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Signs of the Times: The World for People who Think. Featuring independent, unbiased, alternative news and commentary on world events.
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The machinery of fascism revisited
Fascism became a swear word in the US and UK during the Second World War. It has been ever since, to the point that the content of the term has been drained away completely. It is not a system of political economy but an insult. If we go back a decade before the war, you find a completely different situation. Read any writings from polite society from 1932 to 1940 or so, and you find a consensus that freedom and democracy, along with Enlightenment-style liberalism of the 18th century, were completely doomed. They should be replaced by some version of what was called the planned society, of which fascism was one option. A book by that name appeared in 1937 as published by the prestigious Prentice-Hall, and it included contributions by top academics and high-profile influencers. It was highly praised by all respectable outlets at the time. -
Lithium: The untold story of the magic mineral
As far as cosmologists can tell, there were only three elements present when the universe was first formed some 13.8 billion years ago: hydrogen, helium, and lithium. As one of the three original elements, lithium is found throughout our atmosphere. The sun, stars, and meteorites burn brightly with the flame of this highly reactive element. On earth, lithium remains a major mineral component of granite rock, and also lingers in significant amounts in sea water, mineral springs, and soils. Lithium has also found its way into our cell phones, electric cars, and holiday fireworks. Every organ and tissue in the human body contains the mineral lithium, with particular importance in brain health. Today, we do not tend to think of lithium as an essential mineral in human physiology and its critical use for expanding technology. Lithium does not evoke visions of stars, peaceful rivers, or strong, healthy bodies. Instead images of lithium are associated with pharmacies, doctor's offices,... -
Lightning kills mother and daughter duo in Assam, India
In a tragic incident, a mother-daughter duo were killed when a lightning struck them in Assam's Barpeta district on Sunday. The deceased were identified as Momiron Nessa(60) and her daughter Joshna Khatun (20). According to locals, they were sitting outside their home in Saorachara village of Barpeta when the lightning struck. They were immediately rushed to the nearby medical facility in serious condition, but the duo succumbed to their injuries. -
Shallow earthquake of magnitude 6.2 jolts Indonesia
A magnitude 6.2 quake struck off Indonesia, the US Geological Survey said. A very strong magnitude 6.2 earthquake occurred in the Ceram Sea near the coast of Maluku, Indonesia, in the early morning of Monday, May 6, 2024 at 3.33 am local time (Asia/Jayapura GMT +9). The quake had a very shallow depth of 29 km (18 mi) and was reported felt by some people near the epicenter. No significant damage or impact is expected from this quake and no particular alert was issued. -
Enforcing silence on genocide
The U.S. public should by now be realizing that instead of stopping genocide, U.S. institutional and media authority is actively stamping out cries to stop the mass murder being committed with U.S. complicity. Developments on university campuses and in Congress this week showed that the U.S. government's top priority is not protecting students or civilian lives in Gaza, but to protect Israel's ability to continue its unimpeded slaughter. Anti-genocide student protestors at Columbia University, demanding Columbia divest from Israel, occupied the campus's Hamilton Hall on Tuesday and renamed it Hind's Hall after Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli soldiers in Gaza earlier this year. The Columbia protest has inspired more than 40 other anti-genocide university encampments across the country and in other nations. On the morning the students occupied Hamilton Hall, MSNBC's Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski compared the student protests to Jan. 6, calling for... -
'Dangerous' to send NATO troops to Ukraine - UK
The UK foreign secretary has spoken out against sending soldiers from NATO countries to Ukraine to fight against the Russian army. He made the comments amid calls from some EU leaders for more direct involvement in the conflict. Speaking to Sky News on Friday, David Cameron said the UK would keep supplying weapons to Kiev and focus on replenishing its own stocks "as a national priority." "But I wouldn't have NATO soldiers in the country because I think that could be a dangerous escalation. We've trained - I think - almost 60,000 Ukrainian soldiers." This week, French President Emmanuel Macron once again refused to rule out a potential deployment in Ukraine. "We mustn't rule anything out because our objective is that Russia must never be able to win in Ukraine," he told the Economist. Macron argued that the question of NATO boots on the ground could arise "if the Russians were to break through the front lines" and if Kiev were to request help. -
The West has invented a magic phrase to hide its geopolitical games
The meaning of the words 'civil society' changes depending on whether Washington is speaking about protests inside or outside the American border. The elites and mainstream media of the West are so addicted to double standards that spotting yet another one is hardly news. These are the people who have just given us genocide re-labeled as "self-defense," who abhor spheres of influence except when they are global and belong to Washington (with a sidekick role for Brussels), and who insist on the rule of law while threatening the International Criminal Court if it so much as dares look their way. Yet there is something special about the latest case of Western 'values' schizophrenia, this time about the concept of 'civil society' in conjunction with two political struggles, one in the US and the other in the Caucasus nation of Georgia. -
NATO using war games to 'prepare for conflict' - Moscow
NATO's largest exercise since the Cold War are being held near Russia's border, indicating that the US-led bloc is "seriously preparing" for a potential conflict with Moscow, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said. The Steadfast Defender drills, featuring some 90,000 troops from all 32 NATO member states and 1,100 combat vehicles, started in late January and will end in May. According to the wargame scenario, Zakharova said: "The coalition's actions against Russia are being practiced using all the instruments, including hybrid and conventional weapons. We have to admit that NATO is seriously preparing for a 'potential conflict' with us." The diplomat was commenting on accusations made by NATO earlier this week that Russia was allegedly carrying out "hybrid activities" on the member countries' soil, which they insist constitute a threat to their security. These actions include "sabotage, acts of violence, cyber and electronic interference, disinformation campaigns,... -
BEST OF THE WEB: Delivering a 'True Promise': An insider's account of Iran's retaliatory strikes on Israel
Iranian firebrand MP Mahmoud Nabavian reveals the calculated strategy, diplomatic intrigue, and bold military prowess that showcased Tehran's 13 April missile strikes on Israel. Following the strategic success of Iran's 'True Promise' retaliatory drone and missile operation in response to last month's Israeli bombing of the Iranian consulate in Damascus, The Cradle presents an exclusive insider's narrative provided by Iranian Member of Parliament Mahmoud Nabavian, a principalist who won the most votes in Tehran during the country's March elections. His account of the retaliatory strikes against the occupation state offers unparalleled insights into the 13-14 April events. With access to military sources, Nabavian's testimony serves as the most detailed view to date by an Iranian government official on Iran's response, one that has sorely exposed the vulnerabilities of Israel's air defense systems. -
Researchers discover the dial in the brain that controls the immune system
Scientists identify the brain cells that regulate inflammation, and pinpoint how they keep tabs on the immune response. A population of neurons in the brain stem, the stalk-like structure that connects the bulk of the brain to the spinal cord, acts as the master dial for the immune system.Credit: Voisin/Phanie/Science Photo Library Scientists have long known that the brain plays a part in the immune system — but how it does so has been a mystery. Now, scientists have identified cells in the brainstem that sense immune cues from the periphery of the body and act as master regulators of the body's inflammatory response. The results, published on 1 May in Nature1, suggest that the brain maintains a delicate balance between the molecular signals that promote inflammation and those that dampen it — a finding that could lead to treatments for autoimmune diseases and other conditions caused by an excessive immune response. -
Inconvenient truth: Some EU states still consider Russia a 'good friend'
Top diplomat Josep Borell acknowledged that not everyone in Europe sees Moscow as a threat The EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has admitted that not every member state sees Russia as Europe's "most existential threat." He argued that disputes between members are preventing the bloc from taking a unified stance on Moscow, and are holding back military aid to Ukraine. Speaking at Oxford University in the UK on Friday, Borrell said he sees "more confrontation and less cooperation" in world affairs, and brought up instances of dissent among EU members when it comes to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the conflict in Ukraine. -
BEST OF THE WEB: Israeli organ-trafficking network busted in Turkey
Police in the Turkish city of Adana detained 11 suspects, five Israeli and two Syrian, on allegations of organ trafficking, the Daily Sabah reported on 5 May. The Provincial Directorate of Security's Anti-Smuggling and Border Gates Branch began investigating after examining the passports of seven individuals who arrived in Adana from Israel about a month ago by plane for the purpose of health tourism. The two Syrian nationals, ages 20 and 21, were found to have fake passports. Further investigation revealed that Syrian nationals had each agreed to sell one of their own kidneys to two of the Israeli nationals, ages 68 and 28, for kidney transplants in Adana. During searches at the suspects' residences, $65,000 and numerous fake passports were seized. -
Russia's IMF representative says BRICS should be prepared for dollar collapse
The international group could create an alternative currency based on their national legal tenders, according to Alexey Mozhin The BRICS group of nations could offer an alternative currency in the event of a collapse of the dollar and the international monetary system, according to Russia's executive director at the International Monetary Fund, Alexey Mozhin. In an interview with RIA Novosti published on Friday, the expert noted that the shortcomings of the current financial system are becoming more apparent and that many publications have started to mention BRICS "in the context of the fact that this association can offer an alternative." -
Oops! Sanctions on Russia adding to Boeing's woes - WSJ
The US company has warned investors it will not be able to deliver the planned number of Dreamliner jets this year, according to the paper Boeing is experiencing problems with the production of its 787 Dreamliner wide-body airliners due to the lack of a key component caused by US sanctions on Russia, the Wall Street Journal has reported. Heat exchangers, which are used in the plane's environmental control system and also regulate the temperature of its electronics, had been made by a joint venture between American company RTX's Collins Aerospace and Moscow-based firm HS-Nauka, the outlet said in an article on Friday. However, in March 2022, just weeks after the fighting between Russia and Ukraine broke out, the joint venture was shut down as part of restrictions against Moscow over the conflict, the report said. -
Macron warns about Russian missiles in a defeated Ukraine
The potential redeployment of Moscow's military assets would threaten not only Kiev's neighbors, but France itself, the president has said A total Russian victory over Ukraine in which the entire country is defeated would be detrimental to European and NATO security, as it could allow Moscow to place missiles at the EU's doorstep, French President Emmanuel Macron has said. In an interview with the French daily La Tribune on Saturday, Macron, who has famously refused to rule out sending Western troops to Ukraine, once again advocated a policy of "strategic ambiguity" towards Russia, arguing that the key idea behind such an approach is to project strength while "not giving too many details." Describing Russia as "an adversary," the French president stressed that establishing "a priori limits" would be interpreted as weakness. "We must remove all visibility from it, because that is what creates the ability to deter," he argued. Comment: All the Western leaders thought Russia's concern... -
Manipur in India struck by massive hailstorm
A heavy downpour accompanied by a cyclonic hailstorm struck Manipur at around 1.30 pm on Sunday (May 5), leaving behind a trail of destruction in the Northeast state. The hailstorm that lasted for nearly 15 minutes caused extensive damage to homes and uprooted trees in the Imphal valley. The hailstorm was so intense that it left parts of the valley covered with 4-5 inches of hail. The downpour led to several roads in the Imphal city being waterlogged. An uprooted tree fell on an auto rickshaw damaging it partially. Dozens of birds were seen lying dead on the streets due to the impact of the hailstorm. -
KFC Malaysia closes over 100 outlets after boycott over its support from Israel's Gaza genocide
The American fast food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has been forced to close over 100 of its Malaysian outlets amid a month's long boycott campaign over US support for Israel's war on Gaza. According to Chinese media, QSR Brands, which owns the fast-food franchise, KFC, had to temporarily shutter 108 of its 600 outlets across Malaysia, most of them in the Muslim-majority Kelantan state. In a statement, QSR Brands cited "challenging economic conditions" for the closures and that employees had been offered the opportunity to relocate to busier stores, saying that the company contributes "positively to the Malaysian economy through job security for 18,000 team members in Malaysia, of which, approximately 85 percent are Muslims." -
Heavy hailstorms hit some regions of Armenia
Heavy hailstorms were observed today in Nor Artagers and a number of other villages in Armavir Marz. Gagik Surenyan, Deputy Director of the "Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Centre" SNCO of the Ministry of Environment of Armenia reported and published a video. Users published photos and videos in comments, in which they reported that strong hailstorms were also observed in the villages of Tandzut, Katnakhpyur, Vanand, Talin, and others. -
Flooding in Iran affects 21 provinces
Heavy rainfalls have led to significant flooding across 21 regions in Iran, affecting residential areas and agricultural lands. According to the Red Crescent's emergency response organization, the floods have sparked a crisis that spans much of the country. The Meteorological Organization of Iran warned of a new wave of precipitation starting Sunday and spreading to multiple regions. The latest natural tragedy comes after mid-April's rainfall which caused severe flooding and waterlogging in Sistan-Baluchestan province, destroying dozens of villages and disrupting utilities for at least 300 others. -
US DARPA Manta Ray military drone passes first ocean test
A giant Manta Ray style underwater drone that could one day carry out long-distance missions around the world, has been successfully tested in the US. The prototype, which is several times larger than a small boat, completed full-scale testing off the coast of Southern California over the last three months. US aviation giant Northrop Grumman made the drone with funding from the government's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) programme. -
Russia kills saboteur armed with explosives in Leningrad, criminal was recruited by Ukraine, trained in Lithuania
Russia's FSB state security service said on Friday its officers had killed a saboteur who had been recruited by Ukraine and was planning to attack a fuel terminal in northwestern Russia with explosives. The FSB said in a statement the man was a Russian national recruited by Ukraine's military intelligence to carry out the attack in the Leningrad region, and that he had been killed after shooting at security agents. The FSB said he had entered Russia from Lithuania in March after receiving training there. -
Australian police shoot dead 16-year-old boy after he stabbed a man - attacker was known to authorities and WARNED them day before incident
A 16-year-old boy armed with a knife was shot dead by police after he stabbed a man in the Australian west coast city of Perth, officials said Sunday. The incident occurred in the parking lot of a hardware store in suburban Willetton on Saturday night. The teen attacked the man and then rushed at police officers before he was shot, Western Australian Premier Roger Cook told reporters on Sunday. "There are indications he had been radicalized online," Cook told a news conference. -
Neil Oliver: 'Vaccine companies aren't paying the compensation... WE are'
Neil Oliver delivers his weekly monologue, where this week he takes aim at revolution, and the rich and powerful. -
BEST OF THE WEB: 58 dead, 67 missing after heavy rains and floods in Brazil - Worst flood in over 80 years (UPDATED)
At least 10 people have died in floods caused by torrential rains in Brazil's south, authorities said Wednesday, as rescuers searched for nearly two dozen individuals reported missing. Deluges in the state of Rio Grande do Sul have displaced some 3,300 people in more than 100 municipalities, many of whom have been moved to shelters. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced he would visit the area, which governor Eduardo Leite said was dealing with "the worst disaster in the history of our state." Leite said work was continuing to locate the missing even as more heavy rains were forecast. -
Huge meteor fireball over Zaragoza, Spain on May 3
Registration : All-sky camera of Actuel-Teruel, Falset (Joan A. Català) and Prades-Tarragona (Aleix Roig). Video detection stations of Barx-La Visteta (Jordi Donet), Bartolo and Benicàssim (Vicent Ibàñez), Blesa-Teruel (Miguel Aznar), Cehegín-Murcia (Sensi Pastor and José A. de los Reyes), Esparreguera (Jordi Gil) , Estepa-Sevilla (Antonio J. Robles), Fanzara (Germán Edo), Folgueroles (Pep Pujols-AAO/Josep M. Trigo-CSIC-IEEC), Lleida (Xavier Turmo), Madrid-M30 (Dr. Jaime Izquierdo), Olocau (Álex Gómez and Juan Gómez), Sant Celoni (David Molner), Sant Fost de Campsentelles (Lina Aguasca), Sant Mateu (Cèsar Guasch), Sucaina (V. Ibàñez) and Vilavella (V. Ibàñez). Absolute magnitude : -15±2 Origin : Sporadic Observation range : Andalusia, Aragon, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Community of Madrid, Comunitat Valenciana, Balearic Islands, La Rioja, Navarra and Euskadi. (Translated by Google) -
China is preparing its economy for 'something major' - Newsweek
China has been buying up commodities at a rapid clip, prompting analysts to wonder out loud whether Beijing is preparing to choose the economic "nuclear option." "China is preparing for something major. That seems increasingly obvious judging from the stockpiling of important resources. Could it be that they are preparing a major one-off devaluation of the CNY?" Andreas Steno Larsen, CEO of Steno Research, wrote last week. Currency devaluation is widely described as a "nuclear option" by economists due to the serious global repercussions it could trigger. By intentionally devaluing the yuan, for instance, China could boost exports by making its goods cheaper and more competitive — but not without serious repercussions such as riling trade partners and worsening the country's trade war with the United States. -
Entrapment: Unsealed docs show Smith's top prosecutor met with top Biden aide before classified material was found at Mar-a-Lago
Newly unsealed documents in Jack Smith's classified documents case against Trump further prove Biden's DOJ set up Trump. The unsealed motion reveals Jack Smith's top prosecutor, Jay Bratt, met with a top Biden aide in September 2021 - before any classified documents were discovered at Mar-a-Lago. Bratt met with an aide to Biden's White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain in September 2021. Per Julie Kelly: Jay Bratt-who led investigation into classified docs then moved to Jack Smith's team after he was appointed-met with aide to WH chief of staff Ron Klain in Sept. 2021 -
The latest educational fad destined for failure is 'equity' grading
Why work extra hard when you won't be able to get an A? Why try to improve when you won't get worse than a C? Modern public-education history is littered with novel education theories that have failed so spectacularly that the terms are now used as pejoratives. For instance, when I was in elementary school in the 1960s, the "New Math" focused on teaching abstractions rather than fundamentals. You can find reams of research documenting its failure decades later, but the evidence was recognized almost immediately. That then-new approach "ignored completely the fact that mathematics is a cumulative development and that it is practically impossible to learn the newer creations if one does not know the older ones," according to Morris Kline's 1973 Why Johnny Can't Add. Another well-known but more recent failure is "Common Core" a set of educational standards embraced by California and 39 other states in 2010. On hindsight, it also deserves a failing grade."Despite the theory's intuitive... -
New US antisemitism law turns critics against Israeli genocide into criminals
On Wednesday May 1st, the House overwhelmingly passed the Antisemitism Awareness Act by a 320-91 vote, with only 21 Republicans joined by 70 Democrats against it. Expanding the scope of what is legally considered antisemitism, this is another bipartisan uniparty trap to ensnare the thousands of protesters exercising their free speech against the apartheid Israel's extermination of Palestinians, in effect criminalizing those that are critical of the genocide. This is piece of legislation is a betrayal of our First Amendment rights and a betrayal of the American people, and a testimonial how AIPAC Israel through bribery and blackmail have turned our constitutional republic into a totalitarian technocratic police state. Foreign national influence is outlawed in the United States except with one exception, the American Israel Political Action Committee (AIPAC) that allows Zionist Israel money and bribery control to essentially own the treasonous US Congress. Through intelligence... -
For the first time in one billion years, two lifeforms have truly merged into one organism
Evolution is quite a wondrous and lengthy process, with some random bursts of activity that are responsible for the diversity of life on our planet today. These can happen on large scales like with the evolution of more efficient limbs. They also occur at microscopic cellular level, such as when different parts of the cell were first formed. Now, a team of scientists have detected a sign of a major life event that has likely not occurred for at least one billion years. They've observed primary endosymbiosis — two lifeforms merging into one organism. This incredibly rare event occurred between a type of abundant marine algae and a bacterium was observed in a lab setting. For perspective, plants first began to dot our planet the last time this happened. The results are described in two papers recently published in the journals Cell and Science. -
The 'Deep State' is far deeper than you can imagine
Another week and another first for Donald J. Trump. No doubt, this is one he would be willing to pass on — the first criminal trial of a former president. But like all things in Trump world, it reveals more about his enemies than it does the 45th president. For decades, pollsters have been telling us the electorate yearned for a third way, a nonpartisan who wasn't wedded to either party and would represent the vast middle. Along comes the brash, imperfect real estate developer who had worked with both sides of the aisle in "the art of a deal." The media elite loved it, especially the most salacious exploits of the prowling Manhattan mogul. That is right up until presidential candidate Trump embraced a reformulated version of America First that turned out to be a direct threat to those global media empires. You know, the ones who profitably ran all those Big Pharma ads while "reporting'" on COVID. It wasn't long before the crude tapes and "hush money" stories started rolling in. -
Russian troops enter base housing US military in Niger, US official says
Russian military personnel have entered an air base in Niger that is hosting U.S. troops, a senior U.S. defense official told Reuters, a move that follows a decision by Niger's junta to expel U.S. forces. The military officers ruling the West African nation have told the U.S. to withdraw its nearly 1,000 military personnel from the country, which until a coup last year had been a key partner for Washington's fight against insurgents who have killed thousands of people and displaced millions more. A senior U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Russian forces were not mingling with U.S. troops but were using a separate hangar at Airbase 101, which is next to Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, Niger's capital. -
Tension grows on UCLA campus as police order dispersal of large pro-Palestinian gathering
Law enforcement on the UCLA campus donned riot gear Wednesday evening as they ordered the dispersal of over a thousand people who had gathered in support of a pro-Palestinian student encampment, warning over loudspeakers that anyone who refused to leave could face arrest. A large crowd of students, alumni and neighbors gathered on campus steps outside the barricaded area of tents, sitting as they listened and applauded various speakers and joined in pro-Palestinian chants. Overheard television cameras showed students in the barricaded area passing out goggles and helmets, as well as setting up medical aid stations. A small group of students holding signs and wearing T-shirts in support of Israel and Jewish people gathered nearby. The law enforcement presence and continued warnings stood in contrast to the scene that unfolded the night before, when counter-demonstrators attacked the pro-Palestinian encampment, throwing traffic cones, releasing pepper spray and tearing down barriers.... -
Irish political party drops Jewish candidate
A businesswoman with Israeli citizenship who lives in Ireland and has entered politics there is claiming that the country is becoming increasingly unwelcoming and unsafe for its Jewish community, local media reported on Wednesday. Orli Degani's comments came after the aspiring politician was dropped by the Social Democrats party as a candidate last week, ahead of a local elections. In a statement cited by local media outlets Degani claimed the party had deselected her "for reasons which are an affront to the values of equality and inclusivity." Degani, a German-born Jewish woman, has lived in Ireland for more than five years. She said that she had tried to "constructively engage" with the party to address "the actions and statements" made by some of its members regarding Israel and its offensive in Gaza, and the impact they were having on the local Jewish community. She claimed that Jews were feeling "more and more unwelcome and unsafe in Ireland" as well as in her prospective... -
New York DA indicts Trump for bringing firefighters pizza but no salad or cheesy bread
NEW YORK — Former President Donald Trump has been indicted by the New York District Attorney for allegedly bringing firefighters pizza but without a house salad or cheesy bread. "After a lengthy day in court, former President Trump personally delivered pizzas to New York firefighters without a single leaf of salad or some cheesy bread," declared District Attorney Alvin Bragg. "For the sake of our democracy, he must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and then a bit futher." According to sources close to the investigation, Trump allegedly attempted to feed firefighters without any sides to accompany the delicious fresh pizza. "Has Trump no decency, no shame?" cried MSNBC's Joe Scarborough as he played clips of firefighters shaking Trump's hand. "Look at those firefighters being bamboozled by this charlatan. Not a crouton in sight! Lock him up! Lock him up!" -
BEST OF THE WEB: Hungary, Italy reject Macron's 'dangerous' claim of possibly sending NATO troops to Ukraine
Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Economic Relations Peter Szijjártó criticized French President Emmanuel Macron's statements about the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine. According to Azernews, the head of the Foreign Ministry of Hungary said this on the air of the LCI TV channel. "We consider these statements as a threat and we understand very well that if the Western troops are on the territory of Ukraine, the scale of the war will increase significantly," Szijjártó stressed. Comment: It's likely that Szijjártó is well aware that Western troops are already operating on the ground in Ukraine, both as mercenaries, but also in 'advisory' roles, as well in a covert capacity. According to the Hungarian diplomat, "the escalation of the conflict would be very dangerous." -
An enormous economic shift of historic proportions is now taking place right in front of our eyes
Can you feel it too? Over the past few weeks, I have heard from so many readers that are deeply troubled about economic conditions where they live. In some cases, sales are way down. In other cases, it seems almost impossible to find a decent job. It is almost as if a tremendous chill descended upon the U.S. economy as the second quarter of 2024 began. Yes, economic conditions have certainly not been good for a few years, but it appears that an absolutely enormous economic shift of historic proportions is now taking place right in front of our eyes. Other than the early stages of the pandemic, we haven't seen anything like this since 2008 and 2009. Let me give you an example that will illustrate what I am talking about. A reader that lives near Seattle recently wrote me about the horrible downturn that she is witnessing in the tech industry, and she said that I could share this information with all of you... -
BEST OF THE WEB: Weak geomagnetic field coincided with significant diversification of life on Earth, new study reveals
An unusual reduction in the strength of Earth's magnetic field between 591 and 565 million years ago coincided with a significant increase in the oxygen levels in the atmosphere and oceans, according to a paper published in Communications Earth & Environment. The authors propose that the weakening of the magnetic field may have led to the increase in oxygen, which is believed to have supported the evolution of some of the earliest complex organisms. Between 600 and 540 million years ago, life on Earth consisted of soft-bodied organisms known as the Ediacaran fauna, the earliest known complex multicellular animals. The fossil record shows that these organisms significantly diversified in complexity and type between 575 and 565 million years ago. Previous research has suggested that this diversification is linked to a significant increase in atmospheric and oceanic oxygen levels that occurred over the same period. However, it is not yet clear why this increase in oxygen occurred. -
China rejects Canada's 'shameless' allegations of how it 'may' have interfered in its elections
The Chinese Embassy in Canada expressed "strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition" to the baseless accusation of "China's interference in Canada's internal affairs," according to its spokesperson on Friday. The initial report released by Canada's Foreign Interference Commission on Friday launched a scathing attack on countries including China, Russia and India, accusing them of interfering in Canada's 2019 and 2021 general elections. "We have never meddled in Canada's internal affairs, nor do we have any intention to do so. The attempts by certain Canadian politicians to shift blame onto China for their own electoral failures are unfair and unethical, revealing their self-serving and shameless nature," the spokesperson said, adding that China has consistently upheld the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs. -
At least a dozen killed in northern Haiti as heavy rains flood thousands of homes
At least a dozen people are dead in northern Haiti, where heavy rains have triggered deadly landslides and washed out thousands of homes. Most of the deaths occurred in Cap-Haïtien, where heavy downpours on Thursday destroyed a home in the southern part of the city, Barrière Bouteille. The house then took out two other homes below it. "Initial assessments show 2,225 houses flooded and 15 houses damaged," Haiti's Civil Protection office said in its latest situation report. The agency said heavy and moderate rains over the last four weeks have affected several regions of the country but the second largest city, Cap-Haïtien, has been hard it. Since gangs began launching coordinated attacks against key government infrastructure on Feb. 29 in the capital in hopes of bringing down the government, Cap-Haïtien has increasingly become a place of refuge for those trying to escape the violence or leave the country through its Hugo Chavez International Airport. The migration, however, is... -
Landslides, floods sweep Indonesia's South Sulawesi, killing 15 people
Landslides and flooding triggered by heavy rains in Indonesia's South Sulawesi province have killed at least 15 people after dozens of homes were swept away and roads damaged, the country's disaster management agency said. Indonesia is prone to landslides during the rainy season, which began in January, with the problem aggravated in some areas by deforestation, and prolonged downpours caused floods in parts of the country that comprises 17,000 islands. The landslides struck Luwu regency in South Sulawesi on Friday, said Abdul Muhari, spokesperson of Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency (BNPB), in a statement on Saturday. -
21-tonne giant whale shark washes up on shore in Kerala, India
Beachgoers were left amazed after a giant whale washed up on a beach in India's Kerala, a video of which went viral on social media. The video, shared on Instagram by an account titled Vlogettan, showed people gathered around a giant whale shark carcass that washed up on the shore. The sea creature reportedly weighed around 21 tonnes as two heavy machinery were used to move it back to the sea. In the viral video, the whale appeared to be alive at first, however, it was later pronounced dead as the rescue workers struggled to relocate the carcass. -
Lightning strike kills woman and 48 goats in Karnataka, India - Another 300 goats killed by bolt in Somalia
A woman died on the spot when lightning struck her at Ganagalu village near Hoskote on the outskirts of Bengaluru on Friday. Bengaluru and its surrounding areas received moderate rain accompanied by thunder and gusty winds in the afternoon. The deceased has been identified as Rathnamma, 55, of Ganagalu. She was grazing her goats when lightning struck her around 2pm. In all, 48 goats died in the incident. Tirumalashetty Halli police have registered a case of unnatural death. Rathnamma is survived by her husband and two sons. Bengaluru Rural district administration has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 6 lakh to Rathnamma's family. Of the amount, Rs 4 lakh will be given on Saturday, according to a police officer. According to Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC), Nayandahalli recorded 29.50mm rain, RR Nagar 29mm, Maruthi Mandir 26.50mm, Bilekahalli 24mm and Horamavu 17.50 mm. Meanwhile, officials of the India Meteorological Department have forecast light to moderate... -
Meteor fireball over Washington state on May 3
We received 9 reports about a fireball seen over WA and Washington on Friday, May 3rd 2024 around 06:33 UT. For this event, we received one video and 2 photos. -
Meteor fireball over California on May 2
We received 5 reports about a fireball seen over CA on Thursday, May 2nd 2024 around 08:46 UT. For this event, we received one video. -
NATO countries - also the Nordic - quietly preparing to send troops into Ukraine!
(3 May 2024) NATO is desperate to cover up its Himalayan mistakes of a) expanding NATO instead of creating a common European security and peace system that would have permitted us all to live in prosperity and peace today; and b) stupidly including Ukraine in that expansion - with only a small minority of Ukrainians wanting NATO membership for their country at the time. Ukrainian and NATO elites couldn't care less about people's opinion - as is also well known for, e.g. Sweden's membership process. One of the most hawkish Western strategists, Edward Luttwak,1 has recently argued that NATO troops must now get involved on the ground in Ukraine lest suffering a catastrophic defeat. He writes: "The British and French, along with the Nordic countries, are already quietly preparing to send troops - both small elite units and logistics and support personnel - who can remain far from the front." You do not have to be an expert in strategy, warfare and NATO's already manifested Ukraine... -
The Policy Makers: Offshore wind is gearing up to bulldoze the ocean
From CFACT The Biden Administration has recently produced a wave of plans and regulatory actions aimed at building a monstrous amount of destructive offshore wind. No environmental impact assessment is included. Comment: Simply put, the administration has windmills in their minds. Time scales range from tomorrow to 2050. Here is a quick look at some of it, starting with the Grand Plan. "Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Offshore Wind" is the grandiose title of the Energy Department's version of Biden's vision. Their basic idea is that having successfully traversed the unexpected cost crisis, offshore wind is ready to take off. They point out that even though costs quickly jumped an average of 65%, the boom market is unchanged. The coastal States are raring to go with huge offshore wind targets and laws. In short, it is a seller's market. Cost is no object. They note that State mandates and targets already exceed the Biden goal of 100,000 MW by 2050. But why stop there? They say that... -
SOTT FOCUS: NYU professor: 'College Students Are Protesting Against Israel Because They Aren't Having Enough Sex'
On a recent episode of "Real Time" with Bill Maher, Scott Galloway, clinical professor of marketing at the New York University Stern School of Business, had a comical take on the cause of the pro-Palestine protests sweeping across American Universities. From the New York Post: He said that college campuses were increasingly becoming reminiscent of Nazi Germany — and attributed the reason partly to young people not having enough sex. "We need to enjoy sex," Galloway offered to some initial confusion during an appearance on "Real Time" with Bill Maher Friday. "I think part of the problem is young people aren't having enough sex so they go on the hunt for fake threats and the most popular threat through history is [antisemitism]." Yes, it has nothing to do with Israel's genocidal rampage. Galloway appeared on the show with former CNN host Don Lemon — who later told The Post he was inclined to agree with the observation. Well there you have it, if Don Lemon says it's true, it must be.... -
NATO state rejects €100 billion Ukraine war chest 'madness'
Budapest is opposing a potential €100-billion ($107 billion), five-year NATO plan to fund Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said. The draft plan on the military aid fund was presented to member states of the US-led bloc by Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg earlier this week, Szijjarto revealed. The minister made the remarks on Thursday to Hungarian broadcaster M1 before heading for a ministerial meeting of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries in Paris. Szijjarto said: "On Tuesday, the NATO member states received the secretary-general's proposal to raise 100 billion that NATO plans to spend on the war. Since the money is to be collected over five years, this means NATO expects the hostilities to continue for this period." Budapest will oppose the initiative and is not planning to participate in arming Kiev or training its soldiers, Szijjarto stressed. The draft plan was presented to the bloc's... -
Colombia to sever ties with Israel
Bogota will cut diplomatic relations with Israel due to its "genocidal" leadership, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on Wednesday. In March, following a UN Security Council resolution seeking an immediate ceasefire and more humanitarian aid to Gaza, he vowed to sever ties with the Jewish state should it fail to meet the demands. In a Labor Day speech in Bogota, Petro expressed solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza whose "children have died, dismembered by bombs." "Here, in front of you... as the president of the republic, I announce that tomorrow, on May 2, we will break off diplomatic relations with Israel for having a genocidal government. A time of genocide, of an extermination of an entire nation before our eyes, cannot return... If Palestine dies, humanity dies." Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz condemned the move, accusing President Petro of abetting Hamas and "siding with the most despicable monsters known to mankind." He branded the South American leader a...
