⚡️🇺🇸 — The Federal Reserve raised its federal funds target range by 25 basis points to 3.75%–4.00%, in line with market expectations. This marks the first rate hike since July 2023 and the inaugural policy move under the new Fed Chair, Kevin Warsh, who took office on May 22. With a unanimous 12-0 vote, the FOMC abruptly halted the previous easing cycle led by former Chair Jerome Powell, who had implemented 175 basis points in cumulative cuts to lower the range from its 5.25%–5.50% peak down to 3.50%–3.75% before today’s decision.

➡️ The reversal delivers a definitive signal: after an extended period of support, the Fed is pivoting back toward tighter monetary policy. The newly released Dot Plot underscores this hawkish stance, with 16 out of 18 officials projecting at least one additional hike by the end of 2026, driven by a rigid inflation profile and a stubborn path toward the 2% target.

💡 The true narrative here is a bold declaration of central bank independence. By hiking rates unanimously in open defiance of White House pressure for lower rates, the Fed under Kevin Warsh signals that economic data—not political agendas—will drive its decisions. Looking forward, this shifts the market paradigm from "how fast will they cut?" to "how high is the new terminal rate?" By front-loading this hike, the Fed is strategically trying to anchor inflation expectations before potential tariffs or expansionary fiscal policies can trigger a secondary inflationary wave.

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⚡️🇺🇸🇸🇦 — Democratic and Republican U.S. senators urged the Trump administration on Wednesday to declassify and release all information on the proposed U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear agreement, including two classified "side letters" reached with Riyadh — Reuters.

In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Energy Secretary Christopher Wright seen by Reuters, they noted dozens of comparable 123 agreements have been concluded without withholding such material, arguing full text is needed for the Senate and public to understand commitments made by both sides. Trump sent the pact to Congress in August, triggering a 90-day review window and the possibility of a resolution of disapproval; lawmakers have since pressed for declassification of the side letters and related documents.

➡️ The proposed agreement has raised questions over whether Saudi Arabia would obtain it without normalizing relations with Israel. Trump has said it would take effect only if Riyadh does so, but congressional aides say the pact contains no such provision.

➡️ The 30-year deal provides for AP1000 reactors, a project worth tens of billions of dollars benefiting Westinghouse, co-owned by Canada’s Cameco and Brookfield Asset Management. Democratic lawmakers and nonproliferation advocates have criticized it for not barring Saudi uranium enrichment or nuclear waste reprocessing—two potential pathways to a weapon. The UAE accepted such measures, the "gold standard," in its 2009 civil nuclear deal with Washington. The Trump administration says the pact includes nonproliferation measures required by law.

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⚡️🇮🇱🇲🇦🇺🇸 — Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar met with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz in New York. Sa'ar said the trilateral summit reaffirmed the three countries' commitment to a series of steps to upgrade Israel-Morocco relations, including upgrading diplomatic ties, raising the level of representation in both countries to embassies, and appointing ambassadors — Ynet.

➡️ According to Sa'ar, Israel and Morocco agreed to complete agreements on investment protection and avoidance of double taxation by the end of 2026, to facilitate mutual investments and promote economic and business ties. They also agreed to expand direct flights and hold reciprocal high-level visits.

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🚨🇾🇪🇾🇪 — Local PLC sources reported recent airstrikes targeting Houthi reinforcements on the Al-Barh – Al-Mokha line, west of Taiz.

➡️ Released footage showed Al-Amaliqa forces targeting Houthi positions and gatherings on the Kahboub front, near Bab al-Mandab, claiming dozens of dead and wounded among their elements.

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⚡️🇺🇸 — US President Donald Trump on Federal Reserve Chair independence and interest rate levels:

«No, I didn't [convince him not to]. No. I said you do what you want to do. I said you do what you want because it doesn't matter, because he listens to other people. No matter how good a job he does... no matter how good a job, he's got a hostile board.»

«Well, I will tell you, interest rates are too high.»

«No, I don't think so. I think I want him to be independent. But my opinion, I'm very good at this stuff, interest rates are too high. We should have the lowest interest rate anywhere in the world because we're the best credit.»

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⚡️🇺🇸 — US President Donald Trump attributes Federal Reserve rate decisions to adversarial intent:

«...lowest interest rate anywhere in the world because we're the best credit.»

Q: «Do you acknowledge that they’re raising rates to bring down prices because of the war in Iran?»

«No, they're raising the rates to make Trump do as bad as they can possibly do. The problem they have is that we have the greatest economy in history. We have over $21 trillion being invested in this country, which is five times more than they've ever had before. So they're raising that only for political reasons and that's a raise against Trump.»

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⚡️🇺🇸🇮🇷 — US President Donald Trump on the current phase of the Iran war and the status of negotiations:

«Well, hopefully we're towards the end of the war. They want to make a deal and we'll see how that works out.»

Q: «What have you heard from them recently, sir? Have you heard from them directly or through intermediaries?»

«Intermediaries.»

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⚡️🇺🇸🇨🇦🇪🇺 — US President Trump threatens trade retaliation over potential Canadian EU accession:

«Canada's in a terrible trade position. [...] If they do that, if I think it's an overall hostile act, I will put very serious tariffs or stop trading with Europe on many things. So if they do that, if Europe does that with a bad intention—if it's a good intention, that's fine—if it's a bad intention, we'll put very heavy tariffs on Europe.»

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⚡️🇺🇸 — US President Donald Trump on the Kennedy Center:

«Well, it's a very easy question to answer, because it's a mess. It's lost... the Kennedy Center for many years has lost tens of millions of dollars, even hundreds of millions of dollars. It's a loser financially. [...] They were losing hundreds of millions of dollars, and sometimes hundreds of millions—this is before I got involved.

So for the Trump administration, for me to get involved and to take that on long term and to carry it, or to raise money to carry it, I think the Trump administration should certainly have recognition. Because, frankly, if we don't do that, it's going to close. It'll end up being ripped down. It's in very, very bad shape, very dangerous shape. [...] It's been very badly maintained for 25 years.

I'd like to be able to save it, but it's going to take a lot of subsidy into the future. And for us as an administration to want to do that, I think the Trump administration should be recognized.»

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⚡️🇮🇷🇨🇳 — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi concludes China consultations, elevating Xi's peace principles as determinant of regional strategic balance:

«Successful consultations in China with our partners. Iran values strategic partnership we have built over time. Today's decisions will decide future strategic balance in the region, with immeasurable knock-on effects. 4 principles for peace outlined by President Xi are key.»

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⚡️🇺🇸🇷🇺🇮🇷 — The US House of Representatives approved a broad bill authorizing economic sanctions and tariffs against Russia and extending existing sanctions on Iran, aimed at influencing Russia’s economy and its ability to fund the war in Ukraine. The bill, named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham who initiated and promoted it, passed 262-159.

➡️ Under the proposal, sanctions would target Russian officials, banks, and its “shadow fleet,” while President Donald Trump could impose 100% tariffs on the top five importers of Russian oil or gas. The legislation also extends sanctions on Iran’s energy and weapons sectors. The bill now goes to Trump for approval and signature.

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⚡️🇺🇸🇸🇦🇦🇪🇶🇦🇧🇭🇰🇼🇴🇲 — President Trump is expected to hold a meeting with Gulf leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York next Tuesday to discuss next steps in the war with Iran, according to three sources with direct knowledge — Axios.

➡️ The meeting is expected to focus on U.S. ideas for a postwar strategy as Trump and his senior team work on a day-after plan expected to be finalized after the midterms. Trump will meet with leaders or foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries — Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman; one source said the meeting could expand to include other Arab and Muslim leaders.

➡️ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also wants to meet Trump in New York, but no meeting has been scheduled, an Israeli source said.

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⚡️🇺🇸🇮🇷 — US President Donald Trump on Iran:

«And that war is going to end very soon. [...] They're getting decimated, and they want to make a deal so badly. [...] And they're not ready yet, I don't think, but we could have a deal anytime we want.»

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⚡️🇺🇸🇨🇦🇲🇽🇪🇺 — US President Trump articulates a doctrine of unilateral economic coercion and monetary dictate:

«And if we stopped trading with every country that we have a deficit with, which is most of them, and which would be very easy to do, would make at least $1.5 trillion a year. [...] The word 'deficit', you have to understand, is nothing more than a fancy word for loss. [...] They're only elite because we allow them to trade with us and we allow them to make far more money than they should be.

They're not elite. We're the ones that are elite. [...] And if I ended those deals, you would see a country that would make more money, and you'd see the elite countries go right down the tubes. We're carrying almost every country in the world, and that really cannot go on that much longer. [...] Why should we carry Canada? Why should we carry Mexico?—although we're very close to a deal with Mexico, a great deal. [...] Why should we carry so many countries in Europe? We're carrying the European nations with a $200 billion deficit.

All we have to do is say, 'You know what? We're not trading with you anymore. We don't need anything they have.' We have cars, we have lumber, we have food, we have everything.»

➡️ On domestic monetary policy:

«But lower the interest rates for the United States of America, and fast, because we can grow at a level that nobody's ever grown before.»

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⚡️🇺🇸🇷🇺🇺🇦 — US President Donald Trump attributes diesel price surges to Russia-Ukraine war:

«I ended eight wars. And the one that's the toughest is Russia, Ukraine. They hate each other. The two leaders hate each other so much [...] That's the war that's driving up the diesel prices, but it's all going to end very soon.»

➡️ On domestic economic indicators and projected industrial expansion:

«And you're going to end up having a country that nobody's ever seen before. Because again, we have more jobs being created now and more factories being built than any time in the history of our country. It's going to be a beautiful thing and it's going to be very soon.»

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⚡️🇺🇸 — US President Trump on fuel costs as a strategic trade-off and projected price trajectory:

«But, uh, I have to say, you have a little higher, you have a higher gas... it's a very inexpensive price to pay for what we've done. Remember that. It's a little more. It's even if it was... frankly, even if it was a lot more. But that's going to come tumbling down. That's going to be like a rocket ship in reverse.»

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⚡️🇺🇸🇻🇪🇮🇷 — US President Donald Trump claims military success and resource extraction in Venezuela, forecasts Iran's strategic degradation:

«We took out Venezuela in 48 minutes...And now we have all our big oil companies going there and we're working along with the government of Venezuela very well. The relationship is extraordinary. We're taking out millions and millions of barrels of oil. [...] When they say 'to the victor belong the spoils,' that's one of the greatest cases anyone's ever seen in history. We paid back the cost of our war many times over.»

«And you watch what's going to happen to Iran. [...] we have the strait open [...] and they've been decimated. Their navy is gone...»

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⚡️🇺🇸🇮🇷 — US President Trump details the scale of Iranian military degradation and blockade enforcement:

«...But when you look at it is, well, we have the Strait open, we have all this thing, and they've been decimated. Their navy's gone, their air force is gone. Think of it: their navy, 159 ships, every one of them is at the bottom of the sea. Every one of them. Our military, so we put on a blockade, the likes of which... not one ship, in all the months that it's been, not one ship going to Iran has gotten through that blockade. Not one.»

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⚡️🇺🇸🇻🇪 — US President Trump announces record Venezuelan oil acquisition and proposes tariff-funded citizen dividend:

«And with our new and powerful relationship with Venezuela, we just made the largest oil deal in history. And I think the largest deal in history. We got 65 billion barrels of beautiful—well, 500 years' worth of oil. 65 billion, think of it, billion barrels of oil. We got it for... what? An attack. We got it for an attack.»

➡️ On domestic electoral pledge and tariff policy:

«And remember, if the Republicans win the House and Senate, I will issue what we will all call from now on the Trump dividend. To every adult in America, will get $5,000, and you'll get it. Because we're taking in so much money. And we can do it, and the Democrats can't say that because they don't do the tariffs. Tariffs have made us rich.

[...] So tariff is my fifth favorite word. But we took in billions and billions and billions of dollars in tariffs. So we can make a pledge, but they can't. Because if they get in, this country will go into a massive depression.»

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⚡️🇺🇸🇵🇸 — The US State Department announced it will extend visa sanctions against senior Palestinian Authority and PLO officials after determining they continue to fall short of their commitments to Washington. The State Department alleged the PA and PLO are advancing steps against Israel at the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice in The Hague, seeking unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, and continuing payments to "terrorists" and "terror glorification." It said the existing exemption for members of the permanent Palestinian observer mission to the UN will remain in effect.

➡️ Separately, a source familiar with the details confirmed to AFP that PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas will not be allowed to enter the United States to attend next week's UN General Assembly for the second consecutive year, following a report last month on the US intention. The State Department's official announcement did not mention Abbas by name, who is expected to address the assembly virtually.

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⚡️🇸🇦🇾🇪 — Two regional officials said Wednesday that Saudi Arabia is running low on missile interceptors and has asked France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt to deploy air-defense support to help defend against missiles and drones fired by Houthis and other Iran-backed groups — AP.

➡️ One official said the outreach was initiated because Saudi Arabia’s main ally and arms supplier, the United States, has seen its own interceptor stockpile dwindle over a six-month war with Iran. The same official said Saudi Arabia is in a “very difficult position,” having to protect military bases, vital government installations, and oil facilities across the kingdom. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.

➡️ A second official said Saudi Arabia is also seeking to rally international allies for a collective response against the Houthis, but that “the decision now is to give diplomacy a chance,” with Oman and Egypt leading de-escalation efforts in Yemen. A Turkish government official, speaking anonymously, said Turkey was engaged in talks with Iran and the United Arab Emirates to lower tensions, without providing further details.

➡️ The Houthi attacks are the first test of the new defense pact among Saudi Arabia, NATO member Turkey and nuclear power Pakistan. However, Turkish and Pakistani officials told The Associated Press they have not received a Saudi request for support in response to the Houthi escalation, speaking anonymously because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

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