90: Lebanon has devalued its currency by — wait for it — 90% as a condition for securing an IMF bailout for what remains of the country's battered economy. Although the central bank says this is a first step toward unifying the multiple exchange rates the Lebanese people use for different transactions, the new official value of the lira is still far above the black market rate that most people actually pay.
2.5 billion: India's Adani Group abandoned a $2.5 billion share sale, citing continuing volatility in the wake of a US short-seller's report that alleged stock manipulation and tax fraud. The allegations wiped billions in value from the company, making founder Gautam Adani no longer Asia's richest man.
25: The US Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 basis points to 4.75%, the smallest hike since it started hiking rates to fight inflation in March 2022. The Fed is still trying to thread the needle: cooling the economy to bring down inflation without triggering a recession that brings down everything else.
0.24: Be careful when you're transporting hazardous materials, mate. Australian authorities finally found that 0.24-inch diameter radioactive capsule that went missing last month after falling off a truck. Mining giant Rio Tinto apologized for losing the device, which contained a tiny amount of Cesium-137 that can cause radiation sickness.
4: The Philippines granted the US military access to four additional bases as both sides look to ward off China’s aggressive moves on Taiwan and the disputed South China Sea. This is bold move for Manila under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has been trying to get along with Beijing without being as pro-China as his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who wanted to kick out visiting US forces and tear up mutual defense pacts to please Xi Jinping.We’ve put together a cheat sheet of 11 races to watch, based on the Cook Political Report’s ratings: contests that lean Republican, contests that lean Democratic, and toss-ups.
With the US no longer providing financial support for Ukraine, Europe is footing the bill. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski says that gives Europe a right to be included in negotiations for how the war ends.
Daylight Saving Time ends as Americans turn clocks back, renewing debate over the seasonal time change and its origins in World War I.
Russia is testing NATO’s red lines with escalating drone attacks and airspace violations. Can Europe defend Ukraine and itself without help from the US? Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski joins Ian Bremmer on GZERO World.