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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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Study suggests human occupation in Patagonia prior to the Younger Dryas period
Archaeologists have conducted a study of lithic material from the Pilauco and Los Notros sites in north-western Patagonia, revealing evidence of human occupation in the region prior to the Younger Dryas period. The Younger Dryas, which occurred circa 12,900 to 11,700 years BP), was a cooling event which marked a return to glacial conditions, temporarily reversing the climatic warming of the preceding Late Glacial Interstadial. The period in which humans arrived in South America, in particular, north-western Patagonia, has been the subject of an ongoing debate by academics for many years. Previous archaeological evidence and palaeogenetic studies have suggested human presence between 16 600 and 15 100 cal BP, however, a new study published in the journal Antiquity is providing new evidence of pre-Holocene human activity during the late Pleistocene-early Holocene transition. -
Ukraine freezes all consular services for military-aged men abroad
Those eligible to serve will now have to return home to procure documents or update their passports Ukrainian consulates are set to "temporarily suspend" all services to men between the ages of 18 and 60, who will only be able to procure documents by returning home, Ukraine's Minister for Foreign Affairs has confirmed. The measure is set to be enacted on Tuesday and remain in place until the foreign ministry receives guidelines on the controversial mobilization law that was signed by President Vladimir Zelensky last week. The new legislation, which had been deliberated for weeks by the country's parliament before being adopted, is set to take effect in May. -
Did 50 Nova festival survivors commit suicide? Shocking testimonial heard at Israel's Knesset
'This number, which was true two months ago, may have increased since' says Guy Ben Shimon, a survivor from the Nova Music Festival, during a parliamentary hearing in Israel Following the Hamas-led massacre at the Nova Music Festival on October 7, about fifty survivors have committed suicide, revealed Guy Ben Shimon. Ben Shimon, a survivor of the massacre, spoke on Tuesday at a Parliamentary hearing for a State Audit Commission on the treatment of the survivors of October 7. "Few people know, but there have been almost 50 suicides among the Nova survivors. This number, which was true two months ago, may have increased since," Ben Shimon said, emphasizing that many of his friends who escaped the massacre could not recover from what they had experienced. -
BEST OF THE WEB: Macron lawyers bring forward defamation trial against authors who theorized France's 'First Lady' is a man
Brigitte Macron has brought forward her libel trial against Natacha Rey, who made bizarre claims that the French First lady was born a man. The hearing has been moved from March 2025 to June 19, 2024, at the request of Macron's lawyer following Rey's claims that she was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux. Since the interview with Rey, 48, on a YouTube channel at the end of 2021, lawyer Jean Ennochi said the rumours surrounding French President Emmanuel Macron's 70-year-old wife had continued to be fuelled. Ennochi therefore requested the hearing to be sped up, as concerns around how the rumours have spread beyond France and into the United States have arisen. He also said: 'In recent weeks, particularly internationally, via the Trumpist influencer Candace Owens, who relayed, I felt that the harm to my clients was increasing day by day'. Comment: "Trumpist influencer"!? -
Notre Dame Cathedral renovation is almost complete
Five years after the fire at Notre-Dame, the iconic cathedral in Paris now has a roof and a tower again. The reconstruction is almost complete in what is no less than a national tour de force that has led to rare unity in a divided republic. Comment: Perhaps, but only unity in the sense of the majority of people against the Parisian elites. It is rare that gaps need to be closed in the sky. In this case, though, it was urgently needed. For almost five years, Parisians looked into a sad emptiness when they walked past Notre-Dame and looked up. The void reminded them of a national trauma: the evening of April 15, 2019, when smoke first rose from the Gothic building and flames then shot out of the roof. With every catastrophe, there is a moment when the hope dies that the drama can still be averted. On that evening in April, it was the minute the glowing tower plunged into the depths. On both banks of the Seine to the left and right of the Île de la Cité, people stood and shouted,... -
'Goldene': The gilded cousin of graphene that is also one atom thick
Sheets of gold might find use as catalysts, or in light-sensing devices. It is the world's thinnest gold leaf: a gossamer sheet of gold just one atom thick. Researchers have synthesized1 the long-sought material, known as goldene, which is expected to capture light in ways that could be useful in applications such as sensing and catalysis. Goldene is a gilded cousin of graphene, the iconic atom-thin material made of carbon that was discovered in 2004. Since then, scientists have identified hundreds more of these 2D materials. But it has been particularly difficult to produce 2D sheets of metals, because their atoms have always tended to cluster together to make nanoparticles instead. -
Six minutes of Time magazine: The deadliest propagandists on Earth
It's a six-minute read, or so Six Minutes of Time Magazine: The Deadliest Propagandists on Earth. Before I dove in, my first question was, "Who wrote this?" I guess you already suspect some would-be propaganda expert. And Peter Pomerantsev is the spurt in question. Now, if I may, allow me to poke holes like the Swiss in this cheesy bit of Putin-phobia. Before I launch into this Time Magazine horse manure, it's significant to note that Pomerantsev hatched his genius Putin hate piece with a catchy story about traveling to Kyiv from Poland. Please, let's face it: anybody traveling from Poland to Ukraine's capital is never going to be carrying any good news about Russia. Let's address the author's (or Time's ownership's) the biggest question. Do Russians believe the news in Russia? I am told by most Russians I know that, like any other media market in the world, a lot depends on who you are reading, watching, or listening to. That said, the best way to shred Time Magazine's propaganda... -
US lawmaker demands 'proof' of CIA's Russia scare
If there is evidence that Moscow plans a march across Europe, Americans deserve to see it, congresswoman says... US intelligence agencies should provide proof of the Russian expansionism they claim justifies a new $61 billion war chest for Ukraine, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) has insisted. The "proxy war" they are funding will inevitably end in defeat for Kiev, she claimed. Speaking on Monday in an interview with former White House aide Steve Bannon, Greene pushed back against claims that Russian forces will take Poland and continue "marching across Europe" if they are allowed to defeat Ukraine. She noted that US House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) only agreed to the $61 billion Ukraine aid bill, which was approved on Saturday, after hearing intelligence briefings hyping the Russian threat. Greene said: "If the American people are going to have to pay for it, then show us this proof that was shown to Mike Johnson in the SCIF [sensitive compartment... -
The bad faith olympics
"This is the weirdest era in human history. By far. Nothing else even comes close. Billionaires trying to kill everyone. Civil society unable to form a coherent thought. Institutions lie in smoldering ruins. Poisons handed out like candy. We are Neanderthals with iPhones." — Dr. Toby Rogers Did it warm your heart to see all those blue and yellow Ukrainian flags waved by our elected officials in Congress Saturday night with the passage of the $60-plus-billion aid bill to the Palookaville of Europe? You realize, don't you, that the tiny fraction of that hypothetical "money" — from our country's empty treasury — that ever reaches Ukraine will rebound on the instant into Mr. Zelensky's Cayman Islands bank account. The rest of the dough enters the recursive shell-game between US weapons-makers and the very hometown folks in Congress waving those blue and yellow flags, who will receive great greasy gobs of fresh "campaign donations" from the grateful bomb and missile producers. No wonder... -
Revealed - The documents the state didn't want you to see before the referendums
Documents provided to Gript under FOI show that senior officials in the Department of Justice believed that amending Article 41 of the Constitution to include non-marital families, as proposed by the Government in a recent referendum, would undermine, or even outright destroy, the ability of the State to operate an effective immigration system. One email seen by Gript shows senior officials in the Department being told that "The State has been able to maintain an immigration system so far precisely because Article 41 is applied to a small, tightly-defined group of people. The State will not be able to regulate immigration if this protection is applied any more widely." In one of the two referendums held in March of this year the Government attempted to expand the definition of family in Article 41 to include non-marital families which were based on "durable relationships." -
What Happened to America's Anti-Fascist Traditions?
Americans once took great pride in the defeat of the Nazi scourge that threatened to run roughshod over the 20th century and beyond. Under the leadership of Franklin Roosevelt, America mobilized not only to heal from the devastation of the Great Depression, but also became a global leader of industrial power supplying the Allies with the tools they needed to fight the war before entering the fight herself in 1941. Coming out of that scarring experience, there was great hope that the world would finally be raised out of the fires of imperialism, poverty and war. The UN charter enshrined Roosevelt's Four Freedoms, respect for sovereignty and a mandate for economic cooperation into law giving hope that a new age of brotherhood was upon us. Despite certain pushbacks by US Statesmen to the Anglo-American special relationship, and military industrial complex that began to take on a life of its own, FDR's vision for world peace continued to die throughout the Cold War. Perhaps it was... -
The 2024 Olympics in Paris, echoes of Berlin 1936
Berlin, Germany, in 1936, hosted the Olympic Games fraught with international tensions. The Nazi Party led by Adolf Hitler had seized power in 1933. Berlin won the bid to host the games at the 29th International Olympic Committee Session on April 26, 1931. It was the first time that the quadrennial sporting event was to be televised, with radio broadcasts reaching 41 countries. Germany wanted to show the world that it was a modern, prosperous, and democratic country. For the occasion, the anti-Semitic slogans were removed, which not only concerned Jews but also Gypsies (Romani), the Slavic people, Africans and Asians. Comparisons can be readily made with the international tensions and vested political ambitions of the 2024 Olympics to be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11. French President Emmanuel Macron has personally sought to make the event a showcase for presumed national prowess. The political orchestration and propaganda efforts are similar to the Berlin games of 1936.... -
Kona Blue insiders reveal how US agencies allegedly involved in legacy UFO programs rattled Department of Homeland Security officials
According to insiders involved in establishing an Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) related Prospective Special Access Program (PSAP) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), DHS staff emerged from meetings with two other U.S. government agencies, rumored to possess advanced non-human materials, 'convinced that advanced technology was sequestered under government supervision at aerospace contractors' facilities.' The book, titled Skinwalkers at the Pentagon details how in 2011 high-level officials at the DHS, Sacha Mover and Jim Bell, 'began knocking on doors beyond DHS to connect with the "keepers of the secrets" in at least two other agencies.' The account continues: 'In these meetings, which took place in June-July 2011, Sacha, Jim, and colleagues were treated rudely and harshly.' 'Bell and Mover were repeatedly told "no, and hell no."' The narrative of these events was penned by journalist George Knapp, along with Dr. James Lacatski and Dr. Colm Kelleher. Kelleher... -
'New Ice Age has begun,' astrophysicist warns...Due to reduced solar activity
Due to changing solar activity, the Earth is heading into a new Little Ice Age, according to Northumbria University astrophysicist Prof. Valentina Scharkova, Newcastle, Great Britain. "There's nothing we can do about it." This was reported by German online Report 24 here last week. "This is due to the changing solar activity, she explains. Only uneducated people could call for a reduction in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere," according to Report 24 here. As the media is full of reports about record temperatures, the elevated readings likely have a lot to do with thermometers being placed increasingly in urban heat absorbing areas. The recent warming has very little to do with carbon dioxide. "CO2 is not our enemy," says Professor Scharkova, who was born and educated in Ukraine. "We in fact have a CO2 deficiency in the world, and it is three to four times lower than the plants would like," says Scharkova. On geological terms, over the last 140 million years, CO2 in the atmosphere is... -
Iranian lawmaker hints that nuclear test capabilities would take just 1 week
Iranian lawmaker Javad Karimi Ghoddusi says there is only "a one-week gap from the issuance of the order to the first test" of a nuclear bomb, despite previous assertions of peaceful intentions. His Monday statement on X came amidst escalating tensions with Israel and just hours after the Iranian foreign ministry reiterated that nuclear weapons have no place in Iran's military doctrine. Ghoddusi, who is known for his hardline stance in domestic and foreign policy, also made provocative comments prior to Iran's missile and drone attack against Israel, warning that attempts to assassinate 'Resistance Front' personalities worldwide would be met with retaliation with Iranian missiles. -
US House votes to protect every country not named the United States
In a landmark bipartisan vote, the U.S. House of Representatives has voted to protect every country in the entire world, as long as that country isn't named the United States. "Huzzah! We've done it!" Exclaimed Democrats and Republicans as they tearfully hugged each other. "Every single nation on the planet can enjoy the total protection of the United States military! Except the United States. We didn't have time to add that to the bill. Maybe later." The representatives then joyfully called their defense lobbyist donors to tell them the happy news. "We are proud to fulfill our sacred duty to all the nations everywhere," said Congressman Dan Crenshaw. "Our military now stands at the ready to protect Brazil, India, Australia, Canada, Japan, Germany, Egypt, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Italy, Argentina, France, Turkey, South Africa, Indonesia, United Kingdom, Thailand, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Vietnam, Philippines, Pakistan, South Korea, Bangladesh, Colombia, Poland, Ukraine,... -
15-month-old child dead after pit bull attack in Italy
A 15-month-old boy is dead after being attacked by two Pit bull terriers in the town of Campolongo, near the southern city of Salerno, sources said on Monday. "This morning there was an attack by a dog on a child who was in the arms of his mother, at least that is what I have been told," said Mario Conte, the mayor of Eboli, the municipality Campolongo belongs to. "He was literally ripped from her arms and bitten. "The veterinary service will take away both dogs, who do not belong to the family hit by the tragedy, but to another family that lives in the same residence. "It was a ferocious attack and, even though one of the child's uncles intervened to try and free him, nothing could be done. -
Germany's Zugspitze sees 3 feet of Spring snow in 5 days
Germany's tallest mountain, the Zugspitze with an elevation of 9,718 feet (2,962 meters), received 16 inches (40 cm) of snow in the last 24 hours and around 3.3 feet (1 meter) in the last five days. Snow conditions at the Zugpitze Ski Area are perfect right now, despite the resort having started preparing for the summer season. Thanks to the resort being home to one of the last remaining German glaciers and its high altitude, the Zugspitze is open for skiing until May each year. This year the season is scheduled to end on May 1, 2024. Current snowdepth at the Zugspitze, which is measured at the measuring station at 7,382 feet (2,250 meters), is 147 inches (372 cm). The Zugspitze ski area offers 12.5 miles (20 km) of groomed ski runs across three peaks, the Schneefernerkopf at 9,429 feet (2,874 meters), Wetterwandeck 8,852 feet (2,698 meters), and Zugspitze or Zugspitze plateau at 8,530 feet (2,600 meters). The ski area can usually be accessed from Germany as well as Austria,... -
Mudflows hit several settlements in Kyrgyzstan
Several settlements in Nooken district, Jalal-Abad region were hit by mudflows in the evening of April 22. Mudflows hit Boston and Kok-Tash villages, flooding roads and streets. The Bishkek-Osh road was blocked partially. The flows of mud washed away the protection facility in Boston village, posing threat to Eski Kochkor-Ata village. The local authorities made the decision to evacuate people. Residents of 300 houses are evacuated. -
Former Obama aide Rahamim Shy charged with crimes against children
The ex-adviser, who also worked with Hillary Clinton, has been accused of possessing indecent images and arranging commission of a sexual offense in the UK. A former White House aide who advised then-President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on counterterrorism initiatives has reportedly been accused of committing child sex crimes in the UK. Rahamim 'Rami' Shy, 46, was arraigned on Friday in Luton Crown Court, near London. He faces charges of possessing indecent images of children and arranging the commission of a child sexual offense, according to local media reports. The New Jersey resident was arrested in late February and jailed at HMP Bedford pending court proceedings. Shy, who has not yet entered a plea to the charges, is scheduled for another court hearing in June, the Daily Mail reported. His case is slated to go to trial in August. The defendant held multiple roles in the Obama administration, reportedly including coordination of the US government's... -
Kurzeme in Latvia sees thick layer of April snow
On Tuesday morning, the thickest snow layer was formed in Kurzeme, according to the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Center (LVĢMC). From where LVĢMC is taking measurements, the deepest snow this morning at 9:00 was 11 centimeters in Talsi municipality Stende, while a nine-centimetre thick layer of snow had formed in Saldus in the early hours of the morning. Elsewhere in official weather watch stations, the snow cover has been thinner. Residents from several locations in Kurzeme report as much as a 15-20 centimeter thick layer of snow. -
Tallinn in Estonia blanketed in thick April snow
Tallinn and Harju County saw a night of snow which has covered the land in a fluffy coat. The snow is still coming down Tuesday morning, with drivers who have changed their tires to the summer variety urged to leave their vehicles home. Tuesday will be cloudy, with sleet, snow and in places rain forecast. Blizzards are not out of the question either. The precipitation is forecast to ease up moving into the evening, with clearer patches of sky possible in the west of the country. Westerlies of 4-9 meters per second are in store, 16 m/s during gusts. The temperature will rise from 0 degrees Celsius in the morning to around 4 degrees later in the day. As the precipitation moves west, driving conditions will suffer in Northern and Western Estonia. The wintry mix can come down hard at times, while freezing rain is not out of the question either. Road surface temperatures are near-zero and precipitation can make them extremely slippery, the Transport Administration warns. -
500,000 Ukrainian troop 'losses' since beginning of SMO - Shoigu
The Russian armed forces have the initiative along the entire contact line and are pushing the enemy away from the occupied borders, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting of the Defense Ministry's board. Ukraine has lost almost half a million soldiers since the beginning of the special military operation in 2022, Russian Defense Ministry Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday. "In total, the losses of the Ukrainian armed forces amounted to almost half a million military personnel since the beginning of the special military operation," Shoigu told a Defense Ministry meeting. -
Malaysia: 10 dead after navy helicopters collide mid-air during training, 3 days after similar incident with Japan's Navy
The two helicopters crashed during training for a flyover for Malaysia's 90th Naval Day celebrations. Ten people have died after two helicopters collided in mid-air during a rehearsal for a Royal Malaysian Navy parade. The incident took place at the Malaysian navy's Lumut Base - 100 miles (160km) northwest of the capital Kuala Lumpur - at around 9.30am local time. The crash involved an AW139 maritime operations helicopter, with seven crew members, and a navy Fennec, with three crew members. "All the victims were confirmed to have died at the scene and were sent to the Lumut Base Army Hospital for the identification process," the navy said in a statement. -
Lebensraum? Germany holds massive military drills near Russian border
More than 3,000 German military personnel are taking part in the Grand Quadriga 2024 drills that kicked off in Lithuania on Tuesday. The maneuvers are part of the larger, months-long Steadfast Defender 24 series of NATO exercises that began in late January. Lithuania shares a border with Russia's Kaliningrad exclave, as well as Moscow's closest ally, Belarus. In a separate development earlier this month, Berlin deployed an advanced military team to the Baltic country as part of plans for a full-strength armor brigade permanently stationed there. Moscow has described the plans as a threat requiring "special measures" in response. The Grand Quadriga 2024 exercise is scheduled to wrap up in late May, and will involve 200 pieces of German military hardware, including Leopard tanks as well as Puma and Boxer infantry fighting vehicles. -
New Delhi chokes as 65 metre 'Trash mountain' fire spreads hazardous fumes
India's capital choked on toxic fumes Tuesday, as a thick and pungent haze spread from a fire at a towering trash dump, the latest in a series of landfill blazes that authorities have struggled for years to bring under control. Sections of the Ghazipur landfill in New Delhi burst into flames on Sunday, causing dangerous heat and methane emissions and adding to India's growing climate challenges. Comment: This is hardly a 'climate challenge'... By Tuesday, the blaze at the capital's largest landfill had largely been put out, but people living nearby complained of throat and eye irritation due to lingering acrid air, according to local media reports. The cause of the fire remains unknown; landfill blazes are often triggered by combustible gases from disintegrating garbage. -
Helsinki shuts down tram network after late April snowfall in Finland
Helsinki's tram network shut down completely on Tuesday, after freezing rain and snowfall iced up overhead power lines and jammed the points at various points around the network. The freak April weather left several trams stuck along the number 15 line, and with winter maintenance machines already in storage for the summer, operators made the decision to cancel all tram services for the whole day. Services are expected to re-start on Wednesday morning on a reduced timetable. Many HSL bus services were also delayed or cancelled, with driving conditions described as 'very bad' by the Meteorological Institute. Metro services and commuter trains were running normally, although K and I trains were on a reduced timetable. "This is a very unusual situation, but this weather is also unusual," said Helsinki Region Transport (Finnish acronym HSL) press officer Johannes Laitila, who urged travellers to allow more time for their journeys. -
Thick snow cover returns to parts of Lithuania
On Tuesday morning, parts of Lithuania woke up to several centimetres of snow. According to the Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service (LHMT), it snowed practically all over the country on Monday. According to the 8:00 data, the thickest snow cover was in the Panevėžys, Šiauliai, and Radviliskis districts, where it reached 12 - 17 centimetres. The heavy snowfall resulted in a cover of wet snow on trees, wires, and various structures. It broke or bent tree branches, leaving some residents without electricity and some roads impassable. -
BEST OF THE WEB: USDA claims bird flu is spreading in cows with detections in 32 herds in 8 states, is criticized for withholding data
Researchers around the world are growing more uneasy with the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in US dairy cows as the virus continues to make its way into new herds and states. Several experts say the US is not sharing enough information from the federal investigation into the unexpected and growing outbreak, including genetic information from isolated viruses. To date, the US Department of Agriculture has tallied 32 affected herds in eight states: Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas. In some cases, the movement of cattle between herds can explain the spread of the virus. But the USDA has not publicly clarified if all the herds are linked in a single outbreak chain or if there is evidence that the virus has spilled over to cows multiple times. Early infections in Texas were linked to dead wild birds (pigeons, blackbirds, and grackles) found on dairy farms. But the USDA reportedly indicated to Stat News that the... -
Multiple early season wildfires burning in British Columbia (112) and Alberta (66)
Wildfire season is off to an early start in British Columbia's central Interior and Cariboo regions. The B.C. Wildfire Service reported several wildfires over the weekend south of Quesnel and east of Vanderhoof. The service says the largest of the fires is the Burgess Creek wildfire, located about 45 kilometres south of Quesnel and was estimated to be about half of a square kilometre in size. The Prince George Fire Centre is reporting two wildfires, each covering an area of about eight city blocks, about four kilometres east of Vanderhoof. The Wildfire Service is reporting 112 active wildfires in B.C. The B.C. government says last year's wildfire season was the most destructive in the province's history as more than 28,400 million square kilometres of forest and land burned and tens of thousands of people were forced to evacuate. An evacuation alert is in effect for some living near the Burgess Creek wildfire, one of 118 active wildfires in B.C. In Alberta, there are 66 active... -
US House passes $95 billion Ukraine, Israel aid package, sends to Senate
WASHINGTON, April 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Saturday with broad bipartisan support passed a $95 billion legislative package providing security assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, over bitter objections from Republican hardliners. The legislation now proceeds to the Democratic-majority Senate, which passed a similar measure more than two months ago. U.S. leaders from Democratic President Joe Biden to top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell had been urging embattled Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring it up for a vote. The Senate is set to begin considering the House-passed bill on Tuesday, with some preliminary votes that afternoon. Final passage was expected sometime next week, which would clear the way for Biden to sign it into law. The bills provide $60.84 billion to address the conflict in Ukraine, including $23 billion to replenish U.S. weapons, stocks and facilities; $26 billion for Israel, including $9.1 billion for humanitarian needs,... -
Food shortages and price hikes threaten the UK as extreme weather havoc strikes
Farmers in several regions of the United Kingdom have been unable to grow crops including potatoes, wheat, and vegetables throughout the crucial spring season due to record rains. The crops that have been sown are of lower quality, with some decaying in the soil. The ongoing rainy weather has also resulted in a high death rate for lambs on the UK's hills, and some dairy cows have been unable to be moved out onto grass, resulting in less milk production. Agricultural groups have stated that the UK will become increasingly dependant on imports; however, comparable wet weather in European countries such as France and Germany, along with the drought in Morocco, may result in less food to import. -
Supreme court allows Idaho to enforce law blocking sex-change procedures for minors
The court allowed the Vulnerable Child Protection Act, a state law forbidding so-called gender-affirming care for minors, to take effect pending appeals. The U.S. Supreme Court issued an emergency order late on April 15 allowing Idaho to resume enforcing a state ban on sex-change-related procedures for minors after the law was blocked by lower courts. At least five of the six conservative justices voted to restore the state law, while all three liberals voted against doing so. It was unclear at press time how Chief Justice John Roberts, a moderate conservative, voted, if he voted at all. U.S. District Court Judge Lynn Winmill, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton, found in December 2023 that Idaho could not enforce the statute while the litigation remained pending. Idaho appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, which affirmed Judge Winmill's temporary injunction blocking the law, but has yet to issue a final ruling in the case. Although the decision took... -
71 percent of crops damaged due to rains and flood in 2023-24 Maha season in Sri Lanka
Due to the heavy rains and floods that affected the country during the 2023/24 Maha season, 68,131 hectares of land cultivated with vegetables and other crops have been destroyed. The Department of Agriculture says that the amount of land where crops were damaged is 71 percent of the total cultivated land without paddy cultivation. In addition to this, 100,000 hectares of paddy fields cultivated during the Maha season of that year were also damaged due to heavy rains and floods. The Department of Agriculture also mentions that this situation affected the rapid increase in the price of vegetables in the first quarter of this year due to the large amount of damage to the vegetable crops due to the continuous rains received for about four and a half months last year. -
Taiwan rattled by shallow 6.1 magnitude earthquake amid numerous tremors
Taiwan was hit with a magnitude 6.1 earthquake in the early hours of Tuesday local time (2:32 p.m. ET Monday), according to the island's Central Weather Administration. The earthquake struck about a mile from Shoufeng Township, Hualien County, the USGS said, and is the latest in a series of earthquakes that had been shaking the island since Monday afternoon. There was no tsunami threat, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. The latest quake shook buildings in the capital, Taipei; an AFP reporter said they could feel their building swaying. "Glass panels of (the) bathroom and windows were making noises," another AFP staffer said. -
Norway's farmers join protests over poverty wages and net zero tyranny
Farmers are now protesting for fairer wages. No farmers = No food. As you will have heard if you follow my reporting, there has been massive farmers protests all over Europe. I recently reported from Germany where the farmers were protesting. Now the Norwegian farmers are protesting as well, and I met with them. -
France: Cyberattack shuts down medical procedures at Cannes hospital
Cannes Hospital Centre - Simone Veil (CHC-SV) shut down its systems in response to a cyberattack it fell victim to last week. Also known as the Broussailles Hospital, the healthcare organization decided to completely cut off computer access to contain the attack, which forced employees to turn to pen and paper to continue providing services to patients. "These procedures are more time-consuming and the examination delivery times are extended," an automatic translation of the hospital's incident notice reads. -
Poland 'ready' to host nuclear weapons - President Duda
Poland is ready to host nuclear weapons on its territory, President Andrzej Duda announced on Monday (22 April), confirming he had been in talks on the matter with the US administration during a recent visit. In an interview with the Polish daily Fakt, Duda admitted that he is discussing the possibility of deploying nuclear weapons in Poland as part of NATO's Nuclear Sharing Programme. US nuclear-sharing arrangements foresee the deployment and storage of a nuclear arsenal in Europe, allowing non-nuclear-weapon states to place nuclear weapons on their territory and participate in planning and exercises. Though no official confirmation exists, it is widely known that US nuclear weapons are currently stationed on American and European bases across Europe: Kleine Brogel in Belgium, Büchel in Germany, Aviano and Ghedi-Torre in Italy, Volkel in the Netherlands, and Inçirlik in Turkey. Comment: And soon the UK: US will station nukes in Britain for the first time in 15 years, as West... -
Down with Big Brother: Warrantless surveillance makes a mockery of the Constitution
"Whether he wrote DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER, or whether he refrained from writing it, made no difference... The Thought Police would get him just the same... the arrests invariably happened at night... In the vast majority of cases there was no trial, no report of the arrest. People simply disappeared, always during the night. Your name was removed from the registers, every record of everything you had ever done was wiped out, your one-time existence was denied and then forgotten. You were abolished, annihilated: vaporized was the usual word." — George Orwell, 1984 The government long ago sold us out to the highest bidder. The highest bidder, by the way, has always been the Deep State. What's playing out now with the highly politicized tug-of-war over whether Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act gets reauthorized by Congress doesn't just sell us out, it makes us slaves of the Deep State. -
The US is crawling away from Ukraine
Talk about victory for Kiev has disappeared as Washington becomes a 'back seat driver'... The Istanbul agreements - a tentative peace plan agreed between Russia and Ukraine in the spring of 2022 - are being discussed again. However, as they were written at the time they are no longer relevant and are unlikely to be of any use in the future. The realities on the ground and in the hearts and minds of many key people, have changed completely. Nevertheless, it's no coincidence that talk of negotiations began in Switzerland just as it became clear, to Westerners, that the Ukrainians are unable to make any progress. I am not talking about victory, but about any meaningful success on the battlefield. And thus it has become necessary to somehow limit Russia's potential for success, to prevent it from winning. This is not coming from Ukraine itself, but rather the enemy with whom we are now really at war. The desire to prevent a Russian victory is behind all these diplomatic machinations. -
World's first inquiry into excess deaths established by Australian Parliament
The Australian Senate voted to establish a parliamentary inquiry into the nation's excess deaths today, giving the green light to what is possibly the first inquiry of this nature in the world. One year and five motions is what it took for Senator Ralph Babet, of the United Australia Party, to finally get the go-ahead on the inquiry. Senator Babet tabled two unsuccessful motions calling for an inquiry into Australia's excess mortality last March, followed by another unsuccessful motion in February of this year. Several weeks later, his fourth motion calling for the Senate to acknowledge the need for an inquiry scraped through with a win, marking a shift in attitude within the Senate and paving the way for today's vote to finally establish an inquiry. Senator Babet, in a statement after his motion passed successfully, said: "Fifth time's the charm! This appears to be a world-first inquiry for what is a global issue. May this committee process give a voice to the family members of... -
Europe's largest gas field shuts down
The Dutch government has halted drilling in Groningen over earthquake fears... The Netherlands officially shut down the Groningen gas field on Friday after the authorities approved a permanent halt to drilling operations at the site to limit seismic risks in the northern region. Since October 2023, the gas field has been producing only a fraction of its full capacity following years of production cuts aimed at reducing the risk of earthquakes that the process causes in the region, which have damaged thousands of buildings over the years. However, its 11 wells remain open in case of a severe winter and due to the uncertain international situation with regard to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Earlier this week, the Dutch Senate approved a law to close the gas field for good after the government pledged that production would never be resumed in order to limit seismic risks in the region. Senators had originally planned to pass the law two weeks ago, but postponed the final vote after... -
'Fool's Gold' may be valuable after all
We used to make fun of Fool's Gold. Now, it might fuel the future. Fool's gold or iron pyrite — a common mineral that resembles its precious counterpart — may be more valuable than scientists originally thought, as it has been found to be abundant in lithium. Lithium is vital to the future development of green energy. This is because the material, which is highly reactive, is a key element in batteries — including of the kind used in electric vehicles (hence the name, lithium ion batteries). Due to this, demand for lithium is soaring. The precious resource can be extracted from brines — and also mined in select locations including Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Chile and China. But scientists have now found it in an apparently undervalued mineral. -
'The Canaries have a limit!': Thousands protest in Tenerife over mass tourism in Spain's Canary Islands
Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in Tenerife to protest today in a demonstration against mass tourism - which they say is "killing the Canary Islands." Around 50,000 people have assembled in Tenerife's capital Santa Cruz to march under the banner "Canarias tiene un límite (The Canaries have a limit)", with demonstrators chanting against the effects of the islands' tourist industry like the pricing-out of residents and damage to the environment. The protests have been backed by a range of environmental campaign groups including Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth; as well as the Canary Islands, Spaniards have also protested in Madrid, and are set to rally in London, in an attempt to raise awareness in the Spanish government and among prospective British tourists. -
The history of the Oak Island Money Pit
Oak Island, located in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, is a small 140-acre island which has been the subject of an ongoing treasure hunt since 1795. The earliest human occupation of the region dates back several thousand years to the ancestors of the Mi'kmaq, an indigenous First Nations people of Canada's Atlantic Provinces. Europeans established permanent settlements in the area during the mid-18th century through the Shorham grant, an edict which offered free land grants to attract settlers and generate population growth. At the time, Oak Island was known locally as "Smith's Island" (named for Edward Smith, an early settler), but was renamed to "Gloucester Isle" in 1778, and shortly after to "Oak Island" supposedly because of the red oaks growing on the island. The following account is neither exact nor complete, but is a rough summary of the reports and materials published in sequence. The history of the Oak Island treasure hunt begun in 1795, when a young Daniel McInnes discovered... -
Kenya Red Cross on high alert as estates, roads flood in Nairobi
The Kenya Red Cross has mobilized tactical teams to aid in search and rescue efforts in various parts of Nairobi affected by Saturday's heavy rainfall. Households along the Ngong River bore the brunt as the river overflowed, causing significant damage to properties. Red Cross teams are conducting needs assessments in these areas to provide assistance. "Last night's downpour has severely impacted hundreds of households along the Ngong River. The situation is dire, with water encroaching onto properties," the Red Cross warned. The Red Cross said it was closely monitoring other affected areas, including Fuata Nyayo, Kibra, Mukuru Kwa Njenga, Kayole Soweto, Lavington, and Kawangware. -
Dead 40-foot gray whale found in San Francisco Bay off Alameda beach
A dead 40-foot female gray whale was found floating near Alameda's Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach on Saturday evening. The California Academy of Sciences reported the whale's carcass floating offshore Saturday evening, The Marine Mammal Center spokesperson Giancarlo Rulli told The Standard. The carcass was stuck in mud or a sandbar early Sunday before dislodging and floating freely with the tide again. Plans are underway to tow the carcass to Angel Island State Park for a necropsy to determine the cause of death, Rulli said. The Marine Mammal Center is coordinating with local towing services, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Coast Guard on the tow in the coming days. The Academy's team was able to take initial samples and measurements from the whale Sunday. -
Wild buffalo attack kills one forest officer, injures another in Assam, India
In Assam's Kaziranga National Park, a forest officer died and another was injured in an attack by a herd of wild buffaloes. The incident occurred on Monday morning (April 15) as the forest officials were conducting their routine patrol in the forest area near the Elephant Camp. "A group of aggressive wild buffalos suddenly attacked them. They managed to escape but two of them fell victim," officials said. The forest officer who passed away was Apo Momin, a recent addition to the team. They were transported to a local sub-divisional civil hospital in Kaliabor. The injured officer was identified as Sonamani Rabha. A senior official from Kaziranga National Park expressed shock at Momin's death, calling it an unfortunate incident. Police mentioned that Apu Momin's body has been sent for postmortem examination. -
Eight-year-old boy mauled to death by stray dogs in Lodhran, Pakistan
A pack of stray dogs brutally mauled and killed an eight-year-old boy in Mouza Bangla Hamidpur, a suburban area of Kehrurpaka in District Lodhran on Sunday. According to media reports, the incident occurred when the boy went out of his home to play. The stray dogs attacked and seriously injured the boy, Arsalan, by biting him multiple times. The victim was rushed to THQ hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries on the way. Medical Officer Dr. Zeeshan stated that the victim received severe injuries from dog bites on his neck, legs, and ears. However, the police reported that the family of the victim refused legal proceedings, declaring the incident an accident. Local residents revealed that despite an increase in dog bite cases, the district authorities remain unmoved. No concrete steps have been taken to date to address the issue of aggressive dogs, citizens added. No dog-hunting campaign has been initiated in Kehrurpakka for over two years. Citizens expressed frustration, stating... -
What caused a flash and loud boom over Stockton, California?
A bright flash and then a loud boom filled the sky over Stockton this past weekend. People, officials and even experts are stumped by what might've caused this. It rattled homes, and several people called the police about it. However, there was no explanation for the bizarre boom. "All of a sudden, there was this loud whoomph and it sounded like something hit the house," Misha Taylor said. Taylor was half asleep in her home when she heard the loud boom and thought something bad had happened.
