Geoff: Welcome to the newshour.
The federal reserve is hitting
pause on its push for higher
interest rates -- at least for
now.
The central bank today decided
not to raise rates for the first
time in 15 months.
Amna: But, the fed also
indicated it may still hike
rates by another half a
percentage point this year, to
slow growth and curb inflation.
Chairman Jerome Powell said
that's because the latest
economic data is stronger than
expected.
Powell: Growth estimates moved
up a bit, unemployment estimates
moved down a bit, inflation
estimates moved up a bit, and
all three of those point in the
same direction, which is that
perhaps more restraint will be
necessary than we had thought in
the last meeting.
Geoff: The fed's goal is to
bring inflation down to a 2%
annual level.
Right now, it's still running at
twice that number.
Now to the day's other news.
Nearly 80 people drowned off the
coast of Greece in one of the
worst migrant disasters this
year.
They had sailed from Libya on a
fishing boat, trying to reach
Italy, when the vessel sank.
As many as 500 people may have
been aboard.
More than 100 were rescued as
the day progressed.
Survivors were taken to a
warehouse in the Greek port city
of kalamata.
>> It is indeed a tragic
situation, a very difficult
situation with a very large
number of shipwrecked people, a
number that I think we have not
faced in the past to such an
extent and volume.
Geoff: U.N. Migration officials
say more than 17,000 people have
died or disappeared trying to
cross the central mediterranean
since 2014.
Officials in northern Nigeria
have confirmed at least 106
people died after their
overcrowded boat capsized early
Monday.
The boat was carrying up to 300
people back from a wedding when
it overturned after hitting a
log in the river.
Police say at least 144 people
were rescued, and the search
continued today.
In Ukraine, Russia stepped up
aerial attacks overnight --
trying to blunt a
counter-offensive by government
forces.
In the south, new shelling in
odesa destroyed buildings and
littered streets with shattered
glass.
In the east, rescuers pulled
people from wreckage left by
missile strikes.
In all, at least 6 people were
killed.
Italy's former prime minister
Silvio berlusconi was honored
today with a national day of
mourning and a state funeral.
A somber procession took place
inside the duomo cathedral in
Milan.
In his eulogy, the city's Roman
catholic archbishop acknowledged
sharp divisions over
berlusconi's legacy.
>> When a man is a character he
is always on stage.
He has fans and detractors, he
has people cheering for him and
people hating him.
He was a man with a desire for
life.
Geoff: Outside, tens of
thousands of supporters chanted
berlusconi's name and waved
flags for ac Milano -- the
football club he once owned.
Berlusconi died Monday at the
age of 86.
China announced a strategic
partnership with the Palestinian
authority today, expanding its
influence in the Middle East.
President XI jinping welcomed
Palestinian president Mahmoud
abbas to beijing.
They signed an agreement to
strengthen economic ties and
promote an independent
Palestinian state.
>> Going forward we are going to
have to need clear limits on
artificial intelligence.
And every time technology
advances it must go hand and
hand with our democratic rights.
Geoff: Google says it will
oppose the move.
At the white house, president
Biden vetoed a bill that would
block new rules on heavy duty
truck pollution.
Republicans in congress have
argued the rules will make
trucks too expensive for small
businesses.
The president of the mandates
will reduce harmful air
pollution and we to few
premature deaths.
Miami mayor Francis Suarez filed
paperwork today to enter the
race for the Republican
president nomination.
He did so just a day after
former president Donald Trump
appeared in Miami in court on
federal charges.
The man who discovered that
whales can sing has died.
In 1960 seven he realized the
haunting sounds underwater were
actually whales communicating
through song.
He actually produced an album
called the songs of the humpback
whale.
He was 88 years old.
Still to come newshour, the
exiting white house response
coordinator on preparing for the
next pandemic.
Killer whales exhibit strange
behavior off the coast of Spain
and the founder of a recycling
nonprofit gives a spectacular
take on sustainable fashion.
>> This is the pbs newshour from