Sudan landslide kills hundreds, including 200 children
A deadly landslide in Sudan’s western Darfur region over the weekend has killed as many as 1,000 people, including around 200 children, aid groups a...
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday called for a wide-ranging re-examination of the Federal Reserve’s role and authority, including its control over interest rate policy, as the Trump administration steps up its campaign to assert greater oversight over the central bank.
The push reflects a growing effort by the White House to scrutinise an institution long considered independent from day-to-day politics, with its autonomy seen by many economists as essential to maintaining stability and credibility in U.S. financial markets.
In a strongly worded opinion piece published in the Wall Street Journal, Bessent argued that the Fed’s powers have expanded far beyond their original mandate and require a comprehensive review. “There must also be an honest, independent, nonpartisan review of the entire institution, including monetary policy, regulation, communications, staffing and research,” he wrote. According to Bessent, the central bank should no longer oversee bank supervision, suggesting that responsibility should be transferred to other government agencies better suited to the task.
He further criticised the Fed’s use of unconventional tools such as large-scale bond purchases, contending that such actions “outside of true crisis conditions” distort markets and undermine economic efficiency. These programmes, sometimes referred to as quantitative easing, were designed to stabilise the economy during downturns but have increasingly become part of the Fed’s toolkit in periods of relative calm, raising questions about whether they fuel asset bubbles or create long-term imbalances.
Bessent’s remarks signal an intensifying debate over the future of the Federal Reserve at a time of heightened political polarisation and economic uncertainty. While advocates of central bank independence warn that political interference could weaken confidence in U.S. monetary policy and trigger instability, Trump administration officials argue that greater accountability is necessary to ensure the Fed remains focused on promoting growth and fairness in the broader economy.
The call for a sweeping review is expected to spark strong pushback from defenders of the Fed’s independence, including many on Wall Street and within Congress. Still, Bessent’s comments underscore the administration’s determination to reshape the balance of power between the Treasury and the central bank, potentially setting the stage for one of the most significant challenges to the Fed’s autonomy in decades.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
The Trump administration is preparing to introduce new rules that would restrict or potentially block imports of Chinese-made drones and medium to heavy-duty vehicles, citing national security concerns.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer carried out a major cabinet reshuffle on Friday (September 5), appointing new deputies as well as foreign and interior ministers in a bid to reassert control following the resignation of his deputy, Angela Rayner.
Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo confirmed on Friday (September 5) that his racing career has come to an end, announcing he will take on a new role as a global motorsports ambassador for Ford.
Lebanon’s cabinet on Friday (September 5) endorsed an army proposal to disarm Hezbollah, saying the military would begin implementing it, though without a set timeline and while noting the army’s limited resources.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday (September 5) that Kyiv would continue targeting Russian energy infrastructure in response to repeated strikes on Ukraine’s own facilities, despite complaints from Slovakia and Hungary over disruptions to their oil supplies.
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