Cleveland Federal Reserve President Beth Hammack said Wednesday that interest rates will remain on hold "for a good while," signaling the Fed's commitment to its current policy stance. The announcement comes as President Trump once again threatened to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell, continuing a pattern of public pressure on the central bank [The Hill, NPR].

Elsewhere, tax refunds are falling short of expectations this season, with Americans receiving less money back than anticipated, potentially weighing on consumer spending [NPR].

International Developments

North Korea is rapidly expanding its nuclear weapons capability, according to UN watchdog warnings, as the regime pushes forward with weapons development amid international tensions [Guardian].

In Turkey, a second school shooting in two days left four dead, raising new concerns about gun violence in the country [BBC].

Sudan entered its fourth year of conflict with conditions described as devastating, with citizens reporting feeling "humiliated, broken, powerless" as the humanitarian crisis deepens [NPR].

Domestic Tensions

A California city is facing legal action from drivers over nearly 500 police cameras that track vehicles across state lines, raising privacy concerns [NBC News].

Meanwhile, Trump is pushing Congress to extend the FISA surveillance program even as some lawmakers advocate for stronger privacy protections for Americans [PBS].

On Capitol Hill, Rep. Lauren Boebert called for Congress to target the pensions of Democratic lawmakers, escalating partisan rhetoric [The Hill].

Asia-Pacific

The US and Philippines are preparing joint military drills that will include drone warfare defense training, signaling continued security cooperation in the region [Philippine News Agency].

In the Philippines, a majority of voters support an impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte, according to new polling [Inquirer.net].