World roundup: October 3 2022

Stories from North Korea, Ukraine, Brazil, and elsewhere

INTERNATIONAL

In today’s global news:

• Worldometer is tracking COVID-19 cases and fatalities.

• The New York Times is tracking global vaccine distribution.

• Global oil prices jumped around $3 per barrel on Monday amid expectations that the OPEC+ cartel will announce a significant production cut when its members meet on Wednesday. The global economic slowdown has caused oil prices to dip despite the war in Ukraine and even though The Gang cut production by 100,000 barrels per day at its September meeting. This time around expectations are for a cut of another 50,000 bpd.

MIDDLE EAST

YEMEN

Although Yemen’s ceasefire expired without an extension on Sunday, United Nations envoy Hans Grundberg is reportedly still pursuing negotiations on an expanded truce. Grundberg is seeking a six month ceasefire along with measures to pay government salaries and to facilitate greater freedom of movement for people and goods throughout the country. Considering that the parties still haven’t fully implemented the basic terms (which included finding a way to pay government salaries as well as easing the rebel siege of Taiz) of the two-month ceasefire they agreed in April and renewed twice, I’m not sure there’s much basis for trying to work out a “longer and stronger” deal. That said, fighting has not resumed in any significant way yet, so there’s still time for the parties to agree to Grundberg’s proposal or even just to retroactively renew the April ceasefire for a third time. If the shooting starts in earnest again, though, that window will probably close pretty quickly.