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. Sat, 23 May 2026 14:49:29 +0000 https://www.sott.net/images/sottlogo_rss.jpg SOTT.net https://www.sott.net https://www.sott.net/article/506488-Masked-man-Fox-News-guest-Robert-Harward-sparks-wild-conspiracy-theory-over-latest-TV-appearance A Fox News guest has sparked a social media frenzy with wild speculation that he went on live TV wearing a prosthetic mask. Retired Navy Vice Adm. Robert Harward made a brief appearance on the "America's Newsroom" program on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing war with Iran with Fox hosts Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino. In the days since, his TV spot has exploded online — but not for his actual remarks about the conflict. Instead, bizarre conspiracy theories have been popping up claiming Harward, who was once tapped to be President Trump's National Security Adviser, had donned a mask for the interview. Viewers pointed specifically to a dark mark that could be seen near the bottom of his neck as supposed proof of a cover-up. https://www.sott.net/article/506488-Masked-man-Fox-News-guest-Robert-Harward-sparks-wild-conspiracy-theory-over-latest-TV-appearance Sat, 23 May 2026 14:49:16 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506487-Toxic-chemicals-rain-from-sky-as-terrifying-leak-at-Garden-Grove-plant-forces-evacuations A leak of toxic chemicals from a massive tank at a Garden Grove aerospace facility forced evacuations to be reissued on Friday, a day after residents were first ordered out of the area. Firefighters on Thursday afternoon responded to a vapor release from a 34,000-gallon tank containing methyl methacrylate at the site on the 12100 block of Western Avenue, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. The industrial chemical is used in plastics and manufacturing, officials said. The leak occurred at the GKN Aerospace plant, KABC reported. The tank's temperature had increased, activating a relief valve designed to safely release vapors, according to OCFA. An overhead sprinkler system was activated to cool the tank, and vapor conditions improved as the liquid's temperature decreased, officials said. https://www.sott.net/article/506487-Toxic-chemicals-rain-from-sky-as-terrifying-leak-at-Garden-Grove-plant-forces-evacuations Sat, 23 May 2026 14:43:55 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506486-Elephant-goes-on-rampage-in-Kerala-India-flips-car-with-people-inside An elephant went on a rampage in Thrissur on Saturday, causing damage to vehicles and houses and even flipping a car that had a woman inside. No one was fortunately injured. The elephant, Shivalakshmi Ayyappan, turned violent when it was stopped near the South Gopuram entrance of Vadakkumnathan Temple for photography. The animal ran amok from Kattapparam in Peringav, moved through Palace Road and finally reached Gandhi Nagar Street, a densely populated area with around 300 houses. It has now been chained to a part of a wall but remains agitated. According to Viyyur police, officials received an alert around 9.15 am. Police personnel, the elephant squad, and forest control officers arrived at the scene and are working to bring the situation under control. During the incident, the elephant damaged around six cars and the walls of two houses along its path. https://www.sott.net/article/506486-Elephant-goes-on-rampage-in-Kerala-India-flips-car-with-people-inside Sat, 23 May 2026 11:17:53 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506485-As-ocean-temperatures-spike-more-dead-sea-birds-are-washing-up-on-California-shores For the last several months, wildlife experts have been alarmed by a large influx of dead and emaciated seabirds washing up on California beaches. While experts had been recording high mortality rates for brown pelicans for several years now — the result of harmful algal blooms, or "red tides" — this die-off appears different. Now it's not just pelicans that are being impacted, but other water birds such as Brandt's cormorants, loons, common murres, and grebes. The suspected culprit in this case is subtler and more insidious than the algal neurotoxin known as domoic acid. Experts say these recent deaths are likely tied to an extreme marine heat wave that is causing deadly changes in food availability. Up and down the California coast this spring, ocean temperatures have skyrocketed. In some places, temperatures have climbed 4 to 8 degrees higher than average, breaking all kinds of historical records. For instance, in La Jolla, nearly 30% of the readings taken off the Scripps Pier... https://www.sott.net/article/506485-As-ocean-temperatures-spike-more-dead-sea-birds-are-washing-up-on-California-shores Sat, 23 May 2026 10:52:18 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506484-Bison-attacks-twice-and-kills-hiker-on-trail-in-Custer-State-Park-South-Dakota A 70-year-old woman from Canada is dead after being attacked by a bison on a popular hiking trail in Custer State Park in western South Dakota, marking the first fatal bison attack in the park in at least 21 years. The name of the woman has not been released at the family's request, Custer County Sheriff Marty Mechaley told Cowboy State Daily. She and her husband were on vacation in the park, the sheriff added. The attack happened Monday afternoon on the Grace Coolidge Trail, about 1½ miles from Center Lake. What Happened According to the sheriff, the woman and her husband saw five bull bison walking along the trail an estimated 1,500 feet ahead of them. The bulls continued down the trail and out of sight ahead of the couple. Mechaley said the couple stopped every now and then to give the bison space. https://www.sott.net/article/506484-Bison-attacks-twice-and-kills-hiker-on-trail-in-Custer-State-Park-South-Dakota Sat, 23 May 2026 10:34:56 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506483-Shallow-magnitude-6-0-earthquake-on-Hawaii-island-shakes-the-state-no-tsunami-generated No tsunami is expected following a magnitude 6.0 earthquake that occurred about seven miles to the east-southeast of Honaunau in the South Kona area of Hawaii Island. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred at 9:46 p.m. It was centered about 3.7 miles east-southeast of the Honaunau-Napoopoo area along the western flank of Mauna Loa, at a depth of 14 miles. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said no tsunami was generated by the earthquake. A second, weaker magnitude 3.2 earthquake occurred six minutes later, just to the northwest of the first about 13 miles beneath the surface. https://www.sott.net/article/506483-Shallow-magnitude-6-0-earthquake-on-Hawaii-island-shakes-the-state-no-tsunami-generated Sat, 23 May 2026 09:48:59 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506482-Abducted-Gaza-flotilla-activists-recount-super-sadistic-torture-sexual-abuse-while-detained-in-Israel Activists recounted being severely beaten and starved during their illegal imprisonment International activists with the Global Sumud Flotilla revealed upon their arrival in Turkiye on 21 May that they were subjected to sexual abuse and torture during their abduction in Israel. Survivors reported prolonged beatings, starvation, and degrading strip searches, with reports of rape and sexual assault. Arriving in Istanbul, the activists bore clear signs of torture and mistreatment with swollen hands, broken bones, and severely bruised by the violence. Footage captured upon their arrival showed detainees displaying their injuries, one removing a scarf to reveal painful wounds sustained in custody. https://www.sott.net/article/506482-Abducted-Gaza-flotilla-activists-recount-super-sadistic-torture-sexual-abuse-while-detained-in-Israel Fri, 22 May 2026 23:11:06 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506481-Musk-offers-to-fund-lawsuit-against-UK-police-in-Henry-Nowak-stabbing-tragedy Elon Musk has stepped forward to hold UK police accountable in what appears to be one of the most disturbing policing failures to emerge from Britain in years. The tech mogul publicly offered to bankroll a wrongful death lawsuit against officers who allegedly prioritized an attacker's claims of "racism" over saving the life of 18-year-old Henry Nowak. Musk's intervention comes as harrowing bodycam footage from the scene plays out in Southampton Crown Court during the ongoing murder trial of Vickrum Singh Digwa, the 23-year-old man of Indian Sikh heritage accused of stabbing Nowak four times with a 21cm blade. https://www.sott.net/article/506481-Musk-offers-to-fund-lawsuit-against-UK-police-in-Henry-Nowak-stabbing-tragedy Fri, 22 May 2026 22:00:50 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506480-Irrelevant-Europe Europe is the 'jungle' now. No garden left to speak of. Josep Borrell is a Spanish socialist who held several high-ranking positions in the European Union. Until 2024, he was a vice-president of the European Commission and the high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy. In that capacity, he ran Europe's External Action Service, which is the diplomatic body that executes Europe's foreign policy decisions around the world. He remains a man with a great deal of influence over European perspectives. In 2022, Borrell created a bit of an international incident when he described Europe as a "garden" and the rest of the world as a "jungle." "We have built a garden," he told aspiring European diplomats in Bruges, Belgium. "Most of the rest of the world is a jungle. The jungle could invade the garden. The gardeners should take care of it." As the head of the European Defense Agency, Borrell's comments made strategic sense. As he said in that same... https://www.sott.net/article/506480-Irrelevant-Europe Fri, 22 May 2026 21:43:31 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506479-Putin-vows-revenge-for-Ukrainian-attack-on-Lugansk-school-dorm Diplomatic condemnation will not suffice as a response to the overnight attack, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Around 15 people still remain unaccounted for after a Ukrainian drone strike on a school dorm in the Russian town of Starobelsk, President Vladimir Putin has said, adding that he has ordered the military to prepare retaliation for the attack. At least 39 people were injured in the strike and six were killed, according to Putin. He ruled out the possibility that the school was hit by accident, noting that 16 Ukrainian drones hit the same location in three waves, with no military sites in the vicinity. The Russian president slammed the incident as a "terrorist attack by the neo-Nazi regime," vowing revenge. https://www.sott.net/article/506479-Putin-vows-revenge-for-Ukrainian-attack-on-Lugansk-school-dorm Fri, 22 May 2026 21:22:45 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506478-More-floods-in-Afghanistan-kill-24-across-in-2-days Heavy rain and floods have killed at least 24 people in the past 48 hours across Afghanistan, local and disaster officials said today. In the last 24 hours, 15 people were killed in the northern province of Baghlan, two in northeastern Badakhshan, and one in central Wardak due to flash floods. "Fifteen people have lost their lives, and dozens more have been injured due to the floods," said Farooq Akhplawak, spokesman for the Baghlan governor. A local official in Badakhshan said, "Two people have died, two others are missing, more than 100 residential houses have been destroyed." Heavy rain has battered much of Afghanistan since Wednesday, causing floods in multiple provinces. https://www.sott.net/article/506478-More-floods-in-Afghanistan-kill-24-across-in-2-days Fri, 22 May 2026 21:15:03 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506477-4-women-tendu-leaf-collectors-mauled-to-death-by-tiger-in-single-attack-in-Maharashtra-India In one of the deadliest tiger attacks in recent years at India's densest tiger belt in eastern Maharashtra, four women collecting tendu leaves were mauled to death in a single strike in Sindewahi forest range of Chandrapur district and a 55-year-old man was killed in Adyal forest range in Bhandara, 88km away on Friday, said forest dept officials. The attacks intensified concerns over the escalating human-wildlife conflict in the region even as another woman collecting tendu leaves was critically injured in compartment 582 of Tadoba Andhari tiger reserve within a few hours. Tendu leaf collectors — Kavdabai Dadaji Mohurle, 45, Anita Dadaji Mohurle, 40, Sunita Kaushik Mohurle, 38, and Sangita Santosh Chaudhary, 50 — had entered the forest near Gunjewahi village when a crouching tiger pounced on them. All four women died, before villagers could intervene. The Bhandara tribal, Baburao Pillewan, of Katurli village, had gone to the forest to collect broomstick grass, when he was killed by... https://www.sott.net/article/506477-4-women-tendu-leaf-collectors-mauled-to-death-by-tiger-in-single-attack-in-Maharashtra-India Fri, 22 May 2026 21:08:01 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506476-Police-Dogs-attacked-and-killed-man-at-Topeka-Kansas-home A Kansas man died from injuries in a dog attack. Just after 12:30a.m. Thursday, police responded to a vicious animal call in the 2800 block of SE Wear Circle in Topeka, according to a statement from police. First responders learned that a homeowner and his adult male acquaintance had been bitten by multiple dogs. American Medical Response transported both men to a local hospital. The homeowner suffered minor injuries. The acquaintance, identified as Kevin L. Froelich, 38, of Topeka. sustained life-threatening injuries and was pronounced deceased Thursday afternoon. Topeka Police Animal Control officers have removed three dogs from the residence. Police did not report the breed of the animals. The incident remains under investigation. https://www.sott.net/article/506476-Police-Dogs-attacked-and-killed-man-at-Topeka-Kansas-home Fri, 22 May 2026 20:55:43 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506475-Dogs-in-deadly-attack-on-Cocoa-woman-now-in-custody-of-Brevard-County-Animal-Control-Florida A woman died after being mauled by two dogs while walking near her Cocoa home early Tuesday, according to neighbors and local authorities. Neighbors said the dogs had a history of aggressive behavior and that multiple complaints had been made to animal control and the sheriff's office before the attack. The backstory: Security video captured the attack on Jodi Cowan as she walked along Blue Bonnet Drive carrying her small dog. Neighbors said the dogs chased and attacked her before first responders arrived. Cohen was taken to a hospital, where she later died. Residents told FOX 35 the dogs were frequently left outside and had previously threatened or attacked people in the neighborhood. One neighbor said she was once trapped in her car for 30 minutes while the dogs surrounded her vehicle. Another said he recently bought pepper spray for protection and had contacted animal control twice in the past month. https://www.sott.net/article/506475-Dogs-in-deadly-attack-on-Cocoa-woman-now-in-custody-of-Brevard-County-Animal-Control-Florida Fri, 22 May 2026 20:51:30 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506474-Tick-Borne-Alpha-Gal-Syndrome-incidence-skyrocketed-9800-in-the-US-since-2013 Tick-induced meat allergy incidence jumped 301% since 2021 alone, demanding an urgent investigation into past and present tick-related research and biowarfare programs. Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) — the tick-borne allergy that turns red meat, pork, and sometimes dairy into an anaphylaxis risk — is no longer rare. A new study presented at the American College of Gastroenterology 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting delivers the clearest picture yet: the incidence of alpha-gal syndrome has exploded among Americans. https://www.sott.net/article/506474-Tick-Borne-Alpha-Gal-Syndrome-incidence-skyrocketed-9800-in-the-US-since-2013 Fri, 22 May 2026 20:35:11 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506473-The-best-cities-to-live-in-the-US-are-located-in-GOP-states-with-conservative-mayors Nine of the 10 best American cities in which to live are located in GOP-led states with mayors that lean into conservative values like law and order and "more accountable" government spending, according to a new report. Quality of life, affordability, a strong job market and overall desirability were taken into account when ranking the best places in the US to settle down. The top-notch cities were revealed by US News & World Report this week and only one landed in a blue state — Rochester Hills, Michigan, which was ranked the 7th best spot. US News & World Report in 2026-27 revealed that the 10 best US cities to live in are mostly in ruby-red states with mayors that lean into conservative values. https://www.sott.net/article/506473-The-best-cities-to-live-in-the-US-are-located-in-GOP-states-with-conservative-mayors Fri, 22 May 2026 20:07:05 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506472-Locals-capture-some-of-the-worst-flooding-New-York-City-has-ever-seen New Yorkers captured footage of a wild storm that almost drowned the city late Wednesday night. Queens alone reported a downfall of 2.57 inches. One X user claims the floods hit within a "span of 25 minutes." Winds reached 60-mph as commuters desperately tried to avoid being swept off their feet. Queens Village native Charlton D'Souza said it was "some of the worst flooding" he had ever seen. https://www.sott.net/article/506472-Locals-capture-some-of-the-worst-flooding-New-York-City-has-ever-seen Fri, 22 May 2026 19:48:42 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506471-Meteor-fireball-flashes-through-clouds-as-it-flies-over-Sydney-Harbour-Australia-on-May-24 A bright light flashed through clouds above Sydney Harbour on Thursday, May 21, as a fireball streaked across Australian skies. Camera footage belonging to WebcamSydney shows the moment the suspected meteor lit up the the sky at about 6:30 pm. New South Wales locals swiftly took to social media to report on the massive flash of light, with some lucky residents capturing the sight on camera. https://www.sott.net/article/506471-Meteor-fireball-flashes-through-clouds-as-it-flies-over-Sydney-Harbour-Australia-on-May-24 Fri, 22 May 2026 19:27:20 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506470-Authoritarianism-arrives-not-with-a-coup-but-with-a-login Authoritarianism doesn't usually arrive with a coup. It arrives with a login, a compliance form, a penalty notice for keeping records in the wrong format. It comes with a quietly extended electoral term, a cancelled bank account, a prison sentence for a social media post. Each measure has a reasonable-sounding justification. The problem is the direction — and how far it has already travelled. Power is migrating from the visible arena of democratic politics to the less visible world of systems — compliance regimes, regulators with elastic mandates and an expanding mesh of rules governing more of daily life than most people have yet registered. No single measure looks like tyranny. The problem is the cumulative direction and the speed at which it is moving. None of what follows was in any manifesto. All of it is happening. https://www.sott.net/article/506470-Authoritarianism-arrives-not-with-a-coup-but-with-a-login Fri, 22 May 2026 18:57:39 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506469-The-fallout-of-Israel-and-Americas-illegal-war-against-Iran-on-India-and-the-world The appeals made by the Prime Minister of India to the populace of the country are part of global mitigation measures announced by different countries in the aftermath of Israel and America's ill-conceived and illegal war against Iran, and the destruction it has wrought on India and the world. Use public transport as much as possible; avoid buying precious metals for at least a year; avoid non-essential foreign travel; and adopt work-from-home (WFH) schedules — these are some of the austerity appeals made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the citizens of the country in recent days. In this context, the ongoing war in the Middle East has especially been painful for India. For a country that imports more than 80% of its crude oil, and 60% of its natural gas, as well as many precious forms of fertilizers for its agricultural sector, the war has particularly been a source of immense concern for India. Therefore, it becomes essential to analyze the impact of the ongoing war on India's... https://www.sott.net/article/506469-The-fallout-of-Israel-and-Americas-illegal-war-against-Iran-on-India-and-the-world Fri, 22 May 2026 18:15:42 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506468-Amid-yet-another-corruption-scandal-US-Congress-grants-1-3-billion-military-aid-to-Kiev-Neo-Nazi-regime-despite-Trumps-formal-objections American President Donald Trump has repeatedly (and rightfully) criticized the Kiev regime for its corruption. It should be noted that Ukraine has long had such issues, to the point that corruption there can be called endemic. The great Nikolai Gogol wrote about it nearly two centuries ago, specifically in his masterful satirical play "The Inspector General" ("Ревизор" in Russian). Sadly, little has changed since then, with systemic corruption remaining the norm in former Ukraine. However, the Neo-Nazi junta exacerbated this issue exponentially, resulting in the worst cases of corruption, embezzlement and other types of schemes designed for corrupt officials to enrich themselves. It's virtually impossible to determine how much was embezzled over the last four years, but it's certainly in the dozens of billions. And yet, the United States continues to send "aid" to the Kiev regime. Namely, the US Congress just approved another transfer of funds, despite Trump's formal objections. https://www.sott.net/article/506468-Amid-yet-another-corruption-scandal-US-Congress-grants-1-3-billion-military-aid-to-Kiev-Neo-Nazi-regime-despite-Trumps-formal-objections Fri, 22 May 2026 18:15:17 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506467-Starmer-government-doubles-down-on-anti-free-speech-policies When hundreds of thousands of Britons joined the recent Unite the Kingdom rally, the government of Keir Starmer wanted them to know that they were being watched for possible arrest. By deploying facial recognition systems and invoking the United Kingdom's anti-free speech laws, Starmer's government made it clear that it would not tolerate anything it considered hateful or xenophobic, on the heels of its losses to Reform UK in council elections. Under its Online Safety Act, the government removed posts from social media platforms such as TikTok, including statements about Reform UK's immigration policies. Among those impacted was Reform UK's shadow home secretary Zia Yusuf who reportedly had "two videos removed from TikTok — one for a user report under the UK's Online Safety Act and another for hate speech." They were later restored. Starmer's government also reportedly prevented speakers from the rally from entering the county, citing concerns they might "incite" the crowd. The... https://www.sott.net/article/506467-Starmer-government-doubles-down-on-anti-free-speech-policies Fri, 22 May 2026 18:12:41 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506466-France-19-year-old-wakes-up-from-3-week-coma-asks-to-meet-her-babies-who-never-existed In France, when 19-year-old Clélia Verdier woke up from a medically induced coma, her first instinct was to ask for her three daughters. Instead, doctors shattered the reality she had been living in: the children had never existed. Verdier, from Lyon in France, had slipped into a coma in June 2025 after what she described to the Daily Mail as a "serious suicide attempt by taking a large amount of medication". She remained in a medically induced coma for three weeks — but inside her mind, an entirely different life unfolded. Unaware that she was unconscious, Verdier experienced what she described as "extremely intense" dreams and nightmares that became indistinguishable from reality. Among them was a vivid and emotional journey of becoming a mother. https://www.sott.net/article/506466-France-19-year-old-wakes-up-from-3-week-coma-asks-to-meet-her-babies-who-never-existed Fri, 22 May 2026 18:03:56 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506465-Blockade-blackmail-invade-Is-the-US-preparing-a-military-attack-on-Cuba Washington is using a familiar script: Sanctions, then threats. Next comes force - under a trumped-up false pretext. American imperialism may be absolutely lawless and perfectly immoral but it does have its favorite and predictable routines. One of them is what can be called the Washington Three-Step of 'blockade, blackmail, invade'. The Three-Step is by no means foolproof. Witness, for instance, the recent de facto defeat of the US (and its occasional overlord Israel) at the hands of Iran, which even arch neocon warmonger Robert Kagan has as good as admitted in, of all places, The Atlantic. But failure has never deterred America's best and brightest. Indeed, the combination of slow, sadistic strangulation of whole nations and taking the military baseball bat to them is a virtual fixation, as central to American foreign policy as permanent bad faith. Don't believe it? Here's a preliminary, most likely incomplete list (in alphabetical order) of countries that have two things in... https://www.sott.net/article/506465-Blockade-blackmail-invade-Is-the-US-preparing-a-military-attack-on-Cuba Fri, 22 May 2026 16:48:25 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506464-Its-nearly-Memorial-Day-but-Rocky-Mountain-National-Park-Colorado-just-got-buried-in-heavy-snow-up-to-a-foot-deep Summerlike weather has made an appearance across much of the United States recently, but winter is not done with the high country in Colorado. Rocky Mountain National Park was coated in heavy snow to start the week, with more than a foot reported in the higher elevations. "It's May 18 and winter is back in Rocky Mountain National Park," the park posted on Facebook. Plow crews were sent out, and roads that are usually busy this time of year were shut down because of the wintry weather, including part of U.S. 34. It is unclear when the road will reopen. https://www.sott.net/article/506464-Its-nearly-Memorial-Day-but-Rocky-Mountain-National-Park-Colorado-just-got-buried-in-heavy-snow-up-to-a-foot-deep Fri, 22 May 2026 13:59:46 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506367-Severe-flooding-across-central-and-eastern-China-after-record-rainfall-of-5-5-FEET-in-3-days-at-least-25-killed-20-missing-UPDATED Heavy rains swept across central and eastern China over the weekend, hitting provinces including Jiangxi and Hunan, with more downpours expected. The National Meteorological Center (NMC) forecasts that over the next three days, heavy rainfall will gradually move eastward and southward. Since Friday evening, torrential rain in Ganzhou city, Jiangxi, has raised river levels and caused localized flooding. Shangyou county was hardest hit, especially Dongshan township, where rising waters disrupted electricity and water supplies, submerged streets and swept away vehicles. By 4:30 pm Saturday, the county government had relocated 1,147 residents across a number of townships. No casualties or missing persons were reported, according to local media. https://www.sott.net/article/506367-Severe-flooding-across-central-and-eastern-China-after-record-rainfall-of-5-5-FEET-in-3-days-at-least-25-killed-20-missing-UPDATED Fri, 22 May 2026 13:30:09 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506463-5-horses-killed-in-lightning-strike-at-Texas-equine-rescue-nonprofit-says An equine rescue in Texas said five horses were killed in a lightning strike during a storm earlier this week. Hooker Ranch Equine Refuge on Wednesday shared emotional posts on social media, saying staff and volunteers are "heartbroken and devastated" following the deadly strike. One post included two photos of the horses being tended to. "The reality of death.," the rescue wrote. "Dealing with the aftermath of a lightning strike which killed 5 of our sweetest rescues -- I'm sorry if the pictures are not for you just keep scrolling, but I think it's important that people understand how things are done." The rescue, which is located in Winnsboro, said each horse was loaded onto a flatbed trailer and "respectfully" covered with tarps before being removed from the property. The nonprofit organization explained that horses are rarely buried onsite except in emergency situations because decomposing large animals can pose health and safety risks to humans, as well as other animals. https://www.sott.net/article/506463-5-horses-killed-in-lightning-strike-at-Texas-equine-rescue-nonprofit-says Fri, 22 May 2026 13:09:09 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506462-Very-rare-ice-halo-in-Sicily-Italy-on-May-15 Experts call it a "suncave Parry arc." Usually, you have to go to the Arctic to find one. Last week, however, Marcella Giulia Pace saw the rarity in Sicily. "On May 15th, I was in my garden, surrounded by the quietness of the Sicilian countryside, when, lifting my eyes to the sky, I saw an extraordinary halo display," says Pace. "With my camera in hand, I began running along the country road beside my home, searching for an open field that could reveal the entire composition." The luminous network included a circumzenithal arc, a supralateral arc, a suncave Parry arc, an upper tangent arc, a 22° halo, a parhelic circle and a sundog. "As I ran, the complex display kept transforming before my eyes," says Pace. "The greatest surprise came when I saw a Parry arc forming above the upper tangent arc--the rarest phenomenon of all!" Suncave Parry arcs are exceptionally rare because they require sunlight to pass through column-shaped ice crystals suspended in a very specific, improbable,... https://www.sott.net/article/506462-Very-rare-ice-halo-in-Sicily-Italy-on-May-15 Fri, 22 May 2026 12:16:40 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506461-Siberia-Slips-Back-To-Winter-US-Cold-Pool-Holds-Into-Late-May-Antarctica-Below-100F-The-CO2-Effect-Shrinks-As-CO2-Rises-Sunspot-Weakens Siberia Slips Back To Winter​ Swaths of Siberia have slipped back toward winter. On May 22, frost warnings stretched across a broad belt of Russia, from Omsk and Novosibirsk to Kemerovo, Altai Krai and Orenburg. Overnight lows were expected to fall to -5C (23F), cold enough to threaten early crops, gardens and spring vegetation. In Kemerovo Oblast, the cold has been biting for days. Local stations fell to around -4C (24.8F), with daytime temperatures stuck near 4C (39.2F). Snow fell in Kemerovo. Roads in Kuzbass were covered. Visibility deteriorated. The cold also spread into the mountains and republics farther east. Tuva faced wet snow, thunderstorms, hail and damaging winds. Buryatia was hit by mountain wet snow and a temperature drop of at least 10C. Around Irkutsk and Lake Baikal, snow remained in the higher terrain, with more frosts expected through to May 25, at least. Heating systems have been turned back on in Siberian communities, according to local reports. https://www.sott.net/article/506461-Siberia-Slips-Back-To-Winter-US-Cold-Pool-Holds-Into-Late-May-Antarctica-Below-100F-The-CO2-Effect-Shrinks-As-CO2-Rises-Sunspot-Weakens Fri, 22 May 2026 12:03:30 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506460-Meteor-fireball-over-Southern-Spain-May-21 This bright bolide was spotted from Spain on May 21, at 22:27 local time (equivalent to 20:27 universal time). The fireball was observed by a wide number of casual eyewitnesses, who reported it on social networks. The event was generated by a rock (a meteoroid) from a comet that hit the atmosphere at about 85,000 km/h. The fireball overflew Jaén and Córdoba (Spain). It began at an altitude of about 89 km over Zocueca (province of Jaén), moved northwest, and ended at a height of around 42 km over Adamuz (province of Córdoba). This bright meteor was recorded in the framework of the SMART project, operated by the Southwestern Europe Meteor Network (SWEMN) from the meteor-observing stations located at Huelva, La Hita (Toledo), Calar Alto (Almería), Sierra Nevada, La Sagra (Granada), Sevilla, Otura (Granada), and Mazagón (Huelva). The event has been analyzed by the team headed by Dr. Jose M. Madiedo (principal investigator of the SMART project), from the Institute of Astrophysics of... https://www.sott.net/article/506460-Meteor-fireball-over-Southern-Spain-May-21 Fri, 22 May 2026 11:47:08 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506459-Stunning-meteor-fireball-over-southern-Spain-May-15 The superb fireball in this video was recorded on May 15, at 2:12 local time (equivalent to 0:12 universal time). It was brighter than the full Moon. The fireball was observed by a wide number of casual eyewitnesses, who reported it on social networks. The event was generated by a rock (a meteoroid) from an asteroid that hit the atmosphere at about 106,000 km/h. The fireball overflew Spain and the Mediterranean Sea. It began at an altitude of about 98 km over the Mediterranean Sea, moved northwest, and ended at a height of around 39 km over El Almendral (province of Granada). This bright meteor was recorded in the framework of the SMART project, operated by the Southwestern Europe Meteor Network (SWEMN) from the meteor-observing stations located at Huelva, La Hita (Toledo), Calar Alto (Almería), Sierra Nevada, La Sagra (Granada), Sevilla, Otura (Granada), and Mazagón (Huelva). The event has been analyzed by the principal investigator of the SMART project: Dr. Jose M. Madiedo, from... https://www.sott.net/article/506459-Stunning-meteor-fireball-over-southern-Spain-May-15 Fri, 22 May 2026 11:43:40 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506458-Shallow-6-6-magnitude-earthquake-southern-East-Pacific-Rise 6.6 Magnitude Earthquake UTC time: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 17:43 PM Your time: Wednesday, 20 May 2026 at 18:43 BST Depth: 10.0 km No tsunami statement issued Magnitude Type: mww USGS page: M 6.6 - southern East Pacific Rise USGS status: Reviewed by a seismologist Reports from the public: 0 persons https://www.sott.net/article/506458-Shallow-6-6-magnitude-earthquake-southern-East-Pacific-Rise Fri, 22 May 2026 11:32:21 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506457-Japanese-genome-study-reveals-traces-of-Neanderthal-and-Denisovan-DNA Genomes across Japan show traces of a previously overlooked ancestral group alongside Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA linked to modern diseases and drug responses. A third ancestral group may be hiding inside the DNA of modern populations in Japan. A genetic study found the ancestry of people in Japan today may not fit into the long-standing two-origin model as once thought. After analyzing the genomes of more than 3,200 people across Japan, evidence of a third ancestral component linked to northeastern Asia alongside the Indigenous Jomon hunter-gatherers and later East Asian migrants was found. Published in Science Advances, the study used whole-genome sequencing to examine DNA from seven regions stretching from Hokkaido to Okinawa. The results support the "tripartite origins" theory proposed in 2021 and point to genetic differences across different parts of Japan. https://www.sott.net/article/506457-Japanese-genome-study-reveals-traces-of-Neanderthal-and-Denisovan-DNA Thu, 21 May 2026 23:15:59 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506456-The-first-atomic-bomb-test-in-1945-created-an-entirely-new-material The discovery from the Trinity nuclear test site shows how extreme conditions can result in materials never before seen in nature or in the lab. During the Trinity nuclear test on July 16, 1945, in the New Mexico desert — the world's very first test of an atomic bomb — a new material spontaneously formed. It was discovered only recently, by an international research team coordinated by geologist Luca Bindi at the University of Florence, which identified the novel clathrate based on calcium, copper, and silicon. It's a material never before observed either in nature or as an artificial compound created in the laboratory. What Are Clathrates? The term "clathrates" denotes materials characterized by a "cage-like" structure that traps other atoms and molecules inside, giving them unique properties. Of great technological interest, these materials are being studied for various applications ranging from energy conversion (as thermoelectric materials capable of transforming heat into... https://www.sott.net/article/506456-The-first-atomic-bomb-test-in-1945-created-an-entirely-new-material Thu, 21 May 2026 21:58:42 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506455-Land-grab-The-billionaires-club-at-the-center-of-Americas-public-lands-fight A controversial land swap orchestrated by the mega rich could be 'a harbinger of what's to come' for public lands under Trump. At the end of a dirt road along the northeastern edge of Montana's Crazy Mountains, a simple sign warns visitors they are now entering private property. For fifth-generation Montanan Brad Wilson, the notice marks a defeat with implications far beyond the Crazies. "The fate of our public lands and our rights are in jeopardy right now," Wilson told Floodlight. Wilson is a former sheriff's deputy and lifelong hunter. For most of his life, he has lived in the jagged shadows of the Crazy Mountains — their snow-capped peaks and twisting valleys watched him grow from a boy herding sheep on his grandfather's ranch to a grey-haired hunter tracking elk herds across their remote slopes. "The loss of this access means a lot to me and everybody else," he said beside the gate, looking down and hiding the wet corners of his eyes. https://www.sott.net/article/506455-Land-grab-The-billionaires-club-at-the-center-of-Americas-public-lands-fight Thu, 21 May 2026 21:39:31 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506454-Small-UK-town-forced-to-form-vigilante-security-team-to-protect-women-and-kids-from-migrants Government plopped hundreds of them in former army barracks. Residents of a quiet East Sussex town have been left with no choice but to patrol their own streets after the leftist Labour government dumped hundreds of unvetted male migrants into a former army camp on their doorstep. Crowborough, a small community of around 20,000 people, is now home to a volunteer security force called Crowborough Aware. With 81 vetted locals stepping up, the group is conducting regular patrols to deter trouble and keep women and children safe. This is the direct result of years of open borders policies that have seen tiny, peaceful towns turned into testing grounds for mass migration. https://www.sott.net/article/506454-Small-UK-town-forced-to-form-vigilante-security-team-to-protect-women-and-kids-from-migrants Thu, 21 May 2026 20:23:56 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506453-Inside-the-Israeli-coup-against-Thomas-Massie Thomas Massie's defeat was a coup by the Israel lobby. Recently, the anti-war libertarian Kentucky representative Thomas Massie was defeated by Ed Gallrein, a Neo-con who supports every Israeli/American war from the Gaza genocide to the war in Iran. This election result was in no way the result of a clean and fair election, but the result of a coordinated coup from the pro-Israel lobby, which poured millions of dollars into the race to ensure that Massie be replaced. Last year, after Massie first spoke out against the Israeli/American bombing of Iran in June of 2025, a super PAC called "Kentucky MAGA" was created in an attempt to unseat Thomas Massie. The super PAC was run by "Trump's senior political advisers, Tony Fabrizio and Chris LaCivita". Tony Fabrizio also works as a political advisor for Israeli campaigns, having worked on Benjamin Netanyahu's 2020 presidential campaign and is currently working on Naftali Bennett's presidential campaign. "Kentucky MAGA" was a conduit for... https://www.sott.net/article/506453-Inside-the-Israeli-coup-against-Thomas-Massie Thu, 21 May 2026 20:05:04 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506452-Reactions-of-Tehran-and-the-approach-of-France-in-the-war-against-Iran Post-2022 geopolitical developments and escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf have significantly strained relations between Iran and France, raising questions about the future of diplomatic engagement between the two countries. After the June 2025 military strike against Iran, France did not condemn it, and the subsequent triggering of the snapback mechanism caused relations between the two countries to reach a state of deadlock. Over different periods, in addition to repeating accusations and allegations against Iran, Paris has also benefited from political, legal, and even economic pressure. (a) The meeting between Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian and French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the 2025 United Nations General Assembly constituted a significant milestone. During Iran‑France bilateral talks, notwithstanding some agreements, France, instead of adopting a critical stance toward Washington which activated the snapback mechanism, practically pressured Iran... https://www.sott.net/article/506452-Reactions-of-Tehran-and-the-approach-of-France-in-the-war-against-Iran Thu, 21 May 2026 20:03:46 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506451-Flight-to-Argentina-How-significant-is-it-for-Israels-LatAm-outreach Experts say Israel is using the new flight to Buenos Aires as a geopolitical tool to cement its footprint in Latin America. Israel and Argentina have launched a direct flight starting in November as the two countries boost their ties under Argentina's far-right President Javier Milei and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The twice-a-week flight comes as Israel is aggressively pushing to cement its geopolitical footprint in Latin America amid its growing international isolation and its entrenched image as an occupying power. On May 7, Israel's national carrier, El Al, opened bookings for a direct flight between Tel Aviv and Buenos Aires covering a distance of 12,000 kilometres (7,460 miles) - the longest route in the airline's history. However, the 16.5-hour journey is driven by political ambitions rather than mere commercial viability. https://www.sott.net/article/506451-Flight-to-Argentina-How-significant-is-it-for-Israels-LatAm-outreach Thu, 21 May 2026 20:02:47 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506450-Major-Italian-volcano-speeds-toward-transition-major-eruption-could-be-on-the-way-The-system-is-likely-to-reach-a-breaking-point Campi Flegrei, a volcanic caldera west of Naples, is speeding toward a transition within the next decade, a new study suggests, but researchers can't yet say whether that transition will be an eruption or some other change in the volcano's internal plumbing. The caldera, also known as the Phlegraean Fields, is home to about 500,000 people who would be at risk in the event of an eruption. The caldera stretches about 9 miles (15 kilometers) in diameter and formed in a massive eruption 40,000 years ago. Other, smaller eruptions have happened since, including an explosive one in 1528 that built Monte Nuovo, a 433-foot (132 meters) cinder cone. "Our paper identifies when the system is likely to reach a breaking point, but it cannot determine what will happen at that breaking point with the current data," said study first author Davide Zaccagnino, a postdoctoral researcher who studies geological hazards at the Southern University of Science and Technology in Guangdong, China. https://www.sott.net/article/506450-Major-Italian-volcano-speeds-toward-transition-major-eruption-could-be-on-the-way-The-system-is-likely-to-reach-a-breaking-point Thu, 21 May 2026 20:00:26 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506449-Economics-The-sociological-foundation-of-civilization People often wonder about the origins of the civil world. Few, if any, have ever reached conclusions. Civilization begins in the imagination of gifted men. To make progress individuals must imagine the relationship between the physical world, the timing of events, and the control/influence they have of the world around them. It is in these subjective perspectives where value is created out of seemingly valueless items. It is in the mind of the individual where a unique perspective/insight gives rise to goods once considered useless into goods of value. Carl Menger the founder of the Austrian School of economics wrote, When a hunting people is passing over to sedentary agriculture, land and materials that were not previously used and are now employed for the first time for the satisfaction of human needs (lime, sand, timber, and stones for building, for example) usually maintain their non-economic character for some time after the transition has begun. It is therefore not the... https://www.sott.net/article/506449-Economics-The-sociological-foundation-of-civilization Thu, 21 May 2026 19:59:55 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506448-A-Comey-Cake-Former-prosecutor-accused-of-stealing-Smith-Report-files-and-hiding-them-as-cake-recipes Former Justice Department prosecutor Carmen Mercedes Lineberger has been indicted for allegedly removing confidential Justice Department material and then concealing her efforts. Lineberger is accused of secretly transferring Jack Smith's final report and hiding the material under files labeled "chocolate cake recipe" and "bundt cake recipe." There has not been a greater recipe for disaster since aides tried to fit all of Biden's candles on a cake. The case is particularly interesting because there was another person who was accused of a secret removal of Justice Department material who was not prosecuted: former FBI Director James Comey. Linebarger, 62, of Port St. Lucie, Florida, has been indicted on four criminal charges: one felony count of obstruction of justice, one felony count of concealing government records and two misdemeanor counts of theft of government property valued at less than $1,000. According to the indictment, Lineberger altered electronic file names of... https://www.sott.net/article/506448-A-Comey-Cake-Former-prosecutor-accused-of-stealing-Smith-Report-files-and-hiding-them-as-cake-recipes Thu, 21 May 2026 19:59:08 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506447-Multiple-states-begin-removing-illegal-immigrants-from-subsidized-healthcare The political left often betrays their true agenda in the legislation they choose to oppose. The SAVE Act, for example, would require proof of citizenship to vote in US elections; a law which the majority of countries around the world enforce. It's widely supported by around 80% of the public, yet, Democrats stubbornly refuse to pass it. Why? Because they know there are illegal immigrants voting in their favor, and they know that mail-in ballot fraud exists and often benefits them. By extension, Democrats aggressively attempted to block Trump Administration efforts to ensure that illegal immigrants could not receive healthcare subsidies. Their argument was that "no illegals actually access those subsidies". Of course, if this was true, then it should not matter if Trump adds such restrictions - According to Dems, nothing would change. https://www.sott.net/article/506447-Multiple-states-begin-removing-illegal-immigrants-from-subsidized-healthcare Thu, 21 May 2026 19:35:27 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506446-Border-czar-Homan-Sanctuary-jurisdictions-must-comply-or-face-more-ICE-boots-on-the-ground Sanctuary jurisdictions in the United States will see more Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel on the ground if they do not allow local law enforcement to cooperate with ICE officers, border czar Tom Homan said in a May 15 interview with the Daily Signal. In the interview, Homan was specifically asked about New York. In January, the state's governor, Kathy Hochul, proposed the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, which bars state and local law enforcement agencies from signing or maintaining any Section 287(g) agreements with ICE. Such agreements authorize ICE to delegate certain immigration functions to local and state officers under the agency's oversight. Local and state officers can detain suspected illegal immigrants under the deal. If passed, the New York bill would void all existing Section 287(g) agreements in the state. Homan said in the interview that he had talked to Hochul about the consequences. https://www.sott.net/article/506446-Border-czar-Homan-Sanctuary-jurisdictions-must-comply-or-face-more-ICE-boots-on-the-ground Thu, 21 May 2026 19:23:00 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506445-Forcing-Russias-hand-as-Baltic-states-escalate-war The shooting down of a Ukrainian drone by a NATO warplane over Estonia this week shows how close the proxy war with Russia is to a European-wide escalation. NATO and the EU leadership are pushing the Baltic states to escalate the war with Russia. Maybe it's time for Moscow to preempt as the best way to avoid all-out war. It was the first reported case of a NATO fighter jet intercepting a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Estonia's Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur announced: "We decided that we needed to take it down... it was meant to hit Russian targets." His remarks betray a nervousness among the Baltic states about where their support for Ukraine is leading them after Russia warned that it is ready to deliver on threats of retaliation for allowing Ukraine to use their airspace to launch strikes. Effectively, they are forming a new front against Russia, with echoes of Operation Barbarossa when the Nazi Third Reich attacked Russia in a pincer through these same states in 1941.... https://www.sott.net/article/506445-Forcing-Russias-hand-as-Baltic-states-escalate-war Thu, 21 May 2026 18:21:56 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506444-Multipolar-world-order-REALLY-means The world is changing. The once dominant imperial power of the United States is faltering, hollowed out by corruption, over-extended by hubris, eaten away by the cancers of hatred, nationalism and greed. Even according to its own propaganda outlets, America has "become the villain", is "Officially an Empire in Decline", and we are witnessing its "final act". And, as we await the titan's inevitable fall, the world is considering the future. Everyone is talking about the "multipolar world order" just over the horizon. From "Pax Americana to Pax Multipolaris". This "Multipolar World" has been a political talking point for a long time, but it has been building momentum over the last few years, and noticeably accelerating since the beginning of Donald Trump's second term. Russian President Vladimir Putin has been calling for this multipolar order for years, and did so again last week. China's Xi Jinping regularly does the same, most recently during his trip to South America in February.... https://www.sott.net/article/506444-Multipolar-world-order-REALLY-means Thu, 21 May 2026 18:00:08 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506443-I-Know-What-a-Terrorist-Looks-Like I am the Minister of National Security of the State of Israel. In 2007, I was convicted of incitement to racism and support for a terrorist organization. I tell you the second fact first because I want you to hold it in your mind for everything that follows. Last week I visited Ashdod port. Four hundred people were kneeling on the ground. Hands bound behind their backs. Foreheads to the concrete. They came from forty countries on fifty boats. Three hundred tons of cargo in the holds. Medicine. Baby formula. Surgical supplies. Bandages. Among the kneeling: a doctor from Ireland. The sister of a president. A retired ship captain. A parliamentarian's aide. Foreheads to my concrete. Wrists bound with my zip ties. Called terrorists by my loudspeaker. Every one of them carried medicine. Not one of them carried a weapon. https://www.sott.net/article/506443-I-Know-What-a-Terrorist-Looks-Like Thu, 21 May 2026 17:26:28 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506442-Three-dead-nearly-20-New-Mexico-first-responders-hospitalized-after-exposure-to-unknown-substance-during-overdose-call Three people are dead, and nearly 20 first responders in New Mexico were hospitalized for exposure to an "unidentified substance" on Wednesday, according to authorities. New Mexico State Police arrived at a residence in Mountainair around 11:00 a.m. to assist the Torrance County Sheriff's Office with a suspected overdose involving an unknown substance. After entering the home, cops grimly discovered four unidentified people unresponsive. Three of the four people have since died, authorities added. Eighteen first responders who arrived at the property were exposed to the substance and began experiencing symptoms, including nausea and dizziness, police said. https://www.sott.net/article/506442-Three-dead-nearly-20-New-Mexico-first-responders-hospitalized-after-exposure-to-unknown-substance-during-overdose-call Thu, 21 May 2026 17:04:27 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506441-World-shaking-UFO-files-release-imminent-as-insider-Jeremy-Corbell-hints-at-much-bigger-secrets-in-next-disclosure-drop Americans are waiting with bated breath for the next wave of UFO files after officials promised the release will be 'very soon.' Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced Monday on X that the materials are currently 'actively being processed' for publication. While details about the imminent disclosure dump remain secret, investigative journalist Jeremy Corbell told the Daily Mail it could include 46 classified UFO videos requested by lawmakers earlier this year. 'There is something much bigger coming,' he said. Corbell claimed he personally provided officials with access to the videos via what he described as classified 'intel links' linked to hidden government servers, after unknown sources leaked the clips to him. 'Not just file names. If you put the underscores in, they're linked,' Corbell said, claiming the material led directly to classified systems that 'you and I can't access.' https://www.sott.net/article/506441-World-shaking-UFO-files-release-imminent-as-insider-Jeremy-Corbell-hints-at-much-bigger-secrets-in-next-disclosure-drop Thu, 21 May 2026 00:41:18 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506440-Unanimous-Supreme-Court-ruling-Freight-brokers-can-be-sued-for-negligently-hiring-illegal-alien-and-unqualified-foreign-drivers In a unanimous 9-0 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court just ruled that freight brokers can be held personally liable for negligently hiring dangerous trucking companies, including those flooding our highways with illegal aliens and unqualified foreign drivers who can't even speak English, let alone follow CDL regulations! Justice Amy Coney Barrett delivered the opinion in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC, confirming that federal law does NOT shield these greedy middleman brokers from state negligence lawsuits. The case stems from a horrific 2017 crash in Illinois where trucker Shawn Montgomery lost part of his leg after being smashed by a carrier hired by freight giant C.H. Robinson. https://www.sott.net/article/506440-Unanimous-Supreme-Court-ruling-Freight-brokers-can-be-sued-for-negligently-hiring-illegal-alien-and-unqualified-foreign-drivers Wed, 20 May 2026 22:10:10 +0000