Trump wants to rename Lake Ontario - the Seneca Nation calls it a treaty violation and disrespect, Sweden is sending warships and fighter jets to Finland, Dolly Parton's music is breaking streaming records after her death, and Iran is reporting 66 percent inflation. Meanwhile, major US corporations are already preparing for possible investigations by a Democratic-led Congress - and in Moscow, the cuckoos are beginning to leave.
Trump wants to rename Lake Ontario - Seneca Nation calls it a treaty violation and disrespect
The Seneca Nation in New York State is calling on Donald Trump to reverse his ordered renaming of Lake Ontario as "Lake America." President J. Conrad Seneca said the move not only disrespects the Indigenous origins of the name but, in his view, also violates the Treaty of Canandaigua from 1794. The treaty was signed under President George Washington with the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and was meant to guarantee lasting peace and friendship between the United States and the six nations, including the Seneca.
On Thursday, Trump issued an executive order directing that the lake be listed as "Lake America" in the United States' geographic naming system. The Interior Department is supposed to implement the change within 30 days. "The President cannot claim ownership of our culture or erase it through irresponsible political action," Seneca said. The name Ontario comes from the Indigenous Huron word "oniatarí:io," meaning "lake of shining waters." In the traditional Seneca language, the lake is called "sga:nyodai:yoh," meaning "beautiful lake." The name of the lake is therefore older than both the United States and the founding of Canada; the province of Ontario later took its name from the lake.
Trump's decision comes in the middle of the renewed escalation of the trade dispute with Canada. After talks broke down, the US imposed new tariffs on Canadian goods, and Ottawa responded with retaliatory tariffs. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney rejected the renaming and also pointed to the Indigenous history of the name. Trump cannot force Canada to adopt the new name anyway. The US president has long accused the neighboring country of taking advantage of the United States on trade and defense and has repeatedly talked about Canada becoming the 51st US state. For the Seneca Nation, the dispute therefore goes far beyond a name on American maps: it sees the move as a direct intrusion into a history and culture that existed long before either country was founded.
Sweden sends warships and fighter jets to Finland - drone alert along the Russian border
Sweden will directly support Finland this fall in protecting its airspace and defending against drones. The Finnish government had requested assistance after several airspace violations involving unmanned aircraft this year. According to the Swedish Armed Forces, warships, fighter aircraft and ground units capable of jamming or completely destroying drones could be deployed. Most of the forces are expected to operate from Sweden, but units could also be stationed in Finland if necessary. During the operation, Swedish troops could even be placed under Finnish command. Conscripts are explicitly not supposed to take part. The background is a series of incidents along the Finnish-Russian border and in the Gulf of Finland. At least three drones crashed on Finnish territory at the end of March, and in early May two more unmanned aircraft entered Finnish airspace near the Russian border.
Finnish authorities believe the drones were probably Ukrainian. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said at the time that they may have been knocked off course by Russian countermeasures. In May and July, Finland temporarily restricted air and maritime traffic because of the risk of further drone incursions during Ukrainian attacks on Russia's Leningrad region. Sweden sees the developments as directly connected to Russia's war against Ukraine and wants to work with Finland to strengthen the defense of NATO's eastern border as well. At the same time, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Poland and Sweden, along with Norway and Ireland, agreed on August 28 to create a joint task force against drones and other hybrid threats. The move was prompted by the growing number of drone incidents in Europe, including the discovery of a drone carrying explosives near a Ukrainian transport aircraft at Leipzig Airport.
The world is listening to Dolly Parton: 79.7 million streams in a single day
After Dolly Parton's death, her music was streamed around the world on a scale that is extraordinary even for a star of her stature. On Monday, the day before her death, her songs had around 1.2 million audio and video streams in the US. By Tuesday, that number had jumped to 30.5 million - an increase of 2,458 percent. A day later, the number in the United States rose again to 46.3 million. Worldwide, streams of Parton's music jumped from 2.5 million on Monday to 41.8 million on Tuesday. On Wednesday, her on-demand audio streams alone reached 79.7 million worldwide. That made Dolly Parton the most-streamed artist in the world that day. Unsurprisingly, "Jolene" led the way. The song had just over 196,000 streams in the US on Monday, 3.3 million on Tuesday and four million on Wednesday. "9 to 5" rose over the same period from around 209,000 to three million and then to 3.6 million. "Islands in the Stream," her duet with Kenny Rogers, was suddenly being played millions of times again as well: from just under 166,000 streams on Monday to 2.1 million on Tuesday and 2.9 million on Wednesday.
Parton's own recording of "I Will Always Love You," which later became world famous through Whitney Houston, shot up from just under 65,000 to two million and then 2.8 million. "Here You Come Again" reached 2.1 million streams on Wednesday, and "Coat of Many Colors" reached 1.9 million. Even songs that had previously drawn far fewer streams on an ordinary day were suddenly being searched for and played hundreds of thousands or millions of times. "Why'd You Come In Here Lookin' Like That?" jumped from 22,000 to 1.3 million within two days. "My Tennessee Mountain Home" had only around 5,800 streams on Monday - by Wednesday it had reached 1.1 million. Her duet "There Was Jesus" with Zach Williams also climbed sharply and reached 682,000 streams on Wednesday. "Tyrant," Parton's collaboration with Beyoncé on her album "Cowboy Carter," reached around 755,000. And it is not just the music. Parton's books have also been selling heavily since her death. Three books bearing her name were among Amazon's five best-selling titles on Friday, including her autobiographical song collection "Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics" and a picture book based on "Coat of Many Colors." Dolly Parton was a singer, actress, businesswoman and was also known for decades for her charitable work. But after her death, it is especially clear what millions of people connect with her first: her songs. They are suddenly everywhere again - and being heard by a new mass of people as if her entire career had been opened up all over again within just a few days.
Moscow is getting quieter: the cuckoos are heading south
The first cuckoos have already left Moscow and the surrounding region, with the main migration set to begin in September. Cuckoos are among the migratory birds that leave especially early for their wintering grounds. They normally disappear from the Russian capital region in late August or early September. Only swifts leave earlier. Anyone expecting to see large flocks in the sky, however, will be disappointed: cuckoos migrate alone, not in groups. That means their departure stretches over a longer period and is much less noticeable than with other migratory birds. Exactly when they leave also depends on local weather and changes in the climate.
After the cuckoos, nightingales and flycatchers leave the region. Warblers and reed warblers, by contrast, can remain in Moscow until mid-October, while starlings sometimes stay until early November. The common cuckoo is listed in Moscow's Red Book and is therefore among the specially protected species there. It can be found, among other places, in Losiny Ostrov National Park, Bitsevsky Forest, Mitino Landscape Park and Strogino, as well as in Moscow's newer administrative districts. The birds gradually disappearing is one of the early signs every year that summer in the region is coming to an end. While other birds remain for several more weeks, the cuckoos are already beginning their long journey to their wintering grounds. Anyone who hears or sees one over the next few days may already be encountering one of Moscow's last cuckoos of the summer.
Six months of war, 66 percent inflation: Tehran now admits the economic damage
Six months after the war with the United States began, Iran's leadership is now admitting just how badly the economy has been hit. President Masoud Pezeshkian said imports and exports have fallen by nearly 35 percent as a result of US sanctions and the blockade of Iranian ports. At the same time, annual inflation reached 66 percent last month. Even Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not appeared in public since the February 28 attack, is now calling on the government in writing to seriously address inflation, unemployment and the prices of goods and services.
Washington is increasing the pressure further. The Trump administration has warned countries and companies to stop doing business with Iran or face so-called secondary sanctions. Washington has so far held back when it comes to major trading partners China and India, however, because going after banks and companies there could also hit the US and global economies. Instead, the US Treasury Department is now targeting Egypt's Banque Misr and wants to cut its branches in the United Arab Emirates off from dollar transactions. A Hong Kong company and a person linked to Iran's Bank Melli were also sanctioned. Pezeshkian also said Iran was able to sell around 90 million barrels of oil during the short-lived agreement with the US in June, after Washington temporarily allowed those sales. That period did not last long.
Qatar is now once again trying to mediate between the two sides. Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met Iran's leadership in Tehran on Thursday and pushed for a return to free shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi later described the talks as "creative." But that is exactly where the situation remains deadlocked. The US says its forces have cleared the sea mines laid by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Trump has repeatedly claimed the strait is open. The Revolutionary Guard navy calls that an "obvious lie" and insists that ships still need Iranian permission. The actual traffic figures hardly suggest a return to normal operations: only seven cargo ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, compared with 17 the day before, while the average over the previous ten days was 15. While both sides continue to show military strength, it is becoming increasingly difficult in Tehran to ignore what this war is now costing people in everyday life.
US corporations fear the post-Trump era - now they are buying their way back in with Democrats
Major US companies that have supported Donald Trump with millions of dollars in recent years are now preparing for the possibility that they themselves could come under scrutiny from Congress after the midterm elections. Technology companies in particular are expecting hearings, demands for documents and possibly subpoenas if Democrats win control of the House in November. Meta and Palantir are among the companies whose executives and advisers are already working through how they would respond to investigations. Some corporations are setting up their own internal task forces, while others are bringing in former Democratic administration officials or are now sending millions of dollars to Democratic organizations. According to people familiar with the company's giving, Meta alone gave $5 million each to two organizations tied to Democratic leadership in the House and Senate.
At the same time, the company also gave $5 million each to two comparable Republican groups and had already donated $10 million to a Trump-aligned political committee in the spring. That brings Meta's contributions to political organizations involved in federal elections to at least $30 million this year. The reason for the new caution is simple: Democrats could investigate companies that gave especially large amounts of money to Trump, his projects or people in his family and political circle. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who could become Speaker of the House if Democrats win, has already said companies should be held more accountable and spoke of the end of an era of "unbridled corruption" under the "Trump cartel." Amazon, Chevron, Pfizer and UnitedHealth sent executives to a US Chamber of Commerce seminar specifically focused on how companies should deal with congressional investigations and subpoenas. Major law firms are now offering similar events as well. Paramount hired Shuwanza Goff, Joe Biden's former director of legislative affairs. Prediction-market operator Kalshi, where Donald Trump Jr. serves as a strategic adviser, brought in former Obama adviser Stephanie Cutter and former Biden aide John Bivona. OpenAI, meanwhile, organized dinners in Washington with Democratic lawmakers and CEO Sam Altman in an effort to strengthen its relationships with the party.
Many companies do not want to break with Trump completely, however, because his administration will remain in the White House for more than two more years and still controls approvals and major regulatory decisions. Some executives are therefore trying to get as many deals and policy decisions finalized as possible before the balance of power in Congress potentially changes. Elon Musk is going the other way and plans to spend more than $100 million to help Republicans keep their majority. In many corporate boardrooms, however, a different calculation is now taking hold: companies that spent years publicly tying themselves to Trump suddenly want to make sure the door is open with Democrats again too.
Grillmaster of the Day
A man who has never had a nice day in his life announces that he’s finally done being nice, like a shark declaring that starting tomorrow, it’s switching to salad. So he has himself rendered into a suit that looks more expensive than the houses burning behind him, while carrying a rifle like it’s a handbag he hopes matches his tie. Half the neighborhood is on fire, and his face has the exact same expression he’d make at the sight of a second scoop of ice cream: mild, satisfied nothingness.
Sehr gut, dass die Seneca Nation deutlich Kritik an Trumps Umbenennjngsplänen übt.
Trump interessiert die indigene Geschichte nicht.
Sieht man ja schon an der Zerstörung heiliger indigener Stätten. Unwiderruflich verschwunden.
Es passt halt nicht in Trumps White-Washing-Geschichte.
… die werden alle Trump Feuer geben und sich davon nicht beeindrucken lassen
Es wird Zeit, dass Europa und die NATO auf die Drohnenaufrüstung reagieren.
Seien wir ehrlich.
Wie die Vorfälle in den letzten Monaten zeigen, stehen wir ziemlich blank da.
Wir müssen mehr auf Gemeinsamkeit setzen.
Nur ein stares Europa, eine starke NATO schrecken Russland ab.
Denn auf die USA ist da nicht wirklich Verlass.
…man hat so lange geschlafen. schaue dir doch nur unsere recherchen an, die stehen nicht erst ein paar tage hier, aber nichts passiert. anfragen werden nicht beantwortet von der EU
Wunderbar, dass die Welt Dolly Parton hört.
In der Welt von Trump, Putin und Co, brauchen wif mehr Dollys.
…da gebe ich dir recht
Ein sehr interessanter Bericht über die Kuckucks aus Moskau.
Danke dafür
…fand ich auch und man sucht ja mittlerweile nach journalistischer ausgleichsfläche …
Trumps Bild ist wieder die Peinlichkeit schlechthin.
Natalie Harp hat ganze Arbeit geleistet 🤬
Passt zu dem Bild was MAGA gerade fleißig verbreitet.
„Präsident Trump ist der Präsident mit dem größten Herzen. Er sorgt dafür, dass hunderttausende Migranten in ihren Ländern Weihnachten feiern konnen“
…harpe ist einfach nur der lacher und so durchgeknallt. kenne die schon von ihrer zeit bei den rechten sendern, dort hatte sie bereits einen absoluten knall
Diese Tech-Heinis sind reine Opportunisten.
Sie hängen sich an den, der ihnen die meisten Vorteile bietet.
Noch ist es Trump, da er bis 2028 Präsident bleibt.
Das Geld was an Demokraten fließt, soll, so meine Vermutung, dafür genutzt werden die „progressive Demokraten“, wie Mamdani, auszubremsen.
Denn die könnten ja dafür sorgen, dass sie das eine oder andere Milliõnchen mehr an Steuern zahlen müssten.
Stimmt es, dass Hakeem Jeffries sich mit Jared Kushner getroffen hat?
Wenn ja, wirft das kein gutes Licht auf die Demokraten.
Auch da ist es Zeit, dass Andere das Ruder übernehmen.
Aber erstmal sollte man gemeinsam gegen die Untergrabung der Demokratie arbeiten.
…so sehen helden aus 😂 😂 😂
Wie oft hat Trump den Irankrieg als beendet erklärt?
Wie oft die Strasse von Hormus als offen bezeichnet?
Das der Iran wirtschaftlich leidet, ist nicht von der Hand zu weisen.
Das Volk muss es ausbaden 😞
Wenn es irgendwann zu einem echten Frieden kommt, wird der Iran Jahre brauchen um die Wirtschaft aufzubauen.
Sie werden zwangsläufig abhängig von Krediten anderer Staaten sein.
China und Indien stehen bereit.
oft, sehr oft, verdammt viel oft, oftendlos ….