The United States has refused Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas a visa to attend next week’s UN General Assembly in New York, according to a source familiar with the matter. The State Department also said it would deny visas to Palestinian officials, citing a lack of reforms and actions it said harmed prospects for peace.

United StatesPalestineUN General Assemblyvisas

The Trump administration has again denied visas to a senior Palestinian delegation, preventing it from attending the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations in New York for a second consecutive year.

United StatesPalestinian delegationUnited Nationsvisa denial

The United States has denied Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas a visa to attend the UN General Assembly in person for a second consecutive year. Abbas addressed last year’s gathering virtually.

United StatesPalestineUN General Assembly

Hong Kong and mainland Chinese stocks fell on Thursday after the US Federal Reserve delivered its first interest-rate increase in three years and indicated that additional tightening remained possible. The Hang Seng Index was down 0.8 per cent at 24,537.30 by 9.30am, while the Hang Seng Tech Index fell 0.5 per cent and the CSI 300 dropped 0.2 per cent.

Hong Kong stocksFederal Reserveinterest rates

Members of the Federal Open Market Committee unanimously voted to lift the Fed’s key overnight bank lending rate by a quarter point, seeking to bring inflation down. It was their first unanimous rate hike in more than three years.

Federal Reserveinterest ratesinflation

The Federal Reserve raised its policy rate by 25 basis points to 3.75%-4%, its first increase since July 2023, citing persistently elevated inflation. The decision passed unanimously, 12-0. Analysts viewed the hawkish move as leaving another hike possible before year-end, while Chair Kevin Warsh avoided committing to a prolonged tightening cycle and defended Fed independence amid Donald Trump's calls for cuts.

Federal Reserveinterest ratesinflationmonetary policy

The US Federal Reserve has raised its key interest rate for the first time in three years in an effort to reduce high inflation. The decision could set up a confrontation between Chair Kevin Warsh and President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly urged the central bank to cut rates. The programme also covers France extending fuel subsidies and Hong Kong aligning with Beijing’s economic vision.

Federal Reserveinterest ratesinflationDonald Trump

The Federal Reserve unanimously raised interest rates to 3.75%-4% from 3.5%-3.75%, its first increase in more than three years. Chair Kevin Warsh said inflation had been too high for too long, while President Donald Trump called for rates of 1% or less.

US interest ratesFederal ReserveinflationDonald Trump

President Donald Trump called on the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates to 1% or less, just hours after the central bank announced its first rate increase since 2023.

Donald TrumpFederal Reserveinterest rates

The Federal Reserve chair appointed by President Trump raised interest rates to fight inflation. Trump said he has confidence in Kevin Warsh and wants him to remain independent.

Federal Reserveinterest ratesinflation

Federal Reserve officials project another interest-rate increase later this year after Wednesday’s hike, followed by a steady policy in 2027, according to quarterly forecasts released after the latest meeting.

Federal Reserveinterest ratesmonetary policy

The US Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday, seeking to tackle stubbornly high inflation in the world’s largest economy. The move is likely to anger President Donald Trump, who has called for lower rates.

Federal Reserveinterest ratesinflationUS economy

The Federal Reserve approved its first interest-rate increase in more than three years on Wednesday and indicated that another hike could follow before the end of the year.

Federal Reserveinterest ratesUS economy

The US Federal Reserve raised its benchmark federal funds rate range by 25 basis points to 3.75%-4.0%, marking its first rate hike since July 2023. The widely expected move was in line with market expectations.

Federal Reserverate hikeinterest ratesUS economy

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman will attend the state dinner accompanying the Trump-Xi summit in Washington. His appearance comes as Washington and Silicon Valley engage in a heated battle over AI regulation.

AIOpenAITrump-Xi summitAI regulation

OpenAI said Wednesday that CEO Sam Altman is expected to attend U.S. President Donald Trump’s state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping.

OpenAISam AltmanDonald TrumpXi Jinping

In late May 1935, the Central Red Army reached the Dadu River in Sichuan, but a severe shortage of ferries made crossing the river difficult.

Central Red ArmyDadu RiverSichuanLong March

Fiji has declared a national health emergency over a sharp rise in HIV infections. The government estimates that one in 60 adults is living with HIV, while increased methamphetamine use, unsafe injecting, stigma and limited testing and treatment have deepened the crisis.

FijiHIVpublic healthmethamphetamine

Oil prices continued to decline after Saudi Arabia reportedly offered ship-to-ship crude transfers following a pipeline hit. Additional Saudi supplies eased concerns about disruptions to the kingdom’s exports.

Oil pricesSaudi ArabiaCrude supply

Ukrainian forces reportedly struck a military airfield in Russia’s Rostov Oblast overnight on Sept. 16, while the Yaroslavl oil refinery caught fire after reports of a drone attack. Russia’s regional governor said drones were destroyed, but the reports and extent of damage could not be independently verified, and Ukraine has not commented.

Russia-Ukraine wardrone strikesoil refineryRostov Oblast

A US official held a closed-door meeting with the Houthis in Oman over the weekend, according to a report. The meeting was not publicly disclosed.

United StatesHouthisOmantalks