Chareidio Global Jewish News

Qassam lands in Sderot schoolyard-

A Qassam rocket hit the grounds of a Sderot elementary school this morning, sending one school child into shock.  Two more rockets landed in open fields.  

Senior Islamic Jihad terrorist nabbed-

IDF forces nabbed senior Islamic Jihad terrorist Salim Sayoud in an arrest operation near Jenin.  Sayoud, age 32, is linked to several suicide bombing attacks perpetrated back in 2005.

IDF tests improved 'Patriot' missile-

Israeli defense officials announced the successful test launch of an improved 'Patriot' missile.  Fired from a site in southern Israel, the missile deflected an object made to resemble an enemy fighter plane.

Animal rights activists protest treatment of monkeys-

Some 250 animal rights activists gathered outside the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot to protest the treatment of monkeys held in captivity there.  The demonstration was sparked by some apparently very unpleasant camera footage, taken surreptitiously by a lab worker, that showed the manner in which the animals were being handled by the Institute's research personnel.  

Court injunction blocks recognition of new Greek Orthodox Patriarch-

Three days after the State of Israel approved the appointment of native Palestinian Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III, the Israeli High Court of Justice issued an injunction against that recognition. The sectarian leadership decision is sensitive because of the Greek Church's extensive property holdings in Jerusalem, including the land on which rests the Israeli Knesset and Prime Minister's residence.

Lebanese court convicts one, acquits three in terror trial-

A Lebanese court convicted one and acquitted three in the attempted train bombings at a German station.  The four were charged with planting explosive devices with the aim of carrying out two synchronized bomb attacks.  Both explosives  failed to detonate.

Iraqi torture chamber uncovered-

Coalition forces in Iraq uncovered a mass grave, and torture chamber equipped with chains hanging from the walls.  The facility is believed to have belonged to an al-Qaeda terror cell.

Train derails in Pakistan-

A train traveling at full speed derailed in Pakistan, leaving at least 58 dead and hundreds injured.  There were no apparent signs of sabotage, though the train is said to have been going too fast, and was not properly maintained.

South Korea election results-

In a turn towards the right, South Koreans elected conservative candidate Lee Myung-bak, in a landslide victory.  His mandate is to encourage foreign investment, boost the job market, and take a tougher stance towards North Korea.

Jacob Zuma elected new ANC leader-

South African delegates elected Jacob Zuma as the new leader of the governing African National Congress.  Zuma, plagued by corruption charges in connection with a multi-million dollar arms deal, was a key player in the fight against apartheid.

Tuberculosis patients walk out-

Authorities in South Africa launched a door-to-door search for 23 remaining tuberculosis patients who escaped from Jose Peapital near Port Elizabeth.  The quarantined individuals, who suffer from a highly infectious and drug resistant form of TB, left the facility to be at home with their families for the December holidays.

Zimbabwe issues 750,000 dollar bills-

In keeping with his promise to get the Zimbabwean economy back on track, President Robert Mugabe has ordered the Central Bank to issue new currency, with  higher face values.  The new notes entering circulation will range from 250,000 to 750,000 Zimbabwean dollars.  Central Bank Governor Gideon Gono announced the change saying that the bank's action would make cash shortages a thing of the past.  The 200,000 dollar bill, now phased out, has a street value of under $10 US dollars.

US Civil Rights office clears UC Irvine in discrimination case-

The US Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights has cleared the University of California Irvine of charges that it discriminated against Jewish students on campus.  The complainant alleged that Jewish students at the University were subjected to harassment and a hostile environment based on their national origin, which is prohibited by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  OCR rejected the allegations on grounds that many of the described anti-semetic incidents occurred beyond the 180 day acceptable filing period, and did not represent a pattern of behavior that would justify a waiver.  Furthermore, according to the civil rights office, offensive speeches, articles, marches, symbols and other events at issue were not based on the national origin of the Jewish students, but rather based on opposition to the policies of the State of Israel, and therefore were not within OCR's jurisdiction.