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Japan and China dispute over Taiwan remarks, U.S. Government shutdown is over after 43 days, Bitcoin fell to around $94,000, Jack Dorsey funds diVine (a Vine reboot), and more.

November 16, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time:7 minutes

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A raven has landed with your weekly intelligence briefing. We've sifted through the global noise to bring you only what matters. Prepare for this week's essential developments—distilled, unbiased, and delivered in one swift flight.

Japan and China Engage in Diplomatic Dispute Over Taiwan Contingency Remarks 🇯🇵 🇨🇳 🇹🇼

  • Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested that a Chinese military attack on Taiwan could trigger Japan’s use of its right to collective self-defense.

  • Takaichi indicated that such a conflict could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, potentially leading to the deployment of its self-defense forces.

  • She denied any intention to retract her comments, explaining they were made on the assumption of a "worst-case" scenario in the Taiwan Strait.

  • These remarks prompted a diplomatic dispute and days of back-and-forth between China and Japan, deepening tensions between the two countries.

  • China issued a travel warning, urging its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan due to serious safety risks and a severely deteriorated atmosphere surrounding exchanges.

  • China summoned the Japanese ambassador in Beijing and demanded that Prime Minister Takaichi retract her statements.

  • Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong called Takaichi's remarks "extremely wrong and dangerous" and said they seriously undermined bilateral relations.

  • Sun Weidong warned that anyone who dares to interfere in China's reunification cause would surely be met with a heavy blow.

  • China maintained that Taiwan is an “untouchable red line” and matters related to the country were at the core of China's core interests.

  • China's Defense Ministry stated that if Japan uses forces to interfere, the People's Liberation Army would deal them a "crushing defeat".

  • Japan lodged a similar protest over a recent social media post by Chinese Consul General Xue Jian, which referenced cutting off a "dirty neck".

  • Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara sought to clarify that the Prime Minister’s remarks do not change the past government’s fundamental stance on the issue.

Source: The Guardian and Newsweek.

Raven Bites🐦‍⬛

News/Events/Politics

  • The longest U.S. Government shut down comes to a close. (more)

  • Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv killed 6 people and injured at least 35. (more)

  • Representatives from the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group have signed a peace deal in Qatar with the ultimate goal of putting an end to years of fighting. (more)

  • Cold temperatures and heavy rainfall are worsening already dire conditions for displaced Palestinian families across Gaza, as Israel continues to block the deliveries of tents and other critical shelter supplies into the besieged territory. (more)

  • Thousands of people have rallied across Mexico, protesting against growing crime, corruption and impunity, in demonstrations that were organised by members of Generation Z. (more)

  • Ethiopia confirms outbreak of Marburg virus, one of the deadliest known pathogens. Like Ebola, it causes severe bleeding, fever, vomiting and diarrhoea and has a 21-day incubation period. (more)

Economics/Business/Crypto

  • Trump cuts tariffs on goods like coffee, bananas and beef in bid to slash consumer prices. (more)

  • Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway loads up on 17.8 million shares of Google parent Alphabet during the third quarter. The stock jumped 4% in after-hours trading yesterday. (more)

  • The United States September jobs report will be out Thursday as first data since shutdown starts to trickle out. September nonfarm payrolls, will come out Thursday at 8:30 a.m. (more)

  • $BTC.X ( ▼ 0.21% ) Bitcoin hit $94,491.22 early Friday, marking its lowest level since May 7, down nearly 9% week to date amid a broader artificial intelligence-linked stock pullback. (more)

  • $XRP.X ( ▲ 0.08% ) Ripple Labs is conquering crypto. Now the XRP-linked firm wants to take on traditional finance. (more)

Technology

  • Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin has landed the booster of its New Glenn mega-rocket on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean on just its second attempt. (more)

  • Spotify is shaking up its premium offering and introducing new tiers called Premium Lite, Premium Standard, and Premium Platinum in five markets, including India, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa. (more)

  • Jack Dorsey funds diVine, a Vine reboot that includes Vine’s video archive. diVine will also flag suspected generative AI content and prevent it from being posted. (more)

  • Apple launches Digital ID, a way to carry your passport on your phone for use at TSA checkpoints. (more)

  • OpenAI on Thursday introduced a group chat feature for ChatGPT. The feature, currently being tested in select regions, including Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Taiwan, lets users collaborate directly within the app. (more)

  • Meta is getting ready to launch third-party chat integration on WhatsApp in Europe. The tech giant notes that the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) requires it to give users in Europe the option to chat with people using third-party messaging services that have chosen to make their apps interoperable. (more)

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