In 2016, 18-year-old Andrej Ciesierski secretly climbed the Great Pyramid of Giza using a GoPro and filmed the whole thing.
Police spotted him halfway up the 146-metre pyramid, but he continued on, risking three years in prison. At the top, we enjoyed some great views before climbing. pic.twitter.com/CxxDQL927M
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) July 19, 2026
Viagra’s next move could halt the spread of ZME science in cancer
Traveling Salesman Problem Master Finds His Way Quanta Magazine
An eye implant that restores sight to visually impaired people is approved for sale.
South Korean Navy pilots humanoid robot for the first time Cryptopolitan
New coronavirus infection/pandemic
Long-term brain scans of coronavirus reveal damage to dopamine neurons SciTech Daily
Ebola infections in Congo reach nearly 3,000, with more than 1,300 deaths; health workers on strike RFI
Climate/Environment
Climate change intensifies wildfires in Europe, causing smoke to cross borders – Euronews
Western US snow drought in 2026 was about four times more likely to be caused by climate change PNAS
south of the border
Can Cuba top Marco Rubio? responsible national strategy
How long will it take to rebuild Venezuela after the earthquake? Global Voices
De la Espriela breaks tradition and holds inauguration ceremony at army base in southern Colombia Bogota Post
China?
China’s self-driving electric trucks will change the future of logistics pic.twitter.com/qtLll0sUBq
— ViralRush ⚡ (@ViralRushX) July 22, 2026
China lures 105 top U.S. workers to dominate healthcare, technology New York Post
Is this China’s next 6th generation fighter prototype? Rapid progress in development brings prediction of commissioning closer Military Watch Magazine
China bans rare earths exports to 14 European companies S&P Global
China continues to meet renewable energy targets, but falls short of nuclear targets Clean Technica
India
India’s cockroach protests end as Modi government bows to demands for withdrawal Site News
Vaishali Sinha: Creating India’s renewable energy giant Sustainability Magazine
Ghost apartments explained: Why some completed homes remain vacant despite India’s housing shortage The Times of India
Africa
Economics of Solidarity: Why Social Stability Is Africa’s Biggest Investment Risk Africa Easy Substack
Kenya: What Dangote’s new refinery means for East Africa DW
African minerals are not the problem. Weak Governance Africa Report
discord in europe
Millions of UK holidaymakers face nightmares at airports and Channel ports due to new EU checks Daily Mail
EU naval mission to intercept Russian shadow tanker in Indian Ocean defense News
EU withdraws methane regulations due to soaring oil prices due to energy security concerns
old blighty
Britain has its first Catholic prime minister – but don’t expect a US-style religious and cultural war to follow the Guardian
UK government considers early approval of North Sea oil and gas projects: Indre News Agency report
US/Israel vs. Gaza, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria,
This week in Palestine: Francesca Albanese calls escalating Israeli attacks in the West Bank a ‘pogrom’ after a deadly week Zeteo
Why does Israel see Turkiye as a strategic threat?
Yemen’s Houthis fire missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia CBC
Yemeni air force strikes Houthi missile and drone launch sites after Saudi-led coalition strikes targets Arab News
Syria’s intervention in Lebanon is militarily and politically unfeasible, experts warn Forbes
iran war
“For now.” Netanyahu’s visit runs from Monday to Wednesday for, among other things, Lindsey Graham’s wake. This trajectory means President Trump will be surrounded by hawks. Will they succeed in changing their minds?
I chickened out like a little bitch. I stand by my theory that it is a threat posed by Iran’s anti-personnel deterrent capabilities. But even if oil crashes when the market opens tomorrow evening, we’re still looking at $150. The fundamental geopolitical impasse remains: Iran won’t let go of Hormuz… https://t.co/EzPmmJARyW
— Policy Tensor (@policytensor) July 26, 2026
Did President Trump TACO against Iran again? why? larry johnson
Conflict between US and Iran: Air strikes suspended as Oman negotiations progress in Strait of Hormuz Gulf News
Israeli settlers set fire to Mosque Al Jazeera in the West Bank on live broadcast, Iran denounces attack on Ukrainian ship
Iranian attack forces US to halt and reconsider regional strategy: Army spokesperson PressTV
‼ ️🧵 Rumors are swirling that the Pentagon is pressuring President Trump to call off the war with Iran, as the United States has nearly exhausted its stockpile of air defense interceptors and standoff attack missiles.
Imagine that.
1/ https://t.co/G2BrC53nzj
— Will Shriver (@imetronink) July 26, 2026
🇺🇸🇮🇷 President Trump wants Iran to allow withdrawal. Trump’s lawyer, Robert Burns, said the intelligence community told him in writing that Iran did not give it to him.
He explained what was leaked from the Washington Post this week: With each attack, Iran’s position has rather hardened… pic.twitter.com/lr8FF1SsJC
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 25, 2026
Gulf states want the war to end, but cannot agree on what Politico should look like
What happens when fake oil prices meet reality? Hard Times Chris Martensen
A new war that’s not so cold war
Ukraine war press conference: Russia launches deadly attack on weapons exhibition near Kiev The Guardian
Overnight air strikes in Russia and Ukraine kill 17 people, injure dozens on both sides, Andre News Agency
Politicians vs. Generals: Ukraine’s long hidden war, Asia Times
big brother is watching you
US accuses American of using ‘duress’ password to erase cell phone during border search TechCrunch
Expanding use of police drones fuels privacy debate Deseret News
imperial collapse watch
Millions of Americans are trying to rebuild their lives as student loan defaults surface Japan Today
Homeless count makes it impossible for L.A. voters to elect mayor – and democracy in crisis NY Post
Republican megadonor Miriam Adelson paid tribute to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, saying, “We met him in about 1990, and there was an AIPAC mission. We embraced a new Republican.[on paid trips] To Israel. ”
“Every day, Sheldon wasn’t like that.” [didn’t] Talk to… pic.twitter.com/iePrYkjEbH
— Chris Menahan 🇺🇸 (@infolibnews) July 24, 2026
MTG succinctly explains what most Americans don’t know. Every bill gets two votes in the House, and the first (unreported) vote is often more important to final passage than the second: https://t.co/Nvlyz03Zr8
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) July 24, 2026
Trump 2.0
President Trump says he will go to full-scale war with Iran ‘if we don’t get 100% of what we want’: Andre News Agency report
President Trump debunks bomb attack at White House Correspondents’ Dinner CNN
President Trump said he would dismantle the ICC “brick by brick.” This may be his most horrifying act in the Guardian
U.S. appeals court rules President Trump cannot enforce mail-in voting order Reuters
musk is important
Lucky 13! Starship deploys Starlink satellites and flies into space intact today
Will SpaceX buy Tesla? Elon Musk hasn’t revealed his plans Scripps News
Tesla reverts to once bullish stance on robotaxis Reuters
Democratic Party Death Watch
Andy Beshear talks about what’s wrong with the Democratic Party in the Trump era
Letter: Why I resigned from the Napa Valley Democratic Party
immigration
President Trump’s new immigration strategy revealed with purchase of two ICE detention centers, California Times (San Diego)
ICE plans to open mass detention facility in North Carolina, sparks outrage and backlash North Carolina Newsline
Our press is no longer free
Pentagon goes without media briefing for more than two months during war US Press Freedom Tracker
‘No newsroom in America is safe’, press freedom groups warn after House Republican subpoena – a common dream for left-wing outlets
Mr. Market is in a bad mood.
US Treasury yields are facing pressure
Global energy crisis enters ‘more dangerous’ phase Morningstar
OPINION: The calm in the stock market is cracking. Here’s how to prepare for the August shock. market watch
A.I.
Hug Face Incident Astral Codex 10
US lawmaker proposes AI “kill switch” bill Semafor
Secret soulmates: How AI romantic companions are starting to impact young people’s real-life romantic relationships BYU Wheatley Institute
Scientists use AI Singularity Hub to design CRISPR gene editors
Chinese researchers develop programmable plant immune system
basil
FBI ‘Most Wanted’ Fraud Suspect Arrested in Jamaica Over $32 Million Coronavirus Relief Plan NY Post
Poker, fraud and Spider-Man: Celebrity lawyer sentenced to 6 years in prison UPI
This is exactly how Messi should end his career in shame.
Messi didn’t just cheat at the World Cup.
He also cheated his taxes.
Despite being a billionaire, he made a huge amount of money by selling junk food to children.
And worst of all, he never took advantage of his huge platform… https://t.co/d9BCtdPxwY
— Dimitri Lascaris (@dimitrilascaris) July 26, 2026
guillotine watch
clark sickle leaf carpet
1. Clark’s Sickle Leaf Carpet, an antique 17th century Persian rug – $33 million. The most expensive rug ever sold is the Clark Sickleleaf Carpet, a 17th century Persian masterpiece. #world’s most expensive carpet pic.twitter.com/2HGeaGkXht
— Hamza Khan (@HamzaKhan377795) June 27, 2024
#Did you know that this Chinese-made vase sold for £22 million at auction in 2010, making it the most expensive vase ever sold? https://t.co/Iy5fsbyZiu pic.twitter.com/sSqdx1AkGX
— Homes & Antiques (@homes_antiques) October 25, 2016
Antidote (via)
See yesterday’s link and antidote here
