Black bear steals honey from California library on ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ anniversary SFGATE
First ever human case of livestock-related Shamonda virus identified in France CIDRAP
Is Rabies Making a Comeback? New York Times
Moderna and Merck say their mRNA cancer vaccine cut death, recurrence by 42% Ars Technica
Climate/Environment
From dance to clean-air shelters: How South-east Asians are turning haze anger into action Straits Times
Record haze, no masks: Where living dangerously is the new norm Straits Times
Airborne Toxic Events
‘Error’ caused Toledo chemical leak, EPA says, triggering evacuations and calls to stay inside CNN
The Koreas
This Time, the Korean Loudspeaker Standoff Is Different The Diplomat
China?
China’s nightmare: becoming the next Japan FT
Can Any Country Truly Own Its AI Future? Inside China
Philippines seek closer Taiwan ties on undersea cable security Taiwan News
Africa
THE ECOWAS-AES DIALOGUE ON COOPERATION – PROGRESS OR PERFORMANCE? David Asante-Darko
Sudanese army recaptures strategic military base in Blue Nile region from RSF alliance Sudan Tribune
Syraqistan
Famine threatens Gaza again as Israel continues to use starvation as a tool of genocide Euro-Med Monitor
Those Antisemitic Olive Trees! Israel’s Gaslighting Military Language Whitewashes Settler Violence Haaretz
The CEO of the biggest drone company in Israel says that his objective is to recreate Ender’s Game, the book where the main character thinks he’s playing a video game but actually commits genocide https://t.co/cvw5vwKL79
— Nick Cleveland-Stout (@nick_clevelands) October 22, 2026
US fired over 600 missile interceptors defending Israel in three years Stephen Semler
Top European, Mideast diplomats to meet in İstanbul Friday Turkish Minute
The Prospective Demise of Saudi Arabia Conflicts Forum
QatarEnergy Turns to Cheniere for U.S. LNG as Iran War Disrupts Exports OilPrice. Incredible.
Iran threatens US data centres and global internet cables if war resumes Intellinews
Old Blighty
Britain’s defense chief urges public to prepare for cyberattack-driven supply chain disruptions Anadolu Agency
🚨🌍🇬🇧 Meanwhile in the UK
“We’re saying to People – Be Ready”
“Have 3 Litres of Water per Person per Day – it’s not just about the Weather – There are State backed Actors & Terrorists who wished to do our country harm”
Incredible – UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting provides a list of items & reasons as to why Britain should be prepared.
You all know it’s already planned & The Government are employed by the people planning it – it’s important you understand this.
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) October 23, 2026
MI5 monitored politician behind NHS for two decades, newly-released files show The Independent
O Canada
Israeli Arms Dealer Elbit Systems Acquires Canadian Submarine Company The Maple
Türkiye, Canada to deepen trade, defense ties as Erdogan and Carney announce strategic partnership Anadolu Agency
European Disunion
Macron vows to ban ‘illegitimate’ protests as France braces for more unrest RFI
Thousands of Austrian students protest for better university funding DPA International
Fuel protest spreads to fishing sector, vessels remain docked in many Adriatic ports ANSA
Military in Milan to be deployed with Lince vehicles and drones says Salvini ANSA
Europe’s defense billions will only boost the wider economy if policy is designed for it Kiel Institut. So social austerity + military spending but with ‘spillover potential’ = problems solved. Going great so far.
A European sanctioned by Europe, supported by European citizens each day: welcome to the EU “democrateur”. Ian Proud. On the still-sanctioned Jacques Baud.
***
International Criminal Court wins EU’s Sakharov human rights prize France24
ICC – International Criminal Con Decline and Fall
New Not-So-Cold War
Ukraine seeks to move customs checks inside EU to avoid Russian drones FT
Escape, resistance, killings Events in Ukraine
German military classifies threat of Russian sabotage as ‘significant’ for first time, German media reports Kyiv Independent
The Five Most Promising Russian-US Economic Opportunities Andrew Korybko
New Details Emerge On The Istanbul Russia/Ukraine Talks Of 2022 The Dissident
South of the Border
CIA Agents in Mexico Were Elite: Green Berets, Counterterrorists, Tested in Afghanistan Sin Embargo
Pentagon grants DHS permission to test heat ray weapon for potential use at border CNN
***
TODAY—Noboa’s administration has arrested his former presidential opponent, Luisa González. She is the fifth member of Revolución Ciudadana jailed. Other imprisoned opposition figures, including the nation’s former Vice President, bear signs of torture and starvation.
Luisa’s supporters gathered this morning to denounce her arrest, chanting “Down with the dictatorship.” Former Colombian President Gustavo Petro also condemned it as a dictatorship. Luisa’s party, Noboa’s largest opposition force, has been banned from elections.
Guillaume Long, senior diplomatic adviser to the Hague Group and a former Ecuadorian foreign minister, told me for Drop Site that the arrest is “an exercise in intimidation” and a bid to tilt the upcoming local elections in favor of Noboa’s party, which he says had poor prospects before. “Every time a leader is arrested… paraded in high security jails in orange jumpsuits and with shaved heads, this sends a chilling effect in the ranks of the political opposition,” Long added.
The November vote is critical to consolidating the U.S.-backed regime’s grip on power as joint ground operations with U.S. Southern Command, the first of their kind in the region, continue to escalate.
— Camila Lourdes Galarza (@sovietwithsazon) October 22, 2026
***
Are Polling Stations Being Moved to Limit Lula’s Vote in Brazil? Panamerican Dispatch
Under House Arrest for Coup Attempt, Gen. Heleno Dictates Future Bolsonaro Cabinet Picks ICL Noticias
US Big Tech corporations are blatantly meddling in Brazil’s election Geopolitical Economy
Trump 2.0
FCC chair warns media not to run the “fake polls” Trump keeps complaining about Ars Technica
State Asked Foreign Service Officers Up for Promotion Whether They Voted for Trump Washington Sun
Pentagon officials ready to ‘spill their guts’ to impeach Hegseth The Telegraph
Pentagon Installs New Economic Spying And Sabotage Units Moon of Alabama
Midterms 2026
🚨🚨BREAKING: Dolly Parton’s sister, Stella Parton, says a Tennessee voting machine repeatedly switched her selection to Republican Marsha Blackburn, forcing her to correct her ballot THREE TIMES before voting. She’s not alone. Other Tennessee voters have reported similar problems while attempting to vote for Democrats.
— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) October 22, 2026
Democrats Suck
The Democratic Party Still Hates the Left Black Agenda Report
The Accelerationists
Elon Musk Just Threatened the Coming Democratic Majority Matt Stoller
This is huge. A just-released SEC filing makes an extraordinary revelation: Mark Zuckerberg is getting ready to pay California’s 5% billionaire wealth tax and has signed an agreement to remain in California for 8 years. We are witnessing a global turning point unfold before our eyes. 🧵
— Gabriel Zucman (@gabriel_zucman) October 22, 2026
Agriculture
Farmers and Advocates Say the Global Food System Is Failing—and Its Financiers Are to Blame Inside Climate News
Economy
Trump announces he’ll use Defense Production Act to increase domestic gas production The Hill
Brent Hits $114 as Houthi Attacks Threaten Saudi Energy Infrastructure Oil Price
When first reported, 2025’s jobs reports added up to 1.2 million new jobs. After revisions, the economy added just 116,000 — 90% less. https://t.co/4kZbG2TZ9Z
— Steve Rattner (@SteveRattner) October 22, 2026
Prizes for moving the economy in the right direction Michael Roberts
AI
Breaking news: U.S. banks are taking hits from AI agents Gary Marcus
***
Data Center Developers Have Announced More Than 100 GW of Their Own Power Plants Distilled
To Make Way for Data Centers, Google Will Pay Others to Use Less Power New York Times
Concerned residents packed the Utah County Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday after it unanimously approved a widely unpopular data center ordinance without allowing public comment. Police quickly moved on concerned residents – including swarming one young woman, dragging her out of the room, and slamming her onto the ground. The woman was left with a concussion and a bruised and swollen jaw. She spent the night in the ER after being released from jail. An emergency rally was called for Wednesday in response to the brutality. Community members are demanding the termination, arrest, and prosecution of the offending officer – identified as Phil Crawford.
— BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) October 21, 2026
The AI Boom Is Fashionable Nonsense Necessary Fictions
Imperial Collapse Watch
Warhound raises $200M to engineer war dogs and arm them with Anduril gear TechCrunch
Unravelling the Tapestry Warwick Powell
Class Warfare
How Evangelicals Turn Supporters into Leaders—and What the Left Can Learn Labor Politics
Antidote du jour (via):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
