Originally published at: https://peakprosperity.com/daily-digest/chinese-power-struggles-gold-silver-stress-and-mealworms-for-europeans/
Geopolitics
China’s Ministry of National Defense announced the removal of nine senior People’s Liberation Army officers following investigations, ahead of the Fourth Plenum of the Communist Party’s Central Committee. Among them was General He Weidong, reportedly a key ally of Xi Jinping, who was expelled from the Party and faces prosecution. Reports suggest these purges may indicate internal power struggles. Articles in PLA Daily have criticized demands for total obedience while praising collective leadership, which some observers say could benefit figures like General Zhang Youxia. Analysts indicate that such military actions, given the armed forces’ role as a core Party faction, may affect the plenum’s discussions on economic planning for 2026-2030. State media outlets like Global Times have framed the removals as part of Xi’s anti-corruption efforts, demonstrating his continued authority over the military.
Meanwhile, President Trump stated that the Gaza ceasefire remains in effect despite recent violence, attributing incidents to “rambunctious” elements possibly linked to Hamas rather than the group as a whole. Israel conducted airstrikes in response to reported attacks on its troops in Rafah, which local sources say killed at least 44 Palestinians, while Hamas denied involvement. The Israeli military later resumed ceasefire enforcement and allowed aid deliveries to restart. U.S. officials, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, have returned to the region to support the agreement, with Vice President JD Vance scheduled to visit Israel. Palestinian areas are facing health risks from accumulated waste following war-related suspensions of services. Al Jazeera reports have criticized the suspension of services, underscoring the ongoing challenges for Palestinian health and sanitation.
In a recent piece by Martin Armstrong, he discusses how historical ethnic tensions in the Balkans, stemming from centuries of political and cultural conflicts, have complicated current peace efforts. The World War II-era Ustaša regime implemented policies aimed at ethnic purification, according to historical accounts. However, some analyses highlight ongoing reconciliation efforts in the region, as noted in reports from The New York Times.
Ukraine’s history includes atrocities associated with Stepan Bandera, a ultranationalist leader whose actions targeted Poles and Jews. These actions reportedly drew condemnation from Poland, Russia, and Jewish communities, though some Ukrainian nationalists regard him as a hero. Post-World War II, U.S. intelligence reportedly sheltered Bandera in Germany, citing his anti-Soviet activities, according to declassified documents. Some analysts describe this as part of a broader pattern in which ethnic cleansings in these regions received limited attention in Western media. A BBC report notes the polarized views on Bandera’s legacy, with Ukrainian nationalists viewing his actions in the context of resisting Soviet oppression.
Epstein Files
Virginia Giuffre’s memoir recounts her experiences as a victim in Jeffrey Epstein’s trafficking network, including an alleged 2002 incident on Little St. James island where she was beaten and raped by an unnamed “well-known prime minister.” She described the assaults as involving choking and pleas for mercy, after which Epstein reportedly dismissed her concerns as part of the job. The book withholds the name citing safety concerns, though prior court filings by Giuffre identified Israel’s former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who has denied the allegations. Barak has categorically refuted the claims, stating he never met Giuffre and describing the accusations as baseless, according to reports in The Jerusalem Post.
US Politics
The “No Kings” protests, reportedly organized by Democratic-aligned NGO networks reportedly funded by groups including Arabella Advisors, Soros, and the Ford Foundation, attracted crowds nationwide. Observers noted that participants were primarily white baby boomer liberals rather than younger or more diverse activists. Researchers from the Government Accountability Institute traced over $294 million in funding to partners involved in the events, which they described as a coordinated effort similar to overseas regime-change operations. Turnout in cities like Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and Arizona was reportedly limited, with some accounts highlighting the involvement of retirees and questioning the protests’ grassroots nature. Some participants and observers, including in a Liberty Nation News analysis, view the protests as successful in raising awareness against perceived authoritarianism.
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani appeared at Masjid At-Taqwa in Brooklyn alongside Imam Siraj Wahhaj, listed as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and City Councilmember Yusef Salaam. Wahhaj’s son, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, faced charges in 2018 related to operating a compound in New Mexico described by authorities as a terrorist training camp, where children were allegedly trained for attacks including school shootings; the remains of a missing three-year-old were found there. The case included felony child abuse charges against several adults, though they were later dropped due to procedural issues, and the site was demolished. Mamdani has defended the meeting, describing Wahhaj as a respected community leader who condemns terrorism, as stated in his own social media post.
Economy
Bullion dealer Andy Schectman reported significant stress in gold and silver markets, with backwardation—where spot prices exceed futures—suggesting physical shortages and vulnerabilities in paper derivatives. Lease rates in London reportedly surged to over 39%, amid trading volumes that exceeded available metal supplies, pointing to rehypothecation issues where multiple claims exist on the same assets. Premiums on physical coins like Silver Eagles reached $6-8 over spot, attributed to U.S. Mint delays and rising demand from solar, electric vehicles, and investors seeking tangible assets. Schectman recommended cost-averaging into pre-1965 U.S. coins or international options, describing the situation as bullish in the long term due to dollar devaluation and supply constraints, with chart patterns indicating silver could reach $50 or higher. However, Bloomberg analysis suggests the price surge may reflect a temporary speculative bubble driven by retail investors rather than a fundamental shift.
Energy
Amazon announced funding for the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility in Washington state, developed by Energy Northwest, to deploy 12 small modular reactors (SMRs) from X-energy, providing a total capacity of 960 MW. The Xe-100 high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, each at 80 MW, will be sited near the Columbia Generating Station outside Richland on a compact footprint, with construction slated to begin late this decade and operations in the 2030s. This initial phase seeks to provide reliable, carbon-free power for AI and digital infrastructure, backed by a $500 million Amazon investment in X-energy and partnerships with Korean firms to expand deployments across the U.S., potentially mobilizing up to $50 billion in investments. Environmental groups have raised concerns about potential safety risks and long-term impacts of concentrating multiple reactors in one area, as reported by watchdog organizations.
Privacy & Surveillance
A global effort to implement digital identity systems is advancing under UN Sustainable Development Goal 16.9, which targets universal legal identity by 2030 via initiatives like the World Bank’s ID4D and ID2020, involving partners such as the World Economic Forum and Palantir. Of 198 countries, 186 have foundational digital ID elements including biometrics and electronic credentials, with holdouts mostly in unstable regions projected to adopt them by 2026. In the U.S., 18 states plan to issue biometric mobile driver’s licenses by October 2025, while federal initiatives for health data sharing with tech companies aim to enable interoperability. Critics have raised concerns about risks of surveillance and control, including potential links to global digital currencies. Proponents, including the World Economic Forum, argue that these systems enhance access to services, reduce fraud, and support sustainable development goals.
Somewhat relatedly, the Computer & Communications Industry Association filed a federal lawsuit against Texas over Senate Bill 2420, set to take effect in January 2026, which requires age verification for app downloads and updates, parental consent for minors, and content labeling by developers. The law mandates that app stores block underage access without verification and require classifications with explanations for every update, prompting First Amendment challenges over compelled speech and privacy issues from biometric checks. Proponents say it protects children from harmful content, akin to physical age restrictions, while opponents argue it imposes undue burdens on users and stifles expression without sufficient safeguards. Senator Angela Paxton, the bill’s author, has defended it as essential for safeguarding minors online, comparing it to age checks in physical retail, according to the Texas Tribune.
European Politics
The European Union has approved mealworms as a sustainable protein source for human consumption, in line with environmental goals to promote insect-based foods. This decision aligns with initiatives by groups like the World Economic Forum to encourage alternatives to traditional meats. The Guardian reports that while the approval advances food security, cultural barriers may hinder widespread acceptance.
Sources
The Forgotten Genocides: Balkans and Ukraine’s Ethnic Atrocities Ignored by the West
This is the motherland of ethnic cleansing and genocide that the Western Press is paid to ignore.
Source | Submitted by Rodster
NYC Mayoral Frontrunner Mamdani Poses with WTC-Linked Imam Whose Son Ran Child Terror Camp
New York City Mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani posted a picture of himself posing with a Brooklyn Imam known as being an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing whose son ran a terrorist camp for children.
Source | Submitted by Rodster
“Coup d’Flat: Billionaire-Fueled ‘No Kings’ Protests Hijacked by White Boomer Liberals”
the turnout wasn’t dominated by unhinged young leftists or gender-confused woke warriors, but rather by white baby-boomer liberals
Source | Submitted by Rodster
Bullion Dealer Warns of “Rupture” in Gold and Silver Markets as Physical Shortages Expose Paper Facade
“I’ve never seen anything like this,”
Source | Submitted by PhilH
Xi Jinping’s Military Purge: A Sign of Lost Control or Consolidated Power?
The simplest explanation is that Xi’s enemies—not Xi himself—removed Xi’s loyalists.
Amazon Funds 12 Small Modular Reactors for Washington Nuclear Facility
Washington Nuclear Facility Will Deploy 12 Amazon-Funded SMRs
Digital ID Black Pill: The Global Surveillance Net Closes In
the global push for digital IDs is far advanced, likely past the point of no return, aligning with the UN’s 2030 goal of universal legal identity and enabling a globalist digital currency system that could control access to everything.
Tech Group Sues Texas Over Invasive Digital Age Verification Bill
“We support online protections for younger internet users, and those protections should not come at the expense of free expression and personal privacy.”
Virginia Giuffre’s Memoir Alleges Brutal Rape by Unnamed ‘Well-Known Prime Minister’ in Epstein Ring
Giuffre writes that she was ‘bloodied, beaten and raped’ by a ‘well-known prime minister’ in a series of brutal encounters.
Trump Affirms Gaza Ceasefire Holds as Israel Halts Brief Airstrikes
The ceasefire is still in placed, but that Hamas had been ‘rambunctious and they’ve been doing some shooting.’
EU Approves Mealworms for Dinner: Sustainability for the Masses, Steak for the Elite
This isn’t about the climate. It’s about compliance.
Source | Submitted by Chris Martenson
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: The New York Times, BBC, Global Times, The Jerusalem Post, Al Jazeera, Zohran Mamdani’s, Liberty Nation News, Bloomberg, Environmental Watchdog, World Economic Forum, Texas Tribune, and The Guardian.
