US Completes Iraq Withdrawal, Global Bond Markets Face Steep Decline, and Conflicts Escalate in Myanmar and Sudan

Ongoing conflicts in multiple regions, significant global economic instability, and severe natural disasters contribute to an elevated risk environment.

📌 Key developments

• United States forces are set to complete their withdrawal from their last bases in Iraq today, September 30, 2026, after two decades in the country.
• Global bonds are poised for their worst month in years, impacted by deteriorating government finances, a glut of issuances, and rising inflation, with elevated energy costs from the seven-month-old US-Israeli war on Iran contributing to the pressure.
• A military airstrike in western Myanmar killed 50 people around September 29, with families searching for bodies amidst the ongoing civil war.
• Deadly fighting between the SPLM-N and the Otoro tribe in Sudan's Nuba Mountains has killed over 500 people and displaced more than 25,000 over the past six months, with hostilities intensifying in 2026.
• At least 27 people have died in rain-induced disasters, including floods and landslides, across Nepal since September 24, with four individuals still reported missing.

💡 Why it matters

The US withdrawal from Iraq reshapes regional power dynamics and security. Global bond market instability signals broader economic challenges, potentially impacting borrowing costs and investment worldwide. Escalating conflicts and natural disasters underscore persistent humanitarian crises and regional instability, demanding international attention and aid.

🎭 People in the news

• S Jaishankar — India's External Affairs Minister, who met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss the impact of ongoing global conflicts on the Global South.
• Antonio Guterres — United Nations Secretary-General, who discussed the need to mitigate the impact of ongoing conflicts, especially on the Global South, with India's External Affairs Minister.
• Donald Trump — US President, whose administration completed the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq and was involved in recent US-China trade discussions.

👀 What to watch

• Monitoring the security situation in Iraq following the US withdrawal, particularly regarding the influence of Iran-backed groups and the potential resurgence of other militant factions.
• Observing global financial markets for continued volatility in bond yields and any further central bank responses to inflation and economic growth concerns.
• Tracking humanitarian responses and displacement figures in Myanmar and Sudan as conflicts continue, and in Nepal following recent flood and landslide devastation.