The Renaming of Nations

Throughout history, the global map has been constantly redrawn, not just by shifting borders, but by nations choosing to redefine their own identities on the world stage.

In 2002, East Timor became the first new sovereign state of the 21st century and adopted the Portuguese name of Timor-Leste. 

Following this trend of official updates, Cape Verde changed its UN-recognized English name to Cabo Verde in 2013. 

The Kingdom of Swaziland rebranded as Eswatini in 2018. 

A year later, the Republic of Macedonia officially became North Macedonia. 

And more recently, Turkey registered its name change to Türkiye with the United Nations in 2022. 

Finally, on June 26, 2026, the Pacific island nation of Nauru reclaimed its traditional indigenous identity by officially becoming the Republic of Naoero. 

Malaysian women's doubles pair Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan are just one match away from winning their second World Tour title of the year after storming into the Taipei Open final on Saturday. 

The world No. 5 took 35 minutes to sweep aside American world No. 27 Francesca Corbett-Jennie Gai 21-15, 21-17 in the last four.

Donald Trump Edited Out of Spain’s Trophy Photo

US President Donald Trump has sparked fury after he "hijacked" Spain's World Cup trophy lift on Sunday. 

Trump, also joined by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, handed the trophy to Spain's captain Rodri (Rodrigo Hernández) after a deserved 1-0 extra-time win against Argentina. 

Before the match, when Trump was in Ankara, Türkiye for the NATO summit (July 7-8, 2026), he severely slammed Spain over its refusal to allow US forces to use Spanish bases for airstrikes on Iran, its failure to meet NATO defense spending targets, and its immigration policies. He has repeatedly described the country as a "terrible partner", a "wasted cause", and "hopeless", and once ordered Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to halt all trade and business with Madrid. 

And yet, the thick-skinned fella shamelessly tried to get into the World Cup final photo with Spain. This man has some sort of amnesia. He claims to hate Spain, yet he still wants to take a picture with them. 

The US president was seen next to the podium as Spain celebrated, but Rodri, as well as Infantino himself, appeared to gently guide him to the side of the stage. 

Trump was still in shot when the World Cup was hoisted aloft but the Spanish football association, however, uploaded the official World Cup-winning photo with the caption: "Dreams come true". The image appeared to have cropped Trump out. 

One fan commented on Reddit: "How long until Trump declares war on Spain because of this?" 

A second fan asked: "Is this filter available for everyday life? Asking for a friend". 

A third fan quipped: "The way the FIFA chairman had to skiddadle his a** over to him to GENTLY usher him away, like he was some toddler that would throw a tantrum if he was too direct". 

A fourth fan penned: "Well, he said that Spain is a bad country and that he doesn't want to trade with them. Lol. Why wouldn't they photoshop him out?" 

A fifth fan wrote: "He has to insert himself everywhere he doesn't belong". 

And, one fan chimed in: "Would have been funny if they just blurred him out".

Malaysia Qualifies for Uber Cup 2026 QFs to End 16-year Wait

The Malaysian women's team wrapped up the Uber Cup 2026 Group B action on Monday when they went down 1-4 to six-time champions Japan in Horsens, Denmark. 

With both teams already through to the quarter-finals, the tie was effectively a battle for top spot, and Malaysia were quickly tested by a star-studded Japanese line-up. 

Japan surged into a commanding 3-0 lead through a series of clinical performances. 

Letshanaa Karupathevan fought bravely but fell 21-19, 21-17 to world No. 3 and three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi in the opening singles. Scratch pair Thinaah Muralitharan-Ong Xin Yee were outclassed 21-9, 21-9 by world No. 6 pair Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto in the first doubles. [Note: This makeshift arrangement was forced together after Pearly Tan suffered a recurring back injury]. Wong Ling Ching also battled gamely but went down 21-16, 21-13 to world No. 9 Tomoka Miyazaki as Japan sealed the tie. 

But Malaysia refused to go quietly. Debutants Low Zi Yu-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan, aged just fifteen and eighteen respectively, produced the moment of the tie by stunning world No. 7 Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi 21-17, 12-21, 21-19 in a superb display of composure and belief. Trailing 19-16 in the decider, the young duo showed nerves of steel to reel off four straight points to snatch victory, a performance that belied their age and marked a breakthrough on the big stage. 

In the final match, Goh Jin Wei delivered a spirited performance, taking the opening game 21-19 against world No. 22 Riko Gunji before being forced to retire in the second game while trailing 4-3. This could prove a major blow for Malaysia, with Jin Wei's service in the third singles a key component of their line-up heading into the knockout stage. 

Despite the defeat, Malaysia can take encouragement from a brave showing against one of the tournament favourites.

On Sunday, Malaysia ended a 16-year drought to reach the quarter-finals after sweeping aside South Africa 5-0. [FYI, Malaysia has made the Uber Cup quarter-finals three times previously, in 2004, 2008 and 2010]. 

Letshanaa, Ling Ching, and Siti Zulaikha Azmi won their singles matches comfortably, while pairings Xin Yee-Carmen Ting and Chong Jie Yu-Zi Yu secured the doubles. 

[I assumed Thinaah was rested and a mixed line-up of younger players were featured instead].

And on Saturday, Malaysia edged Türkiye 3-2 in a tense opener. 

In the three singles, Letshanaa won 21-16, 12-21, 21-13;  Ling Ching lost 17-21, 21-15, 18-21; and Jin Wei bested her opponent 21-14, 21-13. 

The tie was neck-and-neck at 2-2 after Thinaah-Xin Yee fell to their battle-hardened rivals in a sixty-nine-minute thriller (22-20, 19-21, 19-21). 

Zi Yu-Noraqilah Maisarah came to the rescue when they clinched victory by winning the decisive second doubles match against their Turkish challengers, 21-18, 21-19 in forty-four minutes.

The Malaysian men's team also qualified for the 2026 Thomas Cup quarter-finals, after securing wins against England (3-2) and Finland (4-1) in Group B.

Israeli Flag with Swastika

A Polish lawmaker on Tuesday displayed a paper Israeli flag emblazoned with a swastika in parliament, accusing the country of "genocide" in the Middle East.

"Israel is in the process of committing a genocide of exceptional cruelty before our very eyes," Konrad Berkowicz told lawmakers, comparing the country to a "new Third Reich". 

Berkowicz, a member of the far-right nationalist Konfederacja (Confederation) opposition party, then brandished the paper flag, with the Nazi symbol replacing the Star of David at its centre. 

Berkowicz also accused the Israeli army of using white phosphorous bombs in the Middle East, describing in detail the severe injuries, suffering, and deaths of "tens of thousands of women and children" by such weapons. 

Human Rights Watch too have accused Israel of "illegally" using white phosphorous in southern Lebanon after launching an offensive against Hezbollah. 

The genocidal Zionist regime got recognition even in Poland!

Malaysian women’s doubles shuttler Pearly Tan (right) has pulled out of next week’s Uber Cup in Denmark due to a recurring back injury. 

Pearly, who forms the world No 2 partnership with Thinaah Muralitharan, sustained the injury during last week’s Badminton Asia Championships 2026 in Ningbo, China, where the pair were eliminated in the quarter-finals. 

Pearly’s absence means Malaysia will be without their top women’s doubles pair at the Uber Cup to be played from April 24 to May 03. 

Thinaah is likely be paired with another player. 

“I’m truly disappointed about this. It breaks my heart to say that I won’t be able to join the Uber Cup team this time”, Pearly said in a Facebook post. “There’s nothing I wanted more than to be on court, fighting for every point and standing with my team. But because of my back injury, I have to step back for now”. 

Her absence from the Badminton Association of Malaysia’s official team photograph on Tuesday raised concerns over her fitness. Pearly stated that she missed the session to undergo an MRI scan to assess the injury she sustained in China.

“Anyone who knows me understands that I would never walk away from the court. I would fight until the very last point, every single time. But this time… my body is telling me to stop, and I have to listen”. 

BAM have confirmed that Pearly will not be part of the squad for the Uber Cup, with national doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky stating that the decision was made following a late assessment of her condition.

Malaysia has been drawn in Group B with Japan, Türkiye and South Africa.

Russia Bans Roblox over LGBT Propaganda and Extremist Content

US gaming platform Roblox has officially been banned in Russia after the country’s media watchdog said they had identified “mass and repeated distribution” of illegal materials, including extremist content and LGBTQ propaganda. 

Roblox is an online gaming platform with more than 150 million daily active users, marketed largely toward children, where players create their own games, join worlds built by others, and interact across a shared virtual environment. 

On Wednesday, Russia’s Roskomnadzor announced that they would be blocking access to Roblox servers, stating that the platform’s content may harm the “spiritual and moral development of children”. 

The watchdog cited the presence of sexually explicit interactions, harassment, and attempts by adults to contact minors inside Roblox’s chat features. Additionally, the regulator said Roblox has hosted material “promoting and justifying extremist and terrorist activity, calls for violent crimes, and LGBT propaganda”. 

Russian legislators had previously warned that the platform is popular among predators who approach minors in-game before attempting to move conversations offline, pointing to multiple reports of sexual harassment and solicitation. 

Roskomnadzor noted that they have repeatedly notified Roblox since 2019 about prohibited material and concluded that its internal moderation systems have been unable to ensure full safety on the platform. 

The ban comes as Roblox has faced wider scrutiny internationally. Last month, in the US, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit accusing the company of “flagrantly ignoring” safety laws and “deceiving parents”, calling Roblox a “breeding ground for predators” and alleging it puts “pixel paedophiles and corporate profit” over child safety. Kentucky and Louisiana have launched similar suits. 

The platform has similarly been banned in Iraq and Türkiye over concerns about exploitation and inappropriate content. Roblox also came under scrutiny in Singapore in 2023 after regulators said a self-radicalised teenager had joined ISIS-themed servers on the platform. 

Roblox has said it is “disappointed” to be sued based on “misrepresentations and sensationalized claims”, insisting it has a “deep commitment to safety” and uses extensive monitoring systems, text filtering and age-verification measures. 

A day later, Russia blocked Apple's video-calling app FaceTime. The state communications watchdog had alleged it is being used for criminal activity. And Snapchat too. Roskomnadzor said they took action on October 10, even though they only reported the move on Thursday.

Prized Japanese Oysters Are Dying

In August 2023, Japan began dumping over a million tonnes of radioactive wastewater from Fukushima into the Pacific Ocean. The IAEA said it was safe. The world agreed. 

China banned Japanese seafood immediately, citing radiation concerns. Everyone called it politics. 

Fast forward to November 2025: Japan's prized oysters are dying at rates up to 90%. Scallops too. 

The official explanation? "High water temperatures". But is that really the whole story? 

Remember, China warned us! Isn't it strange that Japan's not testing for radiation in these dead oysters. Why?

The graphic speaks for itself!

4 Aviation Incidents in 4 Months Involve Boeing

Still images from an airport surveillance video showing the left engine and left pylon separation from the left wing. Credit image: UPS 

Just because I don't regularly report on Boeing's "troubles" does not mean that their tribulations are over!

I am not implying anything but all four aviation incidents in these four months which are detailed in this post involve Boeing planes. Talk about coincidence!

On November 04, 2025, United Parcel Service (UPS) flight 2976 – a Boeing MD-11F plane – was destroyed after it impacted the ground shortly after takeoff from runway 17R at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, a major cargo facility in the US. 

All three crew members on board the aircraft and another eleven on the ground were killed. Twenty-three people suffered injuries, of which two were described as "serious" and 21 "minor". 

CCTV surveillance footage from the moments of the crash show the left engine of the aircraft "detaching from the wing during the takeoff roll", Todd Inman with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said. 

He said the plane was able to lift off the ground and cleared a fence at the end of the runway before it hit multiple businesses surrounding the airport. 

The crash caused a fire that spanned about a half a mile, Inman said. The massive blaze was due to the amount of fuel – reportedly 38,000 gallons (144,000 litres) – onboard the aircraft, which was beginning a journey of around 4,300 miles (6,920km) to Hawaii. 

The crash was the deadliest in UPS Airlines history.

On October 20, a Boeing 747, flown by Türkiye-based ACT Airlines for Emirates SkyCargo and coming in from Dubai, UAE skidded after landing at Hong Kong's International Airport, collided with a stationary security patrol car and sending both vehicles into the sea. Two workers in the car were killed. The four crew members on the plane were unhurt.

The Hong Kong Transport and Logistics Bureau wrote in a Facebook post that existing evidence showed the flight and conditions such as weather, runway and air traffic control were all normal before the plane veered off. The preliminary report from the Air Accident Investigation Authority said the plane’s Number 4 engine accelerated after landing. 

On September 11, a Turkish Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, operating flight TK112/THY4ML from New York John F Kennedy International Airport to Istanbul Airport, returned to JFK after the crew reported an issue with the landing gear. 

The aircraft, registered TC-LLK, performed a fuel dump to reduce landing weight before completing a safe ILS (Instrument Landing System) approach and landing on Runway 31L. 

And on August 26, an Air China flight from London, UK to Beijing resumed their journey after an unscheduled 13-hour landing in Siberia, Russia's state aviation watchdog reported. 

Earlier, Russia's civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, explained that the crew of the Air China Boeing 777-300 opted to land at an alternate airfield in the Russian city of Nizhnevartovsk. 

The preliminary reason for the diversion was said to be a malfunction in one of the aircraft's engines.

Despite all these issues, it is noteworthy to mention that Boeing's order book keeps growing! 😮😮😮

Donald Trump Sings Sanctions

US President Donald Trump (right) switches songs; he's abandoning tariffs to sing sanctions now! 

This time, he has promised to sanction Russia, but only if all NATO allies agree to completely halt buying oil from Moscow and impose their own sanctions on Russia to pressure it to end its more than three-year war in Ukraine. 

“I am ready to do major Sanctions on Russia when all NATO Nations have agreed, and started, to do the same thing, and when all NATO Nations STOP BUYING OIL FROM RUSSIA”, Trump thundered in a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, which he described as a letter to all NATO nations and the world.

Trump proposed that NATO, as a group, place 50-100 percent tariffs on China to weaken its economic grip over Russia.

He also wrote that NATO’s commitment “to WIN” the war “has been far less than 100%” and that it was “shocking” that some members of the alliance continued to buy Russian oil. As if speaking to them, he said, "It greatly weakens your negotiating position, and bargaining power, over Russia". 

NATO member Türkiye has been the third-largest buyer of Russian oil, after China and India. Other members of the 32-state alliance involved in buying Russian oil include Hungary and Slovakia, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. 

If NATO “does as I say, the WAR will end quickly”, Trump bragged again. “If not, you are just wasting my time”. 

But Trump should know better. Sanctions hadn't worked before and they're not going to work now. 

Really, I'm amazed at his capacity to spout boundless BS; he doesn't seem to tire of his endless pontification of farcical bunkum. 

Yesterday, unconvincing Celtic had to wait for a spot-kick to beat Kilmarnock 2-1 in a Scottish Premiership game. 

Daizen Maeda scored first for the Glaswegian side in the 56th minute, prior to the Killies levelling on 83 minutes. 

And debutant Kelechi Iheanacho converted a VAR-awarded penalty in added time to seal the match for Celtic. 

The latter now lead Hearts on goal difference after five games.

The World Rethinks Money and There's No Turning Back

When a 70-year-old financial empire begins to crack, watch how swiftly the world rethinks money. 

For decades, the US Dollar stood unchallenged as the backbone of global finance as the international reserve currency. Despite de-linking from the gold standard in 1971, the Dollar maintained its hegemony in international trade and finance because of the US geopolitical clout. 

But in 2025, the mood in the Global South has significantly shifted. On a geopolitical chessboard riven by unpredictable tariffs, unilateral financial sanctions, and weakening trust, BRICS are no longer interested in merely hedging their bets. In fact, they are willing to rewrite the rules of international finance, challenging an order the United States has long dominated. 

Already, IDN Financials reported Sunday that global central banks purchased 166 tonnes of gold in the second quarter of 2025, marking a 41% increase from the usual quarterly average. 

And as reported by Watcher.guru on August 15, the latest wave of gold buying has been led by China, India, Russia and Türkiye. Certainly, global central bank gold reserves have surpassed 36,000 tonnes, signalling a structural shift as BRICS Dollar holdings continue to decline. 

Following the 17th BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in July 2025, member nations have agreed to build digital payment infrastructure and expand trade using local currencies through a series of bilateral agreements. 

The expansion to BRICS-11 – including Saudi Arabia, which Watcher.guru claimed on August 10, the country "maximized its membership completion in July 2025 – strengthens their ability to establish an alternative financial system outside of SWIFT (a global messaging system used for financial transactions mainly under US and European oversight). All of which demonstrate accelerated de-dollarisation among BRICS nations, as member states seek greater financial independence.

In truth, the one single country that has contributed majorly to this push for de-dollarisation happens to be the US. 

The US government have indulged in quantitative easing on numerous occasions, printing Dollars at the drop of a hat, to safeguard their own mercantile interests. Unilateral decision in 2022 to exclude the Russian Federation from the SWIFT network catalysed the process of finding international monetary alternatives to the Dollar’s hegemony. 

To be sure, this process is not an overnight revolution but a slow, reactive, deliberate restructuring of how other countries trade, invest, and settle their accounts. The drivers of the change are as much geopolitical as economic, rooted in the tensions of a more fragmented, multipolar world.

Donald Trump Gives India A Hard Slap

Donald Trump just gave India a hard slap! The US President on Wednesday announced an additional sweeping and substantial tariff on India on top of the 25% tariff that is already set to go into effect today. 

The plus 25% tariff will go into effect on August 27 and it serves as punishment for importing Russian oil and gas. 

Those combined penalties would bring the total tariff on goods imported from the world’s fifth-largest economy to a whopping 50% – among the highest the US charges. 

The latest executive order, according to a document posted on the White House website, represents an escalation of his trade battle with New Delhi and his first use of so-called secondary sanctions on countries the US says are fueling Moscow’s war machine. 

FYI, oil and gas are Russia's biggest exports, and Moscow's biggest customers include India, China and Türkiye. 

Sure, India imports more crude oil from Russia than from anywhere else: Russian oil makes up 36% of the Indian market. Obviously, that has seemingly made India a target of Trump’s ire: on Tuesday, he had vowed to “very substantially” raise tariffs on the country “over the next 24 hours” due to its appetite for Russian oil. And he kept his promise.

I wonder if the US will tariff China and Türkiye accordingly. I certainly don't expect China to roll over and as for Türkiye, I'm not so sure but the country has emerged "positively" by being included in the lowest 15% tier in the new US tariff rates. So, we shall see. 

It is worth noting that squeezing Russia’s oil revenues via secondary tariffs also means throttling the flow of its oil into global markets where prices are set. 

Russia is just too big to fail! Know that Russia exports 7 million barrels per day of crude and refined products. These are massive amounts that you cannot so easily replace.

Fake Treasure Maps Con Victims Out Of $1.32M

Scammers in Türkiye's Tunceli region allegedly defrauded local residents out of $1.32 million in an elaborate scheme involving ancient treasures. 

The suspects apparently traveled to villages giving out hand-drawn, artificially aged maps, claiming that valuable artifacts were buried in some places. Of course, the "ancient artifacts" were junk that that the scammers buried in advance. 

Once the citizens discovered the booty, the scammers introduced them to a pretend priest who informed that "the found objects could not be sold in Türkiye, but that there was a demand for them abroad", reports Turkish newspaper Hürriyet Daily News. He also demanded a certain amount of money in exchange for selling them and finding a reliable buyer. 

Following reports from suspicious citizens, police conducted special operations in nine provinces across the country. As a result, 25 suspects were arrested. During the searches, figurines, various SIM cards, weapons and foreign currency were seized from their homes. 

The trial against these individuals is currently ongoing. 

Liverpool continued their march towards the Premier League title with a 1-0 victory over Everton in a scrappy, but feisty, Merseyside derby yesterday as Diogo Jota slotted home the winner in the second half. 

The champions elect, with 73 points after 30 games, restored their 12-point lead over second-placed Arsenal.

Malaysia Shines as 5th Most Affordable Country Globally

Malaysia has once again earned its place amongst the top destinations for budget-conscious travelers. 

According to a report by US News and World Report, Malaysia ranks 5th globally and 4th in Southeast Asia for its affordability. Joining Malaysia in the ranks are ASEAN countries, with Thailand claiming the top spot, Vietnam in second place, Philippines 4th and Indonesia sixth. 

The other top ten winners are India and China in 3rd place and 8th place respectively, Mexico is in 6th place, Türkiye is in 9th place and Bangladesh is in 10th place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday, Liverpool left it late to record their first Premier League win of this calendar year. It was certainly a massive relief when they produced a 2-0 win against Brentford in stoppage time.

 

The former had dominated possession and territory for large periods but couldn't turn that dominance – they attempted 37 shots! – into goals. And it looked as though their wait for a league win in 2025 was going to stretch to three games. Until substitute Darwin Nunez heroically stepped up. 

 

The Uruguay forward grabbed the opener in the 91st minute with a simple finish from close range after meeting a low cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold. Barely two minutes later, Nunez stole Harvey Elliott's pass from the feet of Mohamed Salah to smash home.

 

That's how you win titles. Going to the end, fighting until the end and taking your opportunities.

 

The Reds sit six points clear of second-placed Arsenal, who drew 2-2 against Aston Villa later on Saturday, and they also have a game in hand.

A Sign of the Times 2

The G20 took their group photo on Monday – but without the President of the United States. When they finished and tried to get the leaders back in place to wait for Joe Biden, they all just walked off the stage. 

 

Frustrated US officials blamed “logistical issues” for the blunder which meant that Biden missed out on the shot, along with the Canadian and Italian prime ministers.

 

Reporters could be heard calling out for Biden and only after the photo was taken when one cameraman spotted him behind a nearby palm tree. Methinks, he'd wandered there to have a pee.

 

The movers and shakers like China's Xi Jinping, India's Narendra Modi, Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa and Türkiye's Recep Tayyip Erdoğan were the ones captured in the front row.

  on Tuesday

Whether you'll admit it or not, it reflects the increasingly sidelined status of the lame-duck leader as Donald Trump's comeback looms.

 

In a way, it is kinda sad nobody gives a hoot about Biden!  😁😁😁😁

Note: The G20 or Group of 20, an intergovernmental forum for economic cooperation among the world's 19 largest economies, along with the European Union, and as of 2023, the African Union. This year, it was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on November 18-19.

Postscript: A take two with Joe Biden, Justin Trudeau and Giorgia Meloni who were no-shows the first time around, made it for the G20 leaders' photo on Tuesday.

Official BRICS Partner Status for Malaysia

Malaysia has been recognized as one of thirteen nations officially added to BRICS as a partner country, a bloc that collectively accounts for one-fifth of global trade.

 

According to an update from @BRICSInfo on X on October 24, the bloc officially added 13 new nations to the alliance as partner countries, though not yet as full members. Apart from Malaysia, the other twelve nations were Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Thailand, Türkiye, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. 

 

Venezuela and Pakistan were supposed to be in but Brazil and India respectively vetoed their applications.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Germany, Liverpool beat RB Leipzig 1-0 to continue their perfect start in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. The only goal of the competition was scored in the twenty-seventh minute by Darwin Nunez, who poked Mohamed Salah’s header into the net.

 

Overall, Liverpool were good value for their win, having the majority of chances both in total and in quality.  

 

Also on the same day, a terrific defensive display in Italy ensured Celtic earn a valuable point in their encounter against Atalanta. Even as the Serie A side dominated possession and attacking statistics, the Scottish champions stood firm and held them to a goalless draw.

Worst Cities For Rush Hour Traffic Worldwide

Traffic congestion costs drivers hours of lost time and economic productivity. Right away, I can visualise jam-packed roads in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. And not to mention, the same with Bangkok in Thailand, Jakarta in Indonesia and Manila in Philippines.

 

Traffic can serve as an economic indicator, as the flow of people, goods, and services drives the demand for road travel, reflecting underlying economic activity. But when this demand surpasses the available road capacity, it leads to congestion, time lost in traffic, and often rising frustration.

 

The chart below shows the 15 worst cities around the world for traffic congestion in 2023, ranked by the average number of hours lost to traffic congestion per driver when driving during peak commute hours compared to driving during off-peak hours in 2023. Data comes from the INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard 2023.

 

And I am pleasantly surprised that the above-mentioned Southeast Asian cities are not even listed! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to INRIX, drivers in New York had it the worst. On average, drivers in The Big Apple lost 101 hours to traffic jams in 2023, costing more than $1,700 in lost time and productivity.

 

In the U.S., traffic delays cost the typical driver more than $733 in lost time, or $70 billion nationwide in 2023.

Boeing's Woes Refuse To Go Away

Boeing's woes simply refuse to go away!

In Senegal, a chartered Air Senegal Boeing B737-300 plane skidded off a runway before takeoff early on Thursday at Blaise Diagne International Airport in the capital, Dakar.

Eight-five people – including two pilots and four cabin crew – were on board the flight operated by TransAir and bound for the Malian capital Bamako. At least 10 people were injured, the transport ministry said. 

The photo above showed the damaged plane at a standstill in a grassy field with a damaged wing, its emergency exit slides deployed. 

Videos shared on social media appeared to show a left wing on fire. 

The aircraft was later cordoned off with red and white tape, the Reuters news agency reported.

In Türkiye, 190 people – including six crew members – were safely evacuated from a Boeing 737-800 belonging to Corendon Airlines after one of the aircraft’s tyres burst on Thursday during landing at Gazipasa, an airport near the Mediterranean coastal town of Alanya.

Corendon Airlines denied Turkish media reports that the aircraft, which had arrived from Cologne, Germany, had landed on its nose. Türkiye’s Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure had reported damage to the plane’s nose landing gear.

Flights were diverted to nearby Antalya airport while the aircraft was removed, the ministry said.

A Boeing 767 cargo plane had reportedly landed at Istanbul Airport, also in Türkiye without its front landing gear.

 

A video on social media showed the aircraft belonging to FedEx Express using the back landing gear and then dipping its nose with the front portion of the fuselage. 

 

The plane was on the last leg of its flight from Paris, France to Istanbul when the pilots realized the front landing gear failed to open, state-run news agency Anadolu said. 

 

There were no casualties and authorities had launched an investigation, the Reuters news agency reported on Wednesday. It was not clear why the failure occurred.

 

A day earlier, an Air France plane – a Boeing 787 – was stranded in Canada's deep north following an emergency landing. 

 

About six hours into what should have been a nine-and-a-half-hour flight to Seattle in Washington, USA from Paris, a burning smell and smoke were detected onboard, including the cockpit. Pilots quickly resorted to their oxygen masks and prepared for an emergency landing at the nearest available airport, which happened to be in Iqaluit, per Business Insider. 

 

The remote town in Nunavut territory, which has a total population of less than 8,000, is often known as Canada's Arctic capital. The airline launched a rescue operation after the passengers were left stranded in the isolated region.

 

Manufacturers are not typically involved in the operation or maintenance of jets once they enter service, but Boeing have been under intense media and regulatory scrutiny following a very long series of incidents involving their planes. Like it or not, we cannot dismiss the fact that these are Boeing planes and the issues besetting them are neverending!

Gold Prices At Record Highs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It seems a lot of people are buying gold these days. 

The price of spot gold reached $2,364 per ounce Tuesday after hitting record highs for seven straight sessions and trading at $2,336 per ounce Monday. Year on year, gold is up 16.5%. 

Investors who expect the US Federal Reserve to cut their benchmark interest rate are the main force driving up prices, but the surge is boosted by other factors, including central banks – led by China – buying up gold to ease reliance on US Dollars. Central banks see gold as a long-term store of value and a safe haven during times of economic and international turmoil. 

Gold is considered a resilient investment. When interest rates fall, gold prices tend to rise, as bullion becomes more appealing than income-paying assets like bonds. Investors also regard gold as a hedge against inflation, betting bullion will retain its value when prices rise. 

Central banks may want to “diversify away” from US Dollars and buy gold amid geopolitical uncertainty, according to an April 09 UBS research note. 

As China builds its reserves, demand is pushing up prices already boosted by usual investors. Chinese investors are looking to gold as an alternative asset amid downturns in property valuations and equity prices in past years, according to another April 09 Capital Economics research note. 

Other central banks, including India and Türkiye, are also increasing their gold reserves. India’s GDP growth is driving those purchases, according to UBS. 

The fact is central bank buying has driven the rise in gold prices since 2022. According to JP Morgan, gold could be entering a strong era, as central bank purchases of gold in 2022 were more than double the average annual purchase across the decade prior. 

And as Ulf Lindahl, CEO at Currency Research Associates reiterated, central banks demanding gold is a sign of waning reliance on the US Dollar.

Jump in Airbus Orders Because They Make Planes Where The Side Doesn't Fall Off

With post-pandemic demand for new airplanes seeing a jump and the competition (who else but Boeing) in bad shape, Airbus are happily picking up the slack. 

 

The Wall Street Journal reports that the European plane maker are shattering records for orders.

 

Indeed, Airbus can't keep up with demand and are sold out for a decade. The jump in orders included some mega deals, including a 500-aircraft order from Indian discount carrier Indigo and a 470-jet order from a rejuvenated Air India that was split between Airbus and Boeing near the start of the year. In December, the company booked a 220-plane order from Turkish Airlines, and sold 153 planes to UK's EasyJet and 100 jets to leasing company Avolon.

 

Of course, we know that meetings are an integral part of professional schedules. While these can take place at any time, data from the scheduling software platform Calendly reveals they often happen on Wednesdays. 

 

It's a no brainer that the middle of the workweek is the preferred day for companies to hold meetings, especially in person. 

 

I agree and which is why World Speakers' Coalition Kuala Lumpur meetings are predominantly held on Wednesdays, in case you didn't know. 😁😁😁