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It’s “A Cat-astrophe”! (1919) – Public Domain Review
Nazi Germany had no hope of making an atomic bomb, uranium cubes reveal – Science
Climate and Environment
At what point can we declare the climate system irreparably damaged?
It feels like I’m repeating myself.
July: hottest month ever recorded.
August: hottest month ever recorded.
September: hottest month ever recorded.
Given the forecast… October is already alarming. https://t.co/IqK640cNv8
— The Global Warmer🔥 (@TheGlobalWarmer) October 5, 2026
Envisioning a world without solar and wind energy? – The Climate Brink
Pandemics
Russian officials have undoubtedly sequenced the Irkutsk pathogen but are withholding its identity.
The physical lockdown suggests it can’t be managed with standard antibiotics, indicating potential engineered resistance or that it isn’t plague at all.
2/4
— Kevin Esvelt (@kesvelt) October 5, 2026
New York declares statewide disaster emergency as measles cases surge – France24
PMC COVID Update, Oct 5, 2026
(🧵1/5)
◾️Cases peaked at approximately 610,000 new daily infections in mid-September
◾️36 states currently report active outbreaks
◾️13th wave of COVID
Details:
The U.S. reports outbreaks across at least 36 states and territories. While the peak appears to have passed, transmission rates remain elevated nationwide. States with known outbreaks include Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawai’i, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Likely outbreaks are present in states such as Arkansas, DC, Idaho, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, but monitoring is insufficient.
Implement Layered COVID Safety:
- Get boosted as soon as possible, particularly if transmission rates are high nearby. Novavax shows a lower side effect profile compared to other boosters, with similar efficacy.
- Wear a well-fitting N95 mask.
- Enhance air cleanliness: Open windows, set HVAC to ‘on’, disable car recirculation features, utilize air purifiers, and/or monitor air quality.
- Conduct daily testing when symptomatic, exposed, or gathering, and stay home when feeling unwell.
- Monitor your blood pressure to mitigate the risk of unexpected post-acute cardiovascular effects.
- Disseminate accurate information by sharing dashboard snapshots with family, verifying the public health credentials of information sources, and avoiding the spread of ‘miracle’ cures.
— Mike Hoerger, PhD MSCR MBA (@michael_hoerger) October 6, 2026
Global Updates
Japan
Takaichi condemns alleged murder in Okinawa by U.S. Marine; calls for cooperation – Kyodo News
China
Huawei and Qualcomm finalize a comprehensive patent licensing agreement – TechWire Asia
Asia
World Bank warns that Asia is running out of resources to combat energy shocks – OilPrice
India
Indian Supreme Court seeks government explanations on voter suppression – Asia Times
Syraqistan
Israeli occupation forces nearing completion of extensive trench to divide Gaza – The Cradle
CIA issues warning that Israel could face a civil war and potential collapse – Capital & Empire
***
If this is accurate, it’s not necessarily bad news. It may compel Iraq to engage in conflict with Israel, unifying the region as a single front.
https://t.co/p1wvMgxiMc
— Elijah J. Magnier 🇪🇺 (@ejmalrai) October 5, 2026
***
🚨BREAKING: Yemen has regained control of all areas temporarily occupied by Saudi proxy forces earlier today
The Bab al-Mandeb strait is securely under the authority of the Sana’a Ansarallah-led government.
Despite deploying 100 fighter jets and thousands of troops in a surprise attack, the proxies failed to maintain any of the territory.
— MintPress News (@MintPressNews) October 5, 2026
Marwa Osman: Joint statement from the ‘Mecca Alliance’ – Sovereignista
Türkiye and Pakistan commit military forces to Saudi Arabia following emergency Mecca Alliance discussions – Türkiye Today
Africa
Inside Somaliland: Anticipating clashes between Israel and Turkey in the Horn of Africa – Middle East Eye
United Kingdom
U.S. withdraws bombers from UK airbase due to Iranian drone attack threat – Firstpost
UK threatens to expel 27 Israeli diplomats over closure of East Jerusalem consulate – New Arab
Worst outbreak of bluetongue disease affects British farms – The Guardian
Canada
PM Mark Carney pledged to ‘Buy Canadian,’ yet $7.8 billion in contracts have gone to American firms – Toronto Star
Quebec separatists promise an independence vote following provincial election victory – France24
European Disunion
Former head of German intelligence arrested for espionage – DPA International
Reports suggest Trump attempted to influence Poland’s government. What do we know? – Notes from Poland
Germany plans to establish its first drone regiment next year, informed by lessons from the Ukraine conflict – Defense News
Increase in German applications for military service refusal reported – DPA International
Tens of thousands join student protests in Paris – Al Mayadeen
Ben Wray: The housing movement has reshaped Spanish politics and may support Sánchez on November 29 – Brave New Europe
Macron and Merz call for a European trade “kill switch” — but China holds the rare-earth countermeasure – Rare Earth Exchanges
This may be the biggest fail of EU diplomacy this year! The highly anticipated French-German position paper on EU’s China policy has leaked in various versions, one even signed by the two presidents! Yet the EU leadership is nowhere to be found during this supposedly pivotal moment.
— Laurent Michelon (@LAURENTMICHEL0N) October 6, 2026
New Not-So-Cold War
Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow among the largest in two years – TASS
Who are the ‘peace populists’? – Events in Ukraine
Russia’s Communists hold a rare anti-government protest in Moscow, chanting Navalny’s slogan – Intellinews
CIA Director John Brennan urged the Ukrainian government to take military action in Donbass in April 2014 – Covert Action Magazine
Putin’s covert operations reach unprecedented levels – The Telegraph. Are we nearing a peak in hybrid warfare?
Chokepoints
Five incidents in the Hormuz Strait reported as tanker attacks increase – gCaptain
Drone attack sinks Turkish grain ship in the Black Sea, resulting in casualties – Euronews
Arctic shipping routes are thriving as Gulf conflicts and climate change reshape maritime trade – Traders Union
Hackers access the propulsion system of a U.S.-bound oil tanker – Bloomberg
L’affaire Epstein
Whistleblower who exposed Lutnick’s connections to Epstein has died – The Banker
South of the Border
Coast Guard returns fire at the U.S.-Mexico border as troops mobilize in the Rio Grande Valley – Military.com
Mexico requests proof from the U.S. regarding alleged gunfire from its territory as joint patrols commence – Anadolu Agency
U.S. Army evaluates counter-drone technology at the Mexican border as drone usage by cartels increases – Defense News
Returning to Trump
Military preparations underway for the upcoming elections – Ken Klippenstein
Trump’s approval ratings hit a new low, according to polls – The Guardian
Kristi Noem’s agency awarded a lucrative contract to a donor just before her departure – New York Times
Trump suggests allowing Iran to ‘take out’ Los Angeles and San Diego during a Nebraska rally – MTN
Trump states he will fund ‘Patriotic Ads’ himself after backlash from Democrats – The Hill
GOP Unhinged
Let me clarify his headline:
Compromised individual who became a pivotal Congressman during a significant period in U.S. history has finally passed on, and his consequences shall follow.
In essence, crucial legislation eroding civil liberties, resulting in civilian casualties abroad, and channeling public funds to corrupt banks, was enacted under the supervision of a seemingly blackmailed legislator.
— Whitney Webb (@_whitneywebb) October 5, 2026
Imperial Collapse Watch
Facing the Consequences – The Baffler
Economy
Heating oil prices projected to soar nearly $900 this winter – WMUR
In response to rising fuel costs, Trump allows tax-exempt ‘red dye’ diesel for all drivers – NBC News
Surveillance State
The Ascendancy of Global Internet Authority – Ola Tunander (Micael T). A must-read today.
Police State Watch
The Dignity Act is pushing for additional concentration camps. – Jenn Budd
DHS acquires its fifth private detention center since July, adding GEO’s Adelanto facility – Project Salt Box
The Supreme Court
Supreme Court Justices appear skeptical of Big Oil’s attempt to evade trial over climate deceit – Common Dreams
Artificial Intelligence
Concerns about private credit trigger a review at the Federal Reserve – Semafor
A growing consensus on AI revenues and insights into upcoming AI lab IPOs – Jared Bernstein
Diminishing returns in AI innovation are anticipated, regardless of varied opinions – The Register
Don’t be misled—LLMs lack genuine reasoning abilities – MIT Technology Review (Micael T)
I, too, believe we should create books.
— David Moscrop (@David_Moscrop) October 5, 2026
Are We Returning to Plato’s Cave? – The Culturist
The Bezzle
A Prediction Market Focused on Past Events? Why Not! – Wired
“U.S. property and casualty insurers reported $31.2 billion in underwriting profits for the first half of this year, nearly tripling last year’s $10.9 billion during the same timeframe, according to a recent AM Best report. Increased premiums and reduced claims payments drove this profit surge.”
Why do we tolerate such behavior from insurance companies? What’s the rationale behind collecting premiums if the likelihood of payouts in case of an incident is nearly a coin toss? That isn’t insurance; it’s a scam.
— Hal Singer (@halsinger) October 5, 2026
South Koreans face spoiled food due to problematic Samsung firmware update for smart refrigerators – TechDirt
Class Warfare
‘A Devastating Blow’: Recent Trump-GOP Cuts to Food Assistance Take Effect Amid Rising Grocery Costs – Common Dreams
Antidote of the Day (via):
For yesterday’s links and antidote du jour, click here.
