Von Der Leyen's State of the Union address noted Europe needs to rebalance unfair trade, cut red tape, and strengthen its industrial and strategic autonomy.
But Euratex said it regretted that industrial competitiveness failed to muster as much attention as other issues in the address.
The trade body is calling on the Commission to match the political commitments with an equal sense of urgency on industrial competitiveness, and to place manufacturing sectors, such as textiles, more firmly at the centre of its agenda in the months ahead.
"Europe cannot build a strong defence, lead the green and digital transitions, or protect its social model on a weakening industrial base. Competitiveness is not just one chapter of the European project – it is the foundation all the others are built on; when we get that right, everything else becomes possible.", states Dirk Vantyghem, director general, Euratex.
Specifically, Euratex is urging action on trade-defence measures including stronger customs enforcement and imports monitoring for textile products, with particular regard to the trade deficit with China, which has "reached a tipping point."

#defence #state

Gabelli Investment Management Firm recently released its "Global Content & Connectivity Fund" second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The Fund delivered a strong second quarter of 2026, with its Class I shares gaining 12.88%, more than double the 6.02% return of the MSCI AC World Communication Services Index, though trailing the broader MSCI AC World Index's 15.06% gain. The fund's performance reflected renewed investor interest in AI-related investments, easing tensions in the Middle East, and lower Brent crude prices, with Information Technology gaining 39.2% and Communication Services advancing 6.0% during the quarter. Over the past year, the fund gained 25.50%, compared with 13.06% for its communication-services benchmark and 24.16% for the MSCI AC World Index. Looking ahead, Gabelli remains constructive on the long-term opportunities created by AI adoption, expanding digital infrastructure, connectivity, and the continued growth of content and entertainment, while recognizing that higher interest rates, geopolitical tensions, and the sustainability of AI-related spending could create volatility. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Global Content & Connectivity Fund highlighted stocks like Anterix Inc. (NASDAQ:ATEX). Anterix Inc. (NASDAQ:ATEX) is a wireless communications company focused on private broadband spectrum and utility communications applications. The one-month return of Anterix Inc. (NASDAQ:ATEX) was -7.03% while its shares traded between $17.58 and $113.00 over the last 52 weeks. On September 3, 2026, Anterix Inc. (NASDAQ:ATEX) stock closed at approximately $87.10 per share, with a market capitalization of about $1.69 billion.
Global Content & Connectivity Fund stated the following regarding Anterix Inc. (NASDAQ:ATEX) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
Leading the list of positive contributors to Fund performance in the second quarter was Anterix Inc. (NASDAQ:ATEX) (8.8% of net ******* ets as of June 30, 2026; +169.6%) as it continued rallying following the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval of expanding broadband allocation in the 900 MHz band to 10 MHz (from 6 MHz) in February, allowing the firm to offer enhanced capacity and, possibly, address additional use cases. In addition, in May, the FCC approved an experimental license to explore the use of Lynk Global's satellite direct-to-device communications network in Anterix's licensed 900 MHz broadband spectrum.

#content #connectivity #global

Gabelli Investment Management Firm recently released its "Global Content & Connectivity Fund" second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The Fund delivered a strong second quarter of 2026, with its Class I shares gaining 12.88%, more than double the 6.02% return of the MSCI AC World Communication Services Index, though trailing the broader MSCI AC World Index's 15.06% gain. The fund's performance reflected renewed investor interest in AI-related investments, easing tensions in the Middle East, and lower Brent crude prices, with Information Technology gaining 39.2% and Communication Services advancing 6.0% during the quarter. Over the past year, the fund gained 25.50%, compared with 13.06% for its communication-services benchmark and 24.16% for the MSCI AC World Index. Looking ahead, Gabelli remains constructive on the long-term opportunities created by AI adoption, expanding digital infrastructure, connectivity, and the continued growth of content and entertainment, while recognizing that higher interest rates, geopolitical tensions, and the sustainability of AI-related spending could create volatility. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Global Content & Connectivity Fund highlighted stocks like Anterix Inc. (NASDAQ:ATEX). Anterix Inc. (NASDAQ:ATEX) is a wireless communications company focused on private broadband spectrum and utility communications applications. The one-month return of Anterix Inc. (NASDAQ:ATEX) was -7.03% while its shares traded between $17.58 and $113.00 over the last 52 weeks. On September 3, 2026, Anterix Inc. (NASDAQ:ATEX) stock closed at approximately $87.10 per share, with a market capitalization of about $1.69 billion.
Global Content & Connectivity Fund stated the following regarding Anterix Inc. (NASDAQ:ATEX) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
Leading the list of positive contributors to Fund performance in the second quarter was Anterix Inc. (NASDAQ:ATEX) (8.8% of net ****** ets as of June 30, 2026; +169.6%) as it continued rallying following the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval of expanding broadband allocation in the 900 MHz band to 10 MHz (from 6 MHz) in February, allowing the firm to offer enhanced capacity and, possibly, address additional use cases. In addition, in May, the FCC approved an experimental license to explore the use of Lynk Global's satellite direct-to-device communications network in Anterix's licensed 900 MHz broadband spectrum.

#anterix #atex #communications

Sydney Sweeney dressed up as Wonder Woman in a daring latex-inspired costume for a recent getaway, while her boyfriend, Scooter Braun, coordinated as Superman. But instead of praising the couple's superhero-themed looks, some fans called the costumes "weird" and "cheap."
In an Instagram photo dump shared on August 22, the Euphoria actress gave followers a glimpse into her "Camp '26" getaway, which featured waterside obstacle courses, karaoke, boat rides, jet skiing and more.
The first photo showed the 28-year-old posing in a revealing red PVC-style Wonder Woman costume with a sweetheart neckline. The outfit featured a silver rope detail around the faux belt, while she completed the look with Wonder Woman's signature gold tiara.
instagram/sydneysweeney
In the mirror selfie, Sweeney held up her phone to take the photo while Braun, 45, stood behind her in a Superman costume, although the top of his head was cut off from the frame.

#braun

Anne Hathaway has traded the long brunette hair she has worn throughout much of 2026 for a dramatically different look on the September cover of Vogue China, a short, choppy pixie that immediately recalls one of the biggest hair transformations of her career.
The 43-year-old actress appears with layered bangs and closely cropped sides in the new editorial, photographed by Norman Jean Roy. The styling changes throughout the shoot, with the short hair appearing tousled and spiky in some images before becoming considerably sleeker in others.
There is one important catch before declaring that Hathaway has actually chopped off her hair. Just Jared noted that the pixie is most likely a wig, and neither Hathaway nor Vogue China has publicly confirmed that she permanently cut her hair.
Even if the transformation exists only for the photoshoot, it gives Hathaway her shortest public hair look in roughly 13 years. The closest comparison comes from the pixie she wore through 2012 and 2013 after cutting her real hair for Fantine in Les Misérables.
The September cover pairs Hathaway's short hair with a white Louis Vuitton blazer trimmed in black. Other photographs take both the clothes and hair in different directions. Hathaway appears in a bright red dress with matching latex gloves, a purple blazer and a boxy black suit while the crop shifts from deliberately messy and windblown to smooth and tightly controlled.

#hair #vogue #look

World Bank Group member IFC has extended a loan of up to $20m to Novatex, a plastic resin manufacturer in Pakistan.
The loan will fund imports of key raw materials and machinery for packaging.
According to IFC, the financing is aimed at helping local manufacturing while supporting employment, export income and the stability of domestic supply chains.
The move is expected to limit dependence on imported packaging supplies and reduce the risk of disruption for manufacturers that rely on them.
The transaction is also tied to IFC's environmental priorities.

#novatex #member

Harris Oakmark recently released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Oakmark International Small Cap Fund". A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The fund focuses on long-term capital appreciation by investing in small-cap companies located outside the U.S. In the quarter, the fund (Investor Class) delivered a return of 4.82%, trailing the benchmark, the MSCI World ex USA Index's 7.94 % return. Information technology and industrials were the top performance contributors at the sector level, while consumer staples and materials were the largest detractors. Enthusiasm for AI continued to be the defining market theme. The firm focuses on evaluating companies based on their competitive advantages, long-term cash flow potential, and valuation, instead of prediction relative to intrinsic value. In addition, you can check the Fund's top five holdings to determine its best picks for 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Oakmark International Small Cap Fund highlighted Birkenstock Holding plc (NYSE:BIRK). Birkenstock Holding plc (NYSE:BIRK) engages in the manufacturing and distribution of footwear products. On July 14, 2026, Birkenstock Holding plc (NYSE:BIRK) closed at $44.36 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $8.16 billion. Birkenstock Holding plc (NYSE:BIRK) posted a one-month return of -5.52%, while its shares lost 7.08% over the past 52 weeks.
Oakmark International Small Cap Fund stated the following regarding Birkenstock Holding plc (NYSE:BIRK) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Birkenstock Holding plc (NYSE:BIRK) is a Germany-headquartered premium footwear company that designs, manu factures, and distributes sandals and closed-toe footwear globally, anchored by a proprietary cork and-latex footbed with documented orthopedic function. The premium footwear segment benefits from an oligopolistic structure in comfort-focused categories, where brand heritage, proprietary ma terials, and sustained supply discipline create mean ingful barriers to replication. We believe Birkenstock's fully vertically integrated manufacturing model and consistent full-price sell-through dis tinguish it from conventional footwear peers and support more durable growth and margins than the current share price implies. The stock has de-rated due to a combination of tariff exposure, dollar weakness, and market skepticism about the dura bility of recent product momentum — concerns we view as transitory or overstated — leaving shares trading at a meaningful discount to our estimate of intrinsic value."

Bianca Censori, Kanye West's wife, makes her latex ensemble the standout moment at his 49th birthday celebration. The "Runaway" hitmaker hosted the special night with a concert in the Netherlands. However, Censori claimed the focus with her jaw-dropping outfit.
Ahead of his birthday concert in the Netherlands, Bianca Censori stepped out in Amsterdam with Kanye West, turning the city streets into an impromptu runway.
The couple left the Mandarin Hotel in Amsterdam, walking hand in hand. Censori wore a fitted tan bodysuit that followed her silhouette closely. The "Heartless" singer seemed upbeat and was seen smiling at the 31-year-old, who styled her hair in pigtails. The model completed the look with nude makeup and white and nude wedge heels (via TMZ).
Ye and Censori entered a waiting Mercedes-Maybach and were driven off. Later, he performed at GelreDome Stadium in Arnhem, the Netherlands, for his birthday.
Ye and Australian architectural designer Bianca Censori moved from working together at Yeezy to dating, and quietly married in December 2022. Since then, their relationship has included frequent travel, bold fashion choices, and reports of breakups followed by reconciliations.

How will EstateX ensure scalability and interoperability for $ESX token across its planned EVM-compatible blockchain for real estate, gold, and sports teams by 2030?