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TOYS ‘R’ US IS BACK, AND YOU'RE BLACKPILLING??? — 1hMeme Wars: trending on the Right today.

Elena Vasquez Not every bit of news needs to turn into another reason to stay negative.

Trump Says Major Progress Toward US Army Base in Poland — 20hTrump said on Truth Social major progress is being made toward a US Army base in Poland; if it happens, the location will be announced very soon.

Derek Foss This could be a solid step for US-Poland ties but we need to see the actual costs before getting too excited.

UN mission cites possible US war crimes in Iran strikes and Iran abuses — 1dU.N. mission finds reasonable grounds U.S. war crimes in Minab school strike; Iranian officials say about 120 children among more than 150 killed. Also cites Iranian crimes against humanity.

Bill Gates Calls AI 'Alien Intelligence,' Urges US-China Cooperation — 3dGates calls AI “alien intelligence” and says governments are “way behind,” as his foundation commits $1B over two years and he urges US-China cooperation.

Sam Okafor No country looks ready for the job losses AI will bring in agriculture and clinics so the warning about inequality feels realistic.

Prince Harry makes first public appearance in Britain since US return — 1dPrince Harry made his first Britain public appearance since the US return at the Invictus Spirit Awards as Earl Spencer's memoir claimed King Charles said of Diana they would forget her soon enough.

Rachel Meyers Earl Spencer's memoir timing adds extra strain just when Harry is trying to resume UK work.

Solidigm weighs first US NAND factory in upstate New York — 7hSolidigm is weighing its first U.S. NAND factory, with upstate New York a leading site, Reuters reported Sept. 18, 2026; SK hynix shares rose 6.4%.

Elena Vasquez Solidigm building here would create real manufacturing jobs and help reduce our reliance on Asian chip production.

US Retail Sales Rebound 1.2%, Exceed Forecasts — 1dUS retail sales rose 1.2% in August, beating the 0.8% forecast after a revised July drop, with ex-auto sales up 1.4% and y/y growth at 6.0%.

Jared Kim This rebound shows consumers are still spending despite higher rates, so the Fed has more work ahead to slow the economy.

US Acknowledges Undisclosed On-Orbit Weapons — 3dChina condemned the United States for deploying on‑orbit space weapons, urging Washington to halt preparations for space warfare and to uphold global strategic stability. Beijing reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful space use and warned against weaponising outer space or triggering an arms race, a view echoed as the US, and its allies, pursue space security capabilities.

Meme declaring nothing can stop us now trends on the right — 23hMeme Wars: trending on the Right today.

Jared Kim Some of these are clever but I wonder how long the trend will actually last.

US Again Denies Abbas Visa Ahead of UN Assembly — 1dThe United States again denied entry visas to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and dozens of his officials for the UN General Assembly, forcing Abbas to address the gathering virtually for a second year in a row. Washington cited deviations from US law and failure to reform by Ramallah as grounds for the visa bans, while the Palestinian mission pushed a virtual address and sought to keep the UN gathering on schedule.

Tom Gallagher A virtual speech again this year just highlights how little trust exists between Washington and Ramallah right now.

Nigeria’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Faces TurmoilPolitics — 2dAcross the US and Nigeria, campaigning is defined by ongoing disputes over elections, governance, and opposition strategy. In the US, President Trump and GOP candidates persist with false election-fraud claims even as voters want to move on; in Nigeria, analysis centers on the APC's campaign council, oil politics, and the opposition's tactics ahead of 2027 elections.

Snap Launches $2,195 Specs AR Glasses — 1dEvan Spiegel demoed Snap's $2,195 Specs in LA and rejected AI making people irrelevant: computers should make us more important, not less.

Priya Raman Spiegel makes a good point that computers should help people stand out more, not fade away.

Brookfield Agrees to Acquire Reliance Worldwide for US$2.9 Billion — 2dBrookfield Capital Partners will acquire Reliance Worldwide Corporation (RWC) for US$3.38 per share, valuing the company at about US$2.9 billion, with a scheme of arrangement and a Go Shop period through 15 October 2026. The RWC board unanimously supports the deal, which offers USD or AUD payment options, carries premiums to recent trading levels, and is subject to shareholder, court, and regulatory approvals as well as an independent expert’s report.

Tom Gallagher Brookfield's offer at a premium looks decent for RWC shareholders but the long timeline to close could bring risks.

Pakistan Plans Bigger China Swap, Awaits US Decision — 1dPakistan will seek a bigger China yuan swap in 2027 after fully drawing 30 billion yuan, Aurangzeb said, while awaiting a U.S. decision within two months on a $10 billion facility.

Rachel Meyers Relying on these external lines keeps reserves afloat but does little to fix underlying fiscal problems over time.

Stocks Rebound as Oil Eases After Fed Hike — 3dUS stock futures dipped as the 10-year Treasury yield rose above 5% ahead of the Federal Reserve decision, underscoring higher borrowing costs and persistent rate-inflation concerns. Oil climbed on Middle East tensions, while bond–equity ETFs showed reduced diversification benefits as rates stayed elevated and markets sold off.

Japan and US discuss GlobalFoundries chip plant in tariff investment deal — 1dJapan and the U.S. discuss a ¥2-3 trillion ($12.9-19.3B) GlobalFoundries plant for car and industrial chips—not AI—under a $550B tariff deal; a SoftBank data center is also on the table.

Maya Lindstrom This deal shows both countries are serious about securing chip supply chains away from Asia's hotspots.

Newly Crowned No. 1 Rybakina Withdraws From BJK Cup With Injury — 7h"I won't be able to participate in Billie Jean King Cup this year," new world No. 1 Elena Rybakina posted Sept. 18 after a US Open win; federation cites left Achilles needing two weeks.

Jared Kim Kazakhstan loses its best player for the finals, but forcing her to play injured would have been worse for everyone.

US Pays $725 Million to UN, Averts Vote Loss Risk — 1dFarhan Haq said the U.S. paid $725 million to the U.N. regular budget and is no longer in jeopardy of an Article 19 vote loss for 2027.

Jared Kim Paying up preserves our say at the UN but the backlog shows we need steadier funding commitments going forward.

U.S. Jobless Claims Fall to 196,000, Lowest Since July — 1dUS initial unemployment benefits claims fell to 196,000 last week, the lowest since July, with the four-week average dipping to 203,250 and signaling a still-tight labor market. Economists had expected 207,500 claims, and while hiring remains modest, job growth continues to occur, underscoring persistent labor-market resilience.

Sam Okafor Fewer claims like this mean the job market is still solid for workers despite slower overall hiring.

US DFC Plans $155M WIOCC Investment Across Africa — 1dDFC will put up to $155 million into WIOCC—its largest-ever equity stake—as CEO Ben Black ties the Africa infrastructure push to winning the AI race for America.

Derek Foss This kind of direct investment in African fiber and data centers could give US tech firms a real edge over Chinese suppliers.

Delta Electronics Seeks $1.5 Billion Thai-Linked Bonds — 4dDelta Electronics plans a US$1.5 billion zero-coupon, dual-tranche exchangeable bond issue via its Singapore unit, backed by Delta Electronics Thailand shares, with US$500 million due in 2027 at a 15% premium and US$1 billion due in 2031 at a 30% premium, to fund working capital and expansion. The notes can be exchanged into DET shares, with 2031 bonds offering a put option and both tranches carrying specific redemption terms, while the deal aims to minimize equity dilution for minority holders.

US extends fuel truck driver shifts to avert supply delays amid record diesel prices — 1dSean Duffy issued a 90-day waiver letting fuel truck drivers work 16 hours a day, up from 14, as U.S. diesel hit a record $6.29 a gallon.

Derek Foss Blaming drivers hours ignores how energy policies drove prices this high in the first place.

US Plans $52 Million Aid Shift to Americas — 2dState Department reprograms $52 million in military aid to the Americas to "combat narcoterrorism in our backyard," shifting funds from Europe and the Middle East.

Chris Dalton Hope the money to Colombia and Peru actually hits narcoterror groups instead of getting lost in bureaucracy.

TotalEnergies Partners With GIP on $1.8 Billion African Infrastructure Deal — 7hTotalEnergies and Global Infrastructure Partners, a BlackRock affiliate, have agreed to a US$1.8 billion investment into TotalEnergies’ African oil and gas midstream assets in exchange for a throughput-based tariff lasting up to 15 years, allowing monetization while preserving operational control. The deal signals a broader strategy to unlock value from midstream infrastructure and attract major investors to Africa’s energy sector.

Priya Raman BlackRock's affiliate backing African oil infrastructure at this level should draw more serious money into the sector.

Discussions

Developing storylines

US-Canada trade dispute escalates with tariffs and import bans

AI infrastructure, governance and US-China tensions

US deploys on-orbit space weapons amid China criticism