From the Federal Reserve holding interest rates steady to the deaths of actors in two generations of “Star Trek,” here are stories that made headlines this past week. Or skip to the end to test your news savvy with a quiz.
Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady Wednesday, as expected, opting to delay changes to borrowing costs until after midterm elections while it awaits further data on inflation, which the central bank said “remains elevated.”
The 10-2 decision to maintain the Fed’s benchmark interest rate within the 3.75% to 4% range came with an upgraded assessment of an economy that the central bank now says is growing at a “strong pace.”
Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh also expressed confidence that inflation can be lowered to the 2% target without having to “throw sand in the gears” and slow growth or raise unemployment.
People are also reading…
Bolsonaro loses vote, flees from Brazil to US
SAO PAULO — After arriving in the U.S., Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro declared himself Brazil’s rightful leader Wednesday and alleged a coup by the country’s Supreme Court and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who won the country’s election last Sunday by more than 4 million votes.
Bolsonaro arrived in Miami after leaving Brazil, where he refused to comply with a Supreme Court order to surrender his passports. U.S. President Donald Trump granted entry visas to Bolsonaro and his family.
Brazil’s federal electoral court, global leaders, international observers and Bolsonaro’s own party recognized Lula’s victory. He accused Washington of colluding to help return the Bolsonaro family to power.
A crane operator works Thursday where two high-speed trains crashed the prior day between Mora and Orgaz, Spain, and killed at least 69 people.
Train collision kills dozens in Spain
Train drivers in the country launched a previously planned strike to press for more investment in railway safety the day after Spain’s second fatal high-speed train crash this year.
In other news
Alaska: Aides to Democratic Senate nominee Mary Peltola worked with the campaign’s lawyers and senior staff at Senate Democrats’ campaign arm to recruit two candidates who could siphon votes from Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan on Alaska’s ballot, the New York Times reported Wednesday.
Israel: Benjamin Netanyahu looked set to remain Israel’s caretaker prime minister after unexpectedly strong backing among Jewish voters left his opponents little apparent prospect of unseating him, despite his right-wing bloc losing its parliamentary majority in Tuesday’s vote.
Epstein: House Judiciary Committee Democrats urged an independent investigation in a report Monday on President Donald Trump and late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which includes a new allegation that Trump raped a beauty pageant contestant in 1993.
Iran war: The U.S. military spent more than $47 billion so far on the war against Iran, more than 25% higher than the Defense Department’s estimate in July, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing Pentagon data it obtained.
Cyberattack: The Federal Election Commission restored its electronic filing system Wednesday night after taking it offline for almost 41 hours to contain a cyberattack, which temporarily concealed big donors’ spending as political donations ramp up ahead of the midterms. Campaign watchdogs sounded alarms.
Truce: A ceasefire, brokered by U.S. first lady Melania Trump with the involvement of Pope Leo XIV, took effect Tuesday around the Ukrainian town of Oleshky after more than four years of Russian occupation, raising cautious hopes for a resumption of diplomacy.
The water cooler — trending news
Patrick Stewart (1940-2026): Accomplished Shakespearean stage actor Patrick Stewart, who rose from poverty in England and achieved global stardom as the erudite Captain Jean-Luc Picard in TV’s “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and the telepathic Professor Charles Xavier in the “X-Men” movies, died Wednesday at age 86, his family announced.
Walter Koenig (1936-2026): “Star Trek” alum Walter Koenig, 90, who portrayed Russian navigator Pavel Chekov in 36 episodes of the original sci-fi series, all seven original movies and various offshoots, died from old age last Sunday surrounded by his daughter and niece at his home in Los Angeles, his representative confirmed Monday to USA Today.
World Series: The Milwaukee Brewers captured their first World Series title Wednesday, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 to wrap up the Fall Classic in five games and end a 57-year championship drought. Starter Jacob Misiorowski tossed 5-2/3 shutout innings as the team secured the crown in its first World Series appearance in 44 years.
Halftime act: Jay-Z will headline the 2027 Super Bowl halftime show in February, the National Football League announced Monday. The show is the most-coveted showcase in the world of music. U.S. television ratings for the halftime performance often top 100 million viewers and rank higher than the audience for the game itself.
Big number
Over 10,000: The number of confirmed Ebola cases in Democratic Republic of Congo rose above 10,000, government data showed Tuesday, amid growing fears that the epidemic could spread to more African countries.
Quote of the week
“To accept defendants’ argument would be to unsettle the very equilibrium established by this nation’s constitutional system.” — U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman, ruling Monday that the Trump administration’s firing of federal prosecutor Maurene Comey was unlawful.
