Chinese Central Bank Boss Vows To Further Fintech Crackdown - Dunya News
People's Bank of China governor Yi Gang said the central bank will strengthen supervision of the payments industry and continue its anti-monopoly crackdown. He added that the central bank will strengthen supervision of the payments industry and ask all financial services companies to be licensed.
Mass surveillance under Palantir: The tech company's ties to US military, ICE, and the IDF
Palantir Technologies has become the digital arm of the capitalist class's rule, enabling surveillance of the many by the powerful few. Palantir's reach now extends throughout the government and across borders, creating an unprecedented apparatus of control. Since Trump's return to office, the company has secured massive new contracts, including an initial $480 million for Project Maven (the Pentagon's AI drone targeting system) which has now expanded to nearly $1.3 billion, $30 million for ImmigrationOS (ICE's immigrant tracker), and contracts for the Space Force's C2 data platform.
How Palantir, the secretive tech company, is rising in the Trump era | KPBS Public Media
Palantir is emerging as a key private contractor as the Trump administration intensifies its crackdown on people who are in the U.S. without legal status. Immigration and Customs Enforcement records show Palantir recently received a $30 million contract to build a platform to track migrant movements in real time.
Former Palantir workers condemn company's work with Trump administration - TPR
Thirteen former employees of Palantir are condemning the company's work with the Trump administration weeks after Immigration and Customs Enforcement reached a deal to pay Palantir $30 million to provide the agency with “near real-time visibility” into the movement of migrants in the U.S.. Palantir offers data-analyzing software that uses AI to pull information from a multitude of sources and compiles it into charts, tables and heat maps.
Inside the Kremlin's vast AI surveillance of dissidents - Washington Times
Russia is deploying an artificial intelligence-powered surveillance operation using facial recognition to identify those opposed to the government at public events, according to an analysis of leaked Kremlin documents obtained by Estonian journalists. President Vladimir Putin's administration intends to spend more than $121 million on the AI system's continued development from 2024 through 2026.
Xi stresses deepening political rectification at training session for military officials
President Xi Jinping urged efforts to deepen political rectification in the military to maintain its purity and loyalty to the Communist Party. He stressed the significance of ideals and convictions and called on high-ranking military officials to take the lead in carrying out intra-party political activities.
'Our product is used, on occassion, to kill people': Inside Palantir, the world's scariest AI company
This article discusses Palantir's AI-based platform and its use by military and law enforcement agencies to analyze personal data and surveil individuals. Palantir's technology has been used in wars, and its AI platform has been instrumental in stopping terror attacks, according to CEO Alex Karp.
Xi's $270 Billion Middle East Bet Limits China Support for Iran | Financial Post
This article discusses how President Xi Jinping's support for Iran is constrained by China's investments in the Middle East. Chinese investment and construction in the Middle East are growing rapidly as part of the Belt and Road Initiative.
White House Reporter: Put the Temple Mount on the Table as Leverage Against Hamas
White House reporter Jake Turx proposes using the Temple Mount as leverage to disarm Hamas, suggesting that if Hamas refuses to disarm, control of the Temple Mount should be transferred solely to the Jews - potentially paving the way for Third Temple construction. Turx argues this is the one thing Hamas will not sacrifice, making it the ultimate negotiating tool for Trump.
Biblical Prophecy? Video of Red Heifer Ceremony in Israel; A Texan shares his story
For the first time in 2000 years, a Red Heifer was slaughtered and burned in Israel on July 1, 2025, with its ashes gathered, potentially fulfilling prophecy related to rebuilding the Third Temple.
2025 Global Scripture Access
As of August 1, 2025, just 544 of the world's 7,396 living languages remain on the waiting list for Bible translation to begin, with the focus on people in all language communities engaging with God's Word.
Israel signals readiness to escalate in Lebanon as Iran tensions rise
Amid rising tensions with Iran, Israel is signaling its readiness to escalate in Lebanon. The head of the Israeli army's Manpower Directorate stated that Israel is currently facing seven fronts and that Iran, along with its proxies, plans to eliminate the Jewish state.
America Needs a National Digital Identity Strategy
A national digital identity strategy is needed in the US to standardize and govern online trust, enhance privacy, mitigate fraud, and make services easier and fairer, without centralizing identity.
Going Cashless: Central Banks and Digital Currencies
Central banks are grappling with the implications of digital currencies and cashless societies, including the need for regulation and the potential impact on financial access and the role of central banks.
Security Council Reform
Intergovernmental negotiations are ongoing in the General Assembly regarding equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council.
Abraham Accords and their impact on Chinese national security - Modern Diplomacy
The Abraham Accords, starting in 2020, are expanding Israeli influence in Asia, impacting China's strategic interests and national security, especially with Kazakhstan joining in November 2025.
Ray Dalio Warns CBDCs Could Erase Financial Privacy
Investor Ray Dalio warns that CBDCs could eliminate financial privacy, enabling governments to monitor transactions in real-time, apply instant taxes, enforce capital controls, and restrict access for politically disfavored individuals. He raised concerns about the potential for systemic government control over personal finances and the exclusion of certain individuals from the CBDC system.
Kenyan authorities used Israeli tech to crack activist's phone, report claims
Report claims Kenyan authorities utilized Israeli technology to compromise an activist's phone, highlighting the increasing use of sophisticated surveillance tools against dissent.
Blackwater Founder Erik Prince Joins Ukrainian Startup to Unleash AI Drone Swarms
Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater, has joined Swarmer, a Ukrainian startup specializing in AI-driven autonomous drone swarms, as non-executive chairman. Swarmer's platform has executed over 100,000 real-world combat missions since April 2024, using machine learning to coordinate drone swarms. Prince aims to leverage his connections to sell Swarmer's technology to the US Department of Defense and NATO allies.
Gujarat Launches India's First CBDC-Based Public Distribution System
The government of Gujarat has launched India's first Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based Public Distribution System (PDS). This system uses digital currency tokens authorized by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to improve transparency, reduce corruption, ensure traceability of transactions, and strengthen accountability in subsidy delivery. The CBDC platform was developed by Punjab National Bank under the RBI framework.
Meta Reportedly Set to Launch Divisive 'Facial Recognition' Feature
Meta is reportedly planning to introduce a new facial recognition feature within its smart glasses, enabling wearers to identify people using AI and access their information, raising privacy concerns. The feature, called 'Name Tag,' could potentially identify anyone connected to a Meta platform, making their information readily available.
'Orwellian': Sainsbury's staff using facial recognition tech eject innocent shopper
A shopper was wrongly identified and ejected from a Sainsbury's store due to facial recognition technology, raising concerns about the potential for misidentification and the erosion of privacy.
Data sovereignty: Why East Africa must build its own AI future
Sovereign AI, the ability to build AI using a nation's own infrastructure and governed data is becoming a necessity. It ensures legal compliance with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner while reducing latency. For East Africa's vision of the Silicon Savannah to be realised, their digital intelligence must be built on local foundations.
China's Digital Yuan to Pay Interest in 2026, Defying Global CBDC Norms
China's digital yuan will begin paying interest in 2026, a move that diverges from the global consensus that retail CBDCs should function purely as digital cash. Wallet balances will accrue interest at demand deposit rates and will be covered by China's deposit insurance scheme, similar to bank deposits. This decision aims to encourage wider adoption while limiting risks to commercial banks.
Angelo "Doc” Mancuso op-ed: Alabama Republicans are demanding loyalty instead of earning votes
Alabama Republicans are pushing a bill that would require voters to register by party before participating in primaries, which some GOP leaders warn would weaken the party and silence independent-minded conservatives. Rep. Chris Pringle accused Rep. Ernie Yarbrough of trying to reshape the party's rules out of arrogance. The closed primary bill wasn't discussed much until everything that happened to me came to light.
Iran live updates: Ceasefire vulnerable as Israel keeps up strikes on Lebanon
President Trump told NBC News he's 'very optimistic' a peace deal is within reach as American officials plan to head to Pakistan this weekend for peace talks with Iranian officials. The State Department is set to host talks in Washington next week focused on advancing ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Lebanon. Vice President Vance is scheduled to lead negotiations with Iran in Pakistan this weekend.
US and Iran Agree to Ceasefire Hours Before Trump Deadline | Bloomberg Talks - YouTube
The US and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire that's expected to halt the American-Israeli military campaign in exchange for Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump announced the agreement Tuesday on social media hours after Pakistan, a mediator in talks, implored the US leader to back off his deadline to unleash massive devastation on Iran if it did not meet his demands. The deal buys time for the two sides to reach a longer agreement to end the six-week-old war, which has killed thousands of people and sparked a global energy crisis.
Israel joins two-week ceasefire in Iran as Trump hails 'workable' peace deal
Israel has agreed to suspend its bombing campaign in Iran as part of a deal reached between Tehran and President Donald Trump, who announced a 'double-sided ceasefire'. Trump said he received a 10-point proposal from Iran, calling it a 'workable basis on which to negotiate'. The Australian government welcomed the agreement.
Why wars no longer end conclusively in a unipolar world | The Business Standard
In a unipolar world, the absence of a check on US power can lead to instability, potentially allowing Israel to consolidate its position as the dominant regional power. However, such dominance could deepen regional resentment and fuel long-term instability. The article suggests that outright victories are rare, and negotiated ceasefires are more common, but even these may not restore the previous status quo.
Kazakhstan formally joined the Abraham Accords on November 6, 2025
Kazakhstan formally joined the Abraham Accords on November 6, 2025, signaling a continued expansion of the agreements between Israel and Arab states. This is relevant as it shows the Abraham Accords are continuing to expand, furthering diplomatic normalization between Israel and other nations.
The Power Grab: The Authoritarian Coalition's Strategy of Power Consolidation
An authoritarian coalition is consolidating power using political, institutional, cultural, and economic levers. This consolidation aims to reinforce a hierarchy where only those deemed deserving by the coalition can participate in a pay-to-play system.
Commander claimed Trump was 'anointed by Jesus to cause Armageddon' to justify Iran strikes: Complaint - The Independent
A military commander told non-commissioned officers that President Donald Trump was “anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth,” according to a complaint filed with a religious freedom watchdog. The commander urged the troops to tell their subordinates that the strikes were 'all part of God's divine plan'.