We have put together stories from our coverage on electric and new energy vehicles from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. The Iran war could widen China’s EV lead over its global rivals. Here’s why Surging oil prices driven by the US-Israel war on Iran could accelerate the global adoption of electric vehicl...
We have put together stories from our coverage on electric and new energy vehicles from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. The Iran war could widen China’s EV lead over its global rivals. Here’s why Surging oil prices driven by the US-Israel war on Iran could accelerate the global adoption of electric vehicles – a sector that helped China overtake Japan to become the world’s largest seller of automobiles...
Most investors had probably never heard about the Strait of Hormuz until earlier this month. However, they've quickly learned of its importance to oil markets and the global economy after Iran effectively blocked ships from leaving the Persian Gulf through this narrow waterway. This blockage has already sent crude prices soaring above $100 a barrel and could cause a severe oil supply shortage the ...
Most investors had probably never heard about the Strait of Hormuz until earlier this month. However, they've quickly learned of its importance to oil markets and the global economy after Iran effectively blocked ships from leaving the Persian Gulf through this narrow waterway. This blockage has already sent crude prices soaring above $100 a barrel and could cause a severe oil supply shortage the longer it remains blocked. Unfortunately, it's not the only oil chokepoint that could roil the global energy markets . Bab el-Mandeb, a strait between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa, could be the next flashpoint that sparks a further surge in crude prices. Image source: Getty Images. Continue reading
'A National Calamity': 1 In 8 UK Children Reported As Disabled By Parents Authored by Mary Gilleece via dailysceptic.org, The recent news that one in eight children are now reported by their parents as being disabled ought to prompt an immediate national inquiry into what on earth is causing a large proportion of the population to sicken. That millions of children and young people are stricken wit...
'A National Calamity': 1 In 8 UK Children Reported As Disabled By Parents Authored by Mary Gilleece via dailysceptic.org, The recent news that one in eight children are now reported by their parents as being disabled ought to prompt an immediate national inquiry into what on earth is causing a large proportion of the population to sicken. That millions of children and young people are stricken with disabilities ought to be front page news every day until it is sorted out. The Telegraph reports: About 12% of children – or around 1.7 million youngsters – are now living with a long-term illness, disability or impairment, according to fresh figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This has almost doubled since 2015, when roughly 7% of parents said their child had a disability, according to the department’s closely-watched Family Resources Survey (FRS). It also comes amid a sharp increase in young people being diagnosed with behavioural issues as well as autism and ADHD. Almost two-thirds of children with a disability had a “social” or “behavioural” impairment – by far the most common issue cited by parents, the FRS found. The figures involved ought to terrify everyone for they reveal a population that is riven with ill-health and impairment. If accurate, a National Commission into ‘Physical Deterioration’ similar to the one conducted by Fitzroy in 1904 to find out what was causing the ill-health of young people is needed immediately. With such staggering levels of illness, there is no hope at all that our country will ever return to growth. The Telegraph continues: The number of children with behavioural disorders who are eligible for disability living allowance (DLA) has almost quadrupled to 276,000 since before the pandemic. This total includes 10,000 children under five and 14 children who are less than a year old. Roughly 16.7 million people – representing a quarter of Britons – now live with a disability. More women than men claim they have an impai...
Dirk von Mallinckrodt/iStock via Getty Images By Min Joo Kang , Senior Economist, South Korea and Japan Exports jumped in March thanks to surge in chip exports South Korean exports rose 48.3% year-on-year in March (vs 29% in February, 44.8% market consensus). Among 15 major export items, 10 items gained, largely due to favourable price effects. Semiconductor exports rose an impressive 151.4%, buil...
Dirk von Mallinckrodt/iStock via Getty Images By Min Joo Kang , Senior Economist, South Korea and Japan Exports jumped in March thanks to surge in chip exports South Korean exports rose 48.3% year-on-year in March (vs 29% in February, 44.8% market consensus). Among 15 major export items, 10 items gained, largely due to favourable price effects. Semiconductor exports rose an impressive 151.4%, building on the 160.6% rise in February and 102.7% gain in January. Semiconductor exports jumped 139% YoY in the first quarter. Rising chip prices led to sharp increases in exports of computers and SSDs in March, up 189% and 218%, respectively. We expect strong demand for AI and memory chips to continue, with no significant signs of a slowdown in AI investment globally. But clearly, this is likely to add to inflationary pressures on IT goods globally – and, eventually, more burdens for consumers. To date, semiconductors haven’t experienced significant shortages of raw materials. However, inventories of essential materials are expected to be depleted within the next few quarters. If supply disruptions persist, adverse effects could become evident in the second half of 2026. Given Korea’s high dependence on chips for growth, negative impacts could intensify later this year. Chip exports surged while other exports also improved in 1Q26 Source: CEIC Oil and petrochemical rise, exports expected to decline from April We observe that recent increases in oil prices boosted petroleum and petrochemical exports in March, up 54.9% and 5.8%, respectively. However, the data showed that exports of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene fell in volume in the later part of March. The decline is mainly due to the implementation of export controls on 13 March. Price effects worked favourably for now. However, since Korean exporters rely heavily on Middle Eastern products, we are more cautious about the export outlook for these sectors in the near term. The government has banned the exports of Naphtha and...