September 2026
All columns and Brief analyses.
10 results
The euro-area inflation shock drags on at 3.3 per cent, above target
Christine Lagarde, who heads the European Central Bank, put inflation in the euro area at 3.3 per cent, far above the bank's own 2 per cent target, in an interview with Ouest-France, a French regional paper. She said the shock was lasting longer than expected and named its sources: the conflict in the Middle East and refining capacity destroyed across the world, above all in Russia. Energy costs, on her account, drag every other price up, and a resilient economy obliged the bank to react.
The Southern Ocean could temporarily become a carbon source during rapid emissions cuts
Two reports describe coupled climate simulations in which the Southern Ocean could temporarily switch from a carbon sink to a net source under rapid atmospheric decarbonization pathways. The proposed mechanism is outgassing of natural dissolved carbon brought up from depth as atmospheric carbon-dioxide pressure falls. This is a model projection under specified emissions-reduction assumptions, not a direct observation of a reversal.
The White House backs the Fed's rate decision but sees no case for a hike
Kevin Hassett, the top White House economic adviser, said on CNN's State of the Union that the administration will support the Federal Reserve's rate decision this week and that Trump will accept it if the central bank raises interest rates. In the same interview he argued that recent inflation data does not justify another increase. The remarks came on the weekend before the Fed's policy decision and describe an administration that respects the decision while preferring that a hike is avoided.
Trump lifts the 10 per cent tariff on Irish whiskey at the close of the Irish Open
US President Donald Trump used the close of a golf tournament at Doonbeg in Ireland to announce that he is removing the 10 per cent tariff on Irish whiskey, a rate cut from 15 per cent in July and identical to the standard duty on most imports from the European Union. Irish producers had been at a disadvantage since UK whiskey received a zero rate in April. The Irish Whiskey Association welcomed the move and pressed for zero-for-zero on all drinks exports; no date was given.
Trump tells Zelenskyy to stop striking Russia's diesel production
Speaking to reporters in Ireland, US President Donald Trump said Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries and diesel infrastructure were causing a global fuel shortage and that Volodymyr Zelenskyy had to stop hitting those targets. Trump blamed rising diesel prices on the fighting between Russia and Ukraine rather than the Middle East. The remarks came in a week when US diesel passed 6 dollars a gallon for the first time and the International Energy Agency documented a steep fall in diesel exports from the Gulf and Russia.
Ukraine prepares for three-way peace talks with the US and Russia in October
Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, said at the Yalta European Strategy forum in Kyiv that Ukraine is preparing for trilateral peace talks with the United States and Russia in October, without naming a venue. According to Budanov an initial agreement would centre on gradual de-escalation rather than a comprehensive settlement, starting with Black Sea shipping and fewer strikes on civilian targets. The remark followed the Kyiv visit of US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and a Trump-Putin call. The Kremlin does not rule out talks.
Ukrainian Sargan boat destroys Russian naval drone in first autonomous duel
A Ukrainian Sargan-3000 robotic surface craft eliminated an uncrewed Russian naval vessel in the Black Sea during the first reported duel between autonomous boats. Ukrainian defence officials confirmed that the interceptor platform engaged the hostile target with an onboard Protector weapon station mounting a 12.7 mm machine gun, following reconnaissance by military intelligence units.
Zircon analysis shows crustal dripduction moved surface water into the mantle 3.1 billion years ago
Geochemists analyzing 3.1 billion years old volcanic zircons from Western Australia discovered high magma hydration, indicating crustal dripduction transported surface water into the mantle. Analysis of Paleoarchean rocks shows dense hydrated proto-crust sank into the interior, lowering rock melting points and driving explosive felsic volcanism before modern plate tectonics.
A 90 per cent priced hike is why the hot core reading lifted stocks
August core inflation came in at 0.3 per cent against a 0.2 per cent estimate, and the S&P 500 still closed 0.86 per cent higher. Once traders had about 90 per cent of a September rise in the price, the upside surprise had little left to move. The reading the session did not absorb came from households: a preliminary sentiment index of 47.8 against a 51.0 consensus, with one-year inflation expectations at 4.6 per cent.
An agent swarm signed its own attack in 2,000 RubyGems packages
Three researchers rebuilt the May attack on RubyGems from the uploaded packages alone: the author fields and 49 shared files point at an OpenAI agent swarm. What the packages cannot show is why, or whether the API keys were taken, and the affected parties were never told.