MIL Email Publisher – Foreign Submissions

Source: Equinor

04 MARCH 2026 – Equinor has completed the investigation of a well control incident on the “Deepsea Bollsta” drilling rig on 23 September 2025. The incident is classified in the company's highest category of severity.

The incident occurred in connection with plugging a well on the Troll field, while cutting a 13-3/8″ casing at a depth of about 510 metres. A leak of gas and fluid spread to the drill floor and the shaker room , where rocks and cuttings are removed from the drilling fluid before the fluid is returned to the well.

One person had trouble evacuating from the room due to the differential pressure that occurred. This person suffered minor injuries and received first aid treatment aboard after using force to get out. The gas and fluid column from the leak also damaged the ventilation system in the ceiling of the room.

“We're taking the well control incident that led to a gas emission on Deepsea Bollsta very seriously. There were considerable forces at play and gas came aboard. This was a dramatic event for those who were at work. At the same time, all safety barriers functioned as intended and the crew handled the situation well, thus preventing any escalation,” says Rune Nedregaard, Equinor's Senior Vice President for Drilling and Well.

Automatic gas detection triggered the rig's safety systems and potential ignition sources were disconnected. The crew on Deepsea Bollsta activated the rig's blow-out preventer (BOP) and diverter system in line with relevant procedures. The diverter system routed gas, fluid and pressure from the well away from the rig before the blow-out preventer closed.

The blow-out preventer closed after 71 seconds, thus stopping the flow of gas. The situation was normalised in 30 minutes. Equinor has initiated multiple measures following the incident. A new requirement was immediately implemented to close the BOP in the event of shallow cuts and pulling the casing, regardless of activation time.

The investigation's calculations show that about 930 kilos of gas leaked out in a short period of time. Based on the size, this is classified as a red 1 incident, the most serious category in Equinor's management system. There was combustible gas on the drill floor and in the shaker room for a brief period of time, but potential ignition sources were disconnected. The investigation has determined that the circumstances would have to be different for the gas to ignite.

The cause of the incident was that the BOP was in the open position when the casing was cut, while at the same time, confined gas was present behind the casing. The annulus behind the casing was logged before the cutting, but the equipment was not calibrated correctly. This meant that the gas was not identified in advance. The incident did not have the potential for an uncontrolled blowout. The gas was from a limited volume confined behind the casing, and was not in contact with the reservoir. The barriers against the reservoir were intact.

“We've received a thorough investigation report that will form the basis for lessons learned. Among other things, the investigation points to technical factors that can prevent such incidents. Several measures were initiated immediately following the incident. Equinor will share the investigation findings and implemented measures with our suppliers. The Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority's investigation will also be important for Equinor's follow-up moving forward,” Nedregaard says.

Source: KOF Economic Institute

Switzerland still has strong innovation centres and globally competitive sectors. However, signs of fatigue and fragmentation are visible. This is shown by a new study conducted by FHNW, the KOF Institute, EPFL and the University of St. Gallen. It examines how Swiss innova-tion models are changing and where they are stagnating. Politics and business must respond in order to enable a new wave of transformative innovations that create new companies, indus-tries and markets.

– Companies in Switzerland are innovating, but often in small steps.
– In key areas like digitalisation, sustainability and transformative innovation, Switzerland risks losing momentum.
– Increasing regulation, dynamic competition, and growing uncertainty in sales markets are presenting companies with new challenges.

The study examines how a selection of companies in the six innovation intensive sectors chemicals, pharmaceuticals & biotech, ICT, medtech, metals/electronics/machines (MEM), food & beverages and finance is developing new products, services and business processes, and which obstacles slow down or block their innovations.

Strong sectors, weak transformative momentum

The study finds pronounced sectoral differences in innovation inputs, outputs and the use of public support: many manufacturing companies (e.g. in pharma, medtech, MEM, ICT hardware) innovate and introduce radical innovations based on intensive research and development (R&D), closely aligned with the existing innovation policy focus on science industry collaboration and entrepreneur-ship. Parts of the services economy (e.g., banking, insurance) and manufacturing (food & beverages) use different innovation models, without R&D and collaboration with academia or support from Swiss innovation policy.

Across sectors, non innovative firms differ from innovative ones in their perception of a relatively sta-ble technological and market environment and less openness to innovation on the customer side, which lowers the expected benefits of innovation and thus the willingness to invest. This assessment is a warning signal that an increasing number of firms are discontinuing their innovation activities because they no longer see sufficient returns.

Digitalisation and sustainability: challenges for SMEs

Digitalisation has clear leaders and laggards: Large companies are far more proactive than small and mid-sized companies and pursue multiple digitalisation objectives. However, they struggle with data access and skilled personnel. Many very small firms with fewer than 10 employees are largely discon-nected from digital innovation. Medium sized firms sit in between. The message for the Swiss econo-my is clear: without targeted measures, parts of the SME landscape risk not benefitting fully from the digital transformation and losing competitiveness.

Although the significance of sustainability innovations varies between sectors, incremental, that is stepwise, improvements dominate across the board. Fundamental redesigns (of products and processes), and truly transformative sustainability innovations remain the exception. High costs, regulato-ry hurdles, market failure and missing data or capabilities make radical changes unattractive, particu-larly for SMEs and non R&D innovators. This incremental approach with sustainability innovations slows down the pace of the transition to a more sustainable Swiss economy.

Regulatory oversight slows down radical innovation

Regulation emerges as a double edged sword. Although it can give direction and stability, many companies report that rising regulatory complexity, frequent changes and legal uncertainty increase costs. In part, this delays projects and discourages radical innovation in sectors such as medtech, finance and pharma/chemicals. This increases the risk that Switzerland's dense regulatory environ-ment favours safe, incremental changes over bold, disruptive innovation.

Implications for the Swiss economy and possible measures

Overall, the companies surveyed and interviewed give Swiss innovation policy a positive rating – but also deliver a clear warning that the framework conditions need updating to keep pace with economic structural change. Transformative innovations are still rare, even though they are often vital for long-term productivity growth and the transition towards a more digital and sustainable economy. On this basis, discussions with companies have identified shortcomings in current innovation policy and developed proposals for economic policy adjustments. This results in nine possible measures that could make the Swiss research and innovation system more enabling and support radical, digital and sustainable innovation:

1. sector specific regulatory “sandboxes” (controlled tests with reduced regulations),
2. further harmonisation of regulations (between cantons and between Switzerland and other countries),
3. improving the framework conditions for start up funding in all stages,
4. targeted support for transformative and sustainable innovation,
5. operational improvements in promoting innovation,
6. better matching of collaboration partners through research information systems and collabora-tion brokers,
7. an extension of funding for certain institutions of national importance (technology compe-tence centres) in the field of research and innovation in accordance with Article 15 of the Federal Act on the Promotion of Research and Innovation RIPA,
8. a national data strategy and
9. a fast track procedure for work permits for highly qualified professionals.

The study was commissioned by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SE-RI) and co-financed by Innosuisse and six industry associations (Swiss Medtech, Interpharma, Swico, Swiss Bankers Association, Swiss Fintech Innovations and Swiss Insurance Association).

Source: deVere Group

March 2 2026 – Oil prices surging due to the Iran strikes risks reigniting global inflation, warns the CEO of global financial advisory giant deVere Group.

The stark warning from Nigel Green follows oil's sharp rally as escalating US military action against Iran has injected fresh volatility into global markets, with Brent crude briefly pushing above $82 a barrel in Asian trading before settling near $78, up roughly 7% on the session.

He says: “Investors are now confronting a renewed inflation threat at a moment when price growth in major economies remains above or only just approaching central bank targets.

“When Brent jumps at this speed, inflation arithmetic changes quickly across developed economies.”

The Bank of England estimates that a 10% increase in the price of Brent crude typically adds around 0.2 to 0.3 percentage points to UK inflation.

The deVere CEO argues the significance of that multiplier is being underestimated.

“A sustained move of this magnitude would materially lift headline CPI in the UK.

“Policymakers who believed inflation was moving steadily back toward target would face renewed pressure.”

UK inflation recently stood above the Bank's 2% objective, with services inflation proving persistent. An additional energy impulse would risk embedding higher expectations among households and businesses.

He extends the warning to the United States.

“US inflation remains sensitive to fuel costs. Gas prices feed directly into consumer sentiment and inflation expectations. If crude pushes toward $90 or $100, the pass-through into CPI becomes unavoidable.”

The Federal Reserve targets 2% inflation and has spent several years combating post-pandemic price acceleration, but energy shocks complicate that effort.

“Even if core measures exclude food and fuel, sustained oil increases tend to bleed into transportation, logistics, manufacturing input costs and ultimately consumer prices.

“Oil does not operate in isolation. Higher freight costs, higher airline fuel bills, higher distribution expenses. Corporate margins tighten or prices rise. Often both.”

In the euro area, recent moderation in headline inflation has been partly supported by softer energy costs.

A reversal would challenge the European Central Bank's (ECB) easing assumptions.

“Europe is structurally more exposed to imported energy volatility. Any disruption to Middle Eastern supply routes tightens the supply-demand balance and amplifies price swings. Inflation progress across the bloc could stall.”

Australia faces similar sensitivity. With inflation running above the Reserve Bank of Australia's 2-3% target band, additional energy pressure risks delaying policy relief.

“Australian households are already managing elevated living costs. Fuel and transport are highly visible expenses. A prolonged crude rally would filter quickly into domestic inflation data,” notes Nigel Green.

Beyond direct CPI mechanics, the deVere chief executive also stresses the behavioral dimension.

“If businesses anticipate persistent input cost increases, pricing decisions adjust pre-emptively. If workers expect higher living costs, wage demands strengthen.”

Geopolitical escalation heightens the probability of supply disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, a corridor that handles roughly a fifth of globally traded crude. Even without physical blockage, risk premiums expand when military tensions intensify.

“History teaches us that markets price risk before barrels disappear.

“Insurance costs rise, shipping routes shift, futures curves steepen. Volatility alone can sustain higher benchmark prices.”

Energy-driven inflation also narrows central bank flexibility.

“Rate-cut expectations would weaken under sustained oil pressure,” says Nigel Green.

“Central banks can't overlook an externally generated price surge. Policy would remain tighter for longer, weighing on growth.”

Financial markets, in his view, are beginning to incorporate that scenario.

“Equities can absorb temporary spikes,” he says. “Extended conflict changes the calculus. Earnings forecasts assume stable input costs. If crude remains elevated, revisions will follow.”

The deVere CEO concludes: “If oil keeps climbing, inflation will climb with it, and central banks are forced back onto the defensive.”

deVere Group is one of the world's largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients.  It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $14bn under advisement.

Source: Times Higher Education (THE) and the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)

Times Higher Education (THE) and the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) have announced a strategic partnership aimed at supporting higher education institutions across the Commonwealth through trusted data, insight, and collaboration.

The partnership brings together THE’s global data and higher education solutions with ACU’s extensive Commonwealth network to support universities in making data-informed strategic decisions that drive institutional growth, strengthening visibility and engaging more effectively within global higher education networks.

The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to supporting universities through long-term partnerships built on trust, insight, and practical engagement.

Through this partnership, THE reinforces its role as a trusted, long-term partner to universities across the Commonwealth, drawing on extensive proprietary datasets and global institutional insight. ACU continues to build value for its members by connecting institutions, leadership communities, and policy conversations across regions and contexts.

The collaboration will focus on three key areas:

• Data and insight for institutional growth, supporting universities through benchmarking, performance analysis, and data-driven insight to inform planning and development.

• Network, visibility, and partnerships, connecting ACU members to global peer networks, leadership forums, and opportunities to develop strategic regional and international partnerships.

• Sustainability and impact, supporting universities in understanding, measuring, and strengthening their sustainability performance and impact, including alignment with global priorities such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Designed as a long-term collaboration, the partnership will be delivered through a series of joint activities and engagement across 2026 and 2027.

Professor Colin Riordan, ACU Secretary General and Chief Executive commented: “Collaboration is at the heart of the ACU’s mission, and I am delighted to partner with Times Higher Education for the benefit of our members across the Commonwealth. THE’s global data and higher education solutions align seamlessly with our strategic goals of strengthening Commonwealth universities, supporting sustainable development, and connecting engaged leaders. Together, our combined global convening power will enable deeper engagement with our members, and I look forward to the many fruitful conversations this partnership will inspire.”

Phil Baty, THE Chief Global Affairs and Chief Operating Officer said:“Times Higher Education’s trusted, global performance data already demonstrates the extraordinary diversity of excellence found in universities across the wonderful diversity of nations that make up the Commonwealth – especially their deep and rich economic and social impact. We are delighted that this partnership will open up a deeper and richer seam of data to further boost this uniquely diverse impact and help universities across the Commonwealth to continue to lead the way on tackling some of the world’s most pressing grand challenges.”

About THE

THE is the trusted global data partner for higher education. Drawing on five decades of expertise in the sector, millions of individual data points and with more unique institutions participating in our flagship university rankings than any other, we offer deeper and richer insight into university performance than anyone else. From powerful data-driven insights and strategic consultancy support to agenda-setting events, student recruitment and hiring solutions, our products and services enable everyone in higher education to make smarter, more informed decisions. For more information, visit https://www.timeshighereducation.com/

About ACU

The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) is a global network of more than 400 universities in over 40 countries with a shared commitment to working together to build a more equitable and sustainable world. Accredited by the Commonwealth and incorporated by Royal Charter, the ACU has been fostering international collaboration in higher education since 1913. As the voice for higher education in the Commonwealth, the ACU supports its members, individuals, and partners to collaborate and advance their contribution to sustainable development. For more information visit www.acu.ac.uk.

Source: University of Sydney – UoS

Honeybees collecting nectar from a ‘buffet’ of Australian native plants made honey with anti-microbial abilities that is more potent than ‘single origin’ honey made from only one source of plant or flower, a University of Sydney-led study has found.

The findings could help develop new treatments for drug-resistant infections while supporting bushfire recovery and sustainable beekeeping practices across Australia.  They also place native Australian honey as a strong competitor on the global landscape.

The World Health Organisation has declared antimicrobial resistance one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity, driving interest in the medicinal value and potent antimicrobial activity of honey. Reports of critical antibiotic resistance in Australia increased by more than 25 per cent in 2024.

The study was 5 years in the making. The researchers analysed the antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of 56 honey samples collected at more than 35 apiaries, including areas recovering from the devastating 2020 bushfires in New South Wales and Victoria. It was reported that a total of 9,809 hives were reported by industry as being completely burnt and 88,094 hives had forager bees killed by the fires.

The research, published in Microbiology Open, found more than three-quarters of honey samples made native plants such Eucalyptus could kill dangerous bacteria, even when the honey was diluted to 10 percent or less.

The study found that honey made from mixed floral sources had a superior performance against bacteria, with high levels of bioactive compounds such as hydrogen peroxide, phenolics, and antioxidants compared to honey from one source.

The study tested the honeys against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus (known as golden staph), two bacteria that are among the six leading pathogens for deaths associated with antibiotic resistance. Golden Staph is a common cause of skin infections. Some types of E. coli and Staph aureus bacteria have developed resistance to our existing antibiotic drugs, becoming superbugs. That makes infections very hard to treat, and means new approaches are essential.

Eucalyptus species were the most common nectar source for the harvested honey, followed by tea trees (Leptospermum) and paperbark (Melaleuca).

The findings showed how the antimicrobial potency of honey is influenced by its floral source, and how Australia’s native flora gives it a chemically distinct nectar. The results show how restoration of local biodiversity and healthy bee populations can boost honey’s healing power.  

“Our study shows that the antibacterial properties of honey are closely tied to ecological richness,” says lead researcher Dr Kenya Fernandes.

“Each nectar has its own unique chemical signature. When bees can forage on a smorgasboard of native plants, the mix combines to create honey chemically rich in bioactive compounds that are effective against bacteria.

“Locally produced Australian honey has real potential to compete on the world stage and in our fight against antibiotic resistance. This work shows why investing in bee health and bushfire recovery matters – not just environmentally, but medically and economically.

Honey is particularly promising because bacteria struggle to develop resistance to it. Its antimicrobial activity comes from multiple chemical mechanisms acting at once rather than a single drug target.

“Bees are crucial pollinators and play an invaluable role in our agricultural industry. We need to support local beekeepers as the industry is immensely struggling with bushfires, floods, and now the varroa mite,” says the research’s co-author Professor Dee Carter.

“As the Australian honey industry rebuilds from recent bushfire impacts, these insights suggest that prioritising ecosystem diversity could unlock enhanced honey bioactivity.”

The team is now investigating how honey can be used to treat fungal skin infections in both companion animals and humans,  manage chronic urinary tract infections and heal burn wound infections.  

Dr Fernandes is an Australian Research Council DECRA Fellow in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Sydney. She is also a member of the Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute and the Centre for Drug Discovery Innovation.

Read the research here (when off embargo):  https://doi.org/10.1002/mbo3.70238

Declaration: This work was supported by the New South Wales Bushfire Industry Recovery Package Sector Development Grant. The researchers extend their sincere gratitude to the beekeepers who provided samples for this study.

Source: Equinor

02 MARCH 2026 – Equinor and its partners have made a commercial oil discovery in the Snorre area in the North Sea. The partnership has already planned for a rapid and cost‑effective development.

The well, drilled by the Deepsea Atlantic rig, has confirmed hydrocarbons. Preliminary volume estimate is between 25 and 89 million barrels of recoverable oil equivalents (4–14.2 million standard cubic metres).

“The new discovery will be tied back quickly to existing subsea facilities and produced through the Snorre A platform. Near field exploration is important for extending the lifetime of fields already in operation. Since most of the infrastructure has already been paid off, these are competitive barrels,” says Erik Gustav Kirkemo, senior vice president for the Southern Area in Exploration & Production Norway.

Omega South is a pilot for a new, faster and more cost-efficient approach to developing subsea fields, showing the way for how the Norwegian continental shelf will evolve in the years to come.

“What is new is that we are now planning the field development prior to discovery. This makes it possible to bring new discoveries into production in just two to three years. The exploration well was drilled through a foundation. The partnership plans to reuse both this foundation and parts of the exploration well in the field development, which reduces costs and enables a faster start‑up,” says Trond Bokn, senior vice president for Project Development at Equinor.

Norwegian oil and gas are crucial for European energy security. Norway supplies 20 percent of Europe’s oil demand and 30 percent of its gas demand, but production from existing fields is declining. It is therefore important to increase exploration activity and accelerate the development of new discoveries that can be tied back to existing fields.

“Equinor’s ambition is to maintain approximately the same production level in 2035 as in 2020. This corresponds to around 1.2 million barrels of oil and gas per day from the Norwegian continental shelf. About 70 percent of this will come from new wells and developments, and we plan to drill 250 exploration wells, most of them near existing fields,” says Kirkemo.

The Snorre field has been producing since 1992 and has continued to receive new volumes, most recently with the start‑up of the Snorre Expansion Project in 2020. This subsea development added 200 million barrels and extended the field’s lifetime beyond 2040. The new Omega South discovery can now be tied into this infrastructure, which also helps reduce the total development cost.

“This is fully aligned with Equinor’s strategy to optimise the oil and gas portfolio, ensure high value creation, and contribute to a responsible energy transition. By using existing infrastructure, both costs and environmental footprint are reduced, while the resources on the Norwegian shelf are utilised efficiently,” Bokn says.

Facts

The discovery was made in PL 057 in the Snorre area, in exploration well 34/4‑19 S in the Omega South Alpha prospect. The well is located 1.6 kilometres east of the Snorre field.
Partnership: Equinor Energy AS 31% (operator), Petoro AS 30%, Harbour Energy Norge AS 24.5%, INPEX Idemitsu Norge AS 9.6%, Vår Energi ASA 4.9%.
Water depth: 381 metres.
The discovery is located approximately five kilometres from existing subsea facilities.

Source: Browning Environmental

• Despite being the most exposed to climate change, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) receive a vanishingly small share of global climate funding.
• A new report reveals that for many philanthropies, NGOs and development finance institutions, funding SIDS is considered a high-risk undertaking. 
• Exploring new data and analysis, the report calls on funders to stop funding isolated short-term projects that do not establish long-term resilience.
• As global attention turns to Pacific Islands ahead of pre-COP31 and with SIDS pushing for recognition of their “special circumstances” under international law, the report highlights an urgent opportunity to fix climate finance systems that are failing them.

2nd March 2026, London – Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are being systematically locked out of climate finance – not because they don’t need it, but because the global financing system deems them too small, too fragmented and too risky to fund.

A new report Financing SIDS' blue development: An assessment of regional delivery frameworks launched today by Back to Blue – a global ocean research initiative from Economist Impact and The Nippon Foundation – reveals that many financiers see SIDS as unattractive funding propositions and sets out practical pathways to change this.

Despite contributing less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, SIDS across the Caribbean, Pacific, Indian Oceans face the most severe and immediate impacts of climate change, receiving just a fraction of the climate finance they need, estimated to be approximately$12 billion annually.

The report – drawing on interviews with SIDS representatives, global funders and examining two regionally led initiatives, theOrganisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) 30×30 Transformation Programme and Unlocking Blue Pacific Prosperity (UBPP) – finds that fragmented governance, small project sizes, and limited institutional capacity make returns appear low and risks high, leaving SIDS underfunded and vulnerable.

Safiya Sawney, Grenada's ambassador said: “SIDS and funders can't keep operating in silos. Only through joint action from both can these nations build truly resilient blue economies. If we align better, and develop solutions tailored to small islands' needs, we can create a much more effective system for financing and implementation, breaking the cycle that keeps SIDS incredibly vulnerable to the onslaught of climate change.”

Tourism contributes an average of 30% to the GDP of SIDS, making it the largest economic sector in many of the SIDS countries. When climate shocks hit, the damage goes far beyond roads, ports and ecosystems – it drives debt, inflation and prolonged periods of recovery. Between 2000 and 2022 the average economic losses attributable to climate-related disasters in SIDS totalled at $1.7 billion per year, or $41.3 billion in total.

Lemalu Karena Lyons, Director of Partnerships at Pacific Islands Development Program said: “We need to fundamentally rethink how we finance SIDS. Each funding shortfall compounds the next climate shock, leaving SIDS ever more exposed, indebted and unable to break free from a cycle of escalating vulnerability. New, regional approaches that centre local priorities could provide a new solution”

The report analyses two regional initiatives, to assess whether these approaches offer a solution. The OECS 30×30 is a data-driven marine conservation plan that could attract up to $300 million in funding for Caribbean islands. UBPP is a regenerative financing framework in the Pacific, enabling its islands to sustainably manage 100% of their blue economies, potentially raising SIDS $500 million. They both spotlight that current funding systems are failing SIDS, preventing them from building lasting resilience.

Experts from Back to Blue argue that the cycle can be broken if funders coordinate investment, share data and build on existing progress and if SIDS governments provide enabling policies. Climate shocks are becoming increasingly frequent and unpredictable, making it critical not only to scale up funding but also to ensure it is deployed effectively.

The findings echo growing political momentum among SIDS. In September 2025, the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) issued a Leaders’ Declaration calling for the recognition of SIDS’ “special circumstances” to be established as a core principle of international law. This could unlock simplified, customised financing pathways for SIDS, allow them to meaningfully participate in and consent to international legal decisions that affect them.

Peter Thompson, UN Special Ocean Envoy said: “I believe that Small Island Developing States should be first in line for climate finance. They’re on the frontlines of a global crisis they have not caused, but their size and vulnerability militates against them receiving adaptation finance at the speed and scale required for their security. Until the system radically improves, SIDS will remain dangerously exposed.”

The report calls on funders and SIDS governments to work collaboratively, acting decisively – ahead of pre COP31 which is due to be held in one of the Pacific Islands – to begin reforming financing systems, embracing regional approaches to secure SIDS the investment to build long-term, climate-resilient blue economies.

About the report

Funding SIDS' Blue Development: An Assessment of Regional Delivery Frameworks is a new analysis based on more than 50 interviews with SIDS leaders and financiers.

About Back to Blue

Back to Blue is an initiative by Economist Impact and The Nippon Foundation that tackles ocean challenges with evidence-based solutions. Addressing gaps in understanding plastic and chemical pollution and ocean acidification, it aims to drive progress in ocean health.

About Economist Impact

Economist Impact combines the rigour of a think-tank with the creativity of a media brand to engage a globally influential audience. We believe that evidence-based insights can open debate, broaden perspectives and catalyse progress. Our track record spans 75 years across 205 countries. Along with creative storytelling, events expertise, design-thinking solutions and market-leading media products, we produce framework design, benchmarking, economic and social impact analysis, forecasting and scenario modelling.

About Nippon Foundation

Established in 1962, The Nippon Foundation is Japan’s largest philanthropic foundation. In ocean affairs, the Foundation aims to cultivate human resources who will chart a course for the ocean’s future and to pass on the ocean’s riches to future generations. Other primary areas of activity include support for children, persons with disabilities, disaster relief, and international cooperation.

Source: Médecins sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

Amsterdam–Hassakeh, 2 March 2026 – Médecins sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is concerned by the abrupt and uncoordinated way in which Al Hol detention camp was closed by the Syrian government. The sudden closure of the camp on 22 February, and the chaos that preceded it, exposed thousands of people — including children and individuals with chronic medical conditions — to increased protection risks and reduced access to healthcare.

At its peak in 2019, more than 76,000 people were detained at Al Hol, the majority of whom were women and children. The camp was divided, with Syrian and Iraqi nationals held in one area and nationals of other countries detained in a segregated section. By January 2026, the population had reportedly fallen to around 23,000 following multiple repatriation trips, particularly to Iraq. When control of the camp shifted from the Syrian Democratic Forces to the Government of Syria, the camp population sharply declined amid a period of transition and insecurity, including reports of people escaping and being smuggled out. In the week leading up to the closure, remaining residents were relocated to Aq Burhan camp in Akhtarin, northern Aleppo, while some families returned directly to their areas of origin.

“We spoke to families and individuals, some of whom had been waiting for more than fourteen hours to leave, while others were still trying to arrange for their belongings to be collected,” said Barbara Hessel, Head of MSF programmes in northeast Syria. “The lack of clarity around the process created anxiety, while at the same time everyone I spoke to was looking towards a more hopeful future.”

Gaps in healthcare, protection and assistance have been reported in Aq Burhan camp. MSF is particularly concerned that women and children face heightened risks of violence, exploitation, and further displacement following this haphazard relocation process.

As people left Al Hol, emotions were mixed. “Some were relieved, some were confused, and some were angry they were going to another camp instead of home — but almost everyone was carrying years of exhaustion,” Hessel continued. One resident told MSF that he hoped the new camp would at least have trees and some green space, as Al Hol had felt like “a dead place”.

“After seven years in Al Hol, many people did not ask where they were going next — they were simply grateful to be leaving,” Hessel added.

Throughout the transition period, access to healthcare for people in the camp was severely compromised. Many humanitarian organisations were forced to suspend activities due to insecurity and shifting control of the area.

Despite these challenges, MSF remained one of the few organisations providing healthcare and access to clean water in the camp until the final day of closure. MSF teams continued operating a water treatment plant supplying drinking water to both the main camp and the annex. Primary healthcare services were maintained as long as possible, and continuity of care was prioritised for people with noncommunicable diseases. Patients already enrolled in MSF treatment programmes received extended supplies of medication, while newly presenting patients were also provided with initial supplies to help prevent treatment interruption.

“When we gave patients with chronic diseases a three-month supply of medication, you could see immediate relief — especially among those who were not previously enrolled in our programmes,” said one MSF staff member.

Nevertheless, many patients could not be reached. Prior to the Syrian government takeover, MSF estimated that 347 people were enrolled in its noncommunicable disease cohort alone, many of whom were lost to follow-up during the chaotic transition.

During its years of presence in Al Hol, MSF directly witnessed and documented neglect and violence imposed on the camp’s residents. People, including children, were consistently treated as a security threat rather than as individuals with rights and needs. For some, their time in the camp involved a history of coercion, exploitation, and abuse, reflecting a far more complex reality than is often acknowledged.

“For seven years, the international community has participated in and maintained a system of indefinite confinement in the desert of northeast Syria, justified in the name of security,” said Stephen MacKay, Operations Manager responsible for MSF programmes in Syria. “The sudden closure of the camp, without a clear, rights based plan for residents’ future, underlines the arbitrary nature of both their prolonged detention and their release. It also underscores the sustained failure over the past seven years to meet their basic humanitarian needs or to resolve their legal limbo.”

MSF calls on Syrian authorities and international actors to ensure uninterrupted access to essential healthcare for all people relocated from Al Hol camp, including continuity of care for noncommunicable diseases. MSF also urges the authorities to uphold their commitment to provide legal documentation for Syrian nationals, enabling people to rebuild their lives.

MSF is concerned about the fate of the foreign nationals who previously resided in Al Hol, many of whom had been treated by MSF medical teams. The organisation calls on all concerned governments, including Australia, to take responsibility for their citizens, to strengthen protection measures, particularly for women and children, to safeguard them from violence, exploitation, and abuse, and to facilitate their voluntary repatriation.

MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation.  MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. Every year more than 120 Australians and New Zealanders go on assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières  working as: doctors, midwives, psychologists, laboratory technicians, human resource/finance coordinators, pharmacists, mental health specialists and logisticians. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

Source: deVere Group

 

February 28 2026 – Global markets are heading into a high-risk open on Monday after US President Donald Trump confirmed that American forces have begun major combat operations against Iran, dramatically escalating tensions across one of the world's most systemically important energy corridors.

 

Brent crude closed the week near seven-month highs around $73 per barrel after climbing roughly 16% since the start of the year. Energy traders are now modelling significantly wider ranges for next week, with several scenarios pointing toward $80 oil if supply flows face disruption or credible threat. 

 

Roughly 20% of globally traded crude and a similar proportion of liquefied natural gas passes through the Strait of Hormuz each day, equating to around 13 million barrels of oil moving through the channel daily.

 

Nigel Green, founder and chief executive of deVere Group, one of the world's largest independent financial advisory organizations, says the scale of risk embedded in that geography will dominate asset pricing.

 

“Energy markets are entering a repricing phase driven by operational risk rather than speculation. 

 

“When close to one fifth of global crude flows transit a single maritime corridor, even a marginal probability of disruption demands a higher structural risk premium. 

 

“Oil doesn't need to be physically halted for prices to move sharply. Insurance costs, shipping reroutes and precautionary stockpiling alone can tighten supply expectations.”

 

Spare production capacity globally remains limited. OPEC spare capacity is concentrated in a handful of Gulf producers, while commercial inventories across OECD economies sit below long-term averages.

 

 A sustained disruption of even 1 million barrels per day would represent roughly 1% of global supply, enough to shift balances in a market already priced for moderate growth in demand.

 

The deVere CEO explains that investors must prepare for rapid cross-asset transmission.

 

“Equities, bonds, currencies and commodities will adjust simultaneously. 

 

A $10 to $15 move higher in crude would place renewed upward pressure on headline inflation across the US, Europe and Asia. 

 

“Central banks that were expected to consider rate reductions later this year will face a more complicated calculus if energy feeds back into consumer prices and inflation expectations.”

 

US Treasury yields have already shown sensitivity to geopolitical risk, with safe-haven flows compressing longer-dated yields in recent sessions. Gold has strengthened as investors hedge against tail risk. 

 

The US dollar and Japanese yen are attracting defensive allocations, while high-beta emerging market currencies are likely to face renewed selling pressure if volatility accelerates.

 

Nigel Green adds: “Markets will focus on duration and containment. A short, tightly defined military campaign would likely trigger a spike in oil and a brief risk-off move in equities, followed by stabilisation once shipping routes are confirmed secure. 

 

“A multi-week conflict that raises credible threat to Hormuz would amplify volatility and sustain higher energy prices into the second quarter.”

 

Asian economies face particular exposure. Countries such as India, South Korea and Japan rely heavily on Gulf energy flows. India alone sources close to half of its crude imports via the Strait of Hormuz. Higher oil prices would widen current account deficits, pressure local currencies and complicate monetary policy across the region.

 

“Energy importers in Asia will feel immediate stress if crude holds above $80,” Nigel Green says. 

 

“Currency weakness combined with elevated fuel costs tightens financial conditions without a single rate move. 

 

“Equity markets in those economies, particularly in transport, manufacturing and high-beta sectors, are vulnerable to swift repricing.”

 

Corporate earnings expectations could also shift. Airlines, logistics providers and industrial manufacturers are especially sensitive to sustained fuel cost increases. Input cost inflation would compress margins unless companies successfully pass through higher prices to consumers.

 

Nigel Green concludes: “Next week opens with markets confronting hard geopolitical risk layered onto an already fragile macro environment. 

 

Oil, shipping insurance rates, sovereign bond yields and volatility indices will provide the earliest signals of direction. 

 

“Investors should expect sharp intraday swings, elevated cross-asset correlations and a decisive test of risk appetite. 

 

“Clarity on the trajectory of the conflict will determine whether this remains a contained energy premium or evolves into a broader inflationary and growth challenge for the global economy.”

deVere Group is one of the world's largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients.  It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $14bn under advisement.

Source: Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN)

In response to the United States joining Israel's military strikes against Iran, DAWN issues the following statement:

“By joining Israel's attack on Iran, Trump has dragged the United States into an illegal war of aggression without congressional approval, in flagrant violation of the Constitution,” said Raed Jarrar, Advocacy Director at DAWN. “This is not America's war, and the American people did not authorize it. Trump must immediately cease U.S. military involvement, withdraw U.S. forces from the region, and submit to congressional oversight before this war spirals beyond anyone's control. Congress must immediately invoke its constitutional authority to end U.S. participation in this war and make clear that the United States is not Israel's military wing.”

“Iranians today are trapped between two forms of violence. They continue to suffer under a government that has shown it is willing to use lethal force against its own people, as seen in January, while now facing the threat of external military action,” said Omid Memarian, Iranian human rights expert and senior fellow at DAWN. “The Iranian authorities have failed in their most basic obligation under international law: to protect their population both from state repression and from policies that expose the country to armed conflict.”

“At this point, asking how to end U.S. complicity in Israel's illegal military campaigns is no longer relevant—the country has officially gone from client state to regional proxy, which means that Israeli crimes are indistinguishable from American crimes,” said Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man, Israel-Palestine Director at DAWN. “Every country in the world needs to make clear that military intervention without the clear authorization of the U.N. Security Council is illegal and demand an immediate de-escalation.”