Terminator 2: Bucket Day

Germany and the UK sign their first bilateral defense pact since World War II. / Defense News

Malaria returns “with a vengeance” in Zimbabwe, with 115 outbreaks recorded in 2025 compared with only one last year. / The Guardian

See also: The past week in news from the African continent. / This Week in Africa

A reporter visits Gaza’s new food program to see why it’s so frequently deadly. / The Wall Street Journal [$]

Novelist William Vollmann goes long on recent travels to Ukraine. “Enemy drones and cruise missiles certainly hindered me from pronouncing Odesa ‘a town in which you can live free and easy.’” / Granta

Saudi Arabia’s NEOM city project may significantly cut its workforce amid cost pressures. / Semafor

Unrelated: What was the daily life of a medieval king? A lot of dressing, church, and listening to people’s problems. / Medievalists.net

An explainer for why things in the US are getting worse for most people (to protect old people with lots of assets.) / BIG by Matt Stoller

Rock music is the second-favorite genre in American music for 2025. / Rolling Stone

A new persona for the year? “The Norman,” i.e., a straight man with a mullet, mustache, and a love for pizza, / VICE

“Ghost shows” refer to series that disappear from popular culture despite previous buzz. / The Ringer

Fostering affection between Americans and cars comes down to the design of cup holders? / WIRED

Gaming platform Roblox apparently plans to launch some kind of dating platform. / Cosmopolitan

A new private intelligence company is selling hacked data to a variety of clients, from debt collectors to couples in divorce proceedings. / 404 Media

Now trending in the US: Ordering coffee from shops by the bucket. / Sprudge

Some photographs and a report from “Northern Michigan's [David] Lynchian underbelly.” / Scary Cool Sad Goodbye

Thanks to another anonymous new supporter!

In the members area, an unlocked link from the Wall Street Journal ↓