Army on standby for Ganesh procession in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD – The mammoth Ganesh procession began here Wednesday amid unprecedented security with the army on standby in case of an emergency, officials said.

Thousands of idols from different parts of the state capital and its outskirts headed towards Hussain Sagar Lake in the heart of the city.
There was a festive mood in … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Army on standby for Ganesh procession in Hyderabad.

Printing of Guru Granth Sahib allowed abroad

AMRITSAR – Sikhs living in Western countries will no longer have to wait for the supply of the Guru Granth Sahib, as the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has given its nod to the printing of the holy text in the US and Canada.

The SGPC, known as the mini-parliament of Sikhs with an annual budget …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Printing of Guru Granth Sahib allowed abroad.

Peaceful start to Ganesh idol immersions in Mumbai

MUMBAI – Ganesh immersion ceremonies got off to a peaceful start Wednesday with the Mumbai Police, Indian Navy and the Coast Guard providing aerial, sea and land security cover and hundreds of thousands of people gathering for the mega-religious event, officials said.

Coast Guard choppers hovered over the city keeping strict vigil while naval patrol boats …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Bishop Eddie Long is Gay?

The Bishop faced charges of sexual coercion. These charges have been filed by two men.
According to them, Eddie Long persuaded them to having sex with him in exchange for lavish trips, cars and cash from New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.
The Bishop and his spokesman deny all allegations saying:
We categorically deny the allegations. It is … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Bishop Eddie Long is Gay?.

Media to be kept away from high court Sep 24

LUCKNOW – The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, which is scheduled to announce its verdict in the long-pending Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi dispute Friday, has issued guidelines for the media – keeping it away from the court on the judgement day and asking it to maintain restraint.

According to the guidelines issued Tuesday, it has … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Media to be kept away from high court Sep 24.

615 tour operators get court nod for handling Haj pilgrims

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court Tuesday upheld the central government’s Haj policy for the year 2010 thereby clearing the way for 615 private operators to take pilgrims to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia starting October.

The decks for these private operators to arrange the travel of pilgrims were cleared after an apex court bench of Justice … Read more »».

Radical Muslim sect kills 2 more in targeted, motorcycle slayings terrorizing north Nigeria

Nigeria: 2 die in targeted Muslim sect slayings

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria – A police commissioner says members of a radical Muslim sect killed two people in northern Nigeria, the latest motorcycle slayings by the group.
Borno state police commissioner Ibrahim Abdu told The Associated Press that the two were killed Tuesday by Kalashnikov-carrying men riding a motorcycle taxi. …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Radical Muslim sect kills 2 more in targeted, motorcycle slayings terrorizing north Nigeria.

Shiv Sainiks will maintain peace post-Ayodhya verdict: Uddhav

MUMBAI – Days after the Muslim community urged restraint after the judgment on the Babri Mosque title suit is announced Sep 24, Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray Tuesday assured that his party activists would maintain peace and calm.

Thackeray’s announcement came in the wake of a similar appeal by the government urging all political parties …. Original article  : Shiv Sainiks will maintain peace post-Ayodhya verdict: Uddhav.

Navy, Coast Guard deployed in Mumbai for Ganesh immersions

MUMBAI – The Indian Navy and Coast Guard will join the state police to provide security for Wednesday’s Ganesh idol immersions all over Mumbai, officials said here Tuesday.

Coast Guard choppers will continuously hover over the city keeping a strict vigil while naval patrol boats and naval divers will be stationed at strategic locations.
Police will …. Original source  : Navy, Coast Guard deployed in Mumbai for Ganesh immersions.

Catholic church prays for peace in Sudan as vote on independence, potential conflict looms

Church prays for Sudan peace before freedom vote

JUBA, Sudan – The Catholic Church on Tuesday launched a countrywide campaign in Sudan to pray for peace ahead of a scheduled referendum on southern independence that some fear may lead to violence.
Southern Sudan, which is predominantly animist and Christian, is scheduled to vote on independence Jan. 9, … Read more »».

Hyderabad tightens security for Ganesh immersions

HYDERABAD – Over 30,000 policemen were deployed and the military asked to stand by as massive security arrangements have been made for Ganesh idols immersion processions here Wednesday.

A thick security blanket has thrown around the route of the mammoth procession, which passes through the communally-sensitive old city before culminating at Hussain Sagar Lake in the …. Source article  : Hyderabad tightens security for Ganesh immersions.

Official says Iranian diplomats who defected chose to stay abroad for ‘personal interests’

Iran criticizes its diplomats’ defections
TEHRAN, Iran – The two Iranian diplomats who defected this month in Europe chose to stay abroad for mostly personal reasons and not because of any political motives, the spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry said Tuesday.

The remarks by Ramin Mehmanparast were Iran’s first official confirmation of the defections, which were … Original source on Gaea Times at : Official says Iranian diplomats who defected chose to stay abroad for ‘personal interests’.

Van with 30 schoolchildren plunges into river in Pakistani Kashmir; most missing or dead

Van carrying 30 kids plunges into Pakistan river

MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan – A van carrying at least 30 schoolchildren plunged into a river in Pakistan-held Kashmir on Tuesday, and most of the passengers were confirmed or feared dead.
The driver lost control of the vehicle and it plunged 50 feet (15 meters) into the Jhelum River from an … Read : Van with 30 schoolchildren plunges into river in Pakistani Kashmir; most missing or dead.

Nepal government stops ex-king from religious programme

KATHMANDU – Two years after the abolition of monarchy in Nepal, deposed king Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah was at the heart of a fresh row Tuesday with the government, citing security concerns, preventing him from attending a religious programme at the palace of his ancestors.

The 63-year-old ousted king was stopped at the last moment from … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Nepal government stops ex-king from religious programme.