The real barrier to Africa’s solar energy boom
Reducing the cost of capital is the only way to ensure the expansion of renewable energy across the continent
The main event
Worth reading
Not the busiest stories. The pieces most likely to sharpen the mental model.
India should listen to its frustrated youth
Gen Z protests reflect young people’s growing anxiety about their future
This tedious British whimsy belongs in the bin
Selected from The Times as an argument-led read.
Now I know why I’m a binge drinker — blame my ADHD
Selected from The Times as an argument-led read.
Nothing Can Prevent the New Wildfires. We Have to Adapt.
Suppression is not enough.
More headlines
Financial Times
Google reports $6bn cash burn last quarter as it raises AI spending again
Search giant says it will commit up to $205bn on AI investments in 2026
Financial Times
Tesla profits plunge as discounts on EV models weigh on results
Capital expenditures more than doubled as company accelerates pivot to semiconductors, autonomous taxis and humanoid robots
Financial Times
Greek tycoon’s tanker towed into Iranian waters
Shipping group Dynacom ‘trying to verify’ whereabouts of vessel hit in Strait of Hormuz
Financial Times
Burnham can be the failure that Britain needs
Big government must be tested to destruction for serious reform to finally happen
BBC News
PC Harper's widow criticises early prisoner release plan as Burnham to review scheme
Lissie Harper says the possible early release of prisoners is "deplorable", after reports that two of PC Harper's killers...
BBC News
Most bus fares in England to be capped at £2 from January
The government says the policy will "help with the cost of living and give people the breathing space they need"
BBC News
Ukrainian drones hit Russian online giant retailer Wildberries for second time
Logistics hubs belonging to Wildberries in the Krasnodar and Stavropol regions were struck overnight.
BBC News
Ex-Southern Water boss among four charged over alleged plan to manipulate water quality tests
Matthew Wright is accused alongside three others of trying to save the firm millions in penalties.
BBC News
OpenAI says its AI went rogue and launched 'unprecedented' cyber-attack
It is one of the first publicly disclosed cyber-attacks carried out by AI without direct human involvement.
The Economist
The Iran war is consuming the Trump presidency
The Economist
Where should you move for higher pay?
NYT Europe
Hitler’s Birthplace in Austria Is Now a Police Station
The government repurposed the 17th-century building in hopes of preventing the site from becoming an attraction for Nazi sympathizers.
NYT Europe
Fire Ravaged the Glasgow School of Art. It May Cost Too Much to Restore It.
Designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the Glasgow School of Art is one of Britain’s most famous buildings. The school says it...
The Telegraph
Inflation fall a ‘false dawn’, Burnham warned
Inflation fall a ‘false dawn’, Burnham warned
The Telegraph
Russia destroys Ukraine HIV warehouse
Missiles hit facility holding 62 million prevention items earmarked for the country’s harm reduction programmes
Wales
BBC Wales
No helicopters to fight wildfires as 'crisis management' plans activated
One campsite owner in Trawsfynydd says she went to bed "seeing the mountain literally ablaze".
BBC Wales
I've got a motorway in my garden - it's my shelter in hot weather
It was built over people's homes 60 years ago, but what's it like to live in the shadow of the M4?
BBC Wales
Jeremy Clarkson's choir announces debut album after performing in Welsh
The Hawkstone Farmers' Choir performed in Welsh for the first time, including singing Calon Lân.
BBC Wales
New Wales secretary questions calls for more Welsh government powers
Stephen Kinnock open to devolution talks but unconvinced on transferring powers to Welsh ministers.
Sport
BBC Sport · Football
Saliba to miss extended period with back injury
Arsenal confirm defender William Saliba is set to miss an "extended period" after suffering a back injury while at the World...
BBC Sport · Football
Garnacho, Rogers and two clubs trying to balance the books
How can Chelsea afford Morgan Rogers? And why are Aston Villa pursuing a loan for Alejandro Garnacho rather than buying him?
BBC Sport · Darts
Menzies taken ill on stage at World Matchplay
Cameron Menzies needs medical attention after being taken ill during his World Matchplay second-round match against Ross Smith...
BBC Sport · Football
Inter Miami under investigation after signing Casemiro
Major League Soccer says it is investigating allegations of tampering by Inter Miami after the club signed Brazil midfielder Casemiro.
The Race · F1
Farewell to the worst car of F1 2026
Aston Martin's upgrade is the first major test of an Adrian Newey-led F1 team that must restore its reputation - and hang on...
The Race
The reality of funding the world's oldest racetrack
How does the world's oldest purpose-built racetrack, Brooklands, stay relevant, interesting, and financially stable after 119 years?
The Race · F1
Why F1's AI engines are tripping teams up so much
We are nearly halfway through the F1 season and teams and drivers are still baffled by some of the things the 2026...
Formula 1 Official
Our early Bet Builder for the Hungarian Grand Prix
Our expert betting writers have picked a five-leg early Bet Builder, including top-six finish, classified finishers and three...
Formula 1 Official · F1
Amelia Dimoldenberg on learning to drive with F1 stars
Amelia Dimoldenberg chats to F1.com about the new season of Passenger Princess, as well as revealing how her driving skills...
ESPN Cricinfo
Gritty Salt digs deep as Welsh Fire edge low-scoring tussle
Miller, Rew help Brave post target of 136 as bowlers dominate throughout
ESPN Cricinfo
Glamorgan's Welsh youngsters hit statement tons to down Sussex
Jack Hope-Bell and Alex Horton add 240 for sixth wicket in comeback win
Science
New Scientist
Why open-source software can be both good and bad
Software that is free to use creates many opportunities – not all of which are good
New Scientist
This twisty sci-fi thriller is a fantastic debut from Isabel J. Kim
Sublimation, in which a person can split into two when crossing an international border, is tip-top stuff. Don't miss it, says...
New Scientist
Sunshine can help with some serious health problems, argues a new book
While Europe’s heatwave makes us run for shade, the intriguing In Defense of Sunlight reveals sunlight’s health-giving effects...
Nature
Electronic-resonance enhanced molecule for perovskite solar cells
Nature, Published online: 22 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10919-4 Electronic-resonance enhanced molecule for perovskite...
Nature
RNA synthesis and substrate analog inhibition in the CCHFV polymerase
Nature, Published online: 22 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10913-w RNA synthesis and substrate analog inhibition in the...
Nature
What counts as a moon? Huge ‘exosatellite’ sparks debate
Nature, Published online: 22 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02299-6 Discovery of a distant Jupiter-mass object could pave...
Nature
How do quantum computers work?
Nature, Published online: 22 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02219-8 Recent breakthroughs suggest usable devices could be...
Technology
The Verge
Tesla’s revenues are bouncing back, but profits are still weak
After a dismal two years of weakening demand, falling sales, and damage to its brand by Elon Musk's political activities,...
The Verge
Price-hiked iPads are a little cheaper right now
A number of Apple products got more expensive last month, so we’re happy to find deals wherever and whenever we can. If you’re...
The Verge
iOS code could reportedly let Apple cut off apps when users miss iPhone payments
Code found in an iOS 27 beta would allow Apple to put a financed iPhone in "Restricted Mode" if it detects any missed...
The Verge
Apple is reportedly testing a MacBook Neo with more RAM
Following the MacBook Neo's huge popularity so far, Apple is reportedly developing an updated version of its budget laptop...
Techcrunch
Treasury threatens sanctions after White House claims Moonshot distilled Anthropic’s Fable
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned the U.S. government could sanction Chinese AI companies after White House officials...
Techcrunch
Tesla spending skyrockets as Cybercab, Semi, Megapack production timeline slips
Tesla's 26% boost in revenue wasn't enough to offset rising operating expenses and capital expenditures as it pushes to launch...
Techcrunch
Social media addiction lawsuit against Meta is dropped
A closely watched social media addiction lawsuit that had been set to go to trial next week has been dropped after the...
Techcrunch
SoundCloud acquires decentralized music platform Nina Protocol months after its shutdown
SoundCloud has acquired decentralized music platform Nina Protocol, months after the startup announced it would shut down. The...
Wired
Why Lettuce Is Always Making People Sick
The cyclospora diarrhea outbreak isn't an isolated incident. It's part of a pattern of leafy greens wreaking digestive havoc.
Wired
The White House Is Trying to Figure Out What to Do About Chinese AI
There’s a debate going on in the Trump administration over how to handle increasingly powerful Chinese AI models.
Hacker News · 315 pts
John C. Dvorak has died
Hacker News · 138 pts
I Inspected My Take-Home Interview Project. It Was a Whole Operation
Hacker News · 446 pts
Terrence Tao's ChatGPT Conversation about the Jacobian Conjecture Counterexample
Hacker News · 271 pts
GigaToken: ~1000x faster Language model tokenization
Hacker News · 23 pts
Malleable Computing, Emacs, and You
Hacker News · 554 pts
Show HN: Bento - An entire PowerPoint in one HTML file (edit+view+data+collab)
Papers
Computer science
SysAdmin: Measuring Instrumental Power-Seeking in Frontier AI
Computer science
Calibrated Selective Fact-Checking via Evidence Chain Evaluation
Computer science
BatchDAG: LLM-Planned Execution Graphs for Scalable Ad-Hoc Analysis Over Enterprise Data
Congenital Heart Block