RSnake Report 20251109

Hello, and thanks for reading! It was a busy week for a lot of reasons, but with beautiful weather. If you’re going ever to visit Austin, the spring and fall are the best times, and we took advantage of it by going on a bunch of walks and runs and uphill wind-sprints, etc. My lungs weren’t happy with the latter. 😆 This week I spent time integrating ENISA KEV and EUVD into cvedata.com. One of the odd things I noticed is that Europeans appear to rank software vulnerabilities lower than Americans, and their known exploited vulnerability (KEV) list is significantly smaller than the one the Americans have on their CISA KEV list. What a difference an ocean makes!

Let’s start with Russia/Ukraine news, where Russia issued new government debt in Chinese yuan up to 400 billion rubles, equivalent to $5 billion USD, as its own currency weakens, increasing reliance on China. China will be a really nasty creditor, I suspect, because if Russia defaults, China can pull the plug on all kinds of critical tech, like their entire drone program.

The Freedom of Russia resistance movement destroyed dozens of locomotives used for supplying weapons, ammunition, and equipment to Russian forces in Ukraine. It’s not clear if Ukraine actually finances them or simply disagrees with the Putin regime. Either way, these small attacks definitely add up.

Ukrainian troops operate a points-based reward system that we have discussed before, where eliminating Russian occupiers earns points redeemable in the Brave1 online marketplace for over 100 types of drones, autonomous vehicles, and equipment. In September, drone teams in the Army of Drones Bonus System killed or wounded 18,000 Russian troops, with 400 units participating compared to 95 in August. That last part is what caught my eye. Look at the increase in uptake. Clearly, this gamification is working very well for Ukraine at the moment, or they wouldn’t have expanded it this far.

In Russia's Belgorod region, residents stole cables and batteries from electric generators installed for blackouts. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov called the thefts catastrophically large and ordered guards at every facility, immediate arrests, and restoration work before winter. I hadn’t considered that the local population would steal these pieces of critical infrastructure, but in times of need, people aren’t exactly altruistic, especially with winter coming and shortages expected.

Ukraine struck the Kstovo refinery in Nizhny Novgorod, one of Russia's five largest, which now produces mainly heat and light instead of gasoline and diesel. Ukraine's GUR confirmed coordination with Air Force and SOF pilots using over 50 Ukrainian-made drones, including Bober and FP-1 models, targeting the facility during repairs on a previously damaged rectification column.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered new military recruits to guard oil refineries with small arms against Ukrainian long-range UAVs, reducing frontline troops and proving ineffective with outdated weapons. But to be fair, the drones hitting refineries aren’t nimble, aren’t small and might actually be quite vulnerable to small arms fire.

Ukraine's First Separate Medical Battalion evacuated a wounded soldier from enemy territory after 33 days using a ground robotic vehicle with an armored capsule. Six prior attempts failed, losing six robots. The seventh succeeded despite triggering an anti-personnel mine that damaged a wheel and a Russian drone attack on the return, with the capsule protecting the soldier. The vehicle covered 64 kilometers, including 37 on the damaged wheel, delivering the evacuee to safety for medical care. He is reportedly now stable. But these armored first aid kits are an interesting new innovation. I am old enough to remember when attacking medical vehicles and the wounded was frowned upon. Apparently, the Russians didn’t get that memo, but thankfully, the wounded soldier made it out. This is the kind of win that encourages soldiers to fight for you, because they feel like they will be rescued, no matter what it takes.

Russian oil production is equivalent to 44 days floated at sea without buyers, approaching a point where production may halt. At some point, they will run out of storage facilities as well, especially because they are juicy targets for Ukraine, which implies we might see a situation where Russia is forced to slow production for lack of a place to put the oil.

Russia's oil and gas tax revenue dropped 27% year-over-year to 900 billion rubles in October, accounting for 40% of total government income. That means a lot less money to spend on things, including the war machine.

In related news, India and China imported 1.2 million barrels per day less Russian oil than one year ago. That will add up, and likely has a lot to do with the limited income coming from oil.

Ukraine destroyed a massive Russian ammunition depot in Donetsk behind Pokrovsk, disrupting logistics for the Russian push there. The strike targeted Geran-2 UAV launch sites and storage at Donetsk airport using cruise missiles and attack drones, destroying the ammunition depot, fuel depot, UAV processing facility, and damaging power and communications. Up to 1,000 Geran-2 UAVs and over 1,500 warheads were present. Commander Robert Brovdi of unmanned systems confirmed the destruction of a Shahed storage, assembly, and launch base in occupied Donetsk after months of intelligence by SSO, artillery, and 414th Brigade recon units.

Ukraine deployed FPV-drone decoys near Russian roads, mimicking waiting drones that attack from close range, forcing Russia to expend real drones to destroy them. It also feels like this is an excellent use for parts that aren’t working properly or otherwise defective. Throw them together and make something that is a totally non-functional drone with messed-up parts, but otherwise trash.

Russia's top tank maker Uralvagonzavod cut 10% of its workforce and froze new hires by February, with some divisions losing up to 50% of staff due to reduced military orders or state funding. Part of this may be related to the fact that Russia is mostly out of tanks and needs to retrofit old equipment. Tanks are too slow to reproduce/retrofit and therefore too expensive.

In more dystopian news, Russia will block internet access via SIM cards for the first 24 hours after citizens return from abroad, which actually does make sense if you think those SIMs are used with drones. But worse, by 2026, Russia will require passports via the Gosuslugi portal for internet access on social networks, video platforms, and websites, creating a unified database of user content consumption and ending anonymity. 👎️ 

In European News, for those RC car enthusiasts out there, Poland's Gnom unmanned ground vehicle weighs 7 kg, reaches 80 km/h, and carries a warhead designed to attack the undersides of fast-moving armored vehicles—pretty cool little off-road vehicle.

Poland launched the Ready program to train 400,000 citizens in military skills over the next year. Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated it addresses the most dangerous time since World War II, citing the war on its border, Baltic Sea sabotage, and cyber battles. Good for them, and all Eastern European countries should do the same.

The Portuguese Navy and intelligence intercepted a semi-submersible narco-submarine in the Atlantic, seizing 1.74 tons of cocaine and arresting four Venezuelan crew members, based on MAOC-N intelligence about a Venezuela-based cartel targeting Europe, 1,000 nautical miles off Lisbon. I think this is the first time I’ve seen one of these narco boats in this region, and it's not a good sign.

In South East Asian news, China unveiled the URS-680 electronic warfare system to counter drones, with a 5 km detection range and 4 km jamming range. China will likely need to deploy these, or similar, at every major port and around every city.

China developed wolf robots for amphibious landings to breach Taiwanese defenses in “10 seconds”. This kind of odd number comes from what they say is the time to detect to time to destroy, and it should be under 10 seconds.

China eliminated automatic asset-sharing between spouses upon death to curb marriage fraud and property disputes, aiming to boost marriage rates among men. In practice, this will likely prevent marriage entirely for the women and encourage divorce for the men, reducing the population rate even further.

China introduced the KUN, the world's first thorium-powered container ship using a molten salt reactor similar to U.S. Navy S6W reactors but operating at low pressure with thorium for reduced meltdown risk, minimal waste, and non-weaponizable fuel, targeting zero-emission shipping. I think this helps answer the question “what if China has no access to oil?”

In Myanmar's civil war, the military junta and insurgents both use reconnaissance drones for targeting with FPV strike drones and heavy multicopter bombers. We should expect more militaries to start using drones now. It’s a heavy drone front-line in the future.

In Middle East news, in southern Gaza, hundreds of Hamas fighters are trapped in tunnels in Israeli-controlled zones behind the Trump yellow line in Tel as-Sultan, Shaboura, and eastern Khan Yunis. Families in al-Mawasi received calls from the trapped fighters accusing Hamas leadership of abandoning them and cutting contact.

Israel is suspected to have used a new thermobaric “vacuum” bomb in Gaza, creating a massive blast and heat wave, which some Palestinians called a mini-nuke, though experts confirm that it was not nuclear. It could also have been a tunnel packed with explosives, too, though it’s really unclear, and I haven’t found anyone in the IDF confirming or denying what it was. The video is pretty impressive and shows the overpressure wave, which is as deadly as the heat/debris. I tend to think it probably was not a bomb, based on the video, and other thermobaric videos like the MOAB I’ve seen.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned of possible total evacuation of Tehran by December if the water crisis worsens. The Karaj Dam, supplying Tehran and a neighboring province with a maximum capacity of 180 million cubic meters, is at 7% and clean water may run out in two weeks, per Director Mehdi Maghsoudi. I remember being at a NASA facility where they predicted this about 10 years ago. You cannot keep pulling from the ground water indefinitely and Tehran never invested in desalination.

In South of the Border news, you might have noticed that the US did not invade Venezuela this week, much to the shock of, I think, most people monitoring the situation. However, it’s still a possibility. Meanwhile, Russia delivered Pantsir-S1 and Buk-M2E surface-to-air missile systems to Venezuela via Il-76 aircraft in recent days, per Russian State Duma Defense Committee Deputy Chairman Alexei Zhuravlyov.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro reportedly offered to step down for U.S. guarantees of amnesty, removal of his bounty, and comfortable exile. But then, later, he publicly said that he didn’t make that claim. It could be that the US wants to weaken him by leaking false information about him, but either way, it would make sense that he would disavow those statements, true or not.

We are starting to get videos coming out of Mexico about CDG sicarios using drones, armed with some sort of improvised explosive device, so drones are actively being used by criminal organizations now. I see no reason at all why we won’t see drones being used against US assets any time now. We have virtually no defense against static targets like police stations, military bases, critical infrastructure, etc.

A new system detects at-sea narco-boat strikes using VIIRS thermal anomalies filtered for ocean heat, isolating events like the October 27 U.S. strike 415 nautical miles southwest of Acapulco, matching Mexico's description of a large explosion. This enables near-real-time alerts in narco corridors—pretty cool use of thermal.

In North American news, twenty Mississippi law enforcement officers face indictment for allegedly aiding drug smuggling by accepting bribes of $20,000 to $37,000 for police protection.

A UPS Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo plane crashed during takeoff from Louisville's Muhammad Ali International Airport, producing a massive fireball. Dashcam footage showed the incident, with engine #1 suffering an uncontained failure ejecting debris that caused a compressor stall in #2 from foreign object ingestion, leading to asymmetric thrust and yaw; the pilots declared emergency but could not climb on one engine. The left #1 engine detached, creating a half-mile damage swath. The death toll reached 13, including 10 on the ground, with 8+ unaccounted for. The MD-11 is grounded pending the investigation.

We have a new mayor of NYC. Zohran Mamdani will take office at the beginning of the year. Hasan Piker declared at Zohran Mamdani's election victory party that the U.S. defeating the Soviet Union in the Cold War was a tragedy. AOC embraced him shortly before, so he is clearly not as on the fringe as some might expect such an ultra-radical leftist to be. However, it is clear that there is a growing subsection of the left who are extremely pro-communism and feel emboldened to talk openly about supporting it.

A friend of mine wrote in about the policies that Mamdani has proposed. Rather than restating what he said, I wanted to quote him directly so that you can hear it from someone very much in the thick of things on the ground there:

“So Kansas City tried the New York City experiment for the past 5 years. Our mass transit is almost bankrupt now, and we have half as many bus routes as we had 5 years ago. We had government-subsidized grocery stores in the hood and pharmacies, and now they've all been shut down because of shoplifting and crime, and you have food deserts and Pharmacy deserts in low-income areas. We tried defunding the police and getting rid of the Tactical units, and now we've had higher crime rates in the past 5 years than ever in the history of this city. Kansas City is number two in the nation for vehicle thefts, now after only Oakland. Recreational marijuana is legal here, and now we've got illegal dispensaries and vape shops literally on every fucking block. They're selling not just untaxed weed, but kratom/gas station heroin, K2, bath salts, and a whole variety of drugs that resemble meth, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and psychedelics. Still, they are chemically just different enough to be unscheduled and quasi-legal. Remember that marijuana is still the number one drug Market by Revenue in the United States—more than any other legal or illegal drug except for alcohol. Because at least 90% of the marijuana in states where it is legal is still being sold tax-free out the back door by dispensaries and on the streets, nobody really knows how big the market is. There are estimates that it's anywhere from $ 50 billion to $ 200 billion a year by 2025. With all of that money comes the crime, including violent crime and murder.”

I hope for New York’s residents’ sake, he’s wrong, but I doubt he is. I remember when the camping ban was removed in Austin and police were partially defunded; we saw a lot of drugs flow in. With drugs, we also saw a spike in prostitution. Violent crime started to soar as well, because when you have pimps and dealers fighting for certain territories, amid desperate addicts, it’s going to flow over into the surrounding neighborhoods. Thoughts and prayers to the NYC residents who are about to undergo a grand experiment, as about a million normie taxpayers flee and tank the NYC housing market in the process. Think about that. A million taxpayers, homeowners, and voters will flee. That means that NYC will likely have a democratic/socialist/Muslim lock for a decade or more, with diminished tax revenue, few if any police, etc.

The odd part is Muslims are largely conservative in nature, but they have aligned themselves with the left, but that cannot last forever, because Muslims do not like LGBTQ, do not agree with the idea of women’s rights, require modesty, are pro death-penalty, are far more aligned with the Nazis in hating the Jewish people than any other group of people, etc. However, Mamdani said he didn’t know what Sharia law was. So either is an incredibly ignorant person or a liar. I’m going to go with the fact he’s not as dumb as he needs people to believe he is on the topic of Sharia law and Jizya tax (a tax on non-muslims). One thing that will be a fun magic trick is that you can make Mamdani do a disappearing act every time you bring up Sharia law; it may turn out. 🤣 

For those not up on this, there is a concept called taquiyya/taqiyya, which allows Muslims to lie to the kuffar (non-Muslims) in order to further Islam and, by extension, jihad - a religious war to bring about the caliphate. You may also hear another word, kitman, which is deceit by omission, especially towards infidels/apostates. I think we’re getting a front row seat to this phenomenon. It is about destroying the status quo, and that is the one thing radical leftists and anti-American Muslims can agree on, so they are bedfellows for now… they are the useful idiots. All politicians lie and pander to the most ignorant voters, so this isn’t anything new in that respect, I guess.

U.S. air traffic control faces 42 staffing issues, with eight callouts for the next day, including CLT, SAN, and MCO. There is an average wait of 3 hours and 45 minutes at Newark. So if you are traveling in the coming weeks, please get in touch with your senator and ask them to pass the budget, lest you’re stuck in the airport for who knows how long.

One of our fans took the following photo and sent it in for the board at Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), where most of the flights are delayed or canceled. You would typically only see such a thing during extreme weather events. Not a good situation for frequent travelers.

President Trump announced a tariff dividend of at least $2,000 per person, reviving stimulus checks. Of course, if you are a high-income person, don’t expect to see any of that money, and there is a chance it won’t come in at all. However, this is very similar to the stimulus checks we saw a few years ago, for better or worse.

In Tech news, OpenAI allegedly deleted a pirated books dataset and internal Slack messages and emails discussing it, per reports of evidence destruction. So this could end up becoming a federal case, not just a civil one. Destruction of evidence is a real crime. The question is, who authorized that decision?

The sensitive period hypothesis showsthat boys aged 8-12 are imprinted by championship-winning sports teams. What that means is that we really need to focus on giving the most critical cultures and values to boys in those formative years. Don’t think that some very bad people are going to use this information to sell their ideology/products.

Xpeng's IRON humanoid robot features bionic elements like a flexible spine, synthetic muscles, and soft skin for human-like movement with 82 degrees of freedom, including 22 per hand. It uses three custom AI chips at 2,250 TOPS for vision-to-motion processing without text intermediaries, reducing lag. At AI Day in Guangzhou, the team cut it open onstage to reveal actuators and wiring, countering/preemting rumors that it’s not a robot. It employs a physical-world model and multi-brain control for dialogue, perception, and locomotion, targeting 2026 production for service tasks. Of course, it is extremely humanoid in appearance as well, which means this will likely be targeting home-use, and dare I say, sex robots are nigh! 🤖🍆 

In Economic news, if you have ever watched "The Big Short,” you may remember the scene with the stripper where she explains how she has multiple houses. Well, there is something to that scene. In a recent report, the stripper index shows customers per dancer dropped from 6:1 to 1:1 or worse, especially after the government shutdown. This, it is claimed, confirms that we are in a recession. Less disposable income. But it’s not just the ladies. Scott Bessent stated that sectors of the economy are in recession. Not all, and I agree, we have one industry that seems to be screaming upwards, and that brings us to the big story about AI and shorting.

Speaking of The Big Short, one of the main characters was Michael Burry. Michael Burry's Scion Asset Management allocated 80% of its $1.38 billion portfolio to put options on Palantir ($912 million, 5 million contracts) and Nvidia ($187 million, 1 million contracts), betting on price drops despite policy tailwinds, due to extreme valuations and other macroeconomic factors. So I won’t talk about Palantir for now, because I don’t quite understand its thinking yet. But I do understand the AI bet.

It’s all about power and data centers.

Microsoft admitted that racks of H100 GPUs remain unused due to insufficient power infrastructure, shifting the AI bottleneck from chips to energy access. This delays ROI on $50 billion Nvidia purchases, with half potentially idle for 18 months amid annual GPU refresh cycles that depreciate assets quickly. Winners include those with early power agreements or generation capacity, as data center buildout requires years for permitting and grid connection, creating a new moat in physical infrastructure over algorithms.

Meta hid $30 billion in AI infrastructure debt off-balance-sheet via special purpose vehicles with Blue Owl Capital, enabling another $30 billion in bonds. xAI pursues a $20 billion SPV for Nvidia chip leases. Google uses credit derivatives for data centers. Morgan Stanley projects $800 billion in private credit for tech by 2028, with UBS noting $100 billion quarterly AI debt buildup, resembling 2008 financial engineering, where short-term leases mask leverage amid rapid chip obsolescence.

But there’s nowhere near enough power to support all of this buildup. There was a great video about how Nortel died, and it had to do with the fact that it was effectively a type of financing called vendor financing, where the vendor pays for the orders, but then when the time comes, the customer no longer needs it and backs out, leaving Nortel, or in this case, Nvidia, holding the bag. In Nortel’s case, their customers didn’t need as much fiber as they had signed up for. In Nvidia’s case, the bet is that no one can use the chips they’re purchasing. Nvidia uses vendor financing for customers as well, btw.. I highly recommend the video if you want to see what Michael Burry’s bet against NVIDIA is all about. If he could, he would likely bet against OpenAI too, but it’s not publicly traded.

OpenAI's document from one week ago advocated federal loan guarantees for datacenter spending under American manufacturing. Oh, how times change. I remember when he previously said that he had no interest in government guarantees. Oh, Sam. 🤡 

As an example, there was an interesting article about the Amazon Web Services layoffs. The theory is that the staff cut was due to high GPU costs limiting fulfillment and returns. U.S. secured debt issuance for data centers is projected at $25.4 billion in 2025, up 112% from 2024 and 1,854% since 2022. Outstanding data center ABS and CMBS total $49 billion, driven by AI investment. So we shall see, but if AI is holding up the economy, Michael Burry is betting the whole thing comes crashing down.

Meanwhile student the debt collapse appears to be contributing to the decrease of consumption. This is only one area of the growing debt bubble, but it makes sense why it’s causing problems because these people tend to be some of the largest consumers, living in cities and urban areas.

Commercial mortgage-backed securities delinquency reached 11.8%, above 2008 peak, with multifamily at 7.1%, highest since 2015. The cheap debt we saw, similar to the 2008 financial crisis, fueled weak projects. It’s now hit by rising rates, and companies that are otherwise dead but have been surviving with low-cost debt to pay off their loans are lowering values and are unable to refinance.

In the housing market, U.S. housing turnover hit 2.8% in the first nine months of 2025, the lowest in 30 years, per Redfin, frozen by high interest rates. So the housing market is locked up tight, especially with rates still very high.

Meanwhile, M2 money supply exceeded 2022 levels, indicating money printing. This also means we should see inflation hitting 3-5% or more, similar to what we saw in 2022. So an uninvested dollar will be worth 3-5% less next year. It makes sense that Americans have next to no savings with this graph.

Just as an aside, a global banking crisis could lead to 19 years of downturn for banks. If this bubble bursts, it may take another 19 to recover. Funny and horrific at the same time.

SOFR, which has replaced LIBOR for most banking institutions apparently, declined sharply, lowering overnight borrowing costs and signaling accommodative monetary conditions. This means the Fed is shoving money into the system and it also means the Fed is cutting rates, reducing overnight lending, and easing the bank’s ability to lend and therefore corporations. But it’s usually a predictor of bad economic conditions too.

Okay, onto the articles!

The United States is currently experiencing its longest government shutdown in history, which has lasted 39 days and is affecting federal workers, airline operations, and food aid distribution. Democratic and Republican senators are engaged in negotiations to resolve the impasse, with President Trump opposing compromises suggested by Democrats related to healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.

• The government shutdown has led to significant impacts on food aid and air travel.

• Bipartisan talks continue, but a compromise remains elusive as key issues around healthcare subsidies are unresolved.

[RSnake: The Republicans are about eight votes shy in the Senate, so until 8 Democrats cross the aisle or there is massive horse trading, the government stays closed.]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/9/us-senators-look-for-way-out-of-shutdown-at-rare-weekend-session?traffic_source=rss

US intelligence reported that Israeli military lawyers had internal concerns about potential war crimes in Gaza, linked to the use of US-supplied weapons. The Biden administration was reportedly hesitant to share this information, fearing it could jeopardize military aid to Israel, even as a UN inquiry suggested acts of genocide by Israeli forces against Palestinians.

• US intelligence found Israeli military lawyers had raised alarms about possible war crimes related to operations in Gaza.

• The Biden administration delayed the dissemination of this intelligence due to concerns about maintaining military support for Israel.

[RSnake: I would not be surprised if there were a wide variety of war crimes on both sides of this conflict, as there is in Russia/Ukraine, and every other major long-term conflict. The difference here is Hamas wants to kill all Israelis, so there isn’t much room to negotiate.]

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/did-israeli-lawyers-warn-of-gaza-war-crimes-what-us-intel-found-and-why-biden-admin-was-worried/articleshow/125178887.cms

The Pentagon has completed technical checks for the transfer of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, which, upon approval, would enhance Ukraine's capability to strike critical infrastructure deep within Russia. Simultaneously, Ukraine has escalated its energy strike campaign, targeting significant power facilities in Russia and crippling parts of the national grid, thereby demonstrating a strategic shift in the conflict toward targeting energy resources. This development poses new challenges for Russia in maintaining its energy infrastructure amidst a sustained campaign from Ukrainian forces.

• The Pentagon has approved the transfer of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.

• Ukraine has successfully executed coordinated strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, causing widespread blackouts.

[RSnake: I am still a little confused why they feel they need them, other than to increase the supply of long-range missiles, given the fact that they already have the Flamingo, which is very similar in capability. That said, I am sure some of our aging supply could use a refresh, and this might allow us to do that, just like sending old HAWK missiles helps us replenish with more modern equipment.]

Source: https://euromaidanpress.com/?p=372958

Negotiators from around the world will gather in Belém, Brazil, for the 2025 United Nations climate conference, COP30, to discuss an agreement aimed at addressing climate change and preventing irreversible environmental destruction. The event is seen as critical in determining the urgency and effectiveness of global climate action amidst increasing environmental concerns.

• The 2025 United Nations climate conference, COP30, is set to take place in Belém, Brazil.

• Discussions will focus on creating agreements to combat climate change and prevent further environmental degradation.

[RSnake: I think even Al Gore would have to admit the multi-foot rise in sea level that he predicted hasn’t occurred. Bill Gates is also walking back climate change rhetoric, saying that people will be able to live and thrive as the climate changes. I think it’s time to be talking about some more imminent and realistic threats.]

Source: https://foreignpolicy.com/?p=1211600

China controls a significant portion of the global supply chain for pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients, with the U.S. relying heavily on Chinese imports for critical drug components. As U.S.-China trade relations evolve, particularly following a recent one-year trade truce, concerns grow over the dependence on Chinese pharmaceutical products, which pose risks in terms of supply chain vulnerability and innovation capabilities.

• China supplies nearly 40 percent of imported drug ingredients to the United States.

• The United States is at risk from potential Chinese control over drug supply chains during geopolitical conflicts.

• Washington has a limited timeframe to negotiate pharmaceutical sector trade deals to mitigate reliance on Chinese imports.

[RSnake: This seems like it should live in the US. Anything that represents an actual threat to US health. Didn’t we learn our lesson with N95 mask shortages during COVID?]

Source: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/?p=886306

The US President is warning that the country may go to war if the Nigerian government does not protect Christians from persecution, with an estimated 7,000 Christians murdered this year alone.

• President Trump warns of possible military action against Nigeria if it doesn't stop Christian persecution.

• The US has designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern due to severe violations of religious freedom.

[RSnake: The Nigerians threatened that their air force was ready. Their air force consists of early F4 Phantoms and is easily wiped out by 5th-generation fighters beyond line of sight.]

Source: https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-threatens-to-completely-wipe-out-the-islamic-terrorists-killing-nigerian-christians

The Philippines is facing an imminent threat from super typhoon Fung-wong, with over 900,000 people evacuated as the storm approaches. Wind speeds are estimated at 185 km/h, with warnings of life-threatening storm surges and severe flooding expected in populated areas, particularly on Luzon island. The government has declared a state of calamity, mobilizing emergency resources in response to the recent devastation from Typhoon Kalmaegi, which has already caused significant loss of life and damage.

• Super typhoon Fung-wong is expected to make landfall in the Philippines, prompting mass evacuations.

• The country is still recovering from Typhoon Kalmaegi, which has already caused over 200 deaths.

[RSnake: It looks like it already made landfall in the Philippines.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq509yj82y8o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

A former Israeli hostage, Rom Braslavski, has publicly described his experience of sexual assault during two years of captivity in Gaza. As conflict continues, Israel's military actions have reportedly resulted in a significant number of casualties, and allegations of violent and abusive treatment of hostages have emerged, intensifying the humanitarian crisis in the region.

• Rom Braslavski claims he was sexually assaulted during his captivity in Gaza.

• The ongoing conflict has resulted in a substantial death toll and numerous allegations of human rights violations.

[RSnake: Talk about a way to make absolutely sure the enemy hates you. Not a good move.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgkz0yzde80o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

China is currently positioned to lead in the global AI race due to significantly lower energy costs and less stringent regulations compared to the United States and Europe. Rising electricity prices in the UK, EU, and the US threaten their ambitions to become AI superpowers, as the development of AI highly depends on affordable power. The Chinese government has invested heavily in subsidies for its AI industry, further supporting its competitive edge in the sector.

• China is poised to win the global AI race due to lower energy costs and less stringent regulations.

• High electricity prices in the UK and EU threaten their plans to become AI leaders.

• The U.S. is also facing rising energy costs that may hinder its success in AI development.

[RSnake: China gets this part well. You need power for this revolution, a lot of it. And it needs to be cheap enough not to crush the local population’s energy prices.]

Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/cheap-power-secret-winning-global-ai-race

Several malicious packages on the NuGet platform have been discovered which contain a hidden sabotage payload designed to activate between 2027 and 2028, specifically targeting database implementations and Siemens S7 industrial control devices. These packages have been embedded with legitimate code along with harmful functionality that can disrupt database operations and PLC communications, posing significant risks for industrial environments.

• Malicious NuGet packages are set to activate sabotage code starting in 2027.

• The attack targets database implementations and Siemens industrial control devices, potentially disrupting operations.

[RSnake: To quote the article, “a hardcoded trigger date, which ranges from August 8, 2027, to November 29, 2028” which means that this was written by someone who wanted to randomly cause problems in latter half of 2027. What else is supposed to happen in 2027? Oh, right, China’s plan to attack Taiwan. Coincidence?]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/malicious-nuget-packages-drop-disruptive-time-bombs/

Government systems are vulnerable to hacks and gaps in security due to a prolonged shutdown, which may impact federal defenses for years to come. Cloud services provide some security cover, but any lapses in protections like patching and monitoring could expose these systems. The government's transition to the cloud has provided an important backstop for disruptions like a shutdown.

• Government agency suffered a hack and was infiltrated by a suspected foreign actor during the prolonged shutdown.

• Gaps in foundational activities like system patching, activity monitoring, and device management could have real effects on federal defenses.

[RSnake: Not just that, but the unpaid government employees are going to be very susceptible to foreign coercion and recruitment.]

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/the-government-shutdown-is-a-ticking-cybersecurity-time-bomb/

Meta is facing scrutiny for enabling fraudulent advertising on its platforms, with internal documents revealing that it expected substantial revenue from scam ads while failing to effectively combat them. Regulators in the U.S. and the U.K. are investigating Meta's role in hosting these fraudulent ads, which have been linked to significant financial losses for users. Despite claims of efforts to reduce scams, Meta's approach appears to prioritize profits over rigorous enforcement.

• Meta projected $16 billion from scam ads in 2024.

• U.S. and U.K. regulators are investigating Meta for financial scam ads.

[RSnake: I don’t know about their case, but I do know a lot about this topic from other places I’ve worked and things I’ve worked on. Nothing about this sounds incorrect or unlikely to me, but we shall see.]

Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/inside-metas-16-billion-scam-ad-economy

A malware campaign called GlassWorm has returned after a seven-month break, targeting GitHub, NPM, and OpenVSX account credentials, as well as cryptocurrency wallet data from 49 extensions, with three new VSCode extensions already downloaded over 10,000 times.

• The GlassWorm malware campaign has returned with three new VSCode extensions that have already been downloaded over 10,000 times.

• The malware uses invisible Unicode characters to facilitate malicious actions and targets GitHub, NPM, and OpenVSX account credentials, as well as cryptocurrency wallet data from 49 extensions.

• Koi Security has identified 60 distinct victims across the globe, including systems in the United States, South America, Europe, Asia, and a government entity in the Middle East.

[RSnake: Invisible Unicode could mean a lot of things, like spaces, tabs, newlines, carriage returns, null bytes, and so on. But be very careful about installing VSCode extensions.]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/glassworm-malware-returns-on-openvsx-with-3-new-vscode-extensions/

Cisco has reported that two vulnerabilities in its firewall products are being exploited by attackers to induce reboot loops, leading to denial of service conditions. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has directed U.S. federal agencies to secure their vulnerable Cisco firewall devices and has mandated immediate action to protect against these threats.

• Cisco firewalls are being targeted by attackers using newly discovered vulnerabilities.

• CISA is enforcing immediate security measures for federal agencies to mitigate these vulnerabilities.

[RSnake: Reboot loops are bad, but usually relatively easy to fix, by… rebooting into a safe mode. But yes, these devices need to be fixed.]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/cisco-actively-exploited-firewall-flaws-now-abused-for-dos-attacks/

The United States Congressional Budget Office has reported a cybersecurity breach attributed to a suspected foreign actor. The ongoing government shutdown may adversely impact technical staff and cybersecurity measures, leading to vulnerabilities in federal systems and potential long-term consequences for digital security.

• The Congressional Budget Office experienced a hack by a suspected foreign entity.

• The government shutdown is impacting cybersecurity measures, increasing vulnerabilities in federal systems.

[RSnake: This used to be news. Big news. Now it’s a daily occurrence. We really need to significantly reduce our attack surface area.]

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/the-government-shutdown-is-a-ticking-cybersecurity-time-bomb/

OpenAI seeks government support for AI infrastructure funding in the form of grants, cost-sharing agreements, and loan guarantees to counter China's market distortion.

• OpenAI is asking the government for grants, cost-sharing agreements, and loan guarantees to support its AI infrastructure funding.

• The company hopes this support will help shorten lead times for critical grid components and shore up demand for US semiconductor facilities.

[RSnake: I really hope that the government tells them to go pound sand. Yes, that would trigger the bad thing, but the bank bailouts clearly were not a big enough lesson to these people betting on leveraged assets, so we need to get fiscally smarter. Gizmodo did another article here about the lack of consumer confidence.]

Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/sam-altman-denies-openai-needs-government-bailout-he-just-wants-massive-government

The Data Center Power Forum, launched by the MIT Energy Initiative, aims to address the growing power demand from data centers, which is expected to nearly double by 2030. The initiative involves collaboration between MIT researchers and major industry players like Google and Microsoft to explore innovative energy solutions and manage the strain on the electric grid due to increasing use of artificial intelligence.

• Data centers in the U.S. consumed 4% of electricity in 2023, projected to increase to 9% by 2030.

• The forum will provide insights into energy management and support research on sustainable energy for data centers.

[RSnake: If it only goes from 4-9%, that doesn’t make sense to me with the investments AI players are saying they are making. Which is to say, I think the problem is worse than it sounds, if the AI guys are right.]

Source: https://news.mit.edu/2025/mit-energy-initiative-launches-data-center-power-forum-1107

Interstellar object 3I/ATLAS has passed close to the Sun without producing a cometary tail, surprising scientists and challenging existing assumptions about its nature. This lack of expected behavior has sparked debate regarding its origin, including the possibility that it could be a non-natural or artificial object. Further observations are anticipated as the object continues its trajectory through the Solar System, particularly around its upcoming close pass to Jupiter.

• 3I/ATLAS shows no signs of a cometary tail despite close proximity to the Sun.

• The object's behavior has led to questions about its origin and potential classification as a non-natural object.

• Future observations, particularly near Jupiter, are planned to gather more data on its characteristics.

[RSnake: Of course, people are now claiming it’s an alien ship. Or… It’s just something we don’t quite understand yet, and I think that’s wildly more likely.]

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/science/mystery-deepens-interstellar-object-3i/atlas-shows-no-comet-tail-and-leaves-scientists-stunned/articleshow/125189881.cms

Humanoid robots, like NEO from the company 1X, are gaining public attention as potential assistants for daily tasks. The development of such robots reflects a growing trend in technology aimed at integrating automation into everyday life.

• NEO is a new humanoid robot that aims to perform household chores.

• The emergence of robots like NEO demonstrates a significant trend in personal assistance technology.

[RSnake: It almost passes the uncanny valley of locomotion, but only for slow walking. That is only one small aspect of human locomotion. Like crawling, jumping, skipping, running, jogging, dancing, etc.]

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/podcasts/hardfork-neo-humanoid-robot.html

Thousands of US flights cancelled, delayed due to government shutdown, air traffic control staffing issues affecting major airports, causing delays and disruptions.

• The government shutdown has led to cancellations and delays of over 1,530 flights in the United States on Saturday, with a further 1,000 expected.

• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is cutting air traffic by 10 percent to maintain safety standards due to staffing issues affecting 42 airport towers and other centres.

[RSnake: Brace for impact. This will make any upcoming travel a bit of a nightmare. Get to the airport early! Lots of people will be fighting to get on other flights.]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/9/thousands-of-us-flights-cancelled-delayed-as-government-shutdown-continues?traffic_source=rss

India's shrimp production is facing significant challenges due to US tariffs that have reduced farm prices and created financial strain on shrimp farmers, who employ approximately 10 million people. As a result, many farmers are stopping seed purchases, leading to closures of hatcheries that produce billions of shrimp seeds annually, while competition from Ecuador's shrimp exports exacerbates the situation for Indian producers.

• US tariffs have significantly affected India's shrimp export industry, leading to lower prices and financial difficulties for farmers.

• The reduction in demand has resulted in hatcheries closing and production halting due to the economic impact of tariffs and competition from Ecuador.

[RSnake: I’d expect to see increases in prices as a result.]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/11/8/india-is-worlds-second-largest-shrimp-producer-that-is-now-under-threat?traffic_source=rss

Consumer engagement is positively influencing retail sales, which have risen 5% year-on-year by September 30. Despite a drop in consumer sentiment and uncertainty from a government shutdown, holiday sales are projected to reach over $1 trillion, showcasing resilience in consumer spending.

• Consumer spending is currently 68% of U.S. GDP, reaching the highest levels in 15 years.

• Retail sales are expected to grow by 3.7%-4.2% during the holiday season compared to last year.

[RSnake: That’s a good sign, but we shall see what happens over the coming month. I think there is a lot of volatility that might shake out. That said, just like the mortgage crisis, it took way longer for it to go pop than the short-sellers expected.]

Source: https://www.supplychainbrain.com/articles/42813-nrf-says-consumer-engagement-high-coming-into-holiday-season

New York City has seen a significant tech boom, becoming a prime destination for tech workers relocating in search of jobs. The Dumbo neighborhood in Brooklyn is emerging as a key area filled with dining, entertainment, and coworking options, reflecting the broader trend of technology expansion throughout the city.

• Dumbo has evolved into a central hub for tech workers due to NYC's tech boom.

• The neighborhood offers a range of amenities including hotels, cafes, and coworking spaces.

[RSnake: Hahahah… well… we shall see! One thing is likely… they may finally be able to afford a nice place with a million people leaving! Funny timing for this article.]

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/the-wired-guide-to-dumbo-for-business-travelers/

Rivian's CEO, RJ Scaringe, has received a new performance-based stock award potentially worth $5 billion, with his salary being doubled to $2 million per year. This change comes after the cancellation of a previous performance award, and the new package aims to incentivize Scaringe to drive significant company growth and shareholder value.

• RJ Scaringe's new compensation package includes performance-based stock options and a salary increase.

• The previous award was canceled due to difficulty in achieving the performance goals.

[RSnake: Wow, nice payout. I like that company, so congrats to them on their success. Some good economic news while the all-electric Ford F-150 lightning truck only selling a few thousand a month at most. The market is fickle about all electric vehicles, clearly.]

Source: https://techcrunch.com/?p=3066151