U.S. and world news for Sept. 17

State visit

Donald Trump and his wife Melania are in the United Kingdom for a second state visit at the invitation of King Charles III. This week’s trip is a rarity as Trump already received a formal state visit in 2019, hosted by the late Queen Elizabeth. Typically, second-term presidents are not afforded the pomp of another state visit. Analysts say economic issues will be at the top of the agenda as Trump meets with various UK officials. However, those meetings will coincide with anti-Trump demonstrations that could divert attention away from the diplomatic business at hand. Political activists overnight already projected massive images of Trump and Jeffrey Epstein onto Windsor Castle. Four people were arrested for the public stunt.

Times report examines UAE investment in Trump’s crypto company

A report by the New York Times provides details on an investment of $2 billion into the Trump family’s cryptocurrency business in close proximity to a change in policy by the Trump Administration regarding artificial intelligence computer chips. According to the report, the company World Liberty Financial received $2 billion from an investment company backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) about two weeks before the Trump Administration lifted restrictions on selling high-tech computer chips used in artificial intelligence to the UAE. World Liberty Financial was started by the Trump family and the family of Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East. Sale of the computer chips to the UAE had been blocked because of fears they could wind up in the hands of China.

Federal Reserve decision on interest rates

At 2 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, the Federal Reserve was expected to announce the first interest rate cut since December to support America’s slowing labor market, with the hopes that President Donald Trump’s expansive tariffs might have only a limited impact on inflation. But there’s an elephant in the room as officials debate about the U.S. economy: Trump’s aggressive effort to reshape the Fed’s top ranks. On Monday, the Senate confirmed Stephen Miran, Trump’s top economic adviser, to serve on the Fed’s Board of Governors to complete a vacated term that expires at the end of January, but could be extended. Fed Governor Lisa Cook, whom Trump tried to fire in late August, will also cast a vote at this week’s meeting. An appeals court on Monday rejected Trump’s attempt to fire Cook while her lawsuit challenging Trump’s removal order moves forward.

Kirk shooting investigation

The 22-year-old accused of killing right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk appeared virtually in court on Tuesday to hear the charges against him. He showed no emotion as the judge read the seven criminal counts, which included aggravated murder and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty. The suspected shooter, identified as Tyler Robinson, will remain in custody without bail for the time being. New documents filed by the Utah County attorney also show Robinson confessed to the murder in a series of text messages sent to his roommate after the attack

Israel denies it is committing genocide

Israel is responding forcefully to an independent UN inquiry that concluded the country is committing genocide in Gaza. The 72-page report was released Tuesday by a commission set up by the U.N. Human Rights Council, and found Israel has “committed four genocidal acts” against the Palestinians in Gaza since October 7, 2023. The Israeli government rejects the findings, calling the report “distorted” and “false.” Meanwhile, thousands of displaced Palestinians are fleeing Gaza City as Israel escalates its offensive. Israel’s military said it expects the incursion to take “several months” to achieve its goals.

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder quits

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield has quit the ice-cream brand amid a dispute with its British owner Unilever. Greenfield said in a statement that quitting was “one of the hardest and most painful decisions” he’d ever made, as he accused Unilever of curtailing the ice-cream maker’s ability to speak out on social causes. “Standing up for the values of justice, equity, and our shared humanity has never been more important, and yet Ben & Jerry’s has been silenced, sidelined for fear of upsetting those in power,” Greenfield said in the statement. “And it’s happening at a time when our country’s current administration is attacking civil rights, voting rights of immigrants, women, and the LGBTQ community.”