🤖 Global Regulators Ramp Up AI Oversight in Finance Regulators around the world are pushing for tighter scrutiny of artificial intelligence (AI) use in banking and finance , citing growing model risk, systemic frailties, bias, and stability concerns. Reuters The Financial Stability Board (FSB) warned that if many institutions rely on the same AI models and hardware, the market could fall into herd behaviour , amplifying shocks. Reuters The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) echoed that central banks and regulators must upgrade their technical capabilities to monitor AI deployment and interpret its systemic effects. Reuters +1 In Europe, rules like DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act) are already influencing how banks must manage tech and AI risks, imposing resilience and transparency standards. Reuters Germany’s financial regulator BaFin is using AI internally to detect market abuse, improving detection of irregular trading patterns. Reuters

  🇨🇩 Congo to Permanently Ban Cobalt Exporters Who Breach Quotas Announced : On October 6, 2025, President Felix Tshisekedi declared that any cobalt exporter in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who violates the new quota regime will face permanent bans . Reuters This is part of a broader shift: from a full export ban earlier in 2025 to a quota-based system starting October 16. Under the new rules, exporters will be limited to 18,125 tons for the remainder of 2025, with annual caps of 96,600 tons for 2026 and 2027. Reuters +2 Reuters +2 The move is intended to stabilize global cobalt prices , reduce fraud, and reassert state control over what is a strategic global supply. Tshisekedi credited the earlier export freeze with contributing to a ~92% rebound in prices since March. Reuters Key players: Glencore has expressed support for the quota system. Reuters +2 Reuters +2 CMOC Group , China’s leading cobalt miner, has opposed the strict quotas, arguing th...

   U.S. Revokes Visas of Over 50 Mexican Officials in Crackdown The U.S. government, under President Trump’s administration, has canceled the visas of at least 50 Mexican politicians and government officials . The move is part of an aggressive push against drug cartels and suspected political allies . Reuters Many of those affected belong to the ruling Morena party , as well as officials from other parties. Though only a few have publicly confirmed the revocations, insiders say the action is more widespread than previously known. The Guardian +2 Mexico News Daily +2 Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila is among those whose visa was revoked; she has denied any involvement with organized crime. The Guardian +2 Mexico News Daily +2 U.S. State Department officials say visas can be revoked without explanation when someone’s actions are judged “contrary to U.S. national interests,” which can include ties to corruption, drug trafficking, or other illicit activ...

   Trump Likely to Meet Xi in South Korea as Trade Tensions Simmer U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that President Donald Trump is “ready to meet” Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea later this month, despite recent friction over trade and rare earth export controls. Reuters +2 Reuters +2 The proposed meeting is expected to take place on the sidelines of the upcoming APEC summit in Gyeongju, South Korea . Financial Times +2 Reuters +2 Talks between U.S. and Chinese officials have increased, with Bessent saying there’s been “substantial communication” to de-escalate tensions. Reuters +2 Al Jazeera +2 This development comes after China enforced stricter export licensing on rare earth minerals , a move that triggered threats from Trump of 100% tariffs on Chinese goods starting November 1. Reuters +2 Financial Times +2 While Trump at times said there was “no reason” to meet Xi amid the escalation, he hasn’t formally canceled the proposal, ...

   Hamas Releases Last Israeli Hostages Under Ceasefire Deal Under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, Hamas handed over the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages held in Gaza, as part of a broader exchange involving hundreds of Palestinian detainees. Reuters +2 Financial Times +2 Israel, in turn, released around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees , including those held without charge and those serving long sentences. Financial Times +1 President Donald Trump , speaking soon after the exchange, called the move a culmination of the war and announced the conflict’s end — although many observers say deeper challenges remain. Reuters +1 Emotional reunions were captured across Israel, especially in “Hostages Square” in Tel Aviv , where families and crowds gathered to greet returned loved ones. The Guardian +1 The deal also stipulates the return of 28 bodies of hostages who died, though as of now only a portion have been handed over — Israel reported one of the returne...

  🛢️ IEA Warns of Looming Oil Supply Glut as OPEC+ Increases Output The International Energy Agency (IEA) has forecast that global oil markets could face a supply surplus of nearly 4 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2025 , as OPEC+ and other major producers ramp up output more quickly than global demand is growing. Source: Reuters According to the IEA’s latest Oil Market Report , the increase in supply stems mainly from Saudi Arabia, Russia, the United States, and Brazil , with total global production expected to reach 105 million bpd by mid-2025. In contrast, demand growth is slowing , projected to rise by only 1.1 million bpd next year , as efficiency gains, the electric-vehicle boom, and slowing industrial activity weigh on consumption. The report said this mismatch could lead to inventory buildups and downward pressure on prices , especially if global economic growth slows further. Brent crude prices, which had traded near $87 a barrel earlier this month , slipped...

   Three Qatari Diplomats Killed in Crash Near Sharm el-Sheikh What happened : A vehicle carrying five diplomats from Qatar’s Amiri Diwan overturned on a curve approximately 50 km from Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Three of the passengers died and two were injured. Khaleej Times +4 Reuters +4 AP News +4 Victims identified : According to Qatari and regional media, the deceased were Saud bin Thamer Al Thani , Abdullah Ghanem Al Khayarin , and Hassan Jaber Al Jaber . The injured are Abdullah Issa Al Kuwari and Mohammed Abdulaziz Al Buainain , currently undergoing treatment in a hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh. Khaleej Times Diplomatic timing : The diplomats were en route to a high-level summit in Sharm el-Sheikh set to finalize a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The crash occurred just days after mediation talks held in the same city by Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey. Reuters +3 Reuters +3 AP News +3 Next steps : The Qatari Embassy in Cairo announced plans to repatri...

  🌍 IMF Lifts 2025 Global Growth Forecast Amid Easing Tariffs The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised its global growth forecast upward to 3.2 % for 2025 , compared to its previous estimate of 3.0 %. The improvement reflects the easing impact of global tariffs , resilient private-sector demand, and improving consumer sentiment across advanced and emerging economies. According to the IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook (released October 14, 2025), the modest rebound is being driven by stronger-than-expected growth in Asia , particularly China and India , where domestic demand and tech-related exports have remained buoyant. The IMF also noted a “mild cyclical recovery” in Europe, supported by lower energy prices and improved business investment. However, the Fund cautioned that risks remain tilted to the downside . Renewed U.S.–China trade tensions , ongoing supply-chain reconfigurations , and elevated sovereign debt in several emerging markets could derail momentum....

  Fed’s Powell cautions economy squeezed between risks to growth, labor, inflation FED Chair Jerome Powell warned that the U.S. economy is being tugged in opposing directions — balancing risks to growth, labor markets, and price stability — amid global uncertainty. 🇺🇸 What Powell Said: Key Highlights Powell spoke at a business economics conference in Philadelphia, emphasizing the delicate balancing act the Fed faces as it weighs conflicting signals in the data. Reuters +1 He noted that while economic activity has surprised to the upside in recent quarters (Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow model even suggests ~4% growth for Q3), that strength hasn’t translated into robust hiring. Reuters +1 On the labor market: hiring and firing are both weak — a sign of stagnation rather than vigorous expansion. Reuters On inflation: Powell reaffirmed that inflation remains “sticky,” with tariffs and supply chain pressures complicating the outlook. AP News +2 Reuters +2 He warned there is no ...

  🕒 Trump Faces Tight Deadlines — Domestically & Abroad The month of September 2025 has been packed with high-stakes deadlines for President Donald Trump, both on the home front and in global affairs. With a looming government funding crisis, a bold foreign agenda, and legal challenges in Washington, the administration is feeling the squeeze. 🏛 Domestic Pressures Government Shutdown Deadline : Congress is racing against time to approve appropriations before the September 30 funding deadline . Failure would halt operations in many federal agencies and furlough hundreds of thousands of workers. Foreign Aid Holdback : The Supreme Court recently cleared the administration’s ability to withhold nearly $4 billion in foreign aid , amid legal wrangling over whether the executive can freeze funds even when Congress has authorized them. SCOTUSblog Immigration & Visa Policy Overhaul : Trump is pushing new restrictions on H-1B visas, including a $100,000 fee and stricter ent...