World: Diplomatic maneuvers, economic shocks, and security incidents

From a 97% collapse in Qatar's LNG exports to a sewer scare near Netanyahu's NYC hotel, global news in the past 12 hours is dense with incident.

World: Diplomatic maneuvers, economic shocks, and security incidents — A man was arrested this evening at a book fair in Gothenburg, Sweden, after spraying red paint on an Israeli flag, shouting about children being killed. [^1] The incident came as pro-Israel and anti-Israel forces clashed symbolically in Scandinavia, with Israel's ambassador calling it an attempt to delegitimize the country. Meanwhile, in New York, NYPD is investigating whether three men who emerged from a sewer near Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hotel posed a security threat. [^2] Two were arrested, adding an element of low-grade drama to a visit already marked by protests over a film screening. The economic news from Qatar is stark. Liquefied natural gas exports fell from 20 million tons in the quarter to less than 2 million tons between April and June – a 97% decline. [^3] The International Monetary Fund revised its forecast from 6% growth to a contraction of 8.6%. [^3] The deficit in the second quarter reached approximately $5.8 billion. [^3] This collapse, described in one analysis as the loss of Qatar's "doomsday weapon," represents a dramatic reversal for a state that used its gas wealth as a diplomatic and strategic tool. On the diplomatic front, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Saturday, their first talks since 2022. [^4] The meeting suggests a tentative reopening of channels between Moscow and Berlin. Separately, a US official gave an ultimatum to nations in the Middle East: stop trade with Iran, or the US will cut ties. [^5] The official has visited over 50 countries across the region and Europe to press the case. [^5] A plane crash in southwestern Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday killed 17 people, including a delegation of military justice officials. [^6] The light aircraft, a Let 410 UVP operated by Tracep Congo Aviation, went down with 13 passengers and four crew members. The tragedy is a reminder of the persistent risks of air travel in the region. Netanyahu's UN departure, Smotrich's war call, and the grief-in-politics debate — An hour before Prime Mi