Dentist to become 1st Sikh soldier to complete Army officer school in decades

1st Sikh in decades to wrap up Army officer school

SAN ANTONIO – Amid lines of soldiers, one after the other in standard-issue fatigues and combat boots, was one in a turban and full beard on Monday – the first Sikh in a generation allowed to complete U.S. Army officer basic training without sacrificing the articles …. Source  : Dentist to become 1st Sikh soldier to complete Army officer school in decades.

Protesting in verse: A Saudi woman criticizes Muslim clerics’ in a TV poetry contest

Saudi woman blasts clerics in TV contest poem

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – It was a startling voice of protest at a startling venue. Covered head-to-toe in black, a Saudi woman lashed out at hard-line Muslim clerics’ harsh religious edicts in verse on live TV at a popular Arabic version of “American Idol.”
Well, not quite “American …. Read the original article  : here.

Islamic clerics in Yemen declare supporters of child bride ban to be apostates

Top Yemeni clerics oppose ban on child brides

SAN’A, Yemen – Some of Yemen’s most influential Islamic leaders, including one the U.S. says mentored Osama bin Laden, have declared supporters of a ban on child brides to be apostates.
The religious decree, issued Sunday, deeply imperils efforts to salvage legislation that would make it illegal for those …. Original source  : Islamic clerics in Yemen declare supporters of child bride ban to be apostates.

World Expo in Shanghai to showcase China’s rise as modern power, world’s green ambitions

Shanghai World Expo forecasts 70 million visitors

SHANGHAI – Looking for the China of pagodas, farmers in rice paddies and Mao-suited masses pedaling bicycles through grim city streets?
You won’t find such scenes here when Shanghai’s World Expo opens on May 1.
What you will find: A giant octopus, an alpine meadow and an apple-shaped “green city,” among …. Source article  : World Expo in Shanghai to showcase China’s rise as modern power, world’s green ambitions.

West Bengal doubles funds for Muslims, madrasas education

KOLKATA – In an apparent bid to woo the Muslims ahead of next year’s assembly polls, the West Bengal government Monday proposed to more than double the plan outlay for minorities and madrasa education from Rs.121 crore to Rs.300 crore next year.

Presenting the state budget for 2010-11, Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta said special priority has … Read more »».

Religious leaders discuss HIV issues in the Netherlands

AMSTERDAM – Religious leaders and top UN officials began Monday a two-day conference in the Netherlands to debate HIV issues and religions’ response to the illness.

Several dozen Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh leaders were taking part in the conference taking place in Den Dolder near Utrecht in the central Netherlands through Tuesday. … Read more : Religious leaders discuss HIV issues in the Netherlands.

BJP leader calls for Hindu state again in Nepal

KATHMANDU – A little-known Hindu organisation’s call for reinstatement of a Hindu state in Nepal received an unexpected support here from a visiting top leader of India’s Bharatiya Janata Party.

Former BJP president Rajnath Singh, who had arrived in Nepal Sunday to attend the last rites of former Nepali prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala, who was … Read more »».

Bareilly’s Hindus, Muslims rebuild shrines and peace

BAREILLY – If the recent riots made Bareilly cry for peace, the trouble-torn district in western Uttar Pradesh is now witnessing a rare show of communal harmony now — Muslims taking up the construction of a damaged temple and Hindus joining hands to restore a mazar (mausoleum).

The Hanuman temple, popularly known as the Bajrangi … Read : Bareilly’s Hindus, Muslims rebuild shrines and peace.

Germany’s Regensburg diocese says 6 people accused of abuse, asks for forgiveness

German diocese say 6 accused over abuse
REGENSBURG, Germany – The Regensburg diocese in the pope’s native Bavaria says six people there face sexual abuse allegations, many of them dating back decades.

Diocese spokesman Clemens Neck said Monday that church officials “regret deeply” what employees did to children and “we ask for forgiveness.”
Neck says seven people have …. Original source  : Germany’s Regensburg diocese says 6 people accused of abuse, asks for forgiveness.