AnObserver
@watchingeurasia.bsky.social
Geopolitics, Finance/Markets, Occasional AI & Environmental News. I study authoritarianism for fun. Working to address the toxic drug crisis.
‘The share of Americans who see China’s territorial ambitions as “a critical threat” has decreased by more than ten percentage points since 2022, and those who favor the use of U.S. troops if China invaded Taiwan has fallen from 52 percent to just 38 percent.’ www.foreignaffairs.com/taiwan/recip...
A Recipe for Disaster in Taiwan
Why the risk of a crisis is growing.
foreignaffairs.com
‘A Republican lawmaker introduced articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday, in a bid to force House members to vote on whether they support the polarizing Cabinet official.’ 1/2 wapo.st/4sOnES2
Hegseth impeachment effort begins in House, focused on Iran war
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie introduced articles of impeachment alleging that the defense secretary “abused” his powers and “knowingly executed and implemented unlawful orders.”
wapo.st
Was Poland’s shooter recruited by Russian intelligence? youtu.be/_sEb7HRcDAk?...
Authorities begin investigating after Polish shooter opens fire in Krakow
YouTube video by CTV News
youtu.be
‘Tesla is winding down production of its polarizing Cybertrucks, Elon Musk, the company’s chief executive, said in a social media post on Friday, suggesting an end to the model.’ It’s finally going to die! www.nytimes.com/2026/11/06/b...
Tesla Is Ending Production of Its Cybertruck and Refocusing on the Cybercab (Gift Article)
Production of the electric trucks will stop in the middle of 2027 to make room for increased production of its autonomous ride-share vehicle, Elon Musk said.
nytimes.com
“If you need us to stop attacking russian oil refineries for one month, then give us Patriot air defense systems for one month.” – President Zelenskyy.
‘Iranian officials said over the weekend that their response to any attack would be unrestrained. Still, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran was willing to continue talks.’ 1/2 www.wsj.com/world/middle...
America’s Gulf Allies Prepare for New Round of Strikes on Iran—and the Blowback
The risks are growing as diplomatic efforts remain stalled and Iran threatens unrestrained retaliation.
wsj.com
Trump: “Stupid people wanted me to put sanctions on Russia.”
‘“They have been expecting a new round of war already for a few weeks, and they’ve been preparing accordingly,” Hamidreza Azizi, senior Iran analyst at the International Crisis Group, said of the Iranian government.’ GIFT LINK www.nytimes.com/2026/10/31/w...
Iran Braces for More War, No Matter the Outcome of the U.S. and Israeli Elections (Gift Article)
With Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fighting to stay in power and President Trump facing a tough midterm, Iran’s leaders expect no major shift in policy.
nytimes.com
‘This account of how the hack unfolded is based on interviews with four people with knowledge of the events, as well as analyses by crypto forensics firms and documents reviewed by The New York Times.’ GIFT LINK www.nytimes.com/2026/10/31/t...
How Binance’s $6.3 Billion Hack Went Down (Gift Article)
A war room. A global conference call. A founder who live-posted about the largest crypto heist in history. Inside a frantic 24 hours at the world’s biggest crypto exchange.
nytimes.com
‘This account of how the hack unfolded is based on interviews with four people with knowledge of the events, as well as analyses by crypto forensics firms and documents reviewed by The New York Times.’ GIFT LINK www.nytimes.com/2026/10/31/t...
How Binance’s $6.3 Billion Hack Went Down (Gift Article)
A war room. A global conference call. A founder who live-posted about the largest crypto heist in history. Inside a frantic 24 hours at the world’s biggest crypto exchange.
nytimes.com
‘“Is the air coming out of Europe’s autocrats?” asked German news magazine Der Spiegel, linking Vucic’s demise to that of his fellow Russia-friendly former leader, Viktor Orban of Hungary.‘ Let’s hope! www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
The Midterms Go Global as Voters Beyond US Turn Sour on Trumpism
US elections from Alaska to Maine will reverberate globally next week, as midterm voting promises to diminish a president who has strong-armed the world.
bloomberg.com
‘The Kremlin boosted influential voices opposed to the “woke agenda” of LBGTQ rights, secularism, and immigration, also targeting those hoping to avert a larger conflict with Russia and thus also susceptible to Moscow’s narratives.’ foreignpolicy.com/2026/10/23/p...
Why Putin’s Defenders Are Increasingly American
Like Joseph Stalin’s Western fans, they use a vicious foreign regime to grind their axe at home.
foreignpolicy.com
‘North Korea, the suspected Binance hacker, might have been able to break in without AI. But the Binance hack came amid a spate of other cyberattacks. If it isn’t already, every business in America needs to ramp up its cybersecurity defenses.’ www.wsj.com/opinion/mark...
Opinion | An AI Halloween Market Scare
Crypto isn’t risk-free after all, as thieves take Binance for $6.3 billion.
wsj.com
‘The relief that investors feel once midterm elections results are known has held steady no matter the political outcome. The main thing seems to be that the uncertainty is over.’ www.wsj.com/finance/stoc...
If History Repeats, Small Caps Will Win in a Landslide
Plus, Halloween came early for tech giants
wsj.com
‘Syria is considering joining a regional defense alliance with Saudi Arabia, its foreign minister said on Saturday, raising the prospect that Damascus could become involved in the kingdom’s widening conflict with the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen.’ www.nytimes.com/2026/10/31/w...
Syria Weighs Joining Saudi Mutual Defense Pact as Yemen War Rages
A move to join Saudi Arabia’s agreement with Turkey and Pakistan could entangle more countries in the kingdom’s escalating conflict between the Iran-backed Houthis.
nytimes.com
‘Japan is facing an intense wave of AI-powered cyberattacks that’s laid bare the vulnerability of one of the world’s largest economies to a new breed of hacking.’ A ‘bellwether for what is to come.’ ‘Nobody is prepared for this.’ 1/2 www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Japan’s Cyberattack Surge Tests Its Push to Strengthen Defenses
Japan is facing an intense wave of AI-powered cyberattacks that’s laid bare the vulnerability of one of the world’s largest economies to a new breed of hacking.
bloomberg.com
‘…the new right-wing or center-right governments from Chile and Bolivia to Colombia and Peru are already facing declining public support as they confront stubborn economic problems, demands for more effective crime fighting and impatient voters.’ 1/3 www.wsj.com/world/americ...
Latin America’s Right-Wing Surge Suddenly Seems Vulnerable
Lula’s victory leaves Brazil and Mexico under leftist rule, complicating U.S. ambitions of building a regional conservative alliance.
wsj.com
‘The outreach by the vice president comes at a tense moment. President Trump has been weighing a possible renewal of active strikes against Iran, potentially after next Tuesday’s midterm elections.’ Is this another trap? www.nytimes.com/2026/10/28/u...
Vance Proposes Restarting Peace Talks in Outreach to Iranian Official (Gift Article)
In his letter, the vice president suggested an immediate resumption of comprehensive talks, including about Iran’s nuclear program.
nytimes.com
‘If we do nothing, the confluence of private equity and the silver tsunami will create an even wider gap between communities that own and control their services and those that do not.’ Must-read piece on private equity vampires buying small businesses. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/28/o...
Opinion | Baby Boomers Are Retiring. Private Equity Is Waiting. (Gift Article)
Investors in big cities are quietly consuming small businesses all over the country.
nytimes.com
‘The U.S. has told several Gulf Arab countries to be prepared for a short, intense military campaign after the U.S. midterm elections, people briefed on the conversations said.’ GIFT LINK 1/3 www.wsj.com/world/middle...
U.S. Warns Gulf of Possible Short, Intense Renewal of Iran War After Midterms
There are new signs that the American and Israeli militaries are preparing a potential wave of strikes to muscle Tehran to the negotiating table.
wsj.com
‘Removing sanctions on the multibillion-dollar fund, called the Russian Direct Investment Fund, would be a significant unwinding of the yearslong U.S. effort to use economic pressure to get Russia to change its behavior.’ Insane. Foolish. Unlikely. 1/2 www.nytimes.com/2026/10/27/u...
Trump Explores Lifting Sanctions on Russia’s Flagship Investment Fund (Gift Article)
The move would be the latest U.S. concession to Moscow as President Trump pursues economic incentives he hopes will secure an end to war in Ukraine.
nytimes.com
‘Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot took the lead over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the country’s first election since the October 2023 attacks, according to exit polls.’ www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Israeli Opposition Leader Eisenkot Leading Netanyahu After Vote
Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot took the lead over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the country’s first election since the October 2023 attacks, according to exit polls.
bloomberg.com
‘Anthropic is promising unimaginable economic benefits for anyone who gets in early enough while simultaneously offering apocalyptic warnings of what that might mean for those of us who don’t.’ Looking forward to $ANT! www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Anthropic Raises More Questions Than It Answers About Risk
Can its handpicked trustees balance the rapid growth of AI with concerns about a computer-driven catastrophe?
bloomberg.com
‘Israelis are turning out in record high numbers to vote in an election that many describe as critical. The urgency among opposition voters is even higher than supporters of Netanyahu and his coalition, analysts say.’ Live updates at the link. www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
High turnout as Israel goes to the polls in most consequential election in its history – live updates
By early afternoon almost 45% of voters had cast their ballot
theguardian.com
‘Gartner, a research firm, estimated on Oct. 14 that if current investment plans stay on track, the owners of A.I. data centers will need to take in $8.5 trillion in revenue through 2030 to cover their spending, financing costs and a 12 percent return.’ 1/3
‘Given such enormous risks, why is Anthropic going public now? Our guess is it’s trying to take advantage of the AI boom to let employees with stock options and early investors cash out before its edge erodes—or before more risks bite.‘ WSJ Editorial Board on Anthropic. www.wsj.com/opinion/anth...
Opinion | Anthropic’s Big IPO Gamble
The company says it could save humanity or destroy it. Investors, place your bets.
wsj.com
‘Spending $9 trillion on AI by 2032, as Columbia Business School professor Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh estimated in a Brookings paper recently, would make it the biggest U.S. capital project ever, at 3.2% of GDP a year.’ www.wsj.com/finance/stoc...
The AI Stock Market Wobble Is a Reminder: This Time Isn’t Different
The artificial intelligence build-out hasn’t shown it can avoid the problems of past massive capital projects, such as railways and the internet.
wsj.com
‘Anthropic PBC warned that disruptions to [TSMC’s] operations could hinder its businesses, joining a list of technology companies that have underlined the chipmaker’s pivotal role in the global artificial intelligence industry.’ www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Anthropic Highlights Disruptions to TSMC Operations as a Risk
Anthropic PBC warned that disruptions to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s operations could hinder its businesses, joining a list of technology companies that have underlined the chipmaker’s pi...
bloomberg.com
