Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Walsh publicly stated on Tuesday that he will 'do his job' if faced with pressure from President Donald Trump. This was the most direct comment from Walsh regarding how he intends to respond to the kind of pressure his predecessor experienced for much of his term.
In response to questions from the House Financial Services Committee, Walsh reported that the U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld the Fed's independence in determining monetary policy. He emphasized that if he is personally attacked, he will continue to perform his duties. Walsh compared his stance to statements made by former Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
He noted that there is a lot of politics outside the walls of the Federal Reserve, whereas his goal inside the central bank is to exclude it. Walsh stated that 'the independence of the Fed is sacred' and that trust is strengthened when the Fed is perceived as independent. This statement was made in the context of questions about whether to set policy based on data, even if the president insists on lowering borrowing costs.
The current inflation rate exceeds the Fed's target of 2%, and there is uncertainty about whether the renewed conflict in the Middle East can reverse recent progress. Data released on Tuesday showed that US consumer inflation slowed more than expected, reaching 3.5 percent year-over-year for June, due to lower energy prices.
Walsh warned lawmakers not to view this data as a final achievement of the target. He stressed that his primary task now is to bring inflation back to the target level, which may require disappointing Trump's repeated hopes for interest rate cuts. He added that with proper policy, the surge in inflation over the last five years will remain in the past.
Walsh's relationship with Trump, who highly praised his appointment as Fed Chair at the inauguration ceremony in late May, served as a backdrop for the first of two days of his congressional hearings this week. Democrats cautioned him against relying too heavily on the recent Supreme Court decision to protect the central bank's independence.
On Wednesday, Walsh will appear before the Senate Banking Committee. This committee unanimously recommended his candidacy for Fed Chair at the end of April, but Democrats expressed particular concern about his ties to Trump and whether he would truly be independent after a selection process in which the president claimed he would nominate someone he was confident would lower rates. Walsh's initial actions are viewed as a demonstration of greater distance from Trump, noted by his appointments to several working groups last week, which featured a high level of expertise and lacked the ideological or partisan figures characteristic of other agencies.
ConectCar has introduced ConectCar Free Flow Moto, which is the first solution in the Brazilian market dedicated to automating the payment of motorcycle tolls on highways operating under the Free Flow system.
This technology, which is initially being tested with a specific group of clients, eliminates the need for manual payment after passing through the toll booths and reduces the risk of motorcyclists receiving fines for non-payment.
Currently, those traveling by motorcycle on Free Flow highways without a tag must identify the concessionaire responsible for the stretch, access the payment channels, and settle the toll within a maximum period of 30 days. If this period is exceeded, the situation is classified as toll evasion, according to Article 209-A of the Brazilian Traffic Code. This serious infraction results in a fine of R$ 195.23 and the addition of five points to the driver's license.
The complexity of this procedure has caused difficulties, leading the federal government to suspend over 3 million such fines at the beginning of 2026, highlighting the need that the new tool aims to solve.
With ConectCar Free Flow Moto, the user only needs to register their motorcycle's license plate on the company's platform. Based on this registration, the system automatically identifies passage through the Free Flow stretches and charges the toll using the balance available in the ConectCar account, dispensing with any action from the driver during or after the trip.
The service will be made available in MVP (Minimum Viable Product) format, a phase focused on validation and continuous improvement of the technology. Initially, the functionality will be limited to a selected group of clients who will receive an invitation to participate.
The solution is compatible with highways that already charge tolls for motorcycles in Free Flow, covering stretches managed by concessionaires such as CCR RioSP, Caminhos da Serra Gaúcha, and EPR Sul Minas, among others. It is important to note that it does not operate at traditional toll plazas with physical barriers, nor in parking lots.
This launch accompanies the expansion of the free flow model in the country, which currently covers more than 19 highways and has increased the demand for simpler payment methods due to the absence of booths and barriers.
ConectCar reports having a presence on 100% of tolled highways and in over 1,300 parking lots nationwide. Furthermore, the company is responsible for the tag technology used by institutions such as Itaú and Porto. With this innovation, the company expands its scope beyond tag-based solutions, strengthening its position as a technology provider for urban mobility.
Thousands of Nubank users reported difficulties with the platform during the night of this Wednesday, the 15th. The greatest customer dissatisfaction is related to the functioning of Pix, which was experiencing failures.
The Downdetector website, which monitors the real-time status of various services and platforms, registered almost three thousand complaints from Nubank users regarding these issues.
Social media also recorded several complaints about the Pix issue.
Olhar Digital contacted both the Central Bank (BC) to verify if Pix was facing problems on other platforms, and Nubank itself. The bank informed that it is aware of a temporary instability and is actively working to restore services as quickly as possible. An official statement from the Central Bank is still awaited.
Xiaomi has strengthened its presence in the Brazilian market by offering devices that combine contemporary design, good performance, and ample storage capacity. For those looking for a new phone, three options from the brand have been selected, currently available on Amazon, all equipped with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal memory.
The Redmi Note 15 was launched to reinforce Xiaomi's mid-range category, maintaining the configuration of 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. This setup ensures smooth navigation between applications, in addition to offering plenty of space for photos and games. Its black version gives it a sober yet stylish appearance.
The Redmi 15C model in Midnight Black offers an affordable alternative without compromising the robust specifications of 8GB of RAM and 256GB of ROM, making it suitable for daily use. It is recommended for those who wish to start with the Redmi line with good performance and a discreet look.
Additionally, there is the Redmi 15C in Moonlight Blue, ideal for those who prefer a touch of color. Maintaining the same RAM and storage specifications as the other models in the line, this bluish version stands out for its vibrant finish.
It is important to note that stock in promotions like these tends to sell out quickly on Amazon. Therefore, if any of these devices spark interest, it is recommended to check availability immediately. The article also informs that it contains links generated by an affiliate program, but emphasizes that this does not change the value for the consumer.
