North Korea is currently supplying Russia with a significant portion of its ammunition needs, estimated at 35-50% monthly, which equates to 200,000–260,000 shells of 152 mm and 122 mm caliber. Additionally, Pyongyang has provided launchers and short-range ballistic missiles to be used in the ongoing conflict. Russia and North Korea are utilizing the war in Ukraine as a testing ground for weapons systems, including upgraded anti-tank missiles and heavy MLRS. Furthermore, a substantial number of North Korean troops, including specialized personnel, have been deployed to Russia, and North Korean labor migrants are being utilized to offset workforce shortages.
Read More
Another prominent Russian figure, Vyacheslav Leontyev, the 87-year-old former head of the Pravda publishing house, has died after falling from a window in Moscow. Leontyev’s death, occurring on Saturday evening, is under investigation by police, with possibilities including accident, suicide, or foul play. His passing adds to a concerning pattern of high-profile deaths in Russia, with several other business leaders and officials also dying in similar circumstances in recent years. These incidents have raised suspicions, particularly given the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine and potential connections to the Russian elite.
Read More
Overnight strikes on October 5th saw Russia deploy 549 weapons systems built with over 102,000 foreign-made components, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky accused nine countries, including the United States, China, and the United Kingdom, of failing to prevent their technology from reaching Russia, citing the use of foreign-made components in missiles and drones. He highlighted specific examples such as U.S.-made technology in Iskander and Kinjal missiles. The attacks resulted in casualties in Lviv and Zaporizhzhia, and overall, the attacks involved approximately 500 drones and 50 missiles striking Ukrainian territory.
Read More
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russians must experience the consequences of the blackouts inflicted upon Ukraine by Russian strikes on its energy infrastructure. He emphasized the need for multidirectional pressure on Russia, including increased pressure from Western nations and the Global South, to end the war. Zelenskyy also indicated that Ukrainian strikes on Russia, using domestically produced weapons, target military and energy facilities that fund the war. He believes that when Russians become uncomfortable, they will challenge their leadership.
Read More
Deloitte will issue a partial refund to the Australian government for a report riddled with errors, after admitting to using generative AI in its creation. The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) commissioned Deloitte to review a targeted compliance framework, a report that was later found to have issues including inaccurate references and citations. The updated version of the review now acknowledges the use of AI in its production, but Deloitte maintains that it has not altered the core findings. Critics have said Deloitte’s use of AI resulted in “hallucinations,” or inaccurate information, in the original report.
Read More
Northern Iran’s wetlands are experiencing an ecological collapse due to drought, rising temperatures, and upstream dam impacts, resulting in the absence of migratory birds. This crisis mirrors a broader water crisis across Iran, with shrinking rivers, depleted groundwater, and agricultural strain. The president has proposed relocating the capital, citing the vulnerability of Tehran, where water shortages are also intensifying. This environmental disaster, without systemic reforms, threatens economic growth, exacerbates migration pressures, and could lead to widespread humanitarian crises.
Read More
Overnight on October 6th, Ukrainian forces struck the Sverdlov Plant in Dzerzhinsk, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, a major Russian producer of explosives and ammunition. This facility, located 800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, manufactures a wide array of munitions for the Russian military. Following the attack, multiple explosions and a large fire were reported at the site, though damage assessment is ongoing. Russia’s Defense Ministry reported intercepting numerous Ukrainian drones, including those over the targeted region. The Sverdlov Plant has been under U.S. and EU sanctions since 2023 for its role in supporting Russia’s war effort, and this attack is part of a larger campaign against Russian military-industrial targets.
Read More
The Canadian government’s “Buy Canadian” policy, expected to be fully implemented by spring 2026, will be featured in the upcoming fall federal budget and is designed to prioritize Canadian suppliers in all federal spending. The policy, with initial elements potentially in effect by November, aims to make supporting Canadian industries an obligation, impacting federal procurement, infrastructure spending, and more. While details are still being finalized, and questions arise concerning trade agreement compliance, the policy is intended to boost the Canadian economy, though some sectors, like renewable energy, express concerns about potential complications and delays. Experts are also questioning whether the policy can succeed and remain compliant with trade agreements.
Read More
Venezuela has cautioned the U.S. government about a potential “false flag” operation targeting the American Embassy in Caracas, according to National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez. Rodríguez stated that extremist groups within Venezuela are allegedly planning to plant explosives at the embassy, though specific details on the group, the intended targets, and motivations were not provided. The U.S. military has increased its presence in the Western hemisphere and carried out strikes on vessels suspected of drug trafficking, a move that has escalated tensions given the U.S. does not recognize Maduro as the legitimate leader. Further heightening the situation, the U.S. declared a non-international armed conflict with drug cartels and said it could carry out operations on Venezuelan soil.
Read More
Overnight drone and missile attacks targeted Russian-occupied Crimea and several regions within Russia, impacting critical infrastructure. Explosions were reported across Crimea, with strikes confirmed on a Feodosia oil terminal and an ammunition depot, and caused a large-scale fire. In Russia’s Belgorod Oblast, a thermal power plant was hit, leaving tens of thousands without power, and a similar strike in the Bryansk region led to a large fire at a local thermal power plant.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker