Thursday☕️

Earth Intelligence

18 Sep 2025 — 5 min read

Economics & Markets:

On September 17, 2025, the Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee reduced its benchmark federal funds rate by 0.25 percentage points, setting the target range at 4% to 4.25%. This was the first rate cut since December 2024, with one dissenting vote from Governor Michelle W. Bowman favoring a 0.5-point reduction. The decision addresses a slowing labor market while aiming to maintain economic growth and control inflation near the 2% target. Fed Chair Jerome Powell stated in a press conference that the adjustment balances risks to jobs and prices, with projections showing two more 0.25-point cuts by year-end, potentially lowering the rate to 3.5% to 3.75%.
The cut is intended to ease monetary policy, encouraging borrowing and spending by reducing interest rates on mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards. Potential effects include increased stock market activity from expectations of lower credit costs, though it could decrease returns on savings and bonds. On a global scale, it may weaken the U.S. dollar, aiding exporters but raising import expenses for emerging markets.
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Geopolitics & Military Activity:

On September 17, 2025, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a mutual defense pact during Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif's state visit to Riyadh, committing to treat any aggression against one as an attack on both. The agreement, witnessed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Sharif, focuses on strengthening defense ties through joint military exercises, technology sharing, and mutual security support. It builds on the two countries' historical relations, with discussions also encompassing economic cooperation to increase trade and investments under Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 plan.

The pact addresses regional security challenges in the Gulf, including uncertainties around U.S. military involvement and threats from Iran-backed groups, though no specific foes were mentioned in official statements. Earth Intelligence believes it will influence Middle Eastern dynamics by giving Saudi Arabia access to Pakistani military resources while bolstering Pakistan's economy through deeper bilateral links. No immediate comments from other regional actors like Israel or Iran were noted, highlighting evolving alliances amid persistent tensions.

Environment & Weather:

Science & Technology:

On September 17, 2025, China's Cyberspace Administration issued a directive prohibiting major domestic tech companies in China from purchasing Nvidia's AI chips, including models like the H20 and RTX Pro 6000D designed for the Chinese market to meet U.S. export rules. Officials summoned representatives from firms such as Alibaba, Tencent, ByteDance, Baidu, Huawei, and Cambricon, ordering them to stop buying Nvidia products and transition to local alternatives. This step seeks to enhance China's semiconductor independence in response to U.S. restrictions on advanced chip exports that have capped Nvidia's high-end sales in the region since 2022.
The ban comes after recent U.S.-China trade talks and an August deal permitting limited Nvidia exports for revenue sharing, but it led to a 2.6% decline in Nvidia's stock and expressions of concern from CEO Jensen Huang about the impact on long-standing collaborations amid geopolitical strains. Huang intends to discuss the matter with U.S. President Donald Trump during a forthcoming visit, while China advances its domestic tech development alongside probes into Nvidia's earlier deals. Analysts see this as heightening the tech competition between the nations, with possible effects on global supply chains and Nvidia's revenue, where China once accounted for about 20% of revenue.

Statistic:

Largest public banking companies by market capitalization:

🇺🇸 JPMorgan Chase: $857.23B
🇺🇸 Bank of America: $380.71B
🇨🇳 ICBC: $349.56B
🇨🇳 Agricultural Bank of China: $334.39B
🇨🇳 China Construction Bank: $269.47B
🇺🇸 Wells Fargo: $264.21B
🇺🇸 Morgan Stanley: $251.27B
🇬🇧 HSBC: $240.82B
🇺🇸 Goldman Sachs: $240.42B
🇨🇳 Bank of China: $229.29B
🇨🇦 Royal Bank of Canada: $206.38B
🇺🇸 Citigroup: $187.32B
🇦🇺 Commonwealth Bank: $187.32B
🇮🇳 HDFC Bank: $184.09B
🇯🇵 Mitsubishi UFJ Financial: $177.73B
🇺🇸 Charles Schwab: $167.16B
🇪🇸 Santander: $149.39B
🇨🇳 CM Bank: $149.36B
🇺🇸 Capital One: $144.28B
🇨🇦 Toronto Dominion Bank: $133.84B
🇨🇭 UBS: $131.29B
🇮🇹 UniCredit: $118.48B
🇮🇳 ICICI Bank: $116.50B
🇮🇹 Intesa Sanpaolo: $115.31B
🇸🇬 DBS Group: $114.91B

History:

The history of aircraft technology traces back thousands of years to humanity’s early fascination with flight. Ancient civilizations like the Greeks imagined flying machines, and inventors such as Leonardo da Vinci sketched ornithopters inspired by birds’ wings. The true dawn of powered flight came in 1903 when the Wright brothers successfully flew their Flyer at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, ushering in the modern era of aviation. Throughout the early 20th century, rapid progress in engine design, aerodynamics, and materials science transformed flimsy wood-and-fabric biplanes into sleek all-metal monoplanes. World War I and World War II accelerated innovation, leading to advances in speed, range, and combat capability. The postwar period then saw the rise of jet propulsion, giving birth to commercial airliners like the Boeing 707 and groundbreaking military jets such as the F-86 Sabre and later the SR-71 Blackbird, capable of speeds exceeding Mach 3.
Today, aircraft technology stands at the cutting edge of stealth, autonomy, and advanced materials. Commercial aviation is dominated by fuel-efficient giants like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350, which employ composite materials and next-generation avionics for global connectivity. Meanwhile, military aviation has pushed the boundaries of stealth and maneuverability with fifth-generation fighters like the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, designed to dominate in air superiority and multi-role missions. The U.S. Air Force’s B-21 Raider, a stealth strategic bomber unveiled in the 2020s, represents the latest evolution in long-range strike capability, designed for survivability in highly contested environments. Together, these advances show how far flight has come—from fragile early concepts to highly advanced aircraft that integrate stealth, AI-driven systems, and supersonic performance—marking humanity’s ongoing mastery of the skies.

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