Heat pumps and insulation would cut UK living costs more than new oilfields, study suggests 18 October 2026 at 02:00

Heat pumps and insulation would cut UK living costs more than new oilfields, study suggests

18 October 2026 at 02:00

Warm homes plan would create 50,000 jobs, compared with about 1,100 for Rosebank oilfield, thinktank finds

Insulating Britain’s homes and investing in heat pumps would do more to cut the cost of living, create jobs and boost the UK’s economy than drilling for new oil, research suggests.

The government’s £15bn warm homes plan, currently under threat of cuts as ministers seek budget savings, would slash £1bn a year from household energy bills across the UK, concentrated on those on low incomes, according to research by the thinktank E3G. It would also provide a £1.6bn yearly boost to the economy, and about 50,000 new jobs spread across thousands of small businesses.

‘Countries are defying gravity’: how much longer can global economy resist chaos? 17 October 2026 at 06:00

‘Countries are defying gravity’: how much longer can global economy resist chaos?

The Guardian

By: Heather Stewart in Bangkok and Graeme Wearden

17 October 2026 at 06:00

Sky-high oil prices and geopolitical turmoil have made less of a dent than feared … just don’t bank on it to last

Inside the vast, glass-walled Queen Sirikit conference centre in Bangkok, the air-conditioned atmosphere was calm as policymakers from more than 100 countries gathered this week for the International Monetary Fund’s annual meeting – and contemplated the surprising strength of the global economy.

A small army of smiling, uniformed Thai staff were on hand to explain the baffling geography of the heavily guarded building, where lunch options were as cosmopolitan as the delegates – including, improbably, a Burger King.

The hidden costs of fracking: boom in Argentina linked to trail of sickness 15 October 2026 at 06:00

The hidden costs of fracking: boom in Argentina linked to trail of sickness

The Guardian

By: Elena Basso in Allen · Neuquén and Añelo · Argentina

15 October 2026 at 06:00

Families in Vaca Muerta, the centre of Patagonia’s shale operation, report cancers, miscarriages and pollution

In Allen, a small town in Argentine Patagonia, many people living on the same street ended up falling ill. For some, it was severe migraines, nausea or skin irritation. For others, cancers, congenital abnormalities, miscarriages or stillbirth seemed to affect foetuses or children. People say it all started 13 years ago – when a well was drilled near their homes to extract gas and oil.

Calle Ciega 10 [Dead-end Street 10] lies on the eastern edge of Vaca Muerta, a vital area for Argentina’s economy, home to the world’s second-largest reserve of shale gas and fourth-largest reserve of shale oil. The region has more than 2,600 active wells, including one on this small street where about 20 families live, most of them seasonal workers on fruit farms.

Tech market sell-off deepens amid fears over US inflation and AI debt 15 October 2026 at 04:39

Tech market sell-off deepens amid fears over US inflation and AI debt

The Guardian

By: Kalyeena Makortoff

15 October 2026 at 04:39

Chip makers and tech investors such as Samsung and SoftBank plunge as global investors fret over potential interest rate hikes

An accelerating sell-off of AI-linked shares has hit global markets, as fears over rising inflation and future interest rate hikes spooked traders already wary of the heavily indebted sector.

South Korea’s benchmark Kospi 200 index, which is heavily skewed towards the companies that make memory chips, fell more than 8% overnight to a six-month closing low, triggering circuit breakers that brought trading to a halt at various points.

‘From liabilities to goldmines’: refineries eye record profits from diesel shortage 14 October 2026 at 08:26

‘From liabilities to goldmines’: refineries eye record profits from diesel shortage

The Guardian

By: Jillian Ambrose Energy correspondent

14 October 2026 at 08:26

Firms turning crude oil into the ‘workhorse’ fuel stand to gain most despite economic fallout from record prices

Business live – latest updates

Days after Donald Trump announced a deal to import Russian diesel into the US in an effort to lower soaring pump prices, the world’s energy watchdog has warned that the global fuel shortage will drag into 2027.

Trump’s temporary sanctions reprieve was criticised for offering “too little, too late” to temper the sky high pump prices triggered by the shutdown of war-damaged refineries in the Middle East and Russia – once the world’s second-largest diesel exporter behind the US.

Wind 10 October 2026 at 00:04

Wind

MetaFilter

By: clavdivs

10 October 2026 at 00:04

In the series 'Landman', "Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) explains to his attorney why Wind Turbines depend on the oil industry." (Slyt)

France’s dilemma: protesters demand spending as markets require fiscal restraint 10 October 2026 at 00:00

France’s dilemma: protesters demand spending as markets require fiscal restraint

The Guardian

By: Phillip Inman

10 October 2026 at 00:00

Waves of protests expose debt crisis faced by French government, but political wrangling is stalling an escape plan. Is there a way out?

Eight years have passed since rising fuel prices brought the gilets jaunes (yellow vest) demonstrators to the streets of France, prompting the first big crisis of Emmanuel Macron’s time in the Élysée Palace.

As the French president contemplates his exit next year, turmoil has again gripped the streets in the form of student protests, but this time the financial markets are unhappy too.

Soil in need of some TLC? Then it’s time to make room for legumes 9 October 2026 at 06:00

Soil in need of some TLC? Then it’s time to make room for legumes

The Guardian

By: Claire Ratinon

9 October 2026 at 06:00

Crops such as vetch, field beans and forage peas can improve soil if you use them as a mulch

I am locked in an eternal battle with my soil. Now, I adore the earth and believe it to be miraculous in its life-giving properties. But I’d be lying if I said I don’t sometimes (or often) feel deeply frustrated with the intransigence of the heavy clay I’m working with in my veg patch. Clay soil is especially miraculous in how nutrient dense it is. Yet, those nutrients are, somewhat ironically, more challenging for gardeners to access for their crops than with other soil types.

The answer – as with almost all problems faced in a chemical free, mostly no-dig garden – is adding a mulch of organic matter (either compost or well-rotted manure) that can be incorporated into the earth by insects, who will improve its texture in the process. And yet, this trusty approach is tricky in my veg patch as we live on a hill and there is about a metre’s difference between one side of the site and the other. This situation (plus the stubbornness of soil made sodden by a wet winter and then solid by a heatwave summer) has meant the layers of compost I laid over the last year have been either washed away or not particularly well incorporated into the deeper soil.

Oil prices jump 5% on Middle East tensions and US hurricane threat 8 October 2026 at 07:11

Oil prices jump 5% on Middle East tensions and US hurricane threat

The Guardian

By: Lauren Almeida

8 October 2026 at 07:11

Global bond market sell-off continues and stocks fall amid reports White House has asked to see options for more strikes against Iran

Business live – latest updates

Oil prices have risen sharply amid fears about escalating tensions in the Middle East and a squeeze on production from the threat of a hurricane off the US coast.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose by 5% to $105.3 a barrel on Thursday, triggering a wave of selling in the global bond and stock markets.

South Korea threatens legal action if fuel shipments to Russia found to have broken law 8 October 2026 at 00:45

South Korea threatens legal action if fuel shipments to Russia found to have broken law

The Guardian

By: Raphael Rashid in Seoul

8 October 2026 at 00:45

Responding to a Guardian report that revealed thousands of tonnes of fuel was transported to Russia, Seoul said it was investigating the cases

South Korea will take legal action if it finds that shipments of fuel from its ports to Russia broke domestic law, the government has said, responding to a Guardian report on the trade.

The government, in a statement issued by the foreign and trade ministries and the customs service, said that it is “checking additional information concerning the loading cases reported by the Guardian” and “if the verification establishes that our laws and regulations have been violated, it plans to act in accordance with the law”.

Indonesia accused of ‘gross negligence’ in wildfires lawsuit as haze tests region 7 October 2026 at 23:54

Indonesia accused of ‘gross negligence’ in wildfires lawsuit as haze tests region

The Guardian

By: Oliver Holmes in Bangkok and agencies

7 October 2026 at 23:54

NGOs in Indonesian Borneo file class action lawsuit calling for government to better manage annual fires and

The Indonesian government has been accused of “gross negligence” in a class action lawsuit over its handling of wildfires that have cloaked large parts of South-east Asia in a toxic haze, shuttered schools and caused a spike in respiratory illnesses.

The lawsuit, filed by indigenous and civil society groups in the Indonesian part of Borneo, named President Prabowo Subianto and the governor of West Kalimantan among 10 defendants. The case seeks comprehensive recovery and rehabilitation measures that would include covering the healthcare costs of residents.

Tanker attacked off Qatar as Iran claims route transporting oil through strait of Hormuz will be ‘closed’ 7 October 2026 at 23:15

Tanker attacked off Qatar as Iran claims route transporting oil through strait of Hormuz will be ‘closed’

The Guardian

By: Mark Saunokonoko

7 October 2026 at 23:15

Oil rises above $100 as attacks on ships hit new high, amid reports Trump is discussing launching strikes before the US midterms

A tanker sailing off the north coast of Qatar has been attacked, causing an unknown number of casualties, a British maritime security agency said. The attack came as Iran declared it would close a route in the strait of Hormuz being used to circumvent Tehran’s blockade of traffic.

The vessel was in the Gulf, about 500km (300 miles) west of the strait of Hormuz, when it reported being struck “by multiple projectiles”, the UK Maritime Trade Operations said on Wednesday. The UK authority did not specify the origin of the ship.

Shell expects refineries to almost double the profit from every barrel of fuel made 7 October 2026 at 04:30

Shell expects refineries to almost double the profit from every barrel of fuel made

The Guardian

By: Jillian Ambrose Energy correspondent

7 October 2026 at 04:30

Record prices caused by global shortages amid shutdown of war-damaged refineries in Middle East and Russia

Shell’s refineries are expected to make record profits on each barrel of fuel produced after shortages in the global market caused pump prices around the world to climb to all-time highs.

In a trading update on Wednesday, the energy supermajor forecast profit margins of $42 a barrel in the July to September period, far above the margins of $24 a barrel in the second quarter.

Poland’s ‘solidarity’ push for EU energy resilience in face of Russian aggression 7 October 2026 at 00:00

Poland’s ‘solidarity’ push for EU energy resilience in face of Russian aggression

The Guardian

By: Richard Partington in Gdańsk

7 October 2026 at 00:00

In the second article in a series on the Polish economy, we look at how the country is forging closer ties with its neighbours

Two miles off the coast of Gdańsk, the white steel piles of Poland’s first offshore gas terminal rise from the slate-grey Baltic. Installed at a height eight metres above the waves, the floating cranes and construction vessels here are on the frontline of Europe’s push for energy security.

Since the taps were turned off on Russian gas after Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine four years ago, Poland has turned to the global energy market for supplies. But while conditions are far from ideal as the Middle East war drives oil and gas prices to stratospheric levels, strengthening the diversity of the country’s energy mix remains a top priority for Poland, its Baltic neighbours, and the EU at large.

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