JEWISH KING JESUS IS COMING AT THE RAPTURE FOR US IN THE CLOUDS-DON'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD.THE BIBLE TAKEN LITERALLY- WHEN THE PLAIN SENSE MAKES GOOD SENSE-SEEK NO OTHER SENSE-LEST YOU END UP IN NONSENSE.GET SAVED NOW- CALL ON JESUS TODAY.THE ONLY SAVIOR OF THE WHOLE EARTH - NO OTHER.
1 COR 15:23-JESUS THE FIRST FRUITS-CHRISTIANS RAPTURED TO JESUS-FIRST FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT-23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.ROMANS 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.(THE PRE-TRIB RAPTURE)
LUKE 21:28-29
28 And when these things begin to come to pass,(ALL THE PROPHECY SIGNS FROM THE BIBLE) then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption (RAPTURE) draweth nigh.
29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree,(ISRAEL) and all the trees;(ALL INDEPENDENT COUNTRIES)
30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.(ISRAEL LITERALLY BECAME AND INDEPENDENT COUNTRY JUST BEFORE SUMMER IN MAY 14,1948.)
JOEL 2:3,30
3 A fire devoureth (ATOMIC BOMB) before them;(RUSSIAN-ARAB-MUSLIM ARMIES AGAINST ISRAEL) and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.(ATOMIC BOMB AFFECT)
ZECHARIAH 14:12-13
12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet,(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB) and their eyes shall consume away in their holes,(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB) and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB)(BECAUSE NUKES HAVE BEEN USED ON ISRAELS ENEMIES)(GOD PROTECTS ISRAEL AND ALWAYS WILL)
13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.(1/2-3 BILLION DIE IN WW3)(THIS IS AN ATOMIC BOMB EFFECT)
EZEKIEL 20:47
47 And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.
ZEPHANIAH 1:18
18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.
MALACHI 4:1
1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven;(FROM ATOMIC BOMBS) and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
And here are the bounderies of the land that Israel will inherit either through war or peace or God in the future. God says its Israels land and only Israels land. They will have every inch God promised them of this land in the future.
Egypt east of the Nile River, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, The southern part of Turkey and the Western Half of Iraq west of the Euphrates. Gen 13:14-15, Psm 105:9,11, Gen 15:18, Exe 23:31, Num 34:1-12, Josh 1:4.ALL THIS LAND ISRAEL WILL DEFINATELY OWN IN THE FUTURE, ITS ISRAELS NOT ISHMAELS LAND.12 TRIBES INHERIT LAND IN THE FUTURE
Senior minister warns latest flare-up could lead to new Gaza war-In the case of an all-out confrontation, Hamas will suffer a blow that will end its rule over the coastal enclave, says Yuval Steinitz-By Michael Bachner and Judah Ari Gross-TOI-JUN 20,18
An Israeli security cabinet member on Wednesday said Israel was possibly on the way to a war with Gaza that would be the “end” for the Hamas terror group’s rule over the Strip, blaming “foreign parties” such as the Palestinian Authority and Iran for the latest escalation of tensions in Israel’s south.“We can’t know how it ends, when it ends, but it looks like we are on the way to an escalation,” Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz told the Hadashot news channel, after Palestinians fired at least 45 rockets at Israel overnight and the IDF struck dozens of targets in the coastal enclave.Referring to the last war in Gaza, in the summer of 2014, Steinitz said the current flare-up could “reach the levels of [Operation] Protective Edge number two, and I believe it will be different. I think this time it will be the end of the story for Hamas’s rule over Gaza. We don’t want to go there, but it certainly looks like it’s going to a very bad place.”Asked if his words were a message to Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar that it would be the end of the terror group, Steinitz answered: “I think that should be our goal if we are again forced into an all-out confrontation in Gaza.”That comment was echoed Wednesday by Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, who said: “I have no doubt what the final outcome will be. And on what happened yesterday I only have four words to tell Hamas: That was a mistake.”“There are two foreign parties trying to ignite fire in Gaza, without considering the terrible suffering that will be caused to 1.8 million Gazans,” Steinitz charged, pointing the finger firstly at Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, “who is deliberately exacerbating the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and isn’t transferring money so that there is less money for food and medicine.”“He also tried to reduce the amount of electricity we provide Gaza, to increase the distress and create tension with Israel,” Steinitz said of Abbas.Gaza’s woes have been exacerbated by an ongoing dispute between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, which has cut the salaries it pays to workers in Gaza and imposed various sanctions, including cutting off payments for electricity supplies to the enclave. Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007 and attempts at reconciliation with the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority have failed.“The other party is the Iranians, of course,” Steinitz continued, “who have supported the Islamic Jihad [terror group] but have renewed their support of Hamas.”“They may be under the false impression that if we are forced to operate in Gaza, we will pay less attention to preventing their entrenchment in Syria,” he threatened.Earlier Wednesday, the IDF declared it was “prepared for an all-out confrontation in Gaza if Hamas continues to introduce new game rules,” following a security briefing with Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman.Since March 30, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have launched hundreds of kites and helium balloons bearing flammable materials, and occasionally explosives, sparking near-daily fires that have burned thousands of acres of land in southern Israel. Three fires were reported in Israeli communities close to the Gaza border on Wednesday.Around midnight on Tuesday, Israeli jets bombed three Hamas positions in the Strip in response to numerous airborne arson attacks by Gazans earlier in the day.Minutes later, Palestinians in the Strip launched the first of many rocket and mortar barrages at southern Israel, triggering sirens throughout the area and sending thousands into bomb shelters.Over the course of the next four hours, some 45 rockets and mortar shells were fired at southern Israel, with at least six exploding inside communities, causing damage but no injuries.On Wednesday morning, Gadi Yarkoni, the head of the Eshkol region, praised the IDF for carrying out airstrikes in response to the arson attacks.“Eshkol residents had a sleepless night last night,” Yarkoni said. “We support the IDF for its response to the terror kites, which harm our way of life. And we expect the IDF to continue working to bring back calm to the region, with no more rockets launched at our communities and homes, and no more fires in our fields.”Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
Startup Nation unites to seek solution to Palestinian terror balloons-Mini-hackathon on Friday organized by tech incubator SouthUp calls for ideas to help counter flying incendiary devices launched from Gaza into Israel-By Shoshanna Solomon-TOI-JUN 20,18
The conflict between Israel and Palestinians at the border with Gaza has unleashed a new kind of warfare — helium balloons.The new arson tactic, with the aim to set fire to vast swaths of grasslands, agricultural fields and nature reserves, follows that of the flame-bearing kites, which have been used since the first few weeks of the start of Gaza’s “March of Return” for the same purpose.The concept behind the kites and the balloons is the same: launch the airborne incendiary devices into the air and rely on the breeze from the coast to push them into Israeli territory, where they can start a fire. The balloons themselves do not cause the fires — helium is an inert gas — but they carry flaming material attached to a long string.In total, approximately 17,500 dunams (4,300 acres, or nearly 7 square miles) of land have been burned in more than 250 fires over the past two months, more than half of it in nature reserves, according to initial assessments.After Israeli children at the Gaza border countered the flaming kites with an airborne message of peace, Startup Nation is galvanizing to help the Israeli army fight back. The technology incubator SouthUp has sent out alerts to techies to join a “mini-hackathon” on Friday, to come up with innovative solutions to the burning problem.“Our loving home has been getting ‘gifts from heaven’ in the past few weeks in the form of burning kites and balloons,” the incubator wrote in the invitation to the hackathon, sent out to groups of people involved in arts and technology via social media. The event will be held with experts from a wide variety of fields, the invitation said, including laser technologies, drones, optics, hot-air balloons, sensors and fire fighters. Soldiers and high school students will also take part.SouthUp, a nonprofit organization, was founded in 2015 by figures from the fields of education and employment in Sha’ar Hanegev, in the south of Israel, who joined up with donors from the Jewish community in San Diego, California. Together they set up an organization that aims to find employment and education solutions for the communities living along the border with Gaza, by boosting the creation of startups and high-tech companies in the region, and educating the population to that purpose.The hackathon, called “This is the end of every balloon,” in reference to a children’s classic “Tale of Five Balloons” written by Israeli author Miriam Roth, will be held at the organization’s premises in Sha’ar Hanegev, some 50 minutes from Tel Aviv, between 8.30 am to 4.00 pm on Friday, June 22.
Hamas, Islamic Jihad claim responsibility for Gaza rocket barrage-Terror groups vow to answer with an 'attack for an attack,' as Netanyahu warns Israeli response will 'intensify as needed'-By TOI staff-JUN 20,18
The Gaza-based Hamas and Islamic Jihad terror groups claimed responsibility for the rocket barrage at Israel early Wednesday, warning they will not allow Israeli strikes in the Palestinian enclave to go unanswered.The Israeli military said 45 rockets and mortars were launched at southern Israeli towns. The salvo came after Israeli jets struck Hamas positions in response to the flying of incendiary kites and balloons into Israel, sparking some 20 brush fires Tuesday.In a joint statement, the military wings of Hamas and allied Islamic Jihad said they had “targeted seven Israeli military positions near Gaza… in response to continued Israeli aggression against resistance sites in Gaza.”“We are committed to the formula of an attack for an attack. We will not allow the enemy to dictate a new formula,” the terror groups said, blaming Israel for the flare-up.At least six rockets fired from Gaza early Wednesday landed inside Israeli communities adjacent to the border, including one that struck just outside a kindergarten, Israeli officials said. Most of the others landed in open fields in southern Israel.The Israel Defense Forces said fighter jets struck some 25 targets in various military bases belonging to the Hamas terror group from the north to the south of the Gaza Strip in response to both the projectile attacks and the numerous incendiary kites and balloons flown by Palestinians into Israel throughout the day on Tuesday.The Israeli military accused Hamas, the Islamist terror group which rules Gaza, of “targeting Israeli civilians throughout the night with a severe rocket attack and dragging the Gaza Strip and its civilians down a deteriorating path.”Hamas, meanwhile, blamed Israel for the escalation of violence, saying it had “changed the rules of engagement” by adopting the policy of targeting Hamas positions in response to kite- and balloon-borne arson attacks.Despite Hamas’s vow not to tolerate Israeli strikes over the ongoing balloon arson attacks emanating from Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Wednesday Israel’s response will “intensify as needed.”“The intensity will increase as necessary,” he said at a ceremony for new IDF officers. “We are prepared for every scenario, and its best that our enemies understand this, and now.”“The steel fist of the IDF will powerfully strike anyone who attempts to harm us,” he added.AFP contributed to this report.
UN Human Rights Council back to work with US seat empty-Allies express disappointment over US decision to pull out over 'chronic bias against Israel,' but a diplomat says it could be a 'big bang' that induces reforms-By AP and TOI staff-JUN 20,18
The UN’s Human Rights Council resumed work Wednesday after a US pullout over what it said was “chronic bias against Israel” that one Western diplomat called a “big bang” for the Geneva body, as Russia blasted the move by the Trump administration and key allies expressed disappointment.Many countries claimed that the latest Trump move to snub yet another international institution was a sign that the US was jettisoning its reputation as a key defender of human rights and self-inflicting a blow to its international image.They expressed support for the council, flaws and all, and vowed its work will go on.“We have lost a member who has been at the forefront of liberty for generations,” Julian Braithwaite, Britain’s ambassador in Geneva, told the council. “While we agree with the US on the need for reform, our support for this Human Rights Council remains steadfast.”Russia blasted the US decision, calling it “boorish” and saying Washington had “inflicted a powerful blow to its human rights reputation.” Russia’s UN mission said in a statement that the US exit from the council reflected Washington’s unilateralist approach to global affairs.The US withdrawal is unprecedented in the 12-year history of the 47-member council — no country has ever dropped out voluntarily. Libya was kicked out seven years ago.The US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, announced the pullout Tuesday, calling the body “a hypocritical and self-serving organization that makes a mockery of human rights.”Haley said the US had given the human rights body “opportunity after opportunity” to make changes. She criticized the council for “its chronic bias against Israel,” pointing out that it includes accused human rights abusers such as China, Cuba, Venezuela and Congo.The Geneva-based body was established in 2006 to promote and protect human rights worldwide, but its pronouncements and reports have often infuriated the US — in particular, the council’s relentless focus on Israeli policies toward the Palestinians.Defending the move, US national security adviser John Bolton said Wednesday “we don’t need advice by the UN or other international bodies on how to govern ourselves.”Bolton told Fox News the decision was made by US President Donald Trump weeks ago.On Wednesday, the US chair sat empty as discussion turned to summary executions, freedom of expression, the rights of migrants and violence against women among other things.The United States’ term on the council was set to end next year, and it could have remained a non-voting observer on the council. But a US official said after Haley’s announcement that it was a “complete withdrawal” and that the United States was resigning its seat “effective immediately.”The US pullout leaves the council without one of its traditional defenders of human rights. Just two days ago, American representatives were still taking part by condemning issues like constraints on civil society in Egypt and curbs on a free press in Bahrain.One Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, said the US was notably absent from an informal backroom meeting that it might normally have attended. He said the US walkout could be a “big bang” to help prod reform at the council.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office called the US decision “courageous,” saying it was “an unequivocal statement that enough is enough.”But envoys from Australia, the European Union and China — a frequent target of US criticism over Beijing’s rights record — used a break in the council’s regular work to express disappointment and regret. President Borut Pahor of Slovenia — the home country of US first lady Melania Trump — said the American withdrawal was “bad news” for “everybody” who cares about human rights.In Moscow, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized what she described as Washington’s “boorish cynicism in stubbornly refusing to recognize its own human rights problems while trying to tailor the council to its political interests.”The Chinese government also expressed regret over Washington’s decision. In Beijing, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said the council is “an important platform” for countries to discuss human rights and that Beijing has been committed to supporting the group’s work.But the Chinese government is often accused by Western countries of human rights violations and by rights groups of seeking to undermine the mechanisms of the council. In March, a Chinese diplomat repeatedly interrupted a speech by a prominent Chinese dissident to block him from addressing the UN Human Rights Council, a failed attempt that bared China’s sensitivity on human rights.The foreign ministry spokesman, Geng Shuang, dismissed the US criticism that the council is problematic because it includes China and other authoritarian governments, saying that claim is “a total disregard of facts.”The US pullout extends a broader Trump administration pattern of stepping back from international agreements and forums under the president’s “America First” policy. Although numerous officials have said repeatedly that “America First does not mean America Alone,” the administration has retreated from multiple multilateral accords and consensuses since it took office.Since January 2017, it has announced its withdrawal from the Paris climate accord, left the UN educational and cultural organization — also citing anti-Israel bias — and pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal. Other contentious moves have included slapping tariffs on steel and aluminum against key trading partners, recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moving the US embassy there from Tel Aviv.
May faces down pro-EU rebel lawmakers to win Brexit vote-[Reuters]-By Elizabeth Piper and William James-YAHOONEWS-June 20, 2018
LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May won a crucial Brexit vote in parliament on Wednesday, keeping her divided government's plans to end more than 40 years of British partnership with the European Union on track.After pro-EU Conservative lawmaker Dominic Grieve said he would support the government's proposal for a "meaningful vote" in parliament on Britain's exit, a potential rebellion that could have undermined May's authority was averted.May adopted a high-risk strategy by facing off with rebels in her Conservative Party, and it paid off. One lawmaker said May had no option but to take them on, or risk their rebellion growing as she cuts ties with the EU.But the battle over her Brexit blueprint, or EU withdrawal bill, may be a taste of things to come. May needs to get several other bills through parliament to prepare Britain for life outside the EU, a momentous change to its trading and political relationships after decades in the bloc.Some of her opponents on Brexit may simply have decided to keep their powder dry for later fights on issues such as future trading ties and customs arrangements with the bloc before Britain's scheduled departure in March next year.Six Conservatives still voted against the government. But for now, May will be relieved to have overcome another potential crisis over her proposal for the role of parliament, should she fail to negotiate an exit agreement with the EU or if lawmakers reject any deal she returns with from Brussels."There was a great point of principle here, which was that the government has to be able to be free to negotiate and we have to be able to hold out in our negotiations the prospect of no deal, otherwise all the advantage would have been with the EU side," trade minister Liam Fox told the BBC.Other Conservatives agreed. "It strengthens our hand," said one, while opposition lawmakers described the vote as disappointing.Sterling rose to a session high against the euro and climbed against the dollar after May won the rare victory, one which will give the weakened prime minister a firmer footing when she travels to Brussels next week for an EU summit.Talks with the bloc have all but stalled, with May's top team of ministers at odds over plans for future trading relations with the EU, which businesses complain makes them unable to plan their investment decisions.ABOUT-TURN-Before his about-turn, Grieve had argued that government promises did not hand parliament enough control to prevent the "chaos" that could follow Britain crashing out of the EU without a deal.Grieve seemed to have won over several fellow Conservatives but after days of lobbying by party officials, he seemed to have put his concerns aside.Grieve told the House of Commons he now saw the need to take account of May's concerns over the state of the negotiations. He also said he had been reassured by a statement saying it was up to the parliamentary speaker to grant lawmakers greater influence over ministers in the event of no deal."And in the circumstances that might follow a no deal, which would undoubtedly be one of the biggest political crises in modern British history, if the house wishes to speak ... the house has the power to do it," Grieve said.With his words, May was able to enjoy victory in a parliament that is stacked against her since she lost her majority at an ill-judged election last year.The bill will go to the unelected upper House of Lords later this evening. One source familiar with voting plans there said the Lords were unlikely to object to the government's proposal, with many having argued in a debate on Monday that it was up to elected lawmakers to make a final decision.But businesses are still seeking more certainty. "My biggest worry about Brexit is that I don't know what we are planning for," Juergen Maier, the UK CEO of German engineering giant Siemens told Reuters in an interview."We need to put something in place quickly that works and if that is not possible, and until that point, then we have to just default to staying in the customs union."(Additional reporting by Andrew MacAskill; Editing by Kevin Liffey and David Stamp)
White House adviser Kushner, Saudi crown prince meet on Middle East-[Reuters]-YAHOONEWS-June 20, 2018
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law, White House Senior Adviser Jared Kushner, met on Wednesday with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud about Israel and the Palestinian territories, as Kushner readies the administration's Middle East peace plan.At the meeting, also attended by U.S. Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt, they discussed strengthening ties between the United States and Saudi Arabia and providing humanitarian relief to Gaza, according to a statement from the White House. Kushner held a similar meeting on Tuesday with Jordan's King Abdullah.Kushner and Greenblatt have said the plan they are drawing up for building peace between Israel and the Palestinian territories is nearly complete. The potential for peace was thrown into doubt last month when Trump's decision to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem sparked violent protests in which dozens of Palestinians died.(Reporting by Lisa Lambert; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Trump says he'll sign order ending child-parent separation-[Associated Press]-JILL COLVIN and COLLEEN LONG-YAHOONEWS-June 20, 2018
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he would be signing an executive order later Wednesday that would end the process of separating children from families after they are detained crossing the U.S. border illegally."We want to keep families together. It's very important," Trump told reporters during a White House meeting with members of Congress. "I'll be signing something in a little while that's going to do that."The effort would mark a dramatic turnaround for an administration that has been insisting, wrongly, that it has no choice but to separate families apprehended at the border because of the law and a court decision.Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, the president and other officials have repeatedly said the only way to end the practice is for Congress to pass new legislation, though both Democrats and some Republicans have said the president could stop it himself.The news in recent days has been dominated by searing images of children held in cages at border facilities, as well as audio recordings of young children crying for their parents — images that have sparked fury, question of morality and concern from Republicans about a negative impact on their races in November's midterm elections.Trump pointed to those images in his meeting, saying they'd "affect everybody" but that he was torn. "We want the heart," he said, "but we also want strong borders and we want no crime."Also playing a role: First lady Melania Trump. One White House official said Mrs. Trump had been making her opinion known to the president for some time that she felt he needed to do all he could to help families stay together, whether it was by working with Congress or acting on his own.On Capitol Hill, some who have criticized the policy sounded cautiously optimistic.If the president goes through with the signing, "It would be a complete 180. Clearly the president is hearing the uproar from our communities," said Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif.Nielsen traveled to the Hill Wednesday afternoon to brief lawmakers. And members on the fence over pending immigration legislation headed to the White House to meet with Trump.Trump had tweeted earlier Wednesday, "It's the Democrats fault, they won't give us the votes needed to pass good immigration legislation. They want open borders, which breeds horrible crime. Republicans want security. But I am working on something - it never ends!"The administration recently put into place a "zero tolerance" policy in which all unlawful border crossings are referred for prosecution — a process that moves adults to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and sends many children to facilities run by the Department of Health and Human Services. Under the Obama administration, such families were usually referred for civil deportation proceedings, not requiring separation.The policy had led to a spike in family separations in recent weeks, with more than 2,300 minors were separated from their families at the border from May 5 through June 9, according to the Department of Homeland Security.The action, according to people familiar with it, wouldn't end the zero tolerance policy, but would aim to keep families together while they are in custody and ask the Department of Defense to help house the detained families.Justice Department lawyers have been working to find a legal workaround for a class-action lawsuit settlement that set policies for the treatment and release of unaccompanied children who are caught at the border, or crafting an order that would defy the settlement and force it back into court to argue for changes.Two people close to Homeland Security Secretary Nielsen said early Wednesday that she was the driving force behind the plan to keep families together after they are detained crossing the border illegally.One of the people said Nielsen, who had become the face of the administration's policy, had little faith that Congress would act to fix the separation issue and felt compelled to act. Nielsen was heckled at a restaurant Tuesday evening and has faced protesters at her home.But others pushed back on the idea that Homeland Security had led the rollback. One official said it was the Justice Department that generated the legal strategy that is codified in the working executive order, and disputed the notion that Homeland Security was involved in drawing up the document.Planning at the Justice Department had been underway over the past several days to provide the president with options on the growing crisis, said the official, who, like others, spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the effort before its official announcement.The person said Trump called the Justice Department Wednesday morning asking for the draft order. The official did not know what prompted Trump to change course.The Flores settlement, named for a teenage girl who brought the case in the 1980s, requires the government to release children from custody and to their parents, adult relatives or other caretakers, in order of preference. If those options are exhausted, authorities must find the "least restrictive" setting for the child who arrived without parents.In 2015, a federal judge in Los Angeles expanded the terms of the settlement, ruling that it applies to children who are caught with their parents as well as to those who come to the U.S. alone. Other recent rulings, upheld on appeal, affirm the children's rights to a bond hearing and require better conditions at the Border Patrol's short-term holding facilities.In 2016, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that child migrants who came to the border with parents and were held in custody must be released. The decision did not state parents must be released. Neither, though, did it require parents to be kept in detention, apart from their children.American Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Anthony Romero says the order can't undo damage already done."This executive order would replace one crisis for another. Children don't belong in jail at all, even with their parents, under any set of circumstances. If the president thinks placing families in jail indefinitely is what people have been asking for, he is grossly mistaken."___Associated Press writers Zeke Miller, Ken Thomas and Alan Fram contributed to this report.
EARTH DESTROYED WITH THE EARTH IN NOAHS DAY(BECAUSE OF SIN,VIOLENCE AND GODLESS PEOPLE)
GENESIS 6:11-13
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.(WORLD TERRORISM,MURDERS)(HAMAS IN HEBREW IS VIOLENCE)
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence (TERRORISM)(HAMAS) through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
HOSEA 4:1-3
1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.
DEUTORONOMY 28:22-24
22 The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.
23 And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.
24 The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.
Heavy rains due to drench Texas Gulf Coast, Midwest-[Reuters]-YAHOONEWS-June 20, 2018
(Reuters) - Heavy downpours were expected to drench the Gulf Coast of Texas and the U.S. Midwest on Wednesday and could cause flooding especially along already swollen rivers and in low-lying areas, forecasters warned.Up to 5 inches (13 cm) of rain was forecast for parts of the Texas coast along the Gulf of Mexico and in the Middle Mississippi Valley states of South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas throughout the day and into Thursday, the National Weather Service (NWS) said."Be prepared for water over roads due to rapid rises on creeks and streams or even water flowing from farm fields," the NWS in Des Moines, Iowa, said in an advisory.Authorities closed roadways early Wednesday in several communities along the Des Moines and Mississippi rivers in the Midwest where intense rains have already fallen over the last few days, according to the NWS.Showers and thunderstorms were also expected for Rockford, Illinois, where five inches of rain fell in less than four hours on Monday night. Emergency crews rescued people from numerous submerged vehicles.In Corpus Christi, Texas, where more than 2 inches of rain was forecast after more than a foot of rain has fallen, crews conducted several high-water rescues on Tuesday while police closed roadways, local media reported.(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
WORLD POWERS IN THE LAST DAYS (END OF AGE OF GRACE NOT THE WORLD)
EUROPEAN UNION-KING OF WEST-DAN 9:26-27,DAN 7:23-24,DAN 11:40,REV 13:1-10
EGYPT-KING OF THE SOUTH-DAN 11:40
RUSSIA-KING OF THE NORTH-EZEK 38:1-2,EZEK 39:1-3
CHINA-KING OF THE EAST-DAN 11:44,REV 9:16,18
VATICAN-RELIGIOUS LEADER-REV 13:11-18,REV 17:4-5,9,18
WORLD TERRORISM
OH BY THE WAY WHEN THE MEDIA SAYS ALLU-AK-BAR MEANS GOD IS GREAT LIE. IN ISLAM ALLU-AK-BAR MEANS OUR GOD IS GREATER OR GREATEST. THIS IS HOW THE MEDIA SUCK HOLES UP TO ISLAMIC-QURANIC-MUSLIMS. BY WATERING DOWN THE REAL MEANING OF THE SEX FOR MURDER DEATH CULT ISLAM. TO MAKE IT SOUND LIKE A PEACEFUL RELIGION (CULT OF DEATH AND WORLD DOMINATION).
GENESIS 6:11-13
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.(WORLD TERRORISM,MURDERS)(HAMAS IN HEBREW IS VIOLENCE)
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence (TERRORISM)(HAMAS) through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
GENESIS 16:11-12
11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her,(HAGAR) Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael;(FATHER OF THE ARAB/MUSLIMS) because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
12 And he (ISHMAEL-FATHER OF THE ARAB-MUSLIMS) will be a wild (DONKEY-JACKASS) man;(ISLAM IS A FAKE AND DANGEROUS SEX FOR MURDER CULT) his hand will be against every man,(ISLAM HATES EVERYONE) and every man's hand against him;(PROTECTING THEMSELVES FROM BEING BEHEADED) and he (ISHMAEL ARAB/MUSLIM) shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.(LITERAL-THE ARABS LIVE WITH THEIR BRETHERN JEWS)
ISAIAH 14:12-14
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer,(SATAN) son of the morning!(HEBREW-CRECENT MOON-ISLAM) how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I (SATAN HAS EYE TROUBLES) will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.(AND 1/3RD OF THE ANGELS OF HEAVEN FELL WITH SATAN AND BECAME DEMONS)
JOHN 16:2
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.(ISLAM MURDERS IN THE NAME OF MOON GOD ALLAH OF ISLAM)
Opinion-The Baltic 'Big Sea' strategy-By Alexander Stubb and Toomas Hendrik Ilves-JUN 20,18
BRUSSELS, 19. Jun, 07:37-Whenever Estonians and Finns try to characterise their nationalities, they usually end up citing the influence of 'The Sea', and the climate more broadly, on their collective psyche.The Sea for us is, of course, the Baltic Sea – and this sea touches the lives of altogether 85 million people, far beyond the populations of the two small Nordic nations we come from.That is around 17 percent of the population of the EU – living also in Germany, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Lithuania and Latvia, not to mention millions on the Russian coast, in Belarus and in Norway.In fact, while some of the people around The Sea call it the East Sea, and some the West Sea, and many others the Baltic Sea – maybe the old Latvian fishermen were closest to the truth: they called it The Big Sea (liela jura).It was the recognition of the role of The Sea in the lives of such a large share of Europeans, and of the shared nature of concerns of the people living around The Sea, that propelled us, then in the role of members of the European Parliament, to initiate, 12 years ago, the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (BSR).We were prompted by the realisation that with the accession of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to the European Union on 1 May 2004, the Baltic Sea had become almost entirely a 'European lake'.-A European lake-Our hope was two-fold: to more easily approach challenges that before EU enlargement required other types of coordination structures.The environment and ecology of the Baltic Sea was topmost on our minds.Secondly to develop closer co-operation between the EU members in the Baltic Sea Region – digitisation, reducing bureaucratic non-tariff barriers.Materialising two years later and periodically updated since then, it should remain on the captains' table.So how can The Sea bring together such a large, diverse number of people across these various countries? What might the young and the old, the fishermen and the cruise traveller, those who lived on the opposite sides of the iron curtain for decades, have in common? For one, we all want to protect The Sea better. Secondly, as in thousands of years ago when The Sea literally fed us, we want to use The Sea to maximise our prosperity, in a sustainable manner.We should also learn about how The Sea has shaped our respective cultures, and thereby help us understand each other better, help us connect.These three main goals are closely interlinked: for example, better cooperation amongst the coastal states around The Sea can lead to synergies in planning and implementing of measures to improve maritime safety, which, in turn, helps reduce risks to tourism, fishing and other economic activities that depend on The Sea.At the 9th annual forum of the strategy convenes at the beginning of June, it was worth remembering the EU's Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region was never aimed at being just a message in the bottle, from the coastal nations to the EU.It was written as an action plan – because there are practical issues at stake.Things such as vessel traffic monitoring, routing and information systems, ensuring adequate life-saving capabilities, pollution preparedness and response capacity, training and experience sharing of navigators – just to mention some of the activities to improve the safety of The Sea.Today we can note significant achievements: BSR projects to develop cross-border cooperation in crucial areas of environment are the best positive examples.If carried out successfully, they help to achieve political commitments at global level such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals or at the regional level, as restated in the recent ministerial declaration of HELCOM - Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission on restoring the good environmental status of the Baltic marine environment by 2021.As we look to the growth of consumption in general, the need for macro regional projects to facilitate the prevention and reduction of marine litter created around the Baltic Sea or to reduce eutrophication, reduce contributions of shipping to air pollution and contributions to loads of contaminants in seawater, remain vital also in the future.Equally important is fostering closer ties among the nations around the Baltic. A concrete example is the mutual, reciprocal digital prescription between Estonia and Finland.If a Finn visiting Estonia (or vice versa) loses his medicine, he can as of this summer take out his Finnish prescription in any Estonian pharmacy.This should be a goal for at least all EU members in our region (provided they implement the digital prescription).The European Investment Bank was founded 60 years ago exactly for these kind of projects: the treaty commits the bank to financing "projects of common interest to several member states which are of such a size or nature that they cannot be entirely financed by … individual member states."And with investments in (waste)water projects, in the blue economy, in the energy sector in the region, the bank has been doing just that. Now, as the discussion around the EU's next multiannual financial framework has started, we need a vocal input from the region also on how to finance the future developments.Many successful projects have been implemented under the strategy, and still much can be done.Alexander Stubb is vice president of the European Investment Bank and a former prime minister, foreign minister and finance minister of Finland.Toomas Hendrik Ilves is a former president of Estonia.
German intelligence sees Russia behind hack of energy firms: media report-[Reuters]-YAHOONEWS-June 20, 2018
BERLIN (Reuters) - Russia was probably behind a widespread cyber attack on German energy providers disclosed last week, the head of Germany's BfV domestic intelligence agency told the RND newspaper chain.Hans-Georg Maassen told the newspaper group there were several reasons to believe Russia was involved, including the way the cyber attack was executed."The modus operandi is in fact one of multiple indications that point to Russian control of the attack campaign," the group quoted Maassen as saying.Russia has repeatedly denied trying to hack into other countries' infrastructure. Asked to comment on Maassen's accusations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "We don't know what he was talking about.""They should give facts," said Maria Zakharova, spokesman for the Russian foreign ministry.Germany's BSI federal cyber protection agency disclosed the cyber attack dubbed "Berserk Bear" on June 13, citing efforts by hackers to penetrate the computer networks of many German energy and electricity providers.The agency, which first warned about such possible attacks a year ago, said the attack had managed to breach only the office networks of a few companies.Maassen did not identify how many companies were targeted in the attack, which BSI has said is now under control.The United States in March also blamed Russia for a campaign of cyber attacks on the U.S. power grid that Washington said began in March 2016 or possibly earlier.Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in April also said Germany had to assume that Russia was behind a cyber attack on the foreign ministry that was discovered in December.(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Additional reporting by Maria Tsvetkova in Moscow; Editing by Peter Graff)
Pope backs US bishops who called border separations immoral-[Associated Press]-YAHOONEWS-June 20, 2018
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis backed the Catholic bishops in the United States who condemned the practice of separating children from parents after families are caught crossing the U.S-Mexico border illegally, according to an interview published Wednesday.Francis was asked about the family-separation policy during the interview with Reuters conducted Sunday. The pope replied: "Let it be clear that on these things I respect" the bishops' stance.Galveston-Houston Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, who heads the U.S. bishops' conference, said last week that "separating babies from their mothers is not the answer and is immoral."Francis said during the Vatican interview that his position on both that issue and U.S. developments in general "lines up with the Episcopate.""I take the side of the Episcopate and stand behind them. Not to wash my hands, but because I don't know well things from there," Reuters quoted the pontiff saying.He recalled celebrating Mass near the border during his 2016 visit to Mexico.Cardinal DiNardo said in a June 13 statement that he was joining Bishop Joe Vasquez, who chairs the conference's committee on migration, in "condemning the continued use of family separation at the U.S./Mexico border as an implementation of the (Trump) administration's zero-tolerance policy."However, Francis told Reuters that the problem with American immigration policy "isn't just Trump's, but also of the governments before."Elsewhere in the interview, Francis was asked for his solutions within the context of Europe's mass migration debate.Italy's new populist government this month refused to give a Mediterranean Sea rescue ship carrying 630 migrants permission to dock. The country's right-wing interior minister also criticized the pope for urging people to show more solidarity with migrants, saying Francis should take more new arrivals at the Vatican."It's not easy, but populisms aren't the solution," the pope said.He added: "I believe you mustn't push back people who arrive, you must receive them, help" them, as well as "see where they will be put, but everywhere in all of Europe. Italy and Greece have been courageous and generous in welcoming these people."Francis also was asked for his opinion on the Trump administration's decisions to withdraw the United States from an international accord on climate change and to take "steps backward in relations with Cuba."The pope helped broker the re-establishment of diplomatic ties between Cuba and the United States under U.S. President Barack Obama."About Cuba, I was saddened because it was a good step forward, but I don't want to judge because to take a decision of that kind, he (Trump) would have had some motive," Francis said.Francis also has spoken out about the threat of global warming and urged oil company executives to work on finding clean energy sources."Yes, President Trump's decision on Paris caused me some pain because the future of humanity is at stake," he said. "But he sometimes makes it understood that he will rethink it, and I hope that he'll rethink well the Paris accords."
Haley slams rights groups after US quits UN council-[AFP]-YAHOONEWS-June 20, 2018
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - US Ambassador Nikki Haley on Wednesday accused human rights groups of thwarting a US push for changes to the UN Human Rights Council and contributing to Washington's decision to quit the body.In a letter sent to non-governmental organizations, Haley complained that they had played a "deconstructive" role by refusing to support US efforts to take Israel off the council's agenda.Haley on Tuesday announced that the United States was quitting the rights council, condemning the "hypocrisy" of its members and its alleged "unrelenting bias" against Israel."You should know that your efforts to block negotiations and thwart reform were a contributing factor in the US decision to withdraw from the council," said Haley in the letter seen by AFP."You put yourself on the side of Russia and China, and opposite the United States, on a key human rights issue."Eighteen rights groups including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International wrote to UN member-states in May to express concern that a proposed US draft resolution at the General Assembly could weaken the rights council."By attacking and blaming NGOs for its own failure, the Trump administration is taking a page out of the book of some of the worst governments around the world," said Human Rights Watch's UN director Louis Charbonneau.The rights group had warned that the proposed changes could trigger "hostile amendments," possibly from China and Russia, to undermine the work of the council which monitors human rights crises worldwide."Such hostile proposals could enjoy broad support and the US might not be able to stop them," said Charbonneau.Haley had repeatedly threatened over the past year to quit the 47-nation Geneva-based body unless there were reforms to its agenda and to the election of its members, which often run unopposed as a region's candidate, regardless of their rights record.
28 And when these things begin to come to pass,(ALL THE PROPHECY SIGNS FROM THE BIBLE) then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption (RAPTURE) draweth nigh.
29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree,(ISRAEL) and all the trees;(ALL INDEPENDENT COUNTRIES)
30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.(ISRAEL LITERALLY BECAME AND INDEPENDENT COUNTRY JUST BEFORE SUMMER IN MAY 14,1948.)
JOEL 2:3,30
3 A fire devoureth (ATOMIC BOMB) before them;(RUSSIAN-ARAB-MUSLIM ARMIES AGAINST ISRAEL) and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.(ATOMIC BOMB AFFECT)
ZECHARIAH 14:12-13
12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet,(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB) and their eyes shall consume away in their holes,(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB) and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB)(BECAUSE NUKES HAVE BEEN USED ON ISRAELS ENEMIES)(GOD PROTECTS ISRAEL AND ALWAYS WILL)
13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.(1/2-3 BILLION DIE IN WW3)(THIS IS AN ATOMIC BOMB EFFECT)
EZEKIEL 20:47
47 And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.
ZEPHANIAH 1:18
18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.
MALACHI 4:1
1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven;(FROM ATOMIC BOMBS) and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
And here are the bounderies of the land that Israel will inherit either through war or peace or God in the future. God says its Israels land and only Israels land. They will have every inch God promised them of this land in the future.
Egypt east of the Nile River, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, The southern part of Turkey and the Western Half of Iraq west of the Euphrates. Gen 13:14-15, Psm 105:9,11, Gen 15:18, Exe 23:31, Num 34:1-12, Josh 1:4.ALL THIS LAND ISRAEL WILL DEFINATELY OWN IN THE FUTURE, ITS ISRAELS NOT ISHMAELS LAND.12 TRIBES INHERIT LAND IN THE FUTURE
Senior minister warns latest flare-up could lead to new Gaza war-In the case of an all-out confrontation, Hamas will suffer a blow that will end its rule over the coastal enclave, says Yuval Steinitz-By Michael Bachner and Judah Ari Gross-TOI-JUN 20,18
An Israeli security cabinet member on Wednesday said Israel was possibly on the way to a war with Gaza that would be the “end” for the Hamas terror group’s rule over the Strip, blaming “foreign parties” such as the Palestinian Authority and Iran for the latest escalation of tensions in Israel’s south.“We can’t know how it ends, when it ends, but it looks like we are on the way to an escalation,” Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz told the Hadashot news channel, after Palestinians fired at least 45 rockets at Israel overnight and the IDF struck dozens of targets in the coastal enclave.Referring to the last war in Gaza, in the summer of 2014, Steinitz said the current flare-up could “reach the levels of [Operation] Protective Edge number two, and I believe it will be different. I think this time it will be the end of the story for Hamas’s rule over Gaza. We don’t want to go there, but it certainly looks like it’s going to a very bad place.”Asked if his words were a message to Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar that it would be the end of the terror group, Steinitz answered: “I think that should be our goal if we are again forced into an all-out confrontation in Gaza.”That comment was echoed Wednesday by Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, who said: “I have no doubt what the final outcome will be. And on what happened yesterday I only have four words to tell Hamas: That was a mistake.”“There are two foreign parties trying to ignite fire in Gaza, without considering the terrible suffering that will be caused to 1.8 million Gazans,” Steinitz charged, pointing the finger firstly at Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, “who is deliberately exacerbating the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and isn’t transferring money so that there is less money for food and medicine.”“He also tried to reduce the amount of electricity we provide Gaza, to increase the distress and create tension with Israel,” Steinitz said of Abbas.Gaza’s woes have been exacerbated by an ongoing dispute between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, which has cut the salaries it pays to workers in Gaza and imposed various sanctions, including cutting off payments for electricity supplies to the enclave. Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007 and attempts at reconciliation with the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority have failed.“The other party is the Iranians, of course,” Steinitz continued, “who have supported the Islamic Jihad [terror group] but have renewed their support of Hamas.”“They may be under the false impression that if we are forced to operate in Gaza, we will pay less attention to preventing their entrenchment in Syria,” he threatened.Earlier Wednesday, the IDF declared it was “prepared for an all-out confrontation in Gaza if Hamas continues to introduce new game rules,” following a security briefing with Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman.Since March 30, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have launched hundreds of kites and helium balloons bearing flammable materials, and occasionally explosives, sparking near-daily fires that have burned thousands of acres of land in southern Israel. Three fires were reported in Israeli communities close to the Gaza border on Wednesday.Around midnight on Tuesday, Israeli jets bombed three Hamas positions in the Strip in response to numerous airborne arson attacks by Gazans earlier in the day.Minutes later, Palestinians in the Strip launched the first of many rocket and mortar barrages at southern Israel, triggering sirens throughout the area and sending thousands into bomb shelters.Over the course of the next four hours, some 45 rockets and mortar shells were fired at southern Israel, with at least six exploding inside communities, causing damage but no injuries.On Wednesday morning, Gadi Yarkoni, the head of the Eshkol region, praised the IDF for carrying out airstrikes in response to the arson attacks.“Eshkol residents had a sleepless night last night,” Yarkoni said. “We support the IDF for its response to the terror kites, which harm our way of life. And we expect the IDF to continue working to bring back calm to the region, with no more rockets launched at our communities and homes, and no more fires in our fields.”Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
Startup Nation unites to seek solution to Palestinian terror balloons-Mini-hackathon on Friday organized by tech incubator SouthUp calls for ideas to help counter flying incendiary devices launched from Gaza into Israel-By Shoshanna Solomon-TOI-JUN 20,18
The conflict between Israel and Palestinians at the border with Gaza has unleashed a new kind of warfare — helium balloons.The new arson tactic, with the aim to set fire to vast swaths of grasslands, agricultural fields and nature reserves, follows that of the flame-bearing kites, which have been used since the first few weeks of the start of Gaza’s “March of Return” for the same purpose.The concept behind the kites and the balloons is the same: launch the airborne incendiary devices into the air and rely on the breeze from the coast to push them into Israeli territory, where they can start a fire. The balloons themselves do not cause the fires — helium is an inert gas — but they carry flaming material attached to a long string.In total, approximately 17,500 dunams (4,300 acres, or nearly 7 square miles) of land have been burned in more than 250 fires over the past two months, more than half of it in nature reserves, according to initial assessments.After Israeli children at the Gaza border countered the flaming kites with an airborne message of peace, Startup Nation is galvanizing to help the Israeli army fight back. The technology incubator SouthUp has sent out alerts to techies to join a “mini-hackathon” on Friday, to come up with innovative solutions to the burning problem.“Our loving home has been getting ‘gifts from heaven’ in the past few weeks in the form of burning kites and balloons,” the incubator wrote in the invitation to the hackathon, sent out to groups of people involved in arts and technology via social media. The event will be held with experts from a wide variety of fields, the invitation said, including laser technologies, drones, optics, hot-air balloons, sensors and fire fighters. Soldiers and high school students will also take part.SouthUp, a nonprofit organization, was founded in 2015 by figures from the fields of education and employment in Sha’ar Hanegev, in the south of Israel, who joined up with donors from the Jewish community in San Diego, California. Together they set up an organization that aims to find employment and education solutions for the communities living along the border with Gaza, by boosting the creation of startups and high-tech companies in the region, and educating the population to that purpose.The hackathon, called “This is the end of every balloon,” in reference to a children’s classic “Tale of Five Balloons” written by Israeli author Miriam Roth, will be held at the organization’s premises in Sha’ar Hanegev, some 50 minutes from Tel Aviv, between 8.30 am to 4.00 pm on Friday, June 22.
Hamas, Islamic Jihad claim responsibility for Gaza rocket barrage-Terror groups vow to answer with an 'attack for an attack,' as Netanyahu warns Israeli response will 'intensify as needed'-By TOI staff-JUN 20,18
The Gaza-based Hamas and Islamic Jihad terror groups claimed responsibility for the rocket barrage at Israel early Wednesday, warning they will not allow Israeli strikes in the Palestinian enclave to go unanswered.The Israeli military said 45 rockets and mortars were launched at southern Israeli towns. The salvo came after Israeli jets struck Hamas positions in response to the flying of incendiary kites and balloons into Israel, sparking some 20 brush fires Tuesday.In a joint statement, the military wings of Hamas and allied Islamic Jihad said they had “targeted seven Israeli military positions near Gaza… in response to continued Israeli aggression against resistance sites in Gaza.”“We are committed to the formula of an attack for an attack. We will not allow the enemy to dictate a new formula,” the terror groups said, blaming Israel for the flare-up.At least six rockets fired from Gaza early Wednesday landed inside Israeli communities adjacent to the border, including one that struck just outside a kindergarten, Israeli officials said. Most of the others landed in open fields in southern Israel.The Israel Defense Forces said fighter jets struck some 25 targets in various military bases belonging to the Hamas terror group from the north to the south of the Gaza Strip in response to both the projectile attacks and the numerous incendiary kites and balloons flown by Palestinians into Israel throughout the day on Tuesday.The Israeli military accused Hamas, the Islamist terror group which rules Gaza, of “targeting Israeli civilians throughout the night with a severe rocket attack and dragging the Gaza Strip and its civilians down a deteriorating path.”Hamas, meanwhile, blamed Israel for the escalation of violence, saying it had “changed the rules of engagement” by adopting the policy of targeting Hamas positions in response to kite- and balloon-borne arson attacks.Despite Hamas’s vow not to tolerate Israeli strikes over the ongoing balloon arson attacks emanating from Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Wednesday Israel’s response will “intensify as needed.”“The intensity will increase as necessary,” he said at a ceremony for new IDF officers. “We are prepared for every scenario, and its best that our enemies understand this, and now.”“The steel fist of the IDF will powerfully strike anyone who attempts to harm us,” he added.AFP contributed to this report.
UN Human Rights Council back to work with US seat empty-Allies express disappointment over US decision to pull out over 'chronic bias against Israel,' but a diplomat says it could be a 'big bang' that induces reforms-By AP and TOI staff-JUN 20,18
The UN’s Human Rights Council resumed work Wednesday after a US pullout over what it said was “chronic bias against Israel” that one Western diplomat called a “big bang” for the Geneva body, as Russia blasted the move by the Trump administration and key allies expressed disappointment.Many countries claimed that the latest Trump move to snub yet another international institution was a sign that the US was jettisoning its reputation as a key defender of human rights and self-inflicting a blow to its international image.They expressed support for the council, flaws and all, and vowed its work will go on.“We have lost a member who has been at the forefront of liberty for generations,” Julian Braithwaite, Britain’s ambassador in Geneva, told the council. “While we agree with the US on the need for reform, our support for this Human Rights Council remains steadfast.”Russia blasted the US decision, calling it “boorish” and saying Washington had “inflicted a powerful blow to its human rights reputation.” Russia’s UN mission said in a statement that the US exit from the council reflected Washington’s unilateralist approach to global affairs.The US withdrawal is unprecedented in the 12-year history of the 47-member council — no country has ever dropped out voluntarily. Libya was kicked out seven years ago.The US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, announced the pullout Tuesday, calling the body “a hypocritical and self-serving organization that makes a mockery of human rights.”Haley said the US had given the human rights body “opportunity after opportunity” to make changes. She criticized the council for “its chronic bias against Israel,” pointing out that it includes accused human rights abusers such as China, Cuba, Venezuela and Congo.The Geneva-based body was established in 2006 to promote and protect human rights worldwide, but its pronouncements and reports have often infuriated the US — in particular, the council’s relentless focus on Israeli policies toward the Palestinians.Defending the move, US national security adviser John Bolton said Wednesday “we don’t need advice by the UN or other international bodies on how to govern ourselves.”Bolton told Fox News the decision was made by US President Donald Trump weeks ago.On Wednesday, the US chair sat empty as discussion turned to summary executions, freedom of expression, the rights of migrants and violence against women among other things.The United States’ term on the council was set to end next year, and it could have remained a non-voting observer on the council. But a US official said after Haley’s announcement that it was a “complete withdrawal” and that the United States was resigning its seat “effective immediately.”The US pullout leaves the council without one of its traditional defenders of human rights. Just two days ago, American representatives were still taking part by condemning issues like constraints on civil society in Egypt and curbs on a free press in Bahrain.One Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, said the US was notably absent from an informal backroom meeting that it might normally have attended. He said the US walkout could be a “big bang” to help prod reform at the council.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office called the US decision “courageous,” saying it was “an unequivocal statement that enough is enough.”But envoys from Australia, the European Union and China — a frequent target of US criticism over Beijing’s rights record — used a break in the council’s regular work to express disappointment and regret. President Borut Pahor of Slovenia — the home country of US first lady Melania Trump — said the American withdrawal was “bad news” for “everybody” who cares about human rights.In Moscow, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized what she described as Washington’s “boorish cynicism in stubbornly refusing to recognize its own human rights problems while trying to tailor the council to its political interests.”The Chinese government also expressed regret over Washington’s decision. In Beijing, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said the council is “an important platform” for countries to discuss human rights and that Beijing has been committed to supporting the group’s work.But the Chinese government is often accused by Western countries of human rights violations and by rights groups of seeking to undermine the mechanisms of the council. In March, a Chinese diplomat repeatedly interrupted a speech by a prominent Chinese dissident to block him from addressing the UN Human Rights Council, a failed attempt that bared China’s sensitivity on human rights.The foreign ministry spokesman, Geng Shuang, dismissed the US criticism that the council is problematic because it includes China and other authoritarian governments, saying that claim is “a total disregard of facts.”The US pullout extends a broader Trump administration pattern of stepping back from international agreements and forums under the president’s “America First” policy. Although numerous officials have said repeatedly that “America First does not mean America Alone,” the administration has retreated from multiple multilateral accords and consensuses since it took office.Since January 2017, it has announced its withdrawal from the Paris climate accord, left the UN educational and cultural organization — also citing anti-Israel bias — and pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal. Other contentious moves have included slapping tariffs on steel and aluminum against key trading partners, recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moving the US embassy there from Tel Aviv.
May faces down pro-EU rebel lawmakers to win Brexit vote-[Reuters]-By Elizabeth Piper and William James-YAHOONEWS-June 20, 2018
LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May won a crucial Brexit vote in parliament on Wednesday, keeping her divided government's plans to end more than 40 years of British partnership with the European Union on track.After pro-EU Conservative lawmaker Dominic Grieve said he would support the government's proposal for a "meaningful vote" in parliament on Britain's exit, a potential rebellion that could have undermined May's authority was averted.May adopted a high-risk strategy by facing off with rebels in her Conservative Party, and it paid off. One lawmaker said May had no option but to take them on, or risk their rebellion growing as she cuts ties with the EU.But the battle over her Brexit blueprint, or EU withdrawal bill, may be a taste of things to come. May needs to get several other bills through parliament to prepare Britain for life outside the EU, a momentous change to its trading and political relationships after decades in the bloc.Some of her opponents on Brexit may simply have decided to keep their powder dry for later fights on issues such as future trading ties and customs arrangements with the bloc before Britain's scheduled departure in March next year.Six Conservatives still voted against the government. But for now, May will be relieved to have overcome another potential crisis over her proposal for the role of parliament, should she fail to negotiate an exit agreement with the EU or if lawmakers reject any deal she returns with from Brussels."There was a great point of principle here, which was that the government has to be able to be free to negotiate and we have to be able to hold out in our negotiations the prospect of no deal, otherwise all the advantage would have been with the EU side," trade minister Liam Fox told the BBC.Other Conservatives agreed. "It strengthens our hand," said one, while opposition lawmakers described the vote as disappointing.Sterling rose to a session high against the euro and climbed against the dollar after May won the rare victory, one which will give the weakened prime minister a firmer footing when she travels to Brussels next week for an EU summit.Talks with the bloc have all but stalled, with May's top team of ministers at odds over plans for future trading relations with the EU, which businesses complain makes them unable to plan their investment decisions.ABOUT-TURN-Before his about-turn, Grieve had argued that government promises did not hand parliament enough control to prevent the "chaos" that could follow Britain crashing out of the EU without a deal.Grieve seemed to have won over several fellow Conservatives but after days of lobbying by party officials, he seemed to have put his concerns aside.Grieve told the House of Commons he now saw the need to take account of May's concerns over the state of the negotiations. He also said he had been reassured by a statement saying it was up to the parliamentary speaker to grant lawmakers greater influence over ministers in the event of no deal."And in the circumstances that might follow a no deal, which would undoubtedly be one of the biggest political crises in modern British history, if the house wishes to speak ... the house has the power to do it," Grieve said.With his words, May was able to enjoy victory in a parliament that is stacked against her since she lost her majority at an ill-judged election last year.The bill will go to the unelected upper House of Lords later this evening. One source familiar with voting plans there said the Lords were unlikely to object to the government's proposal, with many having argued in a debate on Monday that it was up to elected lawmakers to make a final decision.But businesses are still seeking more certainty. "My biggest worry about Brexit is that I don't know what we are planning for," Juergen Maier, the UK CEO of German engineering giant Siemens told Reuters in an interview."We need to put something in place quickly that works and if that is not possible, and until that point, then we have to just default to staying in the customs union."(Additional reporting by Andrew MacAskill; Editing by Kevin Liffey and David Stamp)
White House adviser Kushner, Saudi crown prince meet on Middle East-[Reuters]-YAHOONEWS-June 20, 2018
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law, White House Senior Adviser Jared Kushner, met on Wednesday with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud about Israel and the Palestinian territories, as Kushner readies the administration's Middle East peace plan.At the meeting, also attended by U.S. Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt, they discussed strengthening ties between the United States and Saudi Arabia and providing humanitarian relief to Gaza, according to a statement from the White House. Kushner held a similar meeting on Tuesday with Jordan's King Abdullah.Kushner and Greenblatt have said the plan they are drawing up for building peace between Israel and the Palestinian territories is nearly complete. The potential for peace was thrown into doubt last month when Trump's decision to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem sparked violent protests in which dozens of Palestinians died.(Reporting by Lisa Lambert; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Trump says he'll sign order ending child-parent separation-[Associated Press]-JILL COLVIN and COLLEEN LONG-YAHOONEWS-June 20, 2018
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he would be signing an executive order later Wednesday that would end the process of separating children from families after they are detained crossing the U.S. border illegally."We want to keep families together. It's very important," Trump told reporters during a White House meeting with members of Congress. "I'll be signing something in a little while that's going to do that."The effort would mark a dramatic turnaround for an administration that has been insisting, wrongly, that it has no choice but to separate families apprehended at the border because of the law and a court decision.Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, the president and other officials have repeatedly said the only way to end the practice is for Congress to pass new legislation, though both Democrats and some Republicans have said the president could stop it himself.The news in recent days has been dominated by searing images of children held in cages at border facilities, as well as audio recordings of young children crying for their parents — images that have sparked fury, question of morality and concern from Republicans about a negative impact on their races in November's midterm elections.Trump pointed to those images in his meeting, saying they'd "affect everybody" but that he was torn. "We want the heart," he said, "but we also want strong borders and we want no crime."Also playing a role: First lady Melania Trump. One White House official said Mrs. Trump had been making her opinion known to the president for some time that she felt he needed to do all he could to help families stay together, whether it was by working with Congress or acting on his own.On Capitol Hill, some who have criticized the policy sounded cautiously optimistic.If the president goes through with the signing, "It would be a complete 180. Clearly the president is hearing the uproar from our communities," said Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif.Nielsen traveled to the Hill Wednesday afternoon to brief lawmakers. And members on the fence over pending immigration legislation headed to the White House to meet with Trump.Trump had tweeted earlier Wednesday, "It's the Democrats fault, they won't give us the votes needed to pass good immigration legislation. They want open borders, which breeds horrible crime. Republicans want security. But I am working on something - it never ends!"The administration recently put into place a "zero tolerance" policy in which all unlawful border crossings are referred for prosecution — a process that moves adults to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and sends many children to facilities run by the Department of Health and Human Services. Under the Obama administration, such families were usually referred for civil deportation proceedings, not requiring separation.The policy had led to a spike in family separations in recent weeks, with more than 2,300 minors were separated from their families at the border from May 5 through June 9, according to the Department of Homeland Security.The action, according to people familiar with it, wouldn't end the zero tolerance policy, but would aim to keep families together while they are in custody and ask the Department of Defense to help house the detained families.Justice Department lawyers have been working to find a legal workaround for a class-action lawsuit settlement that set policies for the treatment and release of unaccompanied children who are caught at the border, or crafting an order that would defy the settlement and force it back into court to argue for changes.Two people close to Homeland Security Secretary Nielsen said early Wednesday that she was the driving force behind the plan to keep families together after they are detained crossing the border illegally.One of the people said Nielsen, who had become the face of the administration's policy, had little faith that Congress would act to fix the separation issue and felt compelled to act. Nielsen was heckled at a restaurant Tuesday evening and has faced protesters at her home.But others pushed back on the idea that Homeland Security had led the rollback. One official said it was the Justice Department that generated the legal strategy that is codified in the working executive order, and disputed the notion that Homeland Security was involved in drawing up the document.Planning at the Justice Department had been underway over the past several days to provide the president with options on the growing crisis, said the official, who, like others, spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the effort before its official announcement.The person said Trump called the Justice Department Wednesday morning asking for the draft order. The official did not know what prompted Trump to change course.The Flores settlement, named for a teenage girl who brought the case in the 1980s, requires the government to release children from custody and to their parents, adult relatives or other caretakers, in order of preference. If those options are exhausted, authorities must find the "least restrictive" setting for the child who arrived without parents.In 2015, a federal judge in Los Angeles expanded the terms of the settlement, ruling that it applies to children who are caught with their parents as well as to those who come to the U.S. alone. Other recent rulings, upheld on appeal, affirm the children's rights to a bond hearing and require better conditions at the Border Patrol's short-term holding facilities.In 2016, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that child migrants who came to the border with parents and were held in custody must be released. The decision did not state parents must be released. Neither, though, did it require parents to be kept in detention, apart from their children.American Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Anthony Romero says the order can't undo damage already done."This executive order would replace one crisis for another. Children don't belong in jail at all, even with their parents, under any set of circumstances. If the president thinks placing families in jail indefinitely is what people have been asking for, he is grossly mistaken."___Associated Press writers Zeke Miller, Ken Thomas and Alan Fram contributed to this report.
EARTH DESTROYED WITH THE EARTH IN NOAHS DAY(BECAUSE OF SIN,VIOLENCE AND GODLESS PEOPLE)
GENESIS 6:11-13
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.(WORLD TERRORISM,MURDERS)(HAMAS IN HEBREW IS VIOLENCE)
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence (TERRORISM)(HAMAS) through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
HOSEA 4:1-3
1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.
DEUTORONOMY 28:22-24
22 The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.
23 And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.
24 The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.
Heavy rains due to drench Texas Gulf Coast, Midwest-[Reuters]-YAHOONEWS-June 20, 2018
(Reuters) - Heavy downpours were expected to drench the Gulf Coast of Texas and the U.S. Midwest on Wednesday and could cause flooding especially along already swollen rivers and in low-lying areas, forecasters warned.Up to 5 inches (13 cm) of rain was forecast for parts of the Texas coast along the Gulf of Mexico and in the Middle Mississippi Valley states of South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas throughout the day and into Thursday, the National Weather Service (NWS) said."Be prepared for water over roads due to rapid rises on creeks and streams or even water flowing from farm fields," the NWS in Des Moines, Iowa, said in an advisory.Authorities closed roadways early Wednesday in several communities along the Des Moines and Mississippi rivers in the Midwest where intense rains have already fallen over the last few days, according to the NWS.Showers and thunderstorms were also expected for Rockford, Illinois, where five inches of rain fell in less than four hours on Monday night. Emergency crews rescued people from numerous submerged vehicles.In Corpus Christi, Texas, where more than 2 inches of rain was forecast after more than a foot of rain has fallen, crews conducted several high-water rescues on Tuesday while police closed roadways, local media reported.(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
WORLD POWERS IN THE LAST DAYS (END OF AGE OF GRACE NOT THE WORLD)
EUROPEAN UNION-KING OF WEST-DAN 9:26-27,DAN 7:23-24,DAN 11:40,REV 13:1-10
EGYPT-KING OF THE SOUTH-DAN 11:40
RUSSIA-KING OF THE NORTH-EZEK 38:1-2,EZEK 39:1-3
CHINA-KING OF THE EAST-DAN 11:44,REV 9:16,18
VATICAN-RELIGIOUS LEADER-REV 13:11-18,REV 17:4-5,9,18
WORLD TERRORISM
OH BY THE WAY WHEN THE MEDIA SAYS ALLU-AK-BAR MEANS GOD IS GREAT LIE. IN ISLAM ALLU-AK-BAR MEANS OUR GOD IS GREATER OR GREATEST. THIS IS HOW THE MEDIA SUCK HOLES UP TO ISLAMIC-QURANIC-MUSLIMS. BY WATERING DOWN THE REAL MEANING OF THE SEX FOR MURDER DEATH CULT ISLAM. TO MAKE IT SOUND LIKE A PEACEFUL RELIGION (CULT OF DEATH AND WORLD DOMINATION).
GENESIS 6:11-13
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.(WORLD TERRORISM,MURDERS)(HAMAS IN HEBREW IS VIOLENCE)
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence (TERRORISM)(HAMAS) through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
GENESIS 16:11-12
11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her,(HAGAR) Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael;(FATHER OF THE ARAB/MUSLIMS) because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
12 And he (ISHMAEL-FATHER OF THE ARAB-MUSLIMS) will be a wild (DONKEY-JACKASS) man;(ISLAM IS A FAKE AND DANGEROUS SEX FOR MURDER CULT) his hand will be against every man,(ISLAM HATES EVERYONE) and every man's hand against him;(PROTECTING THEMSELVES FROM BEING BEHEADED) and he (ISHMAEL ARAB/MUSLIM) shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.(LITERAL-THE ARABS LIVE WITH THEIR BRETHERN JEWS)
ISAIAH 14:12-14
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer,(SATAN) son of the morning!(HEBREW-CRECENT MOON-ISLAM) how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I (SATAN HAS EYE TROUBLES) will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.(AND 1/3RD OF THE ANGELS OF HEAVEN FELL WITH SATAN AND BECAME DEMONS)
JOHN 16:2
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.(ISLAM MURDERS IN THE NAME OF MOON GOD ALLAH OF ISLAM)
Opinion-The Baltic 'Big Sea' strategy-By Alexander Stubb and Toomas Hendrik Ilves-JUN 20,18
BRUSSELS, 19. Jun, 07:37-Whenever Estonians and Finns try to characterise their nationalities, they usually end up citing the influence of 'The Sea', and the climate more broadly, on their collective psyche.The Sea for us is, of course, the Baltic Sea – and this sea touches the lives of altogether 85 million people, far beyond the populations of the two small Nordic nations we come from.That is around 17 percent of the population of the EU – living also in Germany, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Lithuania and Latvia, not to mention millions on the Russian coast, in Belarus and in Norway.In fact, while some of the people around The Sea call it the East Sea, and some the West Sea, and many others the Baltic Sea – maybe the old Latvian fishermen were closest to the truth: they called it The Big Sea (liela jura).It was the recognition of the role of The Sea in the lives of such a large share of Europeans, and of the shared nature of concerns of the people living around The Sea, that propelled us, then in the role of members of the European Parliament, to initiate, 12 years ago, the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (BSR).We were prompted by the realisation that with the accession of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to the European Union on 1 May 2004, the Baltic Sea had become almost entirely a 'European lake'.-A European lake-Our hope was two-fold: to more easily approach challenges that before EU enlargement required other types of coordination structures.The environment and ecology of the Baltic Sea was topmost on our minds.Secondly to develop closer co-operation between the EU members in the Baltic Sea Region – digitisation, reducing bureaucratic non-tariff barriers.Materialising two years later and periodically updated since then, it should remain on the captains' table.So how can The Sea bring together such a large, diverse number of people across these various countries? What might the young and the old, the fishermen and the cruise traveller, those who lived on the opposite sides of the iron curtain for decades, have in common? For one, we all want to protect The Sea better. Secondly, as in thousands of years ago when The Sea literally fed us, we want to use The Sea to maximise our prosperity, in a sustainable manner.We should also learn about how The Sea has shaped our respective cultures, and thereby help us understand each other better, help us connect.These three main goals are closely interlinked: for example, better cooperation amongst the coastal states around The Sea can lead to synergies in planning and implementing of measures to improve maritime safety, which, in turn, helps reduce risks to tourism, fishing and other economic activities that depend on The Sea.At the 9th annual forum of the strategy convenes at the beginning of June, it was worth remembering the EU's Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region was never aimed at being just a message in the bottle, from the coastal nations to the EU.It was written as an action plan – because there are practical issues at stake.Things such as vessel traffic monitoring, routing and information systems, ensuring adequate life-saving capabilities, pollution preparedness and response capacity, training and experience sharing of navigators – just to mention some of the activities to improve the safety of The Sea.Today we can note significant achievements: BSR projects to develop cross-border cooperation in crucial areas of environment are the best positive examples.If carried out successfully, they help to achieve political commitments at global level such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals or at the regional level, as restated in the recent ministerial declaration of HELCOM - Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission on restoring the good environmental status of the Baltic marine environment by 2021.As we look to the growth of consumption in general, the need for macro regional projects to facilitate the prevention and reduction of marine litter created around the Baltic Sea or to reduce eutrophication, reduce contributions of shipping to air pollution and contributions to loads of contaminants in seawater, remain vital also in the future.Equally important is fostering closer ties among the nations around the Baltic. A concrete example is the mutual, reciprocal digital prescription between Estonia and Finland.If a Finn visiting Estonia (or vice versa) loses his medicine, he can as of this summer take out his Finnish prescription in any Estonian pharmacy.This should be a goal for at least all EU members in our region (provided they implement the digital prescription).The European Investment Bank was founded 60 years ago exactly for these kind of projects: the treaty commits the bank to financing "projects of common interest to several member states which are of such a size or nature that they cannot be entirely financed by … individual member states."And with investments in (waste)water projects, in the blue economy, in the energy sector in the region, the bank has been doing just that. Now, as the discussion around the EU's next multiannual financial framework has started, we need a vocal input from the region also on how to finance the future developments.Many successful projects have been implemented under the strategy, and still much can be done.Alexander Stubb is vice president of the European Investment Bank and a former prime minister, foreign minister and finance minister of Finland.Toomas Hendrik Ilves is a former president of Estonia.
German intelligence sees Russia behind hack of energy firms: media report-[Reuters]-YAHOONEWS-June 20, 2018
BERLIN (Reuters) - Russia was probably behind a widespread cyber attack on German energy providers disclosed last week, the head of Germany's BfV domestic intelligence agency told the RND newspaper chain.Hans-Georg Maassen told the newspaper group there were several reasons to believe Russia was involved, including the way the cyber attack was executed."The modus operandi is in fact one of multiple indications that point to Russian control of the attack campaign," the group quoted Maassen as saying.Russia has repeatedly denied trying to hack into other countries' infrastructure. Asked to comment on Maassen's accusations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "We don't know what he was talking about.""They should give facts," said Maria Zakharova, spokesman for the Russian foreign ministry.Germany's BSI federal cyber protection agency disclosed the cyber attack dubbed "Berserk Bear" on June 13, citing efforts by hackers to penetrate the computer networks of many German energy and electricity providers.The agency, which first warned about such possible attacks a year ago, said the attack had managed to breach only the office networks of a few companies.Maassen did not identify how many companies were targeted in the attack, which BSI has said is now under control.The United States in March also blamed Russia for a campaign of cyber attacks on the U.S. power grid that Washington said began in March 2016 or possibly earlier.Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in April also said Germany had to assume that Russia was behind a cyber attack on the foreign ministry that was discovered in December.(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Additional reporting by Maria Tsvetkova in Moscow; Editing by Peter Graff)
Pope backs US bishops who called border separations immoral-[Associated Press]-YAHOONEWS-June 20, 2018
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis backed the Catholic bishops in the United States who condemned the practice of separating children from parents after families are caught crossing the U.S-Mexico border illegally, according to an interview published Wednesday.Francis was asked about the family-separation policy during the interview with Reuters conducted Sunday. The pope replied: "Let it be clear that on these things I respect" the bishops' stance.Galveston-Houston Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, who heads the U.S. bishops' conference, said last week that "separating babies from their mothers is not the answer and is immoral."Francis said during the Vatican interview that his position on both that issue and U.S. developments in general "lines up with the Episcopate.""I take the side of the Episcopate and stand behind them. Not to wash my hands, but because I don't know well things from there," Reuters quoted the pontiff saying.He recalled celebrating Mass near the border during his 2016 visit to Mexico.Cardinal DiNardo said in a June 13 statement that he was joining Bishop Joe Vasquez, who chairs the conference's committee on migration, in "condemning the continued use of family separation at the U.S./Mexico border as an implementation of the (Trump) administration's zero-tolerance policy."However, Francis told Reuters that the problem with American immigration policy "isn't just Trump's, but also of the governments before."Elsewhere in the interview, Francis was asked for his solutions within the context of Europe's mass migration debate.Italy's new populist government this month refused to give a Mediterranean Sea rescue ship carrying 630 migrants permission to dock. The country's right-wing interior minister also criticized the pope for urging people to show more solidarity with migrants, saying Francis should take more new arrivals at the Vatican."It's not easy, but populisms aren't the solution," the pope said.He added: "I believe you mustn't push back people who arrive, you must receive them, help" them, as well as "see where they will be put, but everywhere in all of Europe. Italy and Greece have been courageous and generous in welcoming these people."Francis also was asked for his opinion on the Trump administration's decisions to withdraw the United States from an international accord on climate change and to take "steps backward in relations with Cuba."The pope helped broker the re-establishment of diplomatic ties between Cuba and the United States under U.S. President Barack Obama."About Cuba, I was saddened because it was a good step forward, but I don't want to judge because to take a decision of that kind, he (Trump) would have had some motive," Francis said.Francis also has spoken out about the threat of global warming and urged oil company executives to work on finding clean energy sources."Yes, President Trump's decision on Paris caused me some pain because the future of humanity is at stake," he said. "But he sometimes makes it understood that he will rethink it, and I hope that he'll rethink well the Paris accords."
Haley slams rights groups after US quits UN council-[AFP]-YAHOONEWS-June 20, 2018
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - US Ambassador Nikki Haley on Wednesday accused human rights groups of thwarting a US push for changes to the UN Human Rights Council and contributing to Washington's decision to quit the body.In a letter sent to non-governmental organizations, Haley complained that they had played a "deconstructive" role by refusing to support US efforts to take Israel off the council's agenda.Haley on Tuesday announced that the United States was quitting the rights council, condemning the "hypocrisy" of its members and its alleged "unrelenting bias" against Israel."You should know that your efforts to block negotiations and thwart reform were a contributing factor in the US decision to withdraw from the council," said Haley in the letter seen by AFP."You put yourself on the side of Russia and China, and opposite the United States, on a key human rights issue."Eighteen rights groups including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International wrote to UN member-states in May to express concern that a proposed US draft resolution at the General Assembly could weaken the rights council."By attacking and blaming NGOs for its own failure, the Trump administration is taking a page out of the book of some of the worst governments around the world," said Human Rights Watch's UN director Louis Charbonneau.The rights group had warned that the proposed changes could trigger "hostile amendments," possibly from China and Russia, to undermine the work of the council which monitors human rights crises worldwide."Such hostile proposals could enjoy broad support and the US might not be able to stop them," said Charbonneau.Haley had repeatedly threatened over the past year to quit the 47-nation Geneva-based body unless there were reforms to its agenda and to the election of its members, which often run unopposed as a region's candidate, regardless of their rights record.
