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, 13 Jun 2026 06:49:43 +0000 https://www.sott.net/images/sottlogo_rss.jpg SOTT.net https://www.sott.net https://www.sott.net/article/506862-Trump-releases-THIRD-tranche-of-UFO-files-revealing-shape-shifting-orbs-over-the-US-and-CIA-reports-hidden-for-decades The Trump administration has released a third tranche of previously classified UAP files, adding dozens of new documents, photographs and videos to the government's rapidly expanding archive of unexplained sightings. The materials were uploaded to the Department of War's website on Friday morning and include a series of cases that investigators were unable to explain, leaving the nature of the phenomena unresolved definitively. Among the newly released records is a 2025 FBI report describing a video captured by a citizen in the northeastern US. According to the witness, a bright object hovered over their backyard as a 'brilliant red sphere' roughly the size of a basketball. https://www.sott.net/article/506862-Trump-releases-THIRD-tranche-of-UFO-files-revealing-shape-shifting-orbs-over-the-US-and-CIA-reports-hidden-for-decades Fri, 12 Jun 2026 20:47:03 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506861-UFO-over-Zimbabwe-in-summer-2008-had-CIA-on-high-alert-new-files-reveal The Central Intelligence Agency placed its assets in the African nation of Zimbabwe on high alert in the summer of 2008 after a UFO was spotted hovering directly over the country's main airport. The incident, which took place July 2, 2008, is detailed in a cable that was released Friday as part of a third tranche of UFO files made public pursuant to President Trump's February declassification order. The cable, which was circulated throughout the US government and military hierarchy in the final months of the George W. Bush administration, described a craft that "hovered at an undetermined altitude directly over the Harare airport." https://www.sott.net/article/506861-UFO-over-Zimbabwe-in-summer-2008-had-CIA-on-high-alert-new-files-reveal Fri, 12 Jun 2026 20:21:19 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506860-Raising-girls-who-wont-be-bullied-off-the-starting-line The parents of California high school track athlete Reese Hogan did something no parent should have to do. They went to the press to ask why Gov. Gavin Newsom is fine letting a biological boy compete against their daughter for a girls' title. Reese put in the hard work required for a girl to take home the title. Reese is the one who deserves the trophy. But in 2026, asking for a fair race makes you the troublemaker. A few hundred miles up the coast, Nicki Minaj said she's done biting her tongue. Her California home keeps getting "swatted," and Newsom's office hasn't lifted a finger. She accuses Jay-Z and Roc Nation of trying to destroy her career. To be clear, Minaj has made choices and taken positions many conservative Christians wouldn't endorse. But that's precisely what makes this so revealing. Even someone who once fit in so comfortably within an elite cultural crowd can be cast out the moment she refuses total ideological conformity. She has become a whistleblower of what... https://www.sott.net/article/506860-Raising-girls-who-wont-be-bullied-off-the-starting-line Fri, 12 Jun 2026 19:36:31 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506859-Scientist-set-clocks-made-from-an-atomic-nucleus-running-for-the-first-time Researchers already used one of the nuclear clocks to search for dark matter For the first time, scientists used an atomic nucleus as a clock. The world's most precise timepieces are made using atoms, specifically their electrons. But clocks based on atomic nuclei — protons and neutrons — might eventually outperform them, while also testing basic laws of physics in new ways. Now, the decades-old dream of a nuclear clock has finally been realized, two independent teams of researchers report. The technology is still at an early stage, but the physics behind it is so different from that of atomic clocks that it's already broken new ground, researchers report in a paper submitted June 3 to arXiv.org. "In some types of measurements, we're already outperforming all of the atomic clocks," says physicist Thorsten Schumm of TU Wien in Vienna. https://www.sott.net/article/506859-Scientist-set-clocks-made-from-an-atomic-nucleus-running-for-the-first-time Fri, 12 Jun 2026 19:09:00 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506858-UK-cops-admit-DEI-training-pressured-them-to-ignore-dying-white-teen-Henry-Nowak Anti-white indoctrination and two-tier priorities left an 18-year-old bleeding out while officers believed his attacker's racism claim Officers from the force that failed Henry Nowak have now admitted they felt "controlled and pressured to feel certain ways" after mandatory DEI sessions that hammered home 'white privileged' and unconscious bias. The trainer outsourced to deliver the course was described as "deeply hateful of white people and British culture." Serving and former Hampshire officers told former Home Secretary Suella Braverman they were furious but stayed silent out of fear for their careers. Multiple officers from Hampshire Constabulary have now gone on record about the ideological pressure inside the force. https://www.sott.net/article/506858-UK-cops-admit-DEI-training-pressured-them-to-ignore-dying-white-teen-Henry-Nowak Fri, 12 Jun 2026 18:46:48 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506857-If-only-most-Israelis-oppose-Netanyahus-re-election-Trump-says-PM-may-quit-politics Trump continues to call the premier a 'wartime prime minister' as Netanyahu faces ongoing internal opposition and a long-delayed corruption trial A poll published by an Israeli research center on 9 June has revealed that most Israelis do not want Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to run in the upcoming election. The poll was released by the Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute, based in occupied Jerusalem. https://www.sott.net/article/506857-If-only-most-Israelis-oppose-Netanyahus-re-election-Trump-says-PM-may-quit-politics Fri, 12 Jun 2026 18:23:19 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506856-Clinton-appointed-Fed-judge-bars-Texas-AG-Paxtons-lawsuit-against-ActBlue A U.S. District Court in Boston found Paxton's initial legal action to be retaliatory against ActBlue in support of Paxton's Senate rival. A federal judge has barred Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton from pursuing his state court lawsuit against ActBlue, a major Democratic online fundraising platform. President Clinton-appointed U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns ruled Thursday that the case represented no more than a retaliation campaign for ActBlue's political activities supporting Paxton's opponent in the 2026 U.S. Senate race. Stearns issued a preliminary injunction preventing Paxton from pursuing the Texas case. The judge found the lawsuit attempted to undermine protected political speech and therefore violated the First Amendment. https://www.sott.net/article/506856-Clinton-appointed-Fed-judge-bars-Texas-AG-Paxtons-lawsuit-against-ActBlue Fri, 12 Jun 2026 18:16:26 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506855-Europes-recent-peace-overtures-are-war-by-other-means After four years of zero diplomacy, multiple rounds of economic sanctions aimed at crushing the Russian state, and hundreds of billions of euros fueling a futile war in Ukraine against Russia, European capitals are lately abuzz with calls for opening peace negotiations with Moscow. No doubt part of the shifting policy is due to the economic mess that Europe has created for itself by cutting off energy trade with Russia. Escalating energy costs are destroying European industries and imposing crippling financial hardship on millions of its citizens. Realizing the self-inflicted disaster, European capitals are desperate to appear to be normalizing relations with Russia and resume affordable energy supplies. France and Italy are advocating the appointment of an envoy to engage with Russia to resolve the conflict and the lifting of anti-Russian sanctions. Last weekend, the leaders of Britain, France, and Germany - the so-called E3 - stated that they would "help mediate" a peace deal... https://www.sott.net/article/506855-Europes-recent-peace-overtures-are-war-by-other-means Fri, 12 Jun 2026 18:14:14 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506854-Tulsi-Gabbard-announces-shes-releasing-evidence-of-US-funding-to-over-120-biolabs-in-over-30-countries-for-Gain-of-Function-research Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Friday announced that she is declassifying evidence of US-funded biolabs and gain-of-function research around the world as one of her final acts before stepping down as DNI. "After months of searching through intelligence community holdings and files, today I'm releasing longstanding US government funding of more than 120 bio labs in over 30 countries," including Ukraine, she said in a video statement. She said the labs in Ukraine "likely housed dangerous pathogens," and the US Intelligence Community previously warned that they were at risk of compromise due to the ongoing war. "Until now, evidence regarding the full existence and funding of these laboratories had been knowingly withheld from you, the American people," Gabbard said. "Many of these US government-funded bio labs are currently or have previously engaged in research using hazardous and highly contagious pathogens, and in some cases included dangerous gain-of-function... https://www.sott.net/article/506854-Tulsi-Gabbard-announces-shes-releasing-evidence-of-US-funding-to-over-120-biolabs-in-over-30-countries-for-Gain-of-Function-research Fri, 12 Jun 2026 17:39:00 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506853-Behind-the-Headlines-Is-Trump-Netanyahus-real-enemy Recent tensions between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have fueled speculation about a growing divide in U.S.-Israel relations. However, a closer examination suggests that these disagreements are shaped more by domestic political calculations, electoral considerations, and regional dynamics than by any fundamental strategic rupture. "You are crazy. What the hell are you doing?" This is what Trump told Netanyahu, according to the report, after learning of Israeli military actions in Lebanon. Is this the end of the US-Israel partnership? Well, it's too early to say this. Since the inception of the Trump 2.0 administration, disagreements between the US and Israel have erupted recurringly over Gaza, Iran, or Lebanon. On one occasion, US Vice President JD Vance once commented on Israel's plan to occupy the West Bank as, "What a stupid idea this is!" The actual question is: whether these disagreements are a genuine rupture of relations or just political theater. President Trump has... https://www.sott.net/article/506853-Behind-the-Headlines-Is-Trump-Netanyahus-real-enemy Fri, 12 Jun 2026 17:36:00 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506852-Trump-calls-off-scheduled-bombardment-of-Iran The US president has previously threatened to hit the country "very hard" and to seize Kharg ⁠island. US President Donald Trump has cancelled planned strikes on Iran, saying talks with the Islamic Republic are moving forward with the country's top leadership. The announcement came just hours after he again threatened to hit Iran "very hard." Tensions between Washington and Tehran have surged in recent days despite a nominal ceasefire agreed in April. The US launched strikes on Iran on Wednesday after a US AH‑64 Apache helicopter was lost near the Strait of Hormuz - an incident Washington blamed on Tehran. Iran denied responsibility and responded with a missile barrage targeting American bases in the region. In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said the "scheduled strikes and bombings" had been canceled because of negotiations "brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved." He said "discussions and final points" had been agreed by all sides involved,... https://www.sott.net/article/506852-Trump-calls-off-scheduled-bombardment-of-Iran Fri, 12 Jun 2026 17:35:09 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506851-Senate-wants-to-force-US-to-share-sensitive-intel-with-Israel A measure in a must-pass bill would dramatically increase Israeli access to American secrets. Buried deep inside a 192-page intelligence authorization bill is Section 622, titled "United States-Israel Intelligence Sharing Enhancement." It would require the president, acting through the director of national intelligence and as necessary the secretary of defense, to "expand and enhance intelligence sharing with the Government of Israel" on a list of subjects that encompasses almost every topic of intelligence interest in the Middle East. The bill, put forward by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, would prohibit any suspension, reduction, or limitation of such sharing "except on the basis of a specific and identifiable national security concern determined by the President." Any such exception would require a report to Congress within fifteen days detailing not only the reason for the change but also the categories of information involved. The... https://www.sott.net/article/506851-Senate-wants-to-force-US-to-share-sensitive-intel-with-Israel Fri, 12 Jun 2026 17:33:04 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506850-China-is-learning-to-use-less-oiland-thats-a-bigger-deal-than-it-sounds Three months into the biggest oil supply disruption in modern history, China appears to have discovered something that should make oil bulls at least a little uncomfortable. It can get by on less fuel than anyone thought. China's gasoline and diesel demand has been falling for years as electric vehicles gained market share and economic growth slowed. But the latest drop has surprised even seasoned observers. According to Reuters, gasoline sales at Sinopec, China's largest refiner and fuel retailer, fell 8% year over year in April, while diesel sales dropped 6%. Goldman Sachs estimates that consumption of gasoline and related products may have fallen by as much as 20%. China has slashed crude imports since the Iran war began, with May imports plunging 29% to 7.8 million barrels per day — the lowest level in eight years. Until recently, many analysts viewed those cuts primarily as a function of China's enormous oil stockpile and high crude prices. https://www.sott.net/article/506850-China-is-learning-to-use-less-oiland-thats-a-bigger-deal-than-it-sounds Fri, 12 Jun 2026 17:30:48 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506849-California-gets-80-of-all-federal-cash-for-illegal-immigrant-families-report California is home to the lion's share of illegal immigrant families in the United States with children who received federal welfare assistance in 2024, according to a federal report published on June 10. More than 80 percent of all nationwide cash assistance allocated to such households was spent in California. The report tracked $759 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) spent in 2024 on families headed by a parent living in the country illegally. In those cases, the child qualified for federal welfare, even though the parent was excluded from the federal program because of immigration status. "These cases receive relatively little public attention, yet ... data show that they are far from a negligible part of the program," wrote authors David Swegle, director of the Office of Family Assistance at the Administration for Children and Families under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Alex J. Adams, assistant secretary at the Administration for... https://www.sott.net/article/506849-California-gets-80-of-all-federal-cash-for-illegal-immigrant-families-report Fri, 12 Jun 2026 17:30:00 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506848-DOJ-ramps-up-probe-into-big-banks-for-alleged-debanking-of-clients The US Dept of Justice is intensifying scrutiny of some of the country's largest financial institutions over allegations that customers were denied banking services, or "debanked" for political or ideological reasons, according to the Wall Street Journal. The US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, led by Jeanine Pirro, has reportedly issued subpoenas to several major banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo. Investigators are seeking information on account closures, customer offboarding decisions, and internal records explaining why certain individuals or businesses were denied access to banking services. https://www.sott.net/article/506848-DOJ-ramps-up-probe-into-big-banks-for-alleged-debanking-of-clients Fri, 12 Jun 2026 17:27:39 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506847-June-Snow-returns-to-the-Alps-Oregons-June-frost June Snow Returns To The Alps High Alpine passes have slipped back toward winter. On June 11, Passo Gardena in Italy's Dolomites was under a fresh white dusting at around 2,000 m (6,560 ft). Local forecasts had the pass down to -2C (28.4F), with temperatures at 3,000 m (9,840 ft) around -4C (24.8F). At Passo dello Stelvio, snow totaling 23 cm (9.1 in) has been reported, with the Stelvio glacier down to -8C (17.6F). Switzerland saw the same pattern. Swiss lowland highs were held to 16C (60.8F), with the central and eastern Alps seeing a few centimeters below 2,000 m. https://www.sott.net/article/506847-June-Snow-returns-to-the-Alps-Oregons-June-frost Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:04:03 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506846-Indonesia-raises-alert-levels-as-3-volcanoes-erupt-simultaneously Located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia is home to around 120 - 130 active volcanoes, the highest number in the world, making volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis constant natural hazards. Indonesian authorities have raised alert levels as three active volcanoes, including Dukono, Ibu in North Maluku, and Lewotobi Laki-laki in East Nusa Tenggara, erupted simultaneously, sending ash columns 400 - 500 metres above their summits. According to Lana Saria, acting head of the Geological Agency under Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the three volcanoes are among the country's most active. Lewotobi Laki-laki is the site of a major eruption in November 2024 that killed at least nine people, damaged more than 2,300 homes and forced around 16,000 residents to evacuate. Dukono and Ibu, meanwhile, have experienced near-continuous volcanic activity for years, regularly releasing ash into the atmosphere and remaining under heightened monitoring. https://www.sott.net/article/506846-Indonesia-raises-alert-levels-as-3-volcanoes-erupt-simultaneously Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:37:56 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506845-Lightning-strike-kills-3-injures-5-in-Chhattisgarh-India A pall of gloom descended on Kalgaon under Chhattisgarh's Kanker district after three persons, including Deputy Sarpanch of the village, died and five others were critically injured after lightning struck a group of workers on Friday morning. The workers were engaged in pond construction work under the MGNREGA scheme in Antagarh police station area. According to preliminary information, around 80 workers were working at the site to complete the pond before the onset of the monsoon. At around 6 AM, the weather suddenly changed, bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms. To escape the heavy showers, several workers took shelter under a nearby tree. Moments later, lightning struck the tree, hitting those who had assembled beneath it. Deputy Sarpanch Dhanraj Patel, who was present at the site to supervise the work, was among those struck. https://www.sott.net/article/506845-Lightning-strike-kills-3-injures-5-in-Chhattisgarh-India Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:24:42 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506844-Shady-ActBlue-CEO-pled-the-Fifth-20-TIMES-in-just-one-hour-during-House-panel-hearing ActBlue CEO Regina Wallace-Jones invoked the Fifth Amendment on Wednesday before the House Administration Committee, surrounding reports that she may have misled Congress about how the platform vets foreign donations. Wallace-Jones had originally agreed to testify voluntarily before Congress concerning ActBlue's vetting process for foreign contributions to domestic candidates. But her attorneys requested a congressional subpoena on Monday, ahead of her June 10 testimony, according to committee lawmakers. The House asked Wallace-Jones to testify after a recent New York Times report included memos from Covington & Burling, a law firm that worked for ActBlue, warning that she may have misled Congress about the process for screening overseas donations. https://www.sott.net/article/506844-Shady-ActBlue-CEO-pled-the-Fifth-20-TIMES-in-just-one-hour-during-House-panel-hearing Thu, 11 Jun 2026 22:09:13 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506843-RFK-Jr-responds-to-explosion-in-tick-borne-WEF-touted-Alpha-Gal-syndrome In response to a question on the topic posed by ZeroHedge reporter Liam Cosgrove, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently addressed the astronomical increase in alpha-gal syndrome, a tick-borne infection that causes potentially life-threatening allergic reactions to red meat: "Last week, I went to New Hampshire... to address this explosion of alpha-gal, and we take it very seriously. One of the epicenters is Martha's Vineyard where 50% of the adult population is now affected. It is really a devastating disease. You can't eat red meat for the rest of your life. We are looking at medications that can serve as both prophylactics and also potentially cures for it. We're funding those studies now and we're working with the companies that are making those. We've also launched a major effort on tick control through a number of different strategies that address deer populations... Three ticks that are causing these, most of the tick-borne diseases, all breed on deer. And we're looking... https://www.sott.net/article/506843-RFK-Jr-responds-to-explosion-in-tick-borne-WEF-touted-Alpha-Gal-syndrome Thu, 11 Jun 2026 21:37:04 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506842-Researchers-accidentally-discovered-strange-hidden-rule-of-human-behavior Researchers report a "serendipitous" discovery while watching videos of crowds: an inexplicable bias toward counterclockwise turning that may be rooted in biology. Scientists have discovered that people walking in crowds tend to spontaneously turn counterclockwise — regardless of the environment, from schoolyards to busy settings — a surprise finding that "may represent a manifestation of a deeper biological principle of symmetry breaking," according to a study published in Nature Communications on Wednesday. The bizarre finding was made essentially by accident; during the Covid-19 pandemic, researchers led by Iñaki Echeverría Huarte, a professor who studies pedestrian dynamics at the University of Navarra in Spain, studied the movements of pedestrians as part of a project to inform public health guidance on social distancing measures. But the videos revealed something unexpected — a consistent pattern of people turning counterclockwise when switching direction. https://www.sott.net/article/506842-Researchers-accidentally-discovered-strange-hidden-rule-of-human-behavior Thu, 11 Jun 2026 21:16:55 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506841-DARPA-MASCAL-to-simulate-a-mass-casualty-event DARPA is looking for input from the public and private sectors for its upcoming mass casualty simulation called Realistic Mass Casualty (MASCAL) Medical Simulation Capabilities. The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking "input from industry, government support organizations, military training organizations, and civilian emergency preparedness entities regarding capabilities to plan, resource, execute, and assess high-fidelity, large-scale mass casualty (MASCAL) medical simulation events," according to the special notice. DARPA is quite descriptive with which types of injuries it is looking to simulate, and most are consistent with what you would expect in warfighting scenarios, such as burns, blast injuries, lascerations, hemorrhages, and contaminations. https://www.sott.net/article/506841-DARPA-MASCAL-to-simulate-a-mass-casualty-event Thu, 11 Jun 2026 21:15:20 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506840-War-crime-US-precision-strikes-cut-water-access-to-20000-people-in-southern-Iran The 'self-defense' strikes that Washington said it carried out destroyed part of a key water facility in Hormozgan province The US military's recent airstrikes on a drinking water facility in southern Iran "could constitute a war crime," a 10 June New York Times (NYT) investigation said after an attack by Washington cut off water to tens of thousands of people. Satellite imagery released and verified by NYT shows the two water structures in Bemani village of Sirik Country in Hormozgan province that were targeted by the US. https://www.sott.net/article/506840-War-crime-US-precision-strikes-cut-water-access-to-20000-people-in-southern-Iran Thu, 11 Jun 2026 20:57:38 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506839-Putin-powerfully-rebuffed-the-hawks-who-want-him-to-attack-NATO In his words, talk about Russia attacking NATO "is not simply nonsense; it is a provocation." Several top "Non-Russian Pro-Russians" (NRPR) influencers rang the alarm last month about Russia's alleged plans to attack NATO, which were inspired by top hawk Sergey Karaganov and then Russian Ambassador to the OSCE Dmitry Polyanskiy ominously channeling his rhetoric. Readers can review examples of their warnings here, here, here, here, and here. Casual NRPRs therefore braced themselves for what would have in that scenario almost certainly been the start of World War III had it come to pass. It obviously hasn't and it likely won't ever, however, judging by Putin's response when he was recently asked about these alleged plans during a meeting with foreign journalists. In his words, "Why would Russia attack Europe or go to war with NATO? What would be the purpose? As I have said before, these claims are not merely nonsense. In my view, they are a deliberate provocation designed to create... https://www.sott.net/article/506839-Putin-powerfully-rebuffed-the-hawks-who-want-him-to-attack-NATO Thu, 11 Jun 2026 20:38:39 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506838-Ground-attack-on-Iran-and-the-role-of-Kurdish-militia Iraqi Kurdistan, at the center of rising tensions in the Middle East and bordering Iran, Turkey, and Syria, is becoming a potential source of conflict due to the armament of Kurdish groups and their ties to the US and Israel, which is causing concern in Iran and threatening regional stability. The Iraqi Kurdistan region, bordering Turkey, Iran, and Syria, with three provinces of Dohuk, Erbil, and Sulaymaniyah, and a population of about 5 million, has been governed autonomously since 1991. Iranians and Kurds have many common cultural, linguistic, historical, and ethnic similarities. Kurdish leaders have repeatedly said that they will not allow and do not want the Kurdistan Region to be a launching pad for attacking Iran. However, Iraqi Kurdistan could become a major point of tension. https://www.sott.net/article/506838-Ground-attack-on-Iran-and-the-role-of-Kurdish-militia Thu, 11 Jun 2026 20:11:45 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506837-Israels-intelligence-overreach-is-becoming-a-problem-for-everyone Reports that U.S. officials are increasingly concerned about Israeli intelligence activity inside the United States should not be dismissed as a minor diplomatic embarrassment. If accurate, they point to a deeper strategic problem: Israel's security doctrine is now pressing so aggressively outward that it is beginning to step on the toes of nearly everyone around it, including Washington. Spy Versus Spy According to reporting summarized by TASS from The New York Times, U.S. intelligence warned American leadership that Israel had stepped up efforts to monitor senior U.S. officials involved in Iran policy, including Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby. The same report said Israel was particularly interested in President Donald Trump's strategy in negotiations with Tehran. Israel and the United States have long spied on each other, the report noted, but the concern was that Israeli efforts had crossed a line during sensitive Iran talks. https://www.sott.net/article/506837-Israels-intelligence-overreach-is-becoming-a-problem-for-everyone Thu, 11 Jun 2026 20:11:04 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506836-US-begins-aother-round-of-attacks-on-Iran On Wednesday night, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced it was launching a round of attacks on Iran for the second night in a row as Iranian media began reporting blasts across the southern part of the country. In response to the US attacks, Iran's military said that it would fully close the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a statement: "From this moment, due to insecurity in the region, the Strait of Hormuz is declared closed to the passage of all vessels, including oil tankers and commercial ships, and any traffic will be targeted." CENTCOM then claimed that the Iranian statement was false and that ships were still transiting the strait, but the denial came just a short while after Iran's announcement. President Trump had earlier claimed that over the past month, the US military was conducting a "secret mission" to allow tankers to exit the Strait of Hormuz. He claimed the US helped bring 100 million barrels out of the strait, which, if... https://www.sott.net/article/506836-US-begins-aother-round-of-attacks-on-Iran Thu, 11 Jun 2026 20:10:36 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506835-Military-weather-modification-Has-Iran-disrupted-a-prolonged-drought-by-undermining-US-Israel-weather-weapon The recent end of a prolonged drought in Iran is triggering controversy across West Asia: Iranian and Iraqi authorities claim that the unusually heavy rainfall following Iranian strikes against certain American facilities in the Gulf indicate that Tehran in fact disrupted a covert weather-modification program - allegedly operated by the US and Israel. Iraqi MP Al-Kaikhani in turn has claimed that Washington and Tel Aviv had been "stealing clouds", causing droughts regionally. Some analysts have dismissed the claims as "conspiracy". The broader issue however deserves serious consideration: the question is not whether Iran has proven the existence of a US-Israeli weather weapon (so far it has not). It is whether such weather modification can be weaponized, whether great and regional powers have explored these possibilities in the past, and whether modern geoengineering technologies could eventually become instruments of geopolitical competition. Military weather modification is no... https://www.sott.net/article/506835-Military-weather-modification-Has-Iran-disrupted-a-prolonged-drought-by-undermining-US-Israel-weather-weapon Thu, 11 Jun 2026 20:09:34 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506834-Inflation-Its-finally-hitting-the-fan "That's back-to-back months of 14% annualized increases." This morning was proof that the inflation story that markets desperately want to go away refuses to cooperate. It also adds to the case that new Fed chair Kevin Warsh could have his hands tied — and may ultimately need to redefine inflation to untie them. This morning the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported another really ugly wholesale inflation print, adding to a growing pile of evidence that inflation pressures are proving far more persistent than policymakers, economists, and investors had hoped. The Producer Price Index rose 1.1% in May, well above economist expectations of 0.7%. On a year-over-year basis, wholesale inflation accelerated to 6.5%, the highest reading since November 2022. https://www.sott.net/article/506834-Inflation-Its-finally-hitting-the-fan Thu, 11 Jun 2026 19:48:21 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506833-An-invisible-Atlantic-boundary-where-UFO-reporting-changes A passenger jet crossing the North Atlantic can move from one system for handling reports of unidentified objects to another without anything on board changing at all. The aircraft does not change. The crew does not change. The passengers do not change. But once a flight crosses the oceanic handover point near 30 degrees west longitude, the way Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) and possible near misses are recorded and escalated can become far less clear. UAP are not just a subject of public fascination. In some cases, pilots report objects they cannot identify in circumstances that raise genuine flight-safety concerns, including the risk of a near miss. Around 2,000 aircraft cross the North Atlantic each day, making it one of the busiest aviation corridors in the world. Roughly 75 to 80 per cent of those flights operate within the Shanwick Oceanic Control Area managed by the Irish Aviation Authority and the UK's air traffic control service. In practical terms, that means... https://www.sott.net/article/506833-An-invisible-Atlantic-boundary-where-UFO-reporting-changes Thu, 11 Jun 2026 19:39:06 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506832-Excellent-idea-USPS-proposes-halting-mail-ballot-delivery-in-states-that-refuse-voter-roll-verification The US Postal Service (USPS) has proposed a new rule requiring states to share voter information related to mail-in and absentee voting. The proposal follows a March executive order from Trump aimed at tightening regulations governing mail-in voting in federal elections. Trump has made election integrity a central focus of his second administration, issuing executive orders designed to require proof of citizenship for voters and combat mail-in voting fraud. The administration has argued that stronger verification measures are necessary to restore confidence in elections and safeguard the voting process. Several of those initiatives have faced legal challenges. Courts have blocked certain provisions, including proof-of-citizenship requirements, while appeals remain pending. Democratic-led states have also filed lawsuits challenging the administration's mail-in voting policies. https://www.sott.net/article/506832-Excellent-idea-USPS-proposes-halting-mail-ballot-delivery-in-states-that-refuse-voter-roll-verification Thu, 11 Jun 2026 19:21:14 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506831-Escalation-Blues So a $40 million U.S. Apache helicopter was targeted by a $20k Shaheed drone just over the Strait of Hormuz only one day after Iran and the death cult in West Asia were trading blows, making a mockery of that wobbly fiction, the "ceasefire". Talk about a massive cost benefit for Tehran: no less than 2000 to 1. Tehran by principle does not deny military attacks. Yet in this particular case they have explicitly denied the downing of the Apache, pointing to a possible accident or technical failure. If the Shaheed had really struck the combat helicopter, the pilots would be dead - and not rescued by a U.S. unmanned boat. Former U.S. Navy intel officer Malcolm Nance argues, "You don't have mid-air collisions with FPV drones in the middle of the Strait of Hormuz, and it's not intentional." This would mean that a drone under fiber optic guidance was able to disrupt the whole, humongous American electronic warfare apparatus - revealing a naked Pentagon incapable of articulating any... https://www.sott.net/article/506831-Escalation-Blues Thu, 11 Jun 2026 18:55:05 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506830-Shoot-the-Dog My presentation at the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum was supposed to be the epitome of diplomatic finesse. Instead, I went off script. I am the better for it. On June 4, 2026, I was honored with the opportunity to participate as a member of a panel discussion scheduled to take place as part of the 2026 Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum, or SPIEF, an annual gathering of Russian business and political leadership that has been ongoing since 1997. Over the years this event has grown to the point that it overshadows its European-based counterpart, the World Economic Forum, held in Davos, Switzerland. In 2026, Davos attracted some 3,000 attendees from 136 countries; SPIEF pulled in nearly 25,000 from over 100 nations and territories. At a time when the collective West, led by Europe, seeks the diplomatic and economic isolation of Russia, SPIEF proves the folly of that effort — the only geopolitical group missing from SPIEF were the Europeans (note: there were... https://www.sott.net/article/506830-Shoot-the-Dog Thu, 11 Jun 2026 18:38:39 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506829-A-geopolitical-World-Cup-2026 Scandalous... it's as though someone decided to inflict damage to the reputation of the United States as one of the event's three host nations. But why? FIFA Football World Cup is set to begin tomorrow and over the past few days the 48 participating teams have been arriving to their three host nations: Mexico, US and Canada. Sadly, many of them faced scandalously unfriendly welcome to the United States where many faced draconian security checks, interrogations and even deportations. Uzbekistan's national team, which arrived in New York for a friendly match against the Netherlands, were subjected to intensive screening which included a check with the assistance of drug-detection dog. The Dutch team wasn't subjected to the same treatment.Senegalese players were also subjected to intrusive security checks.Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein, who is his national team's vice-captain and one of the country's key players was detained at Chicago's O'Hare airport for interrogation that lasted... https://www.sott.net/article/506829-A-geopolitical-World-Cup-2026 Thu, 11 Jun 2026 18:21:38 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506828-Consciousness-likely-not-unique-to-earthlings-paper-says Drawing on Copernican tradition, philosophers argue for plausibility of other kinds of sentient life. Does consciousness depend on flesh and blood? The answer is almost certainly no, according to Eric Schwitzgebel, a distinguished professor of philosophy at the University of California, Riverside. In a new working paper, Schwitzgebel and Jeremy Pober, a former UCR graduate student who is now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Lisbon, assert that consciousness is likely possible in life forms made of much different stuff. Think of the five-limbed alien with a rock-like exterior in the recent blockbuster movie "Project Hail Mary." Schwitzgebel and Pober do not attempt to define consciousness; they proceed from the heuristic premise that it's a real and recognizable phenomenon. Instead, they ask a narrower question: Must it be tied to the biology found on Earth? The paper comes at a time when the question of conscious artificial intelligence looms large, fueling dreams and... https://www.sott.net/article/506828-Consciousness-likely-not-unique-to-earthlings-paper-says Thu, 11 Jun 2026 18:02:51 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506827-Three-killed-in-landslide-after-heavy-rains-in-northern-Vietnam Three men were killed after being buried in a landslide in Vietnam's northern mountainous province of Lai Chau on Wednesday (June 10), Xinhua reported, citing the Vietnam News Agency. According to local authorities, the victims were working in a forested area near a mountain stream in Mit Thai village when prolonged heavy rains hit the area. The downpour triggered a mountainside landslide, sending rocks and soil crashing into the stream below and burying all three men. Authorities are investigating the incident. Local officials have warned residents of landslide risks triggered by torrential rain and flooding, urging them not to work on upland farms, enter forests, stay overnight in field shelters or cross flooded spillways during heavy rain. Bernama-Xinhua https://www.sott.net/article/506827-Three-killed-in-landslide-after-heavy-rains-in-northern-Vietnam Thu, 11 Jun 2026 14:20:22 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506826-Sinkhole-20-feet-wide-and-17-feet-deep-opens-up-on-airport-runway-in-Blountville-Tennessee A large sinkhole shut down the main runway of a Tennessee airport this week. The Tri-Cities Airport (TRI) announced on Wednesday, June 10, that its main runway remains closed due to the sinkhole. "Runway 5/23 remains closed today as repair work continues following the discovery of a sinkhole beneath the runway surface," a Facebook post from the airport reads. "Concrete has been poured, and crews are allowing adequate time for the material to cure before additional work and evaluations can be completed." The airport says passengers should check directly with their airlines regarding the status of upcoming flights. Local outlet WJHL reported Tuesday that the sinkhole measures approximately 20 feet by 20 feet and is 17 feet deep. https://www.sott.net/article/506826-Sinkhole-20-feet-wide-and-17-feet-deep-opens-up-on-airport-runway-in-Blountville-Tennessee Thu, 11 Jun 2026 14:09:05 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506825-Torrential-hailstorm-paralyzes-Armenias-Gyumri-ice-layers-reach-1-5-meters A violent overnight hailstorm and torrential rain crippled traffic in Armenia's second-largest city, Gyumri, leaving swathes of neighborhoods submerged under water and encased in ice as layers reached up to 1.5 meters, municipal officials said on Thursday. Authorities reported the most severe disruption near the bridge connecting Teryan Street to Akhuryan, where massive ice deposits and floodwaters rendered the route impassable. "The volume of precipitation was unprecedented," said Andranik Chadryan, acting head of Gyumri's municipal utilities department. "Despite the drainage systems functioning, the sheer quantity of water made timely removal impossible." Emergency crews worked through the night in crisis mode, deploying heavy machinery to clear thick ice sheets and reopen blocked roads. The Interior Ministry's Rescue Service said its Shirak regional center received numerous distress calls after midnight, with homes inundated and vehicles trapped. Rescue crews carried out... https://www.sott.net/article/506825-Torrential-hailstorm-paralyzes-Armenias-Gyumri-ice-layers-reach-1-5-meters Thu, 11 Jun 2026 13:49:15 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506824-SOTT-Earth-Changes-Summary-May-2026-Extreme-Weather-Planetary-Upheaval-Meteor-Fireballs May 2026 confirmed what the post-maximum phase of Solar Cycle 25 has been signalling for months: the Sun is winding down, but it is doing so in fits and starts, and the planet is feeling every twitch. The official picture continues to show declining sunspot averages; the cycle's max-phase end was effectively dated to February, yet 2 active regions, AR4436 and AR4432, kept the month from going quiet. On May 10, AR4436 fired an M5.7-class flare with an Earth-directed coronal mass ejection that lit auroras at unusually low latitudes in the days that followed. The point we keep returning to is the one mainstream solar physics still resists: a "declining" cycle does not mean a quiet planet. Historically, the strongest events of any cycle tend to cluster in the descending phase, sometimes years after the official peak, and the terrestrial consequences, from jet-stream distortion to electromagnetic stress on the atmosphere, intensify rather than fade as the Sun loses coherence. https://www.sott.net/article/506824-SOTT-Earth-Changes-Summary-May-2026-Extreme-Weather-Planetary-Upheaval-Meteor-Fireballs Thu, 11 Jun 2026 07:38:05 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506823-Israel-attacks-ancient-Lebanese-city-mentioned-in-Bible The deadly strike on Tyre comes amid concerns that the Israeli military wants to control sites sacred to Christians and Muslims Israel has struck the historic city of Tyre in Lebanon, targeting the Christian quarter for the first time after ordering a partial evacuation. The attack has heightened local concerns over the fate of the city's revered Biblical heritage sites. According to Reuters, eight people were killed in a single strike on Tyre's eastern edge on Tuesday. The Christian quarter, located in the city's northwest, had been excluded from previous Israeli warnings and had sheltered people displaced from elsewhere. https://www.sott.net/article/506823-Israel-attacks-ancient-Lebanese-city-mentioned-in-Bible Wed, 10 Jun 2026 22:05:31 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506822-Peacefire Welcome to the 'peacefire'. After Israel and Iran were pulled back from the brink of new war by Trump on Monday, Wednesday morning Asia time saw him then strike Iran, and it fire at US bases in the Gulf, in response to Tehran downing a US Apache helicopter. It appears the US hit radar and missile/drone facilities around and in the Strait of Hormuz while Iran didn't hit anything due to its missiles being intercepted. It seems both sides can now attack each other on a limited/proportional scale under a 'ceasefire' while peace negotiations continue... which Trump says are now in the "final throes", and cynics point out such finality is always thrown further into the future. https://www.sott.net/article/506822-Peacefire Wed, 10 Jun 2026 21:41:18 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506821-Unhinged-Russophobic-EU-targets-head-of-Russian-Orthodox-Church-with-sanctions What is there left to sanction in Russia? Apparently the European Union still sees plenty of opportunity to punish Russia over the Ukraine war, and is set to go after even religious leaders, now in year five of the conflict and many sanctions packages later. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, is among many names to be targeted in the EU's latest anti-Moscow sanctions proposal. Kirill has long been accused of justifying the war based on his several patriotic-themed sermons over the years. Brussels first tried to impose individual sanctions on the patriarch in 2022, but Hungary under PM Viktor Orban had exercised veto power over the move. https://www.sott.net/article/506821-Unhinged-Russophobic-EU-targets-head-of-Russian-Orthodox-Church-with-sanctions Wed, 10 Jun 2026 21:19:32 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506820-Released-memos-show-anti-Trump-nonprofit-aided-state-prosecutions-of-Trump-supporters A nonprofit organization led by prominent Trump critic Norm Eisen quietly assisted Democratic attorneys general and prosecutors in efforts targeting supporters of President Donald Trump who challenged the 2020 election, according to internal memos, contracts and public records released under open records laws. The documents reveal that Eisen's States United Democracy Center (SUDC) provided legal assistance, strategic guidance and, in at least one case, attorneys formally appointed by a state attorney general to aid investigations and prosecutions involving alternate electors and attorneys connected to Trump's post-election challenges. Legal experts argue the arrangement blurred the line between government prosecutions and outside political advocacy groups. "This is highly inappropriate for left-wing nonprofits to become the prosecutors against their political enemies," Mike Davis, a former Senate Judiciary Committee lawyer and founder of the Article III Project, told Just the News. https://www.sott.net/article/506820-Released-memos-show-anti-Trump-nonprofit-aided-state-prosecutions-of-Trump-supporters Wed, 10 Jun 2026 21:09:16 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506819-Iran-takes-its-chances-with-war This phase of the Iranian conflict likely will only end when the West falls off the approaching economic cliff The U.S. war with Iran has moved beyond its initial phase to an emerging new one — one in which Iran implicitly stakes its chances on the next phase being war. Most likely this will be in abbreviated episodes of limited war, but possessing nevertheless a potential to widen regionally, should the U.S. (and Israel) elect to sharply escalate. The new phase involves risk of course, yet Iran holds the high cards of an ability to impose disproportionately heavier damage upon Gulf infrastructure as retaliation for any hurt inflicted upon it — and the awareness that the West is edging ever closer to dropping off the energy 'cliff'. The three pillars underlying this shift are firstly, confidence that Iran will not (and cannot) be shifted from its hold over Hormuz, and that in consolidating its administrative structures there, the reality of Iran's hold over Hormuz will increasingly... https://www.sott.net/article/506819-Iran-takes-its-chances-with-war Wed, 10 Jun 2026 20:49:02 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506818-United-States-launches-renewed-attacks-on-Iran Aggressive actions take place proving that Washington is not serious about a permanent settlement with Tehran while the Israeli Defense Forces continue their assaults on Southern Lebanon violating the ceasefire of two months earlier. Although United States President Donald Trump has for more than two months claimed the administration was close to a long-term deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran, they have consistently violated the agreement made in April for a cessation of hostilities. [...] U.S. and Israel Escalate Tensions in West Asia The Iranian government did not collapse after a two-pronged campaign aimed at regime change. In January, counter-revolutionary elements sought to ignite riots throughout the country after the national currency was manipulated downward by the U.S. Treasury Department. https://www.sott.net/article/506818-United-States-launches-renewed-attacks-on-Iran Wed, 10 Jun 2026 20:46:45 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506817-Israel-Turkey-and-the-changing-dynamics-of-nuclear-deterrence-in-the-Middle-East The US support and Israel's military and strategic capabilities, coupled with occupational aspirations, made the country a threat to the region. The country's hostilities and strategic reorientation suggest that it now seeks to confront Turkey. Israel's escalating aggression with Turkey has sparked new threats in Middle Eastern geopolitics. The Zionist leaders have a decades-old dream of establishing "Greater Israel." To achieve this objective, Israel and its Western allies have been bombing regional countries and fighting against Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, and other regional actors for decades. After weakening these proxy groups and bombing their alleged regional supporter, Iran, Israel seems to be widening its strategic lens towards Turkey. Israel's Expanding Threat Perception The former Israeli Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, has recently warned that "Turkey is the new Iran." Many around this statement merely see it as an isolated slogan. However, this statement reflects a... https://www.sott.net/article/506817-Israel-Turkey-and-the-changing-dynamics-of-nuclear-deterrence-in-the-Middle-East Wed, 10 Jun 2026 20:46:12 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506816-Donald-Trumps-relationship-with-Benjamin-Netanyahu Donald Trump understood who Benjamin Netanyahu was during the stolen 2020 US presidential election. Despite appearances, the two men have been completely out of step ever since. President Trump dreams of making peace wherever there is war, while Prime Minister Netanyahu pursues his "revisionist Zionist" project (unrelated to Herzl's "Zionism") of conquering the Middle East. Iranian tenacity has exposed their agendas and shattered their compromises. We have great difficulty understanding the deterioration of relations between the United States and Israel. To interpret it and grasp its intensity, we must first analyze the historical ties between the two nations, and then the evolution of President Donald Trump's policies during his two terms. https://www.sott.net/article/506816-Donald-Trumps-relationship-with-Benjamin-Netanyahu Wed, 10 Jun 2026 20:45:04 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506815-How-Lebanon-became-the-breaking-point-for-the-Iran-war-ceasefire Iran has switched from projecting power via its proxy armed groups around the region to using its own firepower to protect them, analysts say. After weeks of warning that continuing Israeli attacks on Lebanon would jeopardise diplomacy, Iran launched its first direct strikes on Israel in two months overnight on Sunday, casting new doubts about the likelihood of a US-Iran peace deal. While Israel and the US have sought to separate Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon from the wider US-Israeli war on Iran, Iran has consistently stated that it will not entertain a peace deal that does not extend to Lebanon as well. Last night's attacks confirmed this. Following an initial Israeli raid on the southern suburbs of Beirut on Sunday - despite US assurances last week that Israel would not attack the Lebanese capital as long as Hezbollah refrained from strikes on northern Israel - Iran launched missiles at Israel overnight in retaliation. Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said in a... https://www.sott.net/article/506815-How-Lebanon-became-the-breaking-point-for-the-Iran-war-ceasefire Wed, 10 Jun 2026 20:44:17 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506814-Former-IRGC-commander-to-Mondoweiss-Lebanon-is-Irans-non-negotiable-red-line-in-any-deal-with-the-US Mohsen Rezaei, a senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader and former IRGC Commander, says Tehran will not separate Lebanon from any deal with Washington, including a nuclear deal, as Iran seeks to redefine the terms of negotiations with the U.S. When Iran launched a barrage of strikes on Israel this week in defense of Lebanon, Tehran was making a point: Hezbollah and Lebanon are red lines. In an exclusive interview with Mondoweiss, Mohsen Rezaei lays out Tehran's strategic thinking, arguing that regional security and diplomacy — including nuclear talks — can no longer be separate negotiations. Last week, Iran suspended indirect talks with Washington amid renewed Israeli military operations in Lebanon, with Iranian officials directly linking the future of any diplomatic contacts to events on the ground in both Lebanon and Gaza. On June 7, that point was driven home with force. In direct response to an Israeli strike that hit Beirut's southern suburbs, Iran launched multiple waves of... https://www.sott.net/article/506814-Former-IRGC-commander-to-Mondoweiss-Lebanon-is-Irans-non-negotiable-red-line-in-any-deal-with-the-US Wed, 10 Jun 2026 20:43:39 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506813-Lawmakers-urge-Trump-to-grant-immunity-to-UFO-crash-retrieval-operatives-as-whistleblower-repeats-non-human-body-claims During a press conference outside the US Capitol, lawmakers and whistleblowers attempted to revive the issue of disclosure, despite the lack of material evidence to support their claims. On the morning of 9 June 2026, under a hot sun, a new event followed the release of UFO-related material by President Trump's initiative, "PURSUE", outside of the official Pentagon group tasked with handling such materials: the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). During the event, whistleblower David Grusch repeated his claims that bodies of non-human origin had been recovered by US forces. In my official duties, I was exposed to human and signals intelligence information concerning foreign adversary UAP crash retrieval, exploitation and study efforts, adversary views on US legacy program reverse engineering efforts and US- held audiovisual information related to crash retrieval matters such as the recovered vehicles and the associated biological material. This is not the first time that... https://www.sott.net/article/506813-Lawmakers-urge-Trump-to-grant-immunity-to-UFO-crash-retrieval-operatives-as-whistleblower-repeats-non-human-body-claims Wed, 10 Jun 2026 18:29:39 +0000