Do birds enjoy flying? Phys.org
Salad greens scrutinized as cyclosporiasis outbreak spreads Stateline
Cacti spines, snake fangs, snail love darts—oh my! How function drives the evolution of nature’s puncture tools The Conversation
The banana as we know it is in trouble WBUR
Climate and Environment
US heatwave shatters records as wildfires fuel toxic air across North America National Herald
Is your building equipped with upgraded air filters? At these levels, we notice immediate spikes in hospital ER visits and heart attacks, mostly caused by indoor air pollution. Strongly recommend using MERV13 filters or higher, particularly “MERV-A” rated filters which… pic.twitter.com/VyktaOm2xX
— Joseph Allen (@j_g_allen) July 15, 2026
Would you be interested in a train ride through Canada amidst global warming?
Armstrong in Northern Ontario, Canada.
The crew is believed to have escaped safely. pic.twitter.com/kwCcjDZWYj
— Matthew Todd 🌏🔥 (@MrMatthewTodd) July 15, 2026
A Rare Atlantic Niña Emerges, Joins Super El Niño to Form an Atmospheric Shield for the U.S. Severe Weather Europe
New normal? The US has experienced a major power outage every month of 2026 Electrek
Ebola
Healthcare workers strike as Ebola cases in Congo surpass 2,000, including 754 deaths AP
Water
Federal Funds Allocated to Preserve L.A.’s Water Resources at Lake Mead Hoodline
Boulder City Council aims to halt data center development on BLM land Nevada Current. On the shores of Lake Mead.
The Koreas
CIA’s former Korea chief is currently selling the nation’s weapons to the U.S. Government All-Source Intelligence
Cargo trucks surge at the China-North Korea border amid trading activities Daily NK
China?
Trump’s aides perceive China as cheating on trade, yet resist retaliation Bloomberg
Beijing shifts capital back towards the real economy CHINA POLICY leads
China’s Campaign Against the ‘Lying Flat’ Movement Targets Companion Chatbots Gizmodo
Southeast Asia
Malaysia is investigating a tech commune established by a former Coinbase executive Straits Times
Syraqistan
Israel kills over a dozen Palestinians in Gaza within 24 hours, violating the US-backed ceasefire The Cradle
House Democrats reject a proposal to end military aid to Israel, with over 100 voting in favor The Guardian
Trump’s ex-campaign manager leads an influence operation for Israel targeting the MAGA base TIME
Iran warns JD Vance that Kushner and Witkoff are “abusing” their access to negotiations Drop Site
Iran reports that US strikes targeted a wheat silo and another site in Khuzestan Anadolu Agency
U.A.E. Receives AI Chips for Supporting the U.S. in its Conflict with Iran WSJ
Exclusive: Iraq adds Hezbollah to its banking sanctions list New Arab
Iraq and the U.S. are set to reveal economic agreements totaling $60 billion Iraqi News
European Disunion
Volkswagen attempted to save a plant with military trucks, but Qatar intervened Car Scoops
The U.S. base in Vicenza transforms into a startup hub amid a robotics revolution! ComeDonChisciotte.org (via GeoPolitiQ)
Kushner’s luxury resort in Albania entangled in a new scandal over forged documents News am
Lithuania’s PM mentions that allowing Taiwan’s de-facto embassy might have been “overly bold” Reuters
Old Blighty
Res Judicata and Extreme Unionism Craig Murray
New Not-So-Cold War
Ukraine is set to acquire Chinese drone parts using EU funds FT
Kremlin’s “Passivity”: A grave concern for the future of the Russian Federation? Oliver Boyd-Barrett
Why Moscow continues dialogue with Trump: Three hypotheses about the logic of Russian diplomacy Kautilya The Contemplator
Moscow demands IAEA intervention following ‘terrorist’ attacks on nuclear plant personnel RT
South of the Border
French firm halts shipments to Cuba due to a U.S. executive order TeleSur. “One of the halted shipments includes over 3.5 million syringes and needles intended for healthcare.”
US Navy SEALs have been deployed to Trinidad and Tobago The After-Action Report
The U.S. is set to impose a 25% tariff on most Brazilian imports DPA International
Brazil’s Foreign Ministry alerts about the potential for U.S. military actions Plenglish
Trump 2.0
Leak: Rubio’s WMD scandal labeled as “far-left terrorism” Ken Klippenstein
House Republicans revive the Save America Act by including it in the spending bill The Guardian
FBI explores the use of questionable AI technology to verify signatures on seized mail-in ballots ProPublica
Russell Vought transforms fiscal federalism into a new patronage framework Notes on the Crises
As states grapple with Medicaid funding cuts, family caregivers face financial distress STAT
Democrats in the Crosshairs
Jeffries opposes the attempt to reduce aid to Israel following a historic AIPAC earmark Sludge
Police State Watch
Trump reinstates ICE traffic stops after a fatal incident involving an agent Al Mayadeen
The Accelerationists
Trump silently facilitates the path for Musk’s robotaxis Oligarch Watch
A worker’s death at a SpaceX facility follows a series of injuries over the past years Texas Observer
SpaceX stock reaches an all-time low, falling below its IPO price Yahoo! Finance
Exploring the political economy behind billionaire excess Programmable Mutter
Antitrust Developments
The FCC proposes dismantling local television station ownership regulations Engadget
Imperial Collapse Watch
Many countries now hold a more favorable view of China compared to the U.S. Pew Research Center
What if American power is indeed the root of the problem? Dame Magazine
A dramatic video captures the U.S. Navy Blue Angels executing a low-altitude flyover above Pensacola Beach, Florida, on Wednesday. Navy officials confirmed they are reviewing the situation and conducting a thorough safety evaluation. pic.twitter.com/ZUa1ryk4X8
— ABC News (@ABC) July 15, 2026
Hegseth mandates testosterone screening for troops aged 30 and older, with optional TRT Military.com
FDA drug approvals impact global healthcare, but political shortcuts could damage the agency’s reputation abroad The Conversation
Critics object to the proposal for a U.S. combat command centered on robotics Responsible Statecraft
Exploring the implications of America’s optimization empire Muftah
AI Insights
Winning the AI Pentathlon Requires Endurance RAND
AI Music App Suno hacked, revealing the extent of music it extracted Gizmodo
Understanding the intersection of AI and capitalism Grace Blakeley
Casino Nation
Inhaling thick smoke while dealing with explosive digestive issues from salad, the sky turns an apocalyptic orange as oil companies drill in protected areas; meanwhile, screwworms are ravaging cattle, and the president has just paid $6 million for allegations of sexual assault. And I still have the opportunity to place bets on all this! https://t.co/R1HhtzJrbP
— davey (@jerseyh0mo) July 15, 2026
“Liberation Day”
Democratic resistance against Trump tariffs complicates momentum for Russian sanctions The Hill
Supply Chain Issues
Class Warfare
The case for expanding union membership threefold Economic Policy Institute
Wall Street has its sights set on your childcare needs Economic Populist
Antidote of the Day
(via):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote of the Day here.
This compilation of recent headlines highlights pressing global issues, from environmental concerns and health crises to political tensions and economic challenges. It’s crucial to stay informed as these stories unfold, shaping our world.
In conclusion, the landscape of current events is complex and constantly evolving. Keeping abreast of these developments is essential for understanding the broader implications on society and the future.
