It is anticipated that the Federal Reserve would lower the main interest rate by a quarter-point. In the Moscow killing of a Russian general, a guy was taken into custody. Additionally, the return trip to Earth for two NASA astronauts has been postponed once more.
What to know today is as follows.
Interest rate drop expected
As the Federal Reserve continues to work to stimulate what appears to be a stable but cooling economy, another quarter-point reduction in the main interest rate is anticipated today. The federal funds rate set by the central bank is currently between 4.5% and 4.75%.
According to economists, the Fed will halt and maintain rates at their current level for the upcoming month in order to evaluate the situation. According to a recent Bank of America study, it seems likely that the Fed will execute a soft landing for the US economy, which is still experiencing relatively low rates of unemployment and inflation.
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Even while the economy appears to be doing well, there are certain red flags that point to underlying issues.
Stable retail sales and an inflation rate far above its post-pandemic highs are signs that the economy is on a rather stable foundation. However, experts are closely monitoring the labor market, as job growth has essentially flatlined in industries like manufacturing, business, and professional services, while it has mostly concentrated in the health care and state and local government sectors, which tend to say little about where we are in the business cycle. Uncertainty surrounds the Trump administration as well.
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Suspect detained in assassination of Russian general
According to Russian authorities, a man has been taken into custody in relation to the murder of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, the head of the country’s chemical, radiological, and biological weapons unit.
The suspect turned out to be a twentysomething Uzbek national. He clarified throughout the questioning that the Ukrainian special services had recruited him, according to a representative for Russia’s Investigative Committee. Ukraine’s security service took credit for the attack yesterday.
What more do we know?
Funding bill released with days to spare before deadline
A short-term bill that would keep the government open until March 14 must be passed by Congress by the end of Friday, imposing a fresh funding deadline on President-elect Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office.
After many delays, leaders finally unveiled the continuing resolution yesterday afternoon, just a few days before the crucial deadline on Friday. Some of the contents of the 1,547-page measure are as follows:
President Joe Biden had asked for approximately $100.4 billion in disaster assistance funding to remedy the damage caused by hurricanes Helene and Milton.
A one-year extension of the agricultural bill, $10 million in economic aid for farmers, and a clause reauthorizing a Department of Homeland Security program to combat drone threats in light of recent sightings
In the first several months of Trump’s presidency, March is a tricky deadline, but delaying a long-term financing agreement could help Republicans, who will also take over the Senate in January.
Read more politics news:
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The theme of Trump s inaugural address will be unity, the president-elect said recently. What that means in practice
is anyone s guess
.
-
The last time the U.S. had three one-term presidents in a row was in the late 1800s, and from that period, significant reform happened. So what could a new reform movement look like? NBC News chief political analyst Chuck Todd lays out a few of his own ideas.
Read the full analysis here.
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Lawyers for Trump said they have
received evidence of grave juror misconduct
in his New York hush money case. Prosecutors called the allegations vague.
-
President Joe Biden said he is
in favor of a ban on stock trading
by members of Congress, the first time he has taken a side on an issue that has been brought up several times in recent years.
Luigi Mangione indicted on first-degree murder charge
The Manhattan district attorney’s office said Tuesday that the man who is suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month has been charged with first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism. The case against Luigi Mangione, who was previously charged with multiple weapons crimes and two counts of second-degree murder, is strengthened by the most recent indictment.
Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan District Attorney, described Thompson’s murder as a blatant, deliberate, and intentional shot during a press conference.
Since his arrest last week, Mangione has been detained in Pennsylvania. A source familiar with the situation said that Mangioneplans to waive extradition to New Yorkat a hearing tomorrow. According to Bragg, that implies Mangione will be sent to New York right now.
NASA astronauts return to Earth is pushed back
Two NASA astronauts who have been stuck at the International Space Station since their Boeing spacecraft ran into problems last summer will have to remain there even longer. NASA announced yesterday that the next astronaut crew s launch to the ISS has been pushed back from February to no earlier than late March to allow for more time to complete processing a new SpaceX spacecraft that will be used for the mission.
Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore launched on the challenge-plagued first test flight of Boeing s Starliner vehicle in June and originally intended to spend about a week at the space station. By the time they return to Earth,they will have spent more than nine monthsliving and working in orbit.
Read All About It
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Police in Madison, Wisconsin, said
a combination of factors
led a 15-year-old student at Abundant Life Christian School to open fire during study hall on Monday, killing a teacher and a student. A day after the shooting, community members
gathered for a vigil
outside the State Capitol to honor the victims.
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Rex Heuermann, the man accused in the Gilgo Beach serial killings, has been
charged in a seventh woman s murder
.
-
A San Francisco jury found IT consultant Nima Momeni
guilty of second-degree murder
in the death of CashApp founder Bob Lee.
-
Japanese automakers Nissan Motor and Honda Motor reportedly
plan to enter merger negotiations
.
Staff Pick:
Concerns over counterfeit weight loss drugs grow
Public health officials have a warning for those looking to get their hands on effective yet pricey weight loss drugs: Beware of counterfeit versions. The recent raid of a woman s Tennessee home, where more than 300 vials fake weight loss drugs were found, sheds light on a growing concern across the country as the black market for such medicines explodes. NBC News health team spoke to experts aboutthe potential dangers of consuming counterfeit drugsand who s most at risk of encountering them.Elizabeth Robinson,newsletter editor
NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified
Hunched over your computer or phone screen? It s probably time to try aposture corrector. Experts shared what to look for when shopping for one. Plus, check outthe best workout headphonesof 2024.
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