An Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jewish news website has cut Kim Kardashian -- one of the world's most photographed women -- from a photo taken of her in Jerusalem this week, the Yahoo News website reports today (April 15, 2015).
The original photo of Kardashian, her husband, Kanye West, and Jerusalem's Mayor Nir Barkat was altered to put Kardashian behind a restaurant receipt. Kardashian was blurred in another photo.
Nissim Ben Haim, an editor at the Kikar HaShabbat website, said today they removed Kardashian from the photo because she's a "pornographic symbol" who contradicts ultra-Orthodox values.
Last November, it was believed by many that Kardashian would be "breaking the Internet" because millions of people were viewing the naked photos of her that had been posted online.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Erdogan Condemns Pope for "Genocide" Word; Warns Him Not to Make That "Mistake" Again
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said today (April 14, 2015) he condemns Pope Francis for comments that the 1915 mass killing of Armenians was genocide and warned him not to make such a statement again, the Reuters website reports.
Pope Francis became the first head of the Roman Catholic Church to publicly call the killing of as many as 1.5 million Armenians "genocide" on April 12, infuriating Erdogan and prompting a diplomatic row with Turkey, which summoned the Vatican's envoy and recalled its own.
Muslim Turkey agrees Christian Armenians were killed in clashes with Islamic Ottoman soldiers that began on April 15, 1915, when Armenians lived in the empire ruled by Istanbul, but denies hundreds of thousands were killed and that this amounted to genocide.
In reaffirming Turkey's view that there was no Armenian genocide, Erdogan declared today, "I condemn the pope and would like to warn him not to make similar mistakes again."
Pope Francis became the first head of the Roman Catholic Church to publicly call the killing of as many as 1.5 million Armenians "genocide" on April 12, infuriating Erdogan and prompting a diplomatic row with Turkey, which summoned the Vatican's envoy and recalled its own.
Muslim Turkey agrees Christian Armenians were killed in clashes with Islamic Ottoman soldiers that began on April 15, 1915, when Armenians lived in the empire ruled by Istanbul, but denies hundreds of thousands were killed and that this amounted to genocide.
In reaffirming Turkey's view that there was no Armenian genocide, Erdogan declared today, "I condemn the pope and would like to warn him not to make similar mistakes again."
China:Buddhist Abbeys in Tibet Must Fly Its Flag; Order Seen as Bid to Stamp Out Separatist Doings
The government in Beijing has ordered all Buddhist monasteries in the defiant Tibet Autonomous Region to fly China's flag, the Ecumenical News website reports today (April 14, 2015).
The order is seen as a bid to stamp out separatist movements in the province.
In an article for the state-run "People's Daily," local communist party boss Chen Quanguo pointed out that temples in the region ought to foster a sense of patriotism and nationalism among people, as the government seeks to build trust among monks and nuns.
Chen announced that in return the government will deliver more social services to "registered" monks and nuns, such as their inclusion in new State pension subsidies, provisions of medical insurance policies, and free health check-ups.
The order is seen as a bid to stamp out separatist movements in the province.
In an article for the state-run "People's Daily," local communist party boss Chen Quanguo pointed out that temples in the region ought to foster a sense of patriotism and nationalism among people, as the government seeks to build trust among monks and nuns.
Chen announced that in return the government will deliver more social services to "registered" monks and nuns, such as their inclusion in new State pension subsidies, provisions of medical insurance policies, and free health check-ups.
Monday, April 13, 2015
Boko Haram Abducts,Rapes,Enslaves 2K Women; Amnesty Report: Islamists Killed 5500 Civilians
Boko Haram -- the radical Islamist militant group in Nigeria -- abducted, raped, and enslaved at least 2,000 women, and subjected them to forced marriages, stonings, and sexual slavery during the past year, according to a new report that berates Nigeria's "dismal" security situation, the Independent (British) website reports today (April 13, 2015).
The Amnesty International report -- based on more than 150 witness accounts -- charges the Islamist militants with the deaths of more than 5,500 civilians and paints the most detailed picture yet of the oppression inflicted upon young women.
Boko Haram members should be brought to justice over war crimes such as "rapes, sexual slavery, and other forms of sexual violence," according to the Amnesty study, published a year after the group abducted 276 schoolgirls from a secondary school in Chibok, Nigeria.
Soon after taking control of a town, militants implemented restrictions of movement -- particularly on women -- the report says. Failure to attend daily Islamic prayers was punishable by public flogging.
The Amnesty International report -- based on more than 150 witness accounts -- charges the Islamist militants with the deaths of more than 5,500 civilians and paints the most detailed picture yet of the oppression inflicted upon young women.
Boko Haram members should be brought to justice over war crimes such as "rapes, sexual slavery, and other forms of sexual violence," according to the Amnesty study, published a year after the group abducted 276 schoolgirls from a secondary school in Chibok, Nigeria.
Soon after taking control of a town, militants implemented restrictions of movement -- particularly on women -- the report says. Failure to attend daily Islamic prayers was punishable by public flogging.
Thousands March in Hungary for Holocaust Dead; Jews Parade as Anti-Semitic Party Jobbik Prevails
Hungary's annual March of the Living -- which is held in remembrance of the victims of the holocaust -- was attended by thousands in Budapest yesterday, the Euro News website reports today (April 13, 2015).
Some 600,000 Hungarian Jews perished in the Nazi concentration camps, most of them in 1944. Today, the country's Jewish community numbers around 100,000.
This year's rally took place amid rising support for Jobbik, a party often accused of anti-Semitism, and which is now Hungary's second-largest party behind Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ruling Fidesz.
President of the World Jewish Congress Ronald Lauder -- who was in Budapest for the march -- warned that ruling Fidesz was leaving a vacuum which Jobbik was attempting to fill: "Jobbik has a role to play that Fidesz and the socialists are not doing. And that is a dangerous game. Because this is very very much like other right wing parties in the past had risen. And then once they got in power, changed everything."
Some 600,000 Hungarian Jews perished in the Nazi concentration camps, most of them in 1944. Today, the country's Jewish community numbers around 100,000.
This year's rally took place amid rising support for Jobbik, a party often accused of anti-Semitism, and which is now Hungary's second-largest party behind Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ruling Fidesz.
President of the World Jewish Congress Ronald Lauder -- who was in Budapest for the march -- warned that ruling Fidesz was leaving a vacuum which Jobbik was attempting to fill: "Jobbik has a role to play that Fidesz and the socialists are not doing. And that is a dangerous game. Because this is very very much like other right wing parties in the past had risen. And then once they got in power, changed everything."
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Pope Calls 1.5M Armenian Murders "Genocide;" Turkey Recalls Ambas.,Accuses Pope of Hatred
Pope Francis today (April 12, 2015) marked the 100th anniversary of the slaughter of over a million Armenians by calling the massacre of Ottoman Turks "the first genocide of the 20th century" and urging the international community to recognize it as such. An infuriated Turkey -- which denies an Armenian genocide ever occurred -- immediately responded by recalling its ambassador to the Vatican and accusing Francis of spreading hatred and "unfounded claims," the ABC News website reports.
Francis issued the pronouncement during a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica commemorating the centenary that was attended by Armenian church leaders and President Serge Sarkisian, who praised the pope for calling a spade a spade and "delivering a powerful message to the international community."
"The words of the leader of a church with one billion followers cannot but have a strong impact," Sarkisian said.
Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks during World War I -- an event widely viewed by historical scholars as the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkey, however, continues to deny that a genocide ever took place, and that the Armenians killed were victims of a "civil war."
Francis issued the pronouncement during a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica commemorating the centenary that was attended by Armenian church leaders and President Serge Sarkisian, who praised the pope for calling a spade a spade and "delivering a powerful message to the international community."
"The words of the leader of a church with one billion followers cannot but have a strong impact," Sarkisian said.
Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks during World War I -- an event widely viewed by historical scholars as the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkey, however, continues to deny that a genocide ever took place, and that the Armenians killed were victims of a "civil war."
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Throng of Greek Orth.Christians Go to Jerusalem; Crowd Holy Sepulcher,Honor Jesus' Resurrection
Thousands of Greek Orthodox Christians gathered in Jerusalem tonight (April 11, 2015) for an ancient fire ceremony that celebrates Jesus' resurrection, the New Europe website reports.
In a ritual dating back more than 1200 years, they crowded into the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where Christian tradition holds that Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected.
During the annual ceremony, top Eastern Orthodox clerics enter the Edicule, the small chamber marking the site of Jesus' tomb. They then emerge to reveal candles that are miraculously lit with holy fire as a message to the faithful from heaven. At midnight on Easter evening, the faithful proclaim "Christos Anesti!" ("Christ Is Risen!").
Roman Catholics and Protestants marked Easter last Sunday (April 5), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate Easter tomorrow (April 12), using the older Julian calendar.
In a ritual dating back more than 1200 years, they crowded into the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where Christian tradition holds that Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected.
During the annual ceremony, top Eastern Orthodox clerics enter the Edicule, the small chamber marking the site of Jesus' tomb. They then emerge to reveal candles that are miraculously lit with holy fire as a message to the faithful from heaven. At midnight on Easter evening, the faithful proclaim "Christos Anesti!" ("Christ Is Risen!").
Roman Catholics and Protestants marked Easter last Sunday (April 5), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate Easter tomorrow (April 12), using the older Julian calendar.
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