Norway seized a Russian vessel at the request of Ukrainian state energy company Naftogaz over Russia’s failure to pay a $4.22 billion arbitration award for assets seized in Crimea.

The vessel, Professor Molchanov, is barred from leaving Svalbard.

Naftogaz says it will continue pursuing Russian assets in other countries until the compensation is paid.

Source: Reuters

French President Macron:

If Europe wants to remain in the race, it must consolidate production chains in Europe.

It must develop a pragmatic approach toward these major international competitors.

Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodriguez on elections:

There is a Constitution, and there is an electoral and democratic system established by the Constitution.

I do not set dates, but I can tell you that since January, the first thing I did was call for democratic coexistence, because the path Venezuela had taken was not simply a matter of elections.

I have worked tirelessly to ensure that Venezuela is ready and prepared when the time comes for its electoral process, which will take place — have no doubt about that: there will be an electoral process.

U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker on Iran:

As a bankrupt country, they’re not going to be able to pay anyone in their military, anyone in their civil service, anyone in their government, and they’re not going to be able to subsidize their society.

So certainly the people of Iran will not be happy with the current state of affairs, and they should blame their government.

They should blame this regime, and they should ask certainly for change and a different way forward.

U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker:

Russia is bogged down right now in Ukraine. It can’t make any progress on the front there, and so its threat to NATO in the near term is low.

However, that aggressive action, that invasion of Ukraine, the prior annexation of Crimea — that leads us to believe Russia can be unpredictable and could be willing to take action against a NATO country.

WATCH: A reporter asked U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Commander Adm. Samuel Paparo, “Under what circumstances would you obey an order to launch military action against Canada?”

Paparo called the scenario “absolutely and utterly preposterous” and the question “needlessly emotional.”

When pressed further, Paparo said, “Would you ask me please also what my attack plans are for the Martians?”

U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker:

The recent statements by the Russian president don’t lead me to be optimistic about that, and so we need to make sure that Ukraine can defend itself as long as it takes until we can get that war to end.

Trump:

Apple Maps has just announced that it has changed the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America, so now that very important change of names, between Google Maps and Apple Maps, is complete, ratified, and binding.

Egyptian President el-Sisi:

Taiwan is an inseparable part of China.

The White House has discouraged U.S. space companies from attending French President Macron’s Sept. 9–10 space summit in Paris, arguing that participation could be seen as endorsing EU policies the administration views as anti-competitive and unfriendly to American industry.

The message has put companies such as SpaceX, Stoke Space, K2 Space and Astra in an awkward position, especially because Europe remains an important market.

Despite the pressure on private companies, officials from the White House science office, State Department, Commerce Department and NASA still plan to attend.

Source: POLITICO

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir posted a disturbing AI-generated video depicting Palestinian prisoners being processed and emerging thinner and visibly distressed.

The video drew more than 4 million views before being removed from X.

White House envoy Steve Witkoff met UAE national security adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Sardinia last weekend to discuss next steps on Iran.

The meeting was not announced by the White House and had not previously been reported.

Sheikh Tahnoon is one of the UAE’s most powerful officials.

Source: Axios

Trump to Kan News:

Israel should not worry. You know why? Because I’m the president and I will take care of Israel.

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has asked a U.S. judge to dismiss federal drug-trafficking charges, arguing that head-of-state immunity protects him from prosecution.

Maduro, captured by U.S. forces in Caracas in January, has pleaded not guilty.

His lawyers say U.S. courts lack jurisdiction because he was Venezuela’s head of state and the alleged conduct involved official acts.

BIG: Trump is privately considering declaring the Iran war over and, according to U.S. officials, favors the idea.

At the same time, he believes continued economic pressure will eventually force Iran to dismantle its nuclear program or cause the regime to collapse.

Source: WSJ

FBI Director Kash Patel:

Great to host my good friend Ambassador Tom Barrack from Türkiye here at the FBI - an amazing public servant and friend to law enforcement everywhere.

A New York Times visual investigation concluded that a U.S. weapon struck a residential building in Kuhestak, Iran, where a wedding was being held.

The Times verified videos from the scene, matched the location with satellite imagery, and analyzed photos of weapon fragments with an explosives expert, who identified them as consistent with a U.S.-used JSOW glide bomb.

The strike killed at least five people and wounded 67, according to Iranian authorities.

The Times also found that the wedding site was about 150 yards from a communications tower that was separately attacked.

Source: NYT

Trump aides, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are reportedly backing efforts to keep the Iran war relatively contained until the November 3 midterm elections.

White House officials fear the unpopular conflict, rising gas prices and continued fighting could hurt Republicans as they defend narrow majorities in Congress.

For now, the administration is emphasizing sanctions, economic pressure and the blockade around the Strait of Hormuz rather than a major military escalation.

Officials may consider heavier strikes after the November elections, although no decision has been made.

Source: Reuters

Trump:

Our country is respected again. We're respected like never before. I go to meetings and everyone stands up.

They didn't stand up for our last president. They didn't care about him. They didn't care. They laughed at him.

But our country's respected again. And when President Xi comes in two weeks, he respects America now.

He didn't respect us. He laughed at us. He thought we were a bunch of fools.

Trump:

Most people don't know that dumb has a B at the end. You know, they think it's D-U-M, and that's okay.

Trump:

A friend of mine is a very obese person. He’s got a serious weight problem. He’s begging me not to mention his name because I’ll destroy his reputation.

He was taking some fat drugs. I said, "Are you taking this stuff?" "Yeah." I said, "It’s not working. You look like shit."