's rivers and washes are overrun with floodwaters, following 72 hours of historic rainfall that began Oct. 30. Apache, Gila, and Yavapai counties and the cities of Camp Verde, Prescott and Sedona have declared their own states of emergency."
"Flash Flood Emergency Continues [Florida]. In all my year's as a Meteorologist, I've NEVER seen anything like this. Multiple cities have seen 12-24" of rain, without a Tropical Storm, and it just won't stop. ~2 feet in Palm Bay & Melbourne.
"As I write this torrential bands are setting up again in Central and East Florida dumping more flooding rain. We've seen many 1-in-1000 year events in the last 2 days." [Jeff Berardelli]
https://x.com/WeatherProf/status/2117318428730294272
"Earth's icy regions face such dangerous melting that global heating should be brought back below 1C after an inevitable period of overshooting global temperature targets, a UN report has found.
"Permanent and widespread losses of snow and ice expose a "persistent myth" that overshooting the 1.5C target of the Paris climate agreement - to 2C or 3C - could be manageable or even preferable to urgent cuts to emissions, the report found."
"Climate scientists want billions to study cooling the planet.
"Climate scientists and advisory groups—led by figures like former UK chief scientific adviser Sir David King—have urged governments to spend tens of billions of pounds annually to research solar geoengineering and planetary cooling technologies."
"It's The Economy, Stupid. How net-zero and 'energy transition' lies mask the real reason we are dooming ourselves…
"We have already passed +1.5°C - 75 years ahead of the schedule set 10 years ago… There has been no 'energy transition' or meaningful removal of atmospheric carbon dioxide - nor is there any prospect of these happening anything like fast enough."
https://jacksondamian.substack.com/p/its-the-economy-stupid
As a reader-funded publication, your one time and regular donations help keep this site going. If you value this work, please share it far and wide and consider a Patreon subscription or a one time Paypal donation. You can also support this work by buying a virtual coffee. Thank you!
You can read the previous "Climate" thead here. I'll be back tomorrow with an "Economic" thread.
The post 3rd November 2026 Today's Round-Up of Climate News appeared first on Climate and Economy.
Huge thanks to November's sponsor, Byron Windhorst, who has asked me to post the following:
Many of the climate articles featured here find their way to the Climate Catastrophe Group on Facebook, which covers extreme weather events and related science. We have over 4,000 members but would warmly welcome new ones, who are keen to engage and participate.
"Junk debt rout sparks 'bloodbath' for credit investors.
"A prolonged rout in the riskiest parts of the global market for junk debt is sending shockwaves through credit markets, driving some of its most active investors to steep losses as lenders lose faith in the world's most vulnerable corporate borrowers."
https://www.ft.com/content/fdc9a85d-d2c4-465f-99ca-609d68b6d443
"Investors pull billions in funds from Binance after record $6.3bn hack…
"The hack came as many observers expressed worries that the ever-expanding capabilities of artificial intelligence models could compromise cryptography and IT security protocols. Bitcoin plunged nearly 5% after the news of the hack, while ethereum dropped nearly 6% and BNB, native to Binance, tumbled nearly 10%."
"North Korea's Hackers Supercharge Crypto Heists With AI Skills.
"The North Korean group accused of the world's largest-ever crypto heist is a state-sponsored collective of elite hackers, groomed from an early age to hunt for "big game." Artificial intelligence has now provided them with a powerful new tool to swell Kim Jong Un's coffers and fund his military expansion."
"AI boom comes with a debt bomb: Magnificent Seven borrowing surges 45% to $578 billion.
"The artificial intelligence (AI) boom is pushing some of the world's biggest technology companies deeper into debt, with borrowing by the Magnificent Seven rising nearly 45 per cent to $578 billion by mid-2026, according to a report by SBI Research."
"These firms you've never heard of are feeding fears the AI bubble could burst…
"Names like CoreWeave and Nebius are familiar to the tech set in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. These data centre companies, known as neocloud firms, run large warehouses packed with expensive computers, which they lease to major AI developers like Anthropic, OpenAI and Meta."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cje36degrgv5o
"From securitisation to spreads, AI bust could look a lot like the GFC…
"As projects get completed and become hyperscaler ROU assets and liabilities, the SPV typically restructures its liabilities into 144A bonds… The bonds are sold to sophisticated investor… Students of the GFC would be familiar with securitisation issues. The sophisticated buyers of debt like to spice up their returns through derivatives. This is already well under way."
"Nearly 1 billion oil barrels drained from global inventories since Hormuz disruption, ADNOC CEO says.
"Speaking at the opening of the Adipec energy conference in Abu Dhabi, Sultan Al Jaber, the CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC), warned that the conflict has severely eroded the world's energy supply buffers and exposed major structural weaknesses in global supply chains."
"Oil Prices No Longer Follow Headline.
"Brent crude remains above $116 despite recovering Gulf oil exports, as escalating tanker attacks, soaring freight costs and insurance premiums sustain a hefty war risk premium. The global oil supply cushion has largely disappeared, with physical market tightness, diesel shortages and prolonged disruptions keeping prices elevated."
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Oil-Prices/Oil-Prices-No-Longer-Follow-Headlines.amp.html
"Qatar LNG carrier struck by 'unidentified objects' in Gulf.
"A Qatari tanker has been hit by "unidentified objects" while sailing in the Gulf, the Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat) said, the latest attack on commercial shipping since the US-Israel war on Iran began in February."
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/11/1/qatar-lng-carrier-struck-by-unidentified-objects-in-gulf
"Negotiators 'braced for worst' over US-Iran talks to reopen strait of Hormuz.
"Indirect talks in Doha ran into a third day on Sunday with Qatar trying to negotiate the release of more than $6bn in Iranian assets, which could lead to the reopening of the strait of Hormuz and the restart of negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme."
"Diplomats warn that renewed conflict would be even more damaging than previous rounds of fighting…
""We are very confident that . . . the second round will be more dangerous, more destructive and it will lead to nowhere," said Egyptian foreign minister Badr Abdelatty on Saturday. "We are extremely worried," he added."
https://www.ft.com/content/efaa2962-1acb-45cf-afb4-d0088f0a1046
"The US-China trade war seems to have subsided - but the sense of calm is misleading.
"Under the radar, the world is marching toward an economic war of potentially epic proportions, one that, history suggests, could well spill over into the real thing… neither China nor the US has done anything to establish the mutual assurances that could limit the outbreak of new hostilities."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/nov/01/us-china-trade-war-trump-xi
"Trump administration promises US farmers $15 billion in weeks before the midterms…
"Besides the more than $15 billion worth of payments and initiatives announced by Trump's Department of Agriculture, the agency plans $13.8 billion in safety net program payments for eligible producers for the 2025 crop year, offsetting shortfalls for farmers who grow key crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat and rice."
"America's Debt Just Crossed a Line Not Seen Since WWII.
"U.S. publicly held debt hit 100.03% of GDP in fiscal 2026, the first time it exceeded the economy's size since 1946. Washington paid $1.052 trillion in net interest during fiscal 2026, nearly $2.9 billion daily, surpassing national defense spending of $965 billion."
https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/10/31/americas-debt-just-crossed-a-line-not-seen-since-wwii/
"'Sharper, longer slowdown' predicted for [Australia's] economy as fifth interest rate hike looms…
"The RBA is widely expected to hit mortgage holders with a fifth rate hike on Tuesday, in a move that will push the cash rate to its highest since 2008 amid rising worries the economy could even be tipped into recession."
"Bank of England explores easing key limit on riskier mortgage lending.
"The Bank of England is exploring one of the biggest reforms of its mortgage rules in more than a decade, opening the door to a surge in riskier lending in response to calls from the government and industry to boost home-ownership."
https://www.ft.com/content/78363dc1-90fa-4a10-b84a-69be3d749f42
"'Debt is too big, population too old': Economist Kenneth Rogoff says Europe is dying a slow death…
"The big change has been the normalisation of interest rates. During the 2010s, almost everyone in the economics profession, at central banks and on Wall Street, including prominent economists such as Larry Summers and Paul Krugman, argued that interest rates would never be high again."
"Clashes Erupt Again in France, After Festive Start to Day of Protest.
"Hundreds of thousands of people poured into the streets of French cities again on Saturday for protests that began with the festivity of a Halloween parade but gave way to darker scenes of clashes between demonstrators and the police."
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/31/world/europe/france-protests-clashes.html
"Europe protests: Unrest spreads to Germany, Portugal and Switzerland.
"Looting, clashes with police, hundreds of arrests: many of yesterday's cost of living protests across Europe descended into unrest for a third weekend in a row. Rioters wearing masks attacked police and looted shops in Frankfurt - including a gun store."
https://www.channel4.com/news/europe-protests-unrest-spreads-to-germany-portugal-and-switzerland
"Tensions high in Poland as Donald Tusk accused of 'constitutional coup'…
"The latest round in this long-running drama began when Nawrocki refused to accept constitutional court judges appointed by parliament, the standard procedure, while Swieczkowski declined to allow the new judges enter the court."
"Russian strikes leave thousands without power in Ukraine, says Zelenskyy…
""Overnight alone, our energy infrastructure came under Russian attack in four regions: Dnipro, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, and Khmelnytskyi. Substations, transformers, and power lines that supply electricity to our people's homes were targeted, Zelenskyy wrote on social media."
"Ukraine defies Trump to resume attacks on Russian oil refineries…
"Russian state media said on Sunday Ukrainian long-range drones had set fire to the Kstovo refinery in Nizhny Novgorod oblast overnight, soon after a major strike against another big refinery in Samara oblast, owned by the Russian state energy giant Rosneft."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/nov/01/ukraine-defies-trump-resumes-attacks-russian-oil
"Russia forced to ship grain via Arctic as Black Sea battles rage.
"Russia is testing exporting grain through the Arctic port of Murmansk, thousands of kilometres from the farms where it is grown, as Ukraine's drone campaign has all but cut off its traditional route via the Black Sea."
https://www.ft.com/content/50aeab56-c5e3-44c5-9117-8fadc2f980fb
"South Korean soldier found dead at frontline post near North Korea…
"The incident comes amid heightened inter-Korean tensions following a landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone in late September that injured three South Korean soldiers. Seoul blamed Pyongyang, which denied responsibility."
"China's manufacturing activity returned to contraction in October as domestic and overseas demand weakened.
"The official manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 49.3, while the nonmanufacturing PMI, covering services and construction, dropped to 49.7, the National Bureau of Statistics said Saturday."
"As Chinese tourists stay away, airlines cut back 700,000 seats on Japan routes.
"Airlines are set to slash nearly 700,000 seats on routes between China and Japan this winter as diplomatic tensions continue to dampen travel demand, according to data from British aviation firm OAG."
"Taiwan says China harassing shipping with east coast patrol.
"The China Coast Guard is harassing shipping with its latest patrol off Taiwan's east coast and trying to exert a fictional jurisdiction, the Taiwanese Coast Guard said, adding it had sent its own ships to keep watch."
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/11/01/asia-pacific/taiwan-china-harassing-shipping/
"Thai border with Cambodia to remain shut amid concerns…
"Speaking on the programme Talk with PM Anutin on Saturday, Mr Anutin said there was no timeline for reopening the border and no indication that bilateral relations would return to their previous level soon. He cited unresolved land and maritime boundary issues, transnational scam operations and the safety of Thai citizens."
"Bangladesh workers clash with police in protests over low pay.
"Dozens of garment workers in Bangladesh clashed with police in the capital Dhaka as they protested against low pay and the rising cost of living. The textile industry is the backbone of the country's economy."
"Five people were killed in two separate incidents in India's northeastern state of Manipur, police said on Sunday, as fresh ethnic violence erupted in the conflict-hit region.
"Three men from the Kuki tribal group were killed in an exchange of gunfire between "unidentified armed miscreants" in the state's Noney district on Saturday, according to a police statement."
"Pakistan warns Afghanistan of 'unbearable punishment' as clashes persist along border.
"Fresh border clashes and a civilian casualty temporarily shut the Torkham crossing, leaving Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions high despite a construction halt agreement and U.S. backing for Islamabad's cross-border security concerns."
"Azerbaijani border quards neutralize armed intruder on Iran border…
"In accordance with the requirements of Azerbaijan's Law on the State Border, officers used firearms to detain the individual, who had ignored their lawful orders. The border violator was neutralised. The Iranian side was informed of the incident through border representative channels."
https://news.az/news/azerbaijani-border-quards-neutralize-armed-intruder-on-iran-border
"A source in Syria's intelligence revealed to SANA on Sunday that a terrorist plot targeting the Homs refinery in central Syria has been thwarted.
"The Homs refinery, along with the Baniyas refinery, plays a crucial role in securing petroleum derivatives for the domestic market… Authorities did not reveal who was behind the plot."
"After EU rebuff, how Turkey is courting Egypt for maritime deal…
"Turkey's Defense Ministry on Wednesday reiterated that Ankara was ready to sign a maritime delimitation agreement with Egypt, echoing a similar statement by Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler last week."
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/10/after-eu-rebuff-how-turkey-courting-egypt-maritime-deal
"Israel Condemns Turkey-Libya Maritime Deal and Backs Greek Sovereignty.
"Israel has strongly condemned the controversial maritime agreement between Turkey and Libya, declaring that it lacks legal validity and reaffirming its support for Greece's sovereignty and sovereign rights in the Eastern Mediterranean."
https://greekreporter.com/2026/11/01/israel-condemns-turkey-libya-maritime-deal/
"At least eight Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza…
""It's hard to remember a day gone by when we haven't reported on deadly attacks across the Gaza Strip," said Al Jazeera's Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Gaza City. "In the last couple of hours, a group of law enforcement officers patrolling al-Mawasi … to protect displaced civilians was targeted. Five policemen were killed instantly."
"Yemeni government forces seize strategic positions in al-Jawf.
"Yemen's internationally recognised government says its forces have recaptured military positions and strategic heights east of al-Hazm, the capital of the northern governorate of al-Jawf, while fighting continues to deepen the humanitarian crisis in the besieged city of Taiz."
"Drone strike kills 12 civilians collecting grain in Ethiopia's Tigray region.
"At least 12 civilians were killed and several others injured in a drone strike in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region Friday while collecting grain spilled from a truck damaged in an earlier attack, local authorities and hospital sources confirmed Saturday."
"Sudan's power grid nears collapse as drone strikes blamed on RSF target electric stations…
"The attacks have disrupted electricity and water supplies, halted business activity and forced residents to rely on costly alternatives, driving up prices. The Sudan Doctors Network warned the outages endanger hospitals, dialysis centers and blood banks, and threaten the cold storage needed for medicines and vaccines."
"Ebola Fatality Rate Tops 50% After Hundreds of Deaths Added to Congo Toll…
"The revision comes as health authorities continue to report dozens of new infections a day from an epidemic that has spread to eight provinces and 67 health zones. It is the largest Ebola outbreak in Congo's history and the largest globally after the 2013-2016 epidemic in West Africa."
"Algeria is sending troops to Niger for the first time in decades - what's at stake.
"Securing energy interests provides an immediate justification for military intervention, but it does not fully explain the strategic stakes. Sonatrach, Algeria's national oil and gas company, is exploring the Kafra oil block in the Agadez region of Niger… Niger is also a key link in the planned trans-Saharan gas pipeline project."
"The Sahel, a new front in the rivalry between Algeria and Morocco…
"Rabat and Algiers are deploying competing strategies of influence in the region… Diplomacy, security, infrastructure, energy, trade and religion: the region has become a new arena where the two North African states seek to consolidate their positions amid rapid geopolitical shifts."
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/sahel-new-front-rivalry-between-algeria-and-morocco
"Venezuelan army strike on Colombian rebel camp leaves 19 dead.
"At least 19 people have died following an attack by the Venezuelan armed forces on an encampment belonging to Colombian rebels inside Venezuela, an NGO and sources close to the operation reported."
https://www.trtworld.com/article/f4ae01775881
"Colombia at Risk of Default Without a Fix, Restrepo Tells Semana…
"Colombia is at risk of default if Congress fails to approve a fiscal adjustment bill, Vice President José Manuel Restrepo said in an interview with local magazine Semana, warning that the country faces a severe economic crisis without the proposed measures."
"Falklands tensions spur fishing 'free-for-all' in south Atlantic.
"Friction between the UK and Argentina over the Falkland Islands has led to a fishing "free-for-all" in the south-west Atlantic, as foreign fleets take advantage of the region's failure to jointly manage stocks of squid, hake and other marine wildlife."
https://www.ft.com/content/f58e93ef-cf97-4d5d-b4b1-9d0f6aa75218?syn-25a6b1a6=1
"Global Smartphone Shipments Fall 20% in 3Q26 to Lowest Third-Quarter Level Since 2013.
"Global smartphone shipments fell 20% year-on-year (YoY) to 254.7 million units in 3Q26, according to Omdia, marking the lowest third-quarter shipment volume since 2013. Rising smartphone prices continued to weigh on consumer demand, particularly in emerging markets."
As a reader-funded publication, your one time and regular donations help keep this site going. If you value this work, please share it far and wide and consider a Patreon subscription or a one time Paypal donation. You can also support this work by buying a virtual coffee. Thank you!
You can read the previous "Economic" thead here. I'll be back tomorrow with an "Economic" thread.
The post 2nd November 2026 Today's Round-Up of Economic News appeared first on Climate and Economy.
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.
"Scientists confirm global warming is accelerating faster than ever recorded.
"Earth is warming faster than ever recorded, with scientists detecting a major acceleration in global temperatures since around 2015. A new study reveals that the warming rate has surged to approximately 0.35°C per decade, nearly double the average pace observed from 1970 to 2015. After removing natural climate fluctuations, researchers confirmed the acceleration with more than 98% statistical confidence."
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261027231200.htm
"Unprecedented Collapse! "Watch as The Stratospheric Polar Vortex splits in 2 pieces - an unprecedented early-season collapse. Its a full month ahead of any other known collapse!"
https://x.com/WeatherProf/status/2116167801329033508
"Fears for mature Scots Pines burned by huge Highland wildfire…
"Forestry and Land Scotland say the blaze around Glenmore in the Cairngorms may have led to the loss of many so-called "granny pines" which have matured over centuries."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqd09pv4l3k0o
'You can see the water going down': residents on edge as one of England's worst-hit reservoirs dries up.
"The Ardingly reservoir, managed by South East Water and serving about 95,000 properties in and around Haywards Heath and Uckfield in Sussex, is currently 19% full."
"How Climate Change Is Raising Borrowing Costs in Europe.
"Floods, droughts and heat waves are increasingly influencing how investors assess financial risk, potentially driving up borrowing costs for governments and businesses. The European Central Bank is strengthening its approach to climate and nature-related risks…"
https://www.tovima.com/climate/how-climate-change-is-raising-borrowing-costs-in-europe/
"Severe rainfall and flood warnings issued for central Greece and western Turkey.
"Heavy rain and strong winds will continue to affect parts of south-eastern Europe and Turkey over the next few days, as an area of low pressure in the region has allowed for the formation of powerful thunderstorms."
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/oct/30/severe-rainfall-flood-warnings-greece-turkey
"Massive sinkholes open up across Turkey as it struggles with drought and climate change.
"Turkey's central Anatolian plateau is one of the country's most important agricultural regions, producing wheat, maize, sugar beet and other crops. Yet beneath its cultivated fields, the ground is becoming increasingly unstable."
"Syria flash floods kill at least 5, force hundreds of families from camps.
"Heavy rain and flash floods left five people dead, including four children, and forced some 375 families to flee displacement camps in Syria's Raqqa province."
"Cyclone Arnab aftermath: Floods strand thousands in southern Odisha, disrupt rail services.
"More than 62,000 people affected in Ganjam and Gajapati districts as rivers overflow, villages remain submerged and authorities consider helicopter evacuations."
"Bhutan hot springs hit by flood from glacial lake burst…
"A flood caused by the Shintaphu glacial lake bursting its banks has washed away infrastructure at the Gasa Tshachu natural hot springs in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan."
"Smoke from wildfires killed 3,500 people in Indonesia in September: Report…
"Toxic fire smoke accounted for 94-99 percent of air pollution-related deaths in Kalimantan, on the island of Borneo, and more than 80 percent on Sumatra, the regions worst affected by the fires, the report notes."
"El Niño-driven drought in Papua New Guinea a 'national crisis' as rivers dry up and local farms fail…
"Residents and community leaders have told the Guardian that rivers and creeks have dried up and family food gardens - a vital source of food and income for many - have shrivelled."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/30/png-el-nino-drought-papua-new-guinea
"INSANE HEAT NEVER SEEN BEFORE - Mind blowing MINIMUM Temperature of 30.7C/87.2F at Bonaire Island
"HOTTEST NIGHT EVER RECORDED IN ALL AREA
CARIBBEAN AND CENTRAL AMERICA." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2115881486771720334
"L.A.'s Westside once bragged about not needing air conditioning. This year's heat changed that.
"…the summer of 2026, with its endless heat waves and unprecedented humidity levels due to El Niño, may be a tipping point for those in Southern California who thought they could survive without air conditioning."
"Lake Powell just added nearly 200 billion gallons of water in the last 8 days, the largest 8-day volume gain for the reservoir outside spring snowmelt on record.
"Amazing." [Colin McCarthy]
[that's supposedly 2.3% of total capacity]
https://x.com/US_Stormwatch/status/2115856522903429403
"Mexico's Escalating Drinking Water Crisis Is a Warning to the US
"A deepening drinking-water crisis in Mexico presents a question—could something comparable happen in an American city?"
https://www.newsweek.com/mexicos-escalating-drinking-water-crisis-is-a-warning-to-the-us-12624530
"Arizona's lifeline to the Colorado River is drying up. Its designers warned us decades ago
"The Colorado River is at a pivotal crossroads. People are taking more water out of the river than it can provide, and the policymakers that manage water use cannot agree on how to rein in demand."
"This October is on track to be the hottest ever recorded.
"Global temperatures this month are set to be around 1.76 degrees Celsius (about 3.17 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels, surpassing the previous record set in 2023, researchers predict."
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/this-october-is-on-track-to-be-the-hottest-ever-recorded/
As a reader-funded publication, your one time and regular donations help keep this site going. If you value this work, please share it far and wide and consider a Patreon subscription or a one time Paypal donation. You can also support this work by buying a virtual coffee. Thank you!
You can read the previous "Climate" thread here. Pan will be back on Monday with an "Economic" thread.
The post 31st October 2026 Today's Round-Up of Climate News appeared first on Climate and Economy.
Many thanks also 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.
"Oil Refineries Become Prime Targets as Global Fuel Shortage Worsens
"The global refining crisis is worsening, as war damage to Middle Eastern refineries and Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian facilities severely restrict fuel supplies."
"Ship reported on fire off Oman as Iran escalation fears mount.
"A ship in the Strait of Hormuz is reported to be on fire, a British maritime agency says. Iran has meanwhile said it has shot down another US drone as military tensions with Washington continue."
https://amp.dw.com/en/ship-reported-on-fire-off-oman-as-iran-escalation-fears-mount/a-79792733
"Iran's hidden web of military agencies is slipping hardware past the US blockade.
"Iran has harnessed a military-financial complex of 5,000 agencies to bring in components, explosives and heavy-duty trucks critical to its drone and missile programs. Even during the war, deliveries reached Iran by land, sea and air."
"Israeli election deadlock leaves door open to fresh Iran strikes.
"Israel's inconclusive election opens the possibility for Binyamin Netanyahu to launch a new bombing campaign with the US against Iran while he rules as caretaker prime minister, said Israeli security experts."
70 years ago the Suez crisis exposed British relative decline. Today, the Iran conflict could be doing the same for the US
Suez showed that Britain had lost the leeway to behave like a superpower.
"…the invasion was a spectacular failure that was condemned by the international community. The crisis came to symbolise Britain's loss of superpower status."
"Americans are putting groceries and gas on credit, and the debt is piling up…
"A 2026 survey commissioned by Accredited Debt Relief found that 66% of respondents had used a credit card to purchase groceries in the previous year. The survey also found that 29% relied on credit or borrowing every month to make ends meet."
https://nypost.com/business/how-everyday-expenses-become-long-term-debt/
"North Sea oil and gas tax take 'close to zero' in five years, OBR says.
"The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), in a document published alongside the UK Government's Budget, also projected that North Sea output would decline by 10% a year until 2031. The 10% decline is assuming that the Rosebank oil field is approved for development."
"EU Scrambles to Contain Energy Price Crisis Ahead of Winter.
""We are in a very serious situation now. It does not look like we have a security of supply issue but I would warn against neglecting that," Jorgensen told media yesterday, as quoted by Reuters."
"European property slump deepens as borrowing costs force price cuts…
"Government bond yields have surged to multi-year highs across Europe and globally, pushing up financing costs for borrowers, including in the interest-rate sensitive property sector."
"Is the Eurozone heading towards a new sovereign debt crisis?
"Lessons from the Eurozone's experience with Greece in 2010 suggest that while a full-blown drama is yet to unfold, the European Central Bank must stand ready to intervene if nee
ded."
https://www.economicsobservatory.com/is-the-eurozone-heading-towards-a-new-sovereign-debt-crisis
"French Senate backs 'Rioters Pay' bill that could make protesters pay $11,000 fines…
"Under the so-called "Rioters Pay" bill, protesters could be ordered to pay up to 10,000 euros ($11,140) "for the compensation of damages resulting from crimes and offenses committed by force or violence." Welfare payments could also be seized to cover costs."
https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2026/10/29/france-protests-riots-cost-damages-law.html
"Volkswagen crisis deepens as it reports worst loss since 'Dieselgate' scandal…
"Chief executive Oliver Blume has agreed to cut a total of 100,000 jobs by 2030… 'The loss reported by VW today is a warning sign for the entire sector and industry, and should also serve as one for policymakers,' said Moritz Kronenberger of Volkswagen investor Union Investment."
"Private Credit: Facing A Brutal 2027.
"Private credit markets are deteriorating rapidly, with default rates hitting record highs and refinancing conditions worsening amid rising interest rates."
https://seekingalpha.com/article/4959243-private-credit-facing-a-brutal-2027
"Investors May Have Bought All the AI Bonds They Can Handle.
"A new anxiety is gripping Wall Street as it bankrolls the vast network of data centers and chips behind the AI boom: Early signs suggest the credit market is approaching the limits of how much more debt it can absorb."
"The AI bubble could expose your deepest secrets…
"If the bubble pops, untold numbers of AI businesses will merge or shut down. The data that billions of people give to AI tools could then be purchased by almost anyone. You may never find out what happens to it."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20261029-the-ai-bubble-could-expose-your-deepest-secrets
[Reality corner]
In Erik Michael's latest he quotes Lyle Lewis:
"Perhaps the defining scarcity of this century will not be information. We already possess more information than any society in history. The scarcity will be uninterrupted time—time long enough for information to become understanding, understanding to become adaptation, and adaptation to become resilience.
Without that time, ecosystems cannot fully adapt, institutions cannot learn, and societies cannot clearly understand what is happening to them. The world does not need to conceal the crisis from us. It only needs to change faster than we can put the pieces together."
https://problemspredicamentsandtechnology.blogspot.com/2026/10/adaptation-will-be-futile.html
As a reader-funded publication, your one time and regular donations help keep this site going. If you value this work, please share it far and wide and consider a Patreon subscription or a one time Paypal donation. You can also support this work by buying a virtual coffee. Thank you!
You can read the previous "Economic" thread here. I'll be back tomorrow with a "Climate" thread.
The post 30th October 2026 Today's Round-Up of Economic News appeared first on Climate and Economy.
I will be away until Monday now, so this is a brief thread before I dash to catch a ferry. Kali is going to be very kind and post the odd thing whilst I'm away to keep the site ticking over.
Thank you all for bearing with me, and special thanks to those who contribute financially.
Many thanks also 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.
"Ocean's ability to absorb carbon is weakening as climate change intensifies, UN warns…
"Rising temperatures and changes in ocean chemistry, circulation and ecosystems are weakening its ability to absorb and store carbon, leaving more CO₂ in the atmosphere. And this process "can definitely accelerate" in the foreseeable future…"
https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/10/1168687
"The deep ocean's protection against warming started to change in 2016. Nobody knows what happens now…
"Our new research shows that over the past decade, the Antarctic intermediate water has rapidly become saltier and more dense, and sitting deeper in the ocean. As a result, more heat may reach the deeper waters - with unknown consequences for the world's climate."
"Antarctic Sea-Ice Update:
"As of October 27, Antarctic sea-ice extent is second lowest on record for the day, 3.98 standard deviations below the 1991-2020 average, and about 145,000 km² above the record daily low set in 2023."
[Prof Eliot Jacobson]
https://x.com/EliotJacobson/status/2115420833351102861
"Polar Sharks And Rays Are Losing Their Safe Haven As Sea Ice Declines…
"The very conditions that once made these ecosystems feel so remote are changing, opening the door to greater human activity. And suddenly, those seemingly untouched habitats risk becoming covered in our fingerprints, much like a toddler's sticky handprints smeared across a freshly cleaned window."
"Polar Vortex Split Forecast: The Earliest Stratospheric Warming on Record Is Coming…
"The latest forecasts show stratospheric winds collapsing toward a full reversal in early November, splitting the Polar Vortex into two separate cores… An event this early is uncharted territory. With a Super El Niño already shaping the weather pattern, the impacts are harder to track than in mid-winter."
https://www.severe-weather.eu/globa
"Greenland ice sheet shrinks for 30th year in a row.
"Over the 12-month period to August 2026, the world's second-largest ice sheet lost around 135bn tonnes of ice. This major ice loss came as the region experienced a relatively cool start to summer and less surface melt than in previous years."
https://www.carbonbrief.org/guest-post-greenland-ice-sheet-shrinks-for-30th-year-in-a-row
"One of Norway's largest glaciers has split apart due to extensive melting.
""We have been monitoring Harbardsbreen for several years because we recognised that the glacier was at risk of splitting apart in this area. We should expect more glaciers to break up, and Norway's ranking of its largest glaciers will need to be revised once we complete a new nationwide survey," glacier researcher Liss Marie Andreassen says…"
"Swiss village remains on alert over unstable Weisshorn Glacier.
"The hanging glacier on the eastern side of the Weisshorn mountain above Randa, in southern Switzerland, will continue to be closely monitored and safety measures will remain in place due to the potential dangers, the authorities said on Tuesday."
"Slovenia mourns loss of glacier on its highest peak after scorching summer…
"In the last five years, which includes Europe's three hottest years on record, the remaining ice has melted to a handful of isolated pockets, with the final remnant of the main body measuring just a few metres by the end of summer. New photos of the mountainside - taken either side of snowfall this month - confirm that no ice remains."
"Residents of the Arava region in southern Israel report being unable to reach their polling stations due to flooding caused by stormy weather.
"The reports in Hebrew media come after heavy rain in the Arava desert and across much of southern Israel prompted the closure of Route 90 in both directions."
"Families brace for a fourth winter of wind, rain and floods in Gaza's camps…
"When temperatures drop, tents offer little protection for the displaced, with al-Jamal and his family having no choice but to put on more layers of clothing. "We are out in the open. We are living in the street, not in houses that protect us," he said."
"Heavy rain triggers flash flooding in Syria.
"Heavy thunderstorms accompanied by hail and strong winds struck wide areas of Raqqa, Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor, as well as parts of the countryside of Homs, Hama and Aleppo today, causing flash floods, flooding and torrents in valleys, and cutting off several roads, according to the Civil Defense."
https://hawarnews.com/en/heavy-rain-triggers-flash-flooding-in-syria
"More historic heat in SOUTHERN AFRICA: Min 29.9 [85.9F] Kariba is HOTTEST NIGHT EVER RECORDED IN ZIMBABWE.
"In BOTSWANA Monthly record at Lephepe: Max. 39.7C. Tomorrow extreme heat again in Mozambique and Malawi."
[Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2115149313634369885
"Since the thermometer was invented, there has never been anything comparable to what we are seeing now in West Asia.
"Still MINIMUMS >30C [86F] in Middle East and tropical nights in The Caucasus at 43N. This won't end anytime soon: Thousands of November records will be pulverized allover the area." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2115340129116316145
"At least 3 dead after Cylone Arnab hits southern India…
"At least 180,000 people were evacuated from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha states a day earlier. Flights and train services were cancelled, and some schools were forced to close. Authorities say more than 12 million people live in the cyclone's expected path."
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/28/cyclone-arnab-makes-landfall-in-indias-andhra-pradesh
"Ocean warming and herbivorous fish grazing drive kelp forest collapse along Japan's Izu Peninsula…
"Kelp forests, ecosystems formed by large brown seaweeds in coastal waters, provide habitats for numerous fish and invertebrates and are vital to coastal productivity and carbon cycling. However, in recent years, kelp forests have declined throughout Japan…"
https://phys.org/news/2026-10-ocean-herbivorous-fish-grazing-kelp.html
"World's oldest cave paintings under threat as wildfires rage across Indonesia…
"In a cave in South Sulawesi's Maros-Pangkep, an artwork depicting human-like figures interacting with a pig was dated by researchers from Australia's Griffith University to be at least 51,200 years old. In a cave on Muna Island, off Sulawesi, a reddish-coloured hand stencil was dated to at least 67,800 years."
"Farmers urged to monitor crops as locust swarms threaten south-eastern Australia…
"It said the build-up followed record rainfall across the arid interior in February and March, which had lifted autumn adult numbers, while favourable conditions through autumn and winter had supported survival and breeding."
https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/cropping/farmers-urged-to-monitor-crops-as-locust-swarms-threaten-southeastern-australia/news-story/657384bc167893895eadc5c6e98d576a
"ABSOLUTELY INSANE HEAT ALL OVER THE AMERICAS:
"Brownsville TX exceptional 98F/36.7C; 36.1 Flamingo AP is HOTTEST OCTOBER DAY IN BONAIRE. Min. 21.0 Arica IS HOTTEST OCTOBER NIGHT EVER RECORDED IN CHILE… 100% of Caribbean with unprecedented heat. CRAZY." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2115274437918642669
"Chile: declares eight-month algae emergency across salmon farming regions.
"Chile has declared a preventive emergency across 15 coastal regions, including its main salmon farming areas, amid concerns that El Niño conditions could increase the risk of harmful algal blooms over the coming summer."
https://www.salmonbusiness.com/chile-declares-eight-month-algae-emergency-across-salmon-farming-regions/
"The Ocean 'Was the Color of Chocolate.' Mexico Declares War on Seaweed…
"With climate change helping to fuel a record expansion of the seaweed throughout the Caribbean and up the coast of the U.S. — reaching as far as North Carolina this summer — the Mexican efforts are being held up as a potential test case for a sustainable solution."
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/28/world/americas/mexico-seaweed-navy.html
"HISTORIC HEAT IN THE CARIBBEAN:
"MINIMUM 30.4C Bonaire (Dutch Caribbean) is HOTTEST NIGHT EVER RECORDED IN THE CARIBBEAN. 9 minimums in a row >29C: Absolute madness, never happened before in The Caribbean or even in Central and South America."
[Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2115514967487291751
"Unprecedented flooding is quickly becoming a fact of life in some Southern California coastal communities.
"On Monday morning, high tide brought water pouring into business districts in Newport Beach and flooded part of Pacific Coast Highway in Sunset Beach. Sea water levels reached an all-time record high in San Pedro, topping 8 feet. Conditions are expected to get worse Tuesday."
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-10-27/la-me-heat-california-coast-water
"50 Year Record Broken in Ft Lauderdale! Water levels reached 2.51 Ft above mean higher high water, breaking the record for highest water in Port Everglades.
"That beats hurricane Dorian and Nicole. Palm Beach also set its highest level on record in 56+ years… This is due to persistently strong onshore winds, full moon, favorable lunar phase, and sea level rise due to a warming climate." [Jeff Berardelli]
https://x.com/WeatherProf/status/2115411513959714922
"The climate crisis will destroy our economies - we learned this 20 years ago. When will we act?
"Saving the only planet we have makes good economic sense. There is, after all, no money to be made on a dead Earth. There may be costs involved now, but they are worth paying to protect our children from certain destruction."
As a reader-funded publication, your one time and regular donations help keep this site going. If you value this work, please share it far and wide and consider a Patreon subscription or a one time Paypal donation. You can also support this work by buying a virtual coffee. Thank you!
You can read the previous "Climate" thead here. I'll be back on Monday with an "Economic" thread.
The post 29th October 2026 Today's Round-Up of Climate News appeared first on Climate and Economy.
With apologies, this will be my last full thread until Monday. My nephew is getting married and I must travel to England and be an embarrassing uncle, as is the way of things. I'll put out a short Climate thread tomorrow before I leave, and Kali is going to be very kind and post the odd thing whilst I'm away to keep the site ticking over.
Thank you all for bearing with me, and special thanks to those who contribute financially.
Many thanks also 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.
"High inflation to persist globally into next year, Reuters poll.
"…central banks could face a more difficult policy backdrop, with inflation no longer driven only by oil prices but increasingly feeding into wider price measures. Most central banks have raised interest rates only a few times or not at all, and further moves remain possible if inflation pressures broaden."
"The Diesel Crisis Is Here To Stay.
"The global diesel shortage is expected to persist well into 2027, as damaged Middle Eastern and Russian refineries continue to constrain fuel supplies. Trump's Russian diesel deal offers little relief, with initial shipments covering less than one-tenth of U.S. daily diesel consumption."
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/The-Diesel-Crisis-Is-Here-To-Stay.html
"'Never-ending' cruise ends journey in Cambodia due to fuel shortages.
"…this week, passengers were told: 'Unfortunately, we were unable to secure the fuel necessary to continue operations. As a result, the Odyssey will enter a temporary layup this afternoon, with crew remaining onboard to maintain the vessel and its essential systems."
"Yemen's Houthi Rebels Strike Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura Oil Terminal.
"Yemen's Houthi rebels claim to have hit the Saudi energy complex at Ras Tanura, a gigantic refinery and loading terminal that handles an outsize share of the world's oil supply. It is the latest strike deep into the heart of Saudi territory…"
"Iran's calculations as US escalation looms: Trust, midterms, Hormuz.
"As regional powers step up diplomatic efforts to prevent another escalation in the eight-month United States-Israel war on Iran, Tehran is showing little sign of backing down from its red lines."
"U.S. Warns Gulf of Possible Short, Intense Renewal of Iran War After Midterms…
"The communications through diplomatic and military channels are among a growing number of indications that the U.S. and Israel are readying to launch a new round of heavy combat operations against Iran, risking a major escalation in hopes of degrading Tehran's strength and pushing it toward negotiations."
"Three Russian diesel tankers steam for US — including one under sanctions.
"Three tankers laden with Russian diesel — including one blacklisted by European authorities — are scheduled to arrive at US ports next week, raising legal risks for firms involved with bringing the fuel into the country."
https://www.ft.com/content/d847744f-cfa5-4dc5-bdd2-faeee0b584f7?syn-25a6b1a6=1
"Trump shows off tanker with '1m barrels of oil' and floats Venezuela as 51st state.
"Donald Trump suggested Venezuela would become the 51st state of the United States on Tuesday as the president showed off a tanker he claimed had "one million barrels of oil on it" from the country, nine months after deposing its president."
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/27/trump-oil-tanker-venezuela
"America Produces Less Than 1% of the Rare Earth Magnets It Needs.
"China's ongoing weaponization of rare earths, which has now been bolstered to include measures to keep individuals with sensitive technological knowledge from leaving the country, gives it leverage over a $1.5 trillion U.S. civilian economy that depends on permanent magnets."
"Two AI Chipmakers Make Up 34% of America's Earnings Boom…
"The risk posed by that concentrated earnings growth, analysts said, is the same one underpinning the broader AI investing boom: that the technology ultimately won't deliver on the massive sums of money being poured into it."
"The AI bubble has 'already burst' in China…
""Some of the most popular AI stocks — the suppliers of optical equipment to data centres, chipmakers, companies that were seen as providing the nuts and bolts of the AI revolution — have seen their share prices collapse by 50, 60, or 70 per cent in the last few months," he said."
"Is China's economy broken?
"On the one hand, China's exports are surging… Meanwhile, households are saving rather than spending after the property crash. Property investment is down nearly 20% this year alone. Retail sales are barely growing, and youth unemployment hit nearly 19% in August. And some analysts… think the real, the real growth rate is far, far lower than the actual numbers suggest."
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/is-chinas-economy-broken/
"Chinese Government to Speed Bond Sales to Stimulate Growth…
"The amount, estimated by China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co. and Industrial Securities, will only be behind the stimulus splurge in 2024. It'll add to the 11.15 trillion yuan raised in net financing so far this year as of Oct. 23, according to Bloomberg calculations based on ChinaBond data."
"[UK] Government issues debt at highest interest rate since financial crisis on eve of Budget.
"The Debt Management Office has been forced to sell nearly £5bn of five-year gilts at their highest interest rate since 2008, underscoring the fiscal challenge facing John Healey on the eve of his maiden Budget."
"Healey warned 'the dam is breaking' on shop price inflation.
"Retailers have said the long-feared spike in inflation caused by the Iran war's knock-on effects on energy and supply costs is beginning to take hold… Mike Watkins, head of retailer insight at data firm NIQ, said retailers had managed to delay some of the impact of these price rises by working hard to discount products."
https://www.cityam.com/healey-warned-the-dam-is-breaking-on-shop-price-inflation/
"French Consumer Confidence Drops to 13-Year Low After Riots.
"French consumer confidence plummeted to its lowest level in 13 years in October as households reckoned with multiple shocks from a bond market selloff to protests that descended into rioting."
"Fuel shortages worsen across France, hundreds of stations entirely out of supply…
"Government figures from Tuesday (October 27) estimate that 11% of stations in France are out of at least one type of fuel. At the same time, motorists are reportedly using their vehicles less, with the supermarket and service station group Coopérative U seeing sales volumes drop by up to 40%."
"Thousands rally outside Portugal's parliament over housing crisis, police operations.
"Thousands of demonstrators gathered outside Portugal's parliament in Lisbon to protest a worsening housing crisis and recent forceful police actions. The mobilization was triggered by a series of weekend police operations where baton-charging officers dismantled protest tent camps set up by housing activists…"
"Riots break out in Bilbao over right-wing event hosted by activist Vito Quiles.
"Nineteen people, including seven minors, have been arrested following violent riots in the Spanish city of Bilbao. The unrest erupted on Monday night, 26 October 2026, during large-scale anti-fascist protests targeting a planned appearance by right-wing online commentator and activist Vito Quiles."
"'Nobody heard us' - why Gen Z are leading protests across Europe.
"A wave of Gen Z-led protests is sweeping across Europe, driven by a deep sense of intergenerational unfairness, economic stagnation, and a feeling that traditional political systems are completely ignoring them."
"EU pressures allies over looming Ukraine funding crunch…
"According to a forecast by the European Commission, seen by the FT, Kyiv's non-EU allies have so far pledged just €4bn for next year, down from €19bn in 2026. G7 members US, UK, Canada and Japan are collectively set to provide just €1bn, the analysis shows."
https://www.ft.com/content/8aba217f-064f-4193-89fc-3565bd2ee910?syn-25a6b1a6=1
"Russian Businesses Delay Payments as Cash Squeeze Deepens.
"Russian businesses are increasingly delaying payments to suppliers as slowing economic growth, higher taxes, falling profits and expensive borrowing strain their finances, raising the risk of a chain reaction of unpaid bills."
"US bans vehicles from China's BYD at Japan military base, calling them 'unacceptable' risk…
"The ban, which went into effect this week at Kadena airbase on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa, has fueled speculation that similar measures could be taken at other US military facilities as part of Washington's crackdown on Chinese technology it suspects of being used to collect sensitive information."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/27/us-bans-byd-electric-vehicles-kadena-military-base
"Japan Joins UK in Urging Households to Prepare Week-Long Emergency Supplies…
"Japan's disaster minister, Goshi Hosono, said the government would issue a nationwide preparedness appeal on 2 November, coinciding with the launch of the country's new Disaster Management Agency. The announcement has also prompted questions on social media about why several governments have been emphasising household preparedness at around the same time."
"Thai army rejects Cambodia's claims over border barriers and displaced residents.
"The Royal Thai Army has rejected Cambodia's allegation that Thailand is using military force and barbed-wire barriers to redraw the international boundary, insisting that its operations are security measures within territory claimed by Thailand."
https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40072816
"India deploys extra forces after protests over dam on Chinese border escalate.
"India has deployed hundreds of additional security personnel in its remote northeast, authorities said on Tuesday, after youth protesters clashed with police last week over a plan to build a mega-dam to counter a Chinese hydropower project upstream."
"The new India-Pakistan 'cold war'. The collapse of dialogue: Why New Delhi abandoned formal talks with Islamabad…
"No high-level dialogue has taken place since 2016. Rather than some temporary diplomatic tantrum, this reflects a paradigm shift in Indian foreign policy, permanently altering the subcontinent's security architecture."
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/10/26/world/india-pakistan-cold-war/
"One killed, several wounded in Pakistan-Afghanistan border clash…
"The clashes occurred in the border district of South Waziristan overnight, local police chief Israr Ahmed told dpa. Afghan troops fired artillery and some of the mortars landed in the populated areas including a bazaar, Ahmed said."
https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/articles/one-killed-several-wounded-pakistan-053328387.html
"Has Pakistan reopened its border with Iran for trade?
"Traders say some exports are crossing border after a weeklong halt, but Tehran says its cargo is not getting through… "Changes in the implementation of Pakistan's E-Form procedure for imports from Iran have created a situation in which traders are effectively and literally unable to dispatch cargo from Iran to Pakistan," [Iran's ambassdor] wrote."
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/26/has-pakistan-reopened-its-border-with-iran-for-trade
"Iran threatens South Korean shipping group Sinokor over Hormuz transits.
"The warning is the first direct threat to a specific shipowner for shuttling oil out from the Gulf via the contested waterway, which Iran sees as crucial leverage in its conflict with the US… Lloyd's List reported last week that seven Sinokor vessels had been attacked in the region since the hostilities began…"
https://www.ft.com/content/171ffdaa-e3e7-41b9-a4c6-09c9ace3f719
"Gulf states worry U.S. could pull most troops from region after Iran war.
"America's Persian Gulf allies are increasingly worried that President Donald Trump is indifferent about their regional security concerns and could expose them to further risk by pulling the bulk of U.S. forces out of the Middle East after the war with Iran ends, according to a U.S. official, a former U.S. official and two other people familiar with the matter."
"Saudi Arabia seeks to mend ties with UAE in Houthi crisis…
"The emerging rapprochement between the Gulf powerhouses comes as Riyadh shores up support from international partners including France, the UK, Turkey, Pakistan and Egypt against the latest campaign of assaults from the Houthis, as traditional ally Washington declines to join the fightback."
https://www.ft.com/content/97a6cadc-aedb-40a1-b583-c410d3278191
"Three Arab countries back Greece against Turkey-Libya maritime accord.
"Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates sided with Greece to denounce a Turkey-Libya maritime accord as a threat to regional security and international legal order in a long-standing dispute over sea borders in the eastern Mediterranean Sea."
https://thearabweekly.com/three-arab-countries-back-greece-against-turkey-libya-maritime-accord
"Jordan attacks militants in Syria in retaliation for church attack.
"Jordan has carried out airstrikes against armed groups in Syria in retaliation for Friday's attack on a Greek Orthodox church in the southern Jordanian governorate of Karak that killed nine people, the Jordanian air force has said in a statement."
"Benjamin Netanyahu holds a narrow lead in the Israeli elections with more than two-thirds of all ballots counted, after Tuesday's vote saw the highest voter turnout in over two decades.
"…forecasts suggest neither would be able to form a majority in the 120-seat Knesset, leaving the door open to prolonged coalition negotiations."
"'Gaza belongs to us!': As Israel votes, settlers set up camp on the border of the Palestinian enclave…
"Located south of the Israeli city of Sderot, the camp, which calls itself the "Gaza Pioneers," buzzed with activity. Preparations were underway for a celebration the following day, when legislative elections are due to take place across Israel."
"Time 'running out' to reach Yemen's Taiz amid deepening crisis, UN says…
"A mounting humanitarian disaster is gripping Yemen's Taiz after nearly three weeks of a Houthi siege that has prevented supplies from entering the city, the United Nations has warned. The Iran-backed Houthis have encircled Taiz since early October, cutting off the road that links it to Aden…"
"'Now or Never': Ethiopia influencers push for Eritrea invasion…
"The Ethiopian army has advanced right up to the border after repelling an offensive by rebels in the northern Tigray state, who were supported by Eritrean troops. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has repeatedly said that securing a base on the Red Sea is a vital national objective for Ethiopia."
"Al Shabaab fighters clash with Turkish-trained Somali troops.
"The Al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab group has been fighting the government for two decades and still controls large swathes of central Somalia despite a massive international operation against it. It launched an attack on Monday afternoon on Turkish-trained government troops and an allied militia in the Lower Shabelle region in South West State…"
https://www.dawn.com/news/2040362
"Protests Erupt in Eastern Sudan as Currency Collapses.
"Public anger has erupted in various cities across eastern Sudan as the country faces a deepening economic crisis and the near-total collapse of its currency. Demonstrations were reported on Thursday in regions currently under the administrative and security control of the Sudanese Armed Forces…"
"West warns of famine risk in Sudan as civil war grinds on…
""There is very little to survive on," Yusuf Roble, regional director for Islamic Relief East Africa, told BBC Newsday, describing how people returning to Omdurman were finding their homes destroyed or looted. The war, which began in April 2023, has displaced 14 million people."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj5ynkk6v3pzo
"As their relations continue to deteriorate, Niger's military government on Monday accused Chad of carrying out a deadly drone strike in which two civilians were killed and others wounded.
"In a statement by the authorities read on national television, it said it had summoned the Chadian ambassador following the incident."
"Ebola cases in DR Congo surpass 10,000 in fastest-growing outbreak…
"It is the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in the country's history and nearly half of the 10,060 confirmed to have the virus have died, according to data from the DRC's Ministry of Public Health. That also makes it the deadliest outbreak of the disease in the country's history."
"South Africa: More than 500 troops sent to deal with anti-immigration protests in KwaZulu-Natal…
"Anti-migrant marches have been going on for months in South Africa, some leading to violent clashes, provoking international criticism and prompting thousands of African foreign nationals to leave the country."
"Brazil's real sinks after Lula's re-election victory…
""I'm not surprised the real is sinking sharply; traders are covering their bets that assume a Bolsonaro victory and tighter fiscal policy," Rachel Ziemba, adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, told Al Jazeera. Brazil's stock exchange halted trading for 30 minutes."
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/10/26/brazils-real-sinks-after-lulas-re-election-victory
"U.S. troops to train in Colombia to combat security threats…
"The deployment comes amid a shift in Colombia's foreign and security policy under President Abelardo de la Espriella. The right-wing leader recently formalized Colombia's participation in the Shield of the Americas, a regional security coalition promoted by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration."
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2026/10/27/latam-colombia-us-training-exrcise/5331793122997/
"China urges US to immediately end blockade and pressure on Cuba…
"Fu said the United States' illegal economic blockade and unilateral economic sanctions against Cuba had lasted for more than 60 years and continued to intensify. The General Assembly had discussed the issue for 34 times, yet the relevant resolutions remained unimplemented, he said."
"El Salvador rushes some 1,000 troops to Haiti after gang ambush, source says.
"The troops' arrival aboard flights in recent days dramatically expands the Central American nation's role in Haiti's long-standing gang conflict. Yet it remains unclear who will command the new Salvadoran contingent, how long it will stay in Haiti or whether more forces will follow."
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/around-1-000-soldiers-el-172815445.html
"US military gives Elon Musk's SpaceX access to sensitive tracking data.
"The US military has given Elon Musk's SpaceX access to restricted space tracking data, raising a new round of questions about whether the Trump administration is attempting to hand over traffic control in Earth's orbit to a controversial donor. The access also raises new national security questions…"
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/oct/25/spacex-access-sensitive-tracking-data
"'Meaningless as a laptop screensaver': reviewers slate Musk's AI-made Odyssey film…
"Peter Bradshaw's review in the Guardian gave it one star, saying: "Every single dramatic moment - Odysseus's cod-insanity and his agreeing to fight, taking leave of his family, the hardship and adventure of the sea journey and the climactic decision - is all as motiveless and meaningless as the movement of shapes on a laptop screensaver.""
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/27/reviewers-slate-musk-ai-grok-odyssey-film-nolan
As a reader-funded publication, your one time and regular donations help keep this site going. If you value this work, please share it far and wide and consider a Patreon subscription or a one time Paypal donation. You can also support this work by buying a virtual coffee. Thank you!
You can read the previous "Economic" thead here. I'll be back on Monday with an "Economic" thread.
The post 28th October 2026 Today's Round-Up of Economic News appeared first on Climate and Economy.
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.
"On 2.0°C watch.
"The global temperature anomaly for October 22nd was 1.94°C above the 1850-1900 IPCC pre-industrial baseline and set a new daily record… Forecast global anomaly on October 31st: 2.06°C above pre-industrial."
[Prof Eliot Jacobson]
https://x.com/EliotJacobson/status/2114133049936109816
"The World's Oceans Just Hit Their Hottest Temperature Ever Recorded at a Time of Year When They Should Be Cooling.
"On August 22, the average surface temperature of the planet's extra-polar oceans hit 21.1°C (70°F), the highest daily level in recorded modern history. The timing makes the record especially concerning. This is because global ocean temperatures typically reach their peak around March and April."
https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/world-ocean-temperature-record-high/
"Satellites show some of the strongest evidence the AMOC is weakening.
"The crucial Atlantic current system that brings warmth to Europe has slowed 18 per cent in 40 years, according to an analysis of how much heat the ocean is releasing to the atmosphere… Another recent study, which examined reanalyses of the ocean rather than the atmosphere, similarly found the AMOC has weakened 15 per cent in 30 years."
"'Heartbreaking': Largs shops flooded overnight as Storm Boelo hits Scotland…
"A video shared by ice cream shop Geraldo's shows the North Ayrshire street swamped in floodwater. "26 years of being here and it's the highest it's ever been," the owner said in the footage. "We're standing here in a doorway trying to protect our businesses from this disaster. It's just heartbreaking. It really is."
""A suspected tornado ripped through part of a Hampshire village, leaving "devastation" in its wake, a resident has said.
"The weather phenomenon left a line of damage about one mile long (1.6km) and about 100m (328ft) wide in the village of Portchester on Thursday night."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6pqg4rvzjqeo
"UK Shoppers Strip Shelves of Beans and Water After Government Emergency Advice.
"Bottled water, tinned food and batteries are selling out at some British retailers after the government urged households to put together emergency kits. Online grocer Ocado listed several brands of water as unavailable on Monday, according to AOL and the Daily Mail."
"Britain's biggest garden centre switches plants for extreme heat.
"Hydrangeas have long been among the most popular plants in Britain and a mainstay of summer gardens up and down the country. But the shrubs could soon become a thing of the past as soaring temperatures threaten to change the face of flowerbeds for good."
"EU Wants Countries to Draw Up Plans to Deal With Warming of 3C…
"The EU's 27 member states will be required to come forward with national plans for how they will adapt by end-2030, while the European Commission, the bloc's executive branch, will identify major risks, including possible climate tipping points."
"Crop losses from recurring droughts 'shrinking Poland's economy and impacting businesses'…
"Recurring periods of drought are causing losses worth billions of złoty to the Polish economy every year and are affecting business across the agrifood supply chain, a new report has found… drought reduces cereal and rapeseed crop yields by around 12% in an average year, while potato and sugar beet yields see drops of about 20%."
https://tvpworld.com/96134070/droughts-causing-losses-of-billions-to-polands-economy
"I've seen the disaster that's coming to the Alps within decades…
"I study glaciers for a living and I am a keen mountaineer. I have seen many examples of smaller-scale disasters across the European Alps, including major rockfalls on famous and popular climbing routes. Sadly these incidents are getting more common and much more deadly."
https://inews.co.uk/news/world/get-ready-nepal-style-glacier-collapse-alps-4838550
"Melting glaciers in Dolomites reveal cache of first world war munitions…
"The devices, which included Italian artillery shells and French mortar bombs, were removed and defused by the army's Julia Alpine brigade… The weapons originated from the white war, a battle between the Austro-Hungarian army and Italian troops across treacherous and bitterly cold terrain between 1915 and 1918."
"Istanbul braces for new round of flooding.
"Istanbul is bracing for another round of heavy rainfall on Oct. 27, with Türkiye's meteorological authority warning of possible flash floods and inundations in the city and other parts of western Türkiye, less than two weeks after torrential downpours killed eight people in Istanbul…"
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/istanbul-braces-for-new-round-of-flooding-228608
"At least four workers died when a tornado struck a construction site in Antalya, overturning accommodation cabins and a tower crane. Heavy rain also flooded roads in Istanbul.
"Four construction workers were killed and a fifth injured when a sudden tornado struck a building site in Antalya, southern Turkey, late on Monday."
https://www.euronews.com/video/2026/10/27/turkey-tornado-kills-at-least-four-workers-at-antalya-construction-site
"As your author forecasted two weeks in advance, today 30C [86F] is returning in SPAIN.
"TURKEY has recorded up to 36C in the past days, but from Wedsnesday it will cool up,while Spain will be warm all week (only daytime).
[Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2114733030694916387
"CRAZY RECORDS ALL OVER AFRICA:
"OCT RECORDS: 38.0 [100.4F] Wa GHANA, 37.5 Kara TOGO, 34.8 Mvengue GABON… BENIN, IVORY COAST, TOGO & CAMEROON ALL HAD THEIR HOTTEST OCT NIGHT EVER!" [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2114788939487707179
"Climate change is amplifying extreme weather conditions across southern Africa.
"Dry seasons are getting hotter and drier, while rains are becoming heavier and more concentrated. This means greater swings between production surplus and scarcity for rural communities that make their living from the land."
"Saudi Arabia issues red and orange alerts as heavy thunderstorms threaten several regions.
"A red alert for heavy rainfall has been issued in parts of Jazan Region from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., accompanied by strong winds, zero horizontal visibility, hail, flash floods and thunderstorms."
"Severe Flash Floods Hit Shalateen, Egypt!
"…footage shows floodwaters completely surrounding buildings in Shalateen, located south of the Red Sea Governorate. Heavy torrential rains have triggered massive flash floods across the region, leaving areas submerged under water."
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1076967791822467
"Stormy election day ahead as Israel braces for heavy rain and flooding.
"Thunderstorms, hail and strong winds are expected across much of Israel on Tuesday, with rain intensifying by midday and flash floods possible in the Negev, Arava Valley, Judean Desert and Dead Sea area."
https://www.ynetnews.com/environment/article/sjnqq2p2gl
"Hailstorm hits Sirsa crops [N India], farmers seek compensation.
"Farmers in Sirsa have demanded immediate compensation for crops damaged by unseasonal rain and hailstorms. Farmer organisations have urged the Haryana Government to conduct a special crop damage survey and provide financial assistance to the affected farmers."
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/hailstorm-hits-sirsa-crops-farmers-seek-compensation/
"Cyclone 'Arnab' hurtling towards Andhra Pradesh coast.
"Very severe cyclonic storm "Arnab" has intensified over the west-central Bay of Bengal and is hurtling towards the Andhra Pradesh coast, with landfall expected by the forenoon of Wednesday, October 28, 2026… the storm has prompted red alerts across coastal districts in Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha."
"Why Arunachal's Gen Z is protesting against India's mega dam to counter China.
"While the government cites water security and flood control, indigenous communities fear displacement, environmental damage, seismic risks, and the loss of ancestral land and cultural heritage."
"EXTRAORDINARY HEAT IN CHINA - 37 [98.6F] DEGREES OVER 1000m asl.
"Thousands of records have fallen every day of this month and October records keep falling even at month end like today: 33.3C Shuangjiang and 32.9C Menglian."
[Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2114727145385951616
"INCREDIBLE SUMMER HEAT IN JAPAN:
"Mind blowing August-like weather continues in Southern Japan with up to 33C [91.4F] and stifling suffocating hot nights with MINIMUMS up to 28C. Absolutely insane and unprecedented." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2114219316929544602
"Typhoon Champi declared strongest storm of year so far…
"Typhoon Champi was declared the strongest storm of the year so far after recording sustained winds of 185mph last week. From late Thursday to early Saturday, the typhoon battered Taiwan and Japan's southern islands."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/26/typhoon-champi-taiwan-japan-storm-greece-floods
"Taiwan's tea growers rethink farming as climate pressures intensify.
"…tea production in Alishan declined by 13.5 per cent from 2014 to 2023, as its farmers are facing threats not only from soil degradation but also from climate change. This growing sense of ecological crisis has led a handful of tea growers like Lin to adopt more environmentally friendly farming methods and nature-based solutions."
"RECORD AGAIN IN THAILAND - MINIMUM 29.7C [85.5F] Bangkok Pilot is HOTTEST OCTOBER NIGHT in THAI HISTORY; broken and rebroken.
"Eight MONTHS often with Mins >29C. No place on Earth ever made this. Brutal. Incredible heat also in BANGLADESH." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2114700870382141929
"Flash floods send rocks and mud through Patong [Thailand].
"Heavy rain triggered flash flooding and mudslides in Phuket overnight, blocking roads and prompting emergency crews to clear debris and assist affected residents. The flooding began after heavy rain early on Monday, when runoff from nearby hills combined with a high tide."
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3343779/rain-runoff-rocks-and-mud-slam-phuket
"Indonesia sends oxygen bus to aid residents choking on forest fire haze.
"The Indonesian government and local volunteer teams have deployed mobile "oxygen buses" to the hardest-hit regions of Borneo and Sumatra to provide emergency breathing relief to residents choking on severe wildfire smoke."
"Outback kaleidoscope: Australia's fabled desert lake bursts to life in rare sight…
"Rainfall nearly 50% above the long-term average caused havoc, killing livestock and cutting outback tracks, some of which remain underwater. But it also filled up three major river systems - the Georgina, the Diamantina and Cooper Creek."
"Giant hail observed in parts of south-east Queensland as 'very dangerous' storms strike.
"A series of "very dangerous" storms have brought hail up to seven centimetres in size to parts of south-east Queensland. The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Logan, parts of Ipswich, Gold Coast, Brisbane City and Scenic Rim Council areas."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-27/queensland-hail-stones-thunderstorm/107315704
"Antarctica records its warmest October on record: what's happening?
"Near the Ukrainian Antarctic station "Akademik Vernadsky," the air temperature rose to +11.1 degrees Celsius. This is the highest reading for October in the entire history of observations. At the same time, the air warmed up by nearly 10 degrees in just two and a half hours."
"EXTRAORDINARY, HISTORIC:
"17 DEGREES (62.6F) IN ANTARCTICA (Esperanza) is ANTARCTIC HOTTEST SPRING DAY TIED (=Oct 1976). Records Also :14.1 Marambio, 6.0 Arturo Pratt."
[Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2114401335701598645
"Breaking News! Code: y-Axis Alert!
"Yesterday's Nino 3.4 preliminary sea-surface temperature anomaly set a new record high, at 3.48°C above the 1991-2020 baseline. To clearly show this anomaly, the y-axis max was raised to 4.0°C." [Prof Eliot Jacobson]
https://x.com/EliotJacobson/status/2114736378873610450
"An impressive tornado causes significant property damage between Requínoa and Rengo, Chile
"Footage of a violent tornado passing through the O'Higgins Region, Chile. The vortex generated intense wind gusts and sent debris flying through inhabited areas."
"Chile deploys specialized helicopter to Peru to fight forest fires that leave 12 dead and more than 800 affected.
"The aircraft, financed with emergency funds from the Ministry of the Interior, already operates from Cusco and will support the extinguishing work in the regions of Cusco, Puno and Junín. The operation includes seven days of work, 35 hours of flight and an investment of almost 140,000 dollars."
"La Paz: heavy rains cause rivers to flood and floods in different areas [Bolivia].
"Due to the intense rains recorded this Friday in the city of La Paz, rivers flooded in the southern zone and flooding on different roads were recorded, according to reports and alerts issued by the Directorate of Risk Prevention and Urban Resilience."
"Floods in Argentina kill 2, displace over 2,000 amid El Nino.
"Flooding in northeastern Argentina has killed two people and forced more than 2,000 others from their homes, with rising river levels threatening communities across the region, Argentine newspaper Pagina 12 reported Saturday."
https://aa.com.tr/en/world/floods-in-argentina-kill-2-displace-over-2-000-amid-el-nino/4099759
"Records smashed all over Americas:
"Brutal 43.0C [109.4F] Pao de Acucar BRAZIL - HOTTEST DAY EVER RECORDED IN ALAGOAS STATE… Oct High Minimums: 25.6 Puerto Limon, COSTA RICA; 24.6 St Georges, FRENCH GUIANA; 26.8 Guayaquil, ECUADOR; 24.3 Piura, PERU." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2114907694343864734
"Santa Marta under red alert for heavy rains and serious flooding in Barranquilla and Cartagena [Colombia].
"The Ideam report activated the maximum alarms in the main cities of the Colombian Atlantic coast, while local authorities attend to emergencies due to floods and overflowing streams."
"30.1 [86.2F] Bonaire is HOTTEST NIGHT IN CARIBBEAN HISTORY!
"28.3 Vc Bird. HOTTEST NIGHT IN ANTIGUA. Nearly all Caribbean had its hottest night on record (28/30C)."
[Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2114907694343864734
"GONE WITH THE FLOOD! Cars Swept Away as Heavy Rain Hits Ciudad Juarez [Mexico].
"Heavy rainfall over the weekend caused the La Montada dyke to overflow in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, sending floodwaters through residential streets, damaging homes and sweeping away vehicles. Drone footage filmed on Monday shows the scale of the flooding."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYbGkt5-f30
"Category 5 (beyond extreme) marine heatwave conditions are being observed offshore San Diego, where water temperatures are up to 77°F.
"California's severe marine heatwave is also marching north and has now reached Northern California, with water up to 68°F offshore Santa Cruz." [Colin McCarthy]
https://x.com/US_Stormwatch/status/2114867740947484951
"Historic flooding brings 'catastrophic destruction' to Colorado town.
"Heavy rain caused significant river flooding in the town of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, bringing "wide-scale catastrophic destruction," the local sheriff said. See the flooding that has stranded residents and damaged a main sewer line."
https://weather.com/2026/10/25/news/weather/video/historic-flooding-inundates-pagosa-springs
"Lawmakers Urge Emergency Declaration as Catastrophic Flooding Continues in New Mexico.
"The National Weather Service reported that the San Juan River is at its highest levels since 1909. The flooding is estimated to have affected 160,000 residents… Initial assessments indicate that as many as 18,000 homes in San Juan County alone may be underwater."
"The warmest start to fall on record; the full "Hunter's" moon rises tonight.
"Indianapolis is off to the warmest start to fall on record. Since September 1st, we've had 44 days with above average temperatures, 2 days with average temperatures and 10 days with below average temperatures. Monday was a sunny, mild day with above average highs near 70°."
"Trump to Ease Oil Well Methane Curbs in Bid to Lower Costs.
"President Donald Trump is set to unveil a plan to dial back federal requirements designed to slash methane emissions from oil and gas operations, casting the proposal as a way to encourage more domestic energy production and lower costs."
"'A potential glimpse into the future': Climate change has triggered 'permafrost landslides' with house-size blocks of ice in Canada.
"These landslides, called permafrost detachment slides, occur in areas with relatively thin permafrost… Such slides have not been observed in the region before and may be unprecedented over the past 10,000 years or more, said study leader Joseph Young…"
"UN climate science body left in limbo without budget sign-off after deadlock.
"Work for the leading scientific body on global warming is in limbo after countries failed to approve its budget… The stranglehold on funding for the UN-backed Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, made up of hundreds of international experts, comes after a failure to resolve a three-year deadlock over when the next research should be delivered."
https://www.ft.com/content/f326afa1-962d-4a4e-b24f-f8695fa315d1?syn-25a6b1a6=1
"At Yerevan's COP17 biodiversity summit, a steep climb ahead for '30 by 30' target…
"According to the Campaign for Nature's global assessment, of the 196 state parties to the GBF, 132 have made formal commitments to protect a set amount of land. Together, these commitments would amount to 27% of the planet's terrestrial surface — but that would require translating them into concrete action. And with 2030 not far off, the clock is ticking."
As a reader-funded publication, your one time and regular donations help keep this site going. If you value this work, please share it far and wide and consider a Patreon subscription or a one time Paypal donation. You can also support this work by buying a virtual coffee. Thank you!
You can read the previous "Climate" thead here. I'll be back tomorrow with an "Economic" thread.
The post 27th October 2026 Today's Round-Up of Climate News appeared first on Climate and Economy.
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.
"Inside the Pentagon's doomsday plan to keep America fighting if global war erupts…
"The Pentagon is preparing U.S. military bases to keep operating for at least 90 days without outside support as it prepares for the possibility of a major war that could cripple power grids, disrupt supply chains and threaten critical infrastructure on American soil."
"Are we sleepwalking into World War III?
"As regional conflicts rage and revisionist powers challenge the established order, warnings of a new global conflagration are growing louder… Bleak warnings are being issued against the backdrop of a steady increase in warfare and battle deaths around the world."
https://www.ft.com/content/3a56575e-ecfb-4fa9-af70-01aebd869729
"A New Level of Threat and Fear Risks Pushing the U.S. and Iran Back to Full War…
"Inside the Trump administration, officials are expressing fears that Iran is in the "advanced stages" of planning attacks against U.S. officials. More than 6,000 miles away, the Iranians appear convinced that Israel and the United States are preparing to unleash their third major attack in 16 months…"
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/24/us/politics/trump-netanyahu-iran-new-phase-of-war.html
"Trump says the economy is better than ever but voters are being crushed.
"GDP is strong yet inflation is squeezing Americans, driving up the price of fuel, food and borrowing… A Telegraph analysis suggests that Mr Trump's war with Iran is costing the average American household an additional $3,073, as fuel, food and interest rates batter finances."
"EU weighs mirroring Donald Trump in securing critical minerals.
"Members of the European parliament last week voted to create an agency with the power to take stakes in raw materials companies when needed "to safeguard the union's security of supply", create EU stockpiles and to monitor supplies across the bloc."
https://www.ft.com/content/cfb2e934-0000-42e6-93a4-4dffa56f11a8?syn-25a6b1a6=1
"European governments need to 'prepare systematically' for scorching summers ahead.
""Europe needs to implement its climate commitments faster, prepare our cities and rural areas for extreme weather and ensure that people can afford to keep their homes cool. Protecting people, cutting energy bills and strengthening Europe's energy security must go hand in hand.""
"How the next eurozone crisis happens - French collapse is contagious…
"Once interest rates exceed a certain threshold, a doom loop sets in. Higher interest rates raise debt servicing costs, which drives up the budget deficit, which drives up borrowing, and which again drives up interest rates… Debt serves as collateral for the money the banking system gets from the ECB. If a country defaults on its debt, the banking system inevitably freezes up."
https://unherd.com/2026/10/how-the-next-eurozone-crisis-happens/
"More than 1,300 arrested as clashes follow another day of mass protests across France…
"After largely peaceful demonstrations, police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters in a number of cities including Paris, while barricades were set alight in Marseille and people ripped boards from a shop in Bordeaux."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c95ynd587ynzo
"Portuguese police with dogs and batons dismantle housing protest camps…
"The raids were the latest incident in days of clashes between police and campaigners who - inspired by similar camps in Spain - had sought to pitch tents in central squares to protest against the country's deepening housing crisis."
"Spanish youths storm Barcelona as violent protests sweep Europe…
"Riot police arrived in the Catalan capital on Saturday after groups of young people, many dressed in black and wearing hoods, began vandalising street furniture.
More than 30 fires were started in the streets, while 14 shops were looted. Footage shared on social media showed customers trapped inside a department store…"
"Thousands march across Italy as protests bring isolated clashes with police.
"Thousands of people took to the streets on Saturday across Italy's main cities to protest over a range of issues, including the rising cost of living, Giorgia Meloni's government and the wars in the Middle East."
"Serbia's long-standing leader Aleksandar Vučić has admitted defeat to a student-led protest movement in snap parliamentary elections.
"Celebrations erupted as crowds descended on the centre of Belgrade, Novi Sad and other cities. The student movement was formed less than two years ago in response to a railway station disaster blamed on corruption…"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw5yn3xlprpmo
"Albania protests: unrest across Tirana as violence spreads.
"Albania has also seen a repeat of violent protests this weekend. Demonstrators have been throwing stones and setting fire to government buildings in the capital, Tirana. The country is in advanced talks to join the EU, but many Albanians are frustrated by what they see as corruption and incompetence…"
https://www.channel4.com/news/albania-protests-unrest-across-tirana-as-violence-spreads
"The Black Sea is now the world's deadliest shipping route…
"More sailors died in the Black Sea than in any other body of water this year, outstripping fatalities in the Gulf, which has garnered more attention worldwide. A critical corridor for global grain supplies and Russian oil, the Black Sea is riskier for vessels than the Middle East…"
https://www.ft.com/content/8c874f60-0041-476d-9c53-8524c374443f?syn-25a6b1a6=1
"Russia's War on Ukraine Is Straining [Global] Food and Fuel Supply…
"Russia and Ukraine have stepped up assaults on each others' export industries over the past year. The Kremlin is targeting ports, elevators, warehouses, ships and other infrastructure critical to Ukrainian agriculture. Kyiv is striking refineries, oil terminals and tankers as well as Russian grain hubs on the Black Sea and ships."
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2026-ukraine-russia-strikes-exports/
"Russia likely to harden posture on Japan at least until Ukraine war ends.
"Russia's detention of a Japanese journalist for spying allegation marks a fresh low in bilateral ties, and Moscow's hardline stance toward Tokyo is set to continue at least until the Ukraine war ends, according to foreign policy analysts."
"Japan reopens taboo debate over nuclear-powered submarines.
"With China flexing its naval power across the Pacific and bilateral tensions running high, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is weighing a move long viewed as taboo - nuclear-powered submarines for the Maritime Self-Defence Force fleet."
"North Korea-South Korea tensions high as letters lodged with UN, howitzer spotted.
"Tensions between North Korea and South Korea are running high this week after Pyongyang sent a letter to the UN Security Council, repeating accusations that Seoul fabricated a September landmine incident, and after a North Korean howitzer was spotted close to the border."
"Why China's stimulus keeps missing the mark.
"China has developed a highly uneven, "K-shaped" economy where high-tech manufacturing and exports are booming, while domestic consumption, the property market, and job creation remain severely depressed."
"China's consumer slump demands a Japan-style stimulus response…
"Alpine Macro's Chen Zhao says China's near-stagnant retail sales and persistent deflation bear striking similarities to Japan's post-bubble economic slump. He criticises Beijing's reluctance to deploy aggressive fiscal and monetary stimulus, warning that prolonged inaction risks inflicting structural damage on the economy."
"Fuel Oil Becomes Asia's Next Cost Shock.
"Singapore's shipping-fuel market is adding another layer of cost to Asian trade. Disrupted supplies from the Middle East and Russia, resilient bunker demand and prohibitive freight rates have pushed high-sulphur fuel oil above the price of the crude used to produce it."
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/Fuel-Oil-Becomes-Asias-Next-Cost-Shock.html
"Indonesia cuts gas exports to Singapore amid row over haze.
"The cut began on Saturday and totals 31 million standard cubic feet a day, with 15 million from the Natuna field in the Riau Islands and 16 million from Sumatra, the head of the state agency that supervises the oil and gas sector said in a statement."
"Thailand hits back at Cambodia over 2 temples on Oct 25.
"Thailand's Culture Minister rejected Cambodia's demand for the return of artefacts, asserting Thai ownership of two border temples: Prasat Ta Kwai and Prasat Khana. Thailand justifies its claim by stating both temples have been registered as ancient monuments under Thai law…"
https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40072733
"Arunachal Congress chief alleges Chinese troops entered 40-50 km into India, claims soldiers fought with sticks…
""During the last week of July, residents informed us about such clashes. There were reports of soldiers from both sides attacking each other with sticks and engaging in physical fights. The Indian Army also countered the alleged aggressive activities of Chinese troops," he said."
"Violence Escalates In Arunachal Over Siang Dam Project.
"Protests against the proposed Siang dam in Arunachal Pradesh's East Siang district turned violent late on 23 October 2026, leading to a heavy security deployment in Pasighat and the imposition of restrictions on public gatherings."
https://www.thequint.com/news/breaking-news/arunachal-siang-dam-protest-violence-escalates-security
"Islamabad warns of further action if Afghan soil continues to be used for militancy in Pakistan.
"Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deteriorated over a rise in militant attacks in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan provinces that border Afghanistan. Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other groups of using Afghan territory…"
"Inside the worst month for ships in the Strait of Hormuz…
"More than 120 ships attacked at sea since conflict erupted… Attacks on shipping have risen since the US reimposed its blockade in July. With 29 ships hit so far, October is already the worst month of the war, ahead of the 20 attacks recorded in March."
https://interactive.aljazeera.com/aje/2026/hormuz-journey-seafarer/
"Gulf economies accelerate diversification as recession looms over Iran war…
"With Trump weighing his options, including both another military escalation and a politically inconclusive end to the war with Iran after midterm congressional elections on November 5, uncertainty reigns in the Gulf region."
"Beirut's $13 chicken sandwich becomes symbol of Lebanon divide.
"The Glow Paradise restaurant introduced the $13 'Chich Taouk' sandwich, sparking outrage for its high price amid widespread poverty… Seven years after Lebanon's devastating financial meltdown, a debate over a chicken sandwich has exposed an increasingly stark divide between those who can still spend freely and those struggling…"
"Thousands mourn victims of deadly Jordan church attack…
"Nine people were killed and dozens wounded in a rare attack on Jordan's Christian minority, prompting three days of national mourning. The ninth victim, Mohammed al-Qasous, is due to be buried on Monday, his family told the AFP news agency."
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/25/thousands-mourn-victims-of-deadly-jordan-church-attack
"Israel extends military barrier through farmland in southern Syria.
"Israeli forces continued bulldozing farmland in southern Syria on Sunday to extend a military barrier that Damascus has condemned as a violation of the 1974 disengagement agreement, the official SANA news agency reported."
"Deeply divided Israel braces for pivotal election…
"Polls published on Friday put the governing coalition and the main opposition bloc almost neck-and-neck, with half a million first-time voters due to cast their ballot and some 70,000 Israelis reportedly flying in from abroad specifically to vote."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckpdgy6pl7xlo
"'It's collective punishment': nearly 2,000 Palestinians in Hebron displaced as Israeli forces take over homes.
"Hebron, the biggest city in the West Bank, had paid little attention to Israel's looming elections until it found itself suddenly in the midst of them, a proving ground for Benjamin Netanyahu's security credentials in the run-up to Tuesday's vote."
"Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said on Monday they had attacked Saudi Arabia's East-West crude oil pumping stations and Riyadh airport, as rising hostilities choke oil supplies and threaten to erupt into a larger conflict…
"The Houthis have been firing ballistic missiles and drones at Saudi airports, ports and oil installations, turning US ally Saudi Arabia into a pressure point in the wider war."
https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/823230
"Escalating Clashes in Yemen Leave Hundreds Dead.
"Yemen has experienced a significant escalation in hostilities over the past five days, resulting in hundreds of fatalities. According to reports from the region, the surge in violence has been characterized by intense direct combat between government-aligned forces and Houthi insurgents, as well as a series of targeted airstrikes."
https://english.globalarabnetwork.com/2026/10/24/escalating-clashes-in-yemen-leave-hundreds-dead/
"China, Djibouti oppose recognition of Somaliland, backs Somalia's territorial integrity.
"Israel became the first country to recognise Somaliland as an independent state last December, prompting condemnation from Somalia and numerous countries around the world…. Somalia regards Somaliland as an integral part of its territory and considers direct agreements with its authorities that bypass the federal government a violation of its sovereignty."
"Several dead in clashes between rival Ethiopian regional armies.
"Several people have died during clashes between the armies of southern Ethiopia's Somali and Oromia regions in recent days, against a backdrop of territorial disputes, sources told AFP on Saturday. Fighting erupted on Tuesday after a Somali regional flag was hoisted in Moyale, a city near the border with Kenya…"
"Sudan's soaring fuel prices make getting by harder for workers.
"Azhari's minibus uses three gallons (11 litres) of petrol a day, costing him about 105,000 Sudanese pounds ($11.30 a day, according to Sudan's parallel-market exchange rate). With fuel increasingly difficult to obtain, he now spends two days on the road and a third day queuing for fuel."
"A nurse has been killed and another health worker severely injured after they were attacked while responding to an Ebola alert in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the World Health Organization.
"It was the latest in a series of attacks on health workers and responders that authorities say is hampering efforts to slow the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in the world."
"Algeria approves army deployment to Niger in major shift in ties.
"Algeria's parliament approved a resolution on Sunday authorising the deployment of army units to Niger, a parliamentary statement said, in what would mark Algeria's first foreign troop deployment since it sent forces to support Egypt in the 1973 war."
https://middle-east-online.com/en/algeria-approves-army-deployment-niger-major-shift-ties
"Africa's Debt Crisis Deepens as AFRODAD Demands Overhaul of Global Financial System.
"As governments devote larger portions of their revenue to creditors, fewer resources remain available for health care, education, social protection, infrastructure and productive investment. For countries already struggling with limited fiscal space, the growing cost of debt servicing threatens their ability to finance long-term development."
https://africabrief.substack.com/p/africas-debt-crisis-deepens-as-afrodad
"One Marine Dead, Four Wounded as FARC Dissidents Deploy Grenade-Dropping Drones Against the Colombian Navy.
"A FARC dissident cell dropped a grenade from a drone onto a Colombian Navy patrol boat in Cauca, killing one marine and wounding four — the latest blow in a widening aerial war on the Pacific coast."
"El Salvador's Bukele says bodies found in Haiti are not those of missing Salvadorans…
"El Salvador deployed more than 100 special forces troops to Haiti on Oct. 22 to help rescue the Salvadorans, a day after announcing a military operation and warning the criminals of a more forceful response if the Salvadorans are not released alive and unharmed."
"This A.I. Boom Looks an Awful Lot Like the Housing Bubble.
"Artificial intelligence is fast becoming the largest investment in U.S. history. As the money pours in, the companies involved are resurrecting bad old habits eerily reminiscent of the shenanigans deployed in the run-up to the financial crisis."
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/25/opinion/ai-bubble-financial-crisis-lehman.html
"AI euphoria meets rising global debt as bond yields threaten technology investment boom…
"The risks are interconnected. A bond-market sell-off could raise borrowing costs for technology companies, while a sharp correction in AI stocks could hit household wealth, weaken economic growth and leave indebted governments with little room to respond."
"'Ticking time bomb': The world's pension funds face an ageing crisis…
"The problem is "huge, and it's gotten more pronounced over time," said Sebastien Betermier, executive director at the International Centre for Pension Management, noting that some pension funds have members who have been retired for nearly half a century, aged aged 107 or 108."
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/26/pension-funds-ageing-crisis-risk-investment.html
"Are we in a global whisky recession?
"I've just returned from a trip to Islay in Scotland, which has more whisky distilleries per square mile than anywhere else in the UK, and several of its famous single malts are struggling.. Global Scotch exports fell by 4.3 per cent in 2025, with single malts hit even harder."
https://spectator.com/article/are-we-in-a-global-whisky-recession/
As a reader-funded publication, your one time and regular donations help keep this site going. If you value this work, please share it far and wide and consider a Patreon subscription or a one time Paypal donation. You can also support this work by buying a virtual coffee. Thank you!
You can read the previous "Economic" thead here. I'll be back tomorrow with a "Climate" thread.
The post 26th October 2026 Today's Round-Up of Economic News appeared first on Climate and Economy.
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 mean surface temperature on Wednesday, October 21st was 1.89°C above pre-industrial, setting a new daily record dating back to 1940, and likely the warmest October 21st (one month past the Fall equinox) in the last 120,000 years."
[Prof Eliot Jacobson]
https://x.com/EliotJacobson/status/2113604433095602478
"Chemicals from phones and TVs found in Arctic and Antarctic soil…
"Liquid crystal monomers are the working ingredients of LCD panels. Organic light-emitting materials play that role in OLED screens. Production of both has climbed over the past two decades as the electronics industry grew… Lab studies have linked some of them to liver damage and hormone disruption in animals."
https://www.earth.com/climate/chemicals-from-phones-and-tvs-found-in-arctic-and-antarctic-soil/
"Polar vortex may weaken by November 5 in a possible record low…
"A comparison of data going back to 1959 shows that in the first ten days of November the speed fell below 12 metres per second in only three years. It was lowest on November 9, 1960, at 10.49 metres per second. A historic record this year therefore cannot be ruled out."
"Ukraine war pushes Russian oil to Arctic route…
"Gazprom Neft is not the only company sending growing volumes to Asian markets via the Northern Sea Route. Shipping data show that Russian oil exports shipped on the Arctic route to Asian buyers had reached 20 million tonnes by early October, Reuters reported. That implies a year-on-year increase of about 50 percent."
https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/news/ukraine-war-pushes-russian-oil-to-arctic-route/460401
"Russia's Moscow Braces for Record-Breaking October Warmth This Weekend.
"Russia's capital Moscow is set to experience unusually warm weather this weekend, with temperatures potentially approaching a record set more than a century ago. Evgeny Tishkovets, a meteorologist at the Phobos weather center, said temperatures in the Russian capital could reach 11-14°C on October 24…"
"'Pure arrogance': anger in Finland as Google illegally fells 250,000 trees for datacentre.
"Behind a wire fence lies a vast gaping wound of earth. Before Google's arrival a few months ago, an estimated quarter of a million trees occupied the 330 hectares (815 acres) of forest near the town of Muhos in rural northern Finland. Now they are all gone."
"Shetland hit by flooding and landslide after 'biblical' rain…
"Johnny Sandison, who works at the Lerwick Brewery said, "It was probably the heaviest rain I have ever seen in Shetland in my life. "When the cars were going past on the road, you could see these massive waves were coming up above the height of the cars themselves.""
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr1ex3ydy4qyo
"From potatoes to onions and carrots: How everyday vegetables are disappearing before our eyes [UK].
"The trouble could extend well beyond Christmas. Farmers are now considering planting fewer potatoes, onions and carrots next year because they fear there will not be enough water to grow them… What began with smaller vegetables this autumn could mean fewer of them, and potentially higher prices, in 2027."
"Storm Austen: Brighton's West pier partially collapses as 110mph winds batter UK…
"A gust of 111mph was recorded in Padstow, Cornwall on Friday morning, while 97mph was recorded in St Ives by a National Coastguard station… there is little respite in sight, with Storm Boelo forecast to sweep across the UK this weekend, bringing further powerful gusts and torrential downpours."
https://www.aol.co.uk/articles/storm-austen-brighton-west-pier-172219000.html
"European Parliament votes to approve three-year delay on EU methane rules…
"Importers have warned they may not be able to secure enough compliant supplies at a time when energy markets are strained and prices high due to the conflict in the Middle East. Parliament agrees with the need to postpone these requirements, but is pushing for a longer, three-year postponement."
"Heat killed 'staggering' 50,000 people in Europe's cities this summer, scientists warn…
"The "staggering" death toll, modelled using historical relationships between heat and health in 854 cities, was the worst on record, the study found. Hot weather marked by relentless heatwaves killed nearly twice as many people as it did in each of the two next most dangerous years."
"French roads suffer from cracks following summer droughts…
"Persistent changes and a cycle of swelling and shrinking can damage structures above ground, leading to cracks in homes. Millions of properties across France are at risk, but the issue extends to other structures built on these soils, including roads."
"This video captures a severe rainstorm in Djerba, Tunisia. It shows streets and buildings completely flooded…
"The footage captures the impact of torrential autumn rainstorms that have heavily affected the island of Djerba and other coastal regions in Tunisia. Fueled by unseasonably warm sea temperatures, these intense autumn cloudbursts drop an immense volume of water in a very short window."
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1770278697420081
"Relentless record heat in the Sahel with unprecedented MINIMUMS >29C [84.2F].
"More records of October HIGH MIN in GHANA: 27.0 Axim; 25.8 Takoradi. Maxes will reach 43/44C in Mali, Mauritania and Senegal."
[Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2113591438701432851
"Nigeria could record an additional 31,400 heat-related deaths between September 2026 and February 2027 as an unusually strong El Niño weather pattern intensifies, a report by the Climate Impact Lab has warned.
"The projection places Nigeria among the countries expected to suffer the highest number of additional heat-related deaths globally during the six-month period."
https://punchng.com/nigeria-may-record-31400-heat-related-deaths-report/
"Records all over Africa:
"45.6 [114.1F[ Tete MOZAMBIQUE all-time record; Min 26.4 Inhambane; MIN 28.9 Kacholola is ZAMBIA HOTTEST NIGHT IN HISTORY; OCTOBER HOTTEST DAY EVER for TANZANIA, SEYCHELLES, SAO TOME… Min 27.8 Chagos OCTOBER hottest night." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2113705486336004344
"In Mozambique heat indexes have locally risen >55C [131F], the worst feel-like ever recorded anywhere in Southern Africa.
"There has never been anything like this or anything close. Records of High Minimums were locally broken by 8C in Zambia,where nearly 100% of the stations broke them." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2113849223179567473
"Malawi: Schools Urged to Adapt As Heatwave Warning Issued Across Malawi.
"Schools and other learning institutions have been urged to implement immediate measures to protect learners and staff following a heatwave alert issued by the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS). The Department has forecast temperatures of up to 42C [107.6F]…"
https://allafrica.com/stories/202610230326.html
"War-ravaged Sudan on brink as El Nino fans new flames of hunger…
"Farmers across Sudan are facing a devastating harvest as drought and soaring temperatures compound the effects of a civil war that has already pushed millions toward hunger, raising fears of a worsening famine. El Nino, the climate pattern threatening parts of Africa with extreme weather, has brought higher temperatures and drought…"
"INSANE UNREAL WORLD RECORD; CRAZY MINIMUM 32.0 [89.6F] Qaruh Island, Kuwait is hottest night ever recorded in the Northern Hemisphere in late October.
"Also 31.5 Das Island Emirates and 31.2 Alwakrah Qatar. TROPICAL NIGHTS again in the Caucasus/Caspian Sea - absurd." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2113530059340558592
"Oil spill hits UAE beaches as tanker attacks multiply near Hormuz…
"Frequent attacks on ships have been reported in recent weeks near the Strait of Hormuz, control of which remains at the heart of the war between Iran and the US. The maritime security agency UKMTO reported on 9 October that a vessel had been hit by a projectile off the UAE coast…"
"Two Dead Following Flash Floods in Salmas, Iran.
"Hamid Mahboubi, CEO of the Red Crescent Society of West Azerbaijan, announced on Friday morning, October 23, 2026, that two people had lost their lives following flash floods in West Azerbaijan province. One of the victims was a 10-year-old child. Additionally, six people were injured, and two remain missing…"
https://iranwire.com/en/news/159234-two-dead-following-flash-floods-in-salmas-iran/
"India tightens its grip on Pakistan's lifeline…
"After suspending the treaty, India began accelerating the construction and development of hydropower projects on the western rivers… Pakistan's concerns extend beyond these projects to the course India may take in the coming years. If India builds new projects to store water from rivers allocated to Pakistan, Pakistan could face severe consequences over the next five to 10 years."
https://www.noonpost.com/en/386678/
"Sri Lanka: Death of iconic elephant raises habitat concerns…
"In late September, villagers noticed the 5.5 ton-tusker (5,500 kg) was limping, and a closer look reveled a gunshot wound on his right leg. Despite the intervention of veterinary surgeons, the elephant died on October 16. Sri Lanka records the highest number of elephant deaths annually…"
https://www.dw.com/en/sri-lanka-death-of-iconic-elephant-raises-habitat-concerns/a-79735669
"Tamil Nadu rain fury: Widespread downpour floods regions [SE India]
"Persistent rain in Kanyakumari district has caused major issues, as floodwaters entered inside people houses, forcing people to leave their house. Vehicles and essential household goods have been submerged or damaged by the water."
"The Andhra Pradesh coast [SE India] is on high alert as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warns of a developing system in the Bay of Bengal that is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm.
"…the storm is projected to impact north Andhra Pradesh and the adjoining south Odisha coast with extremely heavy rainfall beginning Tuesday, 27 October 2026."
"Bangladesh's climate migrants are arriving in cities unprepared to protect them.
"Climate migration is often considered an adaptation strategy, as it moves people out of harm's way from the immediate shocks of climate change. But a new study involving climate migrants in informal settlements in southwest Bangladesh finds that relocation can create new forms of vulnerabilities."
"Nepal becomes first country to receive climate change reparations…
"The UN The Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage was set up in 2023 to help countries deal with climate-related disasters. It decided on Thursday to earmark $20m (£15m) for Nepal to help it recover from the devastating flash flood of Aug 26, which killed more than 1,400 people."
"Bodies of two climbers recovered after 'freak avalanche' swept them down Himalayan mountain [Nepal]…
"Heavy snowfall and unusual weather patterns in the Bay of Bengal were blamed for a similarly catastrophic slab avalanche that killed at least four people in Manang in September. A sheet of snow 14 feet deep crushed the base camp of Himlung Himal peak last month, wiping out a team of climbers…"
"Typhoon Champi kills one and injures more than 500 in Taiwan as it heads to China.
"Taiwan's fire department said one man had been killed, swept by waves from the island of Liuqiu. Another 527 people were injured during heavy wind and torrential rain… Large parts of northern and central Taiwan, including Taipei, declared a second day of office and school closures on Saturday…"
"Hong Kong recorded its highest-ever temperature for the traditional Chinese calendar's "Frost" solar term on Friday, with the weather forecaster warning of a very dry weekend ahead.
"The Hong Kong Observatory said the temperature at its headquarters in Tsim Sha Tsui reached 32.3 [90.1F] degrees Celsius by 3.30pm, the highest of the day."
"ENDLESS RECORD HEAT IN SOUTH/EAST ASIA
"Thousands of October records have fallen in every single country in the area since the first day of the month and records keep being rebroken continously. Today another avalanche of records (Bangladesh, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, Phillipines)." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2113633748306583750
"Indonesia records over 333,000 acute respiratory infection cases as fires rage in several regions…
"The ministry's director of environmental health, Then Suyanti, said that daily cases remained high, with 4,522 new cases reported, according to state-run news agency Antara. She said the latest Air Pollutant Index showed that air quality in several areas had reached hazardous levels…"
"Flash floods swamp southeast Queensland as record October rainfall forces school closures…
"The deluge began on Thursday with a water treatment plant near Moreton Bay, north of Brisbane, recording more than 250 millimetres [9.8 inches] of rain in 24 hours. Some locations received nearly 180 millimetres in just three hours. Beerburrum recorded its wettest October day on record…"
"HISTORIC SPRING WARMTH IN TASMANIA:
"Tasmania is unstoppable: it has broken hundreds of records in the past months. Tonight it was like a mid summer night with new records of October HIGHEST MINIMUMS. In New Zealand exceptional peaks over 30C [86F] in mid spring."
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2113464377789874357
"Breaking News! It takes 2 weeks to confirm ocean sea surface temperatures and the long wait is finally over. The first day in recorded history with Nino 3.4 SST at or above 30.0°C [86F] is now officially on the record.
"October 7, 2026: 30.000°C." [Prof Eliot Jacobson]
https://x.com/EliotJacobson/status/2113650524742697258
"South America between floods and record heat: this Nino is way more extreme than anything else experienced.
"Today MIN at Arica was again 21.0C [70F], Chilean National October HIGH MIN record; PERU: 32.7 Chiclayo, 28.3 Pisco, 29.4 Lima Campos de Marte; October highest Minimums: 24.3 Piura,23.0 Pisco. Many stations have exceeded their previous records every day and by over 3! 40.3 Jaguaribe BRAZIL." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2113818645352874312
"Heavy rains and hail cause flooding in several sectors of Quito [Ecuador]…
"Among the affected areas are Occidental Avenue, where hail accumulated, and Colón Avenue, where the force of the water dragged several vehicles. Flooded streets, trapped cars and water on the first floors of some buildings were also reported."
"Storm in Santa Fe: hail damaged livestock, crops and homes in the region [Argentina].
"In the midst of the storm that affects Rosario and different localities of Santa Fe, videos began to circulate on social networks that show the intensity of the rainfall recorded during this Thursday. One of the records was shared from Fortín Olmos, in the north of the province…"
"Strong storm in Paraná: it began to rain after intense electrical activity [Brazil].
"The arrival of the rainfall coincided with the conditions announced by the national agency, which maintains a storm alert in force for ten departments of the province. It is expected that the most intense phenomena may develop during the early morning and until noon on Saturday."
"Amazon communities lose water as mining and deforestation reshape rivers…
"Inhabitants of parts of the world's greatest rainforest face a paradox: they're surrounded by water, but can't use it. For Indigenous peoples, it's also the loss of the spirits that guard their water sources, driven away by the advance of logging and cattle ranching."
"EXTRAORDINARY HEAT IN THE CARIBBEAN:
"The Caribbean is living the most extraordinary heat wave in history with every record, every island breaking and rebreaking records no-stop, every day. INSANE MINIMUMS of 29.4 [84.9F] Flamingo AP - BONAIRE HOTTEST OCTOBER NIGHT broken for 3rd time in a row." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2113719210329432080
"MEXICO Took the lead of the highest temperature in the Northern Hemisphere on Tuesday with a remarkable 43.5C/110F at Cazanate.
"Mexican Pacific has been experiencing no-stop record heat for over a year, especially with unprecedented hot nights." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2113231110176178473
"California's oceans have become shockingly warm. And strange things are happening…
"Ocean temperatures off the California coast are surging to shockingly high levels as a historic El Niño grows even stronger… The unusual heat is drawing tropical fish coastward, killing kelp forests, pushing tides to record high heights and providing extra fuel for storms."
https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/ocean-sea-temperature-california-22485809.php
"Severe flooding in US west triggers rooftop rescues and evacuation orders…
"Severe flooding in the Four Corners region on Friday led to water rescues - some from rooftops - and impassable roads, with some residents being told to evacuate low-lying areas of Colorado and New Mexico… It followed several busy days of flooding in the region that swamped dozens of homes in Utah…"
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/23/severe-flooding-west-triggers-rescues-evacuations
"The US west has lost nearly 300 glaciers since the 1960s. Climate crisis is drastically shrinking what's left…
"After dominating mountaintops for thousands of years, hundreds of once regal glaciers have been reduced to tiny, sad scraps of ice… "When I realized this it was like, 'Yikes - that's a lot more than I thought,'" said Andrew Fountain, a geographer at Portland State University…"
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2026/oct/23/glacier-loss-climate-crisis-west
"Colorado's record-shattering water year was 'ridiculously warm,' a little bit 'scary' and offered a 'new perspective' on how climate change will affect the state…
""What stood out most was the record-setting heat we had," said Allie Mazurek, the engagement climatologist with the Colorado Climate Center. "It was just ridiculously warm…" December, February, March and August were all the hottest ever documented in Colorado, which has 131 years of records…"
"Colorado River Basin lost trillions of gallons of groundwater during recent severe drought, study finds…
"The findings come as Western states grapple with new cuts to Colorado River water deliveries. In August, the federal government announced reductions for Lower Basin states, including Arizona, California and Nevada, amid declining reservoir levels and disagreements over how to share the river's shrinking supply."
"El Niño will be the dominant driver of weather patterns across the planet into November, with a huge cell of rising air anchored over the east-central Pacific.
"That will help fuel a burgeoning storm train across the U.S., potentially extending across the Atlantic into Europe." [Ben Noll]
https://x.com/BenNollWeather/status/2113400300069679607
"Almost every shallow-water coral reef on the planet faces ecosystem collapse by 2075, UN advisors say…
"About 24% of the planet's reefs across more than 80 countries are already critically endangered, the assessment said, but when the expected impacts of global heating were added this rose to 96%. Coral reefs are known as the rainforests of the sea…"
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The post 24th October 2026 Today's Round-Up of Climate News appeared first on Climate and Economy.
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.
"S&P Global Warns Hormuz Energy Shock Could Become a Global Food Crisis.
"S&P Global says a "multidirectional squeeze" of pricier diesel and fertilizer, strong biofuel demand and El Niño is closing in on world agriculture… Even if the Strait of Hormuz stays open, Gulf gas output needs months or years to recover…"
"Oil prices jump to five-month high as attacks threaten global supply.
"Oil prices jumped to a five-month high on Thursday after attacks in Saudi Arabia and hits to tankers in the strait of Hormuz threatened further disruptions to the world's crude supply."
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/22/oil-prices-jump-five-month-high-threats-supply
"The soaring cost of shipping is lifting the price of oil for consumers.
"The price of oil is only part of what determines the cost to supply the world with fuel. Crude oil and the products refined from it must travel - often thousands of kilometres by specialised marine tankers - from producing regions and refining centres to the places where they are consumed."
"Trump orders diplomats to leave embassies in Middle East over fears US could join strikes on Houthis.
"The US military is pulling out diplomats and their families from across the Middle East amid concerns Donald Trump could join attacks on the Houthis and launch fresh strikes on Iran next month."
"Iran threatens to strike oil and AI facilities across Gulf if US and Israel renew attacks.
"Iran will strike oil facilities, undersea cables, datacentres and AI facilities across as many as seven countries in the Gulf in the event of a fresh US-Israeli attack, Mohsen Rezaei, the secretary of Iran's supreme national security council, has said."
"US to Tap National Diesel Reserve as Prices Soar Before Election…
"The average price of diesel, which has hit record highs during the Iran war, is about $6.32 a gallon, according to AAA. About 4% of the nation's households use heating oil, including in Maine, New Hampshire and Alaska — all of which are politically competitive."
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/us-tap-national-diesel-prices-132130934.html
"Trump is about to discover the political cost of inflation…
"The great slayer of political careers - inflation - has come for Donald Trump. The irony is that it won't be the racist rhetoric, his role in the Capitol riots, or the self-sabotaging tariffs that remove the Teflon, but something entirely more mundane: gas prices."
"'Relentless' cost of living pressures behind collapse in UK consumer confidence.
"UK consumer confidence suffered an "extraordinary collapse" in October, wiping out three months of gains as surging energy prices, rising borrowing costs and uncertainty ahead of the Budget weighed on household morale… Consumer confidence is closely watched as an indicator of future household spending, a key driver of economic growth…"
https://www.ft.com/content/74bb3555-6f29-4ff9-bcaf-6cd20a9a3b1b?syn-25a6b1a6=1
"National Farmers Union calls for Budget action amid soaring diesel prices [UK].
"Mr Tompkins said: "We need to really consider what food production means for this nation's foundations of security and what the implications of further increases to farming's cost base mean for us all. "What can we look at in our food production system that enables those additional costs not to be passed to the consumer?""
"The British public is being urged to prepare for food shortages and widespread disruption from cyber attacks and emergencies under a new national initiative.
"The 'Be Ready' campaign marks the beginning of a three-year drive to boost household emergency preparedness, as Defence Secretary Wes Streeting unveils updated advice for threats…"
"Dutch government can't afford to limit interest on student loans to 2.5% as promised…
"Student unions are furious. "This effectively sends students out into the world burdened by an incredibly heavy backpack of debt," said the national student union LSVB. The interest rate cap was "the only glimmer of light at the end of a long, dark tunnel," the union said."
https://nltimes.nl/2026/10/23/dutch-government-cant-afford-limit-interest-student-loans-25-promised
"French borrowing costs overtake US amid budget turmoil.
"French borrowing costs continued to rise on Thursday, as investors fret that France's government is struggling to pass a federal budget after public protests gripped the country… It comes as the country also grapples with higher inflation triggered by the war in Iran…"
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/22/french-borrowing-costs-overtake-us-amid-budget-turmoil
"Paris shopkeepers fear more destruction after riots destroy livelihoods.
"'I have nothing left.' Small business owners in Paris say they are traumatised after rioters looted their shops. With more protests expected across France on Saturday, Al Jazeera's Virginia Pietromarchi speaks to shopkeepers fearing further destruction."
https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/10/21/10-21-reported-paris-shopkeepers-truamatised
"Macron bans 'illegitimate' protests in France as he tries to get a grip on unrest…
"France's main student union, UNEF, has also called for rallies on Saturday. Businesses in central Paris and other cities had already begun boarding up their windows and hiring private security in preparation for violence, French media reported."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/22/macron-ban-illegitimate-demonstrations-france-unrest
"Europe's riots spread to Spain as protests spiral out of control.
"The unrest began as around 5,000 people gathered to demonstrate against a speech by Santiago Abascal, leader of Spain's far-right Vox party. Demonstrators threw stones, flares, and fireworks, prompting police charges, while fires were set to bins and barricades across the city."
https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/news/spain-galicia-riots-protests-france-b3071432.html
"Milan braces for more unrest as debate intensifies over Italy's 'lost generation'…
"Orlando believes the vandalism and looting were a symptom of anger and years of feeling unheard and invisible. "So when an opportunity arises, these kids take revenge. They don't do it simply because they want to steal something."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/23/milan-unrest-italy-lost-generation-protests
"Trucker blockades in southern Italy ramp up pressure on Meloni…
"The demonstrations across the south are fast spiraling into a full-blown economic crisis. Truck drivers and farmers protesting soaring diesel bills have blocked highways, ports and distribution centers this week, leaving supermarket shelves empty and petrol pumps dry."
"Scuffle breaks out in Albanian parliament over student protests.
"Lawmakers in Albania's parliament clashed on Thursday as opposition MPs attempted to disrupt a session, throwing objects and ripping microphones from the desks of members of the ruling majority. Several opposition MPs held up images of students injured by police during protests in the capital, Tirana."
"Ukraine seeks to move customs checks inside EU to avoid Russian drones.
"Ukraine is in talks with neighbouring EU member states about moving customs checks on its lorries that carry grain exports from the border to inside those countries, in an attempt to halt Russian drone attacks on the trucks."
https://www.ft.com/content/ab922590-7f73-4a84-a3bd-a42cf80c92f7
"Russia bombards Kyiv with missiles hours after agreeing to resume talks with Ukraine.
"Russia has carried out a massive "demonstrative" attack on Ukraine, bombarding Kyiv with ballistic missiles just hours after Vladimir Putin said he had agreed to resume trilateral negotiations after talks with the US envoy Steve Witkoff."
"Russia rules out 'palliative' fixes for Black Sea security as Türkiye pushes plan.
""No palliative solutions are possible on Black Sea security," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said, responding to a question about Türkiye's initiative for the safety of shipping in the Black Sea on Thursday."
"Putin's War On Ukraine Puts Oil Giant Rosneft Under Mounting Pressure…
"Ukraine's dramatically expanded campaign of drone strikes against the country's oil secto …is inching closer to Vostok Oil facilities and repeatedly damaging refineries run by Rosneft and others in the European part of Russia. One of its biggest, Ryazan… has been shut for more than half the time since it was first attacked in May."
"North Korea prepares to restart propaganda loudspeakers as ties sour with South…
"Both North and South Korea have historically used giant loudspeakers to broadcast propaganda across the border, with the North in recent years playing haunting bestial howls, and the South opting for K-pop music and news criticising Pyongyang."
"Wealthy Chinese move offshore money to U.S. banks as Beijing's tax net widens…
"Banks in New York are seizing the opportunity to offer a solution that could shield Chinese customers from their country's tax man. U.S. banks are straining to keep up with the rise in demand, according to a New York-based wealth-planning advisor who works with Chinese family offices."
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/23/wealthy-chinese-tax-offshore-trusts-capital-control-.html
"Chinese state media takes aim at Japanese firm KDDI over Mongolia wildfire.
"Chinese state media has called for a Japanese telecoms firm to apologise to China over a huge wildfire in neighbouring Mongolia, as diplomatic tensions run high between Beijing and Tokyo… the company, KDDI, has acknowledged that the fire was linked to activities involving its majority-owned subsidiary MobiCom…"
"China steps up 'grey zone' tactics to isolate Taiwan and punish its allies…
""These are all forms of Beijing's intensified pressure campaign aimed at isolating Taiwan internationally and limiting middle powers' and smaller countries' engagement with Taipei," said William Yang, senior analyst for north-east Asia at the Crisis Group."
https://www.ft.com/content/587f1f89-3bff-4aae-9130-41f142f1cc5f
"Philippines Eyes Closer Taiwan Ties to Protect Vital Undersea Cables.
"The Philippines is looking to strengthen cooperation with Taiwan to safeguard undersea cables and tackle "gray-zone" activities, despite its one-China policy that recognizes Beijing and not Taipei."
"Indonesian students clash with police as protests over toxic haze escalate.
"Students across Kalimantan and Sumatra took to the streets to demand government accountability for the wildfires and toxic haze blanketing the region… these blazes are exacerbated by slash-and-burn practices to clear land for agriculture, including palm oil, of which Indonesia is the world's largest producer…"
"The threat below the waterline in Cambodia and Thailand's truce.
"The conciliation is proceeding under Annex V of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the outcome will not bind either party. A non-binding process succeeds when every actor able to wreck it chooses not to - and that list runs well beyond the two foreign ministries at the table."
"Indian Face-off with China continues at multiple locations along Arunachal border..
""In the past few-days, a situation arose where face-off happened at several locations in Arunachal and it still continues," Mr. Kapur said on Thursday. This is the first official confirmation of the scale of the rising tensions on the north-eastern border since July this year."
"Pakistan says water is 'red line' as India keeps Indus treaty in abeyance.
""Our position is clear. Water is a lifeline for humanity, particularly for lower riparian countries," the prime minister said. "Let it be known to all and sundry that any violation in this regard will be regarded by Pakistan as an act of war." There was no immediate response from New Delhi to Sharif's comments."
"'Open War' Between Afghanistan and Pakistan Adds a Volatile Element.
"China has tried to mediate, unsuccessfully. So have Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. And yet the conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan shows no sign of ending, and each side appears to have abandoned diplomacy… "The proxy standoff is intensifying, and that's a more dangerous escalation," Mr. Bahiss said."
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/22/world/asia/afghanistan-pakistan-proxy-war.html
"Iran's Balochistan border region sees growing unrest…
"The situation is similarly dire in the Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchistan, which is predominantly inhabited by Sunni Baluchis. It is one of the poorest regions in the country and marked by underdeveloped infrastructure, limited educational opportunities and water supply shortages."
https://amp.dw.com/en/irans-balochistan-border-region-sees-growing-unrest/a-79716399
"Iran's Oil Reserves Run Dry as U.S. Naval Blockade Tightens.
"Iranian oil in floating storage has been drained amid the U.S. Navy blockade, the Wall Street Journal has reported, citing Kpler data that suggests further tightening in global oil supply. "There's no more oil to discharge to China anymore," Kpler's head of crude oil analysis, Homayoun Falakshahi, said."
https://finance.yahoo.com/energy/articles/iran-oil-reserves-run-dry-070000048.html
"Gulf's worst oil shock will leave lasting scars, says IMF.
"The IMF forecasts that the GCC economy will contract by 4.8 percent in 2026, with oil sector output falling 14 percent. The decline in oil output exceeds the 5.4 percent fall during the Covid-19 pandemic… "This is the largest oil shock in history [for the Gulf]," said Jihad Azour, the IMF's Middle East and Central Asia director."
https://www.agbi.com/economy/2026/10/gulfs-worst-oil-shock-will-leave-lasting-scars-says-imf/
"Syria sends troops to Sweida front line as Israel moves hardware into area…
"Over the past two weeks, around 1,000 Syrian soldiers, mostly from rural Damascus, have arrived in batches on pick-up trucks in western Sweida, the sources said, raising the total number of government troops to 3,000. A Syrian security official confirmed that reinforcements have been sent."
https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/10/22/syria-druze-israel/
"Israeli attacks kill four as famine risk looms in Gaza.
"Israeli attacks across Gaza have killed four Palestinians, including a child, in the past 24 hours as the Israeli military continues to seize more territory inside the enclave. This comes amid warnings from a rights group that Gaza could face another famine…"
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/22/israeli-attacks-in-gaza-kill-four-including-a-young-girl
"Strike on Saudi Airport Kills 2…
"The Houthis have been pummeling Saudi Arabia's aviation and energy infrastructure for weeks, killing at least 22 civilians and roiling energy markets… A fragile truce in Yemen unraveled earlier this year, and the country has since tipped back into a civil war that the United Nations says has displaced some 260,000 people since August."
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/22/world/middleeast/saudi-houthis-yemen-dammam-airport.html
"Fighting rages in Yemen's Taiz as UN warns nearly 260,000 displaced…
"Government forces spokesperson Majid al-Nazili said on Wednesday that they launched 835 targeting operations against the Houthis, known as Ansar Allah, killing or injuring 285 of the armed group's members and destroying its battle tanks and weapons stores."
"Hundreds of Ethiopians cross into Kenya to flee regional fighting…
"Kenyan police said on Thursday that hundreds of Ethiopians, mostly women and children, crossed into Kenya through several entry points in Moyale, including the Sessi, Kore, Biashara, Foundation and Miti areas."
"Hospitals deliberately targeted by Sudan's RSF fighters, BBC finds…
"UN human rights chief Volker Türk called the findings "deeply disturbing", saying multiple attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on civilian infrastructure, including health facilities, were serious violations of international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c54g1kxw4nvvo
"Africa faces 'complex' Ebola outbreak after spread to Nigeria, WHO warns.
"Nigeria on Tuesday had announced an imported case of the Bundibugyo strain, currently causing a major Ebola outbreak in Congo. It was detected in the wife of a diplomat who had traveled from Uganda to the Nigerian capital Abuja."
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/10/23/world/science-health/africa-complex-ebola-outbreak/
"Rare unrest flares in Tunisian capital as police clash with protesters.
"Protesters blocked roads, burned tyres and threw stones at police. Security forces responded by firing tear gas while seeking to secure a National Guard station in the area, the Reuters news agency reported. In Jebiniana, in Sfax governorate, police clashed with protesters…"
"Venezuelans demand elections in first national protest in nearly two years.
"Thousands of Venezuelans have taken to the streets in several cities to demand free elections and other political changes, in the first nationwide opposition protest in nearly two years. US President Donald Trump and acting President Delcy Rodriguez have said there would be elections, but no date has been set…"
"Cuba's public transport plunges to all-time low amid US fuel blockade, minister says.
"Cuba's public transport system has plunged to an all-time historical low, with passenger trips projected to drop by 75% this year compared to last. According to an exclusive interview given by Cuba's Transportation Minister, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, the catastrophic collapse is a direct consequence of a de facto US fuel blockade…"
"El Salvador deploys special forces to Haiti to help find 4 missing soldiers who came under attack…
"The special forces arrived a day after Salvadorean President Nayib Bukele announced a military operation to rescue the four aviation technicians and threatened a more forceful response if they're not released alive and unharmed."
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/el-salvador-san-juan-puerto-rico-haiti-nayib-bukele-b3071870.html
"Blockades, checkpoints and court action: fending off Brazil's biofuel giants in the Amazon…
"For years, quilombola communities complained that the companies were squeezing them off their traditional lands. They also claimed their families were being affected by a toxic chemical byproduct of palm oil production, which also plagued the Acará River with bloated, dead fish."
"A report released on Wednesday warns that the investment boom in artificial intelligence is a financial bubble that is "primed to pop"…
""The AI industry's extensive ecosystem of circular financing and purchase agreements makes it very hard for outsiders to determine how much bona fide revenue the technology is generating," the report notes, "and very easy for companies to artificially inflate the revenues and deflate the expenses they release to the public.""
https://asiatimes.com/2026/10/report-says-circular-financing-shows-ai-bubble-primed-to-pop/
"Global tech sell-off sparks flight to safety…
"Shoki Omori, a fixed-income strategist at Deutsche Bank, said concerns about the scale of the hyperscalers' capital spending and the debt being raised to fund it had sent investors into safer assets such as US Treasuries."
https://www.ft.com/content/8948193b-438b-4d71-a0b1-31dff56fc308
"The next financial crisis could start with an algorithm…
"the 2008 global financial crisis demonstrated how instability in one segment of the financial system can rapidly spread across institutions, markets and borders. Today, however, a new source of contagion is emerging. As artificial intelligence becomes deeply embedded in modern finance, future instability may spread not through banks alone, but through algorithms."
https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/the-next-financial-crisis-could-start-with-an-algorithm
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You can read the previous "Economic" thead here. I'll be back tomorrow with a "Climate" thread.
The post 23rd October 2026 Today's Round-Up of Economic News appeared first on Climate and Economy.
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.
"UN issues call to arms to combat off-the-charts El Nino…
""We are already witnessing extreme weather events and expect this to multiply and cascade as El Nino intensifies," the World Meteorological Organization chief told a press conference.. "They issued a joint call for "urgent and coordinated anticipatory action" to protect the most vulnerable communities already living on the edge."
"Subsurface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific have soared 12°C (21.6°F) above average, the highest of this El Niño, with actual temperatures reaching 33.4°C (92.1°F).
"The y-axis maximum was raised again to accommodate this extreme warmth. We are witnessing climate history." [Ben Noll]
https://x.com/BenNollWeather/status/2112536814758121610
"This Norwegian village is one of the fastest-warming places on Earth. How can its people save it?
"…in Svalbard, where glaciers cover 57% of the land and temperatures are rising up to seven times faster than the global average, making it one of the fastest-warming places on Earth, Foxfonna is changing rapidly. "It is slowly dying," says Hodson, a professor at the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS)."
"World-first taskforce to protect communities from climate change [UK government statement].
"The taskforce will make independent recommendations to help shape government's approach to tackling national and international climate security challenges, and to help ensure Britain can best prepare itself for the climate crisis."
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/world-first-taskforce-to-protect-communities-from-climate-change
"UK's climate ambition 'in tatters' as Jackdaw gasfield gets go ahead…
"Labour's 2024 election manifesto in fact committed to a ban on new drilling licences in the North Sea. The companies behind Jackdaw and the Rosebank (which is being decided on separately) oilfield projects however sought approval for existing licences."
"Silence of the seals. The majority of harbour seal pups at the Tees Estuary are dying, year on year. Why you aren't being told what's going on…
"The seal pups were succumbing to what has become known as "mouth rot" — a rapidly progressing, non-communicable, necrotising condition that destroys tissue around the mouth and jaw."
https://northeastbylines.co.uk/news/environment/silence-of-the-seals/
"New Record Set For Warmest October Sea Temperature at Fistral [Cornwall]…
"The warmer water is driven by a gigantic, ongoing regional climate event - a prolonged marine heatwave that's currently impacting UK and Irish waters. Even by the end of May, the ocean temperature was up by 2 degrees above the average, and has continued this trend into autumn."
https://wavelengthmag.com/breaking-new-record-set-for-warmest-october-sea-temperature-at-fistral/
"In Pictures: 'Armageddon' at Europe's Swim Spots Linked to Climate Change and Factory Farm Pollution…
"Fed by harmful pollution from agriculture, and fuelled by seas warmed by climate change, lurid green blooms are increasingly appearing on beaches and lakes across Europe - prompting hundreds of swimming bans across the continent this summer."
"France, at the national level, is still experiencing drought. The soils are only filled to 28% ("drought" threshold at 40%, graph 1).
"The 2026 drought is therefore still leading the pack, alone (graph 2). It is by far the most severe drought ever observed in France since measurements began. [However[, In some corners of Hérault, we're experiencing one of the wettest years since measurements began." [Dr Serge Zaka].
https://x.com/SergeZaka/status/2112942921422954905
"It's just monstrous what happened in Solenzara [Corsica, France] today. Records are being shattered:
"108.6 mm in 30 min (national record)
196.2 mm in 1h (national record)
334.0 mm in 2h (national record)
420.6 mm in 3h (national record)
560.8 mm in 24h
>700mm in radar estimate… it rained in one day what falls in Paris in 1 year. It rained in 3h what has fallen in Paris since the start of the year!" [Dr Serge Zaka]
https://x.com/SergeZaka/status/2112639005237928277
"The storm of the beginning of October was an "unprecedented" tropical cyclone attempt in the Mediterranean [Spain]…
"An analysis published on the official blog of the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) points out that the powerful mesoscale convective system that developed off the Catalan coast showed signs compatible with an attempted formation of a tropical cyclone, a process that "had not been documented until now in the Mediterranean…""
"The historic record set by the rains at Ibiza Airport.
"AEMET has confirmed that the island has recorded its highest total precipitation since 1944, the year measurements began…
"Last Sunday, October 18, Storm Adam dropped a total of 173.8mm's [nearly 7 inches] at the Ibiza airport weather station."
https://forbes.es/en/balearic/1049654/the-historic-record-set-by-the-rains-at-ibiza-airport/
"Bad weather devastates Italy: one dead in Jesolo, landslides and flooding between Liguria, Elba and Calabria [Italy]…
"Difficult night in Savona, where 368 mm [14.5 inches] of rain fell: the firefighters had to intervene in different areas of the city and the province. A road gave way in via Famagosta, involving a garbage truck that remained in the balance. Fortunately, the driver was able to get out of the vehicle independently without too many problems."
https://www.quotidiano.net/cronaca/maltempo-oggi-previsioni-may96l1f
"Flash floods hit Dalmatia [Croatia].
"Heavy rain and flash flooding hit Split and the wider central Dalmatian region on Wednesday evening, flooding roads, disrupting traffic and forcing the suspension of several ferry and catamaran services… Large volumes of rain fell in a short period, leaving streets underwater and making driving conditions difficult…"
https://www.croatiaweek.com/split-flash-floods-heavy-rain-dalmatia/
"Italy: Wildfire Tears Down Mountain Near Palermo as Scirocco Howls [Sicily].
"A wall of flames snaked across a mountainside above Altavilla Milicia, east of Palermo, as hot scirocco winds fanned a night of wildfires across western Sicily. X user Joseph Frascati filmed the blaze in the early hours of October 21."
"Tunisia jails 10 environmental activists over anti-pollution protests in Gabes.
"A Tunisian court has sentenced ten environmental activists over a protest against pollution linked to a major phosphate-processing plant in the southern coastal city of Gabes… The case was brought by the state-owned factory, which accused the protesters of obstructing its operations."
"AFRICA RELENTLESS RECORD HEAT Record heat from Tunisia to Namibia! Part 1:
"In Northern Africa abnormal warmth continues. Up to 42C in NIGER and continuous record warm nights with MINS 25/29C. More October HIGH MINIMUMS in TOGO and GHANA."
[Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2112928138867187784
"Extreme heat in Africa - Part 2:
"Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania with up to 44C [111.2F] and 42C at 1000m asl. MONTHLY RECORDS - 36.0 Kilimanjaro AP, TANZANIA; ZAMBIA Hottest night in history in several stations with MINS up to 27C at 700m asl. High MIN 26.1 Beira MOZAMBIQUE." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2112975054300709370
"800,000 Somalis threatened by flooding displacement: UN…
""We are looking at the possibility of hundreds of thousands of people losing their homes in just a matter of weeks," said Manuel Marques Pereira, the IOM's Somalia chief of mission. "Many of these families have already been displaced before and have very little left to fall back on."
https://www.arabnews.com/world/800000-somalis-threatened-by-flooding-displacement-un-3007619
"Mauritius Drought Sparked Riots in Indian Ocean Beach Paradise.
"For four days, all Nooreshan Dilkholaust heard when he turned on a tap at his home in Clairfonds south of the Mauritian capital was the whistle of dry air. The 50-year-old caterer banded together with his neighbors to buy 10,000 liters of water they needed to run their households, spending about about $170. By the night of Oct. 7, they'd had enough."
"EXTRAORDINARY HEAT IN MIDDLE EAST & CAUCASUS:
"MINIMUMS >31C on a 21 October in Kuwait (Umm al Maradin,Qaruh Island) and Emirates (Aryla). MINS up to 23C on the Caspian Sea. MINS 27C in Libya. MINS >30C [86F] will continue for WEEKS." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2112779668311216334
"A powerful dust storm hits the Dashtiari region in Sistan and Baluchestan Province in southeastern Iran, where thick clouds of dust swept through the area, obscuring visibility and covering the sky.
"Wednesday, October 21, 2026." [Arab Storms]
https://x.com/Arab_Storms/status/2112919422155489443
"Pakistan's factory workers swelter in extreme heat as global brands fail on safety pledges…
"Siddiqui, who The Associated Press is identifying only by surname because she fears retaliation by her employer, felt like she was suffocating. Concerned co-workers called over her supervisor. "The supervisor said, 'Just complete this work,'" Siddiqui, 28, told The Associated Press. "Suddenly darkness came before my eyes.""
https://www.aol.co.uk/articles/pakistans-factory-workers-swelter-extreme-010422000.html
"Extraordinary heat continues in INDIA.
"The Thane-Belapur Industrial Area (TBIA) weather station broke its monthly record again with 38.8C [101.8F] today. The 7 hottest October days sinc 2003 all occurred this month." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2112947458632507453
"Bangladesh garment factory workers bear the brunt of rising temperatures.
"Extreme heat is becoming a workplace health crisis for Bangladesh's garment workers amid rising temperatures and prolonged heat waves, increasing concerns about occupational heat exposure… Besides health risks, extreme heat also creates economic losses for factories."
"Hong Kong bakes in record October heat as latest-ever Very Hot Weather Warning raised…
"According to iCable, he added that Hongkongers should expect a hotter winter this year - or perhaps the hottest in history - as the super El Niño phenomenon is expected to last until next spring. The Observatory predicts that the city will continue to see highs of above 30 degrees Celsius until next Wednesday."
"Tokyo, Osaka temperatures top 30°C later in year than ever before.
"Tokyo climbed above 30°C [86F] by early afternoon, the threshold the Japan Meteorological Agency classifies as a "midsummer day", JMA data science official Kazuhiro Shirono told AFP. It marked the latest 30°C-plus day recorded in the Japanese capital since observations began in 1875, he said."
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/tokyo-osaka-record-high-temperatures-midsummer-6478356
"Bukang-i is back: famous shark returns to canal in South Korea hours after being coaxed out to sea…
"An oceans ministry official said this week the shark appeared to have difficulty maintaining balance. Environmental groups have linked the shark's appearance in the canal to warming seas, saying rising temperatures are pushing warm-water fish northwards, with subtropical sharks following in pursuit."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/22/bukangi-shark-returns-to-south-korea-canal-busan
"South Korean Seas Record Second-Hottest Summer on Record…
"…the average surface water temperature of South Korean seas from July to September this year recorded 26.95 degrees Celsius. This is 1.49 degrees higher than the annual average (1991-2020). It is the second highest on record, following last year, which was the hottest at 27.75 degrees."
https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2026/10/20/CEFQOGO5XRGUHF7MAUW2CTIUYM/
"Over 600,000 hectares of standing crops may be affected by Super Typhoon Rosal aka Champi as it moves over the northern portion of Luzon [Philippines], the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Wednesday…
"Of the total area, 492,322 hectares are planted with rice, while 133,695 hectares are planted with corn, the department added."
"Taiwan cancels over 100 flights as Super Typhoon Champi churns towards island…
"Super Typhoon Champi is now the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained wind speeds of nearly 185mph, according to the US National Weather Service. The typhoon was moving west-northwest across the Philippine Sea with sustained winds of 175mph on Wednesday evening."
"SOUTHEAST ASIA OCTOBER RECORD HEAT:
"October records: THAILAND - 37.4 [99.3F] Mae Sariang, 36.7 Lamphun, 34.3 Bangkok Pilot; INDONESIA - 38.3 Banjarmasin is KALIMANTAN ALL TIME RECORD; MYANMAR - 38.0 Sagaing; LAOS - 35.9 Houei Sai; PHILIPPINES - 35.3 Ambulong… Also Hanimadhoo Min 28.6 Max. 34.9 MALDIVES HOTTEST OCTOBER DAY & NIGHT EVER." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2112525080492404973
"Record heat never ends in AUSTRALIA:
"More October records: TASMANIA - Max. 23.5C [74.3F] Swan Island, High Min: 16.0C Bicheno; WESTERN AUSTRALIA - MINIMUM 28.7 Pardoo."
[Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2112767852990365760
"SOUTH AMERICA ENDLESS RECORD HEAT:
October minimum records: PERU - 24.4 [75.9F] Trujillo, 22.6 Pisco, 18.4 Tacna; CHILE - 21.0 Arica October National record broken/Tied for the 21st time in 21 days!"
[Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2113078057783492809
"Torrential rainfall flooded streets, markets and homes in Piura, Peru, on Tuesday as El Niño conditions threaten to get worse.
"Meteorologists expect conditions to worsen beginning in November, bringing flash flooding and mudslides that could damage Peru's agriculture industry. Government officials expect El Niño to put 1.2 million people in Peru at risk."
https://weather.com/2026/10/21/news/weather/video/el-nino-peru-floods-flash-flood-mudslide-risk
"Tornado in the Maule Region: Phenomenon Wreaked havoc [Chile].
"On Wednesday, 21 October 2026, a tornado struck the municipality of Retiro in Chile's Maule Region, damaging nearly ten homes, uprooting trees, and knocking down structures. The damage was concentrated heavily within the Maitenes and Huaso Chileno sectors of Retiro."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkKkpMc00hk
"Scientists alarmed by dozens of whale deaths along Argentina's coast.
"An unusual die-off of both calves and adult southern right whales has been detected in Patagonian waters since July, prompting investigations into the effects of a bacterium and harmful algal blooms."
"Heavy rains cause flooding in southern Paraguay.
"Heavy rains linked to the El Niño climate phenomenon have triggered severe flooding across southern and eastern Paraguay, forcing thousands of families to evacuate their homes."
"The Amazon in flames: Brazil's rainforest burns amid El Niño and election tensions.
"Concern for the future of the Brazilian Amazon is conspicuously absent from the frenzy of Brazil's election campaign. But for the more than two million residents of Manaus, the large city embedded in the heart of the rainforest, it is impossible to ignore. The city has been shrouded in smoke for weeks."
"HISTORIC HEAT IN THE CARIBBEAN:
"Extraordinary record heat is sweeping all tropical Americas… Today the Vc Bird International Airport rose to 34.4C [93.9F]. which is the HIGHEST OCTOBER TEMPERATURE EVER RECORDED IN ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA… 29.3 BONAIRE Caribbean Netherlands is highest October min." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2113084768200044881
"'Daily struggle': Cubans dig wells in search of water…
"Water difficulties are forcing many Cubans to haul the precious resource for long distances, transporting it via wheelbarrows, bicycles, car trunks and even horse-drawn carts. Maykel Aguilar, 30, patiently filled a 200-liter tank and several buckets at a pipe connected to a spring on a street in the capital's old town."
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20261021-daily-struggle-cubans-dig-wells-in-search-of-water
"Honduran farmers struggle to feed their families as drought destroys crops across Central America.
"Global warming is intensifying the El Niño weather pattern and prolonging drought across Central America's Dry Corridor. In Honduras, the government is turning to a controversial climate-mitigation technique known as cloud seeding."
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/honduran-farmers-struggle-feed-families-090206890.html
"The hidden water crisis beneath the American west…
""We don't have enough groundwater or enough pumps," said Miller, a fifth-generation farmer who grows alfalfa and cotton. Some wells have gone dry, said the 35-year-old, who has had to leave some of his land fallow. "We try not to go broke doing anything," he told the FT. "It's getting tough.""
https://www.ft.com/content/ff5859fb-dfa6-4fe5-a5cf-824a98ad32d4?syn-25a6b1a6=1
"Signs for a traditional, El Niño-like weather pattern across the United States continue to strengthen for November and beyond…
"Enjoy the tranquil weather in the East — and meteorologists, recharge your batteries — because it probably won't last that much longer!" [Ben Noll]
https://x.com/BenNollWeather/status/2112914302248100239
"Hail the size of golf balls pummel parts of Arizona as rare storm moves through the West.
"Hail pummeled people's roofs, shattered windows and dented cars. Tornado watches were issued for multiple areas — the first the state has seen since Oct. 6, 2010. "This is very unusual for this area at this time of the year," said Ryan Bernhart, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Flagstaff."
"Trump admin cuts to satellites will set back US weather forecasting by a decade, experts say.
"The Trump administration's cuts to weather satellites will set the country back nearly a decade, experts say. The loss of data used to observe, forecast and research extreme weather could prevent the country from making major advances in weather prediction in the coming years."
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/19/weather/trump-satellites-extreme-weather-forecast-future-set-back
"Nanaimo on pace for driest October on record [BC]…
""It's not necessarily attributed to El Niño, though. There's been this ridge of high pressure over the Pacific that's kind of put up a blocking pattern and pushed the fall storms north towards Alaska and the Yukon instead of southern British Columbia.""
https://nanaimonewsnow.com/2026/10/21/nanaimo-on-pace-for-driest-october-on-record/
"Ketchikan declares state of emergency after landslide knocks out Ward Cove substation [Alaska].
"Borough Mayor Austin Otos and City Mayor Bob Sivertsen signed the joint declaration Oct. 16, citing a severe rain and wind event… Initial estimates put the cost to repair the Ward Cove substation at up to $1.59 million — a cost that exceeds available resources for KPU and the city, according to the declaration."
"The risk from landslide tsunamis is intensifying in busy Alaska fjords, with no plan in place.
"Public awareness of landslide tsunamis has surged since August of 2025, when the second-tallest tsunami on record hit Tracy Arm, a fjord south of Juneau frequented by cruise ships… experts say the near miss highlighted a threat that appears to be intensifying with climate change."
"Global warming will breach 1.5°C - but deep, fast cuts can still bring it back [says UN].
"…returning to or below the 1.5 threshold can be done, particularly as evidence increasingly shows how climate policies have reduced emissions… We must triple renewable energy capacity and doubling the annual rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030… Shift away from fossil fuels in energy systems etc."
https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/10/1168634
Leon Simons responds to UN:
"We cannot return to lower temperatures with only emission reductions and carbon capture and storage. Anyone who claims that is grossly negligent.
"Misrepresention of inconveniet truths in order to give people false hope is very dangerous."
https://x.com/LeonSimons8/status/2112938807351816621
"Giant 'heat storms' are scorching the Earth. This is the story of the biggest one on record…
"The largest heat storm on record - the one that lasted for 367 days over 2023-2024 and reached almost 85% of the globe - sent temperatures in parts of the Philippines up to 38 C (100.5 F), immiserating students… As the same heat storm encased southern Louisiana for months, it exacerbated a historic drought."
"Climate Change May Make Next Food Crisis Global…
"One of the food shocks the world should worry about most will not begin on any one farm. It will begin upstream, in the machinery of ocean currents and jet streams that quietly links a paddy field in Punjab to a wheat belt in France and a maize crop in the American Midwest."
https://openthemagazine.com/columns/climate-change-may-make-next-food-crisis-global
As a reader-funded publication, your one time and regular donations help keep this site going. If you value this work, please share it far and wide and consider a Patreon subscription or a one time Paypal donation. You can also support this work by buying a virtual coffee. Thank you!
You can read the previous "Climate" thead here. I'll be back tomorrow with an "Economic" thread.
The post 22nd October 2026 Today's Round-Up of Climate News appeared first on Climate and Economy.
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 United States is moving away from its traditional security-for-oil relationship with the Middle East and no longer seeks to dominate the region, senior US diplomat Tom Barrack has said.
"However, it was not abandoning the Middle East, he added, speaking at the Global Security Forum in Doha on Tuesday — but rather reassessing its role, after years of attempts to reshape governments across the region."
"Iran sets red lines for US talks: Lift sanctions, end threats — 'not a gram' of uranium leaves.
"Ian's Supreme National Security Council secretary, Maj. Gen. Mohsen Rezaei, met with Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, on Tuesday and said Tehran would not surrender any enriched uranium or negotiate with the U.S. until Washington rebuilt trust and met Iran's conditions."
https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/iran-war-news-trump-israel-russia-october-20
"Benjamin Netanyahu pushes to resume strikes against Iran.
"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed to resume large-scale military strikes against Iran, instructing the Israel Defense Forces to prepare for a multi-day bombing campaign earlier in October. The offensive was blocked by US President Donald Trump over concerns regarding the November 3 US midterm elections."
https://www.ft.com/content/eb4d1101-45ed-4d03-9beb-42f7c87a58ea
"Oil prices gain with 18 Hormuz attacks in two weeks.
"Brent crude futures gained 1.48 percent to $110.4 a barrel by 03:00 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude climbed 1.38 percent to $99.17. Both benchmarks have risen more than 40 percent so far this year. The gains came as mediators struggled to bring the US and Iran back to the negotiating table."
https://www.agbi.com/oil-and-gas/2026/10/oil-prices-gain-after-18-hormuz-attacks-in-two-weeks/
"As gasworld's Helium Summit in Houston gets underway, the question of how to face the realities of restoring the global helium supply chain if the Strait of Hormuz reopens is at the forefront of discussion…
"Megan Sutcliffe, Principal Analyst at Sibylline, Middle East and Africa, corroborated this sentiment, stating that helium exports would be unlikely to resume in the fourth quarter of 2026 or even the first quarter of 2027."
"Middle East Conflict Splits Fertilizer Supply Chains and Spares Potash…
"Middle East fertilizer supply risk is not landing evenly, since nitrogen is the most exposed through urea and ammonia flows via the Strait of Hormuz, phosphate depends on progress in U.S. and Iran talks, and potash sits furthest from the conflict."
"Trump Plans $8 Billion Bailout for Farmers…
"President Trump announced the new round of farmer funding Monday at a campaign rally for Kansas Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, who is in a heated campaign against a Democratic candidate in a race that political rating sites have called a tossup."
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-plans-8-billion-in-payments-to-farmers-1cec5851
"'It's the most heartbreaking thing': the active-duty soldiers who have to visit Texas food banks…
"Pérez, a 39-year-old army combat engineer, was on leave and asked that I not use his real name. His bag contained sweet potatoes, a box of elbow macaroni, a 5lb bag of frozen chicken breasts, some enormous beets, a dozen eggs and a few other staples - about $100 worth of food by his reckoning."
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/20/military-families-food-banks
"September data shows US housing market in a deep freeze.
"Fast-rising mortgage rates in September took a harsh toll on the housing market, according to new monthly data released today. Pending home sales, a measure of signed contracts on existing homes, dropped 7.3% from August and were down 11.3% year-over-year, according to the National Association of Realtors."
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/20/september-data-shows-housing-market-in-a-deep-freeze.html
"US coaxing refiners to produce more diesel as prices surge, energy officials say.
"Two top U.S. Energy Department officials said on Tuesday they were working with refiners at home and abroad to boost fuel output as a diesel shortage has raised prices, driving dissatisfaction among voters with the White House ahead of the November midterm elections."
"Norway's Gas Production Plunges 12.6% as Europe Heads into Winter.
"Norway's oil and gas production declined sharply in September, with natural gas output falling 12.6% from August, according to preliminary figures released Tuesday by the Norwegian Offshore Directorate (NOD)… The decline comes at a sensitive time for European energy markets…"
"North Sea strikes could severely disrupt UK fuel supplies, union warns…
"The Unite union said on Monday that more than 160 offshore rig workers would take part in a 24-hour strike from Wednesday that could "severely disrupt" UK fuel supplies. A 48-hour strike starting on Tuesday was already planned by workers at oil services company Wood Group…"
"Millions of UK households heading into winter in energy debt.
"More than nine million households are heading into winter either in debt to their energy supplier or with no account credit, according to a survey. Research by Uswitch indicates that two in five households (40%) feel more anxious about paying for energy this winter compared with last year."
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/energy-bills-debt-winter-uk-households-b3070065.html
"A 'Doom Loop' Threatens France as Populism Confronts Markets.
"When protests over high gas prices ripped through France in 2018, President Emmanuel Macron offered to enact about $11 billion in tax cuts and wage increases to try to quell the unrest. Today, after protests over education turned violent, Mr. Macron is in no position to use money to bring calm to the streets."
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/20/business/france-protests-bond-markets.html
"Marseille braces for more unrest after protests give way to 'apocalyptic' disorder.
"Thunder and lightning have boomed across Marseille following the weekend's mayhem, illuminating the cracked windows and boarded-up doors of hundreds of businesses that were smashed as protests gave way to disorder… "It was a war," said Arnaud Blaise from the UN1TE police union. "An unheard-of level of violence. Unprecedented.""
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm5ynkk570pno
"Thousands of people rallied in Lisbon, Porto and other Portuguese cities on Tuesday evening, hours after police dismantled protest camps and arrested a total of 55 demonstrators.
"The protesters vowed to continue their campaign against Portugal's deepening housing crisis, which has made buying or renting a home increasingly unaffordable."
https://www.dw.com/en/portugal-housing-crisis-protests-lisbon-porto/a-79717904
"Italy sends troops, toughens security laws after Milan clashes.
"Italy on Tuesday approved the deployment of 500 troops to Milan after violent clashes, and as fuel price protests hit pasta production and food deliveries in southern Italy. A cabinet meeting on Tuesday also approved a series of security measures."
https://www.france24.com/en/italy-sends-troops-toughens-security-laws-after-milan-clashes
"Nato increases Black Sea deployment amid escalating deadly Russian attacks.
"Russia's targeting of vessels taking grain and other agricultural cargoes from Ukraine's ports - central to the country's economy - have brought the conflict to Nato's borders, with a new high-risk designation used by the London shipping insurance market now covering all of the Black Sea save for the territorial waters of Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey."
"'I don't care how it's done': Trump pressures Ukraine to cut peace deal.
"Amid escalating tensions with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, United States President Donald Trump has increased pressure on the Eastern European country to make a deal that would end the war with Russia."
"White House blocks transfer of Patriots to Ukraine…
"Last week, a Ukrainian official told the Post that Kyiv had "only a couple" of missiles - vital to intercepting Russian missiles - left in its stockpile. Volodymyr Zelensky accused the US of deliberately delaying the delivery to his war-torn country before talks with a top US envoy on Tuesday."
"Russia expands attacks on energy facilities to western Ukraine.
"Russia has expanded strikes from eastern and central Ukraine to energy facilities in previously untargeted western regions, causing waves of blackouts, energy ministry officials and local authorities said on Tuesday. In October, before the start of the cold season, Russia resumed attacks on Ukraine's energy sector…"
"Russians locked out of bank accounts and apartments as Ukraine hits data centers…
""I ended up in a situation where I had absolutely no money. Well, I had the money, but it was inaccessible," said Irina, a blogger from St. Petersburg, who had not been able to access her money for four days when she spoke with NBC News last week."
https://www.nbcnews.com/world/russia/russia-ukraine-yandex-data-centers-attacks-trump-rcna602753
"China's Huachen Energy Risks Fresh Default on $956 Million Debt…
"The energy company's woes are an example of the continued struggles faced by some of China's distressed firms years after restructuring, as the country's growth slowdown and shifting economic priorities makes debt recovery harder."
"The fake commute: How China's unemployed save face…
"Analysts say the phenomenon is a stark reflection of a weakening job market in an economy increasingly reliant on roaring exports. As the Oct 19 third-quarter data showed, manufacturers are battling fierce competition by slashing prices and payrolls while piling heavier workloads onto remaining staff."
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/the-fake-commute-how-chinas-unemployed-save-face
"China says it is 'safeguarding order' around Taiwan-controlled South China Sea atoll.
"China's government said on Wednesday that its coast guard was "safeguarding order" around a tiny and strategically located Taiwan-controlled atoll at the top end of the South China Sea where Taipei fears Beijing is trying to enforce jurisdiction."
"Philippines summons China's envoy over remarks conveying 'threat'.
"The Philippine foreign ministry summoned Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan on Monday, 19 October 2026, to express its "serious concern and strong objection" over recent comments that Manila interpreted as a thinly veiled threat of force."
"A Ticking Time Bomb': An Economic Crisis Looms in Indonesia.
"Experts now warn that Indonesia is facing its most combustible moment since 1998… Like its Southeast Asian neighbors, Indonesia is struggling with the fallout from the war in Iran and American tariffs. Inflation is rising and fuel shortages are spreading across multiple cities. But government policies under President Prabowo Subianto are compounding its troubles…"
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/19/business/indonesia-economy-stocks.html
"Energy shock could spark Asia's next debt crisis.
"A country need not run out of money to find itself in a debt crisis. It only has to run short of US dollars to pay for its energy… Past financial crises have taught policymakers to watch for failing banks and collapsing currencies. An energy shock follows a different path. It begins at the fuel terminal, not in a bank vault. By the time stress surfaces in the banking system, the damage to a country's external position is done."
"'One step away from famine': Inside Afghanistan's hunger crisis…
""I want to start with something that can get lost when we talk about Afghanistan through numbers: a harvest can improve, markets can have food, but families can still go hungry," she said, calling it "one of the clearest takeaways" from her recent visits to southern and northeastern Afghanistan."
https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/10/1168631
"Troubled waters: life during wartime for Iranians on the strait of Hormuz.
"Despite US-Israeli airstrikes and Tehran's attacks on shipping, the waterway still has to provide a lifeline for those that live and work there… According to Iranian government sources, attacks on the southern port of Bandar Abbas have damaged 760 fishing and commercial vessels. Farouq says his own ferry was also damaged by shrapnel…"
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/oct/21/strait-of-hormuz-life-amid-wartime-iran
"Greece rejects Libya-Turkey maritime deal, calls it illegal…
"Greece called on Libya to refrain from actions that undermine stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and said it had informed partners and allies and would take all appropriate measures to safeguard its sovereign rights."
https://middle-east-online.com/en/greece-rejects-libya-turkey-maritime-deal-calls-it-illegal
"'Season of fear': Escalating Israeli attacks on West Bank olive farmers, deadly strikes on Gaza…
"In the Gaza Strip, deadly Israeli airstrikes, gunfire and shelling occurred alongside incursions, demolitions and reported shifts in the so-called "yellow line" imposed by Israel since the year-old ceasefire agreement. The attacks raised concerns and risks of further displacement, according to the latest updates from the UN emergency aid coordination office…"
https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/10/1168625
"UK to deploy fighter jets to protect Saudi Arabia from Houthi attacks.
"RAF Typhoon fighters are to be used in efforts to protect Saudi Arabia from attack by Yemen's Houthis, flying protective missions over the country's cities and critical infrastructure as western allies increase their intervention in the escalating conflict."
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/20/uk-raf-typhoon-fighters-saudi-arabia-houthi-attacks
"Yemen's Taiz faces deadly siege, as Shabwah death toll rises…
"UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said on Tuesday that the Houthis - an armed group also known as Ansar Allah (Arabic for Supporters of God), who have surrounded the city, must immediately allow humanitarian relief to enter or risk a catastrophe."
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/20/yemens-taiz-faces-deadly-siege-as-shabwah-death-toll-rises
"Fleeing the frontline: Yemeni families cross Red Sea to Djibouti as Houthi conflict rages…
"Saeed is one of several thousand Yemenis who have fled into Djibouti in recent weeks. He is sheltering with other Yemeni nationals at the packed Markazi humanitarian site near the fishing town of Obock in the north-east of the country."
"Tigray rebels claim to have killed over 1,500 Ethiopian soldiers as Abiy warns Eritrea…
"The TPLF said the clashes occurred around Mirena in central Tigray as government troops attempted to advance toward the town of Adet. The group also claimed to have killed 11 members of the Tigray Peace Force, an armed faction aligned with the federal government."
"Foreign rivalries risk turning Somalia's political crisis into a protracted war…
"Somalia has been embroiled in a political crisis since May 2026, when the term of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was originally due to expire. Parliament passed constitutional amendments in March that extended presidential terms to five years, keeping President Hassan Sheikh in office until May 2027. This was disputed by Somalia's opposition alliance…"
"Sudan's Conflict Risks Spilling Over Into Regional Crisis.
"The ongoing war in Sudan, centered on the power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), is increasingly spilling beyond the nation's borders, threatening to destabilize its immediate neighbors and plunge the broader region into a prolonged crisis."
"Drone strike kills more than 150 at market in Sudanese war…
"A witness said he heard five large explosions that led to a fuel depot nearby catching fire. "People started evacuating the casualties. They had injuries from shrapnel on their stomach and legs … In one site, I saw 28 bodies that were burnt," the witness said, asking not to be named for safety reasons."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/21/abyei-drone-strike-market-south-sudan-war-death-toll
"ISIS linked group kills scores in Mali, clashes with al Qaeda affiliates.
"Islamic State (ISIS)-linked extremists have killed at least 48 people in Mali in apparent retaliation for an attack on suspected informants by pro-government forces including members of Russia's Africa Corps, two security sources and two local officials told Reuters."
https://thearabweekly.com/isis-linked-group-kills-scores-mali-clashes-al-qaeda-affiliates
"Morocco and Spain: Alarm over Islamic State's logistics corridor from the Sahel to Europe…
"The analysis notes the dismantling, in March 2026, of a cell operating between Tangier and Mallorca, with the arrest of three suspects in Morocco and one in Spain. Investigators have linked the network to the financing of ISIS fighters in the Sahel and Somalia, as well as preparations for a possible attack on Spanish soil."
"North Africa and the Sahel face the next global food shock.
"A new global food crisis is taking shape. This time, the conditions for a perfect storm are emerging from three sources: a sharp contraction in Ukraine's grain exports… a forecast "Super El Niño" in the Pacific Ocean; and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries between 20 and 30 percent of internationally traded fertilizer."
https://www.gisreportsonline.com/r/food-crisis-africa/
"The Secret Terms of Trump's Venezuelan Oil Deal…
"The document reveals carefully constructed terms that favor U.S. interests at every turn and cements the power of a small group of people handpicked by the Trump administration to govern and profit from the deal. The role of the Venezuelan government and the potential benefits to its people are largely absent from the text."
https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-venezuela-oil-agreement-terms
"Russia Slams U.S. Arrest Warrant for Cuba's Raúl Castro…
"The charges are connected to the Feb. 24, 1996, shooting down of two civilian aircraft operated by the humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue. Castro, the younger brother of the late revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, was Cuba's defense minister at the time."
"The Next Big AI Debt Wave Is Pushing Credit Swaps to New Highs.
"Gauges of credit risk for some of the biggest technology companies hit fresh highs on Tuesday, as investors brace for an onslaught of post-earnings bond sales they fear may overwhelm already overloaded debt markets."
"Is this the beginning of the end of the AI stock market boom?
"The world is holding its breath as it waits to find out whether this year's estimated $US1tn investment in artificial intelligence is resting on a castle made of sand… The recent rot may have started with the failure of Firmus, an Australian datacentre company, to list on the ASX."
"The housing crisis is now global. It shows just how undemocratic our nations have become…
"The tools available to the large financial actors driving and profiting from the housing crisis are not available to the rest of us. They hire armies of lobbyists to squash rent-control laws. They fund political campaigns. They rotate in and out of government positions. They are in the rooms and hallways where decisions are made."
As a reader-funded publication, your one time and regular donations help keep this site going. If you value this work, please share it far and wide and consider a Patreon subscription or a one time Paypal donation. You can also support this work by buying a virtual coffee. Thank you!
You can read the previous "Economic" thread here. I'll be back tomorrow with a "Climate" thread.
The post 21st October 2026 Today's Round-Up of Economic News appeared first on Climate and Economy.
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 "statistial significance" of this model is overwhelming, i.e. we can resoundingly reject the hypothesis that global average Sea Surface Temp has warmed at the same rate for the last several decades.
"It's a lot faster now (about 0.3°C/dec) than it was before 2012 (less than 0.1°C/dec). Many would call this a tripling of Sea Surface Temperature increase.
"Which isn't very surprising, as Earth's Energy Imbalance has tripled and 90% of global heat accumulation is directed to warming the oceans." [Leon Simons]
https://x.com/LeonSimons8/status/2112380228056027548
"Nearly half of world's reef-building coral species face extinction risk: Study…
"Nearly 44% of the world's reef-building coral species face an elevated risk of extinction, primarily due to rising ocean temperatures linked to climate change, according to a new study. The research, published Thursday in the scientific journal Nature, assessed 892 reef-building coral species…"
"Factoring daily weather extremes into glacier models reveals greater ice loss and faster sea-level rise.
"A new study led by researchers at ETH Zurich (Switzerland) and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium) reveals that glaciers worldwide could lose ice faster than previously projected. Published in Nature Communications, the research shows that accounting for daily weather variability leads to more realistic simulations of glacier melt…"
https://phys.org/news/2026-10-factoring-daily-weather-extremes-glacier.html
"Tap water no longer drinkable in Norwegian town as climate-related thawing releases heavy metals…
"Longyearbyen, in the archipelago of Svalbard, gets its main drinking water supply from a 1.5 mile-long (2.5km) dammed lake called Isdammen… Higher temperatures as a result of the climate crisis have thawed permafrost, leading to newly exposed bedrock leaching metals into the pond."
"EU softens Arctic oil stance in draft strategy as Norway expands Barents licensing.
"A draft of the strategy, seen by Bloomberg, contains no references to a moratorium on new oil and gas drilling in the Arctic, marking a shift in wording from the EU's 2021 stance. The wording has been a topic of intense discussions between the trade bloc and Norway…"
"Hailstorm Raphaela sets Europe convective storm loss record.
"The severe convective storms that hit France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy in late August caused an insured loss of €3.296 billion, according to PERILS. That makes it Europe's costliest convective storm event in the Zurich-based data provider's records."
"Europe records highest ever number of West Nile Virus cases.
"Mainland Europe has seen the largest number of cases of a debilitating mosquito-borne illness, with Italy hardest hit by the disease. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control there have been 1,715 locally acquired cases of West Nile Virus so far this year, compared to 989 cases at the same point last year…"
"Heat deaths doubled in Belgium during the June 2026 heat wave.
"A new rapid attribution study by Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) finds that human-induced climate change made the June 2026 heat wave in Belgium 3.9°C hotter and more than doubled the number of heat-related deaths… The June 2026 heat wave was Belgium's deadliest on record."
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-10-deaths-belgium-june.html
"Swiss railways records fourfold rise in heat-related track warping.
"When asked about this, SBB confirmed the figure of 97 cases of warping and compression-induced deformation reported in the SonntagsZeitung. According to the newspaper, this figure is nearly four times higher than that of the previous year."
"How the Climate Crisis Fueled the Youth Protests Roiling France…
"Students protesting this week outside high schools in the Paris area described a raft of problems in their buildings that made them feel abandoned by their government… For many, this year's record heat waves were a breaking point that highlighted their schools' inability to keep students safe in a warming climate."
https://www.theenergymix.com/how-the-climate-crisis-fueled-the-youth-protests-roiling-france/
"And two it is! Over 300 mm [12 inches] of rain in just a few hours are expected on the same areas hit on September 30 last [in southern France], with likely a new RED VIGILANCE alert triggered in the afternoon.
"But this time, the hydrological situation is radically different. In these same territories, the soils are now filled to 70 to 90% of their water retention capacity, raising fears of an extremely rapid saturation and major flooding." [Dr Serge Zaka]
https://x.com/SergeZaka/status/2112118372959723542
"Spain floods kill four as torrential rain inundates eastern regions.
"Torrential rain battered eastern Spain on Monday, killing at least four people in recent days as floodwaters swept away cars, submerged roads and stranded residents. Emergency crews carried out more than 400 rescues in Valencia, where rainfall reached 700 mm's [27.5 inches] in 24 hours in some areas."
"Although the rains that have been sweeping across the western Mediterranean since yesterday will help to cool the sea a bit and sap some of its energy, as of today there's still A TON of fuel left to generate major storms the moment the atmosphere's dynamics become conducive to it.
"The water near our coasts is 4 to 5 degrees warmer than normal today, and we're already heading into November! …. Unbelievable!!" [Mario Picazo]
https://x.com/picazomario/status/2112093589064835443
"The rains do not subside: the death toll from mudslides in Turkey continues to rise.
"In the Turkish cities of Istanbul and Kocaeli, the number of people killed as a result of mudslides caused by incessant rains has risen to 9… As a reminder, the heavy rains that have been continuing for several days in a number of Turkish cities have led to serious consequences. According to forecasters, precipitation in Turkey will continue."
"The severe flash flooding that swept through Béjaïa Province, Algeria, on October 17, 2026, flooded the village of Achirour Tichi.
"The sudden deluge followed intense, heavy rainfall in northern Algeria, turning streets into sweeping, powerful torrents."
https://www.lejourdalgerie.com/bejaia-mobilisation-face-aux-intemperies/
"Morocco | Wadi Maksi… Torrential floods cut off the road and trap several vehicles…
"Torrential floods are also forcefully flowing between residential buildings in the Wadi Al-Malh area of the city of Imzouren, northern Morocco."
[Arab Storms]
https://x.com/Arab_Storms/status/2112259618470867388
"Forgotten weather records reveal a dramatic rise in extreme heat…
"Across dozens of weather stations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the hottest days of the year became nearly twice as common between the 1960s and the 1980s. In its 2021 report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) didn't assess that kind of change, mainly because the measurements were missing."
https://www.earth.com/climate/forgotten-weather-records-reveal-a-dramatic-rise-in-extreme-heat/
"More extraordinary heat all over AFRICA:
"More October records last days: 41.8C [107.2F] Mongo, CHAD. Today MINIMUM 27.7C Ouagadougou, BURKINA FASO - October hottest night. Minimums up to 25C in Tunisia. Further south 44C in Southern Africa (next days 45C+)." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2112208264750678069
"Record heat in Maldives never ends:
"33.9C [93F] Male is HOTTEST OCTOBER DAY IN MALDIVES HISTORY again!"
[Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2112182406686056507
"UNREAL MIDDLE EAST & CAUCASUS HEAT:
"MINIMUM 32.4C [90.3F] Qarnen EMIRATES; MINIMUMS >30C in Emirates, Saudi, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Iran. 5TH TROPICAL NIGHT IN RUSSIA AND KAZAKHSTAN. More records like in Kotelnikovo, Derbety etc. Min 23.2 Poti is GEORGIA HOTTEST OCTOBER NIGHT. Crazy." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2111765588704133308
"Indian rappers use music to sound climate alarm…
"Brikesh Singh from Asar Social Impact Advisors, which is one of the collaborators on the album, said music helped express the challenge faced. "If we want to reach out to people who are experiencing the climate crisis, we need to change how society tells those stories," Singh said."
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20261020-indian-rappers-use-music-to-sound-climate-alarm
"Chennai's 360-mm [14.2 inches] deluge exposes limits of forecasting hyperlocal extreme rain.
"Chennai's northeast monsoon debut has delivered an extraordinary burst of rainfall, with North Chennai recording more than 300 mm in 24 hours at individual rain gauges, raising questions about the limits of weather forecasting and the ability of disaster management agencies to prepare for hyperlocal extreme events."
"The rare, widespread heavy rainfall that began in China in mid-October is continuing; some areas in Hunan and Hubei have recorded up to 260mm [10.2 inches] of rain within 24 hours, triggering floods that have surpassed warning levels."
[Jim Yang]
https://x.com/yangyubin1998/status/2111809465964224777
"EXCEPTIONAL HEAT IN CHINA:
"Heyuan, Huaiji and Lianzhou in Guangdong broke the record for the latest 35C [95F] in local observation history. With the addition of Shangyou in Jiangxi and Jianning in Fujian, five stations have broken the record for the latest 35C day today." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2112159419261956370
"Abnormal warmth continues in JAPAN:
"Night Minimum Temperatures widespread >20C [68F] in the South up to 27C! New record of October highest Minimum at Matsuura with a Min of 23.4C. Tomorrow Wednesday will be exceptionally warm in all Southern half of Japan (widespread 30s)." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2112360111784276376
"EXCEPTIONAL HEAT IN KOREA:
"Summer weather continues and worsen all over East Asia. 30C [86F] in North Korea, Tropical nights in South Korea (MINIMUM Up to 23.4C, typical of mid Summer). There has never been anything like this so late." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2111645796735086899
"Record autumn downpour floods Seoul as El Niño raises rainfall concerns.
"Unusually heavy autumn rain battered Seoul and other parts of the country on Sunday, causing flooding in some areas, with a strengthening El Niño expected to bring more rain later this fall… Strong winds also brought down leaves, which accumulated and clogged storm drains."
"More and more records in Southeast Asia:
"LAOS 36.0 [96.8F] Saravane - record for the 4th time in a row; INDONESIA min 25.7 Gorontalo."
[Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2111433335243432201
"Singapore threatens lawsuit over Indonesian wildfire haze - as oxygen tank and air purifier sales surge.
"Indonesia's neighbours are growing angrier over the haze from its wildfires, with Singapore threatening to prosecute companies, and families across Southeast Asia are rushing to buy oxygen tanks and air purifiers."
"Record heat in AUSTRALIA:
"Once again, it's the Southeast. Highest October Minimum Temperature on record: 18.9 [66F] Dartmoor, 16.6 Low Rocky Point, 15.2 Spring Bay."
[Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2112418167616385385
"NZ's climate in 'uncharted territory,' with more extreme weather events ahead.
"Much is being made of a record-strength El Niño event that could well spell a drier, windier summer for the north and east of New Zealand. But, as a major new assessment shows, it is forming against a backdrop of warming that's pushed the country's climate into "uncharted territory.""
https://phys.org/news/2026-10-nz-climate-uncharted-territory-extreme.html
"Exceptional mildness in ANTARCTICA. Record after record:
"+11.1C [52F] Vernadsky (Ukraine Base); +10.2 Palmer Station (US Base) - both pulverized their October records of highest temperatures with huge margins,after the records of 3 Argentine stations." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2112221211384320422
"The latest update to region Nino 3.4 sea surface temperature is not only a preliminary new record daily high, but also a new record anomaly, now 3.46C above the 1991 to 2020 baseline."
[Prof Eliot Jacobson]
https://x.com/EliotJacobson/status/2112204581581340734
"SOUTH AMERICA RECORD HEAT. Another avalanche of monthly records:
"PERU: Lima AP 28.2C [82.8F]. RECORD HIGH MINIMUMS - GUYANA: 27.4 Lethem; PERU: 24.4 Chiclayo; ECUADOR: 25.2 Portoviejo; CHILE: 21.1 Arica NATIONAL OCTOBER RECORD AGAIN, 21.0 Iquique, 18.8 Antofagasta, 14.4 La Serena." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2112247203091935629
"Three Dead After Avalanche Sweeps Backcountry Mountaineers Into Lagoon in Chile…
"The tragedy occurred amid unusual spring snowfall in the central Andes, where rising temperatures have increased avalanche danger… After a slow start, a series of powerful winter storms delivered record-breaking accumulations at several resorts. Portillo reported nearly 40 feet of snowfall for the season."
https://www.skimag.com/news/chile-spring-avalanche-kills-three/
"A new wave of wildfires in Brazil's Amazon rainforest, with more than 1,900 fire hotspots reported so far in October, has triggered a severe environmental and public health crisis in northern Brazil.
"Thick smoke forced authorities to suspend classes and in-person work in Manaus on Monday, while health facilities struggled with an influx of patients…"
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2026/10/19/latam-brazil-amazon-fires/8421792431441/
"How the gold boom is fuelling tree loss from Ghana to the Amazon.
"The surging global demand for gold has triggered a massive price spike—surging more than 120% over five years—turning the mineral into the single largest driver of mining-related deforestation worldwide. Fueled by geopolitical instability, this economic boom is driving destructive, often illegal wildcat mining operations…"
"A landslide at an illegal gold mine in southwestern Colombia killed 14 people and injured seven, a regional official said Monday.
"Armed groups in Narino, an illegal mining hotspot on the border with Ecuador, control the clandestine gold trade as well as trafficking drugs and engaging in extortion."
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/14-killed-in-landslide-at-illegal-gold-mine-in-colombia-12208722
"To keep the Panama Canal flowing, the living and the dead must pay the price…
"When Maricel Sánchez's family buried her grandmother 15 years ago, she never expected she would have to dig her back up one day. But that's the morbid situation she faces due to plans by the Panama Canal Authority to build a new reservoir that will feed the crucial waterway that handles about 5% of the world's shipping."
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/18/americas/panama-canal-reservoir-project-intl-latam
"Flooded houses and collapsed bridges after heavy rains [Costa Rica]…
"The National Emergency Commission (CNE) reported that the largest number of reports are concentrated in the cantons of San Pablo and San Rafael de Heredia, although cases are also registered in Santo Domingo, Flores and the central canton of Heredia."
"Record heat again in MEXICO!
"36.6C [97.9F] at Mazatlan, it's a new record of October highest temperature. Mazatlan has been breaking records no-stop for 2 years, every month." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2112028703622578303
"Critically endangered vaquita porpoise at greater risk of extinction as Mexico cuts protections.
"Mexico has weakened protections for the critically endangered vaquita porpoise, opening vast new areas in the Upper Gulf of California to the deadly gillnet fishing which has driven the species' precipitous decline. Scientists estimate that only about 10 vaquitas remain, down from nearly 600 animals in 1997."
"The ocean waters off California have never been this warm this late in the year.
"Water temps hit over 75°F off San Diego today, over 70°F off the Central Coast and near 67°F at Monterey. Ocean temperature anomalies are approaching +10°F in some areas." [Colin McCarthy]
https://x.com/US_Stormwatch/status/2112369279509332213
"Oklahoma Families Faced the Hottest Summer Ever and an Electricity Crisis…
"Many states, including Oklahoma, enforce rules that prevent utility companies from disconnecting electricity during peak summer heat waves (e.g., when the heat index rises above 101 degrees). Because those protections expire as autumn temperatures dip, household utility disconnections drastically peak in October."
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/18/us/oklahoma-extreme-heat-electricity-crisis.html
"More than 1,000 birds were injured or killed in building collisions over the weekend in Chicago, according to a report.
"The Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, a volunteer-led conservation group working to protect migratory birds in the Windy City, were downtown Saturday and Sunday to rescue injured birds and document those that died…"
"Ashland Record fall heat wave stirs up ladybugs, gnats and singing sparrows [Wisconsin].
"The high temperatures triggered sudden, intense activity from local ladybugs and gnats. Confused Birds: The heat wave even caused local sparrows to start singing out of season, a behavior typically reserved for spring mating and territorial displays."
"Drought, heat wave leaves Mount Hood barren by early fall.
"A towering white Mount Hood has long defined Portland's eastern skyline. But for the last few weeks, the peak has looked less like a glacier-topped mountain and more like a large, gray rock… Oregon broke records for lowest snow levels last winter."
"Loss of a rare lake reveals how warming has hit the Canadian Arctic's 'planetary fridge'.
"Canada's last remaining epishelf lake has disappeared and isn't coming back, a recent study confirms… There were once as many as 17 epishelf lakes along the north coast of Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic, but over the past few decades all have disappeared due to warming from human-caused climate change."
"There's excitement in the air!
"It now looks like the 4-year anomaly will break 1.50°C long before the date the Climate Casino previously gave of November 17th and could possibly break 1.50°C by the end of October!" [Prof Eliot Jacobson]
https://x.com/EliotJacobson/status/2111798728998944881
"The problem with telling people the world is ending…
"The problem with doomerism isn't necessarily that the risks are exaggerated, but that it may create a self-fulfilling prophecy - by engendering helplessness, rather than galvanising people… My PhD student Danielle Goldwert has found that telling people about the potential emotional benefits of climate action - such as increased hope and connection - makes them significantly more likely to take action."
"US company announces progress toward resurrecting the extinct dodo.
"Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences …is planning to perform gene-editing to bring dodo traits into the cells of its closest living relative, the Nicobar pigeon. Native to some Southeast Asian islands, the Nicobar pigeon is known for its shimmering green and copper feathers and, unlike the dodo, can fly."
As a reader-funded publication, your one time and regular donations help keep this site going. If you value this work, please share it far and wide and consider a Patreon subscription or a one time Paypal donation. You can also support this work by buying a virtual coffee. Thank you!
You can read the previous "Climate" thread here. I'll be back tomorrow with an "Economic" thread.
The post 20th October 2026 Today's Round-Up of Climate News appeared first on Climate and Economy.
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.
"'Countries are defying gravity': how much longer can global economy resist chaos?
"…"Public debt is high in many economies, and fiscal buffers that could otherwise have helped meet rising spending pressures from ageing populations, climate change and national security needs have instead been used to absorb the repeated shocks," the WEO said."
"Diesel Prices Hold High Despite Efforts to Boost Global Supplies.
"Diesel prices remain stubbornly high as inventories sit near historically low levels, despite efforts to ease pressure on refined-fuel markets through emergency stock releases or the easing of restrictions on Russian exports. Wholesale diesel benchmarks in the U.S. and Europe have more than doubled year to date."
"Global food inflation is expected to intensify as supply shocks pile up…
"Global food inflation is poised to accelerate in the coming months and persist well into 2027, as war-related shipping disruptions and El Nino-driven drought squeeze cereal supplies, putting additional pressure on vulnerable consumers like Yasin, a father of four."
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/10/19/global-food-inflation/
"'Inflation will make people poor': Airlines brace for years of pain…
"Airlines are braced for years of pain due to growing concerns that customers will not stomach the further price rises needed to offset soaring fuel costs, executives have warned… The warnings signal growing pessimism among carriers, who had hoped energy costs would start to fall after an initial spike caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz."
https://www.ft.com/content/993940f2-c9a3-4e20-8c0a-f73d448f090d?syn-25a6b1a6=1
"Record Shipping Costs Force Oil Producers to Slash Prices…
"Soaring shipping costs are pushing delivered prices beyond what refiners are willing to pay, forcing sellers to cut differentials or find buyers closer to home. With Chinese refiners inclined to wait for transport costs to ease, some producers are committing barrels for future loading at prices that leave little room for today's freight bill."
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/Record-Shipping-Costs-Force-Oil-Producers-to-Slash-Prices.html
"Hormuz Is Turning Shipping's Fuel Bill Into a Supply Crisis…
"The consequences will be severe, especially for shipowners, as it extends beyond expensive bunkers. Delayed deliveries and uncertain replenishment are not only threatening voyage schedules but also working capital and the profitability of entire trading routes."
"'The world will be amazed:' Iran's commanders prepare for further war.
"Iran has signaled that it is preparing for another round of war with the United States and has issued public threats against Washington and its allies in an apparent bid to deter President Donald Trump from restarting the current conflict."
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/19/middleeast/iran-us-conflict-warning-intl
"The Houthis have global trade in a chokehold. The ragtag band of Yemeni jihadists is closing in on the world's energy supplies…
"The Houthis' recent attacks are an attempt to take complete control of Bab al-Mandab… if the Houthis are able to maintain decisive control over the Bab al-Mandab Strait, Iran will effectively determine the fate of roughly a third of the world's seaborne oil and gas trade."
https://www.spiked-online.com/2026/10/18/the-houthis-have-global-trade-in-a-chokehold/
"America's grocery bill problem is becoming a midterm problem.
"For voters in battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia and Arizona, the question is no longer simply whether inflation is slowing. It is whether their incomes can keep up with the cost of living. That distinction matters."
"America's $10tn AI infrastructure boom is starting to fray.
"Cracks are appearing in America's debt-laden $10tn AI infrastructure boom as project delays, public backlash and shaky investor confidence bring a reckoning for the data centre build-out underpinning the US economy."
https://www.ft.com/content/9ea5a37d-15c9-4d5b-94d6-719048c9cd3c?syn-25a6b1a6=1
"Who's paying whom? The circular money machine behind the AI boom (or bubble)…
"These circular deals concentrate risk… With Nvidia acting as investor, supplier and financier across the AI sector, trouble at one firm can spread quickly to the others. It also complicates valuations… The concern is that nearly all the gains in the U.S. stock market have been driven by AI companies."
https://phys.org/news/2026-10-paying-circular-money-machine-ai.html
"The AI Stock Market Wobble Is a Reminder: This Time Isn't Different.
"The artificial intelligence build-out hasn't shown it can avoid the problems of past massive capital projects, such as railways and the internet AI stocks have had a terrible few days as hot inflation raises the cost of finance and threatens the debt-fueled investment in data centers."
"Albertans are going to the polls to decide their place in Canada, in a referendum that has exposed deep divisions within the province, not least in the separatist movement itself.
"On Monday, voters will respond to the question of whether Alberta should remain in Canada, or hold a second binding independence referendum."
"'I used to think Britain's preppers were extreme - this changed my mind'.
"Britain's preppers have long faced derision, but this app made me realise I may be the delusional one… In a world of choice and convenience, it's hard to picture a time when water might stop flowing from the taps, or basics might disappear from the shelves. That world could be closer than I have let myself believe."
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uk-prepper-food-shortages-emergency-b3068001.html
"The head of the army says the UK's political leaders are about to start a "frank conversation" with the public about the need to prepare for war.
"General Sir Roly Walker said every citizen will be asked to make sacrifices and to play their part in the defence of the nation."
"'Like we had a war': France left reeling after nationwide violent protests…
"Torched cars, smashed shopfronts and burnt debris scarred numerous streets in Paris, where officials said 557 people were in custody after a "record" number of arrests. The capital experienced "a level of violence that we have never, I believe, seen before", said Paris deputy mayor Lamia El Aaraje."
"'France, truly, is on the brink' and just days away from a make-or-break moment in its debt crisis, analyst warns…
""If his [Lecornu's] government fails to pass the budget, the cost of servicing French debt may explode," Rahman predicted. "France could be forced to seek assistance from the International Monetary Fund and to pray for it from the European Central Bank — a humiliation for the world's seventh-biggest economy.""
https://fortune.com/2026/10/17/france-debt-crisis-budget-deficit-bond-yields-spread-protests-riots/
"'We are suffocating': protests spread to Lisbon and Milan as housing and living cost tensions intensify.
"The angry protests that have convulsed Spain and France in recent weeks have spilled over to Italy and Portugal, with rioters clashing with police and setting property on fire in Milan, and a tent encampment springing up in Lisbon over the weekend."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/18/lisbon-milan-protests-housing-living-costs
"Fire engulfs Albania's Supreme Court as protests enter fifth day.
"Offices at the Supreme Court in Tirana were set ablaze as anti-government protests over corruption, education, and unemployment entered their fifth day."
https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/10/18/albania-protests-supreme-court-fire
"Europe faces another expensive winter as low gas reserves and Middle East disruptions drive up energy prices.
"Rising fuel costs threaten household budgets, industrial production, and employment across Europe."
"US threatens Europe over Starlink restrictions.
"Ambassador Andrew Puzder warns about 'devastating' retaliation if Brussels goes ahead with plans to limit spectrum access for non-EU companies… "European policymakers are seeking to reduce their dependence on American technology amid concerns about the unpredictability of US President Donald Trump and the risk of relying on foreign companies for critical infrastructure."2
https://www.ft.com/content/d1e28d93-8574-4a46-946a-b261c401d6fa?syn-25a6b1a6=1
"EU tariffs aimed at China hitting Ukraine, steel boss says.
"The boss of one of Ukraine's biggest steel companies has called on the European Union to drop import restrictions on products made from the country, arguing it has been "bundled together" in measures aimed a curbing cheap imports from the likes of China."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwdd8z6gyy96o
"Ukraine Talks with Turkey, India, Egypt Over Grain Corridor.
""We cannot manage this volume of shipments by rail," Zelenskyy said in an interview with Bloomberg News. Turkey, Egypt and India proposed safe navigation for vessels under their flags, Zelenskyy said, entering both Ukrainian and Russian ports and transporting the food."
"Intensifying drone attacks on ships in Black Sea bring war ever closer to Nato shores…
"While global attention has focused on the risks for sailors travelling through the strait of Hormuz, in recent months it is the Black Sea that has emerged as the more dangerous passage, with more sailors lost in a week and a half than US service members killed in the entire Iran war."
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/18/drone-attacks-ships-black-sea-russia-ukraine-war
"Russia pounds Kyiv as Rubio urges Ukraine's Zelensky to 'focus' on ending the war.
"The Russian Defence Ministry said on Monday its forces had carried out a "massive strike" on targets in Kyiv and the Ukraine's capital region. The ministry said the attack targeted military-industrial facilities, storage sites for cruise missiles and drones, and data centres."
"Ukraine launches over 1,000 drones at Russia, setting oil facilities ablaze…
"St Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov said firefighters were battling fires sparked by Sunday's attacks on the St Petersburg oil terminal, the Ruchi oil depot and industrial warehouses in the Kolpinsky district south of the city."
"China Condemns Japan's 'Negative Moves' Over Yasukuni Shrine…
"The embassy said the shrine, where 14 Class-A war criminals are enshrined, is a symbol of Japanese militarism. It accused Japanese politicians of seeking to cover up wartime crimes, distort historical facts and pave the way for accelerating remilitarization."
"Taiwan accuses China of 'hybrid warfare', drives away 16 vessels over 'maritime harassment'…
"Taiwan said on Sunday (Oct 18) that it had driven away 16 Chinese coast guard, research and fishing vessels involved in coordinated maritime operations around its main island and Pratas, a disputed island to the southwest."
"Why the US is holding secret talks with Myanmar's military ruler.
"Why is the Trump administration holding secret talks with Myanmar's military ruler, accused of genocide? Behind the diplomatic outreach lie America's hunt for rare earths, a detained businessman and a Trump ally's lucrative lobbying deal."
"Kuki group announces shutdown of key Manipur highway after attacks on villages.
"A Kuki organisation in Manipur on Sunday (October 18, 2026) announced a "total shutdown" of National Highway 202 for four days to protest the continuing violence and the "absence of a credible security arrangement".
"Pakistan extends airspace ban on Indian airlines.
"Pakistan has extended its airspace ban on Indian aircraft for another month, keeping restrictions in place until November 24, 2026. The decision prolongs a disruption that has forced Indian airlines to reroute international flights, increase fuel consumption, and adjust operations for more than a year."
https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/pakistan-extends-airspace-ban-on-indian-airlines
"Escalation between Pakistan and Afghanistan leads to heavy human toll.
"In eastern Afghanistan, a Pakistani airstrike killed a shepherd and five of his family members. Islamabad has sought to pressure the Afghan Taliban into acting against armed groups attacking Pakistan, but the bombings and diplomatic deadlock have raised fears of a protracted conflict."
"Iran fuel crisis deepens amid war and sanctions.
"In cities across Iran, drivers are reporting hours-long waits at filling stations. Videos circulating on social media show some people arriving before midnight or sleeping in their cars to secure fuel the following morning. Some stations are closing before serving everyone in line. The situation is even more difficult for diesel."
https://www.dw.com/en/iran-fuel-crisis-deepens-amid-war-and-sanctions/a-78636429
"Istanbul airport stockpiles jet fuel over shortage fears…
"The aviation industry is navigating its first winter since the outbreak of conflicts in the Gulf, which sent jet fuel prices soaring over 70% from around $90 a barrel to heights of $157-$208 per tonne. Strategic bottlenecks are triggering unique responses across European hubs."
"Syria condemns Israeli 'escalating' incursions into southern provinces.
"Syria on Sunday strongly condemned an increase in Israeli military incursions into its southern provinces of Quneitra and Daraa, accusing Israel of violating its sovereignty and threatening civilian safety amid intensified military aircraft and drone activity."
https://www.rudaw.net/english/categories/syria/1079793
"EU 'strongly condemns' settler attack on delegation in West Bank…
"Saturday saw Israeli settlers attack a convoy of European diplomats in the West Bank and beat up a visiting French mayor, witnesses said, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned against a brewing "crisis" in the territory a day after an American photojournalist was injured in a brutal attack."
"Gaza families fear food shortages as Israel halts commercial shipments…
"The cost of flour, eggs, onions and other staples has sharply increased since Wednesday, when Israel said that commercial goods would no longer enter Gaza. This comes amid a dispute over fees involving Palestinian merchants and Hamas, which still has some authority in the strip."
"Houthis, Saudi-led coalition trade fresh strikes as Egypt pledges support for Saudi Arabia.
"Fighting between Yemen's Houthis and government forces intensified on Sunday, as a Houthi attack injured six people in Saudi Arabia and Egypt pledged support to the kingdom amid rising regional tensions."
https://www.chinadailyasia.com/hk/article/641317
"Kinship and surveillance: The return of Somali piracy.
"The fishing town of Bander Beyla, on Somalia's Puntland coast, has become a focal point of the renewed piracy crisis. But beyond the hijackings and international security operations, residents are struggling to protect their livelihoods as fishing restrictions, arrests and surveillance reshape daily life."
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/19/kinship-and-surveillance-the-return-of-somali-piracy
"RSF attack kills 11 at displacement camp in Sudan's West Darfur: Official…
"Babiker Hamdeen, the health and social welfare minister in the Darfur Regional Government, said the attack took place Saturday in the Hajar Sanakit area of Sirba locality in West Darfur state, according to Sudan's state news agency SUNA. Most of the casualties were women and children…"
"Fast-moving Ebola outbreak spreads to another Congo province.
"At least 9,400 cases have been recorded, including more than 4,500 deaths. The virus has also spilled over into other countries, among them neighbouring Uganda… Kenya recorded a seventh case on Saturday. The Central African Republic has not recorded any confirmed cases."
"Tunisia's economic crisis deepens as the promise of a better life fades…
""We studied and graduated believing we had finally found a way out of poverty," she said. "We thought that once we found jobs, we could make up for all that hardship, repay our parents for their sacrifices and make them happy. Unfortunately, reality was a big shock for us…""
"Five Salvadoran Soldiers Missing in Haiti After Ambush.
"Five Salvadoran soldiers, members of a new U.N.-backed force sent to stop gang violence in Haiti, were ambushed while out shopping near the capital on Sunday and were still missing several hours later, three people familiar with the situation said."
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/18/world/americas/salvadoran-soldiers-missing-haiti.html
"Fighting between the ELN and FARC dissidents in Catatumbo leads to displacements and drone attacks [Colombia].
"According to La FM and Caracol Radio, the reports included clashes in the villages of La Galicia and Corinto, as well as in Campo Tres, in the jurisdiction of Tibú. In Sardinata, residents of the village of Corinto left their homes in search of safe places. During the day, the incineration of a vehicle carrying a load of corozo was also reported."
"Bolivia's Energy Crisis Deepens as Natural Gas Reserves Run Dry.
"Years of underinvestment in Bolivia's gas industry have left the South American country facing a severe fuel shortage, as energy prices rise ever higher owing to the ongoing war in Iran. The energy shortages and economic crisis follow years of poor decision-making by the government."
"'4,000 people minding our own business': four decades on, Falklands again face a hostile Argentina…
"Facing a downturn in his domestic polling and with an upcoming election, Argentina's president, Javier Milei, has legislated to criminalise companies and individuals involved in the Falklands' nascent oil industry, and suggested the fisheries industry on which it currently relies for its prosperity could be next."
"World faces space war 'within five years'…
"At a meeting organised by Astroscale this week in London, Dr Julia Balm, of the Freeman Air and Space Institute, in the School of Security Studies at King's College London, said allied nations were now finding themselves "targeted" in space by adversaries "on a daily basis"."
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/17/world-faces-space-war-within-five-years/
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The post 19th October 2026 Today's Round-Up of Economic News appeared first on Climate and Economy.
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.
"There's a Powerful, Hidden Force Behind Migration: Climate Change.
"80,000 people crossed into Ceuta this summer. Few mentioned drought or heat. Both helped push them out… "Every story of human movement now is a climate story, whether we like it or not," said Petra Molnar, a lawyer and researcher who has spent years documenting what she calls "border necrotechnics"—the lethal blend of law, racism, and technology at borders."
"Arctic sea ice hits another troubling low in 2026.
"Arctic sea ice is shrinking in both winter and summer, with satellite records revealing that the region's remaining ice is becoming thinner, younger, and more vulnerable to melting. Despite a recent slowdown in summer losses, scientists warn that the Arctic could experience a nearly ice-free summer before 2050."
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261015073212.htm
"The extreme 'warmth' over western Siberia and extending into the Kara Sea has been extremely persistent for the last few months. September continued with this widespread anomaly, exceeding 5°C above the 1981-2010 average.
"Data from Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis."
[Zack Labe]
https://bsky.app/profile/zacklabe.com/post/3mxwl7tuyek27
"The ground at a nature reserve that was ravaged during a huge wildfire in the summer is still recording high temperatures almost three months on [UK].
"Parts of Dunwich Heath and neighbouring RSPB Minsmere on the Suffolk coast were destroyed during the fire on 29 July, and it took the fire service nearly two weeks to stand down from the scene."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmy0rk7r3x69o
"Severe drought declared in six areas of England as reservoirs run low…
"Parts of Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex have moved into severe drought, and urgent measures are being taken to secure public supplies of water after the UK experienced its hottest summer on record."
"UK farmers face crisis as 86% struggle to plan ahead.
"More than a quarter of respondents, 27%, said they had made a loss or broken even over the past year. A further 29% reported profits of between 1% and 5%. Two in five farmers, 42%, said they had considered leaving the industry because of financial pressures, while 40% questioned whether they would still be farming in 10 years."
https://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/news/26633969.uk-farmers-face-crisis-86-struggle-plan-ahead/
"France Ups Farmer Aid to About €2 Billion After Extreme Weather, Fuel Prices…
"France is increasing aid to farmers to as much as €2 billion ($2.2 billion) to help them cope with the devastating effects of extreme weather and high fuel and fertilizer prices. The government is allocating between €500 million and €700 million for an agriculture recovery plan…"
"France's summer wildfires could cost insurers up to 563 mln euros.
"Wildfires that swept through France this summer resulted in around 22,500 insurance claims, with total losses estimated at up to 563 million euros ($634 million), the federation of insurers said on Friday. France experienced its hottest summer on record in 2026, marked by heatwaves, drought and massive wildfires."
"HISTORIC HEAT IN FRANCE 32C [89.6F] - dozens of stations >30C. Like a mid summer day. [Some parts of France have seen 30C+ temps since April now].
"But if you think this is exceptional. wait to what it s going on in Russia (those temperatures are at high elevations), a mind blowing heat which is rewriting world climatology anew." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2110739672662266346
"More than 20°C [68F] today at Megeve (1,100 m)! [French Alps].
"20°C like almost every day this October! 20°C while average should be 9.5-12°C! … and still no water! Photo by Sam Bee." [Melaine Le Roy]
https://x.com/subfossilguy/status/2111173236860027161
"Spain sizzles in hottest September on record: Weather agency…
"The announcement is the latest in a series of new temperature records this year across Europe, scorched by successive summer heat waves that scientists say were turbocharged by human-driven climate change. The average temperature in September was 22.5C (72.5 degrees Fahrenheit), 3.4C above the norm for the 1991-2020 reference period…"
https://phys.org/news/2026-10-spain-sizzles-hottest-september-weather.html
"Huge boulder leaves scores stranded on famed Greece beach.
"Emergency crews on the Greek island of Rhodes on Friday were working to restore access to one of its most famous beaches after a landslide dislodged a giant boulder that left scores of people stranded. The huge rock came crashing downhill on Thursday and blocked the only access road to the beach…"
https://macaubusiness.com/huge-boulder-leaves-scores-stranded-on-famed-greece-beach/
"Meteorological Department warns 'the danger has not passed': It is coming very strong again [Turkiye].
"A new wave of rainy weather is affecting Turkey after the downpours that broke the record of the last 84 years and caused floods in the Marmara region on Wednesday. While the General Directorate of Meteorology (MGM) issued yellow and orange coded warnings for 45 provinces, it was announced that the intensity of the precipitation will increase…"
"GULF OF GUINEA RECORD HEAT:
"Abnormal heat is set to smash nearly every record next weeks in the Gulf of Guinea area, especially of highest Minimums. Yesterday the first record fell: minimum 26.5C [79.7F] at Wa, GHANA - the highest ever recorded in October." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2110909156450546102
"Congo Basin deforestation nears Amazon levels…
"The destruction releases vast stores of carbon, adding to climate change that is already contributing to drought and forest fires across the tropics. Expanding farming, timber, and mining activities are driving the clearances in the basin, which is home to the world's second-largest tropical rainforest, the Forest Declaration Assessment group said."
https://www.semafor.com/article/10/16/2026/congo-basin-deforestation-nears-amazon-levels-report-says
"HISTORIC HEAT ALERT. Exceptional heat continues in Southern Africa with widespread 40C+ [104F].
"Next week brutal heat will also encompass Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. Temperatures in parts of Mozambique and Malawi can reach 43/45C for 5 consecutive days." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2111049442669547937
"Hundreds of people marched to Parliament on Friday [South Africa], demanding action on the climate crisis and unfolding El Niño conditions, which pose a growing threat to food systems across Southern Africa…
"'It is high time. For too long, poor small-scale farmers, impoverished communities have been entrapped in poverty, and we're saying enough of the injustices, inequality and unfairness,' said Wendy Roebeck from the CJCM."
https://www.capetownetc.com/news/hundreds-march-to-parliament-over-el-nino-and-hunger/
"Hundreds of children have died of starvation and disease in a drought in Sudan caused by the record-breaking El Niño. The risk of this leading to a full-blown famine is growing.
"Almost half the country is experiencing drought, which in some areas is the worst in decades, according to a warning from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification…"
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2594324-el-nino-has-killed-hundreds-of-children-in-sudan/
"As El Nino builds, East Africa's health systems can't afford to wait for the rains.
"In October 1997, the short rains came early and did not stop. In Somalia, the Juba and Shabelle rivers burst their banks. Across the Greater Horn of Africa, cholera, malaria and Rift Valley fever followed the floodwaters into communities that had lost their clean water and their clinics. More than 2,800 people died."
"Hailstones and Strong Winds Smash Car Window in the UAE.
"A dramatic viral video shared on social media on October 15, 2026, captured the moment large hailstones and powerful winds shattered a car window as an intense wave of unstable weather swept across the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Chunks of falling ice pelted vehicles, cracked windshields, and quickly carpeted major desert highways…"
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/SwKXkvsoMF4
"Western Aleppo countryside [Syria].
"Terrifying scenes document the intensity of the exceptional thunderstorm that struck the western Aleppo countryside on the evening of Wednesday, October 14, 2026, accompanied by violent downdraft winds, heavy hailstone falls, and torrential rains, amid reports of damage to properties and crops."
https://x.com/Arab_Storms/status/2111030484826513723
"INSANE, ABSURD, UNREAL - MID OCTOBER AIR-CON NEEDED ON RUSSIAN MOUNTAINS [Central Asia].
"TROPICAL NIGHTS & 32C [89.6F] in RUSSIA at 1000m asl - 32.0C Akhty-Dagestan. 4 Republics >30C: Chechnya, Dagestan, North Ossetia and Ingushetia. Tropical nights also in Kazakhstan. World climatic history is rewritten." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2111128366699213140
"Pakistan records hottest monsoon in 66 years.
"In Pakistan, the average temperature during the 2026 monsoon season reached 30.7°C, the highest figure in 66 years. The previous record was 30.6°C and was set in 2019, The Express Tribune reports, citing a report by the Pakistan Meteorological Department."
https://ua.news/en/world/pakistan-zafiksuvav-naispekotnishii-muson-za-66-rokiv-the-express-tribune
"Heavy rains, hailstorms, and thunderstorms have hit several northern states in India for the second time in four days, causing severe damage to standing crops.
"The unusual weather has been triggered by a combination of a western disturbance, cyclonic circulations over northern Punjab and southern Haryana, and an associated atmospheric trough."
"Karnataka reservoir storage down 30% as water crisis looms [southern India].
"Karnataka is heading into the post-southwest monsoon season with nearly 30% less water in its reservoirs compared to the same period last year. A severe 30% monsoon rainfall deficit has left 226 out of 240 taluks in the state declared drought-hit, triggering early warnings of impending drinking water and power shortages."
"El Niño and heat inequality: The politics of staying cool in a warming Bangladesh.
"As climate change accelerates, extreme heatwaves are no longer rare seasonal events; they have become a harsh, everyday reality across Bangladesh. While rising global temperatures affect the entire country, the physical, economic and social impacts of extreme heat are not shared equally."
"'Unprecedented': how cascading disasters are devastating Nepal.
"Nepal has weathered three disasters in six weeks, including the deadly August flash flood, making this year one of the deadliest in a country where monsoon rains already frequently wreak havoc. Experts warn that climate change is only making matters worse."
"On the afternoon of October 15, the city of Meihekou in Jilin Province, Northeast China, was struck by a tornado.
"It is extremely rare for a tornado to occur in northern China during the month of October!" [Jim Yang]
https://x.com/yangyubin1998/status/2110719500635238595
"Celebrity shark trapped in South Korean canal stirs concerns over warming seas…
"Bukangi, a shark named after the waterfront park where she is trapped, has attracted nearly 1.4 million spectators since she was first spotted in mid-September in the southeastern coastal city, according to local authorities. At least two failed attempts to guide the shark from the canal to the open sea have added to the spectacle…"
"Ho Chi Minh City experiences record rainfall and unusually hot weather…
"[But] the unusually rainy season in Ho Chi Minh City and Southern Vietnam is about to end, giving way to an exceptionally harsh dry season due to the impact of a very strong El Nino… The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF) reports that in the first 15 days of October alone, the country recorded 59 instances of daily high temperatures exceeding or reaching historical records."
https://www.vietnam.vn/en/mua-mua-di-thuong-sap-ket-thuc
"SOUTHEAST ASIA ENDLESS RECORD HEAT:
"Record heat seems eternal in Thailand (1400+ days breaking records no-stop) and all SE Asia. October records broken today: THAILAND - 36.4 Trang, 36.2 [97.5F] Samutprakaan; LAOS - 36.8 Sekong, 35.5 Saravane; MYANMAR - 36.7 Victoria Point; INDONESIA - Min 27.8 Palu." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2111084934643556846
"Indonesian governor's tone-deaf Singapore trip adds fury to forest fire, haze crisis…
"East Kalimantan Governor Rudy Mas'ud, who was spotted having breakfast with his wife at the famous integrated resort Marina Bay Sands …social media users accused him of going on a jaunt while ignoring the plight of residents gasping for clean air, calling the politician "Indonesia's Marie Antoinette" and his actions "tone deaf"."
"Deadly bird flu reaches remote Australian wildlife sanctuary.
"A deadly strain of bird flu has reached one of Australia's most remote wildlife havens, home to threatened and endangered species. The H5 strain was confirmed in a southern elephant seal and a kelp gull on Macquarie Island, marking the island's first recorded outbreak."
"Sharks, rays and wobbegongs: South Australian algal bloom killed more than 8,000 creatures.
"Prof Charlie Huveneers, a shark ecologist at Flinders University, said the bloom had potentially led to the collapse of some local populations. "The scale of the harmful algal bloom is unprecedented, the number and diversity of shark and ray species impacted is something never seen before.""
"This year remains on track to become Australia's wettest El Niño year on record, and the first ever with above-average national winter-spring rainfall.
"October has been particularly damp thanks to an ongoing outbreak of showers and thunderstorms forecast to affect more than half the country during the next seven days."
"Scientists knew the Doomsday Glacier was melting. They didn't realize how 'aggressively' [Thwaites, Antarctica].
"The planet's widest glacier is melting "more aggressively" than previously projected, meaning its impacts on global sea level rise could be double current estimates, according to new research by a team of glaciologists."
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/15/climate/thwaites-melt-study-doomsday-glacier
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"This El Niño is becoming so east based that we might have to start looking more closely at the Nino 3 region since sea surface temperatures there are nearly the same as Niño 3.4.
"This is just incredible."
[David Schlotthauer].
https://x.com/Weatherunited1/status/2111145623038935124
"Peru has faced relentless temperature records from this El Niño, and it's set to intensify even further [eg Lima Callao breaking its October record of high minimum every day this month].
"The Niño 1+2 region is predicted to reach 6°C above average by late November!"
[Ben Noll]
https://x.com/BenNollWeather/status/2111190979772641499
"Peru: Cusco Wildfires Leave Six Dead and One Person Seriously Injured.
"Forest fires in the Peruvian region of Cusco have resulted in six deaths and one serious injury, official sources reported on Thursday. Authorities have bolstered response efforts by deploying aerial assets and have urged the public to refrain from burning grasslands and agricultural waste."
"RECORD HEAT AGAIN IN ECUADOR:
"Exceptional MINIMUM of 26.7C at Guayaquil, which re-re-re….-breaks the record of October hottest night and even approaches the all time, with months of further warming ahead. Sea water temperatures are approaching 30C [86F]. Absolutely crazy and unprecedented." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2110782146550096142
"Climate crisis leaves Amazon farmers needing wells and cisterns…
"We visited some families, and I could see the despair in the farmers' eyes as they faced a situation they did not know how to handle. They had the strength, skills, and potential to produce, but they could not cope with the drought and destructive heat."
"The vibrant city of Sao Paulo has been plunged into a great moment of panic and vehicular chaos due to the heavy rains…
"One of the most critical and dramatic incidents has been reported in the Anhangabaú Valley tunnel, where the rapid accumulation of water in the tunnel left dozens of vehicles trapped, turning the road into a water trap."
https://www.mundoamerica.com/news/2026/10/15/6ad0a0c0e4d4d87f4f8b45ad.html
"Heavy rains in Soacha: this is how the La Esperanza sector was left after the floods [Colombia]…
"The governor of Cundinamarca, Jorge Emilio Rey, confirmed that the most serious episode of the month occurred in Soacha, where a motorcyclist lost his life and two other people were seriously injured… The emergency also affected mobility on the South Highway, at the height of Terreros, where several vehicles were trapped…"
"Captured on video - a derecho that caused damage to more than 300 homes; roofs were detached and there were power outages [Colombia].
"The strong winds that were recorded in the Colombian municipality of Funza, located in the department of Cundinamarca, caused serious damage to more than 300 homes, where roofs were detached, facades were damaged, but trees and even electricity poles also fell."
"Hurricane Trudy strengthened to a major, Category 3 hurricane and forecasters said the storm was headed to the southwestern and west-central areas of Mexico's Pacific coast…
"A hurricane warning was in effect for Mexico's coast from Cabo Corrientes northward to Punta San Telmo, while a tropical storm warning was issued from Zihuatanejo up the coast to Manzanillo, the center said."
https://www.itv.com/news/2026-10-16/trudy-strengthens-to-category-3-hurricane-off-mexican-coast
"Worsening water crisis sparks protests in Mexico's Guadalajara…
"A major protest last weekend put the issue in the national spotlight after police deployed water cannons and tear gas, dozens of people were injured… The crisis has intensified scrutiny of water management across a metropolitan area of more than five million people that is also Mexico's largest industrial and manufacturing center."
"Flash flooding sparks dozens of high-water rescues in Midland [Texas]…
"According to data released Friday by city officials, the Midland Fire Department received 71 high-water-related calls in a span of less than three hours, from 10:49 a.m. to 1:21 p.m. during the October 15 weather event. Fire personnel responded to 36 vehicle rescue calls as motorists encountered flooded roadways."
https://www.yahoo.com/news/weather-news/articles/flash-flooding-sparks-dozens-high-193859394.html
"HISTORIC HEAT IN TEXAS - MINIMUM 84F [28.9C] Port Aransas two days ago ties the OCTOBER HIGHEST MINIMUM IN TEXAS.
"(Also recorded on 1 October 2026 in Galveston)." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2110744343896313981
"Finally looking at some more widespread cooler-than-normal temperatures across the CONUS this weekend, but the reprieve looks to be short-lived!
"By Tuesday, it looks like we'll be back to our regularly scheduled "Augtober," with large portions of the central U.S. potentially seeing several consecutive days of temperatures 15-20°F above normal. If this forecast verifies, I think it'll go a long way toward securing our FOURTH consecutive record-warm month." [The Global Warmer]
https://x.com/TheGlobalWarmer/status/2110925081589297234
"New wildfire in Southern California explodes in size, burning multiple homes.
"The Norte Fire began around noon near a neighborhood in the San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano areas and by Friday evening had grown to 570 acres acres with zero percent containment, the Orange County Fire Authority said. It's one of several fires that have broken out since Thursday amid fierce Santa Ana winds…"
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/16/weather/california-wildfires-santa-ana-winds-climate
"After year in distress, sea lion has plastic debris removed from its neck…
"A California sea lion that spent a year with an industrial band cutting into its neck finally had the marine debris cut away this month at Race Rocks Ecological Preserve off Metchosin. The entangled marine mammal was first reported in October 2025, but didn't stay in the area long enough for the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society to intervene…"
"Legal gaps allow rampant pet trade, poaching reptiles and amphibians towards extinction…
"The trade is lucrative — estimated to be worth some $2.5 billion — and comes with little risk. It's often unregulated. Smugglers are rarely caught, and if they are, they get off by paying a small fine, which is absorbed as the cost of doing business."
"Plastic industry bookkeeping plans hide chemical recycling harms, critics say…
"As scientists and dozens of nations call for major reductions in plastic production, the plastics industry continues to push pyrolysis — dubbed chemical or advanced recycling — as a primary solution to the global plastic waste crisis. Critics say pyrolysis is not a viable solution, but rather an attempt by the industry to rebrand incineration as an environmentally sound recycling process…"
"Climate Change Is Turning Rare Mycotoxin Outbreaks Into a Year-Round, Multi-Toxin Threat.
"For decades, food safety specialists treated major mycotoxin contamination events as the proverbial black swans of agriculture: rare, high-impact episodes that defied prediction and could only be explained in hindsight… A new Perspective published in Frontiers in Fungal Biology argues that this mental model is quietly collapsing."
You can read the previous "Climate" thread here. I'll be back on Monday with an "Economic" thread.
The post 17th October 2026 Today's Round-Up of Climate News appeared first on Climate and Economy.
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."
https://www.cnbc.com/video/2026/10/16/the-era-of-ultra-low-borrowing-costs-is-over-oecd-chief.html
"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."
https://www.thetimes.com/business/technology/article/coreweave-oracle-debt-ai-default-x8jxm9p9d
"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."
"Global Grain Freight Costs Surge.
"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%."
https://www.agrolatam.com/usa/news/global-grain-freight-rates-us-exports-shipping-disruptions-2026/
"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."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmde8dpg8g0no
"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."
https://www.ft.com/content/b06d00da-9df7-405b-9410-b5485c267397?syn-25a6b1a6=1
"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…"
https://www.ft.com/content/6dfa9879-589a-4af3-9374-b546a945a219?syn-25a6b1a6=1
"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."
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/15/voters-economy-cost-of-living-prices-poll
"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."
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/14/doug-ford-us-tariffs-01118122
"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."
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/15/uk-households-extra-bills-inflation-tuc
"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."
https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/eurozone-industrial-output-continued-to-decline-in-august-55722fb3
"France Is No Longer in Control of Its Destiny…
"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."
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/15/opinion/france-protests-debt-budget.html
"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."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/14/student-protests-tirana-albania-police-clashes
"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."
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/15/russia-says-ukraine-resumes-attacks-on-oil-refineries
"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."
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/15/europe/ukraine-us-patriot-interceptor-missiles-run-out-intl
"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 hold protest over Bali fuel shortage.
"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."
https://www.arabnews.com/world/hundreds-hold-protest-over-bali-fuel-shortage-3006567
"Highway blockades spread as Karnataka sugarcane farmers seek better prices [India]…
"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…"
https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20261014-taliban-suicide-drone-attacks-pakistan
"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."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwly0g2r4k3po
"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"."
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/gulf-states-have-downplayed-damage-caused-iranian-strikes-report
"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."
"Israel halts commercial goods from entering Gaza; Hamas denies tax claims…
"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…"
"Houthi missiles strike Yemen presidential palace, killing five.
"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."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/15/houthi-missiles-strike-aden-yemen
"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."
https://www.france24.com/en/kinshasa-braces-for-potential-conflict-as-kabila-joins-m23
"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."
"British troops train to take back the Falklands…
"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."
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/14/british-troops-train-to-take-back-the-falklands/
"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."
https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/cocaine-trade-is-booming-despite-airstrikes-72ec0826
"Hunger in Cuba Reaches Alarming Levels.
"…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."
https://havanatimes.org/features/hunger-in-cuba-reaches-alarming-levels/
"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."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm4g1rnj5qweo
"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."
https://www.bssnews.net/international/435478
"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.""
https://beinsure.com/news/climate-change-could-trigger-global-financial-crisis/
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You can read the previous "Economic" thread here. I'll be back tomorrow with a "Climate" thread.
The post 16th October 2026 Today's Round-Up of Economic News appeared first on Climate and Economy.
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.
"Climate Change Is Accelerating Faster Than We Can Respond, Scientists Warn…
"The researchers warn that the rate of global warming appears to have accelerated, from about 0.05°C per decade between 1880 and 1970 to roughly 0.36°C per decade between 2010 and 2024… "Earth's life-support systems are being pushed beyond stable limits," the report states, "with changes unfolding faster than our ability to respond.""
https://time.com/article/2026/10/14/climate-change-accelerating-study/
"The average global temperature so far this year (for the January-September period) is the 2nd warmest on record since the start of this dataset…
"This data is using NOAAGlobalTempv6.1.0."
[Zack Labe]
https://bsky.app/profile/zacklabe.com/post/3mxm4sls2322z
"Trump announces that 'massive' oil, gas and mineral exploration will begin in 'our' Greenland…
"Mr Trump continued: "There are experts that are saying that the amount of easily available oil is far greater than that of almost any land, anywhere in the world". He did not share details about the exploration plans in Greenland, which is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark."
"In Greenland, 4 polar bears test positive for H5N1 avian flu antibodies…
"Deceased, infected wild Arctic mammals were reported in Alaska in 2023 and 2024 (H5N1) and in Svalbard, Norway (H5N5), in 2026. These detections, along with the animals' nutritional and cultural significance to Indigenous people, highlight the need for ongoing surveillance in these regions, the authors of the new study noted."
"Salmon producers start feeding chicken to fish Europe's biggest salmon producers are beginning to feed chicken to their fish, breaking a longstanding taboo in the hunt for cheap protein…
"…major aquaculture corporations are shifting away from traditional marine-based feeds due to severe economic pressures and fluctuating fishmeal stocks."
https://www.ft.com/content/8f1e2cc9-4e2a-48f0-9750-251585e345d3
""Normal weather" is a thing of the past, the UK Met Office's chief meteorologist has warned.
"Ian Lisk made the statement while sitting on a panel at the Airports UK annual conference, which set out to examine the potential impacts of extreme weather on the resilience of the UK's infrastructure and aviation industry. "We don't get normal weather any more, fundamentally," he told business leaders."
"Businesses including golf clubs, car washes, and private schools could face severe restrictions over water use as drought conditions persist across much of England…
"It comes as 11 regions of England and Wales remain in drought status following an exceptionally hot and dry summer that left reservoir levels severely depleted."
"EXTRAORDINARY HEAT IN EUROPE - 36C [96.8F] again.
"As your author announced weeks in advance, here we are: 35.7C at Alcochete in PORTUGAL, 35.6 Mora, 35.0 Coruche and Alvega etc. Today over 30C [86F] also in FRANCE… Summer also continues in The East with tropical nights in Russia, eg min 17.0 Yanskhul, 16.4 SIMLJANSK (47N).""
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2110618908319510857
"Record summer nuclear disruptions push EDF to fast-track climate measures.
"Following extreme hot weather that caused record disruptions, French power utility EDF is accelerating its climate adaptation plan for its nuclear fleet. Over half of France's electricity supply relies on nuclear plants that draw water from rivers or estuaries for cooling purposes."
"Mont Blanc, the 'roof of Europe', loses more than a metre of height in a year…
"Climate breakdown was a factor in western Europe's hottest summer on record this year, scarring Alpine regions and melting ice at dizzying speed. Earlier this month, Swiss glaciologists warned of an "explosion of melt rates" after confirming that one-fifth of the country's ice had been lost in the past five years…"
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/oct/14/mont-blanc-loses-metre-height
"Czech drought could cost economy up to CZK 50 billion, insurers estimate…
"The estimate includes agricultural and forestry damage, water shortages, disruption to supply chains, reduced investment and productivity, and environmental harm. It is a projection of the broader economic impact rather than a confirmed tally of damage or insurance claims."
"Hungary reusing fish farm water to alleviate drought…
"Hungary has been suffering from an extreme drought since last year, with the nation's weather service, HungaroMet, claiming it's the worst drought the nation has seen in more than a century. The dry 2026 summer has resulted in record low water levels on the Danube River, and average rainfall has been just over one-third of what the nation typically experiences."
https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/hungary-reusing-fish-farm-water-to-alleviate-drought
"Istanbul in chaos, shut down by heaviest rainfall since 1985.
"Torrential rain has triggered flash floods across Istanbul. The downpour swept cars through neighbourhoods, stranded people, triggered landslides and brought traffic to a standstill, with more rain to come."
https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/10/15/istanbul-flash-floods-torrential-rain
"Deadly floods hit Rhodes as storms batter islands…
"On Rhodes, rainfall in the island's north reached 202 millimeters [nearly 8 inches] in six hours, with daily totals reaching 264 millimeters. Cars (photo) were swept into the sea, roads flooded and traffic disrupted. On Evia, overflowing rivers damaged roads and inundated farmland, while Skiathos faced debris-blocked routes."
"Floods submerge cars, homes and hospitals in Libya's Tripoli.
"Heavy rainfall triggered severe flooding in Libya's capital, Tripoli, submerging cars, trapping people inside buildings and inundating hospitals. Videos show residents pleading for help and a security officer reportedly carrying a man with disabilities to safety."
"RECORD HEAT AGAIN IN CONGO - 38.0C [100.4F] yesterday at Yokangassi Nkayi.
"New National October record for the Republic of Congo. Brazzaville was previous record a few days ago. Before that - last year."
[Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2110263568797159454
"Residents of South Africa's Limpopo province hold breath amid fears of repeat floods.
"Tshakhuma in South Africa's Limpopo province was ravaged by January floods, killing people and disrupting livelihoods. Community members say blocked drainages and overgrown river courses exacerbate the problem amid fears of future disasters."
"WORLD CLIMATIC HISTORY RE-WRITTEN - absurd, insane hot nights in SOUTH AFRICA:
"MINIMUMS over 26C [78.8F] even in the highlands with October High Minimums records pulverized. Some examples MINS: 26.7 Beaufort, 23.1 Bisho, 22.1 Port St John, 20.7 East London. Mind blowing." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2109906962125386116
"EXTRAORDINARY HEAT IN TANZANIA.
"Absolute insanity going on in Africa with 100% of countries pulverizing records from Algeria to South Africa. Today Tanzania destroyed in pieces its NATIONAL RECORD OF OCTOBER HIGHEST TEMPERATURE - 37.5C [99.5F] Karema… after smashing those of September." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2108996699624726891
"Saudi Arabia braces for heavy thunderstorms, flash floods until Saturday.
"The holy city of Mecca and the governorates of Taif, Al Jumum, Bahrah, Maysan, Adham and Al Ardiyat are expected to experience moderate to heavy rainfall until Saturday… The centre said tornadoes or waterspouts could develop in areas experiencing particularly heavy rainfall."
"CRAZY MINIMUMS >32C [89.6F] in the EMIRATES and October records re-broken. Both airports of Abu Dhabi had their October hottest night again - MIN 31.2 Baateen, 30.9 Int. Airport.
"The heat spreads to Central Asia, Russia and Siberia ABSURD Tropical nights at 48N in Mid October and will go on." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2110315540455780744
"Israel's natural water reserves hit 100-year low after two years of drought.
"Despite rainfall approaching the national average in 2025-2026, the cumulative volume of water available in the Sea of Galilee over two seasons was the lowest in a century of measurements. The north remains under pressure, while the south has experienced an unusually intense season of flash floods."
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/jt47odyc9
"'I am still a child, it cannot be good to be married': how drought forces Afghan families to sell girls as brides…
"I'm not happy about this," says 11-year-old Khatira, who was sold into marriage to repay debts, sitting in her home in Qala-e-Naw, capital of Badghis province in north-west Afghanistan. "She was healthy before her engagement, now she is worried and cries a lot," says her 40-year-old mother, Noor Bibi."
"Indus water crisis begins to hit Pakistan, heavy shortage of wheat looms…
"As Pakistan enters its rabi crop season, the lack of sufficient water for irrigation has raised fears of a looming food crisis… Since Balochistan and Khyber Pakthunkhwa are exempted from water cuts, the brunt of the shortage will be borne by the Punjab and Sindh provinces."
"Weak Indian Monsoon Puts Global Rice Balance on a Knife-Edge…
"Import‑dependent buyers in Asia and Africa face a more fragile supply map if weather or policy shocks intensify. India's 2026 monsoon has run about 15% below normal, curbing rice yields and planted area just as India supplies more than 40% of global rice exports."
https://commodity-board.com/weak-indian-monsoon-puts-global-rice-balance-on-a-knife-edge
"Another avalanche of records in INDIA. OCTOBER RECORDS:
"HIGH MAXES: 39.2 [102.5] Ratnagiri, 38.5 Harnai, 38.0 Thane, 37.0 Washim, 35.5 Thrissur; HIGH MINS: 28.4 Visakhapatnam, 24.7 Ahmednagar." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2109700988177359063
"Nepal's disaster authority said Wednesday that an avalanche of rock and ice triggered a recent flash flood, echoing the mountain collapse that unleashed a tsunami-like wall of water in August…
"The flood on Sunday came less than two months after an ice and rock collapse on Aug. 26 sparked a catastrophic flood in Rasuwa district… raising fresh concerns about the risks posed by Nepal's unstable mountain terrain."
https://phys.org/news/2026-10-nepal-triggered-ice-avalanche.html
"China's Inner Mongolia deploys 2,000 personnel to contain wildfire advancing toward the borders with Mongolia border.
"More than 2,000 firefighters and rescue personnel were mobilized in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to contain a wildfire that broke out in neighboring Mongolia last Friday and advanced toward the Chinese border driven by terrain and strong winds…"
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202610/1372137.shtml
"Today, 63 weather stations across China broke or tied records for the hottest mid-October temperatures, with one station even tying the record for the entire month!
"Sweltering heat will persist in southern China tomorrow, and more records are likely to be broken." [Jim Yang]
https://x.com/yangyubin1998/status/2109636630852382809
"Russia's Vladivostok has been hit with a month's worth of rainfall in just a few hours, triggering floods across the city and submerging entire parts.
"The massive rainfall has reportedly left over 24,000 people without electricity, with buildings, elevators, and tram services all being hit."
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=959673053862540
"HISTORIC EVENT IN KOREA - insane summer temperatures and records pulverized all over Korea.
"New October records including the capital Seoul: 31.5 [88.7F] Daejeon, 31.1 Jeonjeup, 30.6 Cheongju, 30.1 Seoul, 30.0 Gumi, 29.8 Yeongwol, 29.5 Sangju, 29.3 Wonju, 29.1 Icheon." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2109631557006655619
"A viral video capturing a violent storm lifting and tossing a car into another near the Kota Damansara toll plaza has garnered significant attention online. [Malaysia]
"The incident, described as a waterspout or whirlwind, occurred amid heavy rain and strong winds, causing minor damage but no injuries."
"HISTORIC HEAT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA - MINIMUM 29.3C [84.7F] Manokwari is HOTTEST NIGHT EVER RECORDED IN INDONESIA.
"More Monthly records - THAILAND: 36.5 Hat Yai; MYANMAR: 37.1 Zaung Tu, 36.2 Phyarporn; HIGH MINS - INDONESIA: 26.3 Pekanbaru, 26.0 Deo Sorong, 26.0 Bengkulu, 25.5 Timiku; PHILIPPINES; 26.7 Iba." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2109668890070647078
"Indonesia fights fire with dry ice as toxic haze spreads across region…
"Having tried cloud seeding, water bombing and sending in army personnel to fight the fires, Indonesia's coordinating security minister said dry ice would be dropped on the province of South Sumatra on Thursday."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/15/indonesia-fires-dry-ice-dropped-toxic-haze-spreads
"Protests erupt across Indonesia's Sumatra as frustration grows over persistent wildfires.
"The fires have disrupted transportation and education across Indonesia, forcing airlines to delay or divert dozens of flights as haze reduces visibility. Authorities in several regions have also closed schools or shifted classes online to limit students' exposure to smoke."
"Breaking News! As of October 13, Antarctic sea-ice extent is more than 5.0 standard deviations below the 1991-2020 daily average.
"Under "normal" circumstances, the likelihood of this happening just by chance would be about 1-in-5,800,000." [Prof Eliot Jacobson]
https://x.com/EliotJacobson/status/2110345171019628574
"A new team of UK specialists is embarking on a 9,000-mile journey to Antarctica to protect a British science base threatened by climate change.
"The UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT), a Cambridge-based charity, is in its second year of a three-year mission to save Port Lockroy… This year's team will install beams and props to help the buildings withstand increased precipitation and snow loading, as well as monitor the penguins."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck8dzgr780j8o
"The central equatorial Pacific is experiencing its *strongest westerly wind burst* of this entire El Niño event — the 13th distinct burst across the wider Pacific this year.
"It should help push Niño 3.4 temperatures toward 4°C above average by late November." [Ben Noll]
https://x.com/BenNollWeather/status/2110356156678058063
"A perfect storm: how the super El Niño is devastating the fishing industry…
"The vast majority of the anchoveta industry is concentrated off the coast of north-central Peru, and it is hard to overstate how economically significant this fish is. By weight, Peruvian anchoveta have made up about a 10th of the entire global commercial fishing catch since 1970…"
"Scientists alarmed as super El Niño collides with 'strange uptick' in Galapagos iguana trafficking.
"The only lizard in the world that can live and forage at sea may now be in a fight for survival. International scientists warn black-market trafficking of Galapagos marine iguanas is peaking just as the super El Niño decimates their natural food source."
https://phys.org/news/2026-10-scientists-alarmed-super-el-nio.html
"HISTORIC. The tied national record of PERU HIGHEST TEMPERATURE IN HISTORY is confirmed for day 7 October with 41.8C [107.2F] at Tingo de Ponaza, the same place which recorded it on 26 October 2024.
"More records of High Minimums also on the jungle and coast (nearly everywhere)." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2110396888541253923
"Peru registers 401 forest fire emergencies and faces serious environmental damage.
"Peru has recorded 401 forest fire emergencies so far in 2026, a situation that keeps authorities on alert due to the effects on biodiversity, agricultural land and communities in different regions of the South American country."
"A tornado and an unusual spring hailstorm overwhelm Santiago, Chile.
"An electrical storm with hail, unusual in the middle of spring, flooded streets, homes and businesses in Santiago, Chile, on Tuesday and produced a tornado… The national disaster prevention and response service declared a red alert in the Metropolitan Region, five days after the mudslide that hit the Las Condes district."
"Paraguay on alert: the flooding of the Paraná River forces the evacuation of hundreds of families.
"Heavy rains in southern Brazil have raised the flow of the Paraná River and aggravated flooding in several locations in Paraguay. In view of the advance of the waters, the authorities activated evacuation and assistance operations to protect families living in riverside areas."
"Argentina temporarily closes Iguazu Falls after El Niño-fuelled surge in water levels…
"José María Hervás, the director of the Iguazu national park, said access was closed because "it just keeps raining" and the volume of water being released from dams upstream on the Iguazu River was not falling, reported the Buenos Aires Times."
"Fires surge in Brazilian Amazon amid El Niño and climate change…
"Thick smoke from wildfires shrouded Autazes in Brazil's Amazonas state on October 13. Some 1,679 fires burned in the state in the first two weeks of October, up 253% from the same period in 2025, data from the country's Amazon surveillance system shows."
"Record heat intensifies all over Tropical Americas due to this exceptionally strong Nino. More October High Minimums records:
"27.7 [81.9F] Vc Bird AP is ANTIGUA/BARBUDA HOTTEST OCTOBER NIGHT; COSTA RICA: 25.0 Limon, 21.4 Pavas." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2109760208842994163
"The death toll from Hurricane Simon and the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel rose to six Tuesday after heavy rains triggered flooding and landslides along Mexico's Pacific coast, authorities said.
"Simon was a Category 1 storm before strengthening Tuesday night and was nearly a major hurricane again, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami."
"I can't get over how active this hurricane season has been in the Eastern Pacific.
"It's already the basin's most active season ever recorded, and we have another Category 4 hurricane on the way this weekend. There's also a growing signal for another major hurricane (Category 3+) by late October." [Colin McCarthy]
https://x.com/US_Stormwatch/status/2110593971051516073
"Isaias wasn't your average hurricane as rare phenomenon hit west of eye…
"Isaias did things hurricanes don't, hurling a ruin in the wrong place that snapped pines like pencils and pried sides and ceilings from homes that were opposite of the so-called dirty side of the hurricane… The phenomenon, called a sting jet because of its comma or scorpion tail appearance on radar imagery, is more typical in non-tropical winter storms."
"Clean-up underway after microburst storm causes major flooding, building damage in Odessa [Texas].
"Efforts are underway to address large amounts of damage and flooding in both the city and the county following last night's storm. The microburst was strong enough to uproot trees in the area. Further north, massive flooding along Andrews Highway and 67th Street had drivers taking it extra slow."
"I've taken to calling it Augtober. The Twin Cities broke a record for the latest 90°F reading yesterday, ONE DAY after tying it. Think about this:
"151 years (1872-2022): 2 October days at or above 90°F. Last 4 years: 4 October days at or above 90°F [Also latest 90F on record for DC]."
https://x.com/TheGlobalWarmer/status/2109841845203149192
"El Niño could fuel record rainfall in 2027, UCLA study shows.
"A new UCLA study highlights that a combination of human-caused climate change and El Niño patterns led to a record-breaking year for global extreme rainfall in 2024. Researchers warn that with a potentially stronger El Niño developing, the atmospheric conditions are lining up for 2027 to set another record for extreme precipitation."
https://www.foxla.com/video/fmc-8z9mfdxxf7l5jjp9
"I work for a major insurer. Much of my industry is fudging the numbers in the face of the climate crisis…
"In the face of ever more extreme and unpredictable climate risks, I am coming under pressure to cut my forecasts for the losses that disasters will cause in order to make insurance more affordable - and get my employer more business."
"Insurers are withdrawing coverage for climate-driven risks and passing on losses to governments and homeowners, according to a report by Inside Track.
"The report says some of the retreat "has already begun and will now accelerate", resulting in "an increase in uninsured losses for which someone else will have to pay the price"… There are also concerns that risks are currently being mispriced, according to the report."
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You can read the previous "Climate" thread here. I'll be back tomorrow with an "Economic" thread.
The post 15th October 2026 Today's Round-Up of Climate News appeared first on Climate and Economy.
With apologies, I must head to the mainland for dental treatment shortly. I'll be back with a "Climate" thread on Thursday. A couple of articles that caught my eye first thing:
"IPCC is under pressure to delay publication of key global climate report…
"Scientists are coming under pressure from some petro-states and major developing countries to delay publication of a key global report on the climate, despite pleas from vulnerable countries worried that postponement could spell disaster for them."
"The strongest El Niño in a thousand years?
"…I think that this year's El Niño event is likely to be the strongest in 1,000 years if the latest models of its peak prove accurate. The tree rings alone give it 91% to 95% odds on the standard index (ONI) and 60% to 72% using RONI. The coral records already show that the modern era stands outside the natural range of eastern Pacific variability, and this year will be an unambiguous record in the modern era."
https://www.theclimatebrink.com/p/the-strongest-el-nino-in-a-thousand
The post Quick update - 13th October 2026 appeared first on Climate and Economy.
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."
"Can Russia meet Trump's diesel demands?
"…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…"
https://www.ft.com/content/445b2856-a276-4d4c-bdea-44799d771c21?syn-25a6b1a6=1
"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."
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/10/ukraine-grain-exports-russia-harvest.html
"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…"
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/12/china-gold-buying-interest-rate-.html
"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…"
https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/articles/china-debt-interest-costs-soaring-195647431.html
"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."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6d7q5z17gp5o
"'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."
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/11/farmers-uk-food-security-producers-supply-chains
"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."
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/madrid-housing-protests-spain-sanchez-b3064259.html
"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."
https://www.e3g.org/news/euco-october2026-eu-leaders/
"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."
https://www.ft.com/content/68fd8c4f-6f34-4f6e-a52c-76f635164031?syn-25a6b1a6=1
"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."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw0k0g57mk3zo
"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…"
https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20261012-north-korea-ballistic-missiles-sea-japan-seoul
"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."
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/10/12/asia-pacific/china-paraguay-belize-sanctions-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."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c680zlny0gk4o
"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."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c84g179n2393o
"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…"
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/11/deaths-migrant-boat-capsizes-djibouti
"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."
https://www.dw.com/en/air-strikes-kill-dozens-of-gold-miners-on-sudan-egypt-border/a-79634889
"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…"
https://www.trtafrika.com/english/article/39273d69a553
"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."
"What Are U.S. Soldiers Doing in Ecuador?
"…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."
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/what-are-u-s-soldiers-doing-in-ecuador-3c332b40
""The huge lurking leverage of AI hyperscalers…
"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…"
https://www.ft.com/content/17a207f4-1563-48af-91e3-14bac89ab4b8
"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."
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/11/ai-annihilation-advanced-nuclear-weapons
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.
The post 12th October 2026 Today's Round-Up of Economic News appeared first on Climate and Economy.
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.
"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."
https://phys.org/news/2026-10-climate.html
"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."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/08/july-record-wildfires-england-data-shows
"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."
"Mer de Glace [French Alps] has lost in thickness (on average across its entire surface!) 3.6 m this summer!
"This means 10 cm/day at 1900 m asl! (>13 m)! …and that breaks the sad 2022 record!" [Melaine Le Roy]
https://x.com/subfossilguy/status/2108632758423543924
"Danube Water Levels at Record Low Again.
"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."
https://www.hungarianconservative.com/articles/current/danube-water-levels-record-low/
"Records warmth in Europe moving East:
"30C [86F] and tropical nights in The Balkans. OCTOBER RECORDS: BOSNIA - 30.7 Gradacac; SERBIA - 30.0 Novi Sad; UKRAINE - 29.0 Ivano Franvivsk."
[Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2108621519509508325
"Rainstorms cause flooding, damage across Italy.
"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.""
"HISTORIC HEAT IN CONGO - 37.2C [99F] at Brazzaville yesterday is HOTTEST OCTOBER DAY IN CONGO HISTORY.
"The Congo has been destroying records every month of 2026 and which were all set in 2025. Absolute insanity." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2108470164752597464
"Zimbabwe hailstorm destroys churches, homes.
"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."
https://www.umnews.org/en/news/zimbabwe-hailstorm-destroys-churches-homes
"ABSOLUTE MADNESS 47C IN THE EMIRATES:
"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]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2108260859071844573
"33.8 [92.8F] Hanimaadhoo is HOTTEST OCTOBER DAY IN MALDIVES HISTORY.
"October record heat in INDIA: 38.2 Yavatmal, 37.0 Punalur, 36.5 Buldhana, HIGH MIN: 24.7 Ahmednagar."
[Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2108534662624637348
"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]
https://x.com/Arab_Storms/status/2108454258333081872
"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.'""
https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/10/1168561
"Record again in Hokkaido [Japan]!
"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]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2108547740523282517
"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."
[Jim Yang]
https://x.com/yangyubin1998/status/2108536128664154341
"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."
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/vietnam-hanoi-b3063989.html
"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."
"Record heat never ends in Southeast Asia:
"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]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2108172092294521006
"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."
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/deadly-wildfires-leave-borneo-wildlife-scrambling-for-fresh-water/
"Breaking News!
"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]
https://x.com/EliotJacobson/status/2108536759563026733
"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."
"Another avalanche of records in SOUTH AMERICA:
"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]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2108561565314093539
"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."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v84k4PVJaeI
"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."
"Record heat again in GUYANA:
"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]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2108115949476102159
"Landslide sweeps through Venezuelan town, leaving dead and missing.
"Muddy floodwaters swept through the town of Montañalta area of Carrizal city, Miranda state, Venezuela leaving dead and missing."
"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."
"EXTRAORDINARY. INSANE MINIMUM of 30.5C/87F at Santa Rosalia, MEXICO.
"Hottest night ever recorded in October and and 0.1C from the NORTH AMERICAN RECORD (Delta, Mexico & Belize Port)"
[Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2108318274014585130
"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]
https://x.com/TheGlobalWarmer/status/2108220201309245463
"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"."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/09/hurricane-isaias-makes-landfall
"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]
https://x.com/BenNollWeather/status/2108546773723541781
"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."
https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/extreme-weather-is-everywhere-nowhow-to-prepare-your-home-f5abcc52
"Cannabis Helps Weather Extreme Storms…
"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?"
https://thefreshtoast.com/culture/cannabis-help-weather-extreme-storms/
"'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.""
https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/10/1168555
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 "Climate" thread here. I'll be back on Monday with an "Economic" thread.
The post 10th October 2026 Today's Round-Up of Climate News appeared first on Climate and Economy.
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.
"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."
"How the Ukraine War Is Leaving Wheat to Rot.
"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."
https://nationalinterest.org/feature/how-the-ukraine-war-is-leaving-wheat-to-rot
"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."
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/09/politics/trump-iran-war-midterms
"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."
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/08/iran-treasury-sanctions-shadow-fleet.html
"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."
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/07/world/asia/iran-shadow-fleet-asia.html
"Brent Holds Above $100 as Hormuz Tanker Traffic Hits Two-Month Low…
"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."
"Supertanker Rates Hit Record $1.4 Million a Day…
"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."
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/10/08/lorry-drivers-hit-by-surge-in-diesel-thefts/
"Credit card defaults reach financial crisis levels [UK].
"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."
https://www.thetimes.com/business/economics/article/uk-credit-card-debt-defaults-chzb3k5bn
"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."
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/08/business/france-bond-yields.html
"'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."
https://monocle.com/affairs/student-protests-france/
"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."
https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2026/10/retail-distress-hits-post-financial-crisis-high/
"EU envoy in China to avert trade war…
"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."
https://amp.dw.com/en/eu-envoy-in-beijing-for-talks-to-calm-trade-tensions/a-79598713
"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."
"Kyiv entering 'survival' mode amid Russian strikes surge…
"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."
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/10/08/japan/japan-ukraine-defense-cooperation/
"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,)."
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2026/10/09/2003865681
"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."
https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/10/1168550
"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."
https://thediplomat.com/2026/10/the-afghan-talibans-growing-drone-war-against-pakistan/
"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."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmx2qlz7qrd4o
"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…"
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/09/riyadh-airport-flights-suspended-houthis-claim-attack
"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."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckvgd63rj92lo
"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."
https://sudantribune.com/article/319760
"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."
https://phys.org/news/2026-10-global-analysis-reveals-armed-conflict.html
"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."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/08/inside-south-sudan-overwhelmed-trauma-wards
"'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."
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ng-interactive/2026/oct/08/ai-gig-work-refugees-kenya
"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."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwm24v45p4jgo
"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."
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/ai-debt-spree-hammers-tech-222451927.html
"AI Bubble Risks Worst S&P 500 Crash Since 2008, Strategist Says…
""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 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.
The post 9th October 2026 Today's Round-Up of Economic News appeared first on Climate and Economy.
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.
"Breaking: September was Earth's *most unusually moist month* on record! During September, moisture levels in Earth's atmosphere were the highest on record for that month…
"This record is notable because of how far it deviated from the average. Moisture levels were 6.5 percent higher than the 1991-2020 September average, making it the most anomalous month on record."
https://x.com/BenNollWeather/status/2107848434665627654
"Historic warmth is currently impacting our global oceans. September shattered the previous peak for the warmest average global sea surface temperature on record for the month. And this excessive heat is found across nearly all regions.
"Data from NOAA ERSSTv6. I finally adjusted the y-axis here." [Zack Labe]
https://bsky.app/profile/zacklabe.com/post/3mxaogmxi3k2c
"Warming seas are reshuffling plankton and the marine food web…
""My research asks how they are changing, in terms of which species are present and how their abundance shifts over time, and what that means for the rest of the food web. If our hypothesis is correct, fish may be getting not only less food, but food of lower quality.""
"This is one of Norway's most pristine fjords. So why is it being used as a dumping site for mine waste?
"…"When we heard the pollution would continue, it was like they snatched the carpet from under us," says Førsund. "We have answered every letter, commented on every consultation, complained whenever we could. We have been knocked down so many times and this could have been the opportunity for change.""
"Broken fridges and freezers pile up after heatwaves [UK].
"Dozens of local authorities have been forced to stop collecting fridges from homes and even recycling centres because of a logjam in storage centres during the last six months. Bradford, Gloucestershire, Norfolk, Durham and Nottinghamshire are among the 26 councils that have temporarily stopped collecting the appliances."
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/07/broken-fridges-and-freezers-pile-up-after-heatwaves/
"Famous UK wildlife island on verge of being evacuated due to water shortages.
"Residents of the self-sufficient Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel have had to take drastic measures to preserve supply, including the removal of plugs to stop tourists from taking baths. The island has been importing emergency shipments of water from the mainland since August…"
"French wine output set to hit historic low after record summer heatwaves…
"At around 35 million hectolitres the total harvest would be down two percent on a mediocre 2025 yield and 14 percent below the 2021-2025 average.. According to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), which tracks global statistics on wine production and consumption, France had already recorded last year its lowest production since 1957."
"Another summery day in FRANCE with 3 stations up to 31C. New record of October max. temperature:26.7C at Signy L' Abbaye.
"Since May, temperatures have exceeded 30C [86F] every day in France. Incredible streak of 4 months and a half." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2107544659107192941
"A first: no snow at Weissfluhjoch (2,536 m, GR)! [Switzerland]
"For 1st time in 90 yrs of measurements, there was no snowcover between July and September 2026 at the SLF research site! Source lfdavos on Bluesky." [Melaine Le Roy]
https://x.com/subfossilguy/status/2107808552576274466
"Can Switzerland adapt to a 'monsoon-like' future?
"…The challenge lies in how that rainfall is distributed throughout the year. "In France and Switzerland, we are moving towards a system that, if I exaggerate, resembles a monsoon climate, with six months of rain and six months without," says Datry."
"January-September Was the Driest Period Since [record-keeping began in] 1901 [Hungary].
"The ninth month of the year brought not only unusually mild temperatures but also left large parts of the country almost completely without rainfall. The average temperature was 17.7°C, 1.7 degrees above the 1991-2020 climate reference average of 16.0°C."
https://hungarytoday.hu/january-september-was-the-driest-period-since-1901/
"Ukraine's farmers struggle to sell harvest amid war, drought…
""Right now, we can barely sell our harvest. Instead, we're storing what we have harvested — that's if we find storage space. At the same time, we are wondering what to do because we need money, especially so we can plant in fall," Marchuk told DW. He predicted that the situation would continue to worsen in the coming weeks and months…"
https://www.dw.com/en/ukraines-farmers-struggle-to-sell-harvest-amid-war-drought/a-78435344
"'Sun as black as my lungs': corruption killing a polluted Albanian city…
"The people of Elbasan have been the victims of environmental crimes since Chairman Mao's China helped Albania's then communist dictator Enver Hoxha plonk down the sprawling "Steel of the Party" complex of 500 factories on their fertile valley in the 1970s."
"Heavy rain in Diyarbakır and Hatay: Streets turned into lakes, streams overflowed, flooding occurred [Turkey].
"In the Ergani district of Diyarbakır, streets and avenues turned into lakes due to the downpour, while in the Arsuz district of Hatay, walnut-sized hail and heavy rainfall overflowed the stream and caused flooding."
"How Spain's torrential rainstorms put sewage into its rivers and seas.
"Wastewater treatment plants are designed to handle the flow rate of a certain number of residents. They cannot handle much higher loads without a risk of overflow or the treatment system ceasing to function properly… Rainwater mixed with untreated wastewater is discharged into the environment…"
https://phys.org/news/2026-10-spain-torrential-rainstorms-sewage-rivers.html
"Catalonia suffers the fourth consecutive day of floods due to torrential rains.
"Once again, several roads have been rendered impassable due to accumulated water, and images of firefighters rescuing people trapped by water inside cars have been repeated. The forecast is for the storm to last until after midnight and for the downpours to continue this Wednesday…"
"Hailstorm sweeps northern Murcia and threatens olive harvest.
"A powerful hailstorm hit the Murcia region of Spain in the early hours of Wednesday, 7 October 2026, severely threatening the upcoming olive harvest. Local farmers are actively assessing the damage caused by heavy rain, fierce winds, and intense electrical activity."
"September was hottest month since records began in Portugal…
"Last month was the hottest September since 1931 in mainland Portugal, with the maximum temperature reaching 31.03°C, 4.21°C above normal, IPMA national meteorological institute announced today - neglecting to add that 'official and systematic meteorological records in Portugal' began in 1931."
https://www.portugalresident.com/september-was-hottest-month-since-records-began-in-portugal/
"Senegal postpones school reopening to October 12 after heavy rains.
"Senegal has postponed the start of classes nationwide from Wednesday, October 7, to Monday, October 12, 2026, the Education Ministry announced on Tuesday. The decision takes account of weather conditions and reports from regional education authorities."
https://beninwebtv.bj/en/deadly-rains-in-senegal-emergency-plan-announced-for-dakar/
"Climate Change: Niger [State, Nigeria] urges farmers to adapt as rainfall pattern shifts…
"Ahmed said the unusually heavy rainfall recorded in recent weeks, despite the expectation of reduced rainfall towards the end of the rainy season, was evidence of changing weather patterns. He urged farmers to consider drought-resistant crop varieties…"
"Record heat again IN SOUTH AFRICA.
"Insanely warm night and MINIMUM of 22.0C [71.6F] at Port Alfred, the hottest October night in history." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2107434472887005443
"Despite legacy court case, Zambian Vedanta mine pollution continues.
"The Zambian government is investigating a chemical spill in its Copperbelt Province allegedly linked to Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), owned by U.K.-based multinational Vedanta Resources. Residents in Chingola district told Mongabay they observed discoloration of the Kafue River and fish die-off on Sept. 28, raising fresh concerns…"
"Arabian Sea humpbacks may be a unique subspecies at risk of extinction…
""The recently published genetic study adds to the growing body of evidence that this population is discreet, isolated, unique and in urgent need of conservation efforts," study co-author Gianna Minton, who co-chairs the Cetacean Specialist Group at the IUCN, the global wildlife conservation authority, told Mongabay by email."
"INSANE MIDDLE EAST HEAT 46C DAY 33C NIGHTS:
"46.3 [115.3F] Sharjah Uni is EMIRATES HOTTEST OCTOBER DAY EVER. 44.7 Abu Dhabi, 44.2 Dubai, 44.0 Al Ain, 43.9 Sharjah, 42.6 Bateen, IRAN: 46.3 Omidieh; OMAN: 45.1 Sunaynah, 43.5 Buraimi." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2107906216961990836
"Najaf, Diyala record 130+ dust-related suffocation cases [Iraq]…
"Earlier today, the Iraqi Meteorological Organization said a high-pressure system was driving a dust wave across the country, with dust expected to move toward western areas and Salah al-Din before gradually reaching Baghdad, Najaf, Karbala and Nasiriyah."
https://shafaq.com/en/society/Najaf-Diyala-record-130-dust-related-suffocation-cases
"Climate change threatens Kalash life [Chitral, Pakistan].
"In the picturesque Kalash Valley of Lower Chitral in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa… climate change, deforestation, erratic rainfall, flash floods, water shortages and declining agricultural yields are confronting local communities with new environmental and economic challenges."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2633031/climate-change-threatens-kalash-life
"A changing climate is reshaping India's infectious disease risks…
"Heatwaves, droughts, erratic rainfall and flash floods, in combination or alone, also reshape the ecology of diseases. They can affect how long pathogens survive, change the distribution of disease-carrying insects and bring people, animals and pathogens into closer contact, increasing the risk of outbreaks in new places at unexpected times."
https://india.mongabay.com/2026/10/a-changing-climate-is-reshaping-indias-infectious-disease-risks/
"Satellite data captures unprecedented rise of Gandak water level [Bihar, India].
"Choudhary said the river reached record water levels in parts of Nepal and India following exceptionally heavy rainfall in the neighbouring country. According to the report, heavy rain between September 24 and 27 in Nepal's mountainous Lumbini and Gandaki provinces triggered landslides and caused the Gandak…"
"In drought-stricken Sri Lanka, farmers watch wells empty and wildlife crowd shrinking water holes…
"Sri Lanka has been mired in drought for months, leading to severe water shortages that have left reservoirs dry and strained farming communities that depend on seasonal monsoons. Making matters worse, temperatures in many parts of the country have been higher than usual and high humidity has exacerbated the heat stress."
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/sri-lanka-wildlife-el-nino-elephants-india-b3063165.html
"South and SE ASIA Record heat never ends. Absolutely crazy week in THAILAND with every record broken. OCTOBER RECORDS today:
"THAILAND: 37.0 [98.6F] Nakhon Pathom, 36.3 Yalla; MYANMAR: 36.0 Phyarpon; MALAYSIA: Min. 26.7 Kuantan; PAKISTAN Min 29.0 Sibi." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2107453668886745551
"Thai floods become 'new normal' for Toyota, Honda and other carmakers…
"Roads were still submerged Wednesday at an industrial park in Chonburi province that houses several Japanese companies. Sandbags were stacked in front of commercial parts maker Takebe Tekkosho's factory with drainage work underway."
"Indonesia accused of 'gross negligence' in wildfires lawsuit as haze tests region…
"The lawsuit, filed by indigenous and civil society groups in the Indonesian part of Borneo, named President Prabowo Subianto and the governor of West Kalimantan among 10 defendants. The case seeks comprehensive recovery and rehabilitation measures that would include covering the healthcare costs of residents."
"'Catastrophic wildfire loop' after colonisation left parts of Australia more at risk from bushfires, study finds…
"The results, published in Nature, revealed the shift from open woodland to dense forest after colonisation led to more intense fires, changes consistent with the loss of cultural burning practices and the removal of traditional owners, the Gunaikurnai people, from the land."
"Tauranga records second-driest September with above-average temperatures [NZ].
"Tauranga was the warmest and driest of New Zealand's six main centres in September. The latest climate data from Earth Sciences New Zealand showed Tauranga received just 18mm of rain during the month - 21% of its normal September rainfall."
"Walter Peak fire spreads to 1400ha - 'not yet controlled or contained' [NZ].
"Firefighters have secured about 20% of the perimeter of a large vegetation fire as it burned through 1400ha on the southern shores of Lake Wakatipu near Queenstown.
The blaze broke out near Walter Peak Station yesterday afternoon, cloaking the 1800m summit in smoke that has drifted across the lake towards Queenstown."
"Climate Crisis Likely Caused World's Largest Penguin Colony to 'Crash'.
"Zavodovski Island, a speck of land in the remote subantarctic South Sandwich archipelago, was once home to about 1.09 million breeding chinstrap penguins. By 2025, there were just over 400,000 of them left, according to research published Wednesday…"
https://www.commondreams.org/news/penguin-colony-collapse
"Penguin poop is melting Antarctic snow by keeping algae green.
"Penguin poop is fertilizing snow algae blooms along the Antarctic Peninsula, feeding dense green algae patches along the coastline, a new study shows. These expanding stretches of green snow melt faster than clean, white snow, potentially speeding up the spread of snow- and ice- free areas of Antarctica."
https://news.agu.org/press-release/penguin-poop-is-melting-antarctic-snow-by-keeping-algae-green/
"A number of different regions are contributing to the current record low Antarctic sea ice conditions (for this time of year). One of the only areas seeing more extensive ice cover is the Weddell Sea.
"+ Concentration means the fraction of ice in an area." [Zack Labe]
https://bsky.app/profile/zacklabe.com/post/3mx7zejznd22n
"HISTORIC HEAT IN OCEANIA. Records are falling in ever corner of the Tropics.
"Min 28.5C [83.3F] Pohnpei is HOTTEST OCTOBER NIGHT IN MICRONESIA HISTORY."
[Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2107809432294093167
"Floods keep wiping out farmers' incomes [Fiji].
"Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Industries, Commerce and Business Development Manoa Kamikamica says climate risk finance must become part of efforts to strengthen Fiji's rural economy… Kamikamica said farmers in vulnerable areas were often forced to start again after losing crops and income."
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/floods-keep-wiping-out-farmers-incomes/
"Girl pleads for world leaders to save her country from climate change.
"'We are not asking for pity, we are asking for help.' A 13-year-old girl has called on world leaders to act on climate change and save her country, Tuvalu. Melelusi Sokotia made the plea to leaders at a summit ahead of the UN's COP31 climate forum in Turkiye."
"BREAKING Y-AXIS. Record warm waters in the main El Niño region reached >30°C for the first time in the NOAA Sea Surface Temperature dataset.
"We've ain't seen nothing yet of the impacts this will have around the world."
[Leon Simons]
https://x.com/LeonSimons8/status/2107571239350903043
"Exceptional heat intensifies in SOUTH AMERICA:
"41.2C Tingo de Ponaza, PERU close to the National Record. First 40C in history for Jaen… records of Hottest Night: MINIMUMS - 24.3 Piura, 21.9 Lima… 39.1C [102.4F] El Coca HOTTEST OCTOBER DAY EVER RECORDED IN ECUADOR a few days after breaking that of September." [Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2107869547445596214
"Climate extremes are on the rise even in protected areas of the Amazon…
"According to the study, the southern portion of the biome, known as the "arc of deforestation," accounts for the greatest loss of native vegetation and has experienced the fastest warming. But it was in the north-central region of the forest—which has the greatest forest cover—that the climate was most extreme."
https://ipam.org.br/climate-extremes-are-on-the-rise-even-in-protected-areas-of-the-amazon/
"Extreme drought and heat from the last El Niño signal a 'new normal' for tropical forests…
"Under thermal stress of this magnitude, tropical forests undergo functional collapse. According to the researchers, instead of absorbing the gases that warm the planet (acting as sinks), these areas temporarily begin to emit carbon into the atmosphere. Faced with this vicious cycle, the study reinforces the urgency of rapidly and sustainably reducing global emissions."
https://phys.org/news/2026-10-extreme-drought-el-nio-tropical.html
"Two storms, 1,800 miles apart, but the same final destination: the United States.
"Isaias and Rachel are closing in from opposite oceans, setting up a rare sequence of tropical strikes on opposite sides of the country." [Ben Noll]
https://x.com/BenNollWeather/status/2107984206546817405
"Woah 10" of rain in 24 hours in Coastal Pasco. ~Statistically a 1-in-30 year event! [Florida].
"Up to 8″ New Port Richey and Tarpon Springs. 5″ Dunedin, Palm Harbor. Street flooding ongoing. But the heaviest is now moving into Clearwater, Largo, Tampa, Wesley Chapel and Spring Hill. Meanwhile not much inland. Fickle." [Jeff Berardelli]
https://x.com/WeatherProf/status/2107988008104263786
"Florida's Dengue Fever Outbreak Is a National Warning.
"…global heating has expanded the territory of the mosquitoes that carry dengue, malaria, chikungunya, Zika and other diseases. Dengue was endemic to just nine countries 50 years ago. Now it's in 140. A hotter planet is also boosting the numbers and range of ticks that carry Lyme, encephalitis, anaplasmosis and other horrors."
"Southern Arizona hits record high in flash flood warnings this monsoon…
"Experts said the monsoon also brought periods of high humidity. "Our humidity levels were well above normal with our dew points elevated pretty much every day," Lader said. "We ended the year with a very wet spell with the impacts from (Hurricane) Polo.""
"This historic heat wave in the West expands further to the East. Records keep falling.
"Los Angeles Int. AP recorded its hottest October night in history with two consecutive MINIMUMS of 77F/25C."
[Extreme Temps]
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2107594081669169270
"Pasadena is trending towards an average low temperature for week 1 of October of around 76°F, a value 10°F above the previous record holder and *25°F* warmer than the average at the start of the 1900s!
"Just mind-blowing. Anyone who says this is normal for L.A is very wrong." [Edgar McGregor]
https://x.com/edgarrmcgregor/status/2107312710094606580
"Landslides, flash floods and raging seas: is California ready for the ravages of El Niño?
"…Dangerous spikes in temperature are likely. Some areas could see supercharged storms and relentless rains. Others face explosive surf, strong currents and devastated marine ecosystems. The effects of El Niño will add an additional foot of sea level rise in California…"
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/07/california-el-nino-preparedness
"Rotting food is supercharging the climate crisis.
"Every day more than 1 billion meals are left uneaten. From a food security perspective, this mountain of discarded food is problematic. But it creates other problems as well. As it decomposes in landfills, rotting food releases enough methane to make it one of the major drivers of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions."
https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/rotting-food-supercharging-climate-crisis
"Real men don't do climate change…
"The research indicates that changing the language around environmentalism can significantly alter male engagement. For example, men are far more likely to select green alternatives (like energy-efficient hardware) if they are explicitly framed as a way to save money rather than a way to save the environment."
https://www.ft.com/content/61118fd6-b5d2-4ce1-9a78-4535a0ef3ead?syn-25a6b1a6=1
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 "Climate" thread here. I'll be back tomorrow with an "Economic" thread.
The post 8th October 2026 Today's Round-Up of Climate News appeared first on Climate and Economy.
