Iran launches missile and drone attacks on U.S. facilities in Kuwait and UAE
Iran claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks on U.S. military facilities in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, escalating a six-month-old conflict. The attacks followed U.S. military strikes on Iran and explicit warnings from President Donald Trump that any retaliation would be met with proportionally harder strikes.
Federal Reserve raises federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 3.75%-4.0%, first increase since 2023
The Federal Reserve raised the benchmark federal funds rate by 25 basis points to a target range of 3.75%-4.0% on September 16, 2026, marking the first rate increase since 2023. The 12-0 vote cited persistent inflation well above the Fed's 2% target, with officials signaling potential further hikes depending on economic data.
White House enforces ban on CNN, MSNBC, and Politico journalists following credential confiscation
The Trump administration enforced a ban on CNN, MSNBC, and Politico journalists effective immediately following a social media announcement by President Trump. Reporters from the three outlets were denied access to White House grounds and had their press credentials confiscated or disabled, marking a significant escalation in the administration's rhetoric against the press.
Trump-Xi Summit Opens Amid Trade Truce Disputes
President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met in Washington on Thursday to manage an increasingly volatile economic relationship. US officials criticized China for not living up to the terms of their one-year trade truce, raising concerns about export controls, agricultural commitments, and rare earths, while the summit aimed to preserve fragile truces and avoid further economic destabilization.
Nvidia acquires Hugging Face in $12.9 billion deal
Nvidia finalized its $12.9 billion acquisition of Hugging Face, the open-source AI platform, on Thursday. The deal, which values the startup at roughly $13 billion, marks one of the largest purchases in the generative AI sector this year and is expected to broaden Hugging Face's reach while adding significant compute resources from Nvidia.
President Trump signs Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 into law
President Donald Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 (H.R. 5334) into law on September 18, 2026. The bipartisan legislation authorizes expanded statutory sanctions, tariffs, and prohibitions targeting Russia and enhances existing penalties on Iran. The bill passed the House 262-159 and the Senate 86-11, granting the president broad authority to impose new economic measures against both nations.
Judge strikes down Education Department's anti-DEI grant policy, restoring $600 million in funding
U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley invalidated a Trump-era policy that had required the Department of Education to terminate approximately $600 million in DEI grants, ruling the mandate was arbitrary and capricious due to a lack of clear criteria. The ruling restores funding to teacher training and other education programs previously targeted under the policy.
Alexander Zverev wins first US Open title, ending American men's Grand Slam drought
Alexander Zverev captured his first US Open title and second Grand Slam championship, defeating Ben Shelton in four sets to end a 23-year drought for American men at the tournament. The victory marked Zverev's second Grand Slam title overall, following his 2024 Australian Open win, and completed a breakthrough year that included Olympic gold in Paris.