North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong-un is known for his infectious laugh. Now he is laughing all the way to the bank after the regime’s elite hackers pulled off one of the biggest digital heists in history last week. A staggering $6.3 billion vanished in an instant when they broke into Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.
Binance operates as a digital financial marketplace where users can buy, sell, exchange and invest in various cryptocurrencies. Last year, the same hackers made off with $1.5 billion after breaking into Bybit, another cryptocurrency exchange. There is considerable evidence to suggest that North Korea has raked in almost $10 billion from such activities over the past decade.
While ordinary North Koreans struggle daily to survive, Kim’s cybercriminals are working flat out to secure foreign currency for the regime’s ambitious nuclear programme. Many have wondered how such an isolated and impoverished country can maintain an army of 1.2 million soldiers and threaten peace in Asia. The answer is quite simply that North Korea under Kim Jong-un operates less like a conventional country than a global crime syndicate.
mandag 2. november 2026
South Korea targets ‘world’s highest performance’ sovereign AI model in record new budget
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung unveiled the country’s largest ever budget on Monday, pledging to “boldly invest in AI and future growth engines.” Speaking to the National Assembly on Monday, Lee said total spending for 2027 would rise 12.8% to 820.9 trillion won ($610.14 billion), including 21.3 trillion won for semiconductors, physical AI and AI data centers — nearly double the 2026 level.
A separate 4.7 trillion won will go toward developing a sovereign AI model with what Lee described as the “world’s highest performance.” The government also plans to invest heavily into talent, including training 2,000 specialists to “lead semiconductor design and the regional semiconductor industry,” while expanding AI education for students, job seekers and existing workers.
A separate 4.7 trillion won will go toward developing a sovereign AI model with what Lee described as the “world’s highest performance.” The government also plans to invest heavily into talent, including training 2,000 specialists to “lead semiconductor design and the regional semiconductor industry,” while expanding AI education for students, job seekers and existing workers.
Torbjørn Færøvik: Nord-Korea Kim Jong-un ler hele veien til banken
Nord-Koreas diktator Kim Jong-un er kjent for sin smittende latter. Nå ler han hele veien til banken etter at regimets elitehackere i forrige uke gjennomførte et av historiens største digitale ran. Svimlende 6,3 milliarder amerikanske dollar ble borte på et blunk da de brøt seg inn i Binance, verdens største kryptobørs.
Binance fungerer som et digitalt finanshus hvor brukerne kan kjøpe, selge, veksle og investere i ulike kryptovalutaer. De samme hackerne stakk i fjor av med 1,5 milliarder dollar etter et innbrudd i Bybit, en annen kryptobørs. Mye tyder på at Nord-Korea de siste ti årene har raket til seg nesten ti milliarder dollar på slik virksomhet.
Mens vanlige nord-koreanere kjemper en daglig kamp for å overleve, arbeider Kims cyberkriminelle under høytrykk for å skaffe valuta til regimets ambisiøse atomprogram. Mange har undret seg over et så isolert og fattig land kan holde seg med en hær på 1,2 millioner soldater og true freden i Asia. Svaret er ganske enkelt at Nord-Korea under Kim Jong-un ikke fungerer som et vanlig land, men som et globalt forbrytersyndikat.
Binance fungerer som et digitalt finanshus hvor brukerne kan kjøpe, selge, veksle og investere i ulike kryptovalutaer. De samme hackerne stakk i fjor av med 1,5 milliarder dollar etter et innbrudd i Bybit, en annen kryptobørs. Mye tyder på at Nord-Korea de siste ti årene har raket til seg nesten ti milliarder dollar på slik virksomhet.
Mens vanlige nord-koreanere kjemper en daglig kamp for å overleve, arbeider Kims cyberkriminelle under høytrykk for å skaffe valuta til regimets ambisiøse atomprogram. Mange har undret seg over et så isolert og fattig land kan holde seg med en hær på 1,2 millioner soldater og true freden i Asia. Svaret er ganske enkelt at Nord-Korea under Kim Jong-un ikke fungerer som et vanlig land, men som et globalt forbrytersyndikat.
Regardless of psywar campaign, Taiwan shouldn’t rush to surrender
Taiwan’s external security situation is bleak. China, flush with new and modern weaponry, is regularly practicing for a military operation to forcibly annex the island.There are doubts about continued US support.
The Trump Administration, hoping for a big bilateral trade deal with China, is delaying a large arms sale already approved by Congress. President Trump’s own remarks about Taiwan are not encouraging: He has said on multiple occasions that Taiwan is unimportant compared with China, is indefensible, should pay the US protection money – and “stole” America’s semiconductor manufacturing industry. The successful pressure on Taiwan to build fabs in the US seemingly reduces Washington’s incentive to get involved in a cross-Strait war.
It is not surprising, therefore, to find observers urging Taipei to surrender. A recent example is South China Morning Post columnist Alex Lo’s October 23 opinion piece, which argues that “Taiwan might as well give up now.”
The Trump Administration, hoping for a big bilateral trade deal with China, is delaying a large arms sale already approved by Congress. President Trump’s own remarks about Taiwan are not encouraging: He has said on multiple occasions that Taiwan is unimportant compared with China, is indefensible, should pay the US protection money – and “stole” America’s semiconductor manufacturing industry. The successful pressure on Taiwan to build fabs in the US seemingly reduces Washington’s incentive to get involved in a cross-Strait war.
It is not surprising, therefore, to find observers urging Taipei to surrender. A recent example is South China Morning Post columnist Alex Lo’s October 23 opinion piece, which argues that “Taiwan might as well give up now.”
Mining in Tibet in 2026: The Copper Boom, Troubled Rivers and the Question of Who Benefits
In September 2014, over 1000 Tibetans gathered in a village east of Lhasa to protest mining, which they said was polluting their rivers and damaging their farming. The demonstration took place in Gyama, a mountain valley historically used for agriculture, livestock, and local water. Gyama or Jiama as it is written in Chinese, is in central Tibet, about 60-70 km east of Lhasa in Meldro Gungkar County. It is well known for its large copper and gold mine and its cultural heritage.
Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported that people in the area have been complaining of worsening river conditions, dwindling fish stocks, and crop damage. The rivers were once clean, and the area was famous for its scenic beauty, as recalled by a local resident. Now, serious waste-related issues continue to affect the waters. Gyama is also associated with environmental and mining safety issues. On the 29th of March 2013, there was a major landslide in the Gyama mining area which trapped 83 men. The disaster prompted many questions about mining safety and environmental management.
India warned on China’s Arunachal border infrastructure, settlement-building spree
China has taken at least 15-20 years’ lead in developing remote Tibetan border regions with a design to strengthen its claims over Arunachal Pradesh, including especially through border infrastructure and settlement buildings, according to Lt General (Retd) Abhay Krishna, a former Army Commander of South Western, Eastern and Central Army Commands of the Indian Army, writing on Indianarrative.comwebsite Oct 24. He has warned against China trying to make a “demographic invasion” of Arunachal in future.
In this context, he has warned that China was resettling Tibetans close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) opposite Arunachal Pradesh, with the aim to make the disputed boundary resemble an ordinary Chinese provincial frontier, with a long-term goal of pushing a “demographic invasion” into the Indian state over the coming decades.
In this context, he has warned that China was resettling Tibetans close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) opposite Arunachal Pradesh, with the aim to make the disputed boundary resemble an ordinary Chinese provincial frontier, with a long-term goal of pushing a “demographic invasion” into the Indian state over the coming decades.
Tens of thousands build 108 Buddhist stupas for Bhutan ‘mindfulness’ city
Tens of thousands of volunteers have taken part in building 108 Buddhist stupas in Bhutan’s new “mindfulness” city, as the Himalayan kingdom embarks on an ambitious project to boost economic growth.
The 15-metre-tall (50ft) stupas, sacred Buddhist monuments found across the Himalayas, were installed on Sunday along 12km (7.5 miles) of riverbank near the Indian border, at the site of the future Gelephu Mindfulness City. More than 40,000 volunteers participated in building the structures as “a physical form of prayer made permanent in stone and earth”, after starting work after midnight, officials said. The number 108 is sacred in Buddhism, widely practised in Bhutan.
About 200,000 people attended the ceremony, or nearly a fourth of the population, officials told the AFP news agency.
Why Isn’t it “Foreign Interference” When They Praise China?
The post translated below, from WeChat account 守一手记 (Shǒuyī Shǒujì, “Shouyi’s Notes”), examines conflicting attitudes and selective scrutiny on Chinese social media when it comes to foreign views of China. Foreign media coverage may be met with hostility, and foreign involvement identified, without evidence, behind "hyping" of public safety issues, but foreign praise is often uncritically embraced. When Western "TikTok refugees" flooded onto Xiaohongshu in early 2025, for example, some Chinese netizens were quick to celebrate the visitors’ dazed wonderment at living standards in contemporary urban middle-class China. (Others had more critical responses that resonate with the translation below.)
Also last year, state media seized on a visit by U.S. influencer IShowSpeed to promote Chinese culture and development, while there is a longer parallel history of foreign content creators recruited in outward-directed messaging on Xinjiang.
China’s factory activity slips as new export orders weaken
China’s factory activity contracted in October as new export orders softened, reversing the previous month’s rebound. The world’s second-biggest economy has been facing pressure from trading partners to rebalance trade as its trade surplus with many countries balloons.
Data released on Saturday by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that China’s official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index fell to 49.3 in October, compared with 50.1 in September and 49.8 in August. The PMI is based on a monthly survey of companies and measured from 0 to 100. Readings below 50 indicate contraction while readings above 50 reflect expansion.
Several key subindexes were also in contraction territory in October, including new export orders, which fell to 48.7 from 50.0 in September. The subindex on production dropped to 49.8, from 51.7.
Data released on Saturday by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that China’s official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index fell to 49.3 in October, compared with 50.1 in September and 49.8 in August. The PMI is based on a monthly survey of companies and measured from 0 to 100. Readings below 50 indicate contraction while readings above 50 reflect expansion.
Several key subindexes were also in contraction territory in October, including new export orders, which fell to 48.7 from 50.0 in September. The subindex on production dropped to 49.8, from 51.7.
søndag 1. november 2026
What do Kylian Mbappé and Hello Kitty have in common? They’ve both angered China
What do French soccer star Kylian Mbappé and the Japanese company behind Hello Kitty have in common? Before this week, very little. Now, they share the unenviable position of having angered Chinese fans and consumers – then having to quickly apologize and do damage control, with big earnings on the line.
It’s not the first time this has happened. In recent years, other foreign brands and prominent figures, from athletes to fashion houses, have found themselves in hot water. But this week’s back-to-back backtracks illustrate how difficult it can be to do business in China – where once you cross a perceived red line, people aren’t so quick to forgive and forget.
It’s not the first time this has happened. In recent years, other foreign brands and prominent figures, from athletes to fashion houses, have found themselves in hot water. But this week’s back-to-back backtracks illustrate how difficult it can be to do business in China – where once you cross a perceived red line, people aren’t so quick to forgive and forget.
China’s plenum backs tighter party discipline, a priority for Xi. Here’s why it matters
China’s Communist Party leaders ended a closely watched four-day meeting this week by endorsing a core priority for President Xi Jinping: tightening internal discipline and fighting corruption. The decisions could set the stage for personnel changes in key leadership bodies next year, when Xi is expected to secure a fourth term as party leader.
The Central Committee’s fifth plenum adopted a resolution Thursday on strengthening discipline and combating corruption. It also ratified the expulsions of more than 30 senior officials from the party, including one who was until early this year the army’s top general, and promoted the remaining general serving on the commission that oversees China’s military to the Politburo, one of the top decision-making bodies.
On Friday, party officials outlined plans to carry out the plenum’s decisions, emphasizing tighter discipline. Here’s what to know and why it matters.
The Central Committee’s fifth plenum adopted a resolution Thursday on strengthening discipline and combating corruption. It also ratified the expulsions of more than 30 senior officials from the party, including one who was until early this year the army’s top general, and promoted the remaining general serving on the commission that oversees China’s military to the Politburo, one of the top decision-making bodies.
On Friday, party officials outlined plans to carry out the plenum’s decisions, emphasizing tighter discipline. Here’s what to know and why it matters.
China leaders demand more loyalty and more initiative
The top echelon of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) held a four-day session behind closed doors in Beijing this week, with the talks focusing on strict leadership and discipline inside the ruling party.
Xi Jinping, who is both the CCP's general secretary and the head of state in China, signaled he would not only deepen the existing anti-corruption effort, but also ensure that party officials demonstrate more loyalty and more initiative at all levels.
According to the press release published on Thursday, the committee published a resolution praising the leadership and Xi Jinping for "enormous political courage and strong sense of responsibility" in tackling the issues of corruption and the weakening of the Party's governance. The statement emphasized the need to "consistently advance comprehensive and strict Party leadership."
Xi Jinping, who is both the CCP's general secretary and the head of state in China, signaled he would not only deepen the existing anti-corruption effort, but also ensure that party officials demonstrate more loyalty and more initiative at all levels.
According to the press release published on Thursday, the committee published a resolution praising the leadership and Xi Jinping for "enormous political courage and strong sense of responsibility" in tackling the issues of corruption and the weakening of the Party's governance. The statement emphasized the need to "consistently advance comprehensive and strict Party leadership."
Can EU and India work together to secure Indo-Pacific?
The European Union is vying for a larger role in Indo-Pacific security as the US finds itself on the back foot in the Eastern Hemisphere. India is among the regional powers looking for new allies. Its rising economy and increasingly global ambitions have pushed it into new forums and partnerships, including ever closer defense ties with the European bloc.
In January this year, India and the EU signed a Security and Defense Partnership, followed by their first formal Security and Defense Dialogue in March. More meetings followed throughout the year, including the fifth Maritime Security Dialogue in Brussels last month.
However, while both sides want to boost cooperation on maritime security, working together in the Indo-Pacific remains a challenge — India and European countries simply have different defense priorities.
In January this year, India and the EU signed a Security and Defense Partnership, followed by their first formal Security and Defense Dialogue in March. More meetings followed throughout the year, including the fifth Maritime Security Dialogue in Brussels last month.
However, while both sides want to boost cooperation on maritime security, working together in the Indo-Pacific remains a challenge — India and European countries simply have different defense priorities.
Seoul fears being sidelined as US reaches out to North Korea
South Korea's relationship with the North, always strained, seems to be going through a particularly hostile patch in recent weeks.
Last month, Seoul accused North Korea of planting a mine on the southern side of the heavily fortified border. The device exploded, injuring three South Korean soldiers. Pyongyang refused to apologize and insisted this was a false-flag incident designed to tarnish the isolated nation. The North Korean regime has since conducted multiple weapons tests, held its first-ever exhibition of military drones attended by Kim Jong Un, brought up self-propelled artillery units to the border and started preparing loudspeaker systems that will blast propaganda into the South.
On Thursday, North Korea also fired around 10 short-range ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japanjust before a scheduled visit to South Korea by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Last month, Seoul accused North Korea of planting a mine on the southern side of the heavily fortified border. The device exploded, injuring three South Korean soldiers. Pyongyang refused to apologize and insisted this was a false-flag incident designed to tarnish the isolated nation. The North Korean regime has since conducted multiple weapons tests, held its first-ever exhibition of military drones attended by Kim Jong Un, brought up self-propelled artillery units to the border and started preparing loudspeaker systems that will blast propaganda into the South.
On Thursday, North Korea also fired around 10 short-range ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japanjust before a scheduled visit to South Korea by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
FBI says North Korea behind $6 billion Binance crypto theft
The FBI said Saturday that North Korea was behind the theft of more than $6 billion (€5.36 billion) in virtual assets from the cryptocurrency exchange Binance. "The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) was responsible for the theft of more than $6 billion USD in virtual assets from cryptocurrency exchange Binance, on or about October 29, 2026," the US law enforcement agency said in a statement.
The theft, which happened within a matter of minutes, is believed to be the biggest cryptocurrency heist in history. The stolen assets included bitcoin, ethereum and stablecoins such as tether and USD Coin, whose values are pegged to traditional currencies. News of the cyberattack caused the prices of most major cryptocurrencies to slump on Friday.
The theft, which happened within a matter of minutes, is believed to be the biggest cryptocurrency heist in history. The stolen assets included bitcoin, ethereum and stablecoins such as tether and USD Coin, whose values are pegged to traditional currencies. News of the cyberattack caused the prices of most major cryptocurrencies to slump on Friday.
FORMER RAGYA ABBOT JAILED FOR FIVE YEARS AFTER LONG LIFE PRAYERS FOR DALAI LAMA
Chinese authorities in Golog have sentenced Khensur Tenpa Gyatso, a former abbot of Ragya Monastery, to five years in prison, linked to his encouragement to Tibetans to participate in long life prayers for the Dalai Lama and loyalty to a religious teacher in exile. The sentence comes amid a wider crackdown in the Ragya area, where authorities have also closed schools with Tibetan language at the core of their teaching.
Tibetan sources say Tenpa Gyatso, also known as Lobsang Tenpa, was jailed after security forces searched his quarters and found recordings of the Dalai Lama’s teachings, along with photographs of the Dalai Lama and of Shingza Rinpoche, the monastery’s head, who also lives in exile. This was the second time he had been held. In 2025, during celebrations of the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, he led long-life prayers for the Dalai Lama and was detained for several months.
Tibetan sources say Tenpa Gyatso, also known as Lobsang Tenpa, was jailed after security forces searched his quarters and found recordings of the Dalai Lama’s teachings, along with photographs of the Dalai Lama and of Shingza Rinpoche, the monastery’s head, who also lives in exile. This was the second time he had been held. In 2025, during celebrations of the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, he led long-life prayers for the Dalai Lama and was detained for several months.
CHINA SHUTS THREE MORE TIBETAN SCHOOLS IN GOLOG: ‘OUR LIFELINE IS LOST FOREVER
The Chinese authorities have abruptly closed three privately and community-run Tibetan schools in Machen (Chinese: Maqen) County, Golog (Chinese: Guoluo), in the Tibetan area of Amdo, now part of Qinghai. All three placed Tibetan language, culture and Buddhist identity at the heart of their teaching, while also meeting the requirements of China’s nine-year compulsory education curriculum, including teaching in Chinese.
Footage circulated on Tibetan social media accounts of girls weeping and distressed as they were forced to leave their school in the grasslands. “We will never forget the kindness of our teachers,” one of the pupils posted on social media, while another said: “Our lifeline is lost forever.”
Footage circulated on Tibetan social media accounts of girls weeping and distressed as they were forced to leave their school in the grasslands. “We will never forget the kindness of our teachers,” one of the pupils posted on social media, while another said: “Our lifeline is lost forever.”
lørdag 31. oktober 2026
Record number of purges as Xi emphasises 'party discipline' at China political gathering
A record 33 members have been expelled from China's Communist Party as it concluded a major annual political gathering, which had the most empty seats ever seen. The fifth plenum was attended by 279 Central Committee members, compared to 315 at the fourth plenum in October 2025 and 364 at the third one in July 2024. While recent plenums focused on economic reforms or social and development issues, party discipline took centre stage at this week's gathering.
Xi Jinping has made the fight against corruption a central pillar of his rule since he took the reins in 2012, calling it the "biggest threat" to the party. Since then, more than two million individuals have been disciplined for cases related to "pointless formalities, bureaucratism, hedonism and extravagance", Zhang Fuhai, from the party's disciplinary commission, told a press briefing on Friday.
Xi Jinping has made the fight against corruption a central pillar of his rule since he took the reins in 2012, calling it the "biggest threat" to the party. Since then, more than two million individuals have been disciplined for cases related to "pointless formalities, bureaucratism, hedonism and extravagance", Zhang Fuhai, from the party's disciplinary commission, told a press briefing on Friday.
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