Nepal’s Buddha epic to boost birthplace campaign

KATHMANDU – As Nepal’s Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Friday kicks off a campaign to draw 1 million tourists to the country next year, the campaign will receive a boost from the launch of a forgotten epic on the life and teachings of the Buddha, that has been resurrected by a prestigious western publisher.

The Oxford … Original article on : Nepal’s Buddha epic to boost birthplace campaign.

Malaysian Hindus to hold floating chariot festival

KUALA LUMPUR – The annual Masi Magam Theppa Thiruvila (floating chariot) festival will be held Sunday at the Sri Singamuga Kaliamman temple in Teluk Bahang.

The annual festival is celebrated to honour Lord Sri Singamuga Kaliamman.
The highlight of the festival would be the release of a statue of the deity, Lord Sri Singamuga Kalia-mman, on …. Read the original article  : here.

Moss scores 16 points in Houston Baptist’s 61-48 win over Utah Valley

Houston Baptist outpaces Utah Valley 61-48

HOUSTON – Michael Moss scored 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds and made five assists to lead Houston Baptist past Utah Valley 61-48 on Thursday night.
The Huskies (8-19, 7-2 Great West) took the lead early, holding the Wolverines (11-16, 4-7) to just 18 points and 25 percent shooting from the field …. Read the original article  : here.

Turkish court charges 11 more senior officers in coup plot, a total of 31 jailed

Turkish court charges 11 more officers
ANKARA, Turkey – A Turkish court on Friday charged 11 more ranking officers for allegedly plotting several years ago to topple the Islamic-rooted government, increasing the number of officers jailed to 31 – including retired and active seven admirals and four generals.

The 11 newly charged officers included two active duty …. Read the original article  : Turkish court charges 11 more senior officers in coup plot, a total of 31 jailed.

Real IRA splinter group says it killed Northern Ireland man; body found semi-naked by roadside

Real IRA faction says it ‘executed’ NIreland man

DUBLIN – The Real IRA splinter group says it killed a Catholic civilian whose semi-naked body was found handcuffed and dumped near the Irish border.
The leaders of Northern Ireland’s Catholic-Protestant government united Thursday to condemn the gang that shot 31-year-old Ciaran Doherty fatally through the head.
The killing – …. Source  : Real IRA splinter group says it killed Northern Ireland man; body found semi-naked by roadside.

Haiti judge: No release of US Baptists this week as he awaits witnesses

Haiti judge: No release of US Baptists this week

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – A Haitian judge says American missionaries Laura Silsby and Charisa Coulter will remain in jail over the weekend as he awaits more testimony.
Judge Bernard Saint-Vil says he has asked two real estate agents and a pastor from the Dominican Republic to testify in Port-au-Prince … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Haiti judge: No release of US Baptists this week as he awaits witnesses.

After bowing out of Iraq vote, prominent Sunni leader says his party will take part

In reversal, Sunni party to contest Iraq vote

BAGHDAD – A prominent Sunni lawmaker announced Thursday that his party would participate in parliamentary elections, less than a week after pulling it from the race.
The decision effectively lifts the lingering threat that minority Sunnis would boycott the vote, which the U.S. hopes will bolster national reconciliation efforts …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : After bowing out of Iraq vote, prominent Sunni leader says his party will take part.

Turkish court releases ex-Navy, Air Force chiefs without charges in coup plot

Turkish court frees ex-Navy, Air Force chiefs

ANKARA, Turkey – A Turkish court released the former chiefs of the navy and air force late Thursday without charging them with involvement in an alleged coup plot several years ago to overthrow the Islamic-rooted government.
Twenty current and former senior officers, including five admirals and three generals, have been …. Source  : Turkish court releases ex-Navy, Air Force chiefs without charges in coup plot.

Free the gefilte fish: Clinton will try to free fish shipment to Israel in time for Passover

Clinton will try to free fish for Passover

WASHINGTON – Free the gefilte fish! Just in time for Passover, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will try to resolve a trade dispute holding up a huge shipment of American-caught fish destined for seder dinners in Israel.
Clinton drew chuckles from a congressional panel when she said that [..] Read the original article: here.

Turkey’s leaders, military chief issue joint call for calm; PM says no early elections

Turkish PM dismisses call for early elections

ANKARA, Turkey – A confident Turkish prime minister dismissed opposition calls for early elections Thursday and met with the country’s military chief to defuse tensions over the government’s probe into an alleged military coup plot.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Islamic-leaning government has detained over 50 high-ranking military officers this … Original source on Gaea Times at : Turkey’s leaders, military chief issue joint call for calm; PM says no early elections.

Israeli prime minister tries to ease tensions over West Bank heritage sites after US protests

Israeli PM tries to ease ‘heritage site’ tensions

JERUSALEM – Israel’s prime minister tried Thursday to calm tensions over the addition of two West Bank shrines to a list of national heritage sites, a decision that has sparked clashes with the Palestinians and drawn widespread international criticism.
In an interview to Israeli TV, Benjamin Netanyahu called the … Read more »».

Sectarian clashes trigger tension in Kashmir village

SRINAGAR – Over a dozen people were injured and several houses and shops were destroyed Thursday in a clash between Shias and Sunnis in a village in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, police said.

Tensions was brewing in the Kangamdara village, 30 km from here, between the members of the two sects since last month over the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Sectarian clashes trigger tension in Kashmir village.

Turkey’s leaders, military chief issue joint call for calm amid tension over alleged coup plot

Turkey’s leaders, military try to calm tensions

ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey’s leaders held a rare meeting with the country’s military chief Thursday, emerging to declare that the government’s probe into an alleged military coup plot would be handled strictly according to the law.
The joint statement, issued by President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and … Read more >>.

Tirupati’s Balaji temple to be set up in Kurukshetra

CHANDIGARH – The Balaji temple of Tirupati, the famous Hindu shrine, will be set up in Haryanas historic town of Kurukshetra, the temple management told Haryana Chief Minister Bhupiunder Singh Hooda at a meeting in New Delhi Thursday.

The temple would be a true replica of Lord Balaji, Tirupati, the temple management told Hooda. It … Original source on Gaea Times at : Tirupati’s Balaji temple to be set up in Kurukshetra.

Turkey’s leaders and military chief call for calm amid tensions over alleged coup plot

Leaders discuss Turkey’s alleged coup plot

ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey’s leaders and the military chief say an investigation into high-ranking officers accused of plotting to topple the Islamic-rooted government will be handled according to the law.
President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Gen. Ilker Basbug issued the joint statement Thursday after a three-hour meeting. … Read more >>.

Holi Wallpapers, SMS, Orkut Scraps Doing The Round

NEW DELHI, INDIA, (GaeaTimes.com)- Holi is not only another festival in the list of Hindu festival calendar, it is an unique festival which celebrates colors. The advent of spring is celebrated all over India by smearing each other with colors. This year the festival of colors, Holi, will be celebrated all over India …. Original source  : Holi Wallpapers, SMS, Orkut Scraps Doing The Round.

Turkey’s leaders and military chief hold rare meeting to discuss alleged coup plot by officers

Meeting held to discuss Turkey’s alleged coup plot

ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey’s leaders met with the country’s military chief on Thursday to discuss the government’s unprecedented crackdown on high-ranking officers accused of plotting to topple the country’s Islamic-rooted government.
The rare three-way meeting by President Abdullah Gul; Gen. Ilker Basbug, the military chief; and Prime Minister Recep … Read more >>>.

Sunni leader reverses course, will allow party to take part in Iraq election

Sunni leader decides to take part in Iraq election

BAGHDAD – A top Sunni lawmaker who just last week pulled his party out of Iraq’s upcoming election backtracked Thursday, ending any possibility that minority Sunnis would boycott the crucial March 7 vote.
Saleh al-Mutlaq’s announcement that his National Dialogue Front would contest the race was the latest … Original source on Gaea Times at : Sunni leader reverses course, will allow party to take part in Iraq election.

Viktor Yanukovych, foe of the Orange Revolution, inaugurated as Ukraine’s president

Viktor Yanukovych inaugurated as Ukraine president

KIEV, Ukraine – Viktor Yanukovych was inaugurated as Ukrainian president on Thursday, six years after massive protests over vote fraud got his first election victory tossed out. This time the pro-Russian leader promised to make Ukraine a European nation outside of any bloc.
Yanukovych took the oath of office in the … Read more »»».