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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate alone Wednesday and signaled that it expects to keep low rates unchanged through next year. The Fed's decision follows three rate cuts earlier this year. It reflects its view that the U.S. economy has so far withstood the U.S.-China trade war and a global slump and remains generally healthy. Its benchmark rate — which influences many consumer and business loans — will remain in a low range of 1.5% to 1.75% In a sign of the Fed’s confidence about the economy, its latest policy statement dropped a phrase it had previously used that referred to “uncertainties” surrounding the economic outlook.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The top U.S. military officer has told Congress that the Pentagon is considering several options to reduce the number of troops in Afghanistan. One option would mean shifting to a more narrow counterterrorism mission. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff isn't disclosing any potential troop totals. But Gen. Mark Milley says leaving a a minimal U.S. footprint in Afghanistan to battle terrorists is a potential move. The U.S. currently has about 13,000 troops in Afghanistan. About 5,000 are doing counterterrorism missions. Later Wednesday, the top U.S. commander for Afghanistan is scheduled to brief lawmakers in a closed session.
NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — An adviser to Niger’s (nee-ZHEHRZ') president says at least 70 soldiers have been killed by suspected jihadists in the West African country's deadliest attack yet. A tweet sent from President Mahamadou Issoufou's account late Wednesday said that he was returning early from an overseas trip following the developments near Niger's border with Mali. The attack took place Tuesday in a remote area where jihadists linked to the Islamic State are active. The military has not released a death toll but an adviser who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to journalists confirmed the provisional toll.
UNDATED (AP) — A 16-year-old Wisconsin boy has been charged with attempted murder for allegedly stabbing a school resource officer with a barbecue fork. Grant Fuhrman was charged as an adult Wednesday in last week's attack on Oshkosh West High School Resource Officer Mike Wissink. Wissink shot and wounded Fuhrman during the attack in Wissink's office. According to the complaint, Fuhrman told a friend in late September or early October to bet him that Fuhrman would not go to Wissink's office and stab him with a pencil, take Wissink's gun out of his holster and either shoot himself or the officer.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. lawyers want a judge to dismiss claims by New Mexico that immigration officials shirked their duties earlier this year by quickly releasing thousands of mostly Central American migrants into communities after they crossed into the United States. New Mexico claimed in a lawsuit filed in June that the practice left communities to pick up the tab for housing and feeding the asylum-seekers until they moved on to find relatives or other hosts elsewhere in the U.S. A judge is scheduled Wednesday to hear the government's motion for dismissal. The timing of a ruling is unclear.
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