The global response to Musk and Trump's pressure on Ukraine, accompanied by a temporary shutdown of Starshield, was swift. Here's where things stand now: 🇨🇦 CANADA The Canadian government has signed a CAD 2.3 billion contract with national satellite operator Telesat to expand its Lightspeed low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation. Lightspeed was originally developed as a commercial competitor to Starlink and OneWeb. However, the government is now funding the integration of a dedicated, secure military communications system operating in the Ka-band and has already placed an order for additional satellites with Canadian aerospace company MDA Space. 🇫🇮 FINLAND Finnish company ICEYE, a developer of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites, and Nokia have announced a strategic partnership to develop sovereign LEO broadband communications systems for interested European governments. The project aims to provide European countries with a ready-made platform allowing each government to fully own and control its own satellite communications infrastructure, including encryption, without dependence on foreign providers. This concept is known as "Sovereign SatCom." 🇪🇺 EUROPEAN UNION The European Commission has moved toward awarding manufacturing contracts and increasing funding for its sovereign satellite communications network, IRIS². Airbus Defence and Space has already signed contracts in Toulouse to manufacture the first 66 LEO satellites. Thales Alenia Space has been tasked with developing specialized secure payloads for government applications. The program has been expanded to 348 satellites, with an additional €4 billion in funding. 🇰🇷 SOUTH KOREA South Korea has successfully conducted its first orbital launch of the year using its domestically developed Nuri (KSLV-II) rocket from the Naro Space Center. The rocket simultaneously deployed 14 payloads, including additional satellites for the national NEONSAT constellation and several military CubeSats. 🇯🇵 JAPAN Japan has allocated approximately $1 billion in subsidies to develop a nationally controlled direct-to-device satellite network. The system is designed to allow ordinary smartphones to communicate directly with satellites during major earthquakes or military conflicts. The project involves cooperation between Rakuten and AST SpaceMobile. 🇺🇦 UKRAINE The UASAT project, an initiative by STETMAN and a consortium of partners, has successfully completed registration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Preparations are now underway for the UASAT-NANO test satellite, which will mark the first step toward creating Ukraine's own sovereign satellite constellation. 🇨🇿 CZECH REPUBLIC At the same time, agreements with the Czech Republic are being finalized for the joint development of a constellation of optical reconnaissance satellites called Suziria ("Constellation"). Ukraine is also expected to gain access to backup capacity within Europe's GOVSATCOM system. 🇩🇪 GERMANY German company Isar Aerospace successfully launched its Spectrum rocket into orbit carrying satellites on September 5. THE BIG PICTURE The brilliant strategists Elon and Donnie wanted to show us who controls the red button for satellite internet. Well, they succeeded. And in a strange way, perhaps we should thank them. Because they have reminded the entire world of one simple truth: Whoever controls your communications can control your future. And now countries around the world are working to make sure that no single billionaire — or American president — can ever hold that power over them again.

“I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THIS”: VIRGIN GROUP FOUNDER RICHARD BRANSON ISSUES A POWERFUL STATEMENT SUPPORTING UKRAINE 🇬🇧🇺🇦 British billionaire, philanthropist, and Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson has reportedly published an unusually forceful statement on LinkedIn. Branson, whose business empire includes Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Galactic, and hundreds of other companies, reportedly directed his message at international business leaders, investors, and European governments. FULL TEXT OF THE STATEMENT ATTRIBUTED TO RICHARD BRANSON: “I never thought I would have to say this in my lifetime, but it is 2026, and the Trump administration has become an appeaser of autocrats and dictators. What is it about Putin that makes President Trump so eager to please him? The slowing and restricting of Starlink/Starshield operations, along with the inexplicable failure to provide advance warnings of Russian missile launches, have already resulted in Ukrainian civilians dying needlessly. How much worse can this get? The one thing that has become absolutely clear is that European leaders must overcome their initial shock at Trump's actions and take the initiative themselves. Both Europe's freedom and Ukraine's sovereignty are at stake. Our responsibility is to ensure that the free world is not destroyed before our very eyes.” A WARNING FROM A GLOBAL BUSINESS LEADER As the founder of Virgin Group, Branson is sending a message to the international corporate community: remaining silent about the appeasement of autocrats is no longer acceptable when global stability and security are at risk. A DIRECT CALL FOR EUROPE TO TAKE THE LEAD The central message attributed to Branson is that European governments and business leaders must stop relying on the unpredictable policies of the White House. European countries must take greater responsibility for providing decisive military and financial assistance to Ukraine, investing in their own defense industries, and protecting democratic values. A LONG-STANDING SUPPORTER OF UKRAINE Sir Richard Branson was among the prominent international business figures who personally visited Ukraine after Russia launched its full-scale invasion. He is also an official ambassador of UNITED24, Ukraine's fundraising platform. If authenticated, this LinkedIn statement would represent another significant intervention by Branson in support of Ukraine and an appeal to the global business community to defend European security and Ukrainian sovereignty.

🇺🇸 8 DAYS UNTIL THE U.S. ELECTIONS Trump Is Offended Again… By Almost Everyone. Donald Trump says plenty of outrageous things in his speeches and social media posts. But over the past two days, he seems to have developed a new obsession: being offended. And the list of people who have hurt his feelings is growing. Here we go! 🔴 Trump is offended by the American media. Why? Because they failed to celebrate his latest imaginary victory: Denmark supposedly handing Greenland over to the United States. The tiny detail that Denmark never actually handed Greenland over to anyone doesn't seem to bother him. 🔴 Trump is offended by Americans struggling with high prices. His message? "They'll say, 'President Trump is bragging about all the money they're making while people are suffering at gas stations.' I don't care. We're making a damn fortune." Exactly the kind of message Republicans need eight days before an election, right? 🔴 Trump is offended by Fox News. Yes, even the conservative network isn't loyal enough for him anymore. He complains that Fox gives "too much airtime" to opponents of Republican candidates and does "almost nothing to help" Republicans win. Apparently, journalism is only acceptable when it serves his political interests. 🔴 Trump is offended by Barack Obama. Obama has joined the Democrats' final campaign push, drawing huge crowds. Trump responded by calling Obama an "extremely incompetent president" and accusing him of giving Iran billions of dollars and a path toward nuclear weapons. He also attacked a Democratic candidate Obama was campaigning for, describing him as a "jihadist" who hates Jews, Black people, Americans, and Trump himself. 🔴 Trump is offended by NBA legend LeBron James. The reason? James supposedly showed insufficient respect during the American national anthem. Trump declared: "LeBron James is disrespecting our country! I've said from the beginning that he's a terrible person, a complete disgrace." 🔴 Trump is offended by Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski. The Alaska senator criticized Trump's attempt to interfere with election results in her state. Trump responded by calling her "the worst Republican senator by far" and "a disgrace to Alaska and our country." Eight days before the elections, Trump appears to be fighting everyone: the media, voters, Fox News, Obama, LeBron James, and even members of his own party. Perhaps the real question isn't who offended Donald Trump today. It's whether American voters are finally getting tired of a president who treats every disagreement as a personal insult. 🇺🇸 Eight days to go. And the political circus is only getting louder.