WAO ART #231

The benchmark German bond yield, which is the euro zone's benchmark, rose towards a 12-year high as the selloff in debt markets continued. The selloff in longer-dated US and euro zone bonds picked up after data showed the US manufacturing sector recovering in September.

Indonesia has opened its first high-speed railway, named Whoosh, connecting Jakarta to Bandung. The $7.3 billion project, backed by China under its Belt and Road Initiative, aims to ease the country's severe traffic congestion.

Bitcoin has surged to $28,000, experiencing a 3% increase within minutes and causing other cryptocurrencies to rise as well. Ethereum also saw a 3% daily gain, reaching a price of $1,750. The fear and greed index is currently at a "neutral" level with 48 points.

UK defence firm BAE Systems has won a £3.95bn ($4.82bn) contract to build new submarines as part of the Aukus pact between the US, UK, and Australia. The pact aims to counter China's ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region.

Chile and Argentina are capitalizing on the rising demand for lithium, which plays a crucial role in the electric vehicle market. Chile is the world leader in lithium production, with 34% of the global output in 2022, while Argentina holds a 5% share.

Dr Denis Mukwege, a Nobel Prize-winning gynaecologist known as "Dr Miracle," has announced his candidacy for the presidency of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Dr Mukwege has been a vocal critic of the DRC government's handling of gender-based violence and has faced personal threats and attacks as a result.

Donald Trump has arrived at court for the opening of his civil fraud trial in New York. A judge ruled last week that Trump committed fraud by misrepresenting his wealth by hundreds of millions of dollars. The New York attorney general is seeking a fine of $250m and a ban on Trump doing business in the state.