Ede

The US Federal Reserve has raised interest rates for the first time since 2023, according to ABC News. The increase marks a shift in monetary policy after an extended pause, affecting borrowing costs for households and businesses across the United States. Further details on the size of the hike and the central bank's reasoning were not included in the initial report.

Federal authorities have issued a security bulletin ahead of the September 11 anniversary, warning that foreign terrorist organizations continue to call for or encourage attacks. The bulletin serves as a routine reminder to law enforcement and the public about the lingering threat environment around the anniversary of the 2001 attacks.

Federal authorities say a man who was fatally shot by a federal officer in Houston was not the target of an ICE operation, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The disclosure has raised questions about how the shooting occurred and why an uninvolved person was killed during enforcement activity.

Four environmental organizations filed a petition Thursday urging the Federal Communications Commission to reverse its approval of a startup's plan to beam on-demand sunlight from space to Earth. The groups argue the agency failed to consider the project's potential impacts on wildlife and astronomy, reigniting debate over regulating commercial space ventures and their consequences for the night sky and ecosystems.

The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates, the first increase in years. The move will push up borrowing costs for consumers and businesses, while savers may see better yields on high-interest accounts. Markets and households will be watching for what the decision signals about the direction of monetary policy.

Federal Reserve official Michael Barr said further interest rate increases are likely needed to bring inflation back to the central bank's target. The comments signal that policymakers remain cautious about declaring victory over price pressures, and markets and analysts are weighing what a longer tightening path would mean for borrowing costs and the economy.

Ukrainian attack drones struck multiple oil and fuel storage facilities in southern Russia overnight. Footage shows the Edelweiss-95 oil products depot burning in Krasnodar Krai after the drone strike. The attacks target Russian fuel infrastructure, continuing Kyiv's campaign against depots and refineries deep behind the front line.

The Mexican government has filed a lawsuit against Meta in federal court, accusing the company of human rights violations. News outlet Milenio reported the case, which has drawn wide attention. Details of the alleged violations and the specific relief Mexico is seeking in court have not been fully disclosed.

Finland and Sweden have jointly scrambled fighter jets against a Russian aircraft for the first time, marking a historic milestone in military cooperation between the two Nordic countries. The joint response reflects their deepening integration into NATO's air defense posture following both countries' recent accession to the alliance and heightened concern over Russian air activity near their airspace.

SpaceX launched its Starship rocket on a new test flight, with the mission described as unprecedented for the vehicle. Coverage focuses on the liftoff and what the test means for the next-generation spacecraft. SpaceX is using the flights to gather data toward future missions, and observers are watching how the rocket performs through its flight sequence.

Reserve Bank of Australia governor Michele Bullock has reaffirmed that the central bank is prepared to raise interest rates again if inflation requires it. The statement signals no shift in the bank's tightening stance, keeping alive the possibility of further increases and drawing attention from markets and households watching borrowing costs.

A federal watchdog has warned that the Federal Reserve is exposed to security 'deficiencies', according to the Financial Times. The report flags weaknesses in the US central bank's security arrangements, raising concerns about the protection of sensitive systems and data at one of the world's most influential financial institutions.

A bridge in the Bryansk region of western Russia has collapsed after a drone attack, sending passing trains off the tracks. The incident is being widely discussed in coverage tied to the Russia-Ukraine war, with reports focusing on damage to rail infrastructure and the derailment, while details about casualties and the exact circumstances of the strike remain limited.

Swedish Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson has given up her attempt to form a new government, leaving the country in political deadlock following September's parliamentary election. With no bloc holding a clear majority in the Riksdag, the task of forming a government is expected to pass to the conservative-led opposition, prolonging uncertainty over who will govern Sweden.

The Trump administration has unveiled rules loosening the nation's fuel economy standards, framing the change as a way to save consumers money. The regulations also mark a further retreat from federal policies encouraging drivers to switch from gasoline-powered cars to electric vehicles, reversing emissions and efficiency requirements that automakers had faced for years.

A strong upcoming US jobs report may pressure the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates again in October. Market watchers warn the move could drive 10-year and 30-year Treasury yields sharply higher, with investors watching labour market data closely for clues on the central bank's next decision.

A federal judge has blocked a Trump-era immigration rule that restricted eligibility for federally funded programs. The ruling stops the rule from being enforced while legal challenges proceed. Critics of the rule had argued it unfairly limited access to services for immigrant families, while supporters said it protected public resources. The decision is part of a broader wave of litigation over immigration policies introduced during the Trump administration.

Sweden, Germany, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Italy and France have reportedly told their citizens to leave Iran as soon as possible. The advisory, circulating widely online, points to growing security concerns for foreigners in the country, though no official statement detailing the reasons has been confirmed. The coordinated warning from multiple European governments has fueled speculation about rising tensions involving Iran.

Sweden's center-left bloc has failed to form a government, leaving the country in a political deadlock after elections. The impasse means parties must now find another path to a working majority, with the prospect of renewed elections or prolonged negotiations looming over Stockholm as no clear governing coalition has emerged.

The US Department of Justice has asked the Supreme Court to take up a case that could narrow legal protections for transgender people. The filing is being read as an effort to roll back established interpretations of sex discrimination protections. Civil rights groups warn the case could strip away safeguards in employment, healthcare and education, while supporters argue the current reading of federal law goes too far.

Israel has revoked the diplomatic credentials of Dutch officials in a dispute over the Netherlands' ban on goods from Israeli settlements. The move escalates tensions between the two countries over Dutch policy restricting settlement products, and comes amid broader international debate over trade measures targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. Further details about which officials were affected were not immediately available.

The US Supreme Court has ruled that the Trump administration may, for the time being, continue using its revamped federal voter eligibility database, which is used to check voter rolls against citizenship and other records. The decision is an interim one, allowing the database's use while legal challenges proceed. Supporters see it as a step toward election integrity; critics worry it could enable improper purges of eligible voters.

Daredevils reached the top of the Empire State Building carrying a banner, in what witnesses described as a lead-up to an apparent marriage proposal. The stunt on the New York landmark has drawn attention for both its audacity and its romantic conclusion, with questions expected about how the pair accessed the restricted upper reaches of one of the world's most famous skyscrapers.

After the US Federal Reserve raised interest rates, attention is turning to whether the Reserve Bank of Australia will resume its own tightening cycle. Market watchers are speculating the RBA could restart hikes with a move in September, followed by another increase in November, as central banks worldwide continue battling inflation.