The United States Federal Reserve has raised interest rates for the first time since 2018, as it tries to cool inflation, which is running at the highest level in 40 years. The Chair of the central bank, Jerome Powell, said the implications of the Russian invasion were "highly uncertain", pointing to the risk of disruption to supply chains. Also today, we look at details of the French government's plan to ease the economic impact of the war in Ukraine.

The Fed raises interest rates by the most in over 20 years The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by half a percentage point Wednesday, in an effort to cool off demand and lower inflation. Consumer prices have been rising at the fastest pace in 40 years.

The central bank has announced a 0.5% interest rate hike — its highest increase in more than 20 years. The US move comes as a number of other countries cut lending rates to deal with rising prices.

It is the fourth month in a row the central bank's Monetary Policy Committee has voted for a rise. Policymakers are currently trying to stem inflation amid high energy prices sparked partly by Russia's war in Ukraine.

After a sell-off on Wall Street, global investors are grappling with price increases and rising borrowing costs. Inflation is particularly brutal in Turkey, and the Greek government unveils a program to protect households from soaring energy prices.

Federal Reserve raises key interest rate 0.75% as it tries to calm inflation. The Federal Reserve said on Wednesday that it is raising its benchmark interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point, the sharpest hike since 1994, as it seeks to combat the fiercest surge in U.S. inflation in four decades.

The Bank of England has followed the US Federal Reserve in raising interest rates. Both economies are battling the highest level of inflation in years and hope that tighter monetary policy will curb spiralling price rises. Also in the show: Australia's new government commits to more ambitious emissions reduction targets, and TV critics question Netflix's plans for a reality show based on the life-or-death hit "Squid Game".

The European Central Bank has hiked its key interest rate by an unprecedented 0.75 percent, as it tries to tackle the highest inflation in the bloc's history. But the pace of price rises is largely due to energy costs. Craig Erlam, Senior Market Analyst at Oanda, says the policy shift "is not going to be as effective as you would ordinarily see". He says government action – like the UK's newly-announced plans to cap energy bills – will have a bigger impact for most consumers.

The Bank of England has warned that the UK economy may already be in recession, as it hikes interest rates for the seventh time to combat the spiralling pace of price rises. Inflation is still hovering nearly 40-year highs at just under 10 percent.

The Bank of England has launched a £65 billion emergency bond-buying programme, in an effort to calm the markets and avert a financial crisis. The "unprecedented" support comes amid mounting criticism of the government's plan to slash taxes.

The UK's central bank says it is widening a debt purchase scheme to stem a collapse in the government bond market. Britain's central bank said its aim was to ward off a "material risk to UK financial stability."

The Bank of England has expanded its emergency purchases of government bonds to calm financial markets riled by a government plan to cut taxes. As a crucial deadline looms, everyone is asking: will it work?