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Question Everything
The average person in the First World receives more information than he would if he lived in a Second or Third World country. In many countries of the world, the very idea of twenty-four hour television news coverage would be unthinkable, yet many Westerners feel that, without this constant input, they would be woefully uninformed. Not surprising, then, that the average First Worlder feels that he understands current events better than those elsewhere in the world. But, as in other things, quality and quantity are not the same. The average news programme features a commentator who provides "the news," or at least that portion of events that the network deems worthy to be presented. In addition, it is presented from the political slant of the controllers of the network. But we are reassured that the reporting is "balanced," in a portion of the programme that features a panel of "experts." Customarily, the panel consists of the moderator plus two pundits who share his political slant...
https://www.sott.net/article/470339-Question-Everything

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National security search engine: Google's ranks are filled with CIA agents
Google - one of the largest and most influential organizations in the modern world - is filled with ex-CIA agents. Studying employment websites and databases, MintPress has ascertained that the Silicon Valley giant has recently hired dozens of professionals from the Central Intelligence Agency in recent years. Moreover, an inordinate number of these recruits work in highly politically sensitive fields, wielding considerable control over how its products work and what the world sees on its screens and in its search results. Chief amongst these is the trust and safety department, whose staff, in the words of then Google trust and safety vice president Kristie Canegallo, "[d]ecide what content is allowed on our platform" - in other words, setting the rules of the internet, determining what billions see and what they do not see. Before Google, Canegallo had been President Obama's Deputy White House Chief of Staff for Implementation and is currently Chief of Staff at the Department of...
https://www.sott.net/article/470340-National-security-search-engine-Googles-ranks-are-filled-with-CIA-agents

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Puberty blocker company paid co-director of children's transgender clinic
Doctor Maja Marinkovic is the co-director of the Center for Gender-Affirming Care at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego and has received compensation from a company that is under investigation for advertising one of their products for off-label use as a puberty blocker. A site that tracks public records related to the pharmaceutical industry called Caredash reports that Marinkovic has received $4,824 from Endo Pharmaceuticals in payments that were directly related to Supprelin and Supprelin LA, drugs that are used off-label as puberty blockers. ProPublica even found that in 2018 Marinkovic received the ninth most amount of money of any physician in America for Supprelin LA. In total, Marinkovic has received $9,571 from pharmaceutical companies between 2015 and 2021, which is more than 96% of pediatricians in the U.S.
https://www.sott.net/article/470341-Puberty-blocker-company-paid-co-director-of-childrens-transgender-clinic

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At least 4 dead, 60 hurt as shallow magnitude 7 earthquake hits northern Philippines
Shallow quake was measured at above 7 magnitude and collapsed buildings near the epicentre in northern Abra province. At least four people have died and 60 others were injured by a powerful earthquake in the northern Philippines, the country's interior minister has said. The 8:43am (00:43 GMT) quake on Wednesday struck the mountainous and lightly populated province of Abra on Luzon, the country's main and most populous island, causing small landslides and collapsing some houses. The tremors caused high-rise towers to shake more than 400km (249 miles) away in the capital, Manila, which is located on the south of the island. The earthquake was measured at a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 by the US Geological Survey (USGS), 7.2 by the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) and 7.3 by the Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). Phivolcs later revised the magnitude down to 7.0. Still, the earthquake was strongest to have hit the Philippines in years.
https://www.sott.net/article/470342-At-least-4-dead-60-hurt-as-shallow-magnitude-7-earthquake-hits-northern-Philippines

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Lightning strikes kill 18 in two days in Uttar Pradesh, India
A total of 18 people have been killed in incidents of lightning strike in Uttar Pradesh over the past two days, officials said Tuesday. They said 12 were killed on Tuesday -- seven in Kaushambi and five Prayagraj -- and the rest six on Monday -- four in Ghazipur and two in Bhadohi. According to a government statement, in Kaushambi, five persons in Chail tehsil have lost their lives, while one each died in Manjhanpur tehsil and in Sirathu. Superintendent of Police of Kaushambi Hemraj Meena said the deceased have been identified as Bittan Devi (60), Basant Pasi (45), Munna (13), Dharmendra (33), Ranjana Devi (19), Ramprasad (50) and Laxmi Devi (31). The death happened on Tuesday, he said.
https://www.sott.net/article/470343-Lightning-strikes-kill-18-in-two-days-in-Uttar-Pradesh-India

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Severe flash floods in Missouri after record rainfall of 7 inches in just 5 hours
Record rainfall caused severe flash flooding in parts of Missouri on 26 July 2022. The Mayor of St Louis has declared a state of emergency, while emergency services have rescued dozens of people from trapped vehicles and flooded homes. St Louis Fire Department reported at least one fatality. National Weather Service (NWS) St. Louis reported a record 7.02 inches (178 mm) of rain in 5 hours early on 26 July 2022, surpassing the old record of 6.85″ (174 mm) recorded in August 1915. "Historic rainfall event causing widespread flash flooding this morning," NWS St Louis said, adding that "rainfall totals varied immensely across the area. While some locations were shattering records, others saw only a trace of rain." The city of St Peters in St. Charles County recorded 12.86 inches (326.6 mm) in 24 hours to 26 July 2022. St Louis saw 7.79 inches (198 mm), and Hannibal and Auxvasse both recorded 6.10 inches (155 mm) during the same period.
https://www.sott.net/article/470344-Severe-flash-floods-in-Missouri-after-record-rainfall-of-7-inches-in-just-5-hours

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Hezbollah's drones: No more safe skies for Israel
The democratization and development of drone warfare among West Asia's resistance factions present a grave threat to the airspace security of their regional foes, notably Israel, vis-à-vis the Lebanese and Palestinian resistance in particular. In this sense, it is not just conventional, ballistic, or surface-to-surface precision guided missiles that threatens Israel, the state that once enjoyed qualitative military superiority in the region's skies, and which, over the years of conflict with Arab states, excelled in aerial warfare. Indeed the proliferation of lethal yet cost-effective, "kamikaze" drones are the new and evolving threat to Israel, spelling the end of the short-lived monopoly it once relished. Hezbollah drones, activated On 2 July, Lebanon's resistance movement Hezbollah dispatched three unarmed drones over the Karish gas field, in the disputed maritime economic zone between Lebanon and northern Israel. The reconnaissance drones' flight close to the Energean...
https://www.sott.net/article/470345-Hezbollahs-drones-No-more-safe-skies-for-Israel

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The Middle East is no longer the US's backyard, it's over
US President Joe Biden's visit was a complete failure and shows that Washington no longer possesses the power that it claims over the region — neither diplomatically, nor militarily. The Biden administration failed to achieve any of its primary objectives in the region with his visit and instead of sending a strong message to its rivals in Tehran, affirmed that there is no military solution available against the Islamic Republic. When the Biden administration announced that the President would make his first trip to the Middle East, by visiting both Tel Aviv and Riyadh, talk began to emerge of many major developments that may follow. Saudi Arabia and Israel were expected to grow significantly closer towards a normalization deal, with some progress seemingly made on that front, the only thing that seemed to change was Riyadh opening its skies to Israeli aircraft, and other than this, there really isn't anything to show for Joe Biden's visit. An "Arab-Israel Axis" made headlines in...
https://www.sott.net/article/470346-The-Middle-East-is-no-longer-the-USs-backyard-its-over

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Russia to withdraw from International Space Station in 2024, build new base
Russia will leave the International Space Station at the end of 2024 and start construction on its own orbital base, officials announced Tuesday. Yuri Borisov, a former deputy prime minister and deputy defense minister appointed earlier this month to lead the state-controlled Roscosmos, said Russia will meet its obligations to other ISS partners before pulling out of the project. "The decision to leave the station after 2024 has been made," Borisov said during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The declaration comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and the US over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. NASA announced earlier this month that a Russian cosmonaut will be launched to the ISS in September aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon - which would mark the first time that Elon Musk's company will transport a Russian on one of its space capsules.
https://www.sott.net/article/470347-Russia-to-withdraw-from-International-Space-Station-in-2024-build-new-base

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Existence of Loch Ness Monster just became more 'plausible' after fossil discovery
River system dig in modern-day Morocco offers 'controversial' new perspective on how marine reptiles and aquatic dinosaurs co-existed The Loch Ness Monster is "plausible", a British university has declared, after finding that some plesiosaurs may have lived in freshwater. Nessie proponents have long believed that the creature of Scottish folklore could be a prehistoric reptile, with grainy images and eyewitness accounts over the years hinting that the beast has a long-neck and small head similar to a plesiosaur. However, skeptics argue that even if a plesiosaur lineage had survived into the modern era, the creatures could not have lived in Loch Ness because they needed a saltwater environment.
https://www.sott.net/article/470348-Existence-of-Loch-Ness-Monster-just-became-more-plausible-after-fossil-discovery

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The American Dream
The US has one of the most deeply-ingrained nationalistic ideologies of any nation. Accompanying the grand mass hysterias of patriotism and freedom, one of the most pervasive links in the ideological chain that creates the American sense of identity is a belief in "The American Dream", an imaginary ideal that offers a rags-to-riches path to prosperity. In this mythical universe, all opportunity is equally available to every citizen, in a land where even those with no credentials, education or experience can accumulate untold riches and even rise to become the president of the country. In this context, America is a fantastic utopian myth promoted by the propaganda machine as an idealistic Shangri-la concept of opportunity and hope, where even the most disadvantaged have a fair chance at wealth and fame. Americans almost universally believe they are unique in this regard, the US virtually defining itself as the land of opportunity, but this has always been a delusion. While it may be...
https://www.sott.net/article/470349-The-American-Dream

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Mysterious holes discovered on ocean floor puzzle experts
There are holes in their knowledge regarding these mysterious ocean-bed perforations — so experts are asking for help. Scientists have been left flabbergasted over a series of mysterious holes discovered this week at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration posted photos of the underwater formations on Facebook and Twitter, where sea-savvy social media users have postulated that they could be everything from "wormholes" to "aliens."
https://www.sott.net/article/470350-Mysterious-holes-discovered-on-ocean-floor-puzzle-experts

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Stonehenge may be an ancient solar calendar says new study
A new study explains how the ancient solar calendar may have worked at Stonehenge — and why it was constructed in the first place. Stonehenge has always been shrouded in mystery. The ancient monument and burial site in southern England has been around for more than 5,000 years — but its purpose isn't completely clear. Researchers have long speculated the enormous stones were erected in the shape of an ancient calendar, but no one could explain how it worked. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, and with it a chance for Stonehenge expert Timothy Darvill to visit the site during the day when the sun was shining and tourists were scarce. He had more time than he ever thought possible to contemplate a possible calendar design. Then one day it came to him.
https://www.sott.net/article/470351-Stonehenge-may-be-an-ancient-solar-calendar-says-new-study

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NATO's arsonist-in-chief Jens Stoltenberg wants the Western public to pay for a Ukrainian fire he helped to ignite
EU members should 'stop complaining' and 'pay the price' for the Russia-Ukraine conflict, says leader of the bloc which started it all The General Secretary of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, took it upon himself recently to lecture the members of the European Parliament about the need to "pay the price" necessary to keep Ukraine able to function and fight in its ongoing conflict with Russia. What he failed to admit was the major role he himself played in bringing about this conflict. The Norwegian has an important role. In many ways, one can liken it to that of a fire commissioner whose job is to bring together various neighborhood fire departments into a large mutual aid pact, where a fire in one district automatically causes the resources of the neighboring districts to be dispatched in response. That's Article 5 of NATO's Charter in a nutshell.
https://www.sott.net/article/470352-NATOs-arsonist-in-chief-Jens-Stoltenberg-wants-the-Western-public-to-pay-for-a-Ukrainian-fire-he-helped-to-ignite

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Meteor fireball over south of Spain (July 26)
This bolide was spotted over Spain on July 26, at 3:18 local time (equivalent to 1:18 universal time). The event was generated by a rock (a meteoroid) from comet 169P/NEAT that hit the atmosphere at about 91,000 km/h. The fireball overflew the south of Spain. It began at an altitude of about 99 km over the province of Córdoba, moved northeast, and ended at a height of around 76 km over the province of Jaén. This bright meteor was recorded in the framework of the SMART project, operated by the Southwestern Europe Meteor Network (SWEMN) from the meteor-observing stations located at Huelva, La Hita, CAHA, OSN, La Sagra, and Sevilla. The event has been analyzed by the principal investigator of the SMART project: Dr. Jose M. Madiedo, from the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC).
https://www.sott.net/article/470353-Meteor-fireball-over-south-of-Spain-July-26

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How professional lobbyists have worked to generate enthusiasm in Washington for a long proxy military conflict in Ukraine
If you've wondered why so much Western media coverage of the Ukraine conflict seems to be based on "Kiev says," the answer is largely down to the power of lobbying. The Ukraine is always good and Russia is always bad narrative didn't create itself. On July 11, Washington DC-based public affairs consultancy Ridgely Walsh registered as a Foreign Agent on behalf of Ukrainian interests with the US Justice Department. The company - which typically advises Silicon Valley big hitters such as eBay, Google, Snapchat, SpaceX, and Uber - is just the latest Beltway operator to enlist under the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA). This is archaic and abstruse legislation thrust to the forefront of the mainstream news agenda during the 'Russiagate' hoax of the Donald Trump presidency. Last July, just 11 US-based firms were registered as lobbyists for Ukrainian clients under FARA. Over the course of 2021, these influencers attempted to pressure Washington to kill the Nord Stream 2 project,...
https://www.sott.net/article/470354-How-professional-lobbyists-have-worked-to-generate-enthusiasm-in-Washington-for-a-long-proxy-military-conflict-in-Ukraine

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Kremlin warns West of response to RT France ban
Moscow will apply "similar reciprocal" measures to Western media working in Russia in response to the ban of RT France from broadcasting in the EU, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said. This comes after the EU's top court on Wednesday upheld a decision to prohibit RT France from airing its shows, accusing the channel of unfair coverage of the Ukraine conflict. "The encroachment on the freedom of speech, the freedom of the media, in European states, including France, is both concerning and regrettable," Peskov told reporters. "The Europeans are stomping out the same ideals they're imposing across the globe." Peskov promised "reciprocal pressure" on Western media working in Russia. "We will similarly not allow them to work in our country. There won't be a soft approach to this issue." Earlier in the day, the European Court of Justice upheld a ban on RT France from broadcasting its content in the bloc. The judges ruled that the channel was "not capable of demonstrating an overall...
https://www.sott.net/article/470355-Kremlin-warns-West-of-response-to-RT-France-ban

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What is this 'rules-based international order' that Western elites keep talking about?
US President Joe Biden has beaten the drum that Americans will have to pay high prices for energy for "as long as it takes" to stick it to Russia in Ukraine. A couple of months ago, when one of Biden's advisors, Brian Deese, was quizzed about the president's response to the price hikes on CNN, he replied: "This is about the future of the liberal world order and we have to stand firm." In 2016, then Vice-President Joe Biden said to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a visit to Ottawa: "The world is going to spend a lot of time looking to you Mr. Prime Minister as we see more and more challenges to the liberal international order than any time since the end of World War Two." French President Emmanuel Macron invoked a similar concept of fighting to maintain a certain "world order" during his press conference at the conclusion of the G7 Summit this June in Germany, when he said that the Russia-Ukraine conflict upsets the principles of international rules that have been...
https://www.sott.net/article/470356-What-is-this-rules-based-international-order-that-Western-elites-keep-talking-about

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Research by UK gov't finds air pollution a likely cause of dementia in elderly people
Air pollution is a likely cause of dementia and overall cognitive decline in elderly people, major new research carried out on behalf of the UK government and released on Monday suggests. The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) came to its conclusion after examining almost 70 studies in human populations, which were looking for links between air pollution and diminished mental abilities. "It is likely that air pollution can contribute to a decline in mental ability and dementia in older people," the report says. Researchers believe that the most likely way this happens is through blood circulation. "It is known that air pollutants, particularly small particles, can affect the heart and blood vessels, including to the brain," the study reads.
https://www.sott.net/article/470357-Research-by-UK-govt-finds-air-pollution-a-likely-cause-of-dementia-in-elderly-people

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Prominent lawyer argues Steve Bannon's guilty verdict could be overturned
Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon's guilty verdict could be overturned, one prominent lawyer argued. In an interview with Newsmax host Greta Van Susteren, former Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz spoke about a jury in Washington, D.C., convicting Bannon on two charges of contempt of Congress for ignoring a subpoena. Dershowitz called the conviction "entirely in violation of the Constitution" and predicted that a higher court will "very likely" overturn it. After Van Susteren said the D.C. district where the trial was held is "94 percent Democrat," Dershowitz chimed in, "Well, not only that, but probably 97 percent Trump haters." "And all you had to do was say, 'Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, this man Bannon worked for Trump.' That's the end of the case. Entirely predictable and entirely in violation of the Constitution. The only provision of the Constitution which appears basically twice is trial by jury, in front of a fair jury. Number one he didn't have a...
https://www.sott.net/article/470358-Prominent-lawyer-argues-Steve-Bannons-guilty-verdict-could-be-overturned

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Ugandan president comments on relations with Russia
Uganda is seeking closer cooperation with Russia and refuses to fight "other people's enemies," the country's leader, Yoweri Museveni, said during a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the city of Entebbe on Tuesday. The Ugandan president said: "We want to trade with Russia and we want to trade with all the countries of the world. We don't believe in being enemies of somebody's enemy. We want to make our own enemies, not fight other people's enemies. This is our doctrine," The African leader noted that Russia, and the Soviet Union before it, have supported Uganda and the African anti-colonial movement for over 100 years and have never caused the country any harm. Noting Uganda's rich natural resources, Museveni said he hoped his country could further increase cooperation with Russia in areas such as space science, nuclear energy, medicine, and food. He also insisted that he didn't understand the calls for Africa to "automatically" take an...
https://www.sott.net/article/470359-Ugandan-president-comments-on-relations-with-Russia