IJR News

Gordie Howe Bridge Opens with Canada-First Ceremony — Jul 24, 2026Canada’s Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor and Detroit is set to open with Canadian ceremonies amid tensions with the United States after current President Trump threatened tariffs, while officials emphasize the project will ease congestion and bolster cross-border trade valued in the hundreds of billions annually. The six-lane crossing, named for hockey legend Gordie Howe, marks a milestone after decades of delays and signals renewed cooperation as Canada celebrates the milestone with events and live streams on both sides of the border.

Gordie Howe Bridge Opens with Canadian Ceremony — Jul 20, 2026The Gordie Howe International Bridge is set to open with a Friday ribbon-cutting and traffic access beginning Monday, July 27, with pedestrian and bike crossings available on August 5, according to Windsor officials and U.S. partners. The opening follows delays tied to Trump-era concessions, and Canadian-U.S. discussions on toll revenue sharing and debt repayment remain ongoing, with officials confirming the milestone and cross-border collaboration.

Canada Cancels Opening Ceremony With U.S. After New Trump Tariffs — Jul 23, 2026Canada has canceled a joint ceremony to open the Gordie Howe International Bridge because or President Donald Trump’s new 50% tariff on certain Canadian imports. The administration imposed the tariffs because of what it…

Trump touts auto investment in Michigan amid tariffs — Jul 26, 2026President Donald Trump visits a GM facility in Milford, Michigan to tout his handling of the economy and defend tariffs in a key swing state ahead of the Aug. 4 primary, highlighting manufacturing jobs and foreign investment. His remarks come as tariffs—especially on Canada—and trade tensions, along with the Gordie Howe Bridge opening, shape the political landscape for both parties in Michigan’s battleground environment.

Sam Howell Becomes Cowboys Backup QB — Aug 31, 2026Sam Howell won the Cowboys’ backup quarterback job behind Dak Prescott after edging out Joe Milton, who was waived, leaving Howell as the sole reserve on the 53-man roster for Week 1. Teammates and coaches praised Howell’s leadership and the benefit of competition in earning the role.

Jehovah’s Witnesses Ease Blood-Component Rules, Retain Whole-Blood Ban — 6dThe Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses has further relaxed policies on blood, allowing members to decide, based on personal conscience, whether to accept or donate four main blood components (red cells, white cells, plasma, platelets) and to receive products derived from donated blood. The organization, however, maintains its longstanding ban on whole-blood transfusions and notes that decisions on blood use remain a personal conscience matter, with prior updates permitting members to store their own blood for future care.

Marcus Bell This update could mean fewer Witnesses face conflicts during major surgeries.

Republicans Plan Dallas Convention Ahead of Midterms — Sep 6, 2026Dallas hosts a wide RNC speaker slate for Sept. 9-10, featuring speakers such as Michael Whatley, Laurie Buckhout, Mike Collins, Brian Jack, Ken Paxton and other officials alongside high-profile figures like Donald Trump and JD Vance as the party highlights battleground races. However, the lineup has sparked Hatch Act concerns over Attorney General Todd Blanche’s appearance, drawing criticism from observers about legal limits on federal officials participating in partisan events.

Indian Equity Mutual Fund Inflows Hit Four-Month High — Sep 10, 2026Equity mutual fund inflows in August rose 19% month-on-month to about ₹29,329 crore, led by mid-cap and small-cap funds and marking a four-month high. However, the overall mutual fund industry saw net inflows of ₹41,353 crore as debt-oriented schemes posted outflows, while total assets under management climbed to ₹87.07 lakh crore and SIP AUM rose to ₹18.62 lakh crore.

Jared Kim Equity inflows bouncing back is a positive sign, though debt outflows show investors are still picking their spots carefully.

Eurozone manufacturing hits four-year high as Germany surges, Italy contracts — Sep 1, 2026Eurozone manufacturing activity picked up in August, with the PMI rising to 52.7—the highest in about 51 months—led by Germany’s strongest growth in over four years and supported by improvements in France and broader regional demand; however, Italy remained in contraction. Separately, Sweden’s manufacturing PMI also signaled solid expansion at 56.1, underscoring a broader euro-area evidence of improving factory output and orders across major European economies, aided by easing input costs though supply pressures persist.

Nicole Hardy Easing input costs helping margins but supply chain issues sound like they never really went away.

South Korea in talks on $22.3 billion Texas gas plant, denies deal is final — Sep 7, 2026South Korea and the United States are reportedly pursuing a roughly $22.3 billion investment to build a 6.3 GW LNG gas-fired power plant in Encinal, Texas, as the first major project under their 2025 bilateral trade framework; however, Seoul’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy has disputed some media reports, saying negotiations are ongoing and final details have not been confirmed. Reports also suggest possible follow-on projects, including a large-scale nuclear plant and an Alaska LNG venture, with no decision on nuclear construction announced yet.

Dana Whitfield Alaska LNG keeps popping up in these deals but never seems to actually break ground. Curious if this Texas plant fares any better.

Nscale reportedly seeks $3.5 billion ahead of IPO despite thin revenue — Sep 4, 2026London-based AI infrastructure startup Nscale is pursuing a roughly $3.5 billion pre-IPO round, with Nvidia and Third Point linked to the financing, as it positions for a US listing while leveraging a massive $103 billion backlog of contracted revenue anchored by a $45 billion deal with Anthropic. However, the company has only recognized about $33 million in 2025 and just over $100 million in Q2 2026, underscoring a gap between contracted revenue and actual revenue and a private valuation around $14.6 billion.

Tom Gallagher $103 billion in "backlog" sounds great until you realize backlog isn't a bank deposit, it's a promise.

US and China reportedly plan AI safety talks, White House casts doubt — Sep 4, 2026Reports indicate the US and China may hold their first dedicated AI safety talks in mid-September, with potential leadership from US officials like Scott Bessent and Chinese counterparts, and a focus on monitoring AI-driven cyber threats; however, a White House official has stated there is no mid-September AI meeting planned.

Marcus Bell Even if the meeting isn't confirmed, the fact both sides are even floating cyber threat monitoring is worth watching.

Near-Total Lunar Eclipse Across Americas and Europe — Aug 25, 2026On August 28, 2026, a deep partial lunar eclipse will occur, with about 96% of the Moon entering Earth's shadow and the partial phase lasting around 3 hours 18 minutes within a total event of about 5 hours 38 minutes. Because it will happen during daytime in India, the eclipse will not be visible there and Sutak observances are not applicable; however, visibility will be favorable across North and South America, Europe, and parts of Africa.

Alliance Entertainment, Pool Analysts Signal Diverging UpsideBusiness — Aug 26, 2026Across four head-to-head stock comparisons, Alliance Entertainment is consistently favored by analyst ratings with high target prices and substantial upside, while its stock beta remains low relative to peers. However, rival companies—Pool, Bluemount, JX Luxventure, and Top Win International—often exceed Alliance on specific metrics or exhibit different risk and ownership profiles in these analyses.

Dubai International Airport records 31% traffic drop amid Iran war disruption — Aug 26, 2026Dubai International Airport recorded a about 31% drop in first-half passenger traffic due to the Iran war and resulting Gulf airspace disruptions, with 31.5 million travelers in H1 2026 and 13 million in the second quarter; however, officials say activity is gradually recovering as more international routes and capacity return. The airport remains optimistic about a return to stronger demand and connectivity later in the year as carriers resume services and load factors rebalance.

China Opens 800B Yuan Financing Tool, Delays Loom — Aug 24, 2026Beijing opened applications for an 800 billion yuan policy-backed financing tool to spur infrastructure, high-tech manufacturing, and other strategic sectors, aiming to attract private and bank financing and lift growth after a slowdown. However, analysts warn rollout could lag by weeks to a month, potentially dampening near-term impact even as new subsidies and a private investment guarantee are meant to attract private capital.

US Small-Business Optimism at 11-Month High, Hiring Plans Jump 20% — Aug 11, 2026The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose to 99.8 in July, the highest level since August 2025, with owners broadly signaling stronger hiring plans as a net 20% expect to add jobs. However, uncertainty remains elevated and concerns about inflation, labor quality, and persistent labor shortages continue to temper the outlook for small businesses.

New Report About Mayor Raises Questions — Aug 7, 2026New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is usually seen wearing the same steady smile during interviews and public appearances, the kind of expression that suggests everything is going just fine. Behind the scenes, however, a new report says things may be a little less cheerful. According to the New York Post, more than a dozen […]

US Core Capital Goods Orders Rise 0.9% — Jul 27, 2026June core capital goods orders rose about 0.9%, with shipments up as AI-driven tech investment boosts demand for computers, electronics, and related equipment, signaling ongoing business investment and a firmer path for manufacturing and GDP growth into Q2, with Boeing positioned to benefit from the higher durable goods activity. However, reports note mixed strength across transportation and employment outlooks, as payrolls and Fed policy guidance suggest cautious optimism for the broader economy.

Cowboys Plan Parting Ways With QB, Bolster Defense — Jul 21, 2026{"summary":"The Cowboys are prioritizing defense for 2026, with roster projections emphasizing defensive depth over another quarterback and suggesting Sam Howell as the QB2 while Joe Milton III could be kept on the practice squad to preserve an extra defender. The team faces questions at edge and linebacker, as Marist Liufau battles to secure a spot, Jordyn Brooks’s extension with the Dolphins ends trade talk, and veterans like Jonathan Bullard and possibly Bobby Wagner are eyed to bolster run defense and overall leadership.","summary_sources":["https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/cowboys-predicted-part-ways-qb-165724132.html","https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/dallas-cowboys/marist-liufau-position-change/","https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/cowboys-lose-top-lb-target-005418020.html","https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/onsi/underrated-dallas-cowboys-signing-secret-weapon-improve-run-defense","https://www.the-sun.com/sport/16723443/dallas-cowboys-bobby-wagner-free-agent/"]}

Trump Admin Putting Major Medical Association’s Billing Code ‘Monopoly’ Under The Microscope — Jul 25, 2026The Trump administration is now scrutinizing the American Medical Association over the “influence” its medical billing codes have on healthcare nationwide. Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes are meant to “provide a uniform nomenclature for coding medical procedures and services,” according to the AMA. However, some Republicans have raised concerns about whether the AMA currently holds […]

Kia posts record Q2 revenue, profits fall — Jul 24, 2026Kia posted record quarterly revenue of about 33.04 trillion won and a wholesale volume of roughly 851,000 units in Q2, driven by a stronger electrified lineup even as global demand softened. However, operating profit declined about 4.9% due to higher warranty provisions, incentives, and currency effects, with EV and hybrid sales surging but labor strikes looming as a potential headwind.

Bitcoin Security Consortium launches $15M funding pledge — Jul 23, 2026The Bitcoin Security Consortium, backed by major industry players, pledges $15 million over three years to strengthen Bitcoin security and post-quantum readiness while asserting that it will not influence Bitcoin’s protocol or governance. However, the backing sources remain unnamed and there is limited independent verification or media coverage of the pledge.

SEC Warns Crypto Vaults May Be Securities — Jul 22, 2026SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce warned that crypto vaults and on-chain lending strategies may fall under existing federal securities laws depending on their structure, with the Howey test guiding whether they are securities. She stressed that regulators will assess each product case-by-case, that moving activities onchain does not automatically remove them from regulation, and urged developers and participants to engage with the agency rather than assume blockchain design exempts them.