Bank of England Cuts Rates After Tight Vote
https://www.wsj.com/world/uk/bank-of-england-cuts-rates-as-jobs-market-slows-11322670?mod=world_lead_story
The Bank of England lowered its key interest rate for the fifth time in a year as it seeks to balance a recent pickup in inflation against a cooling jobs market, a challenge that also confronts the Federal Reserve.
The key point.
The U.K.’s central bank lowered its key rate to 4% from 4.25%, having made the first cut in this series in August 2024, when borrowing costs stood at 5.25%. Policymakers repeated their pledge to continue to remove the restraints they have placed on economic activity at a “careful and gradual” pace.
“It was a finely balanced decision,” said BOE Gov. Andrew Bailey. “Interest rates are still on a downward path.”

Russia Says Putin and Trump Will Meet in Coming Days
https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/russia-confirms-putin-and-trump-will-meet-in-coming-days-b1580381?mod=world_lead_pos1
The Kremlin confirmed that Russian leader Vladimir Putin was expected to meet with President Trump in the coming days, saying that the meeting was being planned for a location that would be named later.
The Russian statement on Thursday came hours after Trump said there was a “good chance” he would meet with Putin. The idea was raised by Russia during a meeting between special envoy Steve Witkoff and the Russian leader on Wednesday. Witkoff relayed the idea to Trump.
During the meeting with Witkoff, Putin provided “concrete examples” of Russia’s conditions for agreeing to peace, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The BLS Isn’t Alone in Facing Data Challenges; U.K. Has Them Too
https://www.wsj.com/economy/the-bls-isnt-alone-in-facing-data-challenges-u-k-has-them-too-21dd1e08
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is not the only data collector to have had problems with jobs numbers: for years, the U.K.’s main economic statistics agency has faced growing scrutiny about how it collects employment data.
In the U.K., however, criticism has been confined to questions of accuracy, rather than political motive.
President Trump on Friday fired the chief of the BLS, Erika McEntarfer, seizing on routine statistical revisions to claim that the agency is stacking the numbers against him for political reasons.