Federal Reserve holds rates as inflation stays elevated.
Today's events
Rate decision.
The Federal Reserve held its benchmark rate at 3.75 to 4 percent in a 10–2 vote; Lisa Cook and Beth Hammack both preferred a quarter-point increase.1Oct 28 · FedRobotics imports.
Trump signed a proclamation finding that imported robotics and industrial machinery threaten national security, and directed Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to negotiate supply agreements with any country.2Oct 28 · WHSuper-intelligence order.
The President signed Executive Order 14434, “Inaugurating the Era of Super Intelligence,” and Executive Order 14432, on streamlining access to government services through artificial intelligence.3Oct 28 · GovInfoRwanda sanctions.
State and Treasury sanctioned Rwanda's Ministry of Defense and Zigama Credit and Savings Society for arming the M23 militia in eastern Congo — a breach of the Washington Accords signed last December.4Oct 28 · StateVenezuelan crude lands.
The White House announced the arrival of the first million barrels secured under the U.S.–Venezuela oil deal at Corpus Christi, Texas, for refining in-state at no cost to taxpayers.5Oct 27 · WHSudan famine risk.
The United States joined 30 other governments and the European Commission in warning that 19.5 million Sudanese — 41 percent of the population — face acute food insecurity, and demanding air access into Darfur.6Oct 26 · StateAcronis barred.
An order filed for Federal Register publication excludes and removes Acronis products from federal civilian agency information-technology systems and procurements.7Oct 28 · Fed. Reg.VMware and Linux flaws.
CISA added an insufficient-logging flaw in Broadcom's VMware ESX (CVE-2026-41709) and an uninitialized-variable flaw in the Linux kernel (CVE-2026-46300) to its catalog of actively exploited vulnerabilities.8Oct 28 · CISASoutheast Asia posture.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told Southeast Asian defense ministers in Cebu, the Philippines, that the U.S. approach is “strong, quiet and clear,” and credited the bloc for the Thailand–Cambodia ceasefire.9Oct 28 · War Dept.
Allied Governments
Ukraine funding.
The UK raised its support for Ukraine by £10 billion in the Budget — £500 million for winter air defence, £7 billion in economic aid over three years, £3 billion in export finance.aOct 28 · UK No.10North Korea's overseas workers.
Japan and ten partner states issued a joint statement with the European Union noting new EU, Australian and U.S. sanctions on North Korea's overseas workers, cyber operations and arms trade with Russia.bOct 28 · Japan MoFAGas standing charges scrapped.
The Chancellor asked the energy regulator to remove standing charges — a fixed £108-a-year fee — from household gas bills for about 23 million homes from 2027, shifting the cost onto unit rates.cOct 28 · UK No.10
Voices
“Economic activity is expanding at a strong pace. While uncertainty remains elevated owing, in part, to geopolitical developments, domestic spending has been resilient.”
Federal Open Market Committee statement · Oct 281
“This historic win gives us control over a massive part of the world's oil supply.”
President Donald J. Trump · Oct 275
“In the gold and coltan mining areas under M23 control, including Rubaya in North Kivu, civilians face forced labor, dangerous working conditions, and illegal taxation.”
Spokesman Tommy Pigott, Dept. of State · Oct 284
“These are not symbolic things; they are concrete demonstrations of what serious partners do.”
Sec. of War Pete Hegseth, Cebu, Philippines · Oct 289
“There is no time to lose to save lives and prevent famine.”
Joint Statement on Famine in Sudan · Oct 266
“Nearly all modern defense systems and critical infrastructure sectors require the use of robotics or industrial machinery to function or be manufactured effectively and efficiently.”
Presidential Proclamation on robotics and industrial machinery · Oct 282
Sources
- Federal Reserve, “Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement,” October 28, 2026. federalreserve.gov/newsevents/…/fomc-statement-oct-28
- White House, “Adjusting Imports of Robotics, Industrial Machinery, and Their Parts and Components Into the United States” (Presidential Proclamation), October 2026. whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/…/robotics-industrial-machinery
- GovInfo (Presidential Documents), “Executive Order 14434 — Inaugurating the Era of Super Intelligence,” October 2026. govinfo.gov/app/details/…/DCPD-202600656
- U.S. Dept. of State, “The United States Announces Sanctions in Response to Rwanda's Destabilizing Activities in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo,” October 28, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/rwanda-sanctions-eastern-drc
- White House, “President Trump Announces Arrival of First One Million Barrels of Oil in Texas Thanks to Historic Oil Deal,” October 2026. whitehouse.gov/releases/…/first-million-barrels-texas
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Joint Statement on Famine in Sudan,” October 26, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/joint-statement-famine-sudan
- Federal Register, “Order: Exclusion and Removal of Acronis Products from Federal Civilian Executive Branch Information Technology Systems and Procurements,” filed October 28, 2026. federalregister.gov/documents/…/acronis-exclusion-order
- CISA, “CISA Adds Two Known Exploited Vulnerabilities to Catalog” (CVE-2026-41709, CVE-2026-46300), October 28, 2026. cisa.gov/news-events/…/kev-vmware-esx-linux-kernel
- U.S. Dept. of War, “Hegseth Outlines Cooperative Agenda for Regional Stability in Asia,” October 28, 2026. war.gov/News/…/hegseth-asean-regional-stability
- UK Prime Minister's Office, “Prime Minister and Chancellor's call with the President of Ukraine: 28 October 2026,” October 28, 2026. gov.uk/government/news/…/pm-chancellor-call-ukraine
- Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Joint Statement on Sanctions against North Korea,” October 28, 2026. mofa.go.jp/press/release/…/sanctions-against-north-korea
- UK Prime Minister's Office, “Chancellor abolishes standing charges on gas bills to make payments fairer,” October 28, 2026. gov.uk/government/news/…/gas-standing-charges-abolished