The Fed held rates at a 23-year high, signaling a lack of progress on inflation.

• Fed Chair Jerome Powell said that "inflation is still too high" and that falling to the 2% target is "not assured."

• But rates stayed the same, and the Fed indicated its next move should be a cut, not a hike.

• Stocks initially slipped but later rallied after Powell's comments, with the Dow surging over 500 points. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq also posted solid gains.

The FTC is expected to approve Exxon Mobil's $60 billion acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources, which would make Exxon the leading producer in the Permian Basin.

Consumer pullback has hit major chains like Starbucks, KFC, and McDonald’s, with Starbucks reporting a 17% drop in share price. I dove into it here.

The US national debt, at $34 trillion, is now nearly as big as the entire economy.

Americans earned an extra $235 billion in interest in 2023 thanks to the Fed's rate hikes.

The US and China are racing to shape the development and governance of AI in Africa.

New FBI data revealed that the US crime rate dropped significantly in 2023, with murder down 13%, violent crime down 6%, and property crime down 4%.

Birmingham was once praised as "the best-governed city in the world." Now it’s going bust along with many other British cities.

🇺🇦 🇷🇺 Russia made its largest territorial gains in Ukraine since July 2022 as Kyiv awaits crucial US weaponry.

🇮🇩 Indonesia's Ruang volcano erupted again, prompting authorities to raise the alert status to the highest level.

🇨🇳 China's newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, began its first sea trials.

🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇦🇺 The US State Department unveiled a plan to reduce arms licensing requirements for the UK and Australia.

🇹🇷 🇿🇦 🇮🇱 Turkey announced it would join South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

Bitcoin tumbled below $57,000, down 22% from its all-time high, as ETF outflows accelerate. It rebounded early today.

The UK Financial Conduct Authority sharpened its focus on crypto regulation, dedicating 30% of its financial crime team to the sector.

Haun Ventures led a $5 million seed round in Agora, a cross-chain governance platform used by Optimism, Nouns, ENS, and Uniswap.

Catholic advocacy group Catholic Answers defrocked their AI priest "Father Justin" after it endorsed baptizing babies in Gatorade.

The sun unleashed a near X-class solar flare, triggering radio blackouts across the Pacific.

Scientists forecast a "triple whammy extinction" event in 250 million years, likely eradicating humanity. So, why bother, right?

Study finds a surge of anger can significantly reduce blood vessels' ability to dilate, potentially causing a heart attack. [Ed: no kidding]