Daily News Summary – 2026-06-09 – en

A federal judge in Boston permanently blocked the Trump administration's plan to impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers, ruling that the steep fee constituted an unlawful tax. The decision, which restores the previous fee structure, is a relief for thousands of U.S. employers in tech, healthcare, and education.

India has deported nearly 5,000 people to Bangladesh since the BJP swept to power in West Bengal in May 2026, drawing sharp criticism from human rights groups. The deportations, part of a promise to 'detect, delete and deport' illegal migrants, have strained bilateral relations with Dhaka.

President Donald Trump announced that Iranian forces shot down a US Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter patrolling the Strait of Hormuz, vowing a response. The two pilots were rescued safely by a US Navy drone boat, marking the first rescue of US military personnel by an uncrewed surface drone.

NASA announced the four-person crew for Artemis III, scheduled for 2027, including Italian ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano as pilot. The mission will test docking with commercial lunar landers in Earth orbit, paving the way for the first crewed lunar landing in over 50 years.

The 2026 Iran conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have blocked approximately 20 million barrels per day, triggering the largest oil supply disruption in history. Iran has begun demanding transit fees of up to $2 million per vessel, and the crisis is accelerating global energy diversification.

For the first time since 1995, the US dollar's share of global foreign exchange reserves has fallen below 57%, reaching 56.3% in Q1 2026, according to IMF COFER data. The decline is driven by BRICS+ de-dollarization efforts and record central bank gold purchases.

The dollar's share of global reserves fell below 57% in Q4 2025, extending eight consecutive quarters of decline. BRICS+ nations now conduct 67% of intra-bloc trade in local currencies, and a gold-backed digital settlement instrument is advancing.

The U.S. dollar's share of global reserves has dipped below 57% for the first time since 1995, reaching 56.3%. The decline is structurally driven by sanctions weaponization and the rise of alternative payment systems like CIPS.

In early 2026, China's sweeping export controls on rare earths, tungsten, and antimony have driven sixfold price spikes outside the country, exposing a critical strategic vulnerability in Western defense and green energy supply chains.

The World Economic Forum's 2026 Global Risks Report ranks geoeconomic confrontation as the top risk. With China controlling over 90% of rare-earth processing, the West is racing to build alternative supply chains through initiatives like FORGE.

Analysts warn that Western nations have a narrowing 12-to-18-month window to diversify critical mineral supply chains before China's structural dominance becomes irreversible. The US Project Vault and EU Critical Raw Materials Act are key responses.

In February 2026, the United States launched the FORGE alliance, a 54-nation coalition with over $30 billion in financing to counter China's critical mineral leverage. Meanwhile, China's export controls have slashed Western licensing approval rates below 25%.

On August 2, 2026, the EU AI Act enters its most consequential enforcement phase, imposing transparency rules and fines up to 7% of global turnover. The Act's extraterritorial reach is forcing global tech firms to align with European standards.

The EU AI Act becomes fully enforceable on August 2, 2026, with penalties reaching €35 million or 7% of global annual turnover. Companies must now comply with strict rules on high-risk AI systems and generative models.

As 134 countries explore CBDCs, the US, EU, and China are adopting divergent strategies. China's e-CNY leads in adoption, the EU prepares a digital euro with a €3,000 holding limit, and the US bans a retail CBDC in favor of regulated stablecoins.