ISRAEL
Turkey stirring up tensions on Temple Mount
Turkey is spending tens of millions of dollars to gain a foothold inside Israel’s capital city and to stir up tensions between Arab residents and Israelis, a new investigative report claims.
According to the report, set to be published in full by journalist Nadav Shragi this coming Friday in Yisrael Hashavua, since 2004 some $63 million from Turkish NGOs and the Turkish government have gone to organizations in eastern Jerusalem dedicated to “defending and strengthening the Muslim heritage and character of Jerusalem.
Rioting Injures Three Israeli Cops on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount as Tensions Rise
Christian “Awakening” to Holiness of Temple Mount Draws Islamic Fury
Until now, the bloody battle for the Temple Mount has been fought between Muslims and Jews, but a new awakening among some Christians to its significance is creating a shifting pre-Messianic reality at the already volatile site. The developing status of Christians on the Temple Mount played out a few weeks ago in a Muslim-Christian confrontation that nearly ended in violence.
Israel breaks ground on first new settlement in 20 years
The new settlement, known as Amichai, will be the first since 1999 and is located in the heart of the West Bank, in an area Palestinians hope will one day be part of an independent state of Palestine.
UN ENVOY: ISRAEL IS DEFYING UNSC BY ACCELERATING SETTLER CONSTRUCTION
Modi comes out of the closet with Israel
Historic! This has become the most frequently used expression to describe the forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in early July to Israel. There are many reasons why this is true. This is the first time an Indian prime minister is visiting Israel since the Jewish state came into being in May 1948 – a state India voted against when the matter came before the UN.
The fact the PM will not visit the Palestine territories – especially Ramallah, which is only a few kms away from the Israeli Knesset – is a major departure for India’s foreign policy. Essentially this indicates that India is ready to break from the past and de-hyphenate its relationship with Palestine from Israel.
WARS & RUMORS THEREOF
ESCALATION: US, RUSSIA FACING OFF
US signals involvement in Syria could escalate
The United States is inching closer to involvement in the Syrian civil war after U.S. forces shot down a Syrian fighter jet on Sunday.
The incident is the fourth time in as many weeks that the United States has shot at pro-Syrian-government forces, and it carries the potential for further escalation — particularly with Russia threatening to target U.S. aircraft that fly into parts of Syria.
Islamic State group is in retreat across Syria and Iraq
Now, they’re heading west. See ‘Philippines’ below.
RUSSIAN JET BUZZES U.S. PLANE IN EUROPE AFTER DRONE WAS SHOT DOWN IN SYRIA
…The RC-135 was flying in international airspace with its transponder on, making it identifiable to other aircraft.
“We were flying in international airspace and did nothing to provoke this behavior,” said Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters Tuesday.
…Armed Russian jet
…Came within 5 feet
The US and Russia may be getting closer to a military confrontation
PHILIPPINES
Gunmen storm Pigcawayan school: police
Gunmen have occupied a school after storming a village on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines, according to police.
Suspected members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) group were engaged in a gun battle with security forces at Malagakit, close to Pigcawayan town, Chief Inspector Realan Mamon said in a radio interview on Wednesday.
Brigadier General Restituto Padilla, army spokesman, said five civilians were taken hostage, none of them students, as human shields…for the cowards with big guns…
BIFF, Abus pledge allegiance to Isis in 2014
CHINA, NORTH KOREA
Trump’s Latest Tweet Warns Of Coming War: “China’s Help with North Korea Has Not Worked Out”
There’s a reason we’ve suggested that concerned Americans stock up on anti-radiation pills and CBRN rated Gas Masks and if President Trump’s latest tweet is any guide then time is running short.
Donald J. Trump
✔@realDonaldTrump
While I greatly appreciate the efforts of President Xi & China to help with North Korea, it has not worked out. At least I know China tried! While it’s not an outright declaration of war, it certainly appears that the situation on the Korean peninsula is about to be taken to the next level…
Zero Hedge: …Trump’s Ominous Tweet
So is this Trump’s implicit warning that he is about to launch an attack on North Korea, following a failed intervention by China, in retaliation for the death of Otto Warmbier? If so, it may be problematic since as we showed several days ago, both US carriers Ronald Reagan and Carl Vinson appeared to have left the Korean peninsula as of last week, suggesting that any military action will require their return first.
US spy satellites detect activity at North Korean nuclear test site
South Korea confirms drone discovered in June was from North Korea
US & GLOBAL ECONOMY
The Vital Signs For The U.S. Economy Are Getting Worse
The economic data was disappointing across the board last week in what is looking like a renewed deceleration in the rate of economic growth.
Retail Sales
Overall retail sales declined 0.3% in May, which was the steepest drop since January 2016. Yet even when autos and gasoline are excluded there was no sales growth. There were declines for restaurants, department stores, as well as appliance and electronics (mobile phones) retailers. E-commerce continues to be the only category to show consistent monthly sales growth. Regardless, the overall trend continues to deteriorate.
…BUT Positive views of U.S. economy on the rise
The new Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code will make it impossible for Indian banks to lend with compassion
When the Reserve Bank of India dropped a bombshell on the evening of June 13, ordering banks to take the top-12 defaulters to bankruptcy courts, it also laid the foundation for changing the way Indian banks engage with big business families hereon.
Euro banks prompt new worries
If Oil Continues Lower, Banks Will Be Next
WHITE HOUSE
Trump administration to turn over federal banking records to Senate investigators
Senate investigators will receive a trove of banking records from the Treasury Department that lawmakers believe could help shed light on any business dealings involving campaign aides and other advisers to President Trump, Sen. Ron Wyden told ABC News on Tuesday.
“The stack of press reports gets higher every day regarding financial connections between Trump associates and Russia and Trump’s own business dealings with Russian interests,” said Wyden, an Oregon Democrat who sits on the Senate Intelligence committee. “This morning, Treasury briefed me on documents that are being transmitted to the Senate. I believe these documents will be sufficient to start following the money.”
US ‘mystified’ by Gulf states’ refusal to justify Qatar boycott
The United States declared itself “mystified” on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies have failed to justify their embargo on Qatar, and urged both sides to resolve the dangerous dispute.
Signaling Washington’s mounting frustration at Riyadh’s role in the crisis, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert called into question whether Qatar’s alleged support for terrorism is its true cause.
ISLAM & NEW WORLD ORDER
ISIS Ramadan offensive hits Europe
Tuesday night, June 20, a terrorist detonated a bomb belt at the Brussels central train station, shouting “Allahu Akbar!” Police shot him dead. The explosion was small and there were no victims this time, but it was the second Islamic State attack in West Europe in two days
Brussels train station blast being treated as terror attack
…Detonates ‘nail bomb’ at Central Station before being shot dead by troops
Terrorism will continue, says security expert after failed Brussels attack
Brexit connection or coincidence?…
Age of Terror: Europe on High Alert in Wake of Paris, London Attacks Monday
The terror threat level remains elevated in France after another attack. An Islamic terrorist set off a fiery blast in Paris Monday when he drove a car packed with explosives into a police convoy.
The attack took place on the famous Champs-Elysees Avenue, a popular tourist destination.
No officers or passersby on the crowded avenue were hurt, but the driver, armed with a handgun, was badly burned in the explosion and died.
Finsbury Park Attack: Does terrorism run both ways?
As if there were not already enough to be upset about in the Finsbury Park attack, social media almost instantly erupted into howls of indignation over why it had not been labelled a “terrorist” incident. Even as the carnage was still being quantified, the race to take offence was on.
Finsbury Park Mosque released a statement on its Facebook page saying: “We are extremely unhappy with the mainstream media not reporting this as a terrorist attack, whereas they are very swift in describing attacks involving individuals professing to be Muslims and acting in the name of Islam.”
MANMADE AND NATURAL DISASTERS
Tropical Storm Cindy floods Louisiana to Florida coast as landfall looms
Yellowstone Supervolcano Hit By A Swarm Of More Than 400 Earthquakes In One Week
The latest was recorded on Monday, June 19, with a magnitude 3 earthquake striking 8.6 miles north northeast of West Yellowstone, Montana.
The swarm began last week, and on June 15 saw a magnitude 4.5 earthquake take place in Yellowstone National Park. “The epicenter of the shock was located in Yellowstone National Park, eight miles north-northeast of the town of West Yellowstone, Montana,” scientists from the University of Utah, which monitors Yellowstone Volcano, said in a statement.
“The earthquake was [reportedly] felt in the towns of West Yellowstone and Gardiner, Montana, in Yellowstone National Park, and elsewhere in the surrounding region.”
Las Vegas ties record high of 117 degrees
Las Vegas has tied its record high temperature of 117 degrees (47.2 degrees Celsius) as a weather system continues to bring scorching heat to the Southwest U.S.
The National Weather Service in Las Vegas says the record was tied at 4:07 p.m. Tuesday. Meteorologist Chris Outler says it is possible that the heat wave affecting the area could push thermometers to hit the same temperature again Wednesday.
At McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, airlines cancelled at least one flight and delayed at least two others because of the heat.