"And so in Italy recently, a woman was beheaded, in accord with commands found in the holy book of a rapidly growing segment of Italy’s population, and in case anyone remained determined to miss the point of what he had done (as many European authorities are), the perpetrator helpfully quoted from that book in justification of his actions. Welcome to the new Europe.The Italian-language Firenze Today reported Friday that Issam Chlih, “a 29-year-old homeless Moroccan national,” is “the sole suspect in the murder of Silke Sauer,” who was “a 44-year-old German woman found decapitated near an abandoned farmhouse in the park of the former CNR site in Scandicci.” CNR is the National Research Council, an Italian government agency devoted to scientific and technological exploration.
Preliminary Investigations Judge (GIP) Roberta Di Maria ordered Chlih detained “due to the risk that Chlih might flee or reoffend.”
Issam Chlih, however, is not your average hardened criminal or garden-variety recidivist. This is clear from the details of what happened on the fateful night in which Chlih beheaded Silke Sauer. “According to the Carabinieri's reconstruction,” Firenze Today notes, “Issam Chlih and Silke Sauer were together on the evening and had stopped at a bar in Florence near the Leopolda station. Witnesses reported that Chlih shouted incoherent phrases and harassed customers. Police arrived at the scene after the bar manager called the emergency number (112).”
Early in the morning of the following day, however, “they returned to Scandicci by tram. Video surveillance cameras captured them walking toward the abandoned farmhouse. They reportedly began arguing right near the building.” It was at this point that “other homeless individuals present in the park at the former CNR site reportedly heard screaming and a male voice reciting verses from the Qur'an, shouting that the devil had taken possession of the woman. Immediately afterward, a female voice—presumably Silke Sauer’s—was heard shouting ‘stop’ in Italian.”
Issam Chlih did not stop. And “the following day, in a state of agitation, Chlih reportedly drove away anyone approaching the dog park adjacent to the farmhouse. Passersby called emergency services, and the twenty-nine-year-old was admitted to Torregalli Hospital. The next day Silke’s body was discovered.”
How could something like this have happened? Well, that ain’t exactly rocket science. What Qur'an verses could Issam Chlih have been reciting? These are good candidates: “When you meet the unbelievers, strike the necks...” (47:4) And: “When your Lord inspired the angels, I am with you. So make those who believe stand firm. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Then strike the necks and strike their fingertips.” (8:12)." PJM
"A strong magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurred in the Philippine Sea near the coast of Caraga,
Philippines, late in the evening at 10.08 pm local time (GMT +8). The quake had a shallow depth of 35 km (22 mi) and was felt by many near the epicenter. The shallow depth of the quake caused it to be felt more strongly near the epicenter than a deeper quake of similar magnitude would." VD
"118 combat engagements were recorded between Ukrainian forces and Russian invaders along the front line.
On the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk axes, two combat clashes were recorded. The enemy carried out three airstrikes using six guided bombs and conducted 45 shelling attacks, including three with multiple launch rocket systems.
On the Southern Slobozhanshchyna axis, Russian forces attempted seven assaults near Hraniv, Vovchansk, Starytsia, and toward Izbytske.
On the Kupiansk axis, the enemy launched three attacks toward Novoplatonivka and Kurylivka.
On the Lyman axis, Ukrainian troops repelled 14 enemy attempts to advance near Novoselivka, Yampil, and toward Drobysheve, Ozerne, Lyman, and Dibrova.
On the Sloviansk axis, Ukrainian forces repelled eight assaults near Rai-Oleksandrivka, Kryva Luka, and Zakitne.No offensive actions were reported on the Kramatorsk axis.
On the Kostiantynivka axis, Ukrainian defenders repelled 11 assaults near Pleshchiivka, Kostiantynivka, Illinivka, and Stepanivka. One engagement is still ongoing.
On the Pokrovsk axis, the enemy carried out 23 assaults, attempting to advance near Rodynske, Novooleksandrivka, Kotlyne, Udachne, Filiia, and toward Bilytske, Shevchenko, Serhiivka, Dorozhnie, Vilne, Kucheriv Yar, and Novopavlivka. Two engagements are ongoing.
According to preliminary estimates, 34 Russian troops were eliminated and 21 wounded on this axis today. Ukrainian forces also destroyed fuel and ammunition depots, as well as multiple enemy vehicles and artillery systems. Numerous drones were destroyed or jammed.
On the Huliaipole axis, 20 enemy attacks were recorded." Ukrin
"A senior Russian military colonel was killed in a car bombing outside Moscow after an explosive device planted under his BMW detonated near his home, according to local media reports.
Damir Davydov, described as the Kremlin’s top artillery chief, died after the blast erupted around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday near his home in Balashikha, a city just outside Moscow." TP
"Ukraine struck a chemical plant in Russia's Tula Oblast overnight.
The Azot chemical plant in the Russian city of Novomoskovsk, Tula Oblast, was set ablaze following strikes, according to independent Telegram monitoring channel Exilenova Plus.
Novomoskovsk is located about 395 kilometers (245 miles) from Ukraine." KI
"Syria’s Interior Ministry announced that security forces had arrested 235 members of the Islamic State group (ISIS) over the past three months as part of a broad security campaign aimed at dismantling the group’s active cells and preventing attacks intended to destabilize the country.
The ministry said security and intelligence operations conducted across several Syrian provinces led to the discovery and disruption of seven ISIS operations. Those detained included 198 Syrians and 37 foreign nationals, according to figures released by the ministry." JerusalemPost
"Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk met with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House.
“First time visiting the Pentagon. It’s hard to put the emotions into words, the scale is truly impressive!” he wrote.
Oleksandr Usyk made this year’s TIME magazine list of the most influential people in sports." Ukrin
"Iran has most likely replenished its missile stocks with new Russian weapons and restored a significant part of its missile arsenal.
Many Iranian ballistic missiles and launchers were reported to have been "entombed", meaning they were covered by debris that blocked the entrances to the underground storage facilities where they were kept. Tehran most likely used the ceasefire to reopen these depots and move its stockpiles." Pravada
"A strong magnitude 5.1 earthquake hit 90 km (56 mi) away from Chilpancingo, Estado de Guerrero, Mexico, around noon at 12.20 pm local time (America/Mexico City GMT -6). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow. The quake was felt by many near the epicenter. The shallow depth of the quake caused it to be felt more strongly near the epicenter than a deeper quake of similar magnitude would." VD
"A total of 229 combat clashes were recorded between Ukrainian forces and Russian invaders over the past 24 hours.
On the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk axes, two clashes were recorded. Russian forces carried out three airstrikes using nine guided aerial bombs and 82 shelling attacks, including six MLRS strikes.On the Southern Slobozhanshchyna axis, Russian troops launched seven attacks near Vovchansk, Izbytske, Zybynе, and toward Lyman.
On the Kupiansk axis, Ukrainian forces stopped one Russian attempt to advance toward Novoplatonivka.
On the Lyman axis, Russian troops attempted 17 assaults near Novyi Myr, Drobysheve, Lyman, Dibrova, Torske, Ozerne, and toward Shyikivka, Novoiehorivka, and Nadiia.
On the Sloviansk axis, 14 Russian assaults were recorded near Zakitne and toward Mykolaivka, Kryva Luka, and Rai-Oleksandrivka.
On the Kostiantynivka axis, Russian forces carried out 14 attacks near Pleshchiivka, Kostiantynivka, Ivanopillia, and Illinivka.
On the Pokrovsk axis, Ukrainian defenders stopped 39 assault attempts near Vasylivka, Rodynske, Shevchenko, Novopidhorodnie, Pokrovsk, Hryshyne, Kotlyne, Udachne, Novopavlivka, and toward Bilytske, Dorozhnie, Hanniivka, Nove Shakhove, Kucheriv Yar, and Serhiivka.
On the Huliaipole axis, Russian forces launched 32 attacks near Rybne, Olenokostiantynivka, Huliaipilske, Ternuvate, Zaliznychne, Verkhnia Tersа, Charivne, and toward Hirke, Dobropillia, and Vozdvyzhivka." Ukrin
"Two Russian oil refineries in Russia's Tatarstan and a major rubber plant in Samara Oblast were damaged during Ukraine's latest mass attack on Russian regions overnight.
Ukrainian drones struck the Tolyatti rubber factory, on the Volga River in Samara Oblast in the morning hours of June 12, leading to a fire at the facility. Photos and videos posted to social media emerging on the morning of the attack showed long-range drones over the city of Tolyatti.
Later in the day, the General Staff confirmed the attack, as well as damage to the plant, the products of which used in the "further production of solid rocket fuel for tactical and ballistic missiles."
Russia's Republic of Tatarstan, also on the Volga, was also targeted, with damage reported to refining and petrochemicals facilities.
Large plumes of smoke rose above the city of Nizhnekamsk, home to the Tatarstan Oil Refining Complex and TAIF-NK refinery, two large but separate refining complexes located in the same industrial zone." KI
"A strong magnitude 5.2 earthquake hit 152 km (95 mi) away from Davao City, Davao,Philippines, in the morning at 10.05 am local time (Asia/Manila GMT +8). The quake had a shallow depth of 70 km (43 mi) and was felt widely in the area. The shallow depth of the quake caused it to be felt more strongly near the epicenter than a deeper quake of similar magnitude would." VD
"Over the past 24 hours, on June 12, 237 clashes between the Ukrainian Defense Forces and Russian invaders were reported on the front lines.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, the Russian Federation’s army carried out two airstrikes using seven guided bombs and conducted 63 shelling attacks, including five from MLRS. One enemy assault operation was reported.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, the enemy attacked eight times in the areas of Lyman, Starytsia, Lyptsi, Vovchansk, Okhrimivka, and Volokhivka.In the Kupiansk sector, Russian forces attacked twice toward Shyikivka and Podoly.
In the Lyman sector, the enemy attempted to breach the defenses 19 times, attacking in the areas of Zarichne, Lyman, Shyikivka, Novoselivka, Serednie, Drobysheve, Ozerne, Torske, and Novyi Myr.
In the Sloviansk sector, Russian forces launched 14 assaults toward Rai-Oleksandrivka and in the areas of Riznykivka, Kryva Luka, and Zakitne.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Russian invaders launched an attack in the area of Fedorivka.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, the enemy carried out 13 attacks in the areas of Ivanopillia, Illinivka, Pleshchiivka, Vilne, and toward Kostiantynivka, Hruzke, and Toretske.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 36 Russian assaults toward Rodynske, Novooleksandrivka, Shevchenko, Hryshyne, Serhiivka, Kotlyne, Udachne, Novopidhorodne, Dorozhne, and Bilytske.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy attacked three times in the areas of Zlahoda, Kalynivka, and Oleksandrohrad.
In the Huliaipole sector, the invaders carried out 33 attacks toward Rybne, Vozdvyzhivka, Huliaipole, Verkhnia Tersa, Tsvitkove, Zaliznychne, Rivnopillia, Varvarivka, Hirke, Myrne, Dobropillia, and Charivne.
In the Orikhiv sector, the Defense Forces repelled five Russian attempts to advance in the areas of Shcherbaky and Stepnohirsk.
In the Prydniprovske sector, the enemy did not conduct any offensive operations." Ukrin
"The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee voted to extend U.S. aid for Ukraine and increase funding to $750 million as part of the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Reuters reported.
The move signals continued support for Ukraine in Congress as it fights Russia's all-out war, despite President Donald Trump's efforts to scale back U.S. assistance to Kyiv since returning to office." KI
"A strong magnitude 5.5 earthquake occurred in the South Pacific Ocean near the coast of Region de Atacama, Chile, in the morning at 7.22 am local time (GMT -5). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow. The quake was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD
