Key Takeaways: A country can be militarily strong and still easy to interrupt. Limited attacks—such as drones on Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline and earlier Houthi strikes—can force rerouting, shutdowns, and delays whose cost exceeds the physical damage, including UNCTAD’s estimate that avoiding Bab el-Mandeb can stretch a Yanbu-to-South Korea crude …

Key Takeaways: U.S. retail diesel averaged $6.29 a gallon as of Sept. 14, 2026—the highest nominal price in EIA’s series since 1994 and the highest inflation-adjusted level since 2022—lifted by crude prices plus a wide diesel crack spread (wholesale diesel minus crude). Global distillate is tight because of weaker refining …

In August 2026, the Ethiopian government declared Sam Fabrizi, the Italian ambassador, persona non grata. Rome chose to remain silent. This incident is not merely a diplomatic incident, but a striking example of the new balance of power between Africa and the former colonial powers. It is significant that, on …