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Proposals to reflect sunlight to power solar panels at night have drawn the ire of astronomers Bloomberg (AFXH)
Eliminating 50 objects from orbit could significantly reduce the threat posed by space debris Ars Technica
New studies uncover unexpected contents in bottled water ScienceDaily (Kevin W)
Climate/Environment
Renewable energy sources have surpassed coal to become the leading source of electricity worldwide BBC
Climate change is disrupting worldwide wind patterns, adversely affecting planetary health Mongabay
Iraq’s Amerli reservoir has dried up amid the worst drought seen in a century Shafaq
Asia is warming at a faster rate than the rest of the world, affecting the continent’s ecosystems Nation of Change
Could yet another unfavorable water year indicate disaster for the Colorado River? KNPR
Wealthy nations benefit from the climate crisis, with two-thirds of climate financing for the Global South disbursed as loans Oxfam (Ignacio)
China?
China is making strides to rival Nvidia’s dominance in AI chip technology BBC (Kevin W)
Trump is set to announce support for farmers as China turns away from U.S. crops New York Times
China has ceased imports of US soybeans to target Trump’s MAGA supporters Asia Times (Kevin W)
Trump’s team urges unlikely buyers to purchase US soybeans after being rejected by China South China Morning Post
Koreas
Korea’s wildlife is facing extinction due to overhunting South China Morning Post
Japan
Takaichi’s implications for Japan and the global landscape Asia Times (Kevin W)
India
An Indian think tank evaluates the country’s trade strategies Karl Sanchez. Amid the backdrop of climate change and species loss denialism, it suggests, “India must prepare for the prospect of a population reaching two billion…”
The Antipodes
Australia faces an impending economic crisis Spectator
Record numbers of Kiwis are relocating overseas due to the cost of living crisis and rising unemployment News.com.au
Africa
Burundi is enduring the ‘worst economic crisis in a country not at war’ Financial Times
Youth-led anti-corruption protests in Morocco entered their ninth night France24
South of the Border
Fishermen in Trinidad and Tobago are concerned for their safety and livelihoods following US military strikes in the Caribbean Associated Press
Venezuelan President Maduro claims that a ‘false flag’ bombing targeting the US embassy was thwarted in Caracas Aljazeera (resilc)
Milei has authorized US troop deployment in Tierra del Fuego without congressional consent Orinoco Tribune (Robin K)
A new wave of protests in Paraguay has emerged against the Peña administration Peoples Dispatch (Robin K)
European Disunion
From Politico’s morning newsletter on European affairs:
Macron Delays Decision Until Wednesday: The situation with the French government remains fluid, as President Macron accepted the resignation of his freshly appointed government but has tasked former Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu with attempting last-minute negotiations.
Vraiment this time: If Lecornu fails to broker an agreement by Wednesday evening, Macron may “have to face his responsibilities,” as reported by close aides, which could result in a snap election.
To be clear: Many doubt Lecornu’s chances of success…
This has turned into a farcical spectacle, reminiscent of a bizarre play.
— The solitary figure: Macron remained silent publicly on Monday but was seen walking alone along the Seine.
— The confident cat aficionado: Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader, brought a kitten to a significant meeting at National Rally, further indicating her party’s readiness to govern in the event of a snap election.
— Et tu, Attal? Gabriel Attal, Macron’s close ally and former Prime Minister, expressed public confusion regarding the current direction of Macron’s decisions.
NOT SO AMUSING: France’s instability could have repercussions for Ukraine, Gaza, and the entire EU economy.
“France is too significant to fail,” remarked one EU diplomat. “Therefore, this ongoing political turbulence jeopardizes the entire eurozone.”
Concerns arise within Macron’s inner circle about the potential need for him to resign early Financial Times
Understanding how Macron’s chaos affects Europe Politico
A currency war to devalue the euro might be on the horizon for Europe Bloomberg
Hungary’s Orban refuses to consider adopting the euro amid fears of EU disintegration RT (Micael T).
Old Blighty
In the UK, individuals can face arrest for “terrorism” just for voicing disagreement with governmental actions Council Estate (resilc)
Veteran pro-Palestinian activist Sarah Wilkinson, previously mistreated in an Israeli prison, was detained by UK police at Heathrow for questioning.
She had her phone and money confiscated, along with being accused of documenting the Israeli… pic.twitter.com/zoWJrXjTyj
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) October 6, 2025
Maniac Killers Cult, pt. I Events in Ukraine
Israel v. The Resistance
Trump’s approach to Gaza presents a dilemma for Netanyahu Le Monde. The current Elimination of bombing in Gaza has become a significant point of tension.
Gaza plan: It appears peaceful but acts as an occupation Responsible Statecraft (resilc)
The Palestinians’ recurring fatal error Alon Mizrahi
Israel-Premier Tech plans to rebrand to distance itself from current controversies Guardian (resilc)
The Yemeni military has launched a drone toward Eilat port in a new anti-Israel operation PressTV
New Not-So-Cold War
Ukraine accuses China of assisting Russian attacks through satellite data The Times
An Ethnic Ukrainian Lobby may soon emerge in the Polish Sejm Andrew Korybko
Caucasus
Georgia’s security forces intercepted weapons intended for protestors, indicating the failure of the Ukrainian model TopWar (Micael T)
Syraqistan
Most Syrians were unaware of the upcoming parliamentary election, making it a hollow event The Cradle
Imperial Collapse Watch
Russia’s actions have compelled the West to confront its decline RT (Micael T).
Milken and Associates are constructing a $500 million tribute to their interpretation of the American Dream Racket News (Chuck L)
Trump 2.0
Examining the loyalty demands at Trump’s meeting with military leaders through the lens of historical precedent John Helmer. Significant insights.
Portland Plans Naked Bike Ride in Response to Trump’s Troop Deployment Tactics Against Residents Jalopnik (resilc)
Shutdown
Trump reverses his offer to negotiate with Democrats, prolonging the government shutdown Aljazeera
Delays in U.S. flights increase due to staffing shortages amid the ongoing shutdown Axios
Democrat Death Wish
A Democratic-aligned think tank faced criticism over Blinken’s appointment to their board Responsible Statecraft
Charlie Kirk
Speculations arise over Charlie Kirk’s vow to exit the pro-Israel cause shortly before his death Larry Johnson. While the 48-hour timeline has been discussed, the narrative persists.
L’affaire Epstein
The U.S. Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal from Ghislaine Maxwell RT (Kevin W)
Trump commented on the possibility of pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell, stating he would consider it The Hill. “This has left many questioning his state of mind,” a blurb suggests.
Our No Longer Free Press
New CBS owner David Ellison reportedly conferred with a senior Israeli general regarding plans to surveil American citizens The Grayzone (Kevin W)
Future implications of Bari Weiss’s influence on CBS News New Yorker (Robin K)
Economy
The escalating costs associated with economic growth are expected to increase South China Morning Post
The American economy is increasingly reliant on AI technologies Financial Times
‼️The freight recession in the U.S. is worsening:
The Cass Freight Index indicated a drop to its lowest level since the financial crisis in August.
Weak consumer spending and faltering industrial activity are contributing to reduced demand.
The actual economy appears to be in recession… pic.twitter.com/cOULggcMFh
— Global Markets Investor (@GlobalMktObserv) October 5, 2025
A billionaire in the beef industry asserts that American demand for protein is outpacing domestic production, necessitating imports Fortune (Kevin W)
Mr. Market is Moody
Potential global impacts of a U.S. economic collapse Modern Diplomacy. It’s worth noting that many nations in the Global South are on the brink of financial distress.
The system is in disarray! The car market is in a significant downturn! YouTube. Resilc mentions that many lots appear empty during drives in Western Massachusetts.
Streetlamps are now serving as chargers to illuminate the path for electric vehicles ScienceDaily (Kevin W)
AI
Image of my book’s AI replica (L) compared to the original (R)
We must rally against the tech industry’s encroachment by all means necessary. Our livelihoods, culture, and environmental safety are worth defending. This is a serious call to action. pic.twitter.com/MhaAuXyYFI
— Seth Harp (@sethharpesq) October 5, 2025
What occurs when AI directs travelers to nonexistent destinations? BBC
It’s quite fascinating that we can utilize AI to fabricate CCTV footage of individuals committing offenses. Surely this carries no risks whatsoever. https://t.co/SM3UIvJokO
— Joe B (@AstroJoeB) September 30, 2025
The Bezzle
The GENIUS Act is far from genius Ian Welsh
Class Warfare
What are the implications of donations driven by animosity? Exploring the emergence of retributive philanthropy Globe & Mail (Dr. Kevin)
Craft breweries are facing challenges as sales dwindle and consumer interest declines New York Times (resilc)
Antidote du jour (via):
As an additional contribution (Chuck L):
An elephant playfully pretends to munch on a man’s hat…😅 pic.twitter.com/KVe6Ze6eq9
— Nature is Amazing ☘️ (@AMAZlNGNATURE) October 6, 2025
For a change of pace from our usual items, check out one of resilc’s new metal art creations:
And one more interesting piece:
The queen of the night, Epiphyllum oxypetalum, blooms just once annually at night
Its flowers wilt with the sunrise.
pic.twitter.com/oRgBmd8FiI— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) October 6, 2025
For yesterday’s updates and antidote du jour, visit this link.
