5 things to know for September 20th: Ukraine, royal visit, economy, climate crisis, Hunter Biden

CNN
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A Danish artist received $76,000 from a museum to create two pieces of art, but instead submitted blank canvases titled “Take the Money and Run.” The bold move has reignited debate over the value of conceptual art after a court ruled this week that the artist must return almost all of the money.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave a dramatic speech to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday calling for a unified global front against Russian aggression. It was his first face-to-face address to the gathering since the Russian invasion in 2022. When Zelensky took the stage, he was greeted with robust applause and used his 15 minutes to accuse Russian leaders of terrorism and genocide, particularly targeting the expulsion of Ukrainian children from the country. After his UN speech, Zelensky appeared on CNN and called on former President Donald Trump to share his alleged peace plans. Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has claimed that he could strike a deal with Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours.

The British King Charles III. and Queen Camilla will arrive in France today for a state visit, six months later than originally planned. President Emmanuel Macron was forced to awkwardly postpone the original trip due to nationwide violent clashes over his pension reform. The French leader canceled the visit in March just days before the end, saying at the time his government would have lacked “common sense” if it had taken place. The royals have a busy program ahead of them for the three-day visit to Paris and Bordeaux, starting with a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe and personal talks between Charles and Macron.

The Federal Reserve is expected to keep its key interest rate steady this week as it awaits more data to understand how previous rate hikes are affecting the U.S. economy. The central bank raised interest rates to a 22-year high in July. At the conclusion of its two-day policy meeting today, the Fed will also release a set of new forecasts that are likely to reflect stronger economic growth and slightly lower unemployment this year compared to previous estimates. Fed officials and financial analysts say keeping interest rates stable this month is the right move, but some also said the Fed could raise rates again after September. However, forecasts could change as the central bank faces a number of uncertainties on the horizon – including a possible government shutdown, rising energy prices and an ongoing autoworker strike.

Millions of American homeowners could see insurance premiums rise in the coming years, in part due to worsening climate disasters. About 27% of properties in the Lower 48 are at risk of seeing their premiums skyrocket as insurers struggle to cover the rising costs of rebuilding, according to a new report. In recent years, major insurers in California, Florida and Louisiana have pulled out or stopped writing new policies, in part citing increased risks such as more destructive wildfires and stronger hurricanes. This month, ten countries and territories were hit by a series of extreme weather events in just twelve days. The most catastrophic were the floods in Libya, which killed nearly 4,000 people in the eastern city of Derna.

03:20 – Source: CNN

Aftermath of the floods in Libya

President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, plans to plead not guilty to federal weapons charges, he said in a court filing Tuesday. He is also asking that his first court date be held remotely. The charge stems from the purchase of a gun in 2018 and includes possession of a firearm as a prohibited person. Prosecutors say Hunter Biden was a drug user at the time of the purchase and therefore was not legally allowed to own the gun, and lied on a federal form by not disclosing his drug use. Meanwhile, Republicans in the House of Representatives are moving forward with their impeachment inquiry into President Biden and are poised to issue subpoenas as early as this week to the president’s son and brother, Hunter and James Biden, for access to their personal and business records.

Sister’s bang cutting skills go viral
These four siblings tried to cover up a hilarious haircut mishap. Watch the mischievous moment.

Vanna White will serve as co-host of “Wheel of Fortune” until 2026
Pat Sajak is saying goodbye to “Wheel of Fortune” next year, but his longtime co-host Vanna White will continue filming the letters until at least 2026.

Doritos sets a new world record with a bizarre marketing stunt
The company used a helicopter to dip a giant chip into a cheese mixture because why not?

New discoveries off Egyptian coast reveal ‘treasures and secrets’
A team of underwater archaeologists has recovered gold relics and jewelry about four miles off what is now Egypt’s coast.

Would you like to sleep better on a plane? Try it with your feet
Use these tips for dozing in the sky to maximize your chances of getting a good rest on long-haul flights.

76%
That’s the percentage of Americans who say they are seriously concerned that President Biden’s age could negatively impact his ability to serve another full term if re-elected, according to an August CNN poll. At 80, Biden would be 86 at the end of a possible second term. The president tried to address the issue head-on this week, citing his long experience as a reason for his re-election. “A lot of people seem to focus on my age. Believe me, I know better than anyone,” the president said.

“We have used our union’s strongest weapon:
the right to strike.”

—Unifor, the union representing Canadian auto workers, issued a statement Tuesday after reaching a tentative collective agreement with Ford. While many auto workers in the U.S. continue to strike, this deal for Canadian workers will keep more than 5,000 people on the job. A strike at Ford’s engine assembly plants in Canada would have halted production of some of the company’s best-selling vehicles at U.S. plants – including the F-Series pickup trucks and the Mustang sports car.

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AND FINALLY…

The extravagant drink
Some coffee shops around the world offer lattes with your face on them for the ultimate personal touch. See how it’s done.