China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
Thousands Protest in Brazil Against Efforts to Reduce Jair Bolsonaro’s Prison Sentence 
Russian Drone Attack Hits Turkish Cargo Ship Carrying Sunflower Oil to Egypt, Ukraine Says 
International Outcry Grows Over Re-Arrest of Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi in Iran 
European Leaders Tie Ukraine Territorial Decisions to Strong Security Guarantees 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
Syria Arrests Five Suspects After Deadly Attack on U.S. and Syrian Troops in Palmyra 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
U.S. Soldiers Killed in ISIS Attack in Palmyra, Syria During Counterterrorism Mission 
U.S. and Mexico Reach New Agreement to Tackle Tijuana River Sewage Crisis 
Belarus Frees Opposition Leaders Maria Kalesnikava and Viktar Babaryka in U.S.-Brokered Deal 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
U.S. Stock Futures Mixed as Tech and AI Stocks Face Pressure Ahead of CPI Data 
Japan PMI Data Signals Manufacturing Stabilization as Services Continue to Drive Growth 
President Donald Trump declared Friday that he won’t nominate anyone to lead the Federal Reserve unless they support steep interest rate cuts. “I’m going to put somebody that wants to cut rates,” he said, pressing for a drop from the current 4.25%-4.50% to 1%.
While past presidents have criticized Fed policy, Trump’s insistence on loyalty to his monetary stance marks a new level of political pressure on the central bank. He again lashed out at current Fed Chair Jerome Powell, calling him “stupid” and urging his resignation, claiming he’s done a “lousy job.”
Trump returned to the White House in January and has since demanded aggressive rate cuts to stimulate the economy. However, the Fed has remained cautious, citing risks of renewed inflation from Trump’s tariff policies. Policymakers have only projected a modest 0.50% cut later this year—far less than Trump wants.
Trump is reportedly vetting three to four potential replacements for Powell, whose chair term ends in May 2026. A nomination could come as early as October or November, raising concerns about a “shadow chair” undermining Powell’s authority. However, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, seen as a top contender, dismissed the idea, saying “I don’t think anyone’s necessarily talking about that.”
While Powell’s chairmanship ends in 2026, his board seat lasts until 2028. The next Fed vacancy opens in early 2026 when Governor Adriana Kugler’s term ends, possibly giving Trump his first chance at reshaping the board.
Other names floated include economic adviser Kevin Hassett, former Governor Kevin Warsh, and current Governor Christopher Waller—who recently signaled support for potential rate cuts in the Fed’s upcoming July meeting. The Fed’s independence, however, remains under close watch as political tensions rise.
