Sunday 18 October 2026
Briefing for 18 October 2026. Deadly crush at a Hindu festival in Kolkata, India. Markets: Bitcoin $81,637 · CAC 40 7,957 · Brent $109.86 · S&P 500 7,659 · Hang Seng 24,187
A deadly crush in India, a fatal fire at a military base in Canada and forest fires in Indonesia blanketing Southeast Asia mark the day.
At least 19 people died and around 25 were injured on Saturday in a crush that occurred during a Hindu religious festival in Kolkata, in eastern India. According to a report, the crush happened during sudden rain. Initial reports indicated 17 deaths.
Deadly crowd movements are frequent at large gatherings in India, due to poor management and security gaps.
Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty indicated that people were killed and injured in an incident at a military base in Alberta, which caused a major fire. Neither the toll nor the cause have been disclosed, and the situation is described as very active and delicate.
A fatal accident at an allied country's military base is a rare event, with the toll and causes still to be established.
Canada4 sources
Toxic smoke from forest fires in Indonesia triggered the maximum air quality alert level on Saturday for part of Southeast Asia. Sales of oxygen bottles and air purifiers are increasing. Two organizations report having evacuated 51 orangutans in Kalimantan since August 6.
Air pollution is affecting several countries in the region and threatening the health of their inhabitants.
Indonesia3 sources
Pope Leo XIV, 71, returned to the Vatican four days after undergoing surgery for a cancerous lung nodule at Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome. One of his doctors speaks of an 'absolutely satisfactory clinical condition'. He is to give the Angelus prayer on Sunday in St. Peter's Square.
The health of the head of the Catholic Church concerns more than one billion faithful.
Vatican City2 sources
At least 10 people died and several others were injured on Saturday in a fire at a tourist complex near Inani beach, in Cox's Bazar, in southeastern Bangladesh.
The toll is heavy at a heavily frequented tourist destination.
Bangladesh1 source
Japan will launch a historic mission with return to Earth to a moon of Mars. It could also pave the way for future human exploration.
Such a round-trip would be a first and would advance space exploration.
Japan1 source
Trump suspends new sanctions against Russia, Israeli settlers attack a European diplomatic convoy and tankers hit mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
The American president has frozen the implementation of a law providing for heavy sanctions against importers of Russian hydrocarbons. Marco Rubio speaks of a sixty-day pause to analyze economic repercussions. This decision comes as Moscow targets Ukrainian energy infrastructure and the dispute between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky intensifies.
The decision eases pressure on Moscow amid war and relieves Indian refiners importing Russian oil.
Masked Israeli settlers attacked a European diplomatic convoy on Saturday in occupied West Bank. Bernard Baudoux, mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries, was violently beaten. Benjamin Netanyahu's office states that diplomats should have coordinated their movements with the army, while the Israeli army condemns the violence.
An attack on European diplomats, including a French elected official, further strains relations between Israel and Europe.
Iran states that two tankers, each carrying approximately two million barrels of crude, caught fire after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the Revolutionary Guards, they had taken an unauthorized route. Fires are also reported on three ships off the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
The Strait of Hormuz is a major global oil transport route.
Iran
United Arab Emirates3 sources
The Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted and destroyed four drones over Riyadh, the Eastern Province and the south of the country. It also conducted airstrikes against Houthi positions around the Yemeni city of Taëz, which is besieged. Egypt is studying the sending of defensive support.
The conflict is spreading to Saudi territories, and Egypt could become involved.
Saudi Arabia
Yemen3 sources
A video posted on social media shows multiple explosions in Saint Petersburg, Russia, after a suspected attack by a swarm of Ukrainian drones.
The attack hits one of Russia's largest cities, at distance from the front.
Russia1 source
Volodymyr Zelensky states that speed restrictions on the Starlink satellite service in Ukraine are a 'planned operation'. According to him, a test shows they do not apply in other European countries. The rift with Donald Trump raises fears in Kyiv of losing vital support, particularly in intelligence.
Ukraine depends on this American support for its defense.
Ukraine
United States3 sources
Protesters are calling for the prime minister's resignation for a fifth consecutive day. On Saturday, violent clashes between protesters and riot police occurred in Tirana, after four months of unrest.
The protest has radicalized this week and is putting the government under pressure.
Albania3 sources
The day after an initial indicative vote without consensus, the former Senegalese president announced his withdrawal from the race for UN leadership on Saturday. Argentine Rafael Grossi is among seven candidates who received a veto.
The race for UN Secretary-General is disorganized.
Senegal2 sources
Wall Street fell in the last session (Nasdaq -2.15%) while Brent gained 3.72% to $109.86, and European and Japanese stock markets advanced.
Brent crude gained 3.72% to reach $109.86. Natural gas falls 2.56% to $3.12, gold advances 0.26% to $4,181.1 and the euro is worth $1.12 (+0.26%).
Oil at this level weighs on business and household costs, in a context of tanker fires in the Strait of Hormuz.
A Chinese draft announcement provides for a total ban on exporting 14 technologies and restrictions on 26 others, including next-generation solar technologies. Beijing also intends to control the export of its most advanced artificial intelligences.
These measures could affect countries dependent on Chinese technologies, particularly in solar.
China2 sources
India's trade deficit with China exceeded 100 billion dollars in the first nine months. Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman denounced this imbalance and market access restrictions. Beijing says it is ready to address India's concerns.
The trade imbalance weighs on economic relations between the two Asian giants.
Last close recorded for the briefing of 18 October 2026 (crypto: price at publication time, in US dollars). Information only, not financial advice. All markets and charts →
Deterministic data, calculated by threshold or taken as-is from official sources — never judged by the model.
| Value | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| CAC 40 | 7,956.7 | ↑ +0.28 % |
| DAX | 25,622.61 | ↑ +0.95 % |
| FTSE 100 | 10,881.9 | ↑ +0.38 % |
| S&P 500 | 7,659.44 | ↓ -1.09 % |
| Nasdaq | 26,140.03 | ↓ -2.15 % |
| Nikkei 225 | 65,324.29 | ↑ +1.39 % |
| Hang Seng | 24,186.83 | ↑ +0.52 % |
| Petrole Brent | 109.86 | ↑ +3.72 % |
| Gaz naturel | 3.12 | ↓ -2.56 % |
| Or | 4,181.1 | ↑ +0.26 % |
| EUR/USD | 1.12 | ↑ +0.26 % |
General, non-personalized information. Does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation, or a solicitation to buy or sell.
| Value | Price | 24h change |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | 81,637 USD | ↑ +0.18 % |
| Ethereum | 2,410.32 USD | ↓ -0.73 % |
| BNB | 720.35 USD | ↓ -0.05 % |
| Solana | 103.51 USD | ↓ -1.16 % |
| XRP | 1.3 USD | ↓ -0.88 % |
aucun seuil franchi, marchés crypto calmes
General, non-personalized information. Does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation, or a solicitation to buy or sell.
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.
| Value | Price | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Petrole Brent | 109.86 USD | ↑ +3.72 % |
| Gaz naturel | 3.12 USD | ↓ -2.56 % |
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.
19,457 entries tracked at OFAC (US Treasury) · 1,010 entries tracked at the UN
82 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.
First Brothers Co., Ltd
qilin claims to have compromised this organization.
polisee Inc
vexy claims to have compromised this organization.
Decorolala - 500 Line Sample
byod claims to have compromised this organization.
Company #86
n0n claims to have compromised this organization.
Company #85
n0n claims to have compromised this organization.
Company #84
n0n claims to have compromised this organization.
Significant internet outages detected by IODA (Georgia Tech) over the last 48h.
The background to that day's news: public data (conflicts, earthquakes, commodities, agenda). They are not part of the colours or the risk index.
Major central bank decisions and national elections in the following weeks, as known that day.
Bulgaria · President
Serbia · Parliament
Brazil · President (2nd round)
Israel · KnessetUnited States · House of Representatives and Senate
Grenada · Parliament
New Zealand · ParliamentSource : Fed, ECB, Wikipedia (electoral calendar)
11,118 estimated deaths +18.4 % · 49 countries
Ukraine
5,648Yemen
1,380
Nigeria
1,015
Pakistan
551
Ethiopia
311
Sudan
272
Colombia
259Central estimate, provisional monthly data; change versus the previous month.
116 of magnitude 4.5+ · 6 of 6+
Russia
16 October
Papua New Guinea
11 October
Panama
12 OctoberSource : USGS (public domain) ↗
Monthly average world prices in US dollars; indices 2010 = 100.
| Level | 1 month | 1 year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | 149 | +25.7 % | +70.0 % |
| Food | 124 | +3.8 % | +15.8 % |
| Fertilizers | 147 | +0.4 % | −1.7 % |
| Base metals | 166 | +0.8 % | +35.1 % |
| Precious metals | 339 | −1.9 % | +22.6 % |
| Level | 1 month | 1 year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brent crude | 117 $/bbl | +28.5 % | +71.8 % |
| Natural gas (Europe) | 25.42 $/MMBtu | +20.4 % | +128.6 % |
| Wheat | 347 $/t | +5.2 % | +48.4 % |
| Maize | 240 $/t | +7.0 % | +21.4 % |
| Rice | 482 $/t | +2.3 % | +28.9 % |
| Cocoa | 5.92 $/kg | −0.5 % | −15.8 % |
| Arabica coffee | 7.26 $/kg | −8.9 % | −17.8 % |
| Copper | 14,474 $/t | +1.0 % | +45.0 % |
| Gold | 4,319 $/oz | −2.1 % | +17.7 % |
Source : World Bank, Pink Sheet (CC BY 4.0) ↗
Palestine
India