Breaking news

Federal Reserve Set To Hold Rates At 3.50%–3.75% At Latest Meeting

Policymakers at the Federal Reserve meet in Washington this week as energy prices rise and geopolitical tensions continue. The meeting comes amid a potential leadership transition involving Chair Jerome Powell.

Steady Rates In A Time Of Transition

Members of the Federal Open Market Committee are expected to keep the benchmark interest rate in the 3.50%–3.75% range, unchanged since December. Attention is also on forward guidance, including whether policymakers indicate conditions that could lead to future rate increases.

A Resolution On Pending Probes And Future Leadership

The US Department of Justice has closed a criminal investigation related to renovations at the Federal Reserve’s headquarters. The development removes a potential obstacle in the confirmation process for Kevin Warsh. Discussion continues over Powell’s future role, including the option to remain on the Board of Governors through January 2028.

Global Tensions And Economic Implications

Global developments, including disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, are affecting energy markets. Brent crude prices have increased by approximately 50% since the start of the current conflict. Higher energy costs are feeding into inflation, while labor market indicators remain mixed.

Weighing Inflation And Growth Risks

Christopher Waller, Federal Reserve Governor, said elevated energy prices could affect inflation across sectors and influence economic activity and employment. Views within the Federal Reserve differ, with some policymakers supporting stable rates and others considering additional increases if inflation remains elevated.

Market Sentiment And The Path Forward

Analysts at Bank of America and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis expect no immediate policy change but are monitoring shifts in official communication. Powell’s press conference following the policy decision is expected to provide further detail on the Federal Reserve’s outlook.

Conclusion

The meeting takes place as policymakers assess inflation trends, energy prices, and leadership developments. Decisions and communication from the Federal Reserve are expected to guide market expectations in the near term.

A New Twitter-Inspired Social Network Is Taking Shape

A new social network called Twitter.now is entering the market, with a founding team that includes former Twitter trademark counsel Stephen Coates. The service is being developed by startup Operation Bluebird.

As Ars Technica reported, X sued the company last year and asked a Delaware judge to block the launch. Operation Bluebird argued in a petition that X had abandoned trademarks including “Twitter” and “Tweet.”

Coates has said the project is not an attempt to recreate the original Twitter. In a LinkedIn post, he described the platform as a new public space focused on trust, transparency and user choice.

AI System To Rate Posts

Twitter.now is currently being tested, with early access priced at $20. Its main feature is VERA, an AI system designed to evaluate posts, verify claims and provide sources and context.

Posts receive a trust score, with users eventually able to set a minimum score to filter their feeds. The company says this approach will give people more control over what they see instead of leaving those decisions entirely to an algorithm.

Moderation Remains A Challenge

Scaling moderation will be one of the platform’s biggest tests. Social networks have repeatedly struggled with content moderation as their communities grow, and newer platforms such as Bluesky have faced similar criticism.

Operation Bluebird says VERA will form the basis of its moderation and verification system. A second version is already planned, with expanded tools that would let users set a specific trust threshold for the posts appearing in their feeds.

For now, Twitter.now remains in an early testing phase, combining the familiarity of the Twitter name with an AI-driven approach to evaluating online information.

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