Discovery of a multicomponent alloy forged by the Hiroshima atomic blast Science Advances
An island has been waging war on rats. They think they’ve finally won New Scientist
Climate/Environment
Southern Europe burns as 3 firefighters die and France battles blaze 4 times the size of Paris AP
The EU might weaken its landmark climate law — the ‘most impactful’ in the world Grist
It’s official: Data centers are slowing America’s shift away from coal Grist
NOAA ditches weather-predicting supercomputers for Google Cloud The Register
Hot nights are costing you up to 56 hours of sleep per year, study finds NPR
Pandemics
Why Anthony Fauci might not be safe after pleading the Fifth CNN
A new mouse study gives us a hard close-up of something long COVID data keeps hinting at.
SARS2 gets into the brain, clears out within a month – and the damage it leaves behind doesn’t just persist, it keeps growing. The virus clears out and leaves scorched earth behind it🧵— Zdenek Vrozina (@ZdenekVrozina) July 28, 2026
Japan
LDP pushes for warrantless spy powers, citing national security Asahi Shimbun
China?
US sanctions Chinese, Hong Kong shipping firms over Iranian oil deliveries South China Morning Post
China’s ‘dying’ companies China Talk
Beijing Draws Its Line on “Overcapacity” Inside China
Chartbook 462: China shocked – beyond 1.0 and 2.0 to the “Big One”. Adam Tooze
Syraqistan
Nearly 60,000 children orphaned in Gaza as Israel’s genocide destroys families and care systems New Arab
Netanyahu challenger thinks Israel isn’t attacking enough neighbours The Canary
EXCLUSIVE: CIA Assessment Details Israel’s Race to Make the U.S.-Israel Alliance Irreversible Capital & Empire
***
US resumes aggression on Iran after five-day pause Al Mayadeen
Saudi Arabia to announce Red Sea coalition to counter Houthi threats Al Monitor
Saudi defense minister holds urgent meeting with Trump after Iraq strikes Axios
China in touch with Yemen’s Houthis to allow ships to sail through Red Sea, sources say Arab News
Drone hits US-owned gas tanker at Egypt port in potential widening of Iran war India Today
Africa
Boeings identified in Reuters report carried weapons for Sudanese paramilitary: UN experts Reuters
Old Blighty
UK government reviews why police ceding criminal cases to US military The Guardian
European Disunion
The Story of The Diplomat Who Hated Diplomacy—Kaja Kallas Shane Fitzgerald
Watch out Brussels and Kyiv, Poland’s conservatives are veering right Politico
New Not-So-Cold War
Zelensky’s Lackluster DC Tour Upstaged by Another Mass Russian Air Attack on Ukraine Simplicius
Total war, universal corruption Events in Ukraine
Wildberries Eyes Kazakhstan Warehouses After Ukrainian Drone Strikes Hit Russian Logistics Network Kyiv Post
Kazakhstan Resumes CPC Oil Exports After Output More Than Halves Times of Central Asia
Why’d Ukraine Defy The US’ Reported Warning Not To Attack Non-Russian Vessels In The Black Sea? Andrew Korybko
Finland to stop maintaining poles carrying communication lines with Russia, Kommersant reports Meduza
South of the Border
American Oil Majors Trying to Get Into Venezuela Have Hit a Wall WSJ
Imperial Collapse Watch
So It Goes … Aurelien
US weapons stockpiles continue to dwindle with permanent end to Iran war nowhere in sight CNN
US stealth fighter surge risks a readiness nosedive Asia Times
What is Sovereignty to an Imperialist? Un-Diplomatic
Trump 2.0
Revealed: Trump administration forced treatment on hunger striker in ICE detention The Guardian
ICE’s New Detention Center Contracts Declare State Laws ‘Shall Not Apply’ Wired
Trump overrode his own agencies to deny 4 Democratic disaster requests Politico
Senate committee postpones vote on Todd Blanche’s nomination over disagreements with GOP senators NBC News
Democrats Suck
Schumer urges Fetterman not to leave Senate Democratic caucus The Hill
Healthcare?
A For-Profit Hospital Slashed Costs. Then a Patient Froze to Death on Its Roof. Mother Jones
Obamacare enrollment declines in 49 states Minnesota Reformer
Obama Legacy
AI
🦔AI companies are bulk-buying rare books, scanning them through high-speed machines that cut the spines off, and shredding the originals. A service called ISBNdb facilitates orders of up to a million books and keeps buyers anonymous. Pre-2022 books are premium because they’re… pic.twitter.com/0YPd8N2oi5
— Hedgie (@HedgieMarkets) July 27, 2026
AI’s top startups are barely publishing their research Science
Elon Musk’s AI company sues Minnesota Attorney General Ellison over nudification ban Minnesota Reformer
Meta Stock Tanks In Jittery Market On Massive AI Investment, Mixed Q2 Deadline
Mr. Market
Fed meeting recap: Warsh says Fed won’t hesitate to stop inflation, but bond market has doubts CNBC
Inflation gauge reboot to ease pressure on Federal Reserve to raise interest rates FT
“MAHA”
Untested supplements popular with special operators move a step closer to legal sale The After-Action Report
More than 18,200 cyclosporiasis cases now suspected in US: Where it’s getting worse The Hill
Disease Researchers Blame DOGE Cuts for Spiraling Cyclospora Outbreak Truthout
You Cannot Break Bread With MAHA Pandemic Accountability Index
The Bezzle
Study Shows Corporate Subsidies Only Create Jobs for Lobbyists Boondoggle
Groves of Academe
Arizona State launches influencer degree where students must gain real followers Dexerto
Casino Nation
Sports Betting Giants Join Unprecedented Corporate Efforts to Buy 2026 Midterms Common Dreams
Class Warfare
The Rent Is Higher Than You Think The Economic Populist
Hidden sleep crisis among workers over 50, study suggests Eurekalert!
Antidote du jour (via):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
