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Germany investigates suspected sabotage at multiple power grid sites amid hybrid warfare fears — 2dGermany is investigating back-to-back suspected sabotage of its power grid, with incidents at Bergheim and Brandenburg raising concerns about foreign influence and hybrid warfare, amid heightened tensions over Russia's suspected role in other attacks. Authorities say the outages were likely intentional and are examining possible links to foreign powers or extremist groups as the country braces for political volatility.

Derek Foss Critical infrastructure needs way more physical security, this isn't the first warning sign we've gotten.

Maduro and wife cite immunity to dismiss U.S. drug charges — 17hNicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores have filed motions in Manhattan federal court to dismiss U.S. drug-trafficking charges, arguing sovereign immunity as sitting head of state and, for Maduro, conduct-based immunity. The filings contend no American court can try a foreign leader recognized as head of state, with hearings scheduled and the trial date set unless the case is dismissed.

Priya Raman Doesn't matter how many motions they file, this case was never going anywhere close to an actual arrest unless he leaves Venezuela.

Mexico plans national security screening for foreign investments in key tech sectors — 3dMexico is pushing a reform to the Foreign Investment Law to create a formal national-security review for foreign acquisitions above 49% in strategic sectors such as energy, AI, semiconductors, data management and cybersecurity, with the Defense Ministry, Navy and Security Ministry joining the National Foreign Investment Commission and penalties as high as 200,000 times the UMA for noncompliance. The CNIE would set the asset threshold, impose mandatory pre-approval or mitigation measures, and, if no decision is reached within the statutory period, treat the filing as a denial, as Mexico seeks to curb security risks while continuing to attract investment amid US pressure and ongoing USMCA concerns.

Video — YouTubeVERDICT WATCH: MA v. Lindsay Clancy - Day 26 | Accused Killer Mom TrialCOURT TV · 1.8M views · Sep 2, 2026

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Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong pleads guilty, could face decades more in prison — 2dHong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong pleaded guilty to conspiracy to collude with foreign forces under the National Security Law, potentially facing life imprisonment. He is already serving about four years and eight months for a separate subversion case, with sentencing for the new charge pending.

Dana Whitfield Guilty plea or not, this whole thing was about silencing dissent from the start. Heartbreaking to see.

Türkiye Says SCO Membership Won’t Turn West — 1dTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey will not turn away from the West as it pursues deeper Eastward ties and aims to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as part of a 360-degree, balanced foreign policy. He emphasized that SCO membership would accompany, not replace, Western alignment, highlighted hopes for a peaceful end to the Ukraine war, and urged safeguards for Black Sea shipping to prevent a grain crisis amid the bloc’s growing economic influence.

Nicole Hardy Glad he brought up Black Sea shipping, another grain crisis would hurt way more countries than just Ukraine.

UN report finds foreign mercenaries, drones fueling Sudan's civil war — 17hA United Nations-backed investigation found that transnational networks have recruited and supplied the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF with weapons, drones, training, and personnel, dramatically expanding the fighting’s reach and civilian harm. The report, citing up to 2,000 Colombian contractors among others, calls for accountability, strict enforcement of arms embargoes, and urgent action to stop illicit support that funds and prolongs the conflict.

Marcus Bell Colombian contractors flying drones in Sudan's war shows how far these mercenary networks reach now, way beyond old-school arms deals.

Nepal seeks foreign expertise after devastating floodsWorld — 6dNepal says it can manage general search and rescue after the Himalayan floods but needs foreign technical assistance for specialized tasks such as tunnel rescues, restoring transport and communications, identifying and storing bodies, and DNA testing. With nearly 600 people killed and more than 2,000 missing, Kathmandu has also sought Bailey bridges from India and China to reopen critical transport links.

South Korea's FX fund bought $20 billion from SK Hynix in unusual move — 1dSouth Korea’s FX authorities bought about $20 billion in US dollars from SK Hynix’s repatriated proceeds after its $26.5 billion ADR listing, in a move aimed at stabilizing the FX market and replenishing reserves. The transactions marked a departure from traditional interventions, with SK Hynix planning to use the funds to finance new factories and equipment to meet surging AI chip demand, while the exact size of the Foreign Exchange Stabilization Fund and its dollar share remain opaque.

Nicole Hardy Kind of wild that the size of the FX Stabilization Fund is still a mystery. You'd think after a $20B move like this there'd be more disclosure.

Adoniram Judson's Bible Buried in a PillowGood News — FROM 1834Through imprisonment, fever, and the loss of his family, America's first foreign missionary finished the Burmese Bible — its manuscript once sewn inside a prison pillow.

Lawmakers grill birth tourism firm as founder invokes Fifth Amendment — 2dHouse lawmakers scrutinized birth-tourism schemes, examining companies such as Have My Baby in Miami and warning of potential immigration fraud and national-security risks as foreign mothers seek U.S. citizenship for their children. Witnesses and researchers cited tens of thousands of births annually and suggested taxpayers could bear the cost, with several participants invoking the Fifth Amendment during questioning.

Marcus Bell Birthright citizenship debates aside, taxpayers footing the bill for schemes like this is a legitimate gripe.

Video — YouTubeMystery Ghost Ball in Wrigley's Ivy...🤔💀Dugout Daze · 16.2M views · Aug 30, 2026

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Trump signs emergency order banning foreign energy equipment — Aug 26, 2026President Trump signed an emergency order to block foreign-made bulk-power system equipment from U.S. electric grids, citing national security risks and potential backdoors. The move, driven by concerns over China-made components and the growing demand from AI data centers and other tech, aims to shield critical infrastructure amid ongoing cyber threats.

Democrats eye Senate majority, midterms near — 3dDemocrats are eyeing Senate gains in 2026 with a slate of key candidates, while veteran strategist James Carville advises focusing on opposing Trump’s policies rather than a purely affirmative campaign. The political landscape hinges on Trump’s economic and foreign policy decisions, including the Iran war and rising costs, with voters wary of the administration and Democrats hoping to frame these consequences to win in the midterms.

BNP Paribas, KB Kookmin in talks 15% Techcombank — Aug 26, 2026BNP Paribas and KB Kookmin Bank are in talks to acquire at least 15% of Techcombank, with potential deals around $2 billion and a valuation near twice the bank’s book value. Given Vietnam’s 30% foreign ownership cap, bidders may need to buy from existing investors or assemble a bloc, and any agreement could materialize between late 2026 and mid-2027 as Techcombank seeks a foreign strategic partner.

Sánchez claims Russia, Israel behind Ceuta disinformation — 3dSpain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says the July–August Ceuta migrant influx is still under investigation and denounces false information spread by networks linked to Russia, Israel, and the far-right, while EU foreign-service findings indicate disinformation from Russia and Israel amplified around the crisis. The government is pursuing accountability and a coordinated response to curb misinformation as it analyzes the underlying causes of the Ceuta arrivals and their broader regional impact.

Foreign U.S. Treasuries Fall in June — Aug 17, 2026Foreign holdings of U.S. Treasuries fell in June to about $9.299 trillion, led by declines from Japan, the United Kingdom and China, though holdings are still 2.3% higher than a year earlier. Despite Treasury outflows, inflows into U.S. corporate bonds and equities remained robust, indicating ongoing broad foreign investment into U.S. assets even as Treasury exposure wanes.

Coalition sues Trump over foreign student visa rulePolitics — Aug 22, 2026A coalition of unions and education groups filed multiple lawsuits to block Trump administration policies: challenges to changes in federal worker performance evaluations as exceeding authority and violating civil service law; opposition to a rule reducing graduate student loan limits for certain professions; and lawsuits against visa-duration rules for international students, exchange visitors, and foreign journalists that purportedly disrupt education and immigration processes. A separate suit also seeks to overturn the four-year cap on foreign student visas, arguing it would hinder colleges and international enrollment as the rules take effect.

Chinese court freezes $300 million in Nexperia assets amid Wingtech dispute — 3dA Chinese court in Dongguan has frozen up to 2.14 billion yuan (about $300 million) in assets of Dutch chipmaker Nexperia and its equipment unit at Wingtech’s request, as part of an ongoing ownership dispute that has not yet been resolved. The freezes cover Nexperia’s stakes in four China-based businesses and the equipment unit’s Wuxi subsidiary, with the case seeking 8 billion yuan in damages under China’s anti-foreign sanctions framework, amid broader tensions sparked by Dutch intervention and export controls that have yet to restore Wingtech’s voting influence.

Chris Dalton Using anti-sanctions law here feels like retaliation dressed up as legal process. Wingtech clearly wants leverage back after losing voting control.

Video — YouTubeKAROL G, Bruno Mars - Still (Official Video)KarolGVEVO · 2.9M views · Sep 2, 2026

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JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF Reports Tax Attribution — 2dSeveral ETFs declared upcoming distributions: JPMorgan Equity Premium Income (Hedged) Complex ETF issued tax-attribution estimates indicating MIT/AMIT status for the period, with Foreign Income (Net) being the primary component and other categories largely zero; another JPMorgan report cites a 36.6404-cent per unit distribution with a similar tax attribution structure. Other funds announced straightforward per-share dividends for September: Western Asset Bond ETF at 0.0897, SPDR SSGA My 2029 Municipal Bond ETF at 0.0518, and iShares iBonds Dec 2055 Term Treasury ETF at 0.0962, each with their respective ex-dividend dates.

Marcus Bell Those small monthly payouts on the bond ETFs add up more than people think, especially with a defined maturity fund like the 2055 term treasury one.

House returns with four weeks to fund government before Sept. 30 deadline — 4dZacks Investment Research flags a little-known satellite-based communications stock as the top pick to double, forecasting a 2025 revenue breakout as space industries grow. Across politics and local governance, Congress faces a four-week funding push before Sept. 30 amid election dynamics and ongoing Trump-related legal and foreign policy debates, while Caldwell County moves to vacate the historic Center Theater as drought conditions ease and other local issues unfold.