Rent

Brent crude rebounded more than 3% on Monday after US President Donald Trump rejected an Iranian peace proposal that would have resolved their conflict and reopened the Strait of Hormuz. With diplomatic efforts in stalemate, tensions in the Middle East remain elevated, keeping traders pricing in supply risk and pushing oil prices higher.

EU energy ministers are gathering in Dublin to discuss measures to reduce energy demand across the bloc, according to RTE reporting. The talks come amid an ongoing energy crisis, with debate also touching on fossil fuel dependence and disruption linked to the Strait of Hormuz. Commenters following EU policy are framing the meeting as part of the wider push to curb consumption and strengthen energy security.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an evening video address that Russia is not currently preparing to end the war against Ukraine. His remarks underscore Kyiv's view that Moscow retains no intention of halting hostilities despite ongoing international discussion of possible peace efforts. The statement is drawing attention amid continued fighting and diplomatic uncertainty over how, or when, the conflict might be brought to a close.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian forces are intercepting about 70% of incoming drones overall, but the success rate drops to 57% against jet-powered drones. He noted that interceptor systems are already being deployed against the faster jet-powered models, which remain harder to shoot down than conventional attack drones.

Bloomberg has published an in-depth analysis of how the current Chinese government is pursuing taxation of wealthy individuals, with the piece read as a sign Beijing is serious this time. Discussion centres on whether new enforcement or policy changes targeting the rich are imminent, and what that would mean for China's elite and its economy.

ACAPS has released a thematic report assessing the current and anticipated indirect humanitarian impacts of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, dated 28 September 2026. The analysis examines how the epidemic is affecting livelihoods, services and access to needs beyond direct infection figures, and outlines likely future impacts to guide humanitarian response planning.

An ASML executive has said the Dutch chipmaking equipment giant currently sells none of its machines in Europe, despite being headquartered in the Netherlands. The remark highlights Europe's limited semiconductor manufacturing capacity, with most chipmakers buying ASML's lithography systems based in Asia and the United States, raising fresh questions about Europe's push to build domestic chip production.

Magdalena Andersson, leader of Sweden's opposition Social Democrats and former prime minister, says she cannot form a government in the current political situation. The announcement rules her out of attempts to build a governing coalition amid a stalemate following the recent election, leaving Sweden's next government uncertain.

Demonstrators have set up around 100 tents in Puerta del Sol square in central Madrid after tens of thousands marched on Saturday demanding action to lower housing costs and stronger tenant protections. The encampment keeps pressure on Spanish authorities over a crisis that has pushed rents beyond the reach of many residents.

SpaceX is preparing another Starship launch on Monday, with reports highlighting that this test flight differs from previous ones. The company has been iterating rapidly on the giant rocket as it works toward orbital capability, and each flight draws close attention from space enthusiasts, industry watchers and regulators tracking the programme's progress.

Cities across Europe are searching for ways to expand affordable housing as shortages in major urban centres become an increasingly explosive social issue. A Deutsche Welle report examines models already being tried across the continent, from public construction to rent policies, as pressure grows on governments to respond to rising costs and limited supply.

A new CNN report examines a growing anxiety among parents: the fear that advanced artificial intelligence could pose an existential risk to humanity within their children's lifetimes. The piece reflects a broader public debate over whether rapid AI development should be slowed or regulated, as experts and families weigh potential benefits against worst-case scenarios.

The Spanish government has held urgent talks over the country's growing housing crisis, which is being attributed in part to mass tourism. Short-term tourist rentals are said to be pushing up rents and pricing out local residents, particularly in popular cities and coastal areas. The issue has fuelled anti-tourism sentiment across Spain, and debate is growing over possible measures to limit tourist accommodation.

A tent camp is growing across Puerta del Sol plaza in central Madrid, where protesters are camped out against Spain's housing crisis and what organisers call the 'rentier economy'. The protest comes as rents in Spanish cities keep rising, and the camp has become a symbol of mounting anger over affordable housing shortages.

Our World in Data has published an analysis placing current immigration to the United States in historical context, comparing today's inflows with past decades. The piece examines how the foreign-born share of the US population measures up against earlier peaks and troughs in American history. Readers are debating whether present levels are historically unusual or part of a familiar pattern.

European cities are looking for new ways to expand their supply of affordable housing as residents across the continent struggle with rising rents and limited availability. The report, published by Deutsche Welle, highlights municipal efforts to increase housing stock and keep costs within reach for ordinary households.

A panel discussion examines how Pakistan is coping with repeated bombings and what the attacks mean for the country's security. The debate focuses on the government's ability to prevent militant violence, the state of counterterrorism efforts, and the pressures these recurrent attacks place on security forces and civilians across Pakistan.

Demonstrators camping in a central Madrid square have pledged to continue their protest against Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez over Spain's housing crisis. The movement centres on an 87-year-old woman facing eviction, who urged the campers to hold on. Spain's rising rents and lack of affordable housing have fuelled sustained street protests, with activists promising to maintain pressure until the government acts.

A far-left party has won the election in Berlin, campaigning on a pledge to nationalise the city's housing stock. The result signals strong voter support for radical measures against the German capital's housing shortage and rising rents, and is expected to trigger debate over property expropriation both in Germany and across Europe.