外媒每日新闻 Trade War & Far-Right Surge Edition

A wave of Houthi attacks ignited fires at several oil facilities and utilities in Saudi Arabia's southern region, injuring at least 73 people. The attacks hit "civilian and economic facilities" in the Saudi cities of Abha, Jazan, Najran and Khamis Mushait, said coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki. The Saudi Energy Ministry said fires were ignited at several oil facilities, temporarily halting operations. The flare-up shatters a four-year truce in Yemen's civil war and threatens shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a critical route for global oil trade. Separately, Britain banned imports of all goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, with Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband calling settlement expansion "ethnic cleansing." Israel retaliated by saying it will close the British consulate in Jerusalem, expel UK representatives from a joint Gaza ceasefire monitoring center, and end UK training of Palestinian Authority security forces. France and Canada will join the UK ban.^[1]

U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held "encouraging" talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Sunday, a day after a three-hour meeting with Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin — but made no breakthrough toward ending Russia's invasion. Witkoff said the team was "very encouraged," while Kushner acknowledged it was "a very, very hard problem" and that Trump was focused on creating conditions for "a long-term durable peace." The visit was their first to Kyiv since taking on mediation roles and followed a renewed diplomatic push after six months of focus on the Iran war. Zelenskyy held three rounds of talks with the Americans, the last bringing in national security advisers from the UK, France and Germany. He discussed air defense needs including Patriot systems and a "winter package" of support. Putin's foreign policy adviser Ushakov described the Moscow talks as "constructive, frank and useful," saying "economic issues and potentially large, mutually beneficial joint projects" were discussed.^[2]

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) won a stunning victory in Sunday's Saxony-Anhalt state election, the far-right party's largest electoral triumph to date and the closest a far-right party has come to holding power in a German state since World War II. The AfD fell short of an absolute majority that would have allowed it to form the first far-right state government since the Nazi era — though it may still manage to do so through coalitions. Chancellor Friedrich Merz doubled down on pushing unpopular reforms in Europe's largest economy after the result. The vote renewed fears of an ascendant far right across the continent, as voters vent discontent over affordability, Russian aggression, and trade scraps with China and the US. Far-right leaders from Portugal to Austria celebrated the win. Spain's PM Sánchez called it "a warning that the far-right threat is gaining ground." France's Marine Le Pen remains the front-runner to replace Macron. However, there have also been notable reversals: Hungary's Orbán lost in a landslide in April, and the Netherlands' Wilders broke up his coalition over immigration.^[3]

Candidates in key November races spent Labor Day weekend stumping at festivals, union halls and parades as the midterms enter the final weeks with control of the House and Senate on the line. In Maine, Democrat Troy Jackson — a former logger — rallied union workers to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins. In Georgia, Sen. Jon Ossoff told union members: "We are dealing with the most absurd and obscene corruption in the modern history of our republic," hammering Trump for the Iran war and inflation. Trump's party is set to gather in Dallas this week for an atypical midterm convention. Trump vowed to campaign for Republicans in dozens of races, spending the final 30 days before Nov. 3 in battleground states. His super PAC MAGA Inc. is spending $10 million on a Texas Senate ad blitz. The first statewide mail ballots already went out in North Carolina on Friday, even as litigation over Trump's efforts to limit mail ballots creates uncertainty. The economic fallout from Trump's tariffs on Canada may intensify as the election nears.^[4]

Canada struck back at President Donald Trump on Tuesday with tariffs on about $20 billion worth of U.S. goods, in response to the latest round of tariffs on Canada. The tariffs hit hundreds of American products — steel, aluminum, cheese, appliances, clothing, cosmetics and farm equipment — at rates of 15%, 25% or 50%. PM Mark Carney said U.S. demands could hollow out key Canadian industries and limit the country's independence. "Carney and Canada have become symbolic of resistance to him," said historian Robert Bothwell. Eight of Canada's 10 provinces continue to restrict or ban sales of U.S. alcohol, with spirits exports to Canada falling over 70% year over year. On Monday, Trump threatened to ban Bombardier from selling planes in the U.S. unless they manufacture there. Carney will address the European Parliament next week, establishing himself as a leading global voice for standing up to Trump. Canada's economy grew at a 3.2% annualized rate in Q2, more than twice the 1.5% U.S. pace. Industry Minister Joly declared: "I'm convinced we will be able to show the world that Canada will win this trade war."^[6]

Brent crude rose 0.9% to $97.17 a barrel after hitting a six-week high of $97.93, while WTI advanced 1.3% to $92.64, taking both benchmarks to their highest levels since July 23. The surge followed renewed U.S.-Iran strikes on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and reports that Houthi rebels struck Saudi Aramco's Jazan refinery. Concerns were compounded by Iranian plans to announce a new "exclusion zone" outside the Strait of Hormuz that could further disrupt shipping. Oil prices have risen for three consecutive sessions, with Brent briefly touching $99.46 earlier in the week. The rally comes as U.S. consumers face record gasoline and diesel prices for the Labor Day weekend. The national average for regular gasoline stood at $4.12 per gallon. Traders are pricing in a 58% probability of a Federal Reserve rate hike after the Sept. 15-16 meeting, as energy-driven inflation fears mount. The 10-year Treasury yield remained at 4.78%, near its highest since autumn 2023.^[7]

U.S. stocks weakened after the latest fighting in the war with Iran pushed oil prices higher and stoked inflation fears. Brent crude rose 1% to $97.95 after briefly climbing to $99.46, while WTI remained above $92. The S&P 500 fell, the Dow dropped over 400 points, and the Nasdaq declined as rising energy costs and bond yields pressured equities. The 10-year Treasury yield held at 4.78%, near its highest since autumn 2023. Traders were pricing in a 58% probability of a Fed rate hike after the Sept. 15-16 meeting. The sell-off reflects growing concern that sustained high oil prices could feed through to consumer inflation, potentially forcing the Federal Reserve to reverse course and tighten monetary policy even as the economy shows signs of cooling. Asian markets also fell, with India's Sensex declining 555 points and Japan's yen surging as investors sought safe-haven assets amid the geopolitical turbulence.^[8]

Damaging winds and heavy rains from Hurricane Lowell pelted Hawaii's western islands overnight Tuesday, bringing threats of floods, mudslides and tornadoes. The islands of Kauai and Niihau were under a hurricane warning, while Oahu — with close to 1 million residents — was under a tropical storm warning. Wind gusts reached 80 mph (130 kph), though sustained winds had decreased by early Tuesday. Rainfall totals could reach up to 24 inches (60 cm) in some areas on Kauai. Gov. Josh Green closed schools and government offices on three islands. The center of the storm was passing west of the islands and moving away, but tropical storm-force winds extended nearly 200 miles. This comes just weeks after Tropical Storm Lala washed away about 100 homes and caused widespread power outages. The back-to-back Pacific storms come amid an already hyperactive Atlantic hurricane season.^[10]

An Amazon Prime Air Boeing 767 cargo plane overran the runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday, tearing through a fence and crossing a service road before slamming into vehicles, killing five people and injuring five others. The jet struck a 2012 Ford van carrying seven people from a cleaning company and a Toyota SUV outside the airport fence. All five deceased were inside vehicles, according to NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy. The crash trapped the pilot and co-pilot in the cockpit, with dramatic video showing a crew member escaping moments after the crash. Investigators recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder on Monday. The plane traveled about 396 meters past the paved surface, and concrete barriers designed to keep cars out crumbled as the jet headed straight for a four-lane road. Thick black smoke rose over the airport as rescue teams worked to free those pinned in vehicles. Three of the injured were in critical condition.^[11]

Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano erupted early Sunday, forcing the cancellation of flights at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and disrupting services at seven other airports as volcanic ash spread across western Indonesia. A continuous eruptive phase lasted about 25 hours, producing lava fountains, loud explosions and columns of ash. The eruption disrupted 2,961 domestic and international flights and affected around 341,000 passengers. All affected airports had reopened by late Tuesday morning. Three smaller eruptions were recorded again on September 8, keeping volcanic ash risk under active monitoring. UAE-based airlines like Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways continued to suspend flights into the region. The volcano, whose name means "Child of Krakatoa," sits in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra — the same location where the catastrophic 1883 Krakatoa eruption killed over 36,000 people. The event highlights the vulnerability of Southeast Asian aviation infrastructure to volcanic activity.^[12]

Police arrested a 48-year-old suspect Tuesday in connection with a series of attacks on power distribution systems across Germany, ending a dayslong massive search. The man, identified by local media as Daniel V., was arrested near a power plant in Weisweiler in western North Rhine-Westphalia, in possession of explosives, and offered no resistance. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the acts were believed committed by a single activist connected to climate extremism — not a foreign power as initially feared. The suspect allegedly used homemade rockets to shoot thin wires across high-voltage power lines to cause short circuits at multiple locations in three states. Police found a tent in nearby underbrush containing additional explosive charges. Letters found at the scenes justified the attacks as part of the fight against fossil fuels, since lignite is still mined and burned in all three affected states. The arrest came after officials initially raised alarm that the attacks might be linked to Russia, following Berlin's attribution of a drone attack on Leipzig Airport to Moscow.^[13]

President Donald Trump hosted 9/11 first responders at the White House on Monday, unveiling a 21-foot, 16,900-pound steel beam recovered from the World Trade Center's South Tower on the Ellipse lawn. The event, with the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, comes ahead of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Trump will mark the anniversary at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, while VP JD Vance will attend the Ground Zero ceremony in New York City — a departure from past practice where presidents typically visited Ground Zero. The steel beam, part of the foundation's "Steel Across America" nationwide tour, gave cadets, faculty and guests at West Point and other stops the opportunity to experience a powerful artifact connecting the events of September 11, 2001 to generations of service that followed. Meanwhile, Sen. Schumer criticized Trump for stripping staff from the 9/11 Health Program and reassigning them to ICE, saying: "This is the 25th anniversary of 9/11. The promise was 'never forget.' This administration is breaking that promise." The program serves 140,000 survivors.^[14]

Apple is holding its first major product launch under new CEO John Ternus on September 9, with the tagline "surprise and shine" — expected to reveal the first foldable iPhone alongside iOS 27. The launch marks the post-Tim Cook era and features a completely rebuilt Siri AI assistant capable of more natural conversations and faster responses, reading on-device personal context and taking actions inside apps through the new App Intents framework. iOS 27 also brings expanded camera-based Visual Intelligence, new AI-driven editing tools in Photos, and new child safety controls. At WWDC 2026, Apple announced users will be able to choose between Claude or Gemini as their iPhone assistant — a major shift in Apple's AI strategy. The foldable iPhone represents Apple's entry into a category dominated by Samsung and Chinese rivals. iOS 27 supports devices as old as the iPhone 11, but advanced AI features will be exclusive to newer models. The public release is scheduled for September 14, with app launch speeds reportedly improving by 30%.^[15]

OpenAI confidentially filed its S-1 registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 8, targeting a September 2026 IPO window with a projected valuation of up to $1 trillion. The Wall Street Journal reported that the company is collaborating with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to prepare listing documents. The company is currently valued at approximately $852 billion but loses $1.22 for every dollar of revenue. However, mixed signals have emerged: CFO Sara Flore stated in a recent interview that the company has "no current plans for an initial public offering" and is prioritizing growth and R&D. The confidential filing starts the regulatory clock but commits to no specific date. If the IPO proceeds, it would mark one of the largest public offerings in history and reshape the AI investment landscape. OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra, launched September 3, is the company's most capable model and the first to reach the "Critical" cybersecurity capability threshold. Builders and investors are watching for pricing transparency and whether the public prospectus will appear on EDGAR before the September window closes.^[16]

France's Mistral AI closed a €3 billion Series D funding round at a post-money valuation exceeding €21 billion ($24 billion) — the largest equity funding round for a privately owned European tech company. Samsung Electronics led the round alongside the EU-backed Scaleup Europe Fund and existing investor PSG Equity. The funding is intended to expand Mistral's frontier research, model capabilities, and infrastructure amid growing European AI sovereignty ambitions. The round underscores Europe's push to build a homegrown AI champion that can compete with U.S. giants OpenAI and Anthropic, as the EU seeks strategic autonomy in critical technologies. Separately, Google warned it would deliver lower-quality search results in Europe as it revamps results to comply with the EU Digital Markets Act and a €460 million antitrust fine, telling Reuters the changes would degrade user experience and raise costs for European businesses. The White House also pushed for faster power and nuclear approvals for AI data centers, with the National Security Council convening officials to streamline permitting.^[17]

Trump's Truth Social post threatening to ban Bombardier from selling planes in the U.S. — "NO MORE SELLING BOMBARDIER IN THE UNITED STATES! Their products aren't good enough!" — trended across X/Twitter on Monday and Tuesday, with the hashtag #Bombardier gaining over 10,000 posts. Canadian manufacturing executive Flavio Volpe's clapback went viral: "Bombardier uses U.S.-made GE and Honeywell jet engines. They employ 3,000 Americans. Maybe sit this one out?" Another widely shared post read: "Trump wants to ban Bombardier but let Huawei operate freely in his first term. Make it make sense." The hashtag #TradeWar and #LakeAmerica also trended, referencing Trump's renaming of Lake Ontario. A viral map of North America covered in the U.S. flag that Trump posted was widely mocked, with one post reading: "He's literally posting fan fiction." Others noted the irony: "He's banning a company that employs his own voters to punish a country that just tariffed him back." The Bombardier discussion has become a flashpoint for broader debate about Trump's trade war tactics and their impact on U.S. workers.^[18]

The hashtag #AfD trended worldwide Sunday and Monday as the Alternative for Germany won its largest electoral victory to date in Saxony-Anhalt, the closest a far-right party has come to governing a German state since World War II. Reactions split sharply along ideological lines. German Chancellor Merz was criticized on X for doubling down on unpopular reforms rather than reflecting on the result. A viral post from a German political scientist read: "The 'firewall' (Brandmauer) against the AfD held in parliament but crumbled at the ballot box. You can't govern against the will of the people indefinitely." French far-right leader Marine Le Pen celebrated: "The momentum is with us. France is next." Others pushed back: a widely shared thread documented how Hungary's Orbán — once the standard-bearer of Europe's far right — lost in a landslide in April. "The AfD win is a warning, not a verdict," wrote another user. "Voters are angry at incumbents everywhere. That's not the same as endorsing extremism." The debate highlighted the tension between respecting democratic outcomes and maintaining post-war anti-fascist consensus. Images of AfD supporters celebrating in Magdeburg with the flag of the former East Germany went viral alongside counter-protests.^[19]

The hashtag #NeverForget trended on Monday as Trump hosted 9/11 first responders at the White House, unveiling a 16,900-pound steel beam from the World Trade Center's South Tower — but his decision to mark the 25th anniversary at the Pentagon instead of Ground Zero in New York City sparked fierce debate on X. Trump, a native New Yorker, will be the first president to forgo a visit to Ground Zero on a major anniversary. VP JD Vance will attend the New York ceremony instead. Critics called it "a slap in the face to New York" and noted that Trump has frequently used 9/11 imagery for political purposes. Others defended the decision, noting the Pentagon was also attacked and that all three sites deserve recognition. A viral post from a 9/11 family member read: "My father died in the South Tower. The steel beam at the White House is meaningful. But the president should stand where my father fell." Sen. Schumer's criticism of the administration for stripping staff from the 9/11 Health Program added fuel: "The promise was 'never forget.' This administration is breaking that promise." The program serves 140,000 survivors, with enrollment expected to grow by 10,000 this year. The debate underscored how 9/11 remains deeply political even 25 years later.^[20]