Parahawking is an interactive experience of gliding with birds of prey, combining paragliding with falconry
Trained birds of prey fly with paragliders, leading them to thermalspic.twitter.com/3BcBzfjK1s
— Science girl (@sciencegirl) July 23, 2022
Americans worry robots will take jobs, but not theirs Semafor
Tennis May Add Nearly 10 Years to Your Life and Most People Are Ignoring It ZME Science
Shape-Shifting Drug Supercharges Cancer Treatment in Mice SciTech Daily
Voyeurs are not interested in intimacy | Alain de Botton
COVID-19/Pandemics
US Senate’s Fauci hearing renews COVID origin debate but reveals little Al Jazeera
Study suggests Congo’s Ebola outbreak began months before detection Andolu Agency
Climate/Environment
When it comes to climate change, is there a point when adaptation isn’t enough? NPR
Feds to impose new cuts on lower Colorado River states amid climate-fueled megadrought Colorado Newsline
South of the Border
Argentina’s Milei seeks to deport foreigners that spread ‘hate’ of country Al Jazeera
The Costs of the U.S. Blockade of Cuba Dollars & Sense
Venezuela is burning, and I’m forced to watch from afar Global Voices
China?
China just tested a 582-ton fusion magnet with 3x the stored energy of ITER’s, built every component domestically, and did it in 6 years. ITER has 35 member countries, started in 2006, and won’t produce first plasma until 2034.
The magnet is a D-shaped ring 21 meters long. It… https://t.co/doayMl0Ntq
— Aakash Gupta (@aakashgupta) July 28, 2026
China’s EV Market Is Booming. There’s Just One Problem Wired
China’s New YJ-20 Hypersonic ‘Carrier Killer’ Gives Destroyer Fleet a Distinct Combat Advantage Military Watch Magazine
China Now Uses 80% Artificial Sand. Here’s Why That’s A Bigger Deal Than It Sounds ZME Science
China’s tech advances are causing chaos from Silicon Valley to the White House The Guardian
India
India’s Modi says he forgives students who abused him in Cockroach protests Al Jazeera
India approves $8.8 billion offshore exploration scheme to boost energy security Andolu Agency
India’s record renewable generation in July cuts coal’s share in power mix to 1-year low Reuters
Africa
Sovereignty, sarcasm, blame: How North Africa reacted to Ceuta crisis Euronews
Africa’s off-grid solar sector courts mainstream investors with landmark financing deals AP
Africa facing up to $20 billion economic hit from ‘super’ El Niño, AfDB climate chief warns Reuters
European Disunion
The European Union’s enlargement will pull it apart Brussels Signal
EU Commits €10 Billion to Seven AI Gigafactories in Race With US and China Technology.org
Old Blighty
‘Worst we’ve known’: UK turns to imports as drought and heat hit vegetable crops The Guardian
Why Is the UK Stock Market Shrinking? Morningstar
Israel v. Gaza, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria
Skys John Sparks, speaking from Jerusalem: “.. the ceasefire in Gaza, the 1st phase was implemented last Oct, its brought about a semblance of peace in Gaza”
Moments later:
Dr James Smith, speaking from Gaza: “I must challenge your correspondent, there is no ceasefire in Gaza” pic.twitter.com/I4854A9BYr
— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) July 31, 2026
Israeli strikes kill four across Gaza, destroy medical supply warehouse Al Jazeera
Tensions rise between Yemen’s Houthis and Saudi Arabia DW
Egypt says investigation into attack on 2 vessels at port ongoing Andolu Agency
Iran War
Scoop: MBS raises concerns over Trump’s plans for massive Iran strikes Axios. Iran not only published a list of targets but also included thumbnails of why they mattered for the benefit of Trump know-nothings, First was the Saudi Ghawar field:
Please be advised:
🔸Ghawar Oil Field in Saudi Arabia
⤴️ Ghawar is the backbone of Saudi Arabia’s production, and any disruption to it puts more than 5% of the world’s total oil supply at risk.🔹Abqaiq and Khurais Facilities in Saudi Arabia
⤴️ These are the heart of Saudi… https://t.co/ikP6KT9ygd— John Hussain (@johnhussainpres) July 31, 2026
Trump TACO’s Again… Thank God! Larry Johnson
This is exactly the scenario Matt Bracken predicted.
Israeli and U.S. aircraft take off in a massive wave for a bombing raid.
Then Iran bombs the bejeezus out of the runways and military bases where those planes eventually need to land.
They therefore can’t land, even if they… https://t.co/yb35LIYxRE
— HealthRanger (@HealthRanger) August 2, 2026
The unfortunate reality is that these constant pattern of bombastic threats followed by TACOing just proves to Iran that Trump is not a rational person capable of making a durable and lasting deal.
As a result, Iran is actively incentivized to cause greater damage to the global…
— Brett Erickson (@BrettErickson28) August 2, 2026
World braces for weekend of war as Iran names new targets…as Trump orders fresh round of strikes on Tehran Daily Mail
New Not-So-Cold War
Russian forces strike targets in Ukraine’s Odesa, Mykolaiv ports France 24
Nine killed in strikes on Kyiv, as Ukraine sinks Russian container ship BBC
Zelensky warns air defenses are being overwhelmed as Russia pounds Ukraine, killing 9 CNN
Big Brother Is Watching You Watch
Home Depot faces privacy class action over alleged sale of customer data Top Class Actions
CPSC’s Push for Patient Data Raises Privacy and Legal Questions Healthcare Innovation
Imperial Collapse Watch
Subterranean homeless city discovered in tunnels under Los Angeles NY Post
Inflation, economy cited as shoplifting rises, survey says Scripps News
Trump 2.0
Trump Reaping Whirlwind From His Senate Purges NY Magazine
Trump stands to profit off US policy announcements by selling fast access to his social media posts AP
Trump administration drops Reflecting Pool vandalism charge and admits ‘botched’ repairs BBC
Musk Matters
The full-length interview with Elon Musk | The Economist
Elon Musk is re-entering politics. It might not go as he hopes. MS Now
Democrat Death Watch
Immigration
Breakneck pace in immigration courts is driving up deportation orders AP
More than 25,000 children lose previous legal protections, as federal contract ends NPR
Our No Longer Free Press
Trump’s legal crusade against news media falters AFP
Massachusetts Senate approves journalist shield protections for first time Item Live
Mr. Market Is Moody
Middle East turmoil leaves gas prices exposed The Street
Prediction: The Stock Market Will Hit Big Trouble in August. Here’s How Much the S&P 500 Will Drop if History Repeats. The Motley Fool
Is the government lying to us about inflation? MarketWatch
AI
AI Has Entered The ‘Loss Of Control’ Transition Noema
The More People Learn About AI, the More They Want It Out of Their Lives Futurism
Silicon, Not Software, Will Decide the AI Race Project Syndicate
Chinese President Xi Calls for Accelerated Military AI Integration as Forces Pursue ‘Intelligent Warfare’ Military Watch Magazine
Why Aidoc is taking a generative AI device to the FDA Medtech Dive
The Bezzle
VC-backed startups commit more fraud, and researchers think they know why TechCrunch
Guillotine Watch
Berco’s Popcorn is also called the “Billion dollar popcorn” although it costs nowhere near that much. A typical tin of Berco’s popcorn, containing just over 100 kernels, will cost you around $500. pic.twitter.com/Qoaf4y6dD0
— Picsea (@picsea_shop) April 21, 2023
The most expensive popcorn in the world 🍿 pic.twitter.com/NCJNiuyWgo
— sᵉˡᵗᵃ ✨ (@Menceng_) July 30, 2026
Antidote du jour (via)
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here
