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You are reading an archived briefing, as published on 23 September 2026 (45 days before the latest briefing).

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Archives23 September 2026

Horizon — 23 September 2026

Wednesday 23 September 2026

World Geopolitics Markets

Briefing for 23 September 2026. Soaring fuel prices in Europe. Markets: Bitcoin $86,405 · VIX 14.21 · CAC 40 8,155 · Brent $98.57 · S&P 500 7,765 · Hang Seng 24,834

The last thirty days

World

No major disaster reported today, but soaring fuel prices are affecting several European countries and typhoon Dujuan hit Japan.

Top story
01

Soaring fuel prices in Europe

France, United Kingdom · 4 sources

The sharp rise in pump prices, particularly diesel which reached a record 2.41 euros per litre in France, is affecting several European countries including the United Kingdom. The French government announced new aid for heavy road users, while Spain appears to be faring better than its neighbours.

Why it matters

This crisis, linked to geopolitical tensions on the oil market, is affecting the purchasing power of millions of households and businesses across Europe.

4 sources
France24 MondeCourrier InternaCourrier InternaLa Tribune
02

Typhoon Dujuan kills in Japan

Typhoon Dujuan reached the Kanto region of Japan on 21 September, causing landslides and flooding. The toll stands at nine dead and four missing, with hundreds of houses damaged.

Why it matters

This is a major natural disaster with a heavy human toll in a densely populated region.

1 source
Straits Times Asie
Japan1 source
1 source
03

Alert over excess mortality linked to El Niño heat

A study estimates that the heat induced by this year's El Niño phenomenon could cause nearly half a million additional deaths, mainly in poor countries already facing food insecurity.

Why it matters

This projection illustrates the global scale of the health consequences of climate change, affecting multiple continents simultaneously.

1 source
The Hindu Inde
Myanmar · 2 sources
04

Torture denounced in women's prisons in Myanmar

Human Rights Watch reports torture, sexual violence and medical negligence endangering the lives of political prisoners in Myanmar, where more than 6,600 women have been detained since the February 2021 coup.

Why it matters

This report documents serious human rights violations in a country under military rule, with international repercussions.

2 sources
SCMP ChineStraits Times Asie
Myanmar

Geopolitics

The UN General Assembly crystallises tensions between major powers, with significant announcements on Ukraine, Iran and Greenland.

Top story
01

Zelensky and Trump want a deal before winter

Ukraine, Russia · 4 sources

At the UN General Assembly, Volodymyr Zelensky spoke of a productive meeting with Donald Trump, with both countries showing their willingness to see the war in Ukraine end before winter. The Ukrainian president also said he was ready for an energy truce if Russia stops striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure. A Russian strike killed at least four people in Dnipro the previous night.

Why it matters

These statements revive hopes for de-escalation in a conflict that has lasted more than three years, with possible US engagement in negotiations.

4 sources
France24 MondeFrance24 MondeLe Monde InternaAl Jazeera
02

Trump threatens Iran with annihilation then engages in talks

Before the UN, Donald Trump threatened to annihilate Iran while suggesting that a deal remained possible. US and Iranian officials then met in New York, a first since the collapse of the ceasefire in June, discussing notably the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Why it matters

This direct dialogue between Washington and Tehran, despite the threats, could lead to an easing of a conflict that affects global energy security.

4 sources
Courrier InternaBBC WorldAl JazeeraThe Hindu Inde
United States Iran4 sources
Denmark, United States · 4 sources
03

Security agreement between Washington, Denmark and Greenland

Donald Trump signed an agreement with Denmark and Greenland aimed at strengthening security in the Arctic, after months of tensions. The United States will build two new military bases on the autonomous Danish territory and modernise an existing site, while reaffirming Danish sovereignty over Greenland.

Why it matters

This agreement ends a diplomatic crisis opened by Trump's stated ambitions on Greenland and redefines US military presence in the Arctic.

4 sources
France24 MondeLe Monde InternaCourrier InternaBBC World
Denmark United States
4 sources
04

Macron denounces 'law of the jungle' and situation in Gaza

In his final speech to the UN as president, Emmanuel Macron warned against the return of the 'law of the jungle' in international relations and denounced the situation in Gaza as 'a spectacle that shames us all'. He called for a double moratorium on strikes against energy sites in Russia and Ukraine. The United Kingdom and Canada for their part supported the two-state solution.

Why it matters

This speech illustrates growing divisions within the international community on conflict management, as the UN struggles to impose solutions.

4 sources
France24 MondeFrance24 MondeLe Monde InternaAl Jazeera
Palestine, Israel · 2 sources
05

Guterres evokes risk of ethnic cleansing in West Bank

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres evoked before the General Assembly 'the spectre of ethnic cleansing' in occupied West Bank, due to Israeli action. He also called for a reform of the Security Council during his final annual speech in this position, his mandate ending in December 2026.

Why it matters

This alert from a UN official on the West Bank situation comes in a context of growing regional tensions in the Middle East.

2 sources
France24 MondeThe Hindu Inde
Palestine Israel
Rwanda, Belgium · 1 source
06

Rwanda and Belgium restore diplomatic relations

Kigali and Brussels announced the restoration of their diplomatic relations, broken by Rwanda in March 2025 due to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with Kigali then accusing Belgium of taking Kinshasa's side.

Why it matters

This diplomatic normalisation marks progress in easing regional tensions linked to the conflict in eastern DRC.

1 source
Le Monde Interna
Rwanda Belgium

Markets

Markets remain calm, with the Nasdaq at a record level driven by enthusiasm for artificial intelligence, while natural gas prices surge sharply.

Top story
01

Nasdaq reaches record level thanks to artificial intelligence

United States · 2 sources

The Nasdaq index reached a record level, with investors making little of concerns about artificial intelligence security and the Iran war. Market data confirms the Nasdaq at 27244.28 dollars, up 0.45%.

Why it matters

This surge reflects the scale of market enthusiasm for technology stocks linked to artificial intelligence, a major driver of current stock market performance.

2 sources
Al JazeeraMarketWatch
02

Trump-Xi Jinping summit in Washington on trade and AI

Chinese President Xi Jinping is to meet Donald Trump in Washington on 24 September, for their second summit of the year, with Iran, artificial intelligence, trade and the Taiwan issue on the agenda. US officials estimate that Xi will probably not come accompanied by business leaders to conclude agreements.

Why it matters

This summit between the world's two largest economies could redefine international commercial and technological balances.

4 sources
Courrier InternaSCMP ChineStraits Times AsieNikkei Asia
4 sources
France · 1 source
03

French debt burden growing faster than expected

According to the 2027 budget, the sum of interest that French public administrations will have to pay to their creditors will reach 91 billion euros next year, a sharper increase than anticipated.

Why it matters

This trajectory of French debt raises questions about the sustainability of public finances in a major eurozone country.

1 source
Les Echos Eco
France
United Kingdom · 2 sources
04

British public debt close to 3,000 billion pounds

The United Kingdom's net public debt reached 2985.5 billion pounds at the end of August, or 93.8% of gross domestic product. Public borrowing also exceeded expectations in August, adding further pressure ahead of the budget.

Why it matters

This level of debt weighs on the UK's budgetary room for manoeuvre and fuels market concerns about the trajectory of British public finances.

2 sources
MercoPress Ameriq SBBC Business
United Kingdom
Hungary, China · 1 source
05

CATL's Hungarian plant starts trial production

Chinese electric vehicle battery giant CATL has cleared all regulatory hurdles for its megafactory in Hungary and has begun trial production, a milestone for the world's largest electric battery producer.

Why it matters

This establishment strengthens Chinese industrial presence in Europe in a sector strategic for the energy transition.

1 source
SCMP Chine
Hungary China

Closing prices on 23 September 2026

Last close recorded for the briefing of 23 September 2026 (crypto: price at publication time, in US dollars). Information only, not financial advice. All markets and charts →

Today's indicators

Deterministic data, calculated by threshold or taken as-is from official sources — never judged by the model.

Markets

Closing prices and changes
ValueCloseChange
CAC 40 8,154.91 ↑ +0.20 %
DAX 25,578.85 ↑ +0.02 %
FTSE 100 10,708.33 ↓ -0.29 %
S&P 500 7,764.64 ↑ +0.00 %
Nasdaq 27,244.28 ↑ +0.45 %
Nikkei 225 65,018.95 ↑ +1.38 %
Hang Seng 24,833.91 ↓ -0.83 %
VIX 14.21 ↓ -4.44 %
Petrole Brent 98.57 ↓ -0.69 %
Gaz naturel 3.17 ↑ +7.02 %
Or 4,365.4 ↓ -0.25 %
EUR/USD 1.14 ↓ -0.31 %

General, non-personalized information. Does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation, or a solicitation to buy or sell.

Crypto

Prices and changes of major cryptocurrencies
ValuePrice24h change
Bitcoin 86,405 USD ↑ +1.16 %
Ethereum 2,755.17 USD ↑ +0.92 %
BNB 790.69 USD ↑ +0.43 %
Solana 118.69 USD ↑ +1.76 %
XRP 1.62 USD ↑ +6.45 %

aucun seuil franchi, marches crypto calmes

General, non-personalized information. Does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation, or a solicitation to buy or sell.

Supply chain

A combined reading of traffic through strategic straits and energy prices: two signals of the same possible tension on global supply chains. The more severe of the two prevails.

Energy prices and changes
ValuePriceChange
Petrole Brent 98.57 USD ↓ -0.69 %
Gaz naturel 3.17 USD ↑ +7.02 %
  • Bab el-Mandeb — traffic at 81% of normal levels data from 20 September
  • Ormuz — traffic at 33% of normal levels data from 20 September
  • Malacca — traffic at 105% of normal levels data from 20 September
  • Suez — traffic at 102% of normal levels data from 20 September
  • Panama — traffic at 90% of normal levels data from 20 September
  • Bosphore — traffic at 88% of normal levels data from 20 September
  • Gibraltar — traffic at 102% of normal levels data from 20 September
  • Douvres — traffic at 103% of normal levels data from 20 September
  • Taïwan — traffic at 91% of normal levels data from 20 September
  • Cap de Bonne-Espérance — traffic at 96% of normal levels data from 20 September

Ormuz — trafic a 33% de la normale (donnee du 2026-09-20)

International sanctions

Daily movement on the consolidated lists of OFAC (US Treasury) and the UN Security Council: the total almost never moves from one day to the next — the signal is the new entries since the last reading.

No new entries since the last reading.

19,393 entries tracked at OFAC (US Treasury) · 1,011 entries tracked at the UN

Cyber

67 ransomware claim(s) recorded worldwide over the last 48 hours (source: RansomLook). These are claims made by criminal groups on their own leak sites, never independently verified.

shinyhunters

Fresenius Medical Care

shinyhunters claims to have compromised this organization.

leakeddata

Clark Hill

leakeddata claims to have compromised this organization.

lockbit5

taspenlife.com

lockbit5 claims to have compromised this organization.

titan

Grupo Hospifar S.R.L.

titan claims to have compromised this organization.

titan

Sherman Chan, DDS, Inc.

titan claims to have compromised this organization.

shinyhunters

PSA - READ THIS NOW

shinyhunters claims to have compromised this organization.

Connectivity

Significant internet outages detected by IODA (Georgia Tech) over the last 48h.

  • Congo — traffic at 5% of normal levels
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