President Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House today with a lavish ceremony featuring a B-2 stealth bomber flyover and a military band in the Rose Garden. Trump described their relationship as a "truly great friendship," while Xi maintained a more businesslike tone, focusing on geopolitical issues and Chinese companies' access to U.S. markets. White House reporter David Sanger noted the contrast highlighted Trump's belief that success with Beijing depends on personal chemistry between leaders. The two met for roughly three hours, though few expect significant agreements. Xi announced China would soon send two pandas to Atlanta's zoo, and Trump hosted a state dinner with a three-course menu including sesame-crusted sea bass and sour cherry confit.

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage rose to 7.03 percent today, about one percentage point higher than seven months ago and more than four points higher than early 2021. Rates have steadily increased since the war in Iran began in February, making home buying more expensive. The higher rates are weighing on an already struggling housing market, with August sales of existing homes hitting their lowest level in over a year.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a fiery speech to the U.N. General Assembly, defending wars in Gaza and Iran as battles "against barbarians" and accusing critics of hypocrisy. Dozens of delegates walked out in protest while supporters chanted "Am Yisrael Chai." Outside, hundreds protested on New York streets. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas spoke virtually after the U.S. denied him a visa, calling Israeli actions "a malicious colonial scheme" and urging a two-state solution.

Google is preparing to launch a refrigerator-size satellite into orbit capable of answering simple A.I. queries, marking the first step toward establishing an A.I. data center in space. Tech leaders including Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Sam Altman support the initiative, which aims to address power concerns by using solar energy. Some experts question the feasibility of orbital data centers.