Indian president to visit China next week

NEW DELHI – President Pratibha Patil will embark on a five-day official visit to China next week when she will open the first Indian-style Buddhist temple in the ancient Chinese capital Luoyang.

The trip coincides with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and China.
With a view to further strengthen bilateral … Original source on Gaea Times at : Indian president to visit China next week.

Fugate: FEMA videographer wrong to ask Miss. tornado volunteers not to show faith logo

FEMA: Sorry photog asked faith shirts not be worn

JACKSON, Miss. – The top officer at FEMA says one of the agency’s videographers was “absolutely wrong” to ask Mississippi church volunteers to not wear religious T-shirts for a video about tornado cleanup.
Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate said Tuesday that the photographer’s actions in the …. Read the original article  : Fugate: FEMA videographer wrong to ask Miss. tornado volunteers not to show faith logo.

8-term Republican Rep. Mark Souder of Indiana says he’ll resign over affair with staff member

Ind. GOP Rep. Souder says he’ll resign over affair

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Rep. Mark Souder – an evangelical Christian who promoted abstinence education and was known for his outspoken views on religion – said Tuesday he will resign from Congress because of an extramarital affair with a part-time staff member.
The announcement by the eight-term Republican rocked … Read this article on Gaea Times at : 8-term Republican Rep. Mark Souder of Indiana says he’ll resign over affair with staff member.

German villagers re-enact Christ’s passion in 400-year-old tradition

Once-a-decade passion play opening
OBERAMMERGAU, Germany – Time advances slowly in this Alpine village, measured in decade-long spans between performances of Oberammergau’s nearly 400-year-old enactment of the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Changes to the ritual, started in 1633 as a promise to God by the village’s Roman Catholic populace in exchange for calling off the …. Original article  : German villagers re-enact Christ’s passion in 400-year-old tradition.

Bolivian president asks pope to abolish priestly celibacy

Vatican City, May 18 (IANS/EFE) Pope Benedict XVI received Monday in the Vatican the president of Bolivia, Evo Morales, who sought the abolition of priestly celibacy and the admission of women to the priesthood.

After a 25-minute meeting, Morales with the help of an interpreter announced the handing over of a letter to the pontiff.
In …. Source  : Bolivian president asks pope to abolish priestly celibacy.

Queen Antoinette, 2 other cult members face sentencing in Md. for child’s starvation death

Md. cult members face sentencing for child’s death

BALTIMORE – Three cult members face sentencing in Baltimore for the death of a toddler starved for not saying “Amen” after meals.
The child’s mother, 23-year-old Ria Ramkissoon, is already in a residential treatment program for young women as part of an unusual plea bargain in which her plea … Read more : Queen Antoinette, 2 other cult members face sentencing in Md. for child’s starvation death.

Court overturns ban on 9 Iraqi candidates barred for ties to Saddam Hussein’s party

Court overturns ban on 9 Iraqi candidates
BAGHDAD – An Iraqi court on Monday overturned a ban on nine newly elected parliament members who had been barred by a committee vetting candidates for ties to Saddam Hussein’s regime, said a committee official, overcoming a major hurdle in forming the new government.

The ban of the candidates, seven … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Court overturns ban on 9 Iraqi candidates barred for ties to Saddam Hussein’s party.

Arab-Americans exult at immigrant’s Miss USA victory, some snipe at ‘political’ questions

Arab-Americans delight in Miss USA victory

NEW YORK – Donald Trump’s Miss USA pageant sure knows how to make headlines.
Arab-Americans rejoiced Monday over the crowning of raven-haired beauty Rima Fakih, a 24-year-old Lebanese immigrant from Michigan, calling it a victory for diversity in the United States, especially at a time when Arabs suffer from negative stereotypes …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Arab-Americans exult at immigrant’s Miss USA victory, some snipe at ‘political’ questions.

Gift of peace from Myanmar – giant Lord Buddha statue

MUMBAI – A giant marble statue of Lord Buddha, standing 21 feet tall, has been gifted by Myanmar to the Global Vipassana Foundation (GVF), and will be installed next week at Mumbai’s Pagoda complex, called the World Monument of Peace and Harmony.

The statue weighs a whopping 60 tonnes and is carved from a single piece … Original article on : Gift of peace from Myanmar – giant Lord Buddha statue.