[The Democratic Republic of the Congo will lift its cobalt export ban on October 16 and adopt a new quota system to manage supply] The strategic mineral regulatory agency of the Democratic Republic of the Congo said on Sunday that it would lift the cobalt export ban from October 16 and manage global supply by implementing annual export quotas. The Strategic Minerals Market Regulatory Authority said that miners will be allowed to export up to 18,125 tons of cobalt for the rest of 2025, with an annual export cap of 96,600 tons in 2026 and 2027. Congo accounted for about 70% of global cobalt production last year. After the cobalt price fell to a nine-year low, Congo suspended exports in February this year. The measure was extended in June, prompting major producers such as Glencore to declare force majeure.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim: New subsidized fuel prices do not apply to non-Malaysian citizens

Trump's $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee Impacts Indian Tech Companies' Business Models. US President Donald Trump's imposition of a price tag on H-1B visas threatens to disrupt Indian tech companies' US projects and force Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to once again address the impact of his America First policy. Last Friday, Trump signed an order imposing a $100,000 application fee on H-1B visas, a move that will impact the profits of Indian outsourcers who use the visa program to send engineers to client locations. This is a significant blow to India's $280 billion IT services industry, which is already struggling with sluggish growth as clients cut back on technology spending due to geopolitical tensions and Trump's tariffs. The visa policy change exacerbates tensions between India and the US and comes just before an Indian delegation visits Washington, D.C., seeking a breakthrough in trade negotiations. Furthermore, the visa rule change exacerbates a global anti-immigration movement, with India at the heart of the impact. Indian outsourcing companies and the US tech industry heavily rely on the H-1B visa program to bring in skilled talent from overseas. Financial firms and consulting companies have also used the visa program to secure tens of thousands of visas through lotteries. The Trump administration sees the changes as part of a broader plan to strengthen legitimate applications while stamping out abuses.