Interest charge hike anticipated: The Federal Reserve is anticipated this afternoon to announce its seventh rate of interest hike this 12 months. Today’s hike is anticipated to be one-half level, the identical as final time, moderately than the three-quarters of a degree beforehand used within the Fed’s battle towards inflation. Inflation has cooled a bit within the U.S., with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting yesterday that the annualized inflation charge is now 7.1%.

Storm brings snow, tornadoes: The huge storm transferring throughout the center part of the U.S. continues to convey snow to northern sections and heavy rain, thunderstorms and tornadoes to southern sections. Tornadoes hit Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana yesterday and in a single day into in the present day, leading to two deaths.

Remembering Sandy Hook: It was 10 years in the past in the present day {that a} lone gunman killed 20 first-graders and 6 educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. President Biden signed a proclamation making at the present time a nationwide day of remembrance. The proclamation says, partly, “Let us recognize the courage of survivors and families of victims, who continue working to rebuild their lives, and let us commit to eradicating gun violence and helping rebuild communities that have suffered so much.”

Wahl’s demise: U.S. soccer journalist Grant Wahl, whose demise whereas overlaying World Cup soccer in Qatar resulted in conspiracy theories claiming he was murdered, truly died when an undiagnosed aortic aneurysm ruptured, in keeping with an announcement this morning from his spouse. Wahl’s physique had been flown again to New York the place an post-mortem was carried out.

DeSantis leads Trump: A nationwide ballot launched this morning by the Wall Street Journal exhibits that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is favored over Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024 by 14 factors. Among probably Republican voters, DeSantis will get 52% of the vote whereas Trump will get 38%. DeSantis leads Trump with an 84% favorable ranking versus 71% for Trump.

Pope urges assist for Ukrainians: Pope Francis in the present day referred to as upon folks worldwide to have a humble Christmas this 12 months and cut back their spending on presents and as a substitute donate the cash they save to assist the folks of Ukraine. “Let’s make a more humble Christmas, with more humble gifts, and let’s send what we save to the people of Ukraine who need it,” Pope Francis stated. Russia’s Ambassador to the Vatican has filed a proper protest towards earlier remarks by the Pope by which he criticized the Russian aspect for the cruelty proven once more Ukrainians.