October 2, 2024
(MARKETS ARE SHAKEN BY AN ESCALATION IN THE MIDDLE EASTERN CONFLICT)
October 2nd, 2024
Hello everyone.
How did we get here?
Israel invaded Lebanon to disrupt Hezbollah. They took out the leader through a series of strikes. Israel is now being hit with missiles from Iran as a retaliatory strike. The question is, what is Netanyahu’s move following this strike?
Biden’s Response
Biden has been put in a very difficult position, as diplomacy efforts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and Israel and Hezbollah appear to have failed.
The Biden administration is focused on avoiding a war with Iran. Having said that, the administration has bolstered its military presence in the region to protect Israel and deter Iran. Additional troops will be sent to the region also to support the roughly 40,000 American troops in the area.
Effect on Markets
The indexes could sell off around 5% or so over a period of two weeks and then recover that as investors pour in to buy up stocks, which would probably take us to around the end of October or at least the last week.
QI CORNER
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
What your iPhone carries on it could be a biosecurity risk.
DNA analysis of microbes found on the phones of international travelers has found antibiotic-resistant bacteria and harmful pathogens are entering Australia.
Dr. Lotti Tajouri from Queensland’s Bond University said that “mobile phones act as contaminated mobile Petri dishes.
The molecular geneticist was part of a team that swabbed phones from international travelers who had flown into Sydney.
The results from about 6.8 million arrivals into Australia between January and October 2023 estimated that 749.2 million microbes may have been introduced to Australia in 2022 via mobile phones.
Tajouri points out that not only can bacteria on phones be harmful to personal health, but they can also be a risk to flora and fauna when unknowingly brought into the country by travelers.
One example is a fungus called ‘Fusarium solani’ that has been linked to the shot hole borer, a tiny beetle that has been devastating trees in Western Australia for three years.
The borers have a symbiotic relationship with the fungi and can kill a tree in two years.
Tajouri reminds us that protecting our “biodiversity and reducing the spread of superbugs is critical not only for the economy but for our national security.”
He goes on to say that there is a clear argument to be made that “international travelers’ phones should be decontaminated upon arrival to Australia, in addition to existing biosecurity measures.”
Tips to keep your phone clean
The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has a list of ways to improve your phone hygiene.
1/ When outside of your home, keep your phone in your pocket, purse, or car.
2/ When shopping, use a written shopping list, not a list kept on your smartphone.
3/ Use a credit card for payment, preferably a contactless one, and not the mobile pay option on your smartphone.
4/ After being in public places, only touch your phone after you have washed or sanitized your hands.
5/ Use a hands-free device when making calls so that your phone is not pressed against your face.
Cheers
Jacquie