“The EU’s General Court has rejected Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich’s challenge to sanctions imposed on him following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, upholding asset freezes and travel restrictions against the billionaire. The Council of the EU acted within its powers when it extended the measures against the billionaire former owner of Chelsea Football Club in 2022 through September 2025 and March 2026, judges ruled, according to a statement issued by the Court on Wednesday. Abramovich, who holds Russian, Israeli and Portuguese nationality, is the majority shareholder in Evraz, one of Russia’s largest steel and mining groups. He also owns shares in Norilsk Nickel, a major producer of palladium and refined nickel. The EU Court said the bloc’s sanctions criteria were objective, sufficiently precise and proportionate. They target prominent businesspeople operating in Russia, particularly those active in sectors that provide significant revenue to the Russian government.” (09/09/26)
“Americans are more skeptical of government information than they were a few years ago, with majorities now saying they have little or no trust in federal government information about elections and politics, foreign affairs or the environment, a new poll finds. The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and USA Facts shows that while mistrust of government information has grown since 2024, it’s also higher than it was at the end of President Donald Trump’s first term, underscoring how his recent attempts to dismantle the federal bureaucracy may have affected public confidence in the executive branch, particularly among Democrats. … About 6 in 10 U.S. adults have low trust in information from the federal government about the environment, foreign affairs, elections and politics, abortion or immigration — saying they trust it ‘only a little’ or ‘not at all.'” (09/09/26)
“Israel opened its first embassy in Slovenia on Wednesday, boosting relations with the small European Union nation even as ties sour with some longtime allies over its policy on illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar travelled to Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital, for the occasion that asserts a shift in Slovenia’s policy toward Israel under the current right-wing Prime Minister Janez Jansa. Saar called the embassy opening a ‘historic day’ after a meeting with his Slovenian counterpart Tone Kajzer. He described Israel as ‘the only democracy in the Middle East and almost the only real and true partner of Europe’, the STA news agency reported. ‘Moreover, we are defending Europe, Europe’s security, directly and indirectly,’ Saar said, adding that ‘Israel is the fortress on the front line for Western civilization’. Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the new embassy building to protest the visit, demanding the embassy’s closure.” (09/09/26)
“Flights from British airports resumed on Wednesday after a major air traffic failure, but questions mounted about the reliability of Britain’s aviation systems and ministers called in the flight control boss to explain the shutdown. The hours-long outage on Tuesday, which resulted in the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights and left hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded, has ramped up pressure on air traffic control provider NATS and its boss Martin Rolfe. Transport minister Heidi Alexander will later on Wednesday hear from Rolfe after she summoned him to explain what happened, amid concerns that the infrastructure and technology are not up to scratch. The shutdown comes three years after the last system meltdown in August 2023, when cancelled flights on one of the busiest travel days of the year cost airlines £100 million ($135 million).” (09/09/26)
“Television comedy series ‘South Park’ has announced it is changing its name to ‘South America’ as the show is set to begin its 29th season on Sept. 16. The show’s creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone said, ‘Inspired by the bravery and patriotism of Apple and Google, we are changing the name of South Park to SOUTH AMERICA. We especially want to thank our parent company Paramount — a Skydance Capitulation.’ Parker and Stone’s statement comes after U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America amid a trade spat with Canada. Canadian officials said they will not recognize the new name.” (09/08/26)
“Republicans are gathering in Dallas on Wednesday for a highly unusual midterm convention, a ‘Trump-a-Palooza’ that will put President Donald Trump at the center of this fall’s midterm elections — whether the candidates running like it or not. New financial disclosures show Trump gave sizeable cash gifts to Natalie Harp and several other top aides. A White House official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the gifts were ‘entirely permissible under relevant legal and ethical standards’. And Americans are more skeptical of government information than they were a few years ago, with majorities now saying they have little or no trust in federal government information about elections and politics, foreign affairs or the environment, a new poll finds.” (09/09/26)
“U.S. Internet behemoth Google announced plans Wednesday to invest at least $15.1 billion into artificial intelligence infrastructure in Finland, its largest single investment in Europe to date. The funds are to be invested over the next two years, including new data centers and other supporting infrastructure, as well as partnerships in the Finnish cities and municipalities of Hamina, Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala, it said. Data centers will be constructed in Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala, while Google’s existing data center in Hamina will be expanded.” (09/09/26)
“The United States has attacked five Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island after accusing Tehran of launching ballistic missiles at a US warship twice in two days. Iran responded to Tuesday’s attacks by firing missiles at US forces stationed at the Al Azraq base in Jordan. It also claimed additional strikes on at least two US vessels and eight tankers in the region, saying the assaults caused ‘great damage’.” (09/09/26)
“President Trump said the U.S. would ban Canadian alcohol, some dairy products and large motorcycles, sharply escalating a trade war largely fought with tariffs. The measures deepen the economic rift between countries that have spent decades interlinking commerce, threatening disruption for businesses and consumers on both sides of the border. The import bans take effect Sept. 29, effectively cutting off U.S. market access for the targeted Canadian goods rather than simply making them more expensive. … Trade tensions have ratcheted up swiftly since U.S.-Canada talks collapsed last month. The U.S. imposed 50% tariffs on [American buyers of] roughly $20 billion of Canadian goods. Canada hit back with tariffs of up to 50% on ][Canadian buyers of] a similar amount of U.S. goods, a measure that took effect earlier Tuesday.” (09/08/26)
“Russian drones hit a border crossing between Ukraine and Moldova in the southern region of Odesa, killing two people, and attacked the country’s capital Kyiv overnight, Ukrainian authorities said on Wednesday. Two civilians near the Starokozache crossing were killed and three others injured in the attack, Governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram. Passengers and vehicle traffic was temporarily halted across the border after the attack, which caused a major fire, officials said. Russia also attacked Kyiv overnight, causing fires but no casualties, emergency services said in a Telegram post.” (09/09/26)
