https://www.sott.net Signs of the Times: The World for People who Think. Featuring independent, unbiased, alternative news and commentary on world events. en-us Original content Copyright 2026 by Signs of the Times/Sott.net. For other content, see our Fair Use Policy at www.sott.net. Sun, 05 Jul 2026 12:17:02 +0000 https://www.sott.net/images/sottlogo_rss.jpg SOTT.net https://www.sott.net https://www.sott.net/article/507260-Heavy-rain-swamps-Chinas-Fushun-as-rainfall-tops-329-millimetres-almost-13-inches-in-17-hours Floodwater filled streets in Fushun, in China's north-eastern Liaoning province, after hours of heavy rain battered the city. Provincial meteorologists said Fushun was the worst-hit area in Liaoning during the latest storms, with rainfall in Dongzhou district reaching more than 300 millimetres by Saturday afternoon. Footage shows cars stranded in waterlogged streets as emergency crews pump floodwater from the road. Muddy water covers parts of the carriageway, leaving vehicles surrounded and unable to move. According to reports, the rain began at around 15:00 local time on July 3 and continued until 08:00 on July 4. The highest recorded rainfall was 329.2 millimetres. Chinese state media, citing Liaoning's meteorological authorities, said parts of the province were facing heavy rain, thunderstorms, hail, strong winds and short bursts of intense rainfall. Fushun, Shenyang and Benxi were among the areas placed under a Level-IV flood emergency response. Authorities also warned of a... https://www.sott.net/article/507260-Heavy-rain-swamps-Chinas-Fushun-as-rainfall-tops-329-millimetres-almost-13-inches-in-17-hours Sun, 05 Jul 2026 12:16:45 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507259-Northern-lights-appear-just-in-time-for-Independence-Day-festivities Mother Nature put on a fireworks show of her own last night. The northern lights appeared in Wyoming skies overnight, a sight captured by Buckrail photographer Nick Sulzer as well as a few lucky readers. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center, the Kp index reached a peak of 7.33 on a scale of 0 to 9. Derived from the German "Planetarische Kennziffer," or planetary index, the Kp scale measures geomagnetic activity in Earth's atmosphere. To see the aurora at this latitude, the Kp typically needs to be 6 or above. https://www.sott.net/article/507259-Northern-lights-appear-just-in-time-for-Independence-Day-festivities Sun, 05 Jul 2026 11:57:56 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507258-Meteor-fireball-over-Arizona-on-July-3 We received 8 reports about a fireball seen over AZ on Friday, July 3rd 2026 around 10:41 UT. For this event, we received 2 videos and one photo. https://www.sott.net/article/507258-Meteor-fireball-over-Arizona-on-July-3 Sun, 05 Jul 2026 11:18:14 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507257-Aussie-officials-ask-fans-to-respect-the-privacy-of-Neil-a-1-ton-seal-who-respects-nothing Like plenty of local boys before him, Neil has come home to the stretch of Australian coast where he was born. Unlike most of them, he trails fame, fans and property damage in his wake. He is also a 1,000 kg (2,200 pound) elephant seal. In June, the bellowing and blubbery 5-year-old mammal hauled himself onto land for his twice-yearly tour of beachside towns in southern Tasmania state after months of feeding at sea. That's posing problems now that he weighs as much as a small car and has a social media following more than double Tasmania's human population. His rampage through local infrastructure has claimed bent traffic bollards, a sign warning the public about seals and a fence that did not survive Neil's attempt to vault it. The rest of the time he lies placidly any place he likes, which is sometimes the middle of the road, bringing towns he visits to a standstill. https://www.sott.net/article/507257-Aussie-officials-ask-fans-to-respect-the-privacy-of-Neil-a-1-ton-seal-who-respects-nothing Sat, 04 Jul 2026 19:45:11 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507256-American-pilot-killed-by-rebels-in-Papua-says-Indonesian-military Indonesia's military has recovered the ​body of an American pilot who was shot dead by rebels in the restive eastern region of Papua, it said on Friday after a separatist group said the attack was a "message" to the US and Indonesian ⁠governments. A low-level battle for independence from Indonesia has long raged in the resource-rich western half of Papua, where attacks by independence fighters have grown deadlier and more frequent as they have procured better weaponry. Sebby Sambom, a spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), an ⁠armed separatist group, said on Thursday that their ​troops ⁠shot dead American pilot Nicholas F. Gosselin and set his plane on fire after it landed in the Yahukimo region of Highland Papua ⁠province. https://www.sott.net/article/507256-American-pilot-killed-by-rebels-in-Papua-says-Indonesian-military Sat, 04 Jul 2026 19:37:40 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507255-French-clash-over-air-conditioners-as-another-heatwave-looms Chaotic scenes have unfolded at supermarkets across France as shoppers fight over discounted air conditioners ahead of another heatwave. Hundreds of people descended on Lidl supermarkets in and around Paris on Thursday after the retailer put around 200,000 discounted air conditioners and fans on sale nationwide. With few air conditioners available elsewhere for less than €1,200 ($1,400), shoppers rushed to buy basic models priced from €179, prompting police intervention after scuffles and shouting matches broke out. Videos show crowds storming stores, wrestling over air conditioners, and stripping shelves within minutes as demand quickly outstripped supply. https://www.sott.net/article/507255-French-clash-over-air-conditioners-as-another-heatwave-looms Sat, 04 Jul 2026 19:34:35 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507254-Declaration-of-Independence-copy-seized-by-British-navy-in-1776-uncovered-in-Londons-National-Archives Listed simply as "another paper" in the Royal Navy inventory, the Declaration remained buried in British archives for 250 years. A rare copy of the Declaration of Independence lost for 250 years has been discovered in London, where it is the only known example of its kind outside the U.S. Printed in Exeter, New Hampshire, just days after the Declaration was adopted on July 4, 1776, the document was intended to spread news of American independence throughout the American colonies. The early copy remained tucked away in Britain's National Archives until a volunteer cataloging records from the American Revolutionary War came across it in May among the papers of Royal Navy captains. Only 11 copies of the so-called Exeter printing are known to survive, and until this discovery, none had been found outside the U.S., Britain's National Archives said in a news release Thursday. https://www.sott.net/article/507254-Declaration-of-Independence-copy-seized-by-British-navy-in-1776-uncovered-in-Londons-National-Archives Sat, 04 Jul 2026 19:30:12 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507253-US-believed-Israel-tried-to-assassinate-Irans-top-negotiators-as-Ghalibafs-plane-made-emergency-landing The New York Times has issued a new report citing unnamed US officials who believe that Israel came close to assassinating Iran's top negotiators Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. According to the report, a concrete Israeli threat against Ghalibaf and the FM emerged while they were traveling back to Iran from Islamabad following talks with US Vice President JD Vance on April 12. Prior to that point, during active fighting, Israel had worked its way through killing much of Iran's senior leadership starting with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but questions lingered over whether the country's top negotiators - who have come to represent Tehran on the global stage - could be deemed legitimate targets. Even as Washington and regional brokers stepped in to try and halt the prospect of runaway conflict, wherein the US would find itself in yet another 'forever war' and quagmire, Israel still floated the potential for more assassinations targeting top Islamic Republic... https://www.sott.net/article/507253-US-believed-Israel-tried-to-assassinate-Irans-top-negotiators-as-Ghalibafs-plane-made-emergency-landing Sat, 04 Jul 2026 18:58:58 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507252-Tucker-Carlson-unveils-major-political-plan Popular podcast host Tucker Carlson has long dismissed questions about whether he would ever seek public office. But this week, he hinted at a major political move, though don't expect to see his name on the ballot. Speaking with the Columbia Journalism Review in an interview published Wednesday, Carlson said he plans to "help build a third party," just months after publicly breaking with President Donald Trump over the U.S.'s involvement in the Israel-Iran war. He said: "I'm going to help build a third party. There should be a good-faith effort to figure out what benefits the country." During the same interview, Carlson insisted that he still has no interest in seeking public office. "I don't want to be a candidate. Before I did the Times interview, someone said to me, 'They're going to ask you if you're running for president.' I was very tempted to say 'I am running — on the pro-patriarchy ticket.' Just to make sure I gain no new fans." Carlson's support for a third party stems... https://www.sott.net/article/507252-Tucker-Carlson-unveils-major-political-plan Sat, 04 Jul 2026 18:56:52 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507251-Geography-strikes-back-Sovereignty-in-the-age-of-flows Why multipolarity may signal the return of historical cores against a global system of circulation and control. Washington has long sought to contain its designated rivals. Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea have been subjected, in different forms and at different levels, to sanctions, military pressure, financial exclusion, strategic encirclement, indirect wars, and political and ideological delegitimization. Yet the result has often been the opposite of what was intended. Instead of isolating these powers, pressure has helped bring them closer together. Moscow, Beijing, Tehran, and Pyongyang do not share the same culture, regime, history, or immediate interests. Their convergence is not the result of sentimental friendship. It is closer to an alliance of necessity, produced by a common perception of external pressure. This convergence is visible in expanding Russia-China energy trade, the growing use of non-dollar settlement mechanisms, military and technological cooperation,... https://www.sott.net/article/507251-Geography-strikes-back-Sovereignty-in-the-age-of-flows Sat, 04 Jul 2026 18:56:15 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507250-EU-nation-moves-to-lift-nuclear-weapons-ban Lithuanian lawmakers have proposed a constitutional amendment after President Gitanas Nauseda called the restriction "outdated". Lithuanian lawmakers have introduced a constitutional amendment to scrap the country's ban on hosting nuclear weapons. The proposal, backed by 51 of the Seimas' 141 members - enough for it to be formally registered - would repeal Article 137 of the constitution, which prohibits weapons of mass destruction and foreign military bases on Lithuanian territory. Vilnius says the move is needed to counter an alleged Russian threat, a notion Moscow has repeatedly denied. The bill follows President Gitanas Nauseda's call to scrap what he described as an "outdated" restriction. Speaking after a meeting with parliamentary faction leaders on Thursday, he argued that Lithuania should not impose restrictions on itself "if new circumstances arise in the future." He told reporters: "Opinions were practically unanimous. Almost all parliamentary faction leaders expressed... https://www.sott.net/article/507250-EU-nation-moves-to-lift-nuclear-weapons-ban Sat, 04 Jul 2026 18:55:16 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507249-Studebaker-The-rise-and-fall-of-a-US-industrial-dream-and-a-forgotten-alliance Despite geopolitical disagreements and the fading of history, human connection and a shared memory of the losses and cooperation during the war — symbolized by the American "Studebaker" truck — can transcend the decades and bring people together. A Russian general who had driven "Studers" through the mud of a war that ate his generation whole gave an American stranger a bear hug because the stranger understood, in Russian, what had been lost and what had been shared. There is a moment, small and human, that cuts through decades of geopolitical noise like a blade through fog. In April 2015, in Moscow, Ray McGovern, a former CIA analyst who spent 27 years briefing American presidents, attended a ceremony hosted by the Russians. This event marked the 70th anniversary of the Meeting on the Elbe. In April 1945, American and Soviet troops joined hands on a bridge in Germany, realizing together that the war was nearly over. McGovern had recited Nekrasov's devastating anti-war poem in both... https://www.sott.net/article/507249-Studebaker-The-rise-and-fall-of-a-US-industrial-dream-and-a-forgotten-alliance Sat, 04 Jul 2026 18:48:13 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507248-Is-the-MoU-cat-dead-alive-or-in-a-coma These oh so meticulous Persians. How to impart to Barbaria that they've got to implement paragraphs 1, 4, 5, 10 and 11 of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) their own president signed in Versailles? Especially paragraph 1: establishing a conflict control mechanism in Lebanon; paragraph 10: on export of Iran's oil and petrochemicals; and paragraph 11: on the release of Iran's frozen assets. Tall orders all around. Tied to the fact there's no guarantee whatsoever non-agreement capable (copyright: Sergey Lavrov) Exceptionalistan even understands that comitments are now bilateral: you break it, the counterpart also breaks it. Cut to Iran's top negotiator, Parliament leader Ghalibaf. Earlier this week, ahead of the elaborate funeral ceremonies in Tehran, Qom and Mashhad tied to the burial of slain Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, Ghalibaf said negotiations with the US are over (italics mine). Translation: Iran will not move an inch to discuss a possible final deal until Washington fully... https://www.sott.net/article/507248-Is-the-MoU-cat-dead-alive-or-in-a-coma Sat, 04 Jul 2026 18:43:29 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507247-India-Mumbai-on-Red-Alert-Flights-diverted-trains-delayed-as-heavy-rains-trigger-flooding Mumbai is battling another spell of intense monsoon weather as heavy rains trigger flooding, waterlogging, and widespread travel disruptions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Mumbai and surrounding districts, warning of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, strong winds of up to 60 kmph, and the possibility of further flooding. Flights have been diverted, local train services have been affected, and several roads remain submerged under knee-deep water. Authorities have urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and stay updated with official advisories. Meanwhile, Delhi is expected to see monsoon activity intensify in the coming days, with light to moderate rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds forecast from Sunday onward. https://www.sott.net/article/507247-India-Mumbai-on-Red-Alert-Flights-diverted-trains-delayed-as-heavy-rains-trigger-flooding Sat, 04 Jul 2026 18:19:52 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507246-Woman-killed-in-brutal-dog-attack-in-Durban-South-Africa An inquest docket has been opened after a 28-year-old woman died after she was viciously attacked by a group of dogs while walking in Durban South. It's understood she was mauled by three canines in Woodlands on Thursday night. Police say the woman was found lying on the side of the road at the corner of Atherstone Place and Norwich Crescent. The victim later succumbed to her injuries. https://www.sott.net/article/507246-Woman-killed-in-brutal-dog-attack-in-Durban-South-Africa Sat, 04 Jul 2026 17:52:49 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507245-Lightning-strike-kills-one-and-injures-three-in-Florida-as-Fourth-of-July-celebrations-begin One person was killed, and three others were injured in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, after lightning struck a group of beachgoers on Friday. According to Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno, emergency crews responded to the 6500 block of Estero Boulevard, where it appeared that four people had been struck by lightning. The Fort Myers Beach Fire District said that when crews arrived on scene, they found one individual unresponsive. A bystander had already begun CPR and was using an AED before emergency responders arrived. Despite lifesaving efforts, the individual was pronounced dead at the scene. The other three individuals were transported to local hospitals for medical evaluation. https://www.sott.net/article/507245-Lightning-strike-kills-one-and-injures-three-in-Florida-as-Fourth-of-July-celebrations-begin Sat, 04 Jul 2026 17:34:17 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507244-Minnesota-Gov-Walz-pardons-convicted-child-molester-to-block-his-deportation A Minnesota pardon board that includes Gov Tim Walz among its three members has issued a full pardon to a convicted Laotian child-molester, torpedoing Homeland Security's effort to deport him. The 42-year-old convict, Tou Lue Vang, submitted a letter to the board saying he regretted what he did -- and just like that, his criminal record is now clean as a whistle via unanimous decision. "Governor Tim Walz's decision to pardon an illegal alien convicted child rapist so he can remain in our country is disgusting," said DHS spokeswoman Lauren Bis. "These are the criminal illegal aliens he and his Minnesota sanctuary politicians are protecting.Tou Lue Vang lost his legal status following his conviction for repeatedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl." In a storyline that has Democrats co-conspiring to infuse precious "diversity" into the American bloodstream over more than three decades, the Clinton administration granted Vang legal status after he entered the United States as a... https://www.sott.net/article/507244-Minnesota-Gov-Walz-pardons-convicted-child-molester-to-block-his-deportation Fri, 03 Jul 2026 22:04:25 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507243-An-EU-states-anti-Russian-crusade-has-become-a-strategic-dead-end Poland wanted to use Ukraine against Russia, now Kiev is using Poland The situation in which Poland now finds itself is a good example of how even a relatively successful country can drive itself into a foreign policy impasse through the narrowness of its own thinking. Poland is not, by modern standards, an inept state and its economy is growing, its institutions function and it occupies an important place in European affairs. Yet its foreign policy has been reduced to a single organizing principle: opposition to Russia. Warsaw has designated Moscow as its ideal adversary and has subordinated almost every other aspect of its external activity to the goal of harming Russia by any means available. This applies first and foremost to Poland's relationship with the Kiev regime. It would be naïve to believe that Polish politicians have ever held many illusions about the nature of the authorities in Ukraine and nor have they traditionally had warm feelings towards their Ukrainian... https://www.sott.net/article/507243-An-EU-states-anti-Russian-crusade-has-become-a-strategic-dead-end Fri, 03 Jul 2026 21:51:28 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507242-CIA-not-fully-cooperating-on-probe-into-COVID-origins-cover-up-alleged-monitoring-of-analysts-intel-watchdog The Central Intelligence Agency is not fully cooperating with an investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and the likelihood that it was caused by a laboratory accident, according to a federal watchdog. In a June letter obtained by The Post, Intelligence Community Inspector General Christopher Fox accused CIA Director John Ratcliffe of failing to provide records critical to determining whether the US government was engaged in what an agency officer recently testified was a "cover up" of the pandemic's origins. The internal watchdog is reviewing whether a team of analysts dispatched by then-Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to uncover alleged President Biden-era intelligence failures on COVID was stymied. Fox had earlier demanded answers from Ratcliffe about the allegations of analysts having their computer and phone usage tracked — as well as their communications with whistleblowers — and said he had up to this point received insufficient responses. https://www.sott.net/article/507242-CIA-not-fully-cooperating-on-probe-into-COVID-origins-cover-up-alleged-monitoring-of-analysts-intel-watchdog Fri, 03 Jul 2026 21:42:27 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507241-Dont-relax-just-yet-News-of-wokes-death-is-greatly-exaggerated Just a few years ago, wearing a sombrero on Halloween could get you banished from polite society for the social crime of "cultural appropriation." Nutrition experts argued that preventing obesity was a form of racialized "fatphobia," even as scientific names of songbirds were purged in a moral campaign presumably aimed at white supremacy. Meanwhile, a slew of studies and papers and articles argued that punctuality, excellence, and other forms of professionalism are "the systemic, institutionalized centering of whiteness." Today, as universities are dismantling their DEI bureaucracies, corporations are scaling back antiracism training, and academic trigger warnings and diversity pledges have become punch lines rather than cudgels, it is tempting to believe that the excesses of the woke movement have not just peaked but are a thing of the past, a passing fever dream of a peculiar era. https://www.sott.net/article/507241-Dont-relax-just-yet-News-of-wokes-death-is-greatly-exaggerated Fri, 03 Jul 2026 21:41:06 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507240-Canada-was-a-liberal-paradise-until-the-Liberals-took-over There was a version of this country that worked. This was a country that used to punch above its weight across all key metrics and in a large part, did so espousing classical liberal values. Multiculturalism here was both uncontroversial and functional. People came from everywhere, integrated, and got on with building lives, businesses and contributing to that overall ethos Canadian culture. Minority rights and gender equality stopped being fights and became defaults. Ontario, the most populous province, ran one of the cleanest grids on the continent for half a century on the back of CANDU, a reactor we designed ourselves. Peaceful, homegrown, zero-carbon, clean energy, and nobody lost any sleep over it. In fact, most people probably weren't even aware of that. By every classical liberal measure that actually mattered, Canada was a success story that inspired the rest of the world. https://www.sott.net/article/507240-Canada-was-a-liberal-paradise-until-the-Liberals-took-over Fri, 03 Jul 2026 21:08:28 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507239-Egypt-uncovers-a-complete-Byzantine-city-in-the-Dakhla-Oasis Archaeologists in Egypt have uncovered a mudbrick residential settlement at Ain el-Sabil in the Dakhla Oasis, revealing a planned Late Roman or early Byzantine community with streets, houses, a basilica church, defensive structures, written documents, and coins. The discovery was announced by Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities after excavations by an Egyptian mission affiliated with the Supreme Council of Antiquities. The site lies in New Valley Governorate, in Egypt's Western Desert, where the oases preserve some of the clearest archaeological evidence for daily life outside the Nile Valley during Late Antiquity. A planned mudbrick settlement in the Western Desert According to the ministry's statement, all of the newly uncovered buildings were made of mudbrick. The settlement follows an organized urban plan, with main streets running north to south and smaller cross-streets running east to west. These created open spaces and squares within the settlement, while a... https://www.sott.net/article/507239-Egypt-uncovers-a-complete-Byzantine-city-in-the-Dakhla-Oasis Fri, 03 Jul 2026 21:02:02 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507238-Twist-in-Monaco-bombing-investigation-Suspect-identified-as-a-Ukrainian-woman In a major twist in the investigation of a bombing in Monaco that injured three people, including a business tycoon from Ukraine, prosecutors on Friday said the suspect is a Ukrainian woman. Interpol, the international criminal police organization, issued a "red notice," or arrest warrant, for 39-year-old Anastasiia Berezovsk, identified as the suspect in the June 29 bombing at an apartment building in the Mediterranean sovereign principality, known for its casino and wealthy residents. Investigators previously described the suspect as a man, but during a news conference on Friday, prosecutors said Berezovsk was allegedly dressed as a man during the package bomb attack. Berezovsk, who authorities believe lives in Germany, remained at large on Friday. Prosecutors said investigators managed to identify her as the suspected bomber by combing through hours of surveillance video that recorded her at the scene of the attack. https://www.sott.net/article/507238-Twist-in-Monaco-bombing-investigation-Suspect-identified-as-a-Ukrainian-woman Fri, 03 Jul 2026 20:34:17 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507237-Alexis-Podesta-wore-FBI-wire-in-investigation-of-Newsoms-former-chief-of-staff So that's why the fourth co-conspirator, identified as Podesta, wasn't charged. The FBI had a mole inside Gov. Gavin Newsom's political orbit before the agency's corruption probe expanded into the governor and his wife, The Post has learned. Democrat insider Alexis Podesta, 45, secretly recorded conversations during the criminal probe into Newsom's then-chief of staff, Dana Williamson, 53, who pleaded guilty to federal fraud and tax charges in May, according to Williamson's attorney. The revelation she was wearing a wire as far back as June 2024 explains why a swath of Sacramento political insiders and lobbyists were stunned to receive FBI letters last fall informing them that their phone calls had been intercepted during the investigation — despite many having little or no connection to Williamson. https://www.sott.net/article/507237-Alexis-Podesta-wore-FBI-wire-in-investigation-of-Newsoms-former-chief-of-staff Fri, 03 Jul 2026 20:13:01 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507236-South-Lebanon-A-landscape-of-loss-resistance-and-persistence A journey through south Lebanon reveals a resilient population refusing to abandon its land as Israel intensifies its campaign of destruction, ethnic cleansing, and permanent occupation. When The Cradle arrived in the Lebanese town of Nabatieh on the afternoon of 18 June, the sight of the immense damage inflicted by months of Israeli bombing was shocking. Particularly hard hit was the town center, home to the city's historical market. It was targeted in the last war in 2024 and rebuilt, only to be struck and destroyed again after the war resumed in early March. Upon entering the town center, we saw pictures of the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and martyred Hezbollah fighters hanging on a light pole, overlooking the destruction on the main street passing the market. https://www.sott.net/article/507236-South-Lebanon-A-landscape-of-loss-resistance-and-persistence Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:21:21 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507235-Bibi-mulls-the-idea-of-breaking-away-from-Washington-apparently Netanyahu mulls cutting U.S. aid - a snub to Trump, or a prelude to a false flag attack that drags America back to war? Is Netanyahu preparing a false flag attack in the Middle East against U.S. forces, putting Iran or Hezbollah in the frame? It's a question which has troubled analysts since the realisation that the post-February 28th attacks on Iran weren't going well and were failing cataclysmically in their objectives. But now it has returned again to trouble pundits following a bombshell announcement that Bibi recently made on Israeli TV, saying simply that his country should dump the U.S. annual military aid, currently well over $3 billion a year. To most, the announcement is entirely illogical given the size of Israel and its ambitions. Why would you turn down $3 billion when it can buy a lot of U.S. military equipment? What are we missing? https://www.sott.net/article/507235-Bibi-mulls-the-idea-of-breaking-away-from-Washington-apparently Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:55:43 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507234-Its-time-to-stop-pretending-that-migrants-are-entitled-to-equal-citizenship Yet another civil conflict is brewing this week as the Supreme Court tackles a number of foreign citizenship debates, including Temporary Protection Status (TPS) and Birthright Citizenship. The court has ruled that hundreds of thousands of Haitian and Syrian migrants residing in the US under TPS are no longer safe from mass deportations (a win). But, they have also ruled in favor of migrant anchor babies (a big loss). Both issues deal with changing American perceptions on what is "constitutional" when it comes to foreign access to citizenship. The Supreme Court's decisions aside, I find it mind boggling that this debate has been ongoing for so many decades. Frankly, foreigners should not have any citizenship rights under the constitution until they have demonstrated assimilation. Until that time, there should be a separate set of rules handling newcomers (and invaders). https://www.sott.net/article/507234-Its-time-to-stop-pretending-that-migrants-are-entitled-to-equal-citizenship Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:51:48 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507233-The-Supreme-Court-and-the-Supreme-Fed The Supreme Court said more than they needed to in Trump v. Cook. Their narrow task was to decide whether Lisa Cook should be allowed to remain on the Federal Reserve Board while the litigation over Trump's attempted removal of her continues. The 5-4 decision was that she should remain in office for the time being. Why, then, is the document 83 pages long? The reason for the length is because it stands in direct conflict with the court's opinion in Trump v. Slaughter (released on the same day!), which was that the president has pretty much unilateral authority to fire executive officials, even those in "independent" agencies like the Federal Trade Commission. (Judge) Roberts wrote the majority opinion, which starts with a history of America's experience with central banks and government control of money, going all the way back to the collapse of the Continental currency during American Revolution. He traces through the lessons learned from the Bank of the United States and the... https://www.sott.net/article/507233-The-Supreme-Court-and-the-Supreme-Fed Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:51:38 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507232-Report-US-believed-Israel-wanted-to-kill-Irans-Araghchi-and-Ghalibaf-during-April-negotiations The New York Times reported on Thursday that the US was concerned Israel might try to assassinate Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf during negotiations that were taking place in April. The report, which cited US officials, said that the US agreed that Araghchi and Ghalibaf could have been targets for Israel during the full-scale war, as the US has strongly backed Israel's assassinations, but that it was concerned that killing them during negotiations could have derailed the diplomatic process. Some officials told the paper that the US went as far as telling other countries to warn Iran about the potential Israeli assassination plot. The report said that Iran was concerned that Israel might have tried to kill Ghalibaf when he traveled to Pakistan for negotiations in April, and that on the way back, Iran's "security forces notified the plane carrying Mr. Ghalibaf back to Tehran that they had picked up intelligence that Israel... https://www.sott.net/article/507232-Report-US-believed-Israel-wanted-to-kill-Irans-Araghchi-and-Ghalibaf-during-April-negotiations Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:37:27 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507231-Mother-of-twins-who-died-8-days-after-vaccinations-charged-with-murder Police in Payette, Idaho, arrested Andrea Shaw on Tuesday afternoon, more than a year after her two children — fraternal twins Dallas and Tyson Shaw — were found dead at their home on May 1, 2025, eight days after receiving their 18-month vaccines. Police charged Shaw with two counts of first-degree murder. Shaw said doctors ignored her when she warned that the twins' father had previously experienced a bad reaction to a flu vaccine. A 23-year-old mother charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of her twin toddlers was set to be arraigned later today, after an Idaho grand jury indicted her late Monday, the Payette Police Department said in a press release. The Payette Police Department said the arrest follows "a lengthy and thorough investigation" and said it would have no further comment regarding evidence in the case. "Future information will be presented through the judicial process," officials said. Shaw alleges that her twins' deaths were... https://www.sott.net/article/507231-Mother-of-twins-who-died-8-days-after-vaccinations-charged-with-murder Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:35:38 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507230-Worlds-first-synthetic-cell-with-a-complete-life-cycle-could-revolutionize-biological-engineering While many of life's mysteries remain unsolved, every biologist can describe the basic processes performed by a living organism, including energy use, reproduction, growth and development. While these characteristics can be replicated in isolation in a lab, the idea of a completely synthetic biological organism has long been relegated to science fiction. University of Minnesota associate professors Kate Adamala and Aaron Engelhart and their teams have developed the world's first synthetic cell with a complete life cycle, built entirely from nonliving chemical components, and described it in a new paper. The project, called SpudCell, marks a major breakthrough in biological engineering. In time, it may provide solutions to some of our most challenging problems in medicine and engineering. Adamala said: "This is likely the most exciting project I've ever worked on. We've replicated in chemistry what only used to be possible in biology: the complete set of behaviors of a cell. It... https://www.sott.net/article/507230-Worlds-first-synthetic-cell-with-a-complete-life-cycle-could-revolutionize-biological-engineering Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:08:48 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507229-Meteor-fireball-over-Florida-on-July-2 We received 14 reports about a fireball seen over FL on Thursday, July 2nd 2026 around 04:26 UT. For this event, we received 2 videos and one photo. https://www.sott.net/article/507229-Meteor-fireball-over-Florida-on-July-2 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:39:20 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507228-11-year-old-boy-dies-of-rabies-in-Canada-after-waking-to-find-bat-on-his-face-in-the-middle-of-the-night-in-2024 An 11-year-old boy in Ontario has died of rabies after he awoke in the middle of the night to find a bat on his face, medical experts reported. The family was staying at a cottage in northern Ontario in 2024 when their 11-year-old son awoke in the middle of the night with a bat on his nose and mouth, according to a report published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. The boy, who was not identified, immediately swatted the bat away, the report said. His father caught it in a cooking pot and took it outside. The child had no visible bite marks or scratches, and his parents were not under the impression the bat had caused any injury, according to the report. The family did not seek immediate medical care, even though health officials recommend that anyone who has direct contact with a bat be evaluated for possible rabies exposure because even small bites often go unnoticed, the report said. https://www.sott.net/article/507228-11-year-old-boy-dies-of-rabies-in-Canada-after-waking-to-find-bat-on-his-face-in-the-middle-of-the-night-in-2024 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:10:28 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507227-Massive-sinkhole-swallows-car-off-I-690-exit-in-Syracuse-New-York A car was swallowed by a sinkhole on Geddes Street off I-690 Thursday morning after a water main break caused the road to collapse. City water crews responded to Geddes Street around 5 a.m. to check on a possible leak, officials said. While crews were on scene, a driver heading north on Geddes was cut off by another vehicle and forced to drive into the leaking water, according to officials. The road then gave way, leaving the car partially submerged in the sinkhole. The driver climbed onto the roof of his car, where Syracuse firefighters helped him to safety. Officials said no one was hurt. Robert Brandt, commissioner of water for the city of Syracuse, described how the crash happened. https://www.sott.net/article/507227-Massive-sinkhole-swallows-car-off-I-690-exit-in-Syracuse-New-York Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:01:38 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507226-South-Carolina-boy-5-killed-in-horrific-double-dog-attack-Little-warrior A 5-year-old South Carolina boy described by family as "vibrant and full-of-life" was mauled to death by two large-breed dogs while at the home of a caregiver, the county sheriff's department confirmed. JayCeon Gates was attacked by a bull mastiff and a pit bull terrier just before 7:30 a.m. on Saturday in Ladson, about 20 miles northwest of his hometown of Charleston, and was injured along with an unidentified adult. The child was rushed to the hospital but pronounced dead at 9:15 a.m. "Both dogs were seized and are in custody pursuant to a search warrant on the date of the incident," a Dorchester County Sheriff's Office spokesman told The Post, who said although both dogs were involved in the fatal attack, it was still under investigation, in part to determine which dog was the "primary aggressor." As for the fate of the animals, the spokesman declined to speculate, saying that decision was in the hands of animal control. https://www.sott.net/article/507226-South-Carolina-boy-5-killed-in-horrific-double-dog-attack-Little-warrior Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:47:14 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507225-Mutnovsky-volcano-erupts-for-first-time-since-2013-Russia Mutnovsky volcano in southern Kamchatka, Russia, produced an ash explosion at 20:19 UTC on July 1, 2026 (08:19 LT on July 2), marking its first documented eruption since July 3, 2013. KVERT reported that the approximately 3-minute event generated an ash plume up to 3.5 km (11 500 feet) above sea level, extending about 10 km (6 miles) west of the volcano. Tokyo VAAC issued a Volcanic Ash Advisory for a reported eruption to approximately 5.2 km (17 000 feet) above sea level. However, ash was not identifiable in Himawari-9 satellite imagery at 21:40 UTC, and the agency said it would issue a further advisory only if ash was detected. Volcanologists at the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) raised the Aviation Color Code from Green to Orange and said the eruption lasted about 3 minutes. There were no further ash explosions observed, and activity at the volcano continued in the form of gas-and-steam emissions. The agency lowered the Aviation Color Code from Orange to... https://www.sott.net/article/507225-Mutnovsky-volcano-erupts-for-first-time-since-2013-Russia Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:36:24 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507224-Meteor-fireball-lights-up-the-sky-over-cities-in-Minas-Gerais-Brazil-on-July-2 Clima ao Vivo cameras recorded a meteor that occurred during the night of Wednesday (01), illuminating the sky of 6 cities in the Southeast region. Check out the recovered recordings. (Translated by Google) https://www.sott.net/article/507224-Meteor-fireball-lights-up-the-sky-over-cities-in-Minas-Gerais-Brazil-on-July-2 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:08:05 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507223-Tucker-Carlson-says-hes-starting-a-new-political-party-after-break-with-Trump-and-GOP Conservative podcaster Tucker Carlson intends to start a new political party after disavowing President Trump and the Republican Party over the Iran war. "I'm going to help build a third party," Carlson said in an interview with the Columbia Journalism Review published Wednesday. "There should be a good-faith effort to figure out what benefits the country." The former Fox News host argued that when it comes to the two issues he views as most consequential for Americans - "war and finance" - Democrats and Republicans "are in lockstep solidarity with each other." "That's not a democracy," he said. "That's a one-party state posing as a democracy, and it needs to be broken, and there's going to be a third party, and I'm going to do everything I can to bring that about." https://www.sott.net/article/507223-Tucker-Carlson-says-hes-starting-a-new-political-party-after-break-with-Trump-and-GOP Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:50:42 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507222-Shallow-6-1-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-off-Japans-coast A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck in the sea northeast of Hirara in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture early Friday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. The quake hit at 1:04 pm local time (0404 UTC), about 136 kilometers (85 miles) north-northeast of Hirara, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), according to USGS data. No immediate reports of damage or injuries were available. The epicentre was in a remote oceanic area near the Okinawa Prefecture islands. Japan lies in the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, where earthquakes are common. https://www.sott.net/article/507222-Shallow-6-1-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-off-Japans-coast Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:46:34 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507221-JetBlue-flight-reports-drone-strike-during-approach-to-New-York-airport-FAA A JetBlue flight reportedly struck a drone while approaching John F. Kennedy International Airport for landing Monday morning, according to federal officials. The incident involved JetBlue Airlines Flight 948, which departed from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Preliminary reports indicate the aircraft struck the drone at an altitude of about 3,000 feet. "The pilot of JetBlue Airlines Flight 948 reported striking a drone at approximately 3,000 feet altitude while on final approach to John F. Kennedy International Airport around 7:15 a.m. local time on Monday," the FAA said. https://www.sott.net/article/507221-JetBlue-flight-reports-drone-strike-during-approach-to-New-York-airport-FAA Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:38:33 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507220-Magnitude-6-2-earthquake-strikes-off-eastern-Indonesia No immediate reports of casualties or damage, authorities say no tsunami threat A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck off eastern Indonesia on Friday, with no immediate reports of casualties or damage, The New Indian Express reported, citing the US Geological Survey (USGS). The earthquake struck at a depth of 120 kilometers (74.6 miles), about 58 kilometers (36 miles) west of Tobelo in North Maluku province at 11.31 am local time (0231GMT). Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said there was no tsunami threat following the quake. https://www.sott.net/article/507220-Magnitude-6-2-earthquake-strikes-off-eastern-Indonesia Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:36:13 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507219-Meteor-fireball-sighting-reported-in-Venezuelan-sky-on-July-1 Early Wednesday morning, at 12:30 AM, a meteor was sighted streaking across the Venezuelan sky. The astronomical phenomenon was captured on video, recorded live from Ciudad Bolívar, showing the bright flash in the middle of the night. This event occurs within a context of heightened sensitivity and general alert in the country, due to the recent emergency and crisis caused by the devastating earthquakes. Images of the celestial body's passage have begun to circulate widely, generating attention among citizens following the events that have kept the nation on edge. (Translated by Google) https://www.sott.net/article/507219-Meteor-fireball-sighting-reported-in-Venezuelan-sky-on-July-1 Thu, 02 Jul 2026 21:13:30 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507218-Why-you-should-talk-to-your-dead-ancestors The simple act of communicating without expecting anything in return can bring you closer to your family - and to yourself The first time I spoke to my dead grandfather, I was six years old. My parents had taken us to Armenia to visit ancient monasteries, eat perfectly ripe apricots, and meet relatives whose names I wouldn't remember. One of our stops was my grandfather's permanent place of residence: Tokhmakh Cemetery in Yerevan. 'Look who came to see you,' my dad announced to the memorial stone - an ornate carved cross known as a khachkar. He nudged me forward gently, placing a red carnation in my hand. 'This is for you,' I said, and dropped the flower onto the gravel. In my household, dead ancestors were not to be feared or avoided. From a young age, I learned to light khoonk, a strong-smelling incense, on death anniversaries and to tell stories about people I had never met. Later, I discovered that there are many ways to speak to the dead, even after so much time has passed... https://www.sott.net/article/507218-Why-you-should-talk-to-your-dead-ancestors Thu, 02 Jul 2026 19:58:16 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507217-Vance-says-US-will-use-Iran-MoU-to-replenish-global-oil-supply-then-see-where-the-hand-is Vice President JD Vance said in an interview on "The Michael Knowles Show" published on Tuesday that the US would use the Memorandum of Understanding with Iran to "refill" global oil supplies and stockpiles and to prepare for more potential military action against the Islamic Republic. "I think what the president has told us to do is use this MoU to sort of refill the world's oil economy, to refill some stocks, and then to see where the hand is." https://www.sott.net/article/507217-Vance-says-US-will-use-Iran-MoU-to-replenish-global-oil-supply-then-see-where-the-hand-is Thu, 02 Jul 2026 19:53:34 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507216-The-World-Cup-of-Exclusion A tournament meant to unite has instead exposed the politics shaping access, power, and who gets left out. As the 2026 FIFA World Cup moves through its opening rounds, the beautiful game has often been overshadowed by disputes over visas, border controls, security measures, and the treatment of players, officials, and supporters. Complaints from Iran, the denial of entry to Somali referee Omar Artan, scrutiny of US immigration policies, and concerns over access for fans from several countries have pushed politics to the forefront of the tournament. For many observers, the competition has become one of the most politically charged World Cups in recent memory, unfolding against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump's immigration agenda and an increasingly polarized international climate. Sport has never been separate from politics. It never will be. What stands out here is the volume of scrutiny directed at a country that presents itself as a defender of freedom. History offers... https://www.sott.net/article/507216-The-World-Cup-of-Exclusion Thu, 02 Jul 2026 19:52:11 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507215-Is-Europe-preparing-for-a-new-war-against-Russia-Beyond-deterrence-Europes-dangerous-drift Europe was built on the promise of peace. Now, its leaders are steering the continent toward rivalry, arms races, and confrontation, putting its founding values on the line. Is war inevitable? The Collapse of Strategic Rationality For decades, European integration rested on a foundational promise: never again would the continent plunge into a catastrophic war. The European project was born out of devastation, with the aim of replacing power politics with cooperation, deterrence with diplomacy, and military rivalry with economic interdependence. Yet now, it's hard not to notice how many in Europe's political class seem ready to abandon those ideals in favour of a new language of confrontation and readiness for a war against Russia. The debate about Russia no longer centers simply on Ukraine's defence. Increasingly, on both the left and right, influential European voices — such as Kaja Kallas and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte — frame a direct conflict with Russia as not just... https://www.sott.net/article/507215-Is-Europe-preparing-for-a-new-war-against-Russia-Beyond-deterrence-Europes-dangerous-drift Thu, 02 Jul 2026 19:50:35 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507214-Ukraines-desperate-propaganda-campaign-while-Russia-advances-along-the-entire-front Volodymyr Zelensky and his Western backers have launched a desperate 40-day "campaign of terrors" — which includes a mix of military escalations and a massive information/psyops operation designed to portray Russia as collapsing and Putin as facing an imminent uprising or coup. The goal is to force Russia into a ceasefire. Western audiences are being flooded with social media and regular media articles that paint a dire picture of Russia's military campaign, while touting Ukraine's incredible accomplishments. It is all a load of crap, but that is all the West has left in its quiver as Russia's campaign of attrition continues to pulverize Ukraine. The Western-led propaganda campaign consists of the following elements: Information Warfare — Heavy push of 24/7 propaganda about Putin's "imminent downfall," including staged videos of supposed Russian soldiers announcing a mutiny. Fake Psyops — Coordinated attempts to stoke panic in Russia (e.g., false claims of fuel/gas shortages, which... https://www.sott.net/article/507214-Ukraines-desperate-propaganda-campaign-while-Russia-advances-along-the-entire-front Thu, 02 Jul 2026 19:49:20 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507213-Europe-capitulates-Views-Irans-Hormuz-fee-collection-as-inevitable Europe capitulates at a moment Washington and Tehran (and possibly Oman) continue to be directly at odds over how future shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz energy chokepoint will be administered. Bloomberg reports Thursday, "Some leading European powers now accept that ships transiting the vital Strait of Hormuz will have to pay fees to Iran and Oman, according to people familiar with the matter." "The prospect of some sort of service fee in the aftermath of the US and Israeli war with the Islamic Republic was described as a given by two of the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations," the report adds. At the moment there's an uneasy pause in purported 'positive' indirect negotiations in Qatar, as Iran prepares for a multi-day funeral for the slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei this weekend - which as it so happens will kick off on July 4th. https://www.sott.net/article/507213-Europe-capitulates-Views-Irans-Hormuz-fee-collection-as-inevitable Thu, 02 Jul 2026 19:40:36 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507212-Mamdanis-rent-freeze-approved-by-NYC-guidelines-board The New York City Rent Guidelines Board voted 7-1 to freeze rents on about 1 million rent-stabilized apartments for up to two years, giving tenants a win on a central campaign promise from Mayor Zohran Mamdani while revealing tensions over the board's independence. The board set the annual increase at zero percent for both one-year and two-year leases starting in October. The affected apartments house roughly 2.5 million residents. The board's 2025 study found the average monthly rent in regulated units was $1,599 last year, far below the $3,950 that listings agency StreetEasy said was the median for new market-rate leases citywide. As Kimberley Hayek reports for The Epoch Times, the decision comes after the board's usual review of wages, inflation, maintenance costs, taxes, and landlord incomes. Tenants at public hearings called for a freeze or outright reduction, citing stagnant pay and higher living costs. Landlord representatives argued that a zero percent increase would hurt... https://www.sott.net/article/507212-Mamdanis-rent-freeze-approved-by-NYC-guidelines-board Thu, 02 Jul 2026 19:39:02 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507211-Egg-producers-reach-state-and-federal-settlement-over-price-fixing-allegations The agreement comes after an investigation by federal antitrust enforcers and state attorneys general alleged that Cal-Maine Food, Versova/Centrum and Hickman's Egg Ranch coordinated to artificially inflate daily egg price quotations between June 2022 and March 2025, leading to higher prices for retailers and consumers. Three major egg producers have reached a $3.3 million settlement to resolve allegations of price fixing after being sued by the Justice Department (DOJ) and 17 U.S. states' Attorneys General. Just the News reports that the complaint — filed in Iowa's Northern District Court — contends that the defendants conspired to artificially inflate the daily price quotations of market reporting company Urner Barry Publications. According to the DOJ Office of Public Affairs, a civil lawsuit was filed against Cal-Maine Foods Inc. (Cal-Maine); Hickman's Egg Ranch Inc. (Hickman's); and Centrum Valley Holdings LLC, Versova Holdings LLC, and Versova Management Cooperative (Versova)... https://www.sott.net/article/507211-Egg-producers-reach-state-and-federal-settlement-over-price-fixing-allegations Thu, 02 Jul 2026 19:16:37 +0000