2026, day 296 Good morning from Asia - and it’s another 2026 weekend wondering if war will restart. GEOPOLITICS: 🌍🔥 ‘Trump says US may renew strikes against Iran, 'do another little Epic Fury'’ (JPost); ‘On The Brink Of Epic Fury Round Two?’ (TWZ) - “Israeli Air Force operations, ship movements, ominous messaging and more point to the possibility that the war with Iran is about to erupt again”; ‘US could strike Iran this weekend, envoy says’ (AFP); ‘Iran has detailed plans to hit Gulf undersea cables if war resumes, officials say’ (Reuters); ‘US evacuating diplomats and families from Middle East embassies over escalation fears’ (CNN); ‘Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, Turkey slam Israel, call for end to Houthi attacks’ (Al Arabiya); ‘European, Middle East ministers urge US-Iran diplomacy, not new attacks’ (AJ; ‘India Says Modi, Netanyahu Discuss West Asia Over Phone Call’ (BBG); ‘Seven killed as gunmen open fire at church in Jordan in 'terrorist' attack, authorities say’ (Reuters); ‘Netanyahu vows West Bank military operation after attack kills two Israeli soldiers’ (WaPo); ‘UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon needs ‘to go’: US envoy’ (Al Arabiya); ‘Israel Says It Sanctioned Firm for Supplying Fuel to Hezbollah’ (BBG); ‘Zelenskyy says Ukrainian, Russian and US negotiators to meet in November in Abu Dhabi’ (Reuters); ‘Ukraine says satellite access still restricted despite Trump saying otherwise’ (WaPo); ‘Melania Trump secures ceasefire in Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky, White House says’ (Euronews); ‘Romania blames Russia for new deadly attack on ship’ (Rapporteur); ‘RAF simulates nuclear strike with France for first time’ (Telegraph); ‘Macron denounces deadly shooting near Paris as 'racist terrorist attack' ‘US, allies and China vie for influence through Pacific security deals’ (SCMP); ‘US-China strategic competition to keep escalating as world watches on, Rudd says’ (SCMP); ‘China warns against space arms race, urges equal rights for all in outer space’ (SCMP); ‘Japan weighs rebranding energy, AI as defense spending under Trump pressure’ (Nikkei Asia) - “Step closer to achieving 3.5% of GDP”; ‘Can Japan become a player in the Arctic?’ (Japan Times); ‘At Florida rally, Trump revives idea of US military intervention in Cuba after Iran’ (AP); GEOECONOMICS: 🌍 ✈️ ⛴️ 🚛 ‘Trump to Remove Some Tariffs on Canada in Bid to Help Susan Collins’ (WSJ); ‘Canada ‘working hard’ to reach trade deal with U.S., Trump says’ (Globe & Mail); ‘U.S. is taking in a lot of Canadians, immigration numbers up 142%’ (National Post) - “Build Canada group says brain drain is a real issue”; ‘Germany leads push against EU's 'associate membership' label for Canada’ (Politico); ‘US Proposes Curbs on Investment in Chinese Biotech Firms’ (BBG); ‘US renews push for EU to soften Big Tech rules’ (Politico); ‘European CEOs warn against surrendering frontier AI to US and China’ (Politico) - “Leaving the AI race means Europe will be saddled with “leftovers,” says Arthur Mensch”; ‘Europe considers new quotas and tariffs to stem Chinese imports’ (SCMP); ‘China's automaking rise spurs German industry's turn to arms’ (Nikkei Asia); ‘Top ICC official urges EU to act ‘as soon as possible’ on US sanctions’ (Politico); ‘Trump's diesel price relief efforts grow costlier as election nears’ (Reuters); ‘First Russian diesel from Putin-Trump deal heading for US, data shows’ (Reuters); POLITICS: 🗳️ ‘DOJ sues to delay Alaska election results if GOP incumbent loses’ (Axios); ‘France bolsters security as businesses fear renewed unrest during Saturday protests’ (Euronews); ‘Italy preparing with elite troops and drone surveillance for 24 October protests’ (Euronews); MARKETS: 📈 ‘Oil hits $117 for first time since April on fears of flare-up in Iran hostilities’ (FT); ‘Gold drops below $4,000 as ‘haven’ asset joins market sell-off’ (FT); ‘Beijing tightens rules on outbound capital to better shield Chinese assets’ (SCMP)