Oil prices climbed more than 1% on Monday after US President Donald Trump dismissed a proposed Iranian peace initiative that had aimed to ease tensions over the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures gained $1.32, or 1.27%, reaching $105.64 per barrel by 0036 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate rose 70 cents, or 0.76%, to $93.11 per barrel. The Reuters Power Up newsletter, authored by columnist Ron Bousso, provides a daily briefing on global energy developments. Iran had presented its peace proposal during the previous week’s United Nations General Assembly in New York, delivering it to the United States through Qatari intermediaries. Trump confirmed on Saturday that he had rejected the proposal, but indicated in a Sunday interview with Axios that US negotiators would pursue further discussions later in the week. ANZ analysts noted that geopolitical risks remain elevated, citing continued attacks by the Houthis and Iran on Saudi Arabia that threaten regional supply flows. Yemen’s Saudi-led coalition reported early on Saturday that it had intercepted two ballistic missiles and two drones launched toward the kingdom by Iran-backed Houthi forces. Brent crude edged up 0.4% over the prior week, while West Texas Intermediate declined 7.9% amid concerns that the United States might impose restrictions on diesel exports to curb record-high prices, potentially reducing domestic refining activity. Analysts observed that refined oil products continue to exert upward pressure on inflation, with record US diesel prices intensifying debate over possible export curbs. Any limitation on US diesel exports could tighten global supply, affecting European markets that rely on American shipments. Meanwhile, crude oil exports from major Middle Eastern producers increased in September to 12.8 million barrels per day, the highest level since the conflict began in February, according to preliminary data from Kpler. The rebound followed a recovery in shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, which were projected to reach approximately 7.4 million barrels per day this month. This resurgence occurred after Saudi Arabia rerouted exports from the Red Sea port of Yanbu to its eastern Ras Tanura port following attacks that damaged its East-West pipeline.

John Healey, the newly appointed chancellor, used his first Labour Party conference address to outline a vision for revitalising Britain's industrial base. He declared that the country's coal mines would not return, but argued that the government would rebuild the industrial sector for the modern era by supporting advanced manufacturing. The speech, delivered in Liverpool, was framed as an effort to present a positive outlook for British industry ahead of the upcoming budget. Healey announced plans to strengthen the shipbuilding sector, including the construction of three new floating docks at HM Naval Base Clyde in Faslane. These docks, part of a broader £15bn upgrade programme for Royal Navy shipyards, are intended to support the next generation of submarines and are slated for service in the early 2030s. Funding for a new marine research vessel, also scheduled for deployment in the early 2030s, was confirmed at £115m. The initiative was presented as part of a broader strategy to enhance national security and economic resilience. Critics, including shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith, described the proposals as lacking financial clarity and labelled them as recycled announcements. Union leaders welcomed the focus on shipbuilding, noting that previous contracts had been awarded overseas, often to subsidised foreign yards. The chancellor also referenced plans to revive a union-run training programme, allocating £15m from existing budgets to support skill development in areas such as advanced manufacturing and digital competencies. The move comes amid broader economic uncertainty, with the Confederation of British Industry warning of declining activity in retail, services and manufacturing. The CBI highlighted rising energy and employment costs, weak demand and fiscal pressures as factors dampening business confidence ahead of the budget. Labour's approach to industrial policy has drawn both support and scrutiny from various sectors, with some emphasizing the need for concrete funding details and others underscoring the importance of reindustrialisation efforts.

A surge in adult and teenage baptisms in France and the United States signals a modest reversal in Catholic membership trends, even as overall affiliation declines in Western nations.

Paris — Léa Guiragossian, a 22‑year‑old medical student from Bordeaux, attended a papal audience this weekend as one of many recent converts the Vatican hopes will bolster its ranks in Europe and the United States. While the church expands rapidly in Africa and parts of the developing world, it confronts stagnation or decline in Europe, North America and Latin America due to secularism, abuse scandals and competition from evangelical groups.

Data from national bishops’ conferences show rising conversion figures in several Western countries, including France, Germany, Spain, Belgium and the United States. Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pontiff, addressed new converts in Paris on Saturday, describing their emergence as a “paradox” in a largely secularized region. He urged the church to “respect their personal history” and provide a “welcoming environment,” while acknowledging the challenge of “fostering” these newcomers.

In France, adult baptisms rose to 13,234 in 2026 from 4,263 in 2019, the last full year before the pandemic, according to the French bishops’ conference. Teenage conversions increased to 8,152 in 2026 from 7,404 in 2025. A conference study indicates that new converts are predominantly female and under 40, with the largest cohort aged 18‑25. Clerics note that many converts do not align with politically conservative positions.

Guiragossian, who converted after a two‑year period of study, described her attraction to the “beautiful atmosphere” of candlelit Masses designed for young people. Her parents were Protestant; a Catholic friend’s invitation led her to attend services regularly. She said she values a faith that “loves everyone, accepts everyone and wants everyone accepted.”

Church officials and researchers suggest that many converts are children of less‑religious parents, often from working‑class backgrounds, who encounter the faith through family, friends or social media. They frequently cite personal crises — such as relationship breakdowns, bereavement or a sense of instability in a turbulent world — as catalysts for seeking spiritual grounding. In the United States, comprehensive post‑pandemic conversion statistics have not yet been released, but preliminary data from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) indicate a rebound in conversion numbers after a pandemic dip. A Catholic app, Hallow, reported a 38 % increase in participants in its initiation program for 2026 compared with 2025, based on responses from 140 of roughly 200 U.S. dioceses.

The U.S. Catholic adult population is growing at a rate roughly equal to overall population growth, driven primarily by immigration and births rather than conversion. Nevertheless, converts remain a small fraction of the global 1.4 billion‑member church. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, 2,430 adults entered the church in 2025, the highest figure since 2013. For Easter 2026, 1,059 individuals prepared for full initiation, up 52 % from 696 the previous year. A survey of the archdiocese found that 12 % of those in the initiation program cited the election of Pope Leo as a factor in their interest, though researchers caution that disentangling the pope’s influence from broader social trends is difficult.

A recent study by the Chicago archdiocese identified Gen Z and millennials as the primary age groups among recent converts, with 34 % of all converts belonging to Gen Z and 35 % to millennials. Researchers note that traditional conversion drivers such as marriage to a Catholic have diminished in importance; instead, many cite the appeal of an “ancient truth system” that offers stability amid rapid societal change. Some converts, like Trinity Hsu, a 29‑year‑old immigration attorney raised Buddhist, reported turning to Catholicism after personal upheaval. Hsu described finding comfort in the communal aspects of Mass and later pursuing a systematic study of the faith, eventually joining a conversion class.

Experts emphasize that while the upward trend is notable, it is insufficient to offset the larger number of individuals leaving the church. Mark Gray, a senior research associate at CARA, warned that attributing the rise to Pope Leo’s papacy alone would be premature, as numerous intertwined factors shape religious affiliation. Tim Weiske, director of parish vitality for the Chicago archdiocese, described the new wave of converts as a “new kind of newcomer” who often approaches the church without familial religious support.

The phenomenon reflects a complex interplay of personal search, cultural context and institutional response, offering a modest but measurable shift within a broader landscape of religious realignment.