China
China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange reported on 7 October that the country held US$3.4003 trillion in foreign-exchange reserves at the end of September, down US$38.1 billion, or 1.11 per cent, from the end of August. SAFE attributed the monthly change to a rise in the US dollar index, an overall fall in major global financial-asset prices, and the combined effects of exchange-rate conversion and asset-price movements. This was the regulator’s explanation of the change in the recorded value of the reserves; it did not attribute the decline directly to any single category of cross-border capital flow.
The official reserve-assets table, also updated on 7 October, showed that China’s gold holdings increased from 76.73 million fine troy ounces at the end of August to 77.47 million ounces at the end of September. Their recorded US-dollar value fell from US$350.080 billion to US$323.517 billion. Reuters reported that the People’s Bank of China had increased its gold holdings for a 23rd consecutive month, adding 740,000 ounces in September. Gold prices fell by more than 6 per cent during the month, so the physical quantity rose while its US-dollar valuation declined.
The same table recorded an IMF reserve position of US$10.926 billion, Special Drawing Rights of US$55.726 billion and other reserve assets of negative US$995 million at the end of September, bringing total official reserve assets to US$3.789425 trillion. Foreign-exchange reserves, the physical quantity of gold and the US-dollar valuation of each asset category are separate measures; changes in quantity and valuation are not interchangeable.
Australia
The Liberal–National Coalition released a migration policy on 6 October under which, if it forms government after the 2028 federal election, net overseas migration would be reduced to 100,000 in each of its first two years, 130,000 in the third year and 160,000 in the fourth. It also proposes reducing the number of temporary visa holders by about 650,000 over four years. This is an opposition election policy, not a decision of the current government, and it has not become legislation or an administrative rule.
The Coalition document proposes abolishing Temporary Graduate visas, limiting new international-student commencements to 240,000 and halving the humanitarian intake to 10,000 places a year, while retaining a cap of 185,000 places a year for the permanent skilled program. Transitional visas would remain available for doctoral graduates, people studying health or education, and some regional-university graduates. Family reunion visas are outside the proposed changes. Reuters also reported that the plan would add 100,000 temporary skilled visas and clear a backlog of construction-worker applications.
An implementation issue has arisen between the proposal and Australia’s existing commitments to Indian graduates. A side letter associated with the 2022 Australia–India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement provides post-study opportunities for Indian graduates to live, study and work temporarily in Australia for periods ranging from 18 months to four years, depending on the qualification. International Education Association of Australia chief executive Phil Honeywood said abolishing the Temporary Graduate visa could breach that commitment. A Coalition spokesperson said there would be no treaty breach and that alternative temporary or skilled pathways would be designed for some graduates after consultation with affected international partners. Whether the treaty would be affected remains a disputed legal and policy assessment between the industry body and the Coalition; there has been no government determination or court ruling.
United States
The US District Court for the District of Columbia held a hearing on 6 October on an application for a preliminary injunction by ABC, its parent company Disney and eight ABC-owned television stations. They are asking the court to stop the Federal Communications Commission from conducting an early review of the stations’ broadcast licences while the lawsuit proceeds. Judge Loren AliKhan did not rule immediately and directed the government to file a short further submission by 9 October and ABC by 14 October.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr ordered the early licence reviews in April. The eight licences were not due to expire until between 2028 and 2031, and Reuters reported that the FCC had not used this early-review procedure for more than 50 years. Carr has said the review arose because Disney did not respond promptly and fully to document requests in the commission’s investigation of the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion policies. ABC and Disney sued in August, alleging that the early reviews were retaliation for programming and editorial decisions, violated the First Amendment and chilled editorial choices. Those are the plaintiffs’ allegations and have not been upheld by the court.
Government counsel argued at the hearing that the case belonged in a federal appeals court and that ABC should first have pursued relief within the FCC. The government also said the licences would remain valid throughout administrative and judicial review and that the plaintiffs had not established irreparable harm. The judge asked why an ordinary disagreement over document production required the unusual step of an early licence review. The dispute therefore concerns the route for judicial review of agency action, broadcasters’ licensing obligations when using public airwaves and the scope of First Amendment protection. The court has not decided which side’s legal interpretation is correct.
Editorial framework: This briefing uses Sustenesis as an editorial framework for selecting facts, organising relationships and structuring information, with attention to differences and constraints in rules, responsibilities, resources, risks and social relations. Sustenesis functions here as a method of organisation rather than a position or commentary; the body remains limited to verifiable facts.
Sources
State Administration of Foreign Exchange, SAFE Releases Data on China’s Foreign Exchange Reserves at the End of September 2026, https://www.safe.gov.cn/safe/2026/1006/27959.html
State Administration of Foreign Exchange, Official Reserve Assets (2026), https://www.safe.gov.cn/safe/2026/0206/27116.html
Reuters, China's central bank adds to gold reserves for twenty-third consecutive month, https://www.miningweekly.com/article/chinas-central-bank-adds-to-gold-reserves-for-twenty-third-consecutive-month-2026-10-07
Liberal Party of Australia, Liberals and Nationals' Australia-first migration plan: Cut the numbers, raise the standards, https://www.liberal.org.au/2026/10/06/liberals-and-nationals-australia-first-migration-plan-cut-the-numbers-raise-the-standards
Reuters, Australian opposition party vows 'biggest cut to immigration' in country's history, https://www.reuters.com/world/australian-opposition-party-vows-biggest-cut-immigration-countrys-history-2026-10-06/
The Guardian, Coalition’s migration plan risks breaching India free trade agreement and damaging economy, advocates warn, https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/07/coalition-migration-policy-reaction-universities-students-economy-india-ntwnfb
Reuters, Disney lawyer says US seeks to censor, control ABC broadcasts, https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-judge-hold-hearing-disney-bid-block-fcc-license-review-2026-10-06/
Associated Press, ABC and the FCC battle in court over free speech, jurisdiction, https://apnews.com/article/abc-fcc-trump-licenses-kimmel-9258fbbd24470046c1478f1ea82fae6f
Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48398/
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