Briefing for 23 September 2026. Soaring fuel prices in Europe · Zelensky and Trump want a deal before winter · Nasdaq reaches record level thanks to artificial intelligence
The last thirty days
World
No major disaster reported today, but soaring fuel prices are affecting several European countries and typhoon Dujuan hit Japan.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Macron denounces 'law of the jungle' and situation in Gaza
4 sources
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.
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.
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.
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.
Trump-Xi Jinping summit in Washington on trade and AI
4 sources
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.
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.
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.
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.
Deterministic data, calculated by threshold or taken as-is from official sources — never judged by the model.
Markets
Closing prices and changes
Value
Close
Change
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
Value
Price
24h 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
Value
Price
Change
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.