.
EU urges member states to 'voluntarily' slash gas use by 15%, declaration of emergency would make it mandatory
The European Union's executive body has urged member states to slash their gas consumption by 15%, as it warned that a complete shutdown of Russian supplies was "likely". Comment: Russia has been supplying gas to Europe throughout the West's proxy war, what developments up ahead make the EU establishment think that will change? The EU has been scrambling to wean itself off Russian gas since the invasion of Ukraine, but is alarmed about a potential energy crisis this winter. In response to EU support for Kyiv, the Kremlin has already stopped or reduced gas supplies to a dozen EU member states and is expected to send lower volumes of gas to Germany when the Nord Stream 1 pipeline reopens on Thursday after scheduled maintenance works. Comment: Not quite, Russia has only stopped gas to those countries that have refused to pay their bills, it also was forced to reduce supplies because Canada is, by their own admission, withholding a turbine that's critical to the pipelines function....
https://www.sott.net/article/470092-EU-urges-member-states-to-voluntarily-slash-gas-use-by-15-declaration-of-emergency-would-make-it-mandatory
EU urges member states to 'voluntarily' slash gas use by 15%, declaration of emergency would make it mandatory
The European Union's executive body has urged member states to slash their gas consumption by 15%, as it warned that a complete shutdown of Russian supplies was "likely". Comment: Russia has been supplying gas to Europe throughout the West's proxy war, what developments up ahead make the EU establishment think that will change? The EU has been scrambling to wean itself off Russian gas since the invasion of Ukraine, but is alarmed about a potential energy crisis this winter. In response to EU support for Kyiv, the Kremlin has already stopped or reduced gas supplies to a dozen EU member states and is expected to send lower volumes of gas to Germany when the Nord Stream 1 pipeline reopens on Thursday after scheduled maintenance works. Comment: Not quite, Russia has only stopped gas to those countries that have refused to pay their bills, it also was forced to reduce supplies because Canada is, by their own admission, withholding a turbine that's critical to the pipelines function....
https://www.sott.net/article/470092-EU-urges-member-states-to-voluntarily-slash-gas-use-by-15-declaration-of-emergency-would-make-it-mandatory
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Germany weighing €8 billion bailout of energy giant Uniper, company is largest importer of Russian gas
The German government is looking at taking up to a 30% stake in utility firm Uniper, Reuters news agency and German newspaper Handelsblatt reported Wednesday. What do we know about the bailout package? Uniper is Germany's largest importer of Russian gas. The German government may intervene to save the company, amid the threat of reduced gas supplies by Russia and soaring prices, according to the reports. Sources told Reuters that the company may pass on some costs to German consumers in the framework of the rescue package. Comment: So, citizens will be paying twice. A German government spokesperson said Berlin is working on a deal to save the company, but would not provide further details.
https://www.sott.net/article/470093-Germany-weighing-8-billion-bailout-of-energy-giant-Uniper-company-is-largest-importer-of-Russian-gas
Germany weighing €8 billion bailout of energy giant Uniper, company is largest importer of Russian gas
The German government is looking at taking up to a 30% stake in utility firm Uniper, Reuters news agency and German newspaper Handelsblatt reported Wednesday. What do we know about the bailout package? Uniper is Germany's largest importer of Russian gas. The German government may intervene to save the company, amid the threat of reduced gas supplies by Russia and soaring prices, according to the reports. Sources told Reuters that the company may pass on some costs to German consumers in the framework of the rescue package. Comment: So, citizens will be paying twice. A German government spokesperson said Berlin is working on a deal to save the company, but would not provide further details.
https://www.sott.net/article/470093-Germany-weighing-8-billion-bailout-of-energy-giant-Uniper-company-is-largest-importer-of-Russian-gas
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BlackRock lost record breaking $1.7 trillion of clients money in six months
BlackRock Inc. is used to breaking records. The world's largest asset manager was the first company to exceed $10 trillion of assets under management. But the bigger they are, the harder they fall. And this year BlackRock achieved another record: the most money lost by a single company in a six-month period. In the first half of this year, it lost $1.7 billion of customer money. BlackRock management was quick to invoke the market carnage of the first half when it revealed the return on investment last week. "2022 ranks as the worst start in 50 years for both stocks and bonds," Chairman and CEO Larry Finck he said on his earnings call. While few companies can avoid what the market throws at them, some are at least trying to outdo it. BlackRock is giving up more and more: at the end of June, only about a quarter of its assets were actively managed to beat a benchmark, instead of tracking it smoothly as passive strategies are designed to do. That's less than a third when BlackRock...
https://www.sott.net/article/470094-BlackRock-lost-record-breaking-1-7-trillion-of-clients-money-in-six-months
BlackRock lost record breaking $1.7 trillion of clients money in six months
BlackRock Inc. is used to breaking records. The world's largest asset manager was the first company to exceed $10 trillion of assets under management. But the bigger they are, the harder they fall. And this year BlackRock achieved another record: the most money lost by a single company in a six-month period. In the first half of this year, it lost $1.7 billion of customer money. BlackRock management was quick to invoke the market carnage of the first half when it revealed the return on investment last week. "2022 ranks as the worst start in 50 years for both stocks and bonds," Chairman and CEO Larry Finck he said on his earnings call. While few companies can avoid what the market throws at them, some are at least trying to outdo it. BlackRock is giving up more and more: at the end of June, only about a quarter of its assets were actively managed to beat a benchmark, instead of tracking it smoothly as passive strategies are designed to do. That's less than a third when BlackRock...
https://www.sott.net/article/470094-BlackRock-lost-record-breaking-1-7-trillion-of-clients-money-in-six-months
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A view from Donbass: Ukraine has treated the people of this region as sub-humans, this made peace impossible
The military conflict in Ukraine, which began on February 24, was preceded by a long war in Donbass. Over the course of eight years, it claimed the lives of at least 14,200 people (according to the OHCHR), over 37,000 were wounded, hundreds of thousands became refugees or had their homes destroyed. A de-escalation was achieved in February 2015, as both sides realized that a bad peace was better than a good war, and attempted to find a political resolution on the basis of the Minsk agreements. That, however, failed to bring peace to Donbass, which instead faced eight long years of economic and legal blockade, compounded by chaotic shelling of areas near the frontlines. They were eight hard years, which involved rebuilding bombed schools, hospitals, and houses, a rather humiliating dependence of formerly well-to-do people on humanitarian aid, an economic slump due to the economic blockade imposed by the Ukrainian government, restricted access to pensions, and the risk of being...
https://www.sott.net/article/470095-A-view-from-Donbass-Ukraine-has-treated-the-people-of-this-region-as-sub-humans-this-made-peace-impossible
A view from Donbass: Ukraine has treated the people of this region as sub-humans, this made peace impossible
The military conflict in Ukraine, which began on February 24, was preceded by a long war in Donbass. Over the course of eight years, it claimed the lives of at least 14,200 people (according to the OHCHR), over 37,000 were wounded, hundreds of thousands became refugees or had their homes destroyed. A de-escalation was achieved in February 2015, as both sides realized that a bad peace was better than a good war, and attempted to find a political resolution on the basis of the Minsk agreements. That, however, failed to bring peace to Donbass, which instead faced eight long years of economic and legal blockade, compounded by chaotic shelling of areas near the frontlines. They were eight hard years, which involved rebuilding bombed schools, hospitals, and houses, a rather humiliating dependence of formerly well-to-do people on humanitarian aid, an economic slump due to the economic blockade imposed by the Ukrainian government, restricted access to pensions, and the risk of being...
https://www.sott.net/article/470095-A-view-from-Donbass-Ukraine-has-treated-the-people-of-this-region-as-sub-humans-this-made-peace-impossible
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Historic decision against mandatory vaccination by Italian court covid vaccine risk to human genome now legally established
On July 6th, 2022, the court of Florence has approved a sentence annulling the measure taken by the Order of Psychologists of Tuscany against one of its members, the reason being: 'the suspension of the exercise of the profession risks compromising primary individual rights such as the right to a livelihood and the right to work'. The judge ruled that the psychologist doesn't need to be vaccinated in order to do his job by establishing that: these substances don't prevent infection and transmission. Therefore, in front of the Italian law, there can not be an obligation. She also recognises that these substances provokes severe adverse events.Therefore, it even less legitimate to force anybody to be injected. The judge put the dignity of the human being at the centre and referred twice to the period of Nazism and Fascism. Mandatory vaccination is possible if there is informed consent. For Covid injections, she explained that an informed consent is not possible as we don't know the...
https://www.sott.net/article/470096-Historic-decision-against-mandatory-vaccination-by-Italian-court-covid-vaccine-risk-to-human-genome-now-legally-established
Historic decision against mandatory vaccination by Italian court covid vaccine risk to human genome now legally established
On July 6th, 2022, the court of Florence has approved a sentence annulling the measure taken by the Order of Psychologists of Tuscany against one of its members, the reason being: 'the suspension of the exercise of the profession risks compromising primary individual rights such as the right to a livelihood and the right to work'. The judge ruled that the psychologist doesn't need to be vaccinated in order to do his job by establishing that: these substances don't prevent infection and transmission. Therefore, in front of the Italian law, there can not be an obligation. She also recognises that these substances provokes severe adverse events.Therefore, it even less legitimate to force anybody to be injected. The judge put the dignity of the human being at the centre and referred twice to the period of Nazism and Fascism. Mandatory vaccination is possible if there is informed consent. For Covid injections, she explained that an informed consent is not possible as we don't know the...
https://www.sott.net/article/470096-Historic-decision-against-mandatory-vaccination-by-Italian-court-covid-vaccine-risk-to-human-genome-now-legally-established
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Let the people pay: How EU leaders make their citizens suffer the fallout from their failed Russia policy
In a Bastille Day interview, French President Emmanuel Macron told citizens to "prepare ourselves for a scenario where we have to do without Russian gas entirely." At the same time, Macron accused Moscow of using the fuel as a "weapon of war," echoing the spin emanating from a European Union leadership that obscures the real reason the bloc is facing an energy shortage that's driving up the cost of living. This crisis is entirely self-inflicted. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accused Russia of energy "blackmail" at the end of April, citing the state-owned Gazprom's announcement of a halt in gas deliveries to Poland and Bulgaria for failing to pay for in rubles. What von der Leyen - and now Macron - conveniently omitted was that it was the EU's own anti-Russian sanctions, adopted in a knee-jerk and ideologically-driven fashion at the outset of the Ukraine conflict, that represent the root cause of these disruptions. The West quickly adopted a strategy of...
https://www.sott.net/article/470097-Let-the-people-pay-How-EU-leaders-make-their-citizens-suffer-the-fallout-from-their-failed-Russia-policy
Let the people pay: How EU leaders make their citizens suffer the fallout from their failed Russia policy
In a Bastille Day interview, French President Emmanuel Macron told citizens to "prepare ourselves for a scenario where we have to do without Russian gas entirely." At the same time, Macron accused Moscow of using the fuel as a "weapon of war," echoing the spin emanating from a European Union leadership that obscures the real reason the bloc is facing an energy shortage that's driving up the cost of living. This crisis is entirely self-inflicted. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accused Russia of energy "blackmail" at the end of April, citing the state-owned Gazprom's announcement of a halt in gas deliveries to Poland and Bulgaria for failing to pay for in rubles. What von der Leyen - and now Macron - conveniently omitted was that it was the EU's own anti-Russian sanctions, adopted in a knee-jerk and ideologically-driven fashion at the outset of the Ukraine conflict, that represent the root cause of these disruptions. The West quickly adopted a strategy of...
https://www.sott.net/article/470097-Let-the-people-pay-How-EU-leaders-make-their-citizens-suffer-the-fallout-from-their-failed-Russia-policy
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If the Dutch farmers' protest was happening in Canada, it would be an 'insurrection'
There is something happening in the Netherlands that has been happening for weeks, which if anything even closely resembling it were happening in Canada, especially in Ottawa, it would surely be called an "insurrection." It might even have cabinet ministers and the prime minister calling those participating an intolerable "fringe minority." Come to think of it, it would probably have driven the government to invoke the civil-rights-denying Emergencies Act, and arrest any of its leaders, especially any of those from the rebellion hot spot of darkest and most menacing Medicine Hat. Comment: Ottawa Freedom Convoy tears down illusion of democracy in North America I am referring to the huge and continuous protest against the Dutch government. For some weeks now upwards of 40,000 farmers have been on their tractors and in their trucks crowding highways and snarling traffic in a mass protest against a green edict that would force them to halve emissions of nitrogen oxide and ammonia by...
https://www.sott.net/article/470098-If-the-Dutch-farmers-protest-was-happening-in-Canada-it-would-be-an-insurrection
If the Dutch farmers' protest was happening in Canada, it would be an 'insurrection'
There is something happening in the Netherlands that has been happening for weeks, which if anything even closely resembling it were happening in Canada, especially in Ottawa, it would surely be called an "insurrection." It might even have cabinet ministers and the prime minister calling those participating an intolerable "fringe minority." Come to think of it, it would probably have driven the government to invoke the civil-rights-denying Emergencies Act, and arrest any of its leaders, especially any of those from the rebellion hot spot of darkest and most menacing Medicine Hat. Comment: Ottawa Freedom Convoy tears down illusion of democracy in North America I am referring to the huge and continuous protest against the Dutch government. For some weeks now upwards of 40,000 farmers have been on their tractors and in their trucks crowding highways and snarling traffic in a mass protest against a green edict that would force them to halve emissions of nitrogen oxide and ammonia by...
https://www.sott.net/article/470098-If-the-Dutch-farmers-protest-was-happening-in-Canada-it-would-be-an-insurrection
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Russia: Wikipedia designated as lawbreaker
Russia wants its search engines to inform users that the platform promotes false information about the Ukraine conflict. Russia's state media regulator, Roskomnadzor, has obliged search engines to label Wikipedia as being in violation of the law, saying that the online encyclopedia promotes misleading information about the conflict in Ukraine. The watchdog said on Wednesday that it would take steps to punish Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., which hosts Wikipedia, due to its failure to delete content deemed in violation of Russian law. With this in mind, the regulator "has decided to apply a coercive measure which would see search engines inform internet users about a violation of Russian legislation by a foreign entity."
https://www.sott.net/article/470099-Russia-Wikipedia-designated-as-lawbreaker
Russia: Wikipedia designated as lawbreaker
Russia wants its search engines to inform users that the platform promotes false information about the Ukraine conflict. Russia's state media regulator, Roskomnadzor, has obliged search engines to label Wikipedia as being in violation of the law, saying that the online encyclopedia promotes misleading information about the conflict in Ukraine. The watchdog said on Wednesday that it would take steps to punish Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., which hosts Wikipedia, due to its failure to delete content deemed in violation of Russian law. With this in mind, the regulator "has decided to apply a coercive measure which would see search engines inform internet users about a violation of Russian legislation by a foreign entity."
https://www.sott.net/article/470099-Russia-Wikipedia-designated-as-lawbreaker
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Legendary biologist endorses lab leak theory
Not many experts have openly endorsed the lab leak theory of Covid origins. There are the 'internet sleuths' who make up DRASTIC (several of whom remain anonymous). There's the science writer Nicholas Wade. And there's Matt Ridley and Alina Chan - co-authors of Viral: The Search for the Origin of COVID-19. (In a recent interview, Ridley told me that both he and Chan now think a lab leak is "more likely".) Few others have been willing to come out and say that, yes, the balance of evidence favours a lab leak. This may be because they're genuinely undecided, or because they hold the opposite view (that the evidence favours a natural spillover).
https://www.sott.net/article/470100-Legendary-biologist-endorses-lab-leak-theory
Legendary biologist endorses lab leak theory
Not many experts have openly endorsed the lab leak theory of Covid origins. There are the 'internet sleuths' who make up DRASTIC (several of whom remain anonymous). There's the science writer Nicholas Wade. And there's Matt Ridley and Alina Chan - co-authors of Viral: The Search for the Origin of COVID-19. (In a recent interview, Ridley told me that both he and Chan now think a lab leak is "more likely".) Few others have been willing to come out and say that, yes, the balance of evidence favours a lab leak. This may be because they're genuinely undecided, or because they hold the opposite view (that the evidence favours a natural spillover).
https://www.sott.net/article/470100-Legendary-biologist-endorses-lab-leak-theory
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DoD announces the establishment of the 'All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office'
On July 15, 2022, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), amended her original direction to the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security by renaming and expanding the scope of the Airborne Object Identification and Management Group (AOIMSG) to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), due to the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2022, which included a provision to establish an office, in coordination with DNI, with responsibilities that were broader than those originally assigned to the AOIMSG. Today, USD(I&S) Hon. Ronald S. Moultrie informed the department of the establishment of AARO within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security, and named Dr. Sean M. Kirkpatrick, most recently the chief scientist at the Defense Intelligence Agency's Missile and Space Intelligence Center, as the director of AARO.
https://www.sott.net/article/470101-DoD-announces-the-establishment-of-the-All-domain-Anomaly-Resolution-Office
DoD announces the establishment of the 'All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office'
On July 15, 2022, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), amended her original direction to the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security by renaming and expanding the scope of the Airborne Object Identification and Management Group (AOIMSG) to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), due to the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2022, which included a provision to establish an office, in coordination with DNI, with responsibilities that were broader than those originally assigned to the AOIMSG. Today, USD(I&S) Hon. Ronald S. Moultrie informed the department of the establishment of AARO within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security, and named Dr. Sean M. Kirkpatrick, most recently the chief scientist at the Defense Intelligence Agency's Missile and Space Intelligence Center, as the director of AARO.
https://www.sott.net/article/470101-DoD-announces-the-establishment-of-the-All-domain-Anomaly-Resolution-Office
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AOC and Ilhan Omar coordinated Supreme Court arrest stunt with Soros-funded dark money group
Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and the 15 other Democratic lawmakers who were arrested Tuesday outside the Supreme Court coordinated the stunt with a progressive dark money group funded by billionaire George Soros. Getting arrested was the whole point of the stunt, Ocasio-Cortez said in an Instagram post on Tuesday. She said organizers of the Center for Popular Democracy Action Fund asked her and her colleagues to "submit themselves for arrest in front of the Supreme Court." The New York lawmaker insisted in the post what she and her colleagues did was "very different than a 'publicity stunt.'"
https://www.sott.net/article/470102-AOC-and-Ilhan-Omar-coordinated-Supreme-Court-arrest-stunt-with-Soros-funded-dark-money-group
AOC and Ilhan Omar coordinated Supreme Court arrest stunt with Soros-funded dark money group
Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and the 15 other Democratic lawmakers who were arrested Tuesday outside the Supreme Court coordinated the stunt with a progressive dark money group funded by billionaire George Soros. Getting arrested was the whole point of the stunt, Ocasio-Cortez said in an Instagram post on Tuesday. She said organizers of the Center for Popular Democracy Action Fund asked her and her colleagues to "submit themselves for arrest in front of the Supreme Court." The New York lawmaker insisted in the post what she and her colleagues did was "very different than a 'publicity stunt.'"
https://www.sott.net/article/470102-AOC-and-Ilhan-Omar-coordinated-Supreme-Court-arrest-stunt-with-Soros-funded-dark-money-group
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China blames US for Ukraine conflict
Washington created the current crisis, top official states. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has accused the US of starting the crisis in Ukraine and fueling the conflict in the east European country. Spokeman Zhao Lijian told reporters at a regular press briefing on Tuesday that Washington should stop playing "world police" and work on creating conditions for peace talks instead.
https://www.sott.net/article/470103-China-blames-US-for-Ukraine-conflict
China blames US for Ukraine conflict
Washington created the current crisis, top official states. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has accused the US of starting the crisis in Ukraine and fueling the conflict in the east European country. Spokeman Zhao Lijian told reporters at a regular press briefing on Tuesday that Washington should stop playing "world police" and work on creating conditions for peace talks instead.
https://www.sott.net/article/470103-China-blames-US-for-Ukraine-conflict
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Biden approval rating hits new all-time low of 31%, now 'underwater' with own party
Just when you thought President Joe Biden's approval rating couldn't get any worse, a new Quinnipac University poll released Wednesday reveals it's dropped to all-time lows, 71% of voters don't want him to run again in 2024 - including a majority of Democrats (54%). Comparatively speaking, 60% of voters don't want to see former President Donald Trump run again, though this figure includes just 27% of Republicans. Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy stated alongside the polling results, "There's scant enthusiasm for a replay of either a Trump or Biden presidency. But while Trump still holds sway on his base, President Biden is underwater when it comes to support from his own party." When asked if the election were held today which party the voters would like to see control the U.S. House of Representatives, they were torn between parties with a roughly 50-50 split. -Fox News
https://www.sott.net/article/470104-Biden-approval-rating-hits-new-all-time-low-of-31-now-underwater-with-own-party
Biden approval rating hits new all-time low of 31%, now 'underwater' with own party
Just when you thought President Joe Biden's approval rating couldn't get any worse, a new Quinnipac University poll released Wednesday reveals it's dropped to all-time lows, 71% of voters don't want him to run again in 2024 - including a majority of Democrats (54%). Comparatively speaking, 60% of voters don't want to see former President Donald Trump run again, though this figure includes just 27% of Republicans. Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy stated alongside the polling results, "There's scant enthusiasm for a replay of either a Trump or Biden presidency. But while Trump still holds sway on his base, President Biden is underwater when it comes to support from his own party." When asked if the election were held today which party the voters would like to see control the U.S. House of Representatives, they were torn between parties with a roughly 50-50 split. -Fox News
https://www.sott.net/article/470104-Biden-approval-rating-hits-new-all-time-low-of-31-now-underwater-with-own-party
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Police say wildfires that tore through UK on hottest day ever may have been arson
Wildfires broke out across the UK as families fled for their lives as their homes which they tried to save with buckets of water were engulfed amid blazes across the country in record 40.3C heat - and police are now probing whether some were caused intentionally. Firefighters have described blazes tearing through homes and buildings in London as 'absolute hell' - with residents evacuated after homes were destroyed, two people taken to hospital for smoke inhalation, and 1,600 calls for assistance. Elsewhere in the country hundreds of fire crews are out battling raging infernos in Wales, Scotland and the rest of England as 'tinderbox' dry conditions in the UK caused wildfires to threaten homes, animals and people and a children's nursery was destroyed along with most of a street in Yorkshire amid police fears some of the fires could have been deliberate.
https://www.sott.net/article/470105-Police-say-wildfires-that-tore-through-UK-on-hottest-day-ever-may-have-been-arson
Police say wildfires that tore through UK on hottest day ever may have been arson
Wildfires broke out across the UK as families fled for their lives as their homes which they tried to save with buckets of water were engulfed amid blazes across the country in record 40.3C heat - and police are now probing whether some were caused intentionally. Firefighters have described blazes tearing through homes and buildings in London as 'absolute hell' - with residents evacuated after homes were destroyed, two people taken to hospital for smoke inhalation, and 1,600 calls for assistance. Elsewhere in the country hundreds of fire crews are out battling raging infernos in Wales, Scotland and the rest of England as 'tinderbox' dry conditions in the UK caused wildfires to threaten homes, animals and people and a children's nursery was destroyed along with most of a street in Yorkshire amid police fears some of the fires could have been deliberate.
https://www.sott.net/article/470105-Police-say-wildfires-that-tore-through-UK-on-hottest-day-ever-may-have-been-arson
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Lightning strike kills 1 soldier, injures 9 others at Fort Gordon Army base in Georgia
One soldier was killed and nine others injured after a lightning strike Wednesday at Fort Gordon, a U.S. Army base in eastern Georgia. "It is with a heavy heart Fort Gordon confirms one of the soldiers in the lightning strike this afternoon succumbed to their injuries," said Anne Bowman, Fort Gordon deputy public affairs officer. The soldier's identity will not be released until the next of kin is notified, Bowman said. Fort Gordon has not released the condition of the nine injured soldiers. At 11:10 a.m., Fort Gordon Range Control reported that 10 soldiers "sustained injuries associated with a lightning strike" at one of its training areas, according to a news release. Fort Gordon is located near Augusta, about 140 miles east of Atlanta. Source: Augusta Chronicle
https://www.sott.net/article/470106-Lightning-strike-kills-1-soldier-injures-9-others-at-Fort-Gordon-Army-base-in-Georgia
Lightning strike kills 1 soldier, injures 9 others at Fort Gordon Army base in Georgia
One soldier was killed and nine others injured after a lightning strike Wednesday at Fort Gordon, a U.S. Army base in eastern Georgia. "It is with a heavy heart Fort Gordon confirms one of the soldiers in the lightning strike this afternoon succumbed to their injuries," said Anne Bowman, Fort Gordon deputy public affairs officer. The soldier's identity will not be released until the next of kin is notified, Bowman said. Fort Gordon has not released the condition of the nine injured soldiers. At 11:10 a.m., Fort Gordon Range Control reported that 10 soldiers "sustained injuries associated with a lightning strike" at one of its training areas, according to a news release. Fort Gordon is located near Augusta, about 140 miles east of Atlanta. Source: Augusta Chronicle
https://www.sott.net/article/470106-Lightning-strike-kills-1-soldier-injures-9-others-at-Fort-Gordon-Army-base-in-Georgia
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Lightning strikes kill 14 in a day in Uttar Pradesh, India
At least 14 people were killed and another 16 injured after being struck by lightning in separate incidents in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, officials said. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a financial assistance of ₹ 4 lakh each to the families of the people who have died, they said. According to the details provided by the relief commissioner's office, four deaths due to lightning were reported from Banda, two from Fatehpur and one each from Balrampur, Chandauli, Bulandshahr, Rae Bareli, Amethi, Kaushambi, Sultanpur and Chitrakoot districts. Mr Adityanath expressed grief over the deaths and directed the concerned district magistrates to immediately provide ₹ 4 lakh each to the victims' families, the statement said. The chief minister also directed officials to ensure that proper treatment is provided to the injured, it added. Source: Press Trust of India
https://www.sott.net/article/470107-Lightning-strikes-kill-14-in-a-day-in-Uttar-Pradesh-India
Lightning strikes kill 14 in a day in Uttar Pradesh, India
At least 14 people were killed and another 16 injured after being struck by lightning in separate incidents in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, officials said. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a financial assistance of ₹ 4 lakh each to the families of the people who have died, they said. According to the details provided by the relief commissioner's office, four deaths due to lightning were reported from Banda, two from Fatehpur and one each from Balrampur, Chandauli, Bulandshahr, Rae Bareli, Amethi, Kaushambi, Sultanpur and Chitrakoot districts. Mr Adityanath expressed grief over the deaths and directed the concerned district magistrates to immediately provide ₹ 4 lakh each to the victims' families, the statement said. The chief minister also directed officials to ensure that proper treatment is provided to the injured, it added. Source: Press Trust of India
https://www.sott.net/article/470107-Lightning-strikes-kill-14-in-a-day-in-Uttar-Pradesh-India
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Crews work to repair giant sinkhole that swallowed van in the Bronx, New York
A sinkhole opened up and swallowed a van in the Bronx after a day of torrential rain and flooding across the area. Crews were still working on Tuesday to repair the 58-foot long, 15-foot wide and 20-foot deep hole on Radcliff Avenue in Morris Park. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection responded to investigate the scene. Crews say repair work will be extensive, and the block will remain closed for a week or so to rebuild subsurface infrastructure and restore the roadway. Officials said everything will be considered as part of the investigation, including if weather played a role.
https://www.sott.net/article/470108-Crews-work-to-repair-giant-sinkhole-that-swallowed-van-in-the-Bronx-New-York
Crews work to repair giant sinkhole that swallowed van in the Bronx, New York
A sinkhole opened up and swallowed a van in the Bronx after a day of torrential rain and flooding across the area. Crews were still working on Tuesday to repair the 58-foot long, 15-foot wide and 20-foot deep hole on Radcliff Avenue in Morris Park. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection responded to investigate the scene. Crews say repair work will be extensive, and the block will remain closed for a week or so to rebuild subsurface infrastructure and restore the roadway. Officials said everything will be considered as part of the investigation, including if weather played a role.
https://www.sott.net/article/470108-Crews-work-to-repair-giant-sinkhole-that-swallowed-van-in-the-Bronx-New-York
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"Systemic failures" in Uvalde shooting went far beyond local police, Texas House report details
The 18-year-old who massacred 19 students and two teachers in Uvalde on May 24 had no experience with firearms before his rampage began. He targeted an elementary school with an active shooter policy that had been deemed adequate but also had a long history of doors propped open. No one was able to stop the gunman from carrying out the deadliest school shooting in Texas history, in part because of "systemic failures and egregious poor decision making" by nearly everyone involved who was in a position of power, a new investigation into the shooting has found. On Sunday, a Texas House committee released the most exhaustive account yet of the shooter, his planning, his attack and the fumbling response he provoked.
https://www.sott.net/article/470109-Systemic-failures-in-Uvalde-shooting-went-far-beyond-local-police-Texas-House-report-details
"Systemic failures" in Uvalde shooting went far beyond local police, Texas House report details
The 18-year-old who massacred 19 students and two teachers in Uvalde on May 24 had no experience with firearms before his rampage began. He targeted an elementary school with an active shooter policy that had been deemed adequate but also had a long history of doors propped open. No one was able to stop the gunman from carrying out the deadliest school shooting in Texas history, in part because of "systemic failures and egregious poor decision making" by nearly everyone involved who was in a position of power, a new investigation into the shooting has found. On Sunday, a Texas House committee released the most exhaustive account yet of the shooter, his planning, his attack and the fumbling response he provoked.
https://www.sott.net/article/470109-Systemic-failures-in-Uvalde-shooting-went-far-beyond-local-police-Texas-House-report-details
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John Cleese: Wokeness has a 'disastrous' impact on comedy
Entertainment icon John Cleese slammed wokeness for having a "disastrous" impact on comedy during an interview with Fox News Digital. Cleese was a keynote speaker at last week's FreedomFest conference in Las Vegas where he spoke about how to cultivate creativity, a skill he believes is essential and not just in showbiz, but sounded the alarm that political correctness has become a major obstacle, particularly for young comedians. When asked if comedians have the freedom to be funny in the year 2022, Cleese firmly responded, "No." "There's always been limitations on what they're allowed to say," Cleese said. "Why you go to Molière and Louis XIV. I mean Molière had to be a bit careful. And there will always be limitations. I mean in England, until some ridiculous late date like 1965, all plays had to be submitted to what used to be a part of the palace called the Lord Chamberlain, and he would read it and there were hilarious letters used to go back was saying 'you may only say f---...
https://www.sott.net/article/470110-John-Cleese-Wokeness-has-a-disastrous-impact-on-comedy
John Cleese: Wokeness has a 'disastrous' impact on comedy
Entertainment icon John Cleese slammed wokeness for having a "disastrous" impact on comedy during an interview with Fox News Digital. Cleese was a keynote speaker at last week's FreedomFest conference in Las Vegas where he spoke about how to cultivate creativity, a skill he believes is essential and not just in showbiz, but sounded the alarm that political correctness has become a major obstacle, particularly for young comedians. When asked if comedians have the freedom to be funny in the year 2022, Cleese firmly responded, "No." "There's always been limitations on what they're allowed to say," Cleese said. "Why you go to Molière and Louis XIV. I mean Molière had to be a bit careful. And there will always be limitations. I mean in England, until some ridiculous late date like 1965, all plays had to be submitted to what used to be a part of the palace called the Lord Chamberlain, and he would read it and there were hilarious letters used to go back was saying 'you may only say f---...
https://www.sott.net/article/470110-John-Cleese-Wokeness-has-a-disastrous-impact-on-comedy
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Casket manufacturer reports unprecedented orders of child-size coffins
A Toronto-based casket manufacturer has taken to Twitter to report historically high child casket sales by the company he works for. The casket salesman, who asked to be referred to by his first name only, told the Western Standard his company has never seen such a significant rise in bulk sales of caskets typically used to bury children. Mick said all producers are seeing this huge uptick in youth-sized coffin sales. Children's caskets typically accommodate the bodies of children aged between 18 months to around 10 years of age. "There's no denying it, I would say the sales versus the pre-pandemic period were probably up 30%, maybe 40%. And in this industry, for a 30% or 40% increase in sales, something dramatic has to have happened. And it's not just local to specific towns," Mick said.
https://www.sott.net/article/470111-Casket-manufacturer-reports-unprecedented-orders-of-child-size-coffins
Casket manufacturer reports unprecedented orders of child-size coffins
A Toronto-based casket manufacturer has taken to Twitter to report historically high child casket sales by the company he works for. The casket salesman, who asked to be referred to by his first name only, told the Western Standard his company has never seen such a significant rise in bulk sales of caskets typically used to bury children. Mick said all producers are seeing this huge uptick in youth-sized coffin sales. Children's caskets typically accommodate the bodies of children aged between 18 months to around 10 years of age. "There's no denying it, I would say the sales versus the pre-pandemic period were probably up 30%, maybe 40%. And in this industry, for a 30% or 40% increase in sales, something dramatic has to have happened. And it's not just local to specific towns," Mick said.
https://www.sott.net/article/470111-Casket-manufacturer-reports-unprecedented-orders-of-child-size-coffins
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No inflation? AT&T stock crashes as Americans can't afford to pay their phone bills
Shares of AT&T fell on Thursday after CEO John Stankey said that customers are starting to put off paying their phone bills - which resulted in the wireless carrier cutting this year's forecast for free cash flow by $2 billion, Bloomberg reports. Shares fell as much as 11% in early trading, the company's largest slide since 2022 which erased the stock's YTD gains. A weakened consumer adds to pressure facing AT&T, which has already taken hits from deeply discounting new phones and capital outlay on network equipment. The company now expects 2022 free cash flow of $14 billion - with around $1 billion of the reduced amount tied to the "timing of customer collections."
https://www.sott.net/article/470112-No-inflation-AT-T-stock-crashes-as-Americans-cant-afford-to-pay-their-phone-bills
No inflation? AT&T stock crashes as Americans can't afford to pay their phone bills
Shares of AT&T fell on Thursday after CEO John Stankey said that customers are starting to put off paying their phone bills - which resulted in the wireless carrier cutting this year's forecast for free cash flow by $2 billion, Bloomberg reports. Shares fell as much as 11% in early trading, the company's largest slide since 2022 which erased the stock's YTD gains. A weakened consumer adds to pressure facing AT&T, which has already taken hits from deeply discounting new phones and capital outlay on network equipment. The company now expects 2022 free cash flow of $14 billion - with around $1 billion of the reduced amount tied to the "timing of customer collections."
https://www.sott.net/article/470112-No-inflation-AT-T-stock-crashes-as-Americans-cant-afford-to-pay-their-phone-bills
