WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday decided to lower the target range for the federal funds interest rate by 25 basis points to 3.5 to 3.75 percent, marking its third rate cut this year.

The latest move was widely anticipated, making it the third rate cut in a row since the Federal Open Market Committee monetary policy meeting in September.

"Uncertainty about the economic outlook remains elevated. The Committee is attentive to the risks to both sides of its dual mandate and judges that downside risks to employment rose in recent months," the Fed said in a statement. (U.S.-Fed-Rate Cut)

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HELSINKI -- The 2025 Nobel Prizes in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and the 2025 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel were awarded on Wednesday at a ceremony held in the Swedish capital Stockholm.

More than 1,000 guests, including leading members of the Swedish royal family and political figures, attended the ceremony. (Sweden-Nobel Prize)

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WASHINGTON -- The U.S. military has intercepted and taken control of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday.

"As you probably know, we've just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, a large tanker, very large. Largest one ever seized, actually," Trump said at a White House event.

U.S. forces carried out a "judicial enforcement action on a stateless vessel" that was last docked in Venezuela, according to a Bloomberg report, citing a senior U.S. official. (U.S.-Venezuela)

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BERLIN -- An oil pipeline in northeastern Germany leaked on Wednesday afternoon, spaying large amounts of oil in Uckermark of the state of Brandenburg, authorities said.

Local media reported that the accident happened during work on the pipeline and that two workers were injured. Oil shot into the air after the leak, forming a fountain about 25 meters high, the reports said. (Germany-Pipeline Leak) Enditem