Shibbir Ahmed, New York — The United Nations is warning of serious humanitarian and health risks in Gaza as winter approaches, with millions of Palestinians facing inadequate shelter, shortages of essential medical supplies and the growing threat of flooding. The UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on October 2 that repeated delays in bringing lifesaving medicines, prosthetics and other medical supplies into Gaza are putting people in urgent need of care at risk. WHO said almost 2 million people need shelter to protect them from cold weather and flooding, while humanitarian organizations continue to face difficulties bringing winterization and shelter supplies into the territory.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), funding shortages and restrictions are severely limiting preparations for the rainy season. A recent OCHA assessment identified 451 displacement sites at high risk of flooding, hosting an estimated 464,402 people. WHO’s representative for the Occupied Palestinian Territory said that, as of October 2, no hospital in Gaza was fully functional, citing chronic shortages of medicines and medical supplies. WHO said large quantities of medical supplies have been waiting for clearance for a median of 74 days, creating significant delays in delivering healthcare assistance.

The UN has called for the unimpeded and predictable entry of humanitarian and health supplies at scale, as well as a system allowing aid to enter through multiple crossings. WHO officials also called for clearer procedures for the approval of humanitarian shipments to reduce delays and rejected consignments. The winter preparations come as Gaza continues to face severe infrastructure and humanitarian challenges. An OCHA report published in September said shortages of cancer medicines, chemotherapy and radiotherapy supplies, dialysis materials, insulin and other essential items were disrupting lifesaving health services.

The UN has also warned that damaged infrastructure and overcrowded displacement sites are increasing the risks associated with heavy rain and flooding. Earlier OCHA reporting said humanitarian efforts to prepare for winter were being constrained by funding shortages, restrictions on supplies entering Gaza and shortages of fuel, engine oil, spare parts and heavy machinery.

A UN report issued in September similarly called for urgent action to restore essential services in Gaza, including electricity, water, sanitation, waste management and healthcare. It described winterization as an urgent priority because shelter needs remain extensive while essential supplies and services remain severely constrained.

The UN’s latest warnings underscore the scale of the challenge facing humanitarian agencies as winter approaches, particularly for displaced families living in damaged buildings, tents and other inadequate shelters.

DHAKA – Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today said the new government, having received a strong mandate from the people, is moving ahead with a clear action plan to fulfill its commitments over the next five years. “Our priorities are to protect national interests, maintain policy continuity, ensure economic stability and carry out institutional reforms. We are now moving directly from commitments to implementation,” he said.

The prime minister was addressing the inaugural session of the three-day international conference ‘Bay of Bengal Conversation (BOBC) 2026’, organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS), at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel here this morning. This year’s BOBC is being held under the theme “Fragments, Frontiers and Futures: Navigating Power, Technology and Trust in a World Rewritten”. Around 200 speakers, more than 300 delegates and over 1,000 participants from more than 100 countries are taking part in the conference, which is being held from October 3 to 5.

Former Serbian President Boris Tadic, former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed and former Malian Prime Minister Moussa Mara, among others, are participating in the conference along with former and incumbent state officials, diplomats, policymakers, researchers, business leaders, technologists and experts from different countries. The prime minister said the government has taken initiatives to make Bangladesh an attractive investment destination and transform the country into a strong hub for production and investment.

“We want to create extensive employment opportunities in production, services, exports and all other sectors,” he said. Emphasising the need for policy certainty for investors, the prime minister said continuity in long-term policies would provide them with the necessary assurance. He said the government’s social protection programmes had been designed to give priority to the most disadvantaged people.

Under the Family Card initiative, financial assistance will reach the hands of mothers in every family, beginning with the poorest and most marginalised communities, he said. The Farmers Card will connect farmers with government incentives, agricultural services and markets, while the Health Card will ensure access to healthcare for all, he said, adding that ultimately the Universal Card would bring integrated government services under one umbrella.

Mentioning the government’s pledge to take healthcare to people’s doorsteps, the prime minister said the government is working to recruit 100,000 health workers, around 80 percent of whom will be women. They will provide primary healthcare, health advice and necessary referral services at the grassroots level, he said, adding that the government is also giving special attention to maternal and child health.

On education reform, the prime minister said education should not be limited to obtaining certificates but should prepare students for real life. “We are working to ensure a joyful learning environment,” he said. He said culture, sports, values and ethics would have an important place in the curriculum to help build children’s character. Students would be given the opportunity to learn a third language, while technical and vocational education would be expanded alongside general education.

The government has taken initiatives to provide free uniforms, schoolbags, midday meals and stipends from the first grade, while expanding free education for girls up to the graduate level, he said. Describing the country’s large young population as one of the key drivers of national progress, the prime minister said skills development and suitable employment opportunities were essential to harnessing the demographic advantage.

“The government is focusing on improving language skills, creating employment opportunities, technological transformation and wider use of artificial intelligence. We are supporting innovation, entrepreneurship and start-ups. We want our young people to compete on the global stage and transform brain drain into brain circulation,” he said Describing agriculture as a mainstay of the economy, Tarique Rahman said access to technology, irrigation, agricultural finance and markets are being made easier.

He said support would be provided to fisheries, livestock and rural entrepreneurs, while agricultural processing and agro-product export industries needed to be developed as a complement to food security.

“A strong rural economy can build a strong Bangladesh,” the prime minister said. Highlighting the importance of water security, he said the government has planned to excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals and waterways over the next five years. The Padma Barrage project is being advanced and a master plan for the Teesta is being prepared for water conservation and management, he said, adding that these initiatives would support agriculture while strengthening climate resilience.

On environmental protection, Tarique Rahman said 250 million trees would be planted over the next five years. He said Bangladesh is also expanding solar power use, promoting waste recycling and taking a leading role in establishing environment-friendly green factories.

“Of the world’s top 100 LEED-certified factories, 53 are now in Bangladesh,” he said. The prime minister said developing clean and environment- friendly cities could reduce waste, strengthen climate resilience and further dynamise the national economy. Stressing institutional reforms, he said strong state institutions were essential for development. “We are strengthening institutional transparency and accountability. Human rights, democratic values and freedom of expression must be protected,” he said.

Emphasising equal application of the rule of law to every citizen, the prime minister said an institutional culture would be developed in which state institutions would genuinely remain dedicated to serving the people of Bangladesh. On the Rohingya crisis, he said Bangladesh was still hosting around 1.2 million Rohingya refugees. “Our main objective is to ensure their swift, voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation to Myanmar,” he said.

Calling for continued political support and international financing from the global community, he said the root causes of the crisis must also be addressed. “The crisis originated in Myanmar and its solution must also be found in Myanmar,” he said. Referring to the Bay of Bengal as one of the major pillars of Bangladesh’s future economic potential, Tarique Rahman said the Bay had been shaping Bangladesh’s destiny for generations.

Given Bangladesh’s geographic and strategic location, he said, the country had opportunities to become more deeply connected with the world through seaports, waterways and the coastal economy. There is immense potential in shipping, fisheries, tourism, energy and regional supply chains, he said. The prime minister said deeper bilateral and multilateral engagement was needed to transform the region’s shared geography into shared prosperity.

“Cooperation can be further expanded in trade, energy, education, technology, climate and maritime sectors. New markets can be opened and more opportunities can be created for young people. We can build stronger cooperative relations based on equality, fairness and justice,” he said. Stating that Bangladesh believes in dialogue, partnership and mutual respect, Tarique Rahman said the country would continue to work positively with all its regional and global partners while safeguarding national interests and sovereignty. “Because peace and harmony are the foundations of shared prosperity and development,” he said.

The prime minister called for transforming the Bay of Bengal region into an area where every state could prosper together, benefit equally and extend meaningful cooperation to its citizens.

“Bangladesh is fully prepared to play its rightful role in this regard,” he said. The five thematic pillars of this year’s BOBC are geopolitics, security and strategic competition, artificial intelligence, cyberspace and information power, trade, connectivity and strategic growth, and climate, resilience and human security.

TOKYO — The United States and Japan have extended their bilateral science and technology cooperation agreement indefinitely, reinforcing their long-term partnership in research, development and emerging technologies. The two countries signed a protocol in Tokyo on October 2 to extend and amend the U.S.-Japan Agreement on Cooperation in Research and Development in Science and Technology, commonly known as the U.S.-Japan Science and Technology Agreement.

Michael Kratsios, Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, signed the protocol on behalf of the United States. Japan was represented by Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. First signed in 1988, the agreement provides a legally binding framework for scientific cooperation between the two governments. Over the decades, it has helped establish extensive links between American and Japanese scientific communities.

The new protocol extends the agreement indefinitely and updates its framework to support continued cooperation in science and technology, with particular attention to critical and emerging technologies. The United States said the extension reflects the longstanding cooperation between the two countries and is intended to help sustain and strengthen collaboration that can benefit people in both nations.

The agreement also aims to support what the two governments describe as a secure and trusted innovation ecosystem while promoting continued research and development cooperation. The indefinite extension underscores Washington and Tokyo’s intention to maintain science and technology cooperation as a long-term component of their broader bilateral relationship.

ROME — Italy and the United States co-chaired a meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS/Daesh in Rome on October 1, bringing together political directors and senior diplomatic officials to discuss counterterrorism efforts in Iraq and Syria. Coalition partners congratulated Iraq and Syria on what they described as progress in degrading ISIS/Daesh and reaffirmed their commitment to preventing the group from rebuilding its capabilities.

The meeting came as the mandate of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) in Iraq has ended. Coalition participants described the conclusion of the mission’s mandate as reflecting the combined efforts of coalition members and the Iraqi government’s commitment to preventing an ISIS resurgence.

In Syria, coalition members welcomed what they described as cooperation from authorities in Damascus in confronting the ISIS threat. Participants said lasting security in both Iraq and Syria would depend on strengthening inclusive and sovereign state institutions capable of representing and protecting all communities.

The coalition also reaffirmed its role in supporting stability in Iraq and Syria. Participants said international assistance should focus on strengthening the two countries’ capacity to conduct counterterrorism operations while addressing grievances and divisions that ISIS has historically exploited.

Coalition members expressed readiness to work with the Iraqi and Syrian governments on those priorities. They also announced commitments totaling more than $75 million to support counterterrorism needs in Syria, increase detention capacity, maintain health and sanitation services, and assist displaced and detained populations in both countries.

The Syrian government outlined its key counterterrorism priorities and areas where it needs international assistance, while Iraq reaffirmed its continuing leadership role in efforts to defeat ISIS/Daesh.

The meeting reflects the coalition’s continuing emphasis on counterterrorism cooperation and partner capacity-building beyond major battlefield operations. The United States has previously described the Global Coalition’s work as extending beyond military operations to areas including counterterrorism financing, foreign terrorist fighters, stabilization and preventing the resurgence of ISIS.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington DC — The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on a Hamas military operative in Gaza and a France-based fundraising network that U.S. authorities said used sham charities and cryptocurrency to raise nearly $2 million for the Palestinian militant group. The action, announced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury on October 2, targets what Washington described as part of Hamas’s international financial support network. The U.S. Department of State said the measures were aimed at disrupting efforts to raise and transfer funds to Hamas through charitable and humanitarian structures.

According to the State Department, the France-based network used purported charitable organizations and cryptocurrency to collect nearly $2 million for Hamas in recent years. The action was coordinated among the State Department, Treasury Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The State Department said the measures demonstrate the U.S. commitment to dismantling Hamas’s international financing networks and restricting the group’s access to resources that Washington says can support terrorist activities. The department said the United States would continue working with partner governments, including France, to identify individuals and organizations involved in raising or transferring funds to Hamas.

The measures also seek to protect legitimate humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza, according to the State Department, which said humanitarian aid should be delivered through organizations that can ensure the assistance reaches its intended recipients. The sanctions were issued under Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886, the primary U.S. counterterrorism sanctions authority. Under the action, property and interests in property belonging to designated persons that are in the United States or under the control of U.S. persons are subject to blocking restrictions.

The U.S. State Department designated Hamas under Executive Order 13224 on October 31, 2001. Hamas is also designated by the United States as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The Treasury Department’s action comes alongside a Justice Department investigation into a broader Hamas financing network. U.S. authorities announced charges and arrests involving individuals accused of raising and transferring funds to Hamas, including activity involving the United States and France.

The U.S. government said disrupting Hamas’s international financing channels remains part of its broader effort to restrict the group’s ability to obtain funds and maintain its operations. The action also highlights increased cooperation between U.S. agencies and foreign partners in tracing financial flows involving Hamas and identifying organizations that authorities allege have been used to conceal terrorist financing as charitable activity. U.S. officials said they would continue working with international partners to target financial networks supporting Hamas while seeking to preserve legitimate humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington DC  — The United States and dozens of partner countries have reaffirmed their commitment to implementing United Nations restrictions on Iran, one year after a series of UN Security Council resolutions were restored through the so-called “snapback” mechanism. In a joint statement issued October 2, the countries participating in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) said they would continue implementing the obligations contained in six UN Security Council resolutions that returned into force on September 27, 2025.

The resolutions are UNSCR 1696 (2006), 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007), 1803 (2008), 1835 (2008) and 1929 (2010). According to the statement, France, Germany and the United Kingdom initiated the snapback process in response to what they described as Iran’s “persistent and significant non-performance” of its nuclear commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The United States and its PSI partners said they remain committed to preventing the supply, sale or transfer to Iran of materials, equipment, goods and technology that could contribute to proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities or the development of nuclear-weapons delivery systems. They also reaffirmed restrictions on the supply, sale or transfer of arms and related materiel to or from Iran.

The participating countries said they would strengthen their domestic legal authorities and capabilities to address proliferation-sensitive activities involving Iran. Their commitments include preventing direct or indirect transfers of items that could contribute to weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as materials covered by the reinstated UN arms restrictions.

The countries also pledged to improve information-sharing among PSI partners concerning Iran’s proliferation activities and to review national legal authorities where necessary to ensure that enforcement measures remain effective. They further committed to taking appropriate actions in support of interdiction efforts involving Iran’s proliferation-related activities. The joint statement welcomed national-level efforts to implement the reinstated UN obligations and cited activities linked to Operation Economic Outcast as supporting the broader objective of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

The participating states called on all UN member countries to implement the reinstated resolutions and said they would continue coordinating counterproliferation efforts to prevent Iran from undertaking activities prohibited under the resolutions, including efforts related to its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. They also urged Tehran to return to compliance with its nonproliferation obligations, cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and address what the signatories described as international concerns over Iran’s nuclear activities.

The snapback process began in August 2025, when France, Germany and the United Kingdom notified the UN Security Council that they considered Iran to be in significant non-performance of its JCPOA commitments. The process culminated on September 27, 2025, when the six earlier Security Council resolutions returned into force.

The status and legality of the snapback have been disputed by Iran, which has argued that the mechanism was invalid and that the states invoking it lacked the authority to restore the earlier resolutions. The dispute has remained part of the broader international debate over the future of the JCPOA and Iran’s nuclear program. The October 2 statement was signed by a broad group of PSI-endorsing countries, including the United States, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Israel, South Korea and numerous European and other partner states.

Mashiur Rahman, New York — New York City is implementing several new laws and rules in October 2026, affecting consumers, rent-stabilized tenants, businesses and commercial waste operations across the city. Among the changes taking effect this month are a new “Click-to-Cancel” rule for subscriptions, new restrictions on certain menstrual and intimate-care products, updated protections for small-business owners during city inspections, and changes to commercial waste requirements.

One of the most significant changes for consumers took effect October 1, when New York City’s new Click-to-Cancel rule became effective. The rule requires businesses offering automatic-renewal or continuous-service subscriptions to clearly explain subscription terms and provide customers with a straightforward way to cancel. In general, the cancellation process must be available through the same method used to sign up.

Businesses that violate the rule may face civil penalties beginning at $525 per violation, as well as potential restitution to affected consumers. The city’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) is responsible for enforcement. The city also launched a complaint process allowing New Yorkers to report businesses that make subscription cancellation unnecessarily difficult.

For rent-stabilized apartments, leases beginning between October 1, 2026, and September 30, 2027 will have a 0% guideline adjustment for both one-year and two-year leases under the NYC Rent Guidelines Board’s adopted Order No. 58. The same 0% guideline applies to the covered rent-stabilized loft units during the period. The Rent Guidelines Board establishes annual rent adjustments for rent-stabilized apartments and other covered housing units in New York City.

Another local law takes effect October 10, 2026, restricting the sale, offering for sale and distribution of certain menstrual and intimate-care products containing specified intentionally added ingredients considered harmful to human health. The law also provides for the development of health-based threshold levels after relevant New York State Department of Health regulations are established.

Changes to New York City’s Commercial Waste Zone program are also scheduled to take effect October 16. The Department of Sanitation says the implementation will cover commercial waste zones in Brooklyn East, Manhattan Northeast, Queens, West and Manhattan West. Businesses producing commercial waste in participating zones are required to work with an authorized commercial waste carter during the applicable implementation period. Businesses in Brooklyn North and Upper Manhattan also began their Commercial Waste Zone contract sign-up period on October 1.

Beginning October 1, inspectors from several city agencies must provide storefront businesses with a physical copy of the updated Business Owner Bill of Rights at the beginning of onsite inspections, along with information about accessing the city’s customer-service survey and translated versions of the document.

The requirement applies to inspectors from agencies including the Department of Buildings, Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, Department of Environmental Protection, FDNY, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Department of Parks and Recreation, Department of Sanitation and Department of Transportation.

The updated requirements are part of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Executive Order No. 18, which also directs city agencies to prominently post the updated Business Owner Bill of Rights at public offices and service locations serving businesses.

With several of these measures now taking effect, October marks a significant month of regulatory changes for New York City residents and businesses. The changes cover consumer subscriptions, rent-stabilized housing, personal-care products, commercial waste and interactions between city inspectors and small businesses.

DHAKA — The Bangladesh government has said it has not taken any formal decision to launch a new nationwide joint operation similar to the controversial “Operation Clean Heart” of 2002, while coordinated law-enforcement drives against crime, extortion and drug-related activities are set to continue and intensify.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Thursday that ongoing operations involving police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), the Special Response Battalion (SRB) and Ansar are part of the regular law-enforcement process.

“There is no formal decision to conduct a joint operation,” the minister said, adding that coordinated activities to combat terrorism, extortion and drugs would be strengthened further. The minister made the remarks after unveiling the foundation plaque for the new headquarters of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party in Tejgaon, Dhaka.

His comments came amid growing discussion over whether the government might undertake a large-scale security campaign following reports of extortion, land grabbing and other criminal activities in different parts of the country.

Salahuddin also ruled out plans for a special operation modeled on the 2002 “Operation Clean Heart.” He said the government was not considering establishing a separate joint force for such a campaign and described the ongoing coordination among law-enforcement agencies as part of their regular activities.

Alleged Criminal Networks

Recent media reports have also highlighted an alleged list of people involved in extortion and land or property grabbing in Dhaka. A report published by The Daily Inqilab said a list reportedly prepared by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police identified 1,536 people allegedly involved in land grabbing, footpath occupation and extortion. The report said 1,252 were identified as active extortionists and 278 as alleged patrons or facilitators. It further claimed that 230 of the 278 alleged patrons were current or former leaders or activists of the BNP or its affiliated organisations.

Those figures have not been independently established here as an official DMP publication, and political affiliations mentioned in such reports should be treated as allegations rather than established findings.

Law-Enforcement Operations to Continue

The government says police and other security agencies will continue working together against extortion, drugs, terrorism and other crimes. Salahuddin said law-enforcement personnel found negligent in their duties or involved in criminal activities could face departmental and legal action, including criminal cases where allegations are proved. The current approach therefore involves strengthening coordination among existing agencies rather than announcing a new operation under the name “Operation Clean Heart.”

The original Operation Clean Heart was launched in October 2002 and involved the military in a nationwide anti-crime campaign. Human Rights Watch later documented allegations of deaths in custody and other human-rights abuses associated with the operation. The government’s latest position, however, is that no new campaign modeled on that operation has been approved.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — Some 5.8 million refugee children — nearly half of all school-aged refugee children worldwide — were out of school in 2025, the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR said Friday, warning that funding cuts could threaten hard-won progress in refugee education. According to UNHCR’s latest education report, an estimated 13.1 million refugee children of school age were living around the world in 2025. Of those, 44 percent were not enrolled in school.

The agency said the growing pressure on humanitarian and development funding risks reversing progress made in recent years and could leave more refugee children without access to education. The challenge becomes particularly severe as refugee children move from primary to secondary education. UNHCR said access to education declines significantly at the secondary level, with poverty, protection concerns and other barriers affecting children and adolescents, particularly girls.

Despite the overall challenges, UNHCR reported some progress in higher education. Refugee enrolment in tertiary education reached a record 11 percent in 2025, up from 9 percent in 2024, with more than 450,000 refugees enrolled in higher education.

UNHCR said the progress remains uneven. In low-income and conflict-affected countries, only about 2 percent of refugees were enrolled in higher education, compared with 13 percent of nationals, according to the agency’s report. The agency is calling on governments, international organisations and development partners to protect funding for refugee education and strengthen national education systems in countries hosting refugees.

UNHCR High Commissioner Barham Salih said education provides refugees with opportunities for greater self-reliance and warned that funding reductions could undermine years of investment. The report was highlighted during the UN Geneva press briefing on October 2, where UNHCR presented its latest findings on refugee education.

The report comes as humanitarian agencies face increasing financial pressure and competing global crises. UNHCR has warned that reductions in humanitarian funding are already affecting assistance and protection services for forcibly displaced people.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — Global food prices rose to their highest level in nearly four years in September, driven by transportation disruptions, adverse weather conditions and higher prices for several major food commodities, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said Friday. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 136.0 points in September, up 1.5 percent from August and 5.8 percent from a year earlier. The September reading was the highest since November 2022, according to FAO data.

FAO said disruptions affecting shipping through the Black Sea and Strait of Hormuz, combined with weather-related concerns, have put additional pressure on energy, transportation and agricultural commodity markets.

“We are seeing a persistent and increasingly broad based build up in global commodity prices,” FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero said, citing shipping disruptions and climate-related shocks. He warned that if the pressures continue, they could eventually feed through to consumer food prices, particularly in countries dependent on imported food and energy.

Cereal prices rise sharply

The FAO Cereal Price Index increased 5.1 percent from August and was 17.2 percent higher than in September 2025. Global wheat prices rose 6.3 percent during September, reaching their highest level since August 2023. FAO attributed the increase partly to logistical constraints in the Black Sea region and dry weather in parts of North America ahead of winter wheat planting. Global maize prices climbed 5.6 percent from August, reflecting lower-than-expected U.S. yields, reduced export availability in Brazil and continued disruptions to Black Sea trade.

Sugar prices jump

Sugar was another major contributor to the September increase. The FAO Sugar Price Index rose 6.1 percent from August amid expectations of tighter global supplies during the 2026/27 season. FAO cited weaker production prospects in Thailand, below-normal rainfall in India, strengthening El Niño conditions, heavy rainfall in Brazil’s Centre-South region and reduced sugar-beet planting in the European Union.

Vegetable oil prices also increased, with the FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index rising 0.9 percent, mainly because of stronger palm oil prices and concerns about dry weather affecting production in Southeast Asia. Not all food commodities increased. The FAO Meat Price Index declined 1.1 percent, while the dairy index fell slightly by 0.1 percent.

Global cereal outlook

FAO forecasts global cereal production in 2026 at 2.979 billion tonnes, down 2.1 percent from 2025 but still the second-largest harvest on record. The agency also lowered its forecast for global cereal trade in 2026/27 by 3.5 percent from the previous year’s record level, citing constraints on wheat and maize exports, particularly because of Black Sea shipping disruptions.

FAO said strengthening El Niño conditions are adding further uncertainty to agricultural production, particularly rice production in South and Southeast Asia. The latest figures underscore the sensitivity of global food markets to weather conditions, shipping disruptions and geopolitical developments affecting major agricultural trade routes.