Using unusually strong language, US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel took aim at Beijing's handling of territorial disputes with its Asian neighbors. "In recent months, China has undertaken destabilizing, unilateral actions asserting its claims in the South China Sea," Hagel said.

He warned Beijing that the United States was committed to its geopolitical rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region and "will not look the other way when fundamental principles of the international order are being challenged". Hagel said the United States took no position on the merits of rival territorial claims in the region, but added: "We firmly oppose any nation's use of intimidation, coercion, or the threat of force to assert these claims."

As one of the key events in support of his forecast, Rickards points to the words uttered by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the 18th International Economic Forum in St Petersburg that took place earlier this month. “Putin said he envisions a Eurasian economic zone involving Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Russia. The Russian ruble is nowhere near ready to be a global reserve currency, but it could be a regional reserve currency,” he said, as quoted by ETF Daily News.

Rickards’ book about the demise of the dollar was released in April under quite an apocalyptic name – 'The Death of Money.' However, the author is surprised that the events are unfolding much faster than he predicted. “If anything, the tempo of events is faster than expected. Therefore, some of these catastrophic outcomes may come sooner than I wrote about.”

Last Wednesday, China and Russia signed a historic US$400 billion gas deal which will provide the world's fastest growing economy with the natural gas it needs to keep pace for the next 30 years. Experts say this could be the catalyst that dethrones the greenback as the world's reserve currency.

Abbas stressed that the PA was taking “Israeli threats” seriously and would be prepared to respond if Israel followed through and cut ties with the PA. "We will take things step by step and we will not be the ones who initiate. We will respond against any action. When Israel decides to prevent us from (accessing) the money that it collects on our behalf - as opposed to the three percent that it takes (currently) that is not their right - we will have a response," he threatened.

He also stressed that Israel had no reason to boycott the national unity government, as it would merely continue the existing policies of the PA. "The policy of the (unity) government is our policy… The government will adopt (the policies) that we have adopted. The government recognizes the state of Israel. The government recognizes international law," claimed Abbas. "Where is the mistake that Israel is opposing this government for?"

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday that he would announce the new unity government on Monday and warned Israel against imposing sanctions on the Palestinian Authority. But the Hamas spokesman said that the two sides have failed to reach agreement on two main issues: the identity of the new foreign minister and the Palestinian Authority leadership's plan to cancel the PA Ministry for Prisoners' Affairs.

Abu Zuhri said that Hamas remains opposed to keeping current Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki in his position. Hamas is also opposed to the intention to cancel the Ministry for Prisoners Affairs, he added.

Obama made a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Sunday and spoke to the Afghan president, but did not meet with him. Karzai previously rejected an invitation extended through the US Embassy to meet Obama at Bagram. “President Karzai said he would warmly welcome him [Mr Obama] if he comes to the palace, but in no way would he go [to] Bagram to meet him,” Abdul Karim Khurram, Karzai’s chief of staff, told Reuters. A US official said the White House was not surprised that the proposed visit did not work on short notice.

The commander also said, according to the report, that Iran continued to gain military and economic power, warning the country’s enemies that their plots against it would fail. “Any enemy formula will entail an unexpected ending for him and this is due to the Iranian nation’s reliance on religious and Islamic beliefs,” added Salami.

His remarks came after US President Barack Obama said on Wednesday that there is an opportunity to resolve disputes over Iran’s nuclear energy program but reiterated that Washington reserves “all options” against Iran, alluding to military action. Jazayeri described Obama’s remarks as “childish dreams which may not come true”.

“Had the US and its allies the capability to attack Iran they would not hesitate a moment to carry out their barbaric act; and, of course, it is surprising that Obama is not embarrassed to rehash his empty words,” he said. The Iranian commander said that the era of global hegemony has ended, adding that the “empire of money and weapons” will soon collapse.

Over the years, Iran has threatened Israel and the United States on more than one occasion. In March, a senior commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said that Iran is keeping its finger on the trigger and is ready to destroy Israel.

The region plays a very important role in the power struggle between western countries and the People's Republic of China. To insure its influence, Germany has been cooperating with the Thai armed forces for a long time, in spite of the numerous coups it has staged. The putschists have also benefited from the training Thai military personnel have received in Germany and the German arms supplied to the Thai armed forces. Four years ago, German assault rifles were used to suppress democratic protests in Bangkok.

This is not only an anxiety shared by gas companies, but also by top corporations in other branches with significant commercial and production sites in Russia. On the eve of the Russian president's visit to China, observers are warning that if the EU and the USA impose boycott measures, Moscow could forge also stronger ties to Beijing, thereby tangibly strengthening China.

Hard-core transatlantic circles are up in arms over the prospect that cooperation with Moscow could be continued - pleading for the creation of a global front of NATO countries and their allies against Russia and China.

“I realized this sort of coincidence doesn’t happen in science. These dawn and dusk quakes during new and full moons are the paradigm on the west coast,” he said. “All six great quakes that have struck in Los Angeles that have killed people since the 30s, all of them, dawn or dusk [quakes].”

How can earthquakes be predicted? Nabhan says that “conjoined lunar and solar gravitational tides,” are what cause them. “Just imagine the muscle required to move our oceans around every day. Our fractured fault lines are not immune to this [power],” he said. Nabhan says that there has never been a new idea in science that wasn’t accepted without a fight.

So, when will the next big earthquakes happen? Nabhan says July 12 and September 9, between 4:45 to 7:55 am and/or pm.

“Muslims, Christians and Jews see in him, albeit in different ways, a father in faith and a great example to be imitated. He became a pilgrim, leaving his own people and his own house in order to embark on that spiritual adventure to which God called him,” he said... Pope Francis noted that Abraham’s attitude should be an example for every person.

[He also] stressed, “Dear friends, from this holy place I make a heartfelt plea to all people and to all communities who look to Abraham: may we respect and love one another as brothers and sisters! May we learn to understand the sufferings of others! May no one abuse the name of God through violence! May we work together for justice and peace!”

The Pontiff closed by encouraging continued collaboration. “Together, we can make a great contribution to the cause of peace; together, we can bear witness, in this rapidly changing world, to the perennial importance of the divine plan of creation; together, we can firmly oppose every form of anti-Semitism and all other forms of discrimination,” he said.

“Welcome to the gates of Jerusalem, City of Peace… a peace which has been removed by the Israeli occupation.

“Our goal is to fight the Israeli occupation of oppression, and we must do to be removed from our land. It is the occupation that wants to wipe our presence - both Muslims, both Christians - and obscure the identity through the severe oppressive measures of cutting off Jerusalem from its Palestinian attempt to Judaize it and hurt its people, and to take control of the holy places contrary to all divine laws and international conventions… the preventing the arrival of believers at places of worship is a violation of freedom of worship and the fight against faith.

“There are ferocious attacks against the holy places… and attempts to change the status-quo which are dangerous and constitute aggression against the Muslim nation …also a violation of the Hashemite Kingdom under the auspices of the holy places in Jerusalem. This can trigger a religious war in the region and the world. Israeli government bear [in mind] those consequences of this policy.

“Hence we turn to Your Excellency - saw your call for peace - will work to stop the attacks and acts of oppression those that harm the residents of Jerusalem, Muslims, and Christians.”

…and Muhammad Hussein

“This blessed mosque and all contained therein are subjected to aggression and invasions of extremist settlers, under the auspices of the Israeli occupation authorities, who seek to Judaize the mosque and share - both in terms of time [= at certain hours of the day] in terms of the areas [= at certain specified places].

“We want freedom and an end to the occupation, and that the Palestinian people will fill their legitimate rights, self-determination and an independent state with its capital in Jerusalem…”

According to police, upon opening the main gate to the holy site, rocks and bottles were thrown at officers, forcing them to disperse the crowd with stun grenades and to temporarily cordon off part of the site to visitors. “Police immediately responded to the rioting and pushed them back into al-Aksa Mosque,” said police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld, adding that one officer sustained a light injury.

After containing the scene, Rosenfeld said, over 1,000 tourists and 250 Israelis entered the compound to tour it under police protection. The violence comes after the pontiff’s Monday visit to the Temple Mount. After entering the Dome of the Rock, Francis held a private meeting with Jerusalem’s Grand Mufti Muhammad Hussein to discuss tolerance and nonviolence as a means of resolving long-held differences with Jews.

According to Muslim media reports, during the meeting Francis implored Hussein and a number of other Palestinian religious leaders to disavow violence and “work together [with Jews] for justice and peace.”

“May we respect and love one another as brothers and sisters,” the pope reportedly said during the discussion.

“May we learn to understand the suffering of others. May no one abuse the name of God through violence.”

Hamas uses the Islamic Movement to transfer money to projects in Jerusalem, such as paying for Arab youths to remain constantly on the Temple Mount in the guise of religious students in order to prevent Jewish pilgrimage to the holy site, Toama told the Shin Bet. Hamas pays the youths a permanent salary of NIS 4,000-5,000 each month. Toama added that Hamas keeps its ties with the Islamic Movement secret in order to prevent the movement from entanglements with Israeli authorities.

Toama, who served in a key financial position in Hamas's leadership, told his Shin Bet interrogators that, until recently, Iran was the main source of Hamas funding. Iran stopped its funding in the last year, causing a financial crisis in the organization. Toama said that Hamas had decided to enter into a unity government with Fatah out of necessity, and the move did not mark a change in the organization's world view.