Trump, Starmer to Discuss Trade Deal, Gaza Situation
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UPI
17 minutes ago
- UPI
Federal Reserve governor Kugler resigns, creating vacancy for Trump
Adriana Kugler announced she will be leaving as Federal Reserve governor on Aug. 8. Photo by Federal Reserve Aug. 2 (UPI) -- One of the seven members of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, Adriana Kugler, announced she is stepping down next week, creating an opening for President Donald Trump to fill. Her term was set to expire in January but Kugler said Friday she will depart in seven days. President Joe Biden appointed Kugler, a 55-year-old labor economist, in September 2023. Governors' terms are for 14 years, and Kugler filled an opening. "The Federal Reserve does important work to help foster a healthy economy and it has been a privilege to work towards that goal on behalf of all Americans for nearly two years," Kugler said in her resignation letter to Trump. "I am proud to have tackled this role with integrity, a strong commitment to serving the public, and with a data-driven approach strongly based on my expertise in labor markets and inflation." Kugler said she plans to return to teaching public policy at Georgetown University in the fall. She was a vice provost for faculty at Georgetown and earned her Ph.D. in economics at the University of California at Berkeley. "I am especially honored to have served during a critical time in achieving our dual mandate of bringing down prices and keeping a strong and resilient labor market," she wrote in the letter. Kugler did not vote on Wednesday when the central bank's Federal Open Market Committee kept the benchmark interest rate unchanged at a range of 4.25% to 4.5% for a fifth consecutive meeting. Two of the 11 committee members who did vote dissented, backing Trump's desire to lower rates. The 12-member committee includes the seven governors, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and four remaining 11 Reserve Bank presidents who serve one-year terms on a rotating basis. "We just found out that I have an open spot on the Federal Reserve Board. I'm very happy about that," Trump said late Friday before boarding Marine One. He later posted on Truth Social that Fed Chairman Jerome Powell "should resign, just like Adriana Kugler, a Biden Appointee, resigned. She knew he was doing the wrong thing on Interest Rates. He should resign, also!" The replacement may ultimately replace Powell, whose term ends in May, though he can remain as a governor until 2028. The president appoints each of the board members and designates one to serve as chair for four years. Trump appointed Powell during his first presidency in 2018. Biden appointed him to another term as chairman. "Trump's influence on interest rates will now be felt earlier and more strongly," Derek Tang, an economist at LHMeyer, an economic consulting firm, told The Washington Post. Contenders to lead the Fed are National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, former Fed governor Kevin Warsh and Fed governor Christopher Waller, each with distinct strengths, The Washington Post reported. Trump has said he wants Scott Bessent to remain as Treasury secretary. Trump has sought to replace Powell, calling him on Truth Social "a stubborn MORON" and "too late" on lowering interest rates. But he can only be fired "for cause," such as malfeasance, neglect of duty or inefficiency, rather than disagreeing with policies. Experts say his removal could disrupt the financial markets.
The Hill
18 minutes ago
- The Hill
Government probes Trump prosecutor Jack Smith over alleged Hatch Act violations: Report
The federal government reportedly launched a probe into the actions of special prosecutor Jack Smith who investigated President Trump's criminal cases beginning in 2022. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel said Saturday officials would look into Smith's potential violation of the Hatch Act, which restricts government employees from political involvement, according to NBC News. The office did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. The investigation comes after Trump and his allies have previously alleged that Smith went after Trump without legal standing in an effort to thwart his second campaign for the presidency. Former Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Smith three days before the president announced his reelection bid. Still, GOP lawmakers said the special prosecutor needs to be investigated. 'Jack Smith's legal actions were nothing more than a tool for the [former President] Biden and [former Vice President] Harris campaigns. This isn't just unethical, it is very likely illegal campaign activity from a public office,' Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) wrote in a Wednesday post on the social media platform X. 'Special Counsel Smith pushed for an out-of-the-ordinary, rushed trial for President Trump, with jury selection to begin just two weeks before the Iowa caucuses. No other case of this magnitude and complexity would come to trial this quickly,' the Arkansas senator added in a separate post. However, Smith has long defended his actions. 'The ultimate decision to bring charges against Mr. Trump was mine. It is a decision I stand behind fully,' Smith wrote in his final report published in mid-January, adding that Garland nor anyone else at the Justice Department pushed him to prosecute Trump. 'To all who know me well, the claim from Mr. Trump that my decisions as a prosecutor were influenced or directed by the Biden administration or other political actors is, in a word, laughable.' Smith ultimately resigned from the Justice Department (DOJ) after Trump's November win and dismissed charges against the president-elect arguing that he believed he would have scored a conviction against the leader if the legal battles played out in court. 'The throughline of all of Mr. Trump's criminal efforts was deceit-knowingly false claims of election fraud-and the evidence shows that Mr. Trump used these lies as a weapon to defeat a federal government function foundational to the United States' democratic process,' Smith wrote. 'Until Mr. Trump obstructed it, this democratic process had operated in a peaceful and orderly manner for more than 130 years,' he added. Earlier this month, Attorney General Pam Bondi fired 20 additional employees tied to Smith weeks before the Office of Special Counsel said it would investigate the prosecutor. The independent agency can only research Smith's actions and seek disciplinary actions for the federal employee. Investigators can then present findings to the DOJ for criminal charges.
Time Business News
19 minutes ago
- Time Business News
Effective eCommerce Web Development Solutions In the UK
With over 80% of UK consumers engaging in online shopping, having a well-designed, high-performing eCommerce website is no longer optional — it's mission-critical. Whether you're launching a new product or scaling your online store, your website must be built to perform, convert, and evolve. At Itology Creations, we specialize in crafting tailored, high-converting eCommerce solutions that not only look stunning but also function seamlessly. We combine strategy, design, and the latest technology to help UK-based businesses thrive in a competitive online marketplace. A slow-loading site, clunky navigation, or a confusing checkout process can cost you more than just sales — it can damage your brand's credibility. With abandonment rates reaching nearly 70% for online shopping carts, your website must be built to make the journey from product discovery to purchase as smooth as possible. That's where Itology Creations comes in — we don't just build websites, we engineer user-focused eCommerce experiences that work for your customers and your bottom line. We don't believe in copy-paste solutions. Every business has its own story, brand voice, and unique selling proposition. Our team develops fully customised eCommerce websites that reflect your identity, meet your business goals, and speak directly to your target audience. From product pages to user accounts and custom dashboards, everything is designed from the ground up — no templates, no compromises. Whether you need a fast setup or a complex, scalable architecture, we build on the platform that best suits your business: Shopify – fast, secure, and great for scalability. – fast, secure, and great for scalability. WooCommerce – ideal for those already using WordPress. – ideal for those already using WordPress. Magento – powerful and flexible for large enterprises. – powerful and flexible for large enterprises. Headless eCommerce – modern architecture for lightning-speed performance and integration. – modern architecture for lightning-speed performance and integration. Custom-coded Solutions – built entirely around your logic, operations, and future roadmap. We guide you through platform selection based on your goals, products, audience, and budget. With over 60% of UK shoppers making purchases on mobile devices, a responsive and mobile-optimized design is vital. Our developers ensure your site: Looks great on all screen sizes Loads fast on mobile connections Offers intuitive navigation and tap-friendly elements Supports mobile-first features like Apple Pay and Google Pay This leads to higher mobile conversions and better user satisfaction. A beautiful site means nothing if it's slow, unsecure, or invisible to search engines. We build your website with a solid technical foundation that includes: Speed optimization (compressed images, caching, lazy loading) SSL & secure payment gateway integrations GDPR-compliance & privacy best practices Technical SEO (clean URLs, schema markup, alt tags, metadata) The result? A fast, secure, and search-friendly online store that Google loves and your users trust. The checkout process is where many sales are lost. We optimize your store's buying journey to remove friction and encourage completion, including: One-page and multi-step checkouts Guest checkout options Secure integrations with PayPal, Stripe, Klarna, Apple Pay, and more Automated confirmation emails and status updates Your customers enjoy peace of mind and a smooth transaction process — and you enjoy fewer abandoned carts. Our eCommerce development services don't stop at the user interface. We integrate your site with: Inventory and warehouse systems Shipping providers and real-time tracking CRM tools for managing customer relationships Email marketing platforms (Mailchimp, Klaviyo, etc.) Accounting and analytics tools This creates a fully automated ecosystem that saves time, reduces errors, and scales with your growth. Need custom features? We've got you covered. Our developers can integrate or build: Product bundling and upselling tools Loyalty and referral programs Subscription models Multilingual and multi-currency support Chatbots and AI-driven recommendations Whatever your vision, we turn it into reality with clean, scalable code and expert design. We start every project by understanding your brand, audience, and goals. Every feature we build serves a purpose — to attract, engage, and convert. We're proudly UK-based, with a deep understanding of the local market and buyer behaviour. But we bring global standards of development, innovation, and service. No hidden costs. No jargon. Just straightforward conversations and tailored solutions that meet your needs. We don't disappear after deployment. From regular backups to performance optimization and security patches — we ensure your site stays healthy and up-to-date. We embed analytics and tracking tools from day one, helping you make smarter business decisions with real data. Whether you're an ambitious startup or an established retailer, Itology Creations provides the web development expertise and strategic insight you need to succeed online. From first click to final checkout, we make sure your eCommerce platform performs with power, precision, and purpose. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
