In 2016, 18-year-old Andrej Ciesielski secretly climbed the Great Pyramid of Giza with a GoPro, recording everything.
When he climbed the 146-meter tower, the police saw him but he continued, risking three years in prison. At the top, he enjoyed an amazing view before climbing… pic.twitter.com/CxxDQL927M
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) July 19, 2026
Next Action Viagra May Stop Cancer From Spreading ZME Science
The Problem Expert Traveling Salesman Finds His Way Quanta Magazine
Eye Implant That Restores Sight To The Blind Is Cleared For Sale Futurism
The South Korean Navy is deploying a humanoid robot for the first time Cryptopolitan
COVID-19/Pandemics
Longitudinal COVID Brain Scans Reveal Damage to Dopamine Neurons SciTech Daily
Many health workers are on strike as Ebola cases in Congo approach 3,000, including 1,300 deaths RFI.
Climate/Environment
Wildfire smoke crosses borders as climate change fuels Europe’s blazes Euronews
Western US snow drought by 2026 quadrupled likely due to climate change PNAS
South of the Border
Can Cuba outrun Marco Rubio? Responsible Statecraft
How much will it cost to rebuild Venezuela after the earthquake? Global Voices
De la Espriella’s eye-opening in a military base in southern Colombia for breaking tradition The Bogota Post
China?
China’s electric self-driving trucks are reshaping the future of transportation pic.twitter.com/qtLll0sUBq
— ViralRush ⚡ (@ViralRushX) July 22, 2026
China lures 105 top US minds in bid to dominate med, tech sectors NY Post
Is this China’s Next Sixth Generation Fighter Prototype? Rapid Progress in Development Brings Service Entry Rates Higher Military Watch Magazine
China bans rare global exports to 14 European companies S&P Global
China Keeps Hitting Renewable and Non-Nuclear Targets Clean Technica
India
India’s Cockroach Protests End As Modi Govt Bows Out Demands To Quit News Site
Vaishali Sinha: Creating India’s Most Sustainable Renewable Energy Magazine
Ghost apartments explained: Why some fully built houses remain empty despite India’s housing shortage – The Times of India
Africa
The Economics of Solidarity: Why Social Stability Is the Biggest Investment Risk in Africa Africa
Kenya: What Dangote’s new refinery means for East Africa DW
African minerals are not the problem. Weak governance by The Africa Report
The breakup of Europe
Millions of British tourists are facing a nightmare at airports and ports of call thanks to a new EU probe Daily Mail
EU naval equipment will now intercept Russian shadow tanks Indian Ocean Defense News
EU Backs Methane Rules as Energy Security Fears Mount OilPrice
Old Blighty
The UK has its first Catholic Prime Minister – but don’t expect a US-style religious culture war to follow The Guardian
The UK government is considering fast-track approval of North Sea oil, gas projects : Report Andolu Agency
US/Israel v. Gaza, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria,
This Week in Palestine: Francesca Albanese Calls Escalating Israeli Attacks on West Bank ‘Pogroms’ After Zeteo’s Deadly Week
Why Israel now sees Turkiye as a strategic threat The Cradle
Houthis fire missiles in Yemen, drones in Saudi Arabia CBC
Yemeni army hits Houthi missile, drone launch sites after Saudi-led coalition strikes Arab News headlines
Syrian Intervention In Lebanon Unfeasible Militarily And Politically, Experts Warn Forbes
The Iran War
“For now”. Netanyahu’s visit is Monday-Wednesday, among other things, Lindsey Graham’s wake. Waking up means that Trump will be surrounded by hawks. Will they succeed in changing his mind?
The chicken was pulled out like a small dog. I stick to my theory that it was a threat to deter Iranian workers. But we’re still looking at $150, even if oil crashes when markets open tomorrow evening. The fundamental world conflict remains: Iran will not let go of Hormuz…
— Policy Tensor (@policytensor) July 26, 2026
Did Trump TACO again in Iran? Why? Larry Johnson
US-Iran standoff: Airstrike appears to be a break as Oman talks move ahead on Strait of Hormuz Gulf News
Iran condemns Ukrainian ship attack as Israeli settlers burn West Bank mosque Aljazeera live
Iranian strikes force US to pause, revisit regional strategy: Military spokesman PressTV
‼️🧵 Rumors are increasing that the Pentagon is pressuring Trump to call off the war with Iran because the US has almost destroyed a large number of air defense interceptors and missiles.
Think about that.
1/
— Will Schryver (@imetatronink) July 26, 2026
🇺🇸🇮🇷 Trump wants Iran to give him a chance to get out. Fmr Trump’s lawyer Robert Barnes says the intel community just told him, in writing, that Iran is not giving him.
He put it in what was leaked to the Washington Post this week: every round of strikes has made Iran’s situation more difficult than… pic.twitter.com/lr8FF1SsJC
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 25, 2026
Gulf countries want the war to end, but they disagree, according to Politico
What Happens When Fake Oil Prices Meet Reality? Hard times Chris Martensen
The New Cold War
Ukraine war forum: Russia launches deadly attack on weapons show near Kyiv The Guardian
Russia, Ukraine exchange strikes overnight, 17 dead, dozens injured on both sides Andolu Agency.
Politicians vs generals: Ukraine’s long, hidden war inside Asia Times
Big Brother is Watching You
US charges American for allegedly wiping his phone using ‘suppress’ password during border search TechCrunch
The growing use of police drones sparks a privacy debate Deseret News
Imperial Collapse Watch
As student loan defaults grow, millions in the US are trying to get their lives back on track Japan Today
Homeless census leaves LA voters with unlikely choice for mayor – and a crisis for democracy NY Post
GOP singer Miriam Adelson pays tribute to Sen. The late Lindsey Graham: “We met him in 1990 about—there was an AIPAC mission. We took freshman congressmen—Republican—[on paid trips] to Israel.”
“Every day, there was no day Sheldon [didn’t] talk to… pic.twitter.com/iePrYkjEbH
— Chris Menahan 🇺🇸 (@infolibnews) July 24, 2026
MTG summarizes something most Americans don’t know: There are two votes on every House bill, and often the first (unreported) vote is more important than the second vote for the final passage:
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) July 24, 2026
Trump 2.0
Trump says all-out war with Iran ‘if we don’t get 100% of what we want’: Report Andolu Agency
Trump bombed the White House Correspondents’ Dinner — and proved his point CNN
Trump says he will dismantle the ICC ‘brick by brick’. It could be his sweetest move for The Guardian
A US appeals court has ruled that Trump cannot use email to poll Reuters
Musk Matters
Lucky 13! Starship Uses Starlink Satellites and Beams Down to Today’s Constant Space
Will SpaceX buy Tesla? Elon Musk is not revealing his plans for Scripps News
Tesla’s once bullish tone on robotaxis is changing Reuters
Watching Death of a Democrat
Andy Beshear is what is wrong with the Democratic Party in the era of Trump The Nation
Letter: Why I Left the Napa Valley Democratic Party Register
Immigration to another country
Trump’s new immigration strategy revealed in the purchase of two ICE detention centers The California Times of San Diego
ICE set to open mass detention center in NC, sparks outrage, pushback NC Newsline
Ours is No Longer Free
Wartime Pentagon goes two-plus months without press conference US Press Freedom Tracker
Press Freedom Groups Warn ‘No Newsroom in America Is Safe’ After House GOP Subpoenas Left-Wing Outlet Common Dreams
Mr. Market Is Moody
US bond yields are under pressure Semafor
Global Energy Crunch Enters Morningstar’s ‘More Dangerous’ Phase
Opinion: The stock market’s composure is breaking. Here’s how to prepare for the shock of August. MarketWatch
The AI
Hugging Face Incident Astral Codex Ten
US lawmakers propose AI bill to ‘kill’ Semafor
Secret Soulmates: How Romantic AI Is Beginning to Influence Real-Life Romantic Relationships in Young Adulthood BYU Wheatley Institute
Scientists Design CRISPR Gene Editors Through AI Singularity Hub
Chinese researchers are developing a programmable plant defense system Xinhua
Bezzle
FBI ‘Most Wanted’ fraud suspect arrested in Jamaica over alleged $32M COVID-19 aid scheme NY Post
Poker, fraud and Spider-Man: Prominent lawyer gets 6 years in prison UPI
This is exactly how Messi should end his career, in disgrace.
Messi did not end up cheating in the World Cup.
He also cheated on his taxes.
Although he was a billionaire, he made a lot of money by buying junk food for children.
And worst of all, he didn’t use his big platform to…
— Dimitri Lascaris (@dimitrilascaris) July 26, 2026
Guillotine Watch
Clark Sickle-Leaf Carpet
1. Clark Sickle-Leaf Carpet, 17th Century Antique Persian Carpet – $33 million. The most expensive carpet ever sold is the Clark Sickle-Leaf Carpet, a 17th century Persian masterpiece. #World’s Most Expensive Carpet pic.twitter.com/2HGeaGkXht– Hamza Khan (@HamzaKhan377795) June 27, 2024
#Did you know this Chinese vase sold for £22m at auction in 2010? Making it the most expensive vase ever sold! pic.twitter.com/sSqdx1AkGX
— Homes and Antiques (@homes_antiques) October 25, 2016
Antidote du jour (via)
See yesterday’s links and the Antidote du Jour here
