By Nigel Green The single greatest danger to wealth anywhere in the world right now is the colossal pile of money governments have borrowed. Bond markets are flashing warnings last seen during the eurozone crisis, and they’re getting louder by the week. The IMF’s own figures are staggering. Global public debt reached 93.9% of GDP last year and is on course for 100% by 2029, beyond anything […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Apple has unveiled its $299 HomeView smart display alongside a new HomePod mini, upgraded Apple TV 4K and connected home accessories developed with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric. The announcements on Tuesday, October 13, mark a substantial expansion of Apple’s smart home business, placing artificial intelligence, household security and connected appliances at the centre of its product strategy. HomeView, the principal attraction of […]
By Ben Chacko LONDON: The over 200,000 people who demonstrated in London on Saturday, on the 37th national march for Palestine, show that the issue has not gone away, despite Ed Miliband’s admission that: “You were right.” They were not alone. More than 200 organisations across 60-plus countries — including civil society groups, trade unions, […]
Britain’s Chancellor John Healey has ruled out extending the planned mansion tax to homes worth £1.5 million, preserving the £2 million threshold despite mounting pressure to raise revenue ahead of this month’s Budget. The decision follows concerns among Labour MPs that widening the levy would capture substantially more households in expensive neighbourhoods, particularly London, and intensify opposition to a tax intended to target the wealthiest property owners. […]
Britain, the United States and international partners have issued a joint cybersecurity warning detailing how China-linked hackers allegedly use commercial tools and compromised infrastructure to penetrate organisations worldwide and steal sensitive information. The advisory, published on Thursday, identifies Integrity Technology Group, a company based in China, as an enabler of operations targeting government services, manufacturers, healthcare providers and technology networks. It describes automated scanning, large botnets and […]
Airtel Money shares dropped below their initial public offering price on Friday as the African payments business made a subdued London market debut despite demand for its shares substantially exceeding supply. The stock rose briefly to £2 before retreating to £1.93, three pence below the £1.96 offer price. That represented a decline of approximately 1.5% from the flotation price, reversing the modest gains recorded earlier during conditional […]
Britain, the United States and international partners have issued a joint cybersecurity warning identifying malicious operations enabled by China’s Integrity Technology Group, as American authorities seized internet domains associated with tools used to penetrate critical infrastructure networks. The advisory, released on Thursday by Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre and agencies from six other countries, describes how China-linked operators combine automated scanning, compromised devices and direct exploitation of […]
International condemnation of Houthi attacks on two Saudi Arabian airports has intensified, with the United Nations, France, Britain and several Middle Eastern governments denouncing strikes that killed three civilians and injured 36 others. The attacks targeted Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 6 and 7, according to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). The casualties included three foreign residents, […]
Litmus chief executive Vatsal Shah has warned that efforts to connect artificial intelligence systems with industrial control networks could trigger a major cyber incident within two years, as manufacturers accelerate automation without adequately securing critical infrastructure. Shah described an internal one-dollar wager predicting a serious cybersecurity breach involving supervisory control and data acquisition systems within the next 12 to 24 months. His warning centres on network access, […]
Luxury homes in central London are approaching a 50% fall in inflation-adjusted value from their market peak, underlining the scale of a decade-long downturn that has reshaped one of the world’s best-known high-end property markets. Prime central London values are now about 26% below their 2014 peak in nominal terms, according to Savills, after falling another 2.5% during 2026 through its September assessment. Once the rise in […]
Global government bond yields ended a turbulent week near multi-decade highs after a sharp sell-off pushed borrowing costs in the United States and Japan to levels unseen since before the global financial crisis.
The US 10-year Treasury yield eased to about 5.16% on Friday after touching 5.2297%, its highest level since 2007. The 30-year yield climbed as high as 5.5319%, a level last recorded in 2004, before retreating as falling oil prices offered bond markets some relief.
Japan experienced an equally striking move. The benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond yield reached 3.121% on Friday, its highest since 1996, extending a rise that has challenged assumptions about the pace at which the country can adjust to higher borrowing costs after decades of exceptionally loose monetary policy.
The surge came despite the Bank of Japan raising its policy rate this month. The central bank lifted the overnight call-rate target to around 1.25%, with the new setting taking effect from September 24, as policymakers continued withdrawing monetary accommodation amid persistent inflation pressures.
Bond prices move inversely to yields, meaning the sharp rise reflected heavy selling by investors. The moves have increased financing costs for governments and businesses and strengthened the transmission of tighter monetary policy into mortgages, corporate debt and other forms of credit.
Pressure has spread across major developed markets rather than remaining concentrated in the United States. Five of the Group of 10’s leading central banks raised rates during September, while others signalled possible further tightening or warned that inflation risks remained elevated. That broad shift has forced investors to reassess expectations that borrowing costs would decline quickly.
Energy prices have been an important driver. Oil’s advance during the Middle East conflict revived fears that higher fuel and transport costs would feed into broader inflation, reducing the appeal of fixed-income securities and increasing expectations that central banks may have to keep policy restrictive for longer.
Some of that pressure eased on Friday as oil prices fell roughly 3% amid hopes of progress towards a US-Iran truce. The retreat helped stabilise Treasuries and encouraged modest declines in some yields, but it did not erase the week’s dramatic repricing.
The scale of the turbulence was reflected in the ICE BofA MOVE Index, a widely followed gauge of US bond-market volatility, which jumped roughly 30% over the week, its biggest weekly increase since the tariff-related market turmoil of April 2025.
Federal Reserve policy expectations have also shifted. Markets have increasingly priced the possibility of further rate increases as policymakers confront inflation risks linked to energy costs and an economy that has remained resilient enough to complicate hopes for easier monetary conditions.
The Federal Reserve raised its target range by 25 basis points this month to 3.75%-4.00%. The combination of tighter policy expectations and persistent inflation concerns has pushed yields higher across the Treasury curve, increasing the government’s cost of refinancing debt and lifting benchmark rates used throughout global markets.
Japan presents a different but connected challenge. Rising domestic yields are changing the economics for investors accustomed to negligible returns at home. Higher Japanese yields can make domestic bonds more attractive relative to overseas assets, potentially affecting international capital flows at a time when US and European governments face substantial financing requirements.
The yen strengthened against the dollar on Friday as yields eased from their peaks, with the US currency falling to around 157.22 yen. Japan’s Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said currency weakness had been discussed during high-level talks in Washington earlier in the week.
Equity markets nevertheless remained comparatively resilient. US shares advanced on Friday, supported by renewed enthusiasm around artificial intelligence companies, while the broader global equity index also rose. That divergence underscored how investors were separating strong corporate themes from the pressure building in sovereign debt markets.
European bonds have faced similar strains as investors weigh inflation alongside fiscal risks. Earlier in the week, benchmark 10-year yields in Germany, France and Britain remained elevated, while France’s borrowing premium over Germany widened amid concern about its budget outlook.
Brandon McNulty won the elite men’s road race at the UCI Road World Championships in Montreal on Sunday, becoming the first American to take the title since Lance Armstrong in 1993. The 28-year-old completed the 273.4-kilometre race from Brossard to Montreal in six hours, 17 minutes and four seconds after launching a decisive solo attack with about 33 kilometres remaining. Australia’s Michael Matthews took silver 13 seconds […]
Police evacuated homes near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Sunday and arrested several men on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act after declaring a major incident in the nearby village of Whelford. Gloucestershire Police said an Army specialist explosive ordnance disposal team was examining a number of vehicles as officers maintained a cordon around the affected area. Residents from several properties were moved to a nearby […]
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would not guarantee unrestricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz while US sanctions and a naval blockade remain in force, hardening Iran’s position as diplomatic contacts with Washington resume in New York. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, Pezeshkian said Iran could not accept a system in which other countries benefited from the strategic waterway while Tehran itself faced […]
WUHAN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 September 2026 – The Global Mayors Dialogue · Wuhan and the 2026 Wuhan International Friendship Cities Cooperation Conference, held from Sept. 18 to 21, brought together 80 international guests from 24 cities across 22 countries, according to organizers.
The Global Mayors Dialogue and the 2026 Wuhan International Friendship Cities Cooperation Conference kicked off on September 20.(Photo by Chen liang)
At the event, mayors and city representatives from six international sister cities of Wuhan called for closer cooperation in technology, industry, education and culture.
Representatives from Manchester in Britain, Kemi in Finland, Cape Town in South Africa, Yangon in Myanmar, Rzeszów in Poland and Turkistan in Kazakhstan took part in discussions on urban innovation, industrial cooperation and cultural exchange.
Manchester: a new start after 40 years of friendship
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Wuhan and Manchester.
Shaukat Ali, lord mayor of Manchester, said the city was ready to deepen cooperation with Wuhan in education, culture, youth affairs, innovation and industry.
“Manchester is committed to promoting urban transformation through open cooperation, sharing opportunities, and fostering common development with international sister cities like Wuhan,” he said.
Ali said Manchester had developed from a post-industrial city into an innovation-oriented economy, with a focus on advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, life sciences and green technologies.
He said the two cities could share experience in urban transformation, innovation districts, university-industry cooperation and low-carbon development, while encouraging links among universities, businesses and research institutions.
He also highlighted existing educational and cultural links, including cooperation between Hubei University and Manchester Metropolitan University and exchanges between the Royal Northern College of Music and Wuhan Conservatory of Music.
Kemi: balancing growth with environmental protection
Mikko Koivulehto, chairman of the City Council of Kemi, said the Finnish city sought to balance economic growth with environmental protection.
“We believe that protecting nature and building a prosperous city can go hand in hand,” he said.
Kemi, a port city in Finnish Lapland, has developed industries based on renewable raw materials, clean energy and the bioeconomy. The city is also seeking to expand tourism and improve livability.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the friendly exchange relationship between Wuhan and Kemi. The two cities have cooperated in areas including trade, the circular economy, tourism and youth exchanges.
Cape Town: technology and jobs key to urban transformation
Lungelo Mbandazayo, city manager of Cape Town, said technological innovation, talent development, infrastructure and green renewal were key to Wuhan’s transformation.
Cape Town, a UNESCO City of Design, is seeking to expand its technology and digital sectors while promoting green technology and an inclusive economy.
Mbandazayo said youth unemployment remained a major challenge for Cape Town and that technological development needed to create jobs.
After visiting Wuhan companies and technology facilities, he said Cape Town hoped to deepen exchanges with Wuhan in technology and talent.
Yangon: seeking practical cooperation with Wuhan
Yangon Mayor Myo Myint Aung said the city was looking to Wuhan for experience in smart-city development, digital governance, intelligent transport and urban resilience.
Wuhan and Yangon signed a letter of intent on friendly exchanges and cooperation during the event.
Yangon is developing a long-term plan to accommodate population growth and expand its urban, industrial and transport infrastructure.
During a visit to Wuhan on Sept. 19, Myo toured the Optics Valley “Photon” suspended monorail, HGTECH and a Xiaomi smart home appliance factory.
“We came to Wuhan not just to observe, but to learn and cooperate,” he said, adding that Yangon hoped to develop smart manufacturing and strengthen cooperation in information technology.
Rzeszów: opportunities in aerospace and technology
Rzeszów Mayor Konrad Fijołek said the Polish city hoped to cooperate with Wuhan in aerospace, sensor technology, biodiversity and climate action.
Rzeszów is home to the “Aviation Valley,” a major aerospace cluster in Central Europe.
“Exploring cooperation with Wuhan is the reason I came here,” Fijołek said.
After visiting HGTECH and a Xiaomi smart home appliance factory, he said Wuhan’s automated manufacturing and technologies in sensors and satellite systems had impressed him.
He said cities could help connect universities, businesses and research institutions and promote international cooperation.
Turkistan: five areas for cooperation
Turkestan Mayor Azimbek Pazylbekuly said his city hoped to expand cooperation with Wuhan in tourism and culture, education and science, investment and entrepreneurship, digitalization and innovation, and transport and logistics.
Wuhan and Turkistan signed a memorandum of intent on friendly exchanges and cooperation during the event.
Turkistan, an ancient Silk Road city and a UNESCO World Heritage site, has been developing industries including food processing, textiles, furniture and construction materials.
Pazylbekuly said cooperation between governments, businesses, universities and research institutions could help turn the two cities’ exchanges into concrete projects.
The conference also included friendship-city anniversary celebrations and a signing ceremony for 10 cooperation projects. A digital list of cooperation opportunities and an initiative on international friendship-city cooperation were released.
During their stay, the visiting mayors toured Wuhan’s technology, manufacturing and ecological facilities, including the Optics Valley suspended monorail, a Yangtze finless porpoise conservation center, Xiaomi, HGTECH and Dongfeng Motor facilities.
Hashtag: #wuhan
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G7 foreign ministers have called on Iran to stop arming and supporting Yemen’s Houthis, warning that the group’s military operations risk widening instability across the Middle East and disrupting international trade. The ministers of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States issued the demand after meeting on Monday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. They condemned continuing Houthi […]
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Artificial intelligence has sharply eroded Kenya’s once-thriving academic ghostwriting trade, cutting demand, rates and livelihoods for thousands of educated freelancers who built careers completing assignments for university students overseas. The disruption has become stark four years after ChatGPT’s launch. Writers who once handled a steady flow of essays, dissertations and coursework for clients in the United States and Britain say orders have dwindled as students increasingly use […]
Canada has used its lead-nation role at Poland’s MSPO arms fair to push its defence industry more forcefully into European markets, pairing a large trade mission with a renewed defence agreement with Warsaw. Defence Minister David McGuinty and International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu led Ottawa’s presence at the International Defence Industry Exhibition in Kielce, where Canada was designated the 2026 lead nation. The government said its mission […]