‘Ahok’: Emotional scenes as blasphemy trial begins 

There were emotional scenes in court on the first day of the blasphemy trial of Jakarta’s governor.

…The case is being seen as a test of religious tolerance in the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation.

The prosecution said Mr Purnama insulted Islam by misusing a Koranic verse which suggests Muslims should not be ruled by non-Muslims, to boost public support ahead of February’s governorship election.

He insisted his comments were aimed at politicians “incorrectly” using a Koranic verse against him, not at the verse itself.

‘Ahok’: Emotional scenes as blasphemy trial begins – BBC News

What a hateful shit-show. So much for Indonesia being a bastion of tolerance. May the devil strangle the bigots while they pray their evil and hateful prayers.

Declaring war on Israel’s secular public

The current struggle by religious Zionist rabbis against the integration of women in combat units is another sign of a radical process underway that aims to bring religion into every walk of life. 

…The rabbis who object to women serving in tanks as combat soldiers are threatening Israel’s democratic character and seeking to further undermine equality among its citizens.

…The current struggle by religious Zionist rabbis is another sign of the fact that Israeli society is neck-deep in a radical process of religionization, whose purpose is to bring religion into every walk of life. If it isn’t stopped, it will ultimately affect the entire public’s family life, and especially women’s status and freedom.

While religious Zionism fiercely guards its own boundaries, sending its children to separate schools and promoting the establishment of towns and neighborhoods for religious people only, it doesn’t hesitate to insert its long arms into every area of secular life. Orthodox organizations that seek to inculcate Judaism operate in schools via religious girls doing civilian national service; diligent Knesset members try to insert Jewish law ever deeper into Israel’s law books; and the Chief Rabbinate dares to impose ever stricter requirements on the secular community, a large portion of which still (and wrongly) feels that it must turn to the rabbinate for marriage and divorce.

Declaring war on Israel’s secular public – Opinion – Israel News | Haaretz.com

hmmm

‘Under attack. Nowhere to go’: Bana Alabed, 7-year-old Aleppo girl, back on Twitter after account disappeared [Video]

A 7-year-old Syrian girl caught the attention of people across the globe with her tweets about life in war-torn Aleppo. On Sunday, as the Syrian army pushed into eastern Aleppo, her Twitter account mysteriously disappeared. 

‘Under attack. Nowhere to go’: Bana Alabed, 7-year-old Aleppo girl, back on Twitter after account disappeared [Video]

hmmmm

Jimmy Carter: America Must Recognize Palestine 

The two-state solution is on life support, but there is one thing Obama can do to keep the hope of a peace deal alive.

…The simple but vital step this administration must take before its term expires on Jan. 20 is to grant American diplomatic recognition to the state of Palestine, as 137 countries have already done, and help it achieve full United Nations membership.

Jimmy Carter: America Must Recognize Palestine – The New York Times

hmmm

Philippines: Vice President Resigns From Cabinet, Vows To Take On Duterte 

Philippines Vice President Leni Robredo resigned from President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet on Dec. 5, vowing to lead the opposition against the president’s controversial policies, Rappler and the Manila Times reported.

… In May, Robredo narrowly defeated Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son and namesake of the late dictator who ruled the Philippines until being overthrown in the mid-1980s. Marcos Jr., a Duterte ally, has accused Robredo of stealing the election and claimed that Robredo’s Liberal Party is plotting to oust the president.

Philippines: Vice President Resigns From Cabinet, Vows To Take On Duterte | Stratfor

hmmmm

Donald Trump brought his daughter Ivanka to meet Japan’s Shinzo Abe as she was doing a deal with Sanei International 

When president-elect Donald J. Trump brought along his daughter Ivanka to meet Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe in mid-November, observers raised their eyebrows. While family members often accompany heads of state on diplomatic visits, Ivanka’s presence in the meeting itself was highly unusual.

It also came as she was negotiating a deal with a Japanese company, which is backed by a government-owned development bank. As the New York Times reports (paywall), Ivanka is in the midst of closing a licensing deal with a Japanese retail company company known as Sanei International. The potential partnership highlights the troubling overlap between the Trump family’s corporate deals and president-elect Trump’s diplomatic efforts.

Donald Trump brought his daughter Ivanka to meet Japan’s Shinzo Abe as she was doing a deal with Sanei International — Quartz

Forget not prosecuting the child for the sins of the father, forget giving things a chance to shake out before coming to judgement.

These people are disgusting, greedy monsters.

Disgusting, immoral, and just plain trashy.

The worst humanity can produce, a cancer on the soul of humankind.

Law enforcement at Standing Rock backs away from bridge 

Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney, in a briefing Sunday, Dec. 4, said law enforcers will back away from a contested bridge near the camp of protesters opposing the Dakota Access

Law enforcement backs away from bridge | North Dakota News | bismarcktribune.com

Unless we under martial law and no one told me they shouldn’t have blockaded it in the first place.

So yeah, badge-ys, step the f’ back!