Tech & AI Policy

• AI Slowdown Debate: Semiconductor stocks fell (key index -5.9%) as tech leaders including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Elon Musk backed slowing advanced AI development over safety concerns. Microsoft also released new self-regulatory AI development principles.
• Trump AI Pushback: Donald Trump criticized calls for AI safeguards, arguing a slowdown benefits China. He called Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to voice opposition to tighter AI regulation and met privately with Sam Altman.
• Internal Tools: Google expanded access to Anthropic's Claude to all company engineers.

Geopolitics & Defense

• Middle East Tensions: Houthis launched attacks targeting Saudi cities (Khamis Mushait, Abha, and Taif), injuring 13 civilians, while claiming to intercept two Saudi fighter jets. Drone strikes hit two Iranian fishing vessels in southern Iran.
• NATO Activity: A NATO fighter jet shot down a drone in Lithuanian airspace near Vilnius.

Macroeconomics & Markets

• Oil & Interest Rates: Brent crude rose above $105/bbl, raising inflation concerns while 10-year Treasury yields hovered near 5% ahead of the Federal Reserve decision.
• Economic Data: South Korea reported August import prices up 15.6% YoY and export prices up 42.4% YoY. New Zealand's August electronic card retail sales dropped 0.9% MoM (+0.2% YoY).

Debt & Finance:

• The World Bank called for expedited debt restructuring for Senegal, while the US Treasury sanctioned VTB Bank over Iranian sanction evasions.

US Politics

• The US Supreme Court rejected a Trump administration request to enforce Postal Service rules restricting mail-in voting.