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Nations React to Reported $1 Billion Fee for Trump’s Peace Board

  President Trump said the Peace Board 'will embark on a new approach to resolving global conflict'. Reports surrounding President Donald Trump’s proposed Board of Peace have ignited global debate after claims surfaced that countries may be asked to contribute $1 billion to secure or maintain permanent membership. The board, envisioned as a body overseeing governance and reconstruction efforts in Gaza, would reportedly be chaired by Trump himself, who would hold authority over which nations are admitted. A draft charter circulating among diplomats outlines three‑year membership terms, renewable only with the chairman’s approval. It also suggests that nations contributing $1 billion within the first year could bypass term limits and secure a permanent seat. The White House has pushed back on the reports, calling them misleading and insisting that no mandatory membership fee exists. Officials acknowledged that major financial contributors could receive greater influence but ...

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Fed’s stance on interest rates rattles Wall Street


Wall Street recovered some of its losses on Thursday, a day after the Federal Reserve signaled that it is not planning to cut interest rates anytime soon.

The S&P 500 rose 0.4%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.1%, following the worst single-day downturn since September on Wednesday.

The Fed left its main interest rate unchanged and said it does not expect to lower it “until it has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward” its 2% target.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank needs more data to confirm that inflation is easing, despite recent signs of slowing wage growth and consumer spending.

“We’re not declaring victory at all,” Powell said. "We have confidence. It has been increasing, but we want to get greater confidence."

Investors were hoping for a more dovish tone from the Fed, as they worry about the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, trade tensions, and geopolitical risks on the global economy.

Some sectors, such as technology and health care, bounced back on Thursday, while others, such as energy and financials, remained under pressure.

Shares of Align Technology, the maker of Invisalign teeth straighteners, surged more than 12% after beating analysts’ expectations for sales and profit.

More economic data is expected on Friday, with the release of the monthly jobs report for January.

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