Dollar Weakens as Government Shutdown Looms and Fed Leadership Shifts

New York, Wednesday, 28 January 2026.
The US Dollar Index has breached critical support levels ahead of the January 30 government funding deadline. Markets are further rattled by speculation that BlackRock executive Rick Rieder may replace Jerome Powell, raising concerns over future Federal Reserve independence.

Gold Surges to Record Highs After Trump Downplays Dollar’s Slide

New Analysis Projects $5.5 Trillion Deficit Spike From Recent Legislative Package

Recession Signals Flash as Consumer Confidence Sinks to 12-Year Low

Kazakhstan’s Tengiz Oilfield Resumes Operations With Output Capped Below 50% Through Early February

McGrath Group Exits Harley-Davidson Retail with Final Iowa Closure

Davenport, Wednesday, 28 January 2026.
Marking a strategic exit, the McGrath group closed its final Harley-Davidson location in Iowa, adding to a growing list of retail closures that saw 11 showrooms shutter in 2025.

Ex1 Taps Retired Vice Admiral to Guide Defense Technology Strategy

MONEYME Targets Multi-Billion Dollar Growth via Strategic Credit Card Partnership with Luxury Escapes

Meta Commits $6 Billion to Corning for AI Data Center Expansion

IonQ Brings Chip Manufacturing In-House with $1.8 Billion SkyWater Acquisition

Top Vatican Ally Labels ICE 'Machinery of Death' in Call to Block Funding

Washington D.C., Wednesday, 28 January 2026.
On January 26, 2026, Cardinal Joseph Tobin, a key U.S. ally of Pope Leo XIV, escalated tensions between the Catholic Church and the White House by branding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) a “lawless organization” and a “machinery of death.” Speaking following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis, Tobin explicitly urged voters to pressure lawmakers against renewing ICE funding. This sharp rebuke marks a significant political pivot, positioning the Church in direct opposition to the administration’s enforcement strategies ahead of crucial congressional appropriations votes.

White House Distances Itself from Stephen Miller Following Misleading Minneapolis Shooting Claims

Rep. Ilhan Omar Assaulted with Unknown Substance During Minneapolis Town Hall

GOP Senators Break Ranks as Tillis and Murkowski Demand DHS Secretary’s Resignation

Texas Suspends New H-1B Hiring at State Universities Until 2027

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Confirmed Dead Following Baramati Aviation Accident

Baramati, Wednesday, 28 January 2026.
Aviation regulators confirm no survivors after a private Learjet carrying Deputy CM Ajit Pawar crashed in Baramati today, creating a sudden vacuum in Maharashtra’s political leadership.

India and EU Finalize Historic Trade Pact to Counteract US Tariff Pressures

China Launches World's Largest Air Energy Storage Plant to Power 600,000 Homes

NATO Chief Rutte: Europe Needs U.S. for Defense

Global Power Emissions Flat as Asia's Green Push Counters US Coal Surge

Wayne State University Orders Shelter-in-Place Following Gunfire at Chatsworth Suites

Detroit, Wednesday, 28 January 2026.
Wayne State University issued a shelter-in-place order Tuesday night after a dispute between acquaintances escalated to gunfire at Chatsworth Suites; police are actively searching for the suspects who fled the scene.

Mavericks Likely to Retain Anthony Davis Despite Valuation Concerns and Trade Deadline Pressure

Bill Belichick Misses First-Ballot Hall of Fame Induction Amid Controversy

Franklin County Issues Historic Level 3 Snow Emergency Restricting Non-Essential Travel

Private Jet Carrying Eight People Crashes During Takeoff at Bangor International Airport