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The author wrote that gas-storage withdrawals were about to begin in Central Europe after net inflows had ended. They said Germany was starting the heating season with storage levels at 61.6%, the lowest in at least a decade, and warned that a catastrophe seemed to be approaching. #Energiekrise #Gasversorgung #Heizsaison #DE

Healey to ensure state pension (SP) is not taxed for poorest pensioners, SP set to exceed personal allowance (PA). A person relying solely on SP will pay no income tax. Another with lower SP & other source for the same total income could pay tax. Unfair. Cliffe-edge issues. Increase PA for all.

Trump's attempts to lower energy prices before the midterms backfired. Bought Russian diesel, weakened Ukraine = encouraging Russia to attack more, convincing Ukraine strikes are working. Held off bombing Iran until after the vote, telegraphing the move enough that oil prices rose in anticipation.

THE “BATTLE OF CERIGNOLA (1503)” ON “POPULAR ARCHAEOLOGY USA” (by LUCIANO MAGALDI SARDELLA) SOURCE 1: https://popular-archaeology.com/author/sardella/ SOURCE 2: https://popular-archaeology.com/article/the-2026-battlefield-archaeology-of-the-battle-of-cerignola-1503/ __________________________________________________________________ CERIGNOLA (FG) — On 28 April 1503, at sunset, a shallow trench cut through the vineyards outside Cerignola rendered heavy cavalry obsolete. For five centuries its exact position has been merely conjectured, its archaeology ignored, its most important sources never translated into English. We are on the Puglian Tablelanda, a corridor of battles for two thousand years: from Cannae in 216 BC to Frederick II’s falconry from Torre Alemanna. Cerignola, at that time, was not a town but a rural hamlet of 350 families at 120 metres above sea level, guardian of the Mena of the Dogana delle Pecore, the great customs system of transhumance that financed the Kingdom of Naples. It was for its possession that the battle was fought. Opposed, two worlds. Louis d’Armagnac, Duke of Nemours, Viceroy of Naples for Louis XII, thirty years old, splendidly armed, certain of victory. On the other side, Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, the Great Captain, who on 27–28 April marches from Barletta with some 9,000 exhausted men and decides to entrench himself upon a low ridge. In front of it he has deepened what was already there: not an invention, but an agrarian ditch. The French gendarmes, the last heirs of the mediaeval knight, lower their lances and never reach the line. From behind an embankment reinforced with vine stakes, more than 1,000 Spanish arquebusiers open fire. Nemours falls, almost certainly the first European army commander to die by a portable firearm. With him dies the cavalry charge as a dominant tactic. And here lies the scandal denounced by the article: no cartographer of the seventeenth or eighteenth century ever mapped the field. No memorial stone recalls it. It is not protected as a cultural landscape under the Code of Cultural Heritage. Every deep ploughing of the Tavoliere, standard practice since the Bourbon reforms, destroys an archaeology never recorded. Yet the perimeter is reconstructable. By cross-referencing sixteenth-century descriptions of “slopes covered with vineyards fifteen miles north of the Ofanto” with the Via Traiana, the engagement zone is a rectangle of 3–4 sq km to the north-east of the present settlement. With ISPRA’s 1m DTM LiDAR, anomalous linear depressions could be revealed, and the lower fill of a 2–3 metre ditch, beneath the ploughed layer, is still legible by magnetometry and ground-penetrating radar. Why have we arrived so late? Not for lack of sources, but for lack of translation. The Comune di Cerignola and the Centro Studi e Ricerche Torre Alemanna of Prof. Matteo Stuppiello, who in 1978 obtained the first monumental protection for Torre Alemanna, have digitised a corpus that has never entered Anglophone historiography. Here are the 3 pillars: 1. The letter that still smells of powder. The “Letter of Consalvo da Cordova to the Sovereigns of Spain of 29 April 1503,” edited by Stuppiello in 2003 and updated in 2025 on comune.cerignola.fg.it/biblioteche-digitali. A manuscript page written at Cerignola the day after the battle, “rich in flashes, twilight gleams, and gunfire.” Not a polished chronicle à la Giovio, but a field dispatch: the exhaustion of the night march, the decision to entrench upon arrival, the recovery and honourable burial of Nemours, the intact capture of the French artillery. 2. The graffito, a monument within the monument. In the fourteenth-century church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, known as the Incoronatella, on the Via Trinitapoli Vecchia, where tradition holds the body of Nemours was taken. On the triumphal arch, a graffito of 1503 gives in quasi-notarial form the date, sixth indiction, Friday at the twenty-third to twenty-fourth hour. It truly was a Friday, as confirmed by Cappelli’s perpetual calendar. Deciphered in 1995 by Prof. Francesco Magistrale, Latin palaeographer at the University of Bari, in La Battaglia di Cerignola (1993) and in the municipal monograph S.M. delle Grazie (1999). It is now fading through damp and neglect. 3. The cadastre that explains the ditch. The Apprezzo of 1672 preserved in the Archivio di Stato di Napoli, fondo Pignatelli Aragona Cortes, Scanzia 63, fasc.1: “At the time of the battle, dense vineyards covered the hill reaching down to the plain, and were clearly separated from the rest of the countryside by a not very deep ditch”. Córdoba did not improvise; he adapted. This is confirmed by the Giustiniani cadastres: 277 hearths in 1532, 699 in 1595. The landscape of 1503 was one of intensive horticulture, not the deep-ploughed cereal monoculture of today. To these are added the first monograph by Vincenzo Buonassisi, La Battaglia di Cerignola (1908, died at Via Fanfulla 10 on 27 June 1928), and the first modern military analysis by Piero Pieri, “Consalvo di Cordova e la battaglia di Cerignola”, Archivio Storico Pugliese 1952, which 30 years before the Anglophone rediscovery of “pike-and-shot” defined Cerignola as an engineered killing ground. While Cerignola forgot, others remembered. The “Regimiento de Infantería Cerinola n.42”, later “Fuerteventura n.56”, bore the name of Cerignola until the twentieth century. Its coat of arms, described in Heráldica e Historiales del Ejército, Tomo V (Madrid, 1981): argent field, a dying white swan entangled in a hedge, a gold mural crown, with scroll “Cerignola”. Dossier officially transmitted on 30 April 1986, prot. 4565/509, by the Servicio Histórico Militar in Madrid to the Centro Torre Alemanna through Col. Alessio Antonutti and Gen. José Cifuentes. And in Amsterdam, in the Rijksmuseum, the anonymous commemorative bronze medal: Hercules with lion-skin and club and Janus with keys beside an eagled coat of arms, legend “Consalvus Agidarius… Janum clausit”, on the reverse a battle scene “Consalvi Agidari Victoria de Gallis ad Cannas” — an error by the artist who confuses Cerignola with Cannae. It belonged to Mrs J.M. van Gelder-Nijhoff, donated in 1885. The author’s conclusion is unequivocal: Gonzalo’s ditch is the most consequential earthwork in European military history. It inaugurates the infantryman armed with a firearm and conditions the Mediterranean for 160 years. It may still be there, infilled, ploughed over, invisible to the naked eye but accessible to a magnetometer. It is not a question of mediaeval archaeology but of the will to protect.

The author described the contribution as a heavy setback for Markus Söder and the CSU. He wrote that Söder had invoked the economic power of Bavaria in front of an applauding party audience in Munich, while Söder and Friedrich Merz were allegedly preparing a plea letter to Ursula von der Leyen regarding the phase-out of internal combustion engines. At the same time, he claimed that Audi was relocating thousands of jobs to the USA and manufacturing internal combustion engines and SUVs of the Q series there. In his view, Bavaria and Germany were merely "paper giants"; "Made in Germany" represented technology and know-how that were being transferred abroad. He accused politics of only making empty announcements to appease the left-green mainstream, and concluded with a gloomy greeting to Bavaria. #Bayern #Wirtschaft #Automobilindustrie (translated)

AFRICA DAILY REPORT — 24 OCTOBER 2026 1. KENYA — SECOND EBOLA DEATH CONFIRMED; SEVEN PATIENTS STILL IN CARE Importance: 10/10 — Critical Kenya's health ministry reported a second Ebola death on Friday: a 65-year-old woman who developed symptoms while quarantined as a close contact of the first patient. The country has confirmed nine infections and two deaths; seven patients remain under treatment. Officials say they have traced 135 contacts and have found no evidence of wider community transmission. The outbreak originated in DR Congo and has spread to several African countries. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/kenya-reports-second-death-ebola-2026-10-23/ 2. NIGERIA — GENOMIC ANALYSIS LINKS EBOLA VIRUS TO KENYAN STRAIN Importance: 10/10 — Critical Nigeria's health minister Muhammad Ali Pate said genetic sequencing showed that the virus in Nigeria's sole confirmed Ebola patient is closely related to the strain identified in Kenya's first case. This is a genetic connection, not proof of direct transmission between the two patients; authorities have identified no direct contact. Nigeria continues tracing and testing contacts. Uganda says it has no active Ebola cases and has tightened arrival screening and transit rules. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/nigeria-ebola-case-linked-virus-found-kenya-index-case-health-minister-says-2026-10-23/ 3. SUDAN — EL NIÑO DROUGHT DEEPENS RISK OF FAMINE Importance: 10/10 — Critical Reuters reported that Sudan's July–September rainfall was the lowest nationwide in more than 30 years, devastating crops and pasture in areas already damaged by civil war. The UN-backed IPC warned that famine risks are rising. The World Food Programme estimates drought could push an additional 350,000 people into severe hunger by the end of 2026 and 1.2 million more by August 2027. Funding shortages have forced reductions in food rations. https://www.reuters.com/world/new-famine-risk-haunts-war-torn-sudan-with-el-nio-driven-drought-2026-10-23/ 4. SUDAN–SOUTH SUDAN — ABYEI MARKET STRIKE REVEALS REGIONAL WAR SUPPLY NETWORKS Importance: 10/10 — Critical A Reuters investigation into the drone strike that killed more than 150 people at Abyei's Amiet market found that diplomats and analysts regard the market as a fuel-supply hub for Sudan's Rapid Support Forces. South Sudanese officials initially blamed Sudan's army, but Juba later said the circumstances remained unestablished; Sudan's government denied responsibility. South Sudan's president warned against allowing the disputed territory to become a battleground in Sudan's war. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/drone-strike-market-town-exposes-reach-trade-fuelling-sudan-war-2026-10-23/ 5. ETHIOPIA–KENYA — MOYALE CLASHES KILL AT LEAST NINE; 2,500 FLEE Importance: 9/10 — Very High Fighting involving Oromo and Somali groups in Ethiopia's border town of Moyale has killed at least nine people, according to a hospital official. Kenya's Marsabit county commissioner said at least 2,500 displaced Ethiopians had crossed into the Kenyan town of Moyale. Gunfire was still being heard on Friday. A stray bullet wounded a woman on the Kenyan side; she was reported stable after treatment. Humanitarian agencies are mobilising assistance. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/kenya-red-cross-rushes-aid-ethiopians-who-crossed-border-fleeing-violence-2026-10-23/ 6. ETHIOPIA — TIGRAY CARETAKER AUTHORITIES URGE DISARMAMENT AS REBEL COMMANDER VOWS RESISTANCE Political/security development — Neutral coverage An official in Tigray's new federal-backed administration urged rebel fighters to disarm and reintegrate into civilian life. A Tigrayan commander separately called for continued resistance after government-allied forces took Mekelle earlier this month. Both sides accuse the other of undermining the 2022 peace agreement. Two wounded men described a suspected drone strike that they said killed civilians; the Associated Press could not independently verify the casualties or responsibility. https://apnews.com/article/ethiopia-tigray-mekelle-rebels-disarmament-drone-strike-abiy-ahmed-tplf-64ef30aae97ed3bea93481875f8de45c 7. SOMALIA — UN WARNS FLOODS COULD DISPLACE 874,000 PEOPLE Importance: 9/10 — Very High The International Organization for Migration warned that nearly 874,000 people in Somalia could be displaced during the next three months as heavy rains and rising rivers threaten vulnerable communities. Flooding is expected to account for most projected displacement. Crops, water supplies and access to health services are at risk. IOM said only about 14.4% of its $16.62 million preparedness and response requirement had been secured. https://www.africanews.com/2026/10/23/un-migration-agency-warns-874000-somalians-at-risk-of-displacement-from-flooding/ 8. KENYA — BUILDING UNDER CONSTRUCTION COLLAPSES IN NAIROBI Importance: 9/10 — Very High A multi-storey building under construction collapsed in Nairobi's densely populated Eastleigh neighbourhood on Friday. Rescue crews searched the debris amid reports that people might be trapped. The cause and full casualty toll were not established at the time of reporting. The incident renewed concerns about building safety and regulatory enforcement during the capital's construction boom. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/building-collapses-kenyan-capital-rescuers-scene-2026-10-23/ 9. SOUTH AFRICA — PROPOSED FINANCIAL-CENTRE RULES WOULD PERMIT FULLY OFFSHORE PORTFOLIOS Importance: 8/10 — High South African regulators outlined a proposed Synthetic Financial Centre framework under which licensed managers could invest 100% of qualifying ring-fenced portfolios in foreign assets while managing them from South Africa. The existing 45% offshore prudential limit would still apply to the institutions allocating money to those vehicles. Authorities say the proposal could strengthen Johannesburg's competitiveness as a global investment-management hub. Public consultation runs until 30 November. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africa-allow-fund-managers-100-foreign-assets-under-new-framework-2026-10-23/ 10. MALI / GHANA — KODAL PLANS TO EXPAND WEST AFRICAN LITHIUM OPERATIONS Importance: 8/10 — High Kodal Minerals said it aims to build a broader West African lithium portfolio beyond its producing Bougouni mine in Mali. The company has agreed to earn up to an 80% stake in Ghana's Asamankese lithium project and plans to fund exploration from existing resources and mine cash flow. The move reflects growing regional interest in critical minerals used in batteries, energy storage and electronics. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/kodal-plans-west-africa-lithium-expansion-ceo-says-2026-10-23/ Keywords: #AfricaNews #AfricaDailyReport #TopNewsOfAfrica #ElNino2026 #ClimateChangeAfrica #ExtremeWeather #SudanDrought #SudanFamineRisk #SudanHumanitarianCrisis #SomaliaFloods #SomaliaDisplacement #FoodInsecurity #AfricanFoodCrisis #HumanitarianEmergency #ClimateResilience #KenyaBuildingCollapse #NairobiEastleigh #KenyaRescueOperations #ConstructionSafety #SouthAfricaEconomy #SouthAfricaFinancialMarkets #OffshoreInvestment #OffshorePortfolios #FinancialCentreReform #JohannesburgFinancialHub #AfricanInvestment #AfricanEconomicDevelopment #AfricanSecurity #AfricanCurrentAffairs #WrldOrg

This vindictive targeting of career civil servants by Trump fascists precisely because they had served honorably was one of the things clearly at stake in 2024 - Trump promised it - but the media instead gave more coverage to the imaginary idea that Trump had a plan to lower prices to 2019 levels

The author argued that reducing immigration in the UK would mean losing £4 billion in tax revenue, leaving higher taxes, lower spending or more borrowing to make up the shortfall. They said this challenged the right-wing claim that migrants were a drain on their host country, arguing instead that they had helped support the UK. https://t.co/WGuHWYi4Bj #Immigration #Economy #Taxation #UK

French president concludes his state visit by reinforcing the strategic partnership with Qatar. He declares his Gulf tour objectives achieved after securing a crucial gas deal with Qatar as he seeks to lower tensions over living costs in France. #MacronInQatar #GulfSecurity #EnergyDeals