[KhaamaPress] North Korea ...hereditary Communist monarchy distinguished by its truculence and periodic acts of violence. Distinguishing features include Songun (Army First) policy, which involves feeding the army before anyone but the Dear Leadership, and Juche, which is Kim Jong Il's personal interpretation of Marxism-Leninism, which he told everybody was brilliant. In 1950 the industrialized North invaded agrarian South Korea. Twenty-one countries of the United Nations eventually contributed to the UN force opposing the invasion, with the United States providing around 90% of the military personnel. Seventy years later the economic results are in and it doesn't look good for Juche... fired multiple ballistic missiles toward the sea off its eastern coast on Monday, South Korea’s military said, in Pyongyang’s fourth missile launch in a month amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were launched from the Pyongyang area at around 9:20 a.m. local time. At least one type of missile travelled more than 900 kilometers, while military officials continued analyzing the weapons’ specifications.
Japan’s Coast Guard also reported detecting two unidentified projectiles believed to be ballistic missiles, saying they appeared to have fallen into the sea. Japanese authorities were assessing the launches and monitoring potential risks to vessels and aircraft.
The launches came days after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung oversaw the country’s first test-firing of a domestically developed hypersonic missile. South Korean military officials described Pyongyang’s latest action as an apparent show of force following the test, although the exact characteristics of the missiles remained under investigation.
South Korea condemned the launches as violations of United Nations ...an organization conceived in the belief that we're just one big happy world, with the sort of results you'd expect from such nonsense... Security Council resolutions and urged Pyongyang to halt such activities. North Korea remains subject to international sanctions over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.
Tensions have also increased following a landmine incident along the Demilitarized Zone in September that injured three South Korean soldiers. Seoul blamed North Korea for planting the mines and demanded an apology, while Pyongyang rejected the accusation and accused South Korea of provocation.
North Korea last launched a ballistic missile on October 3 and has conducted more than 10 missile tests this year, according to South Korean media reports. The latest launches underscore continuing military competition between the two Koreas as diplomatic efforts to ease tensions remain stalled.
[Jpost] The KCNA report came a day after US President Donald Trump said he might meet Kim during a planned trip to Asia
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited a defense industry museum displaying an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States, state media KCNA showed on Tuesday.
The report came a day after US President Donald Trump said he might meet Kim during a planned trip to Asia. Trump is expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in China in mid-November.
Kim, accompanied by his daughter, known as Ju Ae, and wife Ri Sol Ju, attended the opening of the newly opened Defence Revolution Museum on Sunday, KCNA said.
The museum displayed weaponry developed under Kim's leadership ranging from drones to the Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), KCNA photographs showed.
A display in front of the Hwasong-20 launcher appeared to show a multiple warhead design and a world map depicting ranges extending beyond the US mainland to the Middle East, Australia and South America, said Shin Jong-woo, Secretary General of the Korea Defence and Security Forum.
"The exhibition appears intended to highlight the achievements of Kim's defense science development program," Shin said. "It gave the impression of propaganda aimed at gaining a strategic advantage ahead of a potential North Korea-US summit."
NORTH KOREA SHOWS OFF MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS
Analysts said the museum also reflected a broader effort by Kim to elevate North Korea's weapons displays into lasting symbols of the regime's military accomplishments.
"By turning what were once temporary weapons exhibitions into a permanent museum, Kim is institutionalizing his military achievements and portraying North Korea's nuclear and missile buildup as a completed and enduring legacy," said Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University's Institute for Far Eastern Studies.
Separately, North Korea said it test-fired a tactical ballistic missile on Monday to confirm the successful technical upgrade of an unspecified key component.
KCNA said the upgrade marked an important step in improving the performance of all offensive weapons systems, without providing further details.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited by Ilya Maximov
[Regnum] This winter, Europe may face a gas shortage, forcing forced consumption cuts, analysts on both sides of the Atlantic warn. Meanwhile, Europeans themselves are protesting against the continued rise in fuel prices.
The EU is entering the heating season with the lowest seasonal gas reserves in over a decade. According to the US-based Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), storage capacity at the beginning of October was 72.4%—the lowest level for this time of year since 2011.
Analysts are particularly concerned about the ban on long-term contracts for Russian LNG, which comes into effect in January. According to IEEFA estimates, this will reduce European imports by another 7 billion cubic meters, which were used to smooth out winter demand fluctuations.
This creates serious risks for the bloc's energy security. The IEEFA report warns that, given the current global market conditions, the EU will face a difficult time without Russian gas.
"Together with the EU's complete ban on Russian LNG imports from January 2027, this shortfall could require the bloc to reduce winter gas demand by 7%, or 14 billion cubic meters, compared to last winter," the document states.
As Politico notes, this volume would be enough to power 10-12 million European households. The additional LNG imports needed to compensate for the shortfall will cost Europe approximately €3 billion, 12% more than the same volume last year.
But this is not the most pessimistic forecast.
According to a report by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG), with limited LNG supplies and a cold winter, reserves could fall to 11% by the end of the heating season, which is equivalent to the strategic reserve level. In the baseline scenario, storage capacity is expected to fall to 30% by March 2027.
"Without pipeline supplies from Russia, given the cold winter, Europe will either need demand management or face unmet demand of between 9% (under an optimal LNG supply scenario) and 15% (under a limited LNG supply scenario)," the report states. The laconic phrase "demand management" clearly conceals the risk of forced shutdowns of industry and non-essential infrastructure, as well as a reduction in heating standards.
The report also emphasizes that, no matter the winter, existing gas volumes will be insufficient to simultaneously meet demand and achieve target storage levels. This means the situation will only worsen next year.
Amid the shortage, gas prices rose to €82.7 per MWh—more than €850 per thousand cubic meters, the highest since December 2022. According to Reuters, prices have risen 150% in a year, exceeding even the European Central Bank's dire forecast.
This process is accompanied by rising prices for other fuels: gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. And along with this, heating costs are also rising, which is already irritating ordinary Europeans.
"Do we really have a choice? Just pay up and that's it. No one's asking us what to do. We'll have to cope. Like it or not, if you want to live, you have to pay. No other options," a Narva resident admitted to ERR.
The energy crisis is already having a noticeable impact on the political situation in Europe. In Germany, the bloc's largest economy, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won state elections, calling for renewed cooperation with Moscow and the restoration of contracts for cheap Russian fuel.
The continued rise in support for the AfD in state elections is increasing pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who is unable to offer credible alternatives. A similar situation is developing in several other EU countries.
Against this backdrop, a new wave of demonstrations has already begun in the bloc's countries. In the heart of Italy, just a few dozen kilometers from Rome, farmers took to the road with tractors, dumping grain, vegetables, and fruit onto the asphalt in protest against high fuel prices. "We can't take this anymore!" the protesters chanted.
Elsewhere in the country, their colleagues flooded the roadway with milk to protest high production costs. "Today's demonstrations signal a point of no return: immediate, concrete, and structural measures are needed," the farmers said in their demands to the government.
Protests also took place in Moldova, where Prime Minister Vasile Tofan had previously called on citizens to pray for a warm winter. "All we can do is go to church and light a candle, as the prime minister suggested, praying for a safe winter," one protester told Live TV, pointing out that heating costs had already become an unbearable burden for citizens.
Apparently, what's happening in Italy and Moldova is just the beginning. Demonstrations coordinated by the Spanish agricultural workers' union UNASPI have already been announced across Europe, scheduled to begin on October 31. Farmers, livestock breeders, fishermen, and freelancers are expected to participate.
With much of the EU already engulfed in protests for various reasons, the situation is becoming even more explosive. Under these circumstances, national governments are trying to find a way out, but are unable to reach a compromise.
Greece and Italy, for example, have called at the government level for additional fiscal flexibility to support households and businesses. Simply put, they wanted to break the existing EU budget rules to allow spending on aid to businesses and households to exceed established spending limits.
The discussion was, for example, about channeling the excess revenues that countries began to receive from VAT towards these purposes amid rising inflation. In other words, it wasn't a request for financial assistance, but rather permission to manage their own resources.
However, at the Eurogroup meeting in Luxembourg, they encountered resistance: the Netherlands and Belgium opposed loosening fiscal rules. As a result, the proposal was rejected.
"We must maintain economic activity without jeopardizing stability," Eurogroup President Kyriakos Pierrakakis said in response to the proposal, putting economic performance above the interests of European citizens.
Meanwhile, the problem already extends beyond the current heating season. Ireland, which holds the EU Council Presidency, has proposed cutting the next seven-year budget by 8%—approximately €159 billion out of the nearly €2 trillion.
The European Commission warns that this will weaken the ability to respond to crises. "We will have no way to help farmers and regions when crises hit—whether from climate change or geopolitical tensions," one diplomat told Politico.
Germany and its allies, in turn, are demanding even deeper cuts, calling the proposed measures to optimize budget spending insufficient.
The energy crisis is already putting pressure on European businesses. A survey of 3,100 companies by the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry found that 49% had increased their electricity costs, and 67% had increased their heating costs.
About a third of companies have postponed investments in key processes, more than 40% said energy prices are hitting competitiveness, and about a fifth are considering or are already moving production abroad.
Thus, Europe faces a difficult choice. Purchasing additional LNG at record prices requires funds unavailable in the budget, while reduced consumption will inevitably hit industry and households.
Under these conditions, residents of the European Union can only hope for favorable weather and wait for a miracle in the form of stabilization of the situation in the Middle East. Otherwise, their homes will become colder.
🇪🇸 A member of the Spanish LGBTQ+ community, draped in a Palestinian flag, says he'll seek political asylum in Gaza if the right wins the election 🙄 https://t.co/JfOgbmFzrk
#4
One might assume that making peace with Russia is an alternative to simply praying for LNG. Although I admit prayer is more likely to succeed than diplomacy.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Regnum] A Polish court has fined a Lithuanian citizen for making a Nazi salute at the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial complex in Oświęcim, Poland. Local police spokesperson Małgorzata Jurecka reported this to Wiadomosci on October 12.
"A Lithuanian citizen was detained after posing for a photograph on the memorial grounds and giving a Nazi salute. His wife was taking the photo at the time. The Lithuanian was detained by museum security, and the police were called," Yuretskaya explained.
She noted that, based on the evidence collected, the Lithuanian was charged with Nazi propaganda.
Yuretskaya added that the 26-year-old Lithuanian citizen confessed to the crime and agreed to voluntarily accept punishment. Under Polish law, such an offense carries a fine, restriction of liberty, or imprisonment for up to three years. Taking into account the defendant's remorse, the court fined him two thousand zlotys (approximately $510 – ed.).
Earlier in May, Chief Police Commissioner Thomas was ordered to visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau (Oświęcim) memorial complex in Germany because of a Nazi slogan and to provide proof of his visit within a year. Failure to comply with the court order will result in him being fined €4,200.
In April, police in Germany arrested a 33-year-old Polish citizen suspected of installing a replica of the gates of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz in front of the tax office building in Eggenfelden.
[NYP] WASHINGTON — Tech billionaire Elon Musk has spent $276 million on behalf of Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, making him the largest donor this cycle, The Post has learned.
The eye-popping, nine-figure sum has been distributed to GOP candidates in tough House and Senate races, though the lion’s share of $158 million went to the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC shelling out to defend Republicans’ majority in the upper chamber, per a spokesman for Musk’s PAC.
Another $76 million went to get-out-the-vote efforts in seven Senate battleground states and almost three dozen House races, according to The New York Times, which first reported on the political contributions from Musk’s America PAC.
#2
The thing about Mr. Musk is that he designs his investments to get very good results along with a steep learning curve. Look at DOGE, which is not only continuing to to throw off savings after he left, but inspired copies across various branches of the federal executive, in both Houses of Congress, and in a number of states. So the impact of his project continues accelerating even after he walked away.
I would dearly love to have been a fly on the wall as he evaluated his first potential investments, then reviewed results so far, preparatory to the next round. I can’t imagine he just threw money at a bunch of politicians or races that he fell in love with, without closely supervising the impact.
[DM] Scientists have unveiled a bizarre two-legged robot that carries your smartphone for you, trots along at your side and can even position itself to snap a picture.
The pint-sized gadget, dubbed 'PhoneBot', stands approximately 19 inches (48cm) tall and weighs about four pounds (1.8kg).
In initial demonstrations, the team showed the $400 (£302) robot can walk, track a person and stand up from a face-down position.
It can carry a smartphone that is mounted above the device’s ‘hips’, essentially forming its torso.
The phone’s camera allows the robot to detect and track people, while its motion sensors can gather information about the body’s movement and orientation.
While the robot was designed as a platform for research, it could also effectively act as a roaming photographer, automatically positioning itself to keep everyone in shot.
In a preprint posted to arXiv, the researchers said: ‘This paper presents PhoneBot, a low-cost, open-source compact humanoid platform that integrates a commodity smartphone with a modular body for sensing, on-board computation and interaction.’
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
...hereditary Communist monarchy distinguished by its truculence and periodic acts of violence. Distinguishing features include Songun (Army First) policy, which involves feeding the army before anyone but the Dear Leadership, and Juche, which is Kim Jong Il's personal interpretation of Marxism-Leninism, which he told everybody was brilliant. In 1950 the industrialized North invaded agrarian South Korea. Twenty-one countries of the United Nations eventually contributed to the UN force opposing the invasion, with the United States providing around 90% of the military personnel. Seventy years later the economic results are in and it doesn't look good for Juche...
BREAKING: Israel says pilot tried to hijack flydubai flight to Tel Aviv that diverted, landed in Saudi Arabia
