A Massive 10-Foot Ball of Hair Rolls Through the Streets of New York City Like a Tangled Tumbleweed – Laughing Squid
Mount Etna Erupts a Day After US Tourist is Killed by Lightning – Euronews
Climate and Environment
Lala Leaves a Path of Devastating Flooding Across Parts of Hawaiʻi – Eye on the Tropics
Tornado Alley is Shifting, Raising New Risk Concerns, Says Modeler – Insurance Journal
Who Holds Europe’s Systemic Climate Risks? – New Climate Reality
Cloud Seeding in Indonesia Aims to Combat El Niño-Induced Fires – Channel News Asia
Is this El Niño a Preview of a Hotter Future? – The Climate Brink
Pandemics
Preventing Future Pandemics: Strategies to Avoid Lab Leaks – New York Times
Water
A Future Energy Crisis May Stem from Water Shortages – OilPrice
Japan
The Japanese Yen has weakened significantly, wiping out U.S. Treasury interventions, leading to more Bank of Japan actions. 🚨 🚨 pic.twitter.com/mZzVlf5p3l
— Barchart (@Barchart) August 18, 2026
The Koreas
Asian Allies Emphasize the Importance of Cooperation as Trump Reduces Korean Drills – France24
Lee Reiterates Commitment to Regain Wartime Control of Troops During His Tenure – Yonhap
China
China Disturbed by Turmoil in the Trump Administration Ahead of Xi’s Visit – South China Morning Post
China Introduces Initiatives to Encourage Local Consumption – Xinhua
The Same Key, Different Diagnoses – CHINA POLICY Leads
Why is Chinese State Media Urging Caution Against English AI Terminology? – South China Morning Post
The Great Game
Russia’s Route to India Challenges China’s BRI Amid Pakistan’s Dilemma – India Narrative
Ukraine-Pakistan Drone Deal: Strategic Depth Loses Significance – India Narrative
Syraqistan
Kushner-Netanyahu Talks Permit Ongoing Israeli Strikes in Gaza, Sources Claim – Haaretz
***
Trump States Iran Must Surrender, Threatens to Bomb Oman – New Arab
The Walls Have Doors: Why Bessent’s “Unprecedented” Sanctions on Iran Will Likely Fail – Larry Johnson
PM of Iraqi Kurdistan:
After an investigation by the Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Unit, my personal office and the head of the Security and Intelligence Agency were targeted by Iranian drone attacks. I vehemently condemn these reckless attacks.
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) August 17, 2026
No justification exists for the irresponsible attack on PM Barzani’s office. Kurdish allies should remain vigilant against any attempts to create discord among neighbors.
We safeguarded our Kurdish friends against Saddam and DAESH, grateful for the security they provide on our border.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) August 17, 2026
***
Asian Refiners Request to Collect Saudi Oil Outside of Dangerous Red Sea Routes – Bloomberg
Iraq’s Pipeline to Syria’s Baniyas Expected to Take Four Years for Completion – Iraqi News
Old Blighty
‘Horrific’ Conditions Burden UK Hospitals Struggling with Heat Waves – Bloomberg (Mark)
The Inequality of Heatwaves in Britain and the Need for Public Adaptation – London School of Economics and Political Science
British Leader Allegedly Communicated with Impostor Posing as Top White House Official – AP
European Disunion
Ice Cream Makers as ‘Critical Infrastructure’? New EU Cybersecurity Law Faces Wobbly Implementation – Politico
Paks Nuclear Facility at a Precipice: Urgent Efforts Underway to Maintain Two Operating Turbines – Daily News Hungary
The Lucky Country
NSW Supreme Court Critiques IHRA Definition as ‘Disconnected from Reality’ – Deep Cut
O Canada
Canada Experiences Increase in Citizenship Applications Amid Concerns Over Trump Policies – Anadolu Agency
Canada’s Most Powerful Icebreaker Successfully Reaches the North Pole – gCaptain
New Not-So-Cold War
Tanker Attacked Near Black Sea Terminal Amid Ongoing Strikes – Maritime Executive
Russian Assaults Target Energy Infrastructure Across Six Regions, with Donetsk Oblast Being the Most Affected – Ukrainska Pravda
Ukraine Begins Concealing Power Substations in Preparation for a Fourth Winter of Attacks – Intellinews
Criticism of Russian Nuclear Company for Allegedly Breaching Safety Standards – Politico
Putin, Japan, and the Islands that America Hesitates to Acknowledge – Kautilya the Contemplator
South of the Border
Tech Mogul Peter Thiel Strengthens His Influence in Argentina – TeleSur
Spook Country
David Gibbs: The Capture of Academia and Journalism by Intelligence Agencies – Glenn Diesen
Trump 2.0
Trump’s Crypto Firm Affirms New Venture with AI from Restricted Chinese Companies – Reuters
Facing Backlash, Trump’s Border Chief Suspends Construction in Big Bend National Park – Common Dreams
Democrats in Disarray
Concerns Grow Over Schumer’s Future as Democratic Candidates Seek Change – The Hill
Economy
Global Bond Sell-Off Drives Long-Term Borrowing Costs to Historic Highs – Bloomberg
Imperial Collapse Watch
Raytheon Secures $23 Billion Contract to Enhance Tomahawk Missile Production – Breaking Defense
Technology and Erosion of Constitutional Integrity – Yale Law School
AI
Following a Rare Book Shipment to an Amazon AI Training Facility – 404 Media
Nvidia Proposes Up to $105 Billion Backstop for OpenAI Data Center – Semafor
Edgerton Denounces Citizen Petition as ‘Void and Invalid,’ Files Suit Against Data Center Ban – KCTV5
My AI Supervisor Terminated My Human Colleague, but I’m Not Concerned – San Francisco Standard
The Accelerationists
Meta Faces a Potential $1.4 Trillion Judgment Over Social Media Addiction Issues – Engadget
Facebook in Turmoil Over Islamophobic AI Content Inciting Violence Against Muslim Americans – Futurism
Antitrust Issues
NYC’s Public Grocery Stores Face the Same Monopolistic Challenges as Private Ones, but Bigger Public Options May Change This – Food & Power
Supply Chain Concerns
A Surge in Copper Prices Amid Supply Constraints – Mining.com
Introducing the World’s Rarest Mineral, Discovered Only Once – ZME Science
Technology Updates
Apple Wallet Driver’s License Feature Expands to Four New U.S. States – MacRumors
A Popular Smart Feeder Fails, Leaving Pets Without Meals – The Verge
Class Warfare
‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ Services Begin Offering Loans for Essentials like Rent and Utilities – New York Times
Antidote du Jour
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Explore yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
