"So, at this point, we have no evidence that further mRNA Covid boosters will do anything to reduce Covid deaths — and an intriguing hint that they may have subtly increased mortality. (Similarly, the heavy use of boosters in Europe and Australia in late 2021 and 2022 was associated with an increase in all-cause mortality that Covid deaths themselves could not explain.).."
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
"URGENT: A funny thing’s happening now that (almost) nobody gets mRNA jabs anymore" 💉 🚫💉🚫💉🚫
WATCH: Berkeley Scientist Caught on Video Poisoning Female Co-Worker By Cristina Laila - Google Search
A hidden-camera video shows Berkeley chemical engineer David Xu secretly poisoning his co-worker’s water bottle. The footage, captured in 2019 by the victim, Rong Yuan, surfaced publicly after Xu successfully petitioned an Alameda County judge to expunge his felony conviction. [1, 3]
Case Background & The Video
• The Crime: David Xu and Rong Yuan were co-workers at Berkeley Engineering and Research. Starting around 2017, Yuan experienced severe, unexplained health problems that repeatedly sent her to the emergency room. [1, 2]
• The Discovery: After noticing a strange smell from her water bottle, Yuan installed a spy camera at her desk. The footage caught Xu tampering with her water. Laboratory testing revealed the bottle contained cadmium, a highly toxic heavy metal, at levels up to 3.5 million times the federal drinking water limit. [1, 2, 3]
• Family Impact: Yuan's parents also tested positive for cadmium poisoning because the toxic substance spread through shared water vessels at home. [3]
Controversial Plea Deal and Expungement
• The Initial Charges: Xu was arrested in March 2019 and initially faced charges of premeditated attempted murder and two felony counts of poisoning, which carried a maximum sentence of life in prison. [1, 2, 5]
• The Sentence: Under a plea agreement negotiated by former Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price, Xu pleaded no contest to a single felony count of poisoning in September 2023. In March 2024, he was sentenced to two years of probation and served no prison time. [1, 5, 7]
• Expungement: On October 13, 2026, a California judge approved Xu's request to have his felony conviction expunged, despite formal objections from the District Attorney's office. [3]
Yuan publicly released the surveillance footage out of deep frustration with the justice system, expressing concern that future employers and co-workers will have no way of knowing about Xu's criminal history. [3, 5]
Reporting indicates that Xu never provided a clear motive for the poisoning, though Yuan noted he frequently restricted her from accessing certain laboratory spaces. [3]
"Unrest in Syria as Security Situation Worsens for Kurds "
Tensions and security incidents have surged in northeastern Syria as the central government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa reasserts control and integrates Kurdish regions.
Key Developments and Unrest
• Hasakah Clashes and Protests:
Pro-government Arab protesters and residents from neighborhoods like Ghweiran have demonstrated against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), clashing with Kurdish residents, damaging vehicles, and targeting Kurdish symbols.
• Language and Education Protests: Students and residents in Qamishli and Hasakah have staged protests over a new central government decree that restricts Kurdish-language instruction to just three classes per week, rolling back the broader autonomous school system created during the civil war.
• Economic and Fuel Unrest: Demonstrators blocked highways near Tal Tamr to protest rising fuel prices, stranding Rmeilan oil field tankers. Other flashpoints include a deadly prison fire and unrest in Kobani, alongside the suspension of displaced Kurds returning to their hometowns after violence broke out.
• Military Integration Strains: Following the collapse of earlier autonomy talks and military offensives earlier in the year, the SDF was formally brought into the state structure, though implementation has been uneven. While some Kurdish commanders (such as Sipan Hamo) received posts like deputy defense minister, local populations fear losing de facto self-rule and security guarantees
Monday, October 12, 2026
Criminal Investigation Into Ilhan Omar named after One of Her Biggest Gaffes: World War Eleven
Federal agents executed a search warrant at the Washington, D.C.-area residence of U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) as part of an ongoing criminal investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Minneapolis, and the Department of Justice. [1]
The Investigation
• Scope: The multi-year federal probe involves immigration, fraud, and related documents or witness testimonies.
• Omar's Response: Representative Omar has denied any wrongdoing, characterizing the search via social media as a politically motivated attempt to target opponents and weaponize federal law enforcement.
• Status: No criminal charges have been filed against her yet
The Context and Gaffe
• Previous Gaffe ("World War 11"): In early 2026, a viral social media clip circulated in which a voice discussed the Alien Enemies Act and referenced "World War 11", drawing widespread online mockery and criticism from political opponents regarding the congresswoman's verbal slip-up or audio authenticity.
• Online Reaction: Following the October 2026 federal search of her residence, critics and commentators on social media platforms have revived references to her prior public blunders—such as the "World War 11" moniker—combining the fresh news of the Department of Justice probe with earlier viral moments.
"Tsunami warning in 9 countries: Powerful earthquake strikes Panama Over a dozen aftershocks to 7.7 tremor recorded
A [7.7-magnitude earthquake](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/panama/magnitude-77-earthquake-rocks-panama-rcna602557)
struck southern Panama on Friday, October 9, 2026, triggering tsunami warnings and alerts across nine countries. [1, 2]
Earthquake Details
Magnitude: 7.7 (with a subsequent 6.6 magnitude quake and over 45 to 80 aftershocks)
Date & Time: Friday, October 9, 2026, at approximately 12:56 PM / 1:56 PM local time
Epicenter: Near Pitaloza Arriba / Azuero Peninsula in southern Panama (approx. 12 km depth) [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
Tsunami Warnings
Countries Under Alert: The U.S. Tsunami Warning System issued potential tsunami threats and warnings for nine countries, including Panama, [Colombia](https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/01ls2), [Ecuador](https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/02k1b), [Nicaragua](https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/05c74), [Guatemala](https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/0345_), [Costa Rica](https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/01p8s), [El Salvador](https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/02k8k), [Peru](https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/016wzw), and Mexico.
Status: No destructive waves or major tsunami impacts were reported, and the warnings were subsequently canceled. [1, 2, 7]
Impacts and Damage
* Structural Damage: Buildings and facades were damaged or collapsed in regions like Penonomé, Herrera, Coclé, and Los Santos
.
* Casualties: Minor injuries were reported, with no official fatalities immediately confirmed
.
* Infrastructure: Temporary suspensions hit Tocumen International Airport, the Panama Metro, and nationwide classes, while the Panama Canal and copper mine operations continued normally after safety checks. [2, 7, 8]
[1] [https://www.nbcnews.com](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/panama/magnitude-77-earthquake-rocks-panama-rcna602557)
[3] [https://abcnews.com](https://abcnews.com/International/tsunami-threat-after-76-magnitude-earthquake-reported-panama/story?id=137140557)
[5] [https://www.facebook.com](https://www.facebook.com/WPLGLocal10/videos/earthquakes-topple-buildings-in-panama/1155192427165910/)
[6] [https://www-cdn.abcnews.com](https://www-cdn.abcnews.com/International/tsunami-threat-after-76-magnitude-earthquake-reported-panama/story?id=137140557)
[7] [https://www.aol.com](https://www.aol.com/articles/7-7-magnitude-earthquake-rocks-044620000.html)
"China Puts Border City on Alert over Russia Suspected Plague Case "
Chinese border cities have stepped up surveillance and issued risk alerts following the suspected pneumonic plague death of a 28-year-old laboratory researcher in Irkutsk, Siberia. Although Russian authorities maintain that no outbreak occurred and that extensive testing detected no dangerous pathogens, China's disease control agencies are taking strict precautions.
[1, 2, 3]
The World Health Organization (WHO) currently assesses the overall global public health risk as low. [3]
Chinese Border Response
& Security Measures
Multiple northeastern Chinese cities and regions have responded to the epidemiological risks due to their geographical proximity and heavy cargo transit with Russia: [2]
*Manzhouli: Port and customs authorities have strengthened surveillance over travelers and cargo crossing the border to prevent any potential spread. [2]
* Hulunbuir: The local Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a plague-prevention advisory. Travelers arriving from plague-endemic areas in Russia's Far East are urged to monitor their health and immediately disclose their travel history if symptoms emerge. [3]
* Bayannur: Located in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the city issued a Level III warning for plague prevention and control. [4]
Local authorities acknowledged that while the case in Russia lacks official confirmation, the safety alerts are necessary given the area’s natural plague background and the nature of the research facility involved. Interestingly, the incident happened just over a month after China and Russia conducted a joint emergency drill in late August 2026 to simulate responses to imported plague cases. [2, 5, 6]
------------------------------
The Incident in Russia
The scare originated at the [Irkutsk Research Anti-Plague Institute](https://www.google.com/search?q=Irkutsk+Research+Anti-Plague+Institute) in southeastern Siberia. [7, 8]
* The Exposure: Lab researcher Daria Shupilova reportedly broke a test tube containing Yersinia pestis (the bacterium that causes pneumonic plague) on September 25.
* The Fatality: Her health quickly deteriorated, leading to her hospitalization on September 29 and her death on October 2.
* The Quarantine: Nearly 200 of her contacts were initially placed under quarantine and medical isolation. [1, 5, 9]
Russian regional governor Igor Kobzev announced that all preventive quarantine measures and medical monitoring have been lifted. Moscow officials report that close to 5,000 laboratory tests performed on contacts found no dangerous microorganisms, stating the researcher died from community-acquired pneumonia of an undisclosed cause. [1, 9]
------------------------------
International Reactions
Because pneumonic plague is highly infectious and can transmit easily from person to person through respiratory droplets, international agencies are monitoring the situation closely: [3, 8]
* China: The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that Beijing is maintaining close communication and cooperation with Russia regarding infectious disease controls. [5]
* United States: The U.S. Embassy in Moscow issued a health advisory. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that Washington is monitoring the reports closely, describing it as a "cause for focus" rather than a "cause for alarm". Both the U.S. and the WHO have called for greater transparency from Moscow. [3, 8, 10, 11, 12]
* Central Asia: Neighbors including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan have similarly stepped up border surveillance as a preventive measure. [3]
------------------------------
Status Summary
| Attribute | Current Situation & Details |
Primary Location | Irkutsk, Siberia, Russia (approx. 150 miles north of Mongolia)
Chinese Cities on Alert: Manzhouli, Hulunbuir, and Bayannur (Inner Mongolia) |
Official Russian Stance | Denies any plague outbreak; attributes death to severe pneumonia
Quarantine Status Lifted; nearly 5,000 tests on contacts returned negative
Global Risk Assessment: Rated as Low by the WHO; monitored by the US CDC and ECDC
[2] [https://www.yahoo.com](https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/articles/china-increases-border-security-over-104821194.html)
[3] [https://www.healthandme.com](https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/china-issues-plague-risk-alert-after-suspected-death-in-russia-which-countries-are-on-guard-article-156323903)
[4] [https://www.facebook.com](https://www.facebook.com/news.now.go/posts/china-warns-of-plague-risk-near-russian-border/1488011960096255/)
[5] [https://www.thestar.com.my](https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2026/10/07/china-says-its-talking-with-russia-on-suspected-plague-case)
[7] [https://www.cnn.com](https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/06/world/russian-plague-outbreak-what-we-know-intl)
[8] [https://www.telegraph.co.uk](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/12/china-increases-border-security-russian-plague-spread-death/)
[9] [https://www.scmp.com](https://www.scmp.com/video/world/3370396/should-you-be-worried-about-russias-plague-scare)
[10] [https://www.facebook.com](https://www.facebook.com/CSPAN/posts/secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-said-monday-the-us-government-is-monitoring-repor/1634449592057404/)
[12] [https://www.facebook.com](https://www.facebook.com/weareticker/videos/russia-denies-imposing-anti-plague-measures-after-a-laboratory-technician-died-i/2196648481285244/)
Grassley "U.S. senator files for reelection, would be 101 if he serves out entire term "
"U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa
Republican Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley filed for reelection Sunday, meaning he would be 101 years old at the end of his next potential term.
Grassley turned 93 on Sept. 17 and intends to run for reelection in November 2028. He filed preliminary paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC), although he stated in September that he would not want a Democratic governor choosing his successor if he died in office.
"
"Rebel groups in Ethiopia’s Tigray region have renewed their fight against government forces, raising fears ..
that conflict will cross borders into neighboring Sudan, Eritrea, South Sudan, and beyond.
Renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia involves a coalition of seven armed groups—led by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) under the "Ethiopian People’s Forces Alliance for Survival"—challenging Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government. [1, 2]
## Current Developments on the Ground
* Mekelle Control: TPLF-led forces seized the regional capital and airport on September 23, 2026, but withdrew on October 3 following a counteroffensive by government-allied units who retook the city.
* Expansion into Neighboring Regions: Fighting has spread outside Tigray into the neighboring [Amhara]
(https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/05ss7n) and [Afar](https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/07h3jy) regions, with government-allied forces reporting the capture of Alamata on September 28.
* Eritrean Incursions: Reports and security estimates indicate that 5,000 to 8,000 Eritrean troops have crossed the border into northern Tigray with heavy weapons, drawing drone strikes from the Ethiopian military.
Ethiopia has formally written to the UN Security Council demanding an immediate withdrawal of Eritrean forces, while Eritrea has accused Addis Ababa of seeking regime change.
* Regional Accusations: Ethiopia’s army chief has accused Eritrea, Sudan’s army, and [Egypt]
(https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/02k54) of supporting the rebel coalition—allegations that all three governments deny. Diplomatic ties between Ethiopia and Eritrea have severely frayed amid escalating rhetoric. [1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
## Why Cross-Border Risks Are Rising
* The Red Sea Tensions: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's push for sovereign access to the Red Sea and Eritrea's strategic ports (like Assab) have deepened mutual existential fears.
* Sudan and Proxy Dynamics: The ongoing civil war in Sudan and complex regional alignments—including reports of Tigrayan forces operating near Sudanese front lines and accusations involving the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)—threaten to pull neighboring nations into a wider Horn of Africa conflict.
* Humanitarian Crisis: Communications blackouts, suspended commercial flights, and disrupted aid lines leave an estimated one million people in Tigray at severe risk of starvation. [3, 5, 8, 9, 10]
You can track ongoing developments via the [Al Jazeera Coverage on Ethiopia](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/2/how-the-fighting-in-ethiopia-spread-beyond-tigray-in-maps-and-charts) or official updates through the
[BBC News Horn of Africa Report](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c65ynvw250y1o). [3, 7]
Would you like to focus on:
* The humanitarian and refugee impact in neighboring countries
* The geopolitical role of Egypt, Sudan, or Eritrea in the crisis
* The specific goals of the new seven-group rebel alliance
[3] [https://www.aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/2/how-the-fighting-in-ethiopia-spread-beyond-tigray-in-maps-and-charts)
[4] [https://mymotherlode.com](https://mymotherlode.com/news/africa/11212935/ethiopian-official-promises-change-in-tigray-after-troops-retake-regional-capital.html)
[5] [https://www.facebook.com](https://www.facebook.com/dw.africa/posts/eritrean-troops-have-reportedly-entered-ethiopias-tigray-region-raising-fears-th/1519274960236391/)
[6] [https://www.dw.com](https://www.dw.com/en/eritrean-troops-in-ethiopia-raise-fears-of-a-regional-war/a-79615065)
[9] [https://www.reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/why-renewed-fighting-ethiopias-tigray-risks-regional-war-2026-10-02/)
[10] [https://www.facebook.com](https://www.facebook.com/voiceofthecape/posts/renewed-fighting-in-ethiopias-tigray-region-is-raising-concerns-about-a-deepenin/1515962003892679/)
Condolences ✝️🙏"Retired police sergeant kills officer wife &daughter: then turns gun on self at Bay Area home'
"Three people found dead in a Bay Area home after what investigators believed to be a murder-suicide involving a retired police officer and his wife and adult daughter.
Kevin Mannix, 68, was found dead on Sunday evening in his family's $2 million home in the Strawberry neighborhood of Mill Valley, California..."
👍😄"Indians Panic After Trump Sabotages Tech Firm Green Card Pipeline |" ZeroHedge
"
Over the past ten years alone, over 8.7 million H-1B visas have been given to Indian nationals. Roughly 70% of all H-1B approvals every year go to Indians.
H-1B visas are supposed to last for only a few years at most, but migrant workers can remain in the US for far longer. This is done through the PERM certification process, which allows employers to sponsor migrant workers for a green card, which can then be used to gain full citizenship after a few years. Trump's suspension of PERM extends to a number of major tech firms including: Microsoft, Adobe, and Capgemini, along with Indian companies like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, Wipro, HCLTech, and Cognizant
.."
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