Anti-Semitism Indoctrination; Judea Down Below; Mighty Israel; The Gorbachev Interview; Syria's Act II; Philippine's Made in China Weapons; EU's Cuban Cuddle; Town Gives up the Cross; and Predicting Burden Kids

Anti-Semitism

Activists Manipulate Third-Graders into Hating Israel truthrevolt.org v

"Far under the radar, the attempt to demonize Israel is moving down the educational chain even into elementary schools, pushed by activists who accept no boundaries even for young children," begins Professor William A. Jacobson, who runs LI. "Yet because such activities take place in schools to which access is limited, and the young students are not developmentally able to report on what happens, it’s rare to obtain hard visual proof. We have such proof."

Archeaology

Underwater Hebrew Tablet Reveals Biblical-Era Ruler of Judea livescience

The slab dates to the second century A.D., a bloody time in Jewish history when a fiery leader named Simon bar Kokhba jewishvirtuallibrary.org led a failed revolt against Roman rulers. The huge chunk of stone was found at an underwater site called Tel Dor, located about 18 miles (30 kilometers) south of the city of Haifa.

Israel

Netanyahu says Israel is 'mightier' as first F-35 fighter jets arrive businessinsider

Israel on Monday became the first country after the United States to receive the U.S.-built F-35 stealth jet which will increase its ability to attack distant targets, including Iran.

Russia

Mikhail Gorbachev: The man who lost an empire bbc

The BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow was given a rare interview with him, 25 years after the USSR's demise.

Syria

[OPINION] What Comes After Aleppo Falls? nytimes

The battle for eastern Aleppo will be over soon, but tens of thousands of Syrians there will find little peace. The victory for the government of President Bashar al-Assad will open another violent, disorienting chapter in their lives, and a dangerous one for the opposition. Soon, civilians and rebel fighters alike will either be punished or have to flee the city and join the many thousands of others displaced by Mr. Assad and his Iranian and Russian allies — part of a plan to break the insurgency, and change Syria forever.

Also see With Aleppo Falling, What Happens Next in Syria’s Civil War? bloomberg

Philippines

China to give weapons to boost Philippine security philstar

President Duterte said China is pressing him to accept the weapons, prompting him to ask his security officials to go to Beijing to pick them up.

“We don’t need to ask from someone else because they’re willing to give it. They are not for free but it’s a grant actually. If it’s a grant payable in 25 years that is really practically giving,” the President said.

EU

EU Unfreezes Cuba Relations After Fidel Castro's Death newsweek

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, European Union foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini and representatives from the 28 EU member states signed the agreement at a Brussels ceremony.

Society

Small Indiana town removes cross instead of fighting ACLU foxnews

A small Indiana town on Monday afternoon conceded it was no match for the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, declining to fight a lawsuit filed Friday that demanded Knightstown remove a lighted cross from the top of its town Christmas tree.

Economic burdens' determined by age three - study  newshub.co.nz v

A high-profile research team has found a small number of people consume the lion's share of the country's health, justice and social welfare services. The Dunedin Study - which has followed 1037 children born in the early 1970s - also accurately predicted in children as young as three, who would cost the country the most.

It's not hard to see how this type of research could turn dark, quickly.

Others...

A map of ships buried under San Francisco Financial District boingboing.net

Thinking inside the box: Machine makes boxes based on contents newatlas