Already a subscriber? Sign in to unlock Premium on the website.
Use the “Sign in” link in any newsletter for one-click access.
FOCAL POINTS
This week, in US politics, Trump staged a sharp volte-face by abruptly shifting his stance on releasing the Epstein file. Kyiv used mass-produced interceptor drones to degrade Russia’s grid. Japan and Switzerland were hit by US-driven tariff shock, with Switzerland nearing a deal and Japan facing tougher headwinds. Markets watch Nvidia’s upcoming earnings as an AI stress test. And China has increased gray-zone pressure on Taiwan with assertive coast-guard patrols.
If you would like a deep-dive report and support NEWS RaiVIEW, order Robots in the Newsroom. It analyzes how AI is transforming journalism — from automated reporting to editorial decisions — and what it means for credibility and the future of news. It’s essential reading for anyone tracking media and technology. Available to subscribers for $7.95. See Special Reports.
Please share this issue by using the link at the end. Let’s look at the stories.
David Eifion Williams
Editor & Founder
TOP STORY
Why Trump’s Epstein File U-Turn?
President Donald Trump has reversed course, now urging his party to release more Epstein documents. But critics say it’s too little, too late.
Trump’s volte-face likely driven by the vote to make Epstein files public.
After weeks of opposing a full release, Trump suddenly told House Republicans to vote in favor of making Epstein files public, claiming “we have nothing to hide.” This signals a marked shift, likely driven by political math: enough Republicans were ready to force a vote.
Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee has already released over 20,000 pages of Epstein-related documents, including emails that allegedly mention Trump. But Trump’s reversal is not being greeted with applause. Critics argue he’s trying to get ahead of a vote he was never going to win, framing it as a distraction while he retains control over what is actually disclosed.
Some believe this posture shift is less about contrition and more about optics — a way for Trump to claim the moral high ground, even if significant redactions remain. The political fallout is real. There’s a divide in his own party: some loyalists like Marjorie Taylor Greene had pressed him to back the release; others saw the risk. If the House approves, it’s unclear whether the Senate will act and how much of the material will survive redaction or obstruction.
Trump’s “transparency” turn smells a lot like triangulation: a play to neutralize critics while keeping his allies close.
WAR
Ukraine’s Drone‑Energy Triangle
Ukraine isn’t just trading bullets anymore: it’s using mass‑produced interceptor drones and topping up the damage to Russia’s grid.
Production of “Octopus” interceptor drones commences in effort to defend Ukraine.
Ukraine has initiated production of its domestically designed “Octopus” interceptor drones, aiming for up to 1,000 units a day. This scale dramatically alters its air‑defense calculus, forcing Russia to rethink saturation tactics.
Russia has responded by striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure in four oblasts, including solar plants and power lines. The attacks mark an escalation into energy warfare rather than purely tactical strikes.
These developments are linked: Ukraine’s drone buildup prepares it for increased Russian attacks, while Russia’s strikes aim to inflict domestic pressure and disrupt reconstruction. The battlefield is now defined by drones, energy, and infrastructure, not just frontlines.
This isn’t just a swap of tactics; it’s a structural change. Whoever controls the energy‑compute‑drone nexus will dictate both military outcomes and political leverage.
TRADE
Japan and Switzerland Suffer from Tariff Shock
US tariffs are dragging down Japan and Switzerland’s economies. Switzerland may have struck a deal, while Japan faces a tougher road ahead.
Japanese and Swiss economies feel the effects of US tariffs.
The third-quarter contraction in both Japan and Switzerland highlights a rarely acknowledged side-effect of US trade policy: the cost of protectionism is paid globally. Japan’s export-driven economy weakened as US tariffs hit its shipments, while Switzerland — long seen as a reliably wealthy, diversified exporter — slumped hard, especially in chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and precision machinery.
Switzerland’s government, visibly rattled by the 39% tariff, has brokered a framework deal with the US to bring that rate down to 15%, in exchange for a $200 billion investment pledge in the US by Swiss firms. Meanwhile, Japanese leaders are reportedly preparing a huge stimulus package to cushion the blow and push through further negotiations.
These developments don’t just affect Japan and Switzerland. Other export-oriented economies are reportedly watching closely, as this could set a precedent for how Washington enforces trade leverage. European exporters may gain a relative advantage if the US grants more favorable terms to certain high-investment trading partners.
This isn’t just about economics — it’s geopolitical theatre. The US is using its market as a lever, not just to correct trade imbalances, but to reshape investment flows and production footprints.
CORRUPTION, RACKETS & DUBIOUS FINANCE
Cabinet Corruption over Flood‑Control Projects
Two cabinet ministers in the Philippines — Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman — have resigned amid allegations of graft linked to flood‑control infrastructure contracts. The scandal centers on irregularities in how funds were allocated for flood control, with accusations that construction firms received contracts despite delivering subpar work. A presidential fact‑finding commission has been established, and several bank accounts linked to implicated parties have been frozen amid mass public protests.
Peru Mining Corruption Investigation
Peruvian authorities have launched a probe into executives at a major gold mining firm over embezzlement and bribery related to environmental permits. Preliminary estimates suggest $ 50–70 million may have been misappropriated. Corruption in extractive industries threatens local governance, environmental protections, and investor confidence. The case adds to ongoing concerns about systemic malfeasance in South America’s natural resources sector.
TECHNOLOGY
Investors’ eyes transfixed on NDVA
Nvidia’s earnings are the market’s AI stress test. With quarterly results approaching, a pass or fail will reverberate across the sector.
NVDA stock seen as a ‘referendum’ on the AI investment thesis.
Nvidia’s stock has surged +1,180% since early 2023, reflecting both dominance in AI chips and investor belief in an AI super‑cycle. Expectations are baked into valuation, leaving little room for error.
The upcoming earnings release is viewed less as a company event than a referendum on the AI investment thesis. Even a modest miss could trigger a broad re-evaluation of AI sector valuations.
Analysts highlight a narrowing “capability-realization gap”: promises of AI’s impact are colliding with actual returns. Investors are watching Nvidia as the key barometer for whether AI becomes foundational or speculative.
Nvidia is not just a chip maker—it is the proxy for the credibility of the AI market story. Its results will shape capital flows across the entire AI infrastructure ecosystem.
WORLD
China’s Maritime Pressure on Taiwan
Beijing’s coast guard patrols near Taiwan and the Senkaku Islands reveal a strategy of gray-zone coercion that challenges Taiwan and tests US resolve.
“Rights enforcement patrols” assembled for Tokyo and Taipei to consider.
China’s Coast Guard sent a formation of ships on Sunday through waters around the contested Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands. Beijing framed this as a “rights enforcement patrol” targeting both Tokyo and Taipei.
The patrol follows Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s warning that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could threaten Japan’s security. Beijing has publicly demanded Japan retract the comments, warning of “consequences.”
Taiwan reported detecting 30+ Chinese aircraft and 7 naval vessels in the area within 24 hours, part of what Taipei describes as “persistent pressure” on its airspace and maritime borders.
This is not an invasion, but a strategic escalation. China is normalizing coercion, blending maritime law enforcement, military drills, and political signaling to slowly redefine the operational environment around Taiwan.
🕵️ INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) reported that billions of dollars were moved through major cryptocurrency exchanges in a complex network linked to money laundering, organized crime, and North Korean hackers. Investigators traced flows across multiple platforms, uncovering how weak compliance and oversight enabled illicit funds to move globally. Central to the scheme were several unnamed exchanges that failed to enforce anti-money-laundering protocols. Criminals exploited these gaps to launder proceeds from drug trafficking, ransomware, and sanctioned entities, often using layered transactions that obscured origins.
THE WEEK TO NOV 18, 2025
Trending in the US
1️⃣ Cloudfare down — 2M+ searches
Reports of outages surge at X and other apps as Cloudflare says it's having widespread problems.
2️⃣ Lions vs Eagles — 2M+ searches
Jalen Hurts' lone touchdown leads Eagles to 16-9 victory over Lions in lackluster offensive game.
3️⃣ Northern Lights tonight — 2M+ searches
Northern Lights Forecast: Aurora Could Be Visible From Many States on Sunday.
NEWS YOU LIKELY MISSED
What the Media Buried
African Experts Propose G20 Debt-Refinancing Mechanism
A panel of African financial experts has called on the G20, IMF, and other multilateral institutions to establish a new “debt‑refinancing” mechanism that would use low‑cost instruments — like debt swaps — to buy back expensive loans, rather than just rescheduling payments. The proposal, issued in Johannesburg, suggests using IMF Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) or even gold sales to fund the initiative, aiming to ease pressures on low‑income African countries such as Ghana, Zambia, Senegal, and Mozambique. The plan also advocates creating a “borrowers’ club” to give debtor nations more collective bargaining power and to push for broader debt‑resolution reform
Chinese Cyber‑Enabled Sabotage Risk on Critical Infrastructure
Australia’s intelligence chief, Mike Burgess (ASIO), has publicly accused Chinese state‑linked hacker groups — Salt Typhoon and Volt Typhoon — of probing the nation’s telecoms, water, power, and transport networks, raising the spectre of “high‑impact sabotage.” He warned that these are not theoretical attacks: once hackers gain access, disruption could be deliberate and devastating, with long-term mapping and persistent access that allows them to strike at a moment of their choosing. Burgess estimated that cyber espionage alone cost Australia A$12.5 billion(US$8 billion). in the last year, and urged urgent strengthening of business and infrastructure cyber defences.
Human Activity, Not Weather, Drives Microplastic Pollution
Research from the University of East London’s Sustainability Research Institute shows that variations in microplastic levels in the River Thames are more strongly tied to changes in human behaviour — such as lockdowns and industrial activity — than to seasonal weather shifts. The team collected over 6,600 microplastic particles during monthly sampling between 2019 and 2021, and found that 2020 saw a notable drop, correlating with reduced social and economic activity. Their findings suggest stronger regulation, better waste management, and widespread microplastic monitoring are needed to curb pollution at its source.
The study argues for integrating microplastic monitoring into standard water quality checks and proposes policy reforms to tighten industrial regulation and improve public waste disposal. It highlights short-term “spikes” in microplastic levels after major storm events, though further research is needed to fully map the relationship between extreme weather and plastic pollution.
