Amarnath Yatra continues smoothly

SRINAGAR – The Amarnath pilgrimage proceeded smoothly from south Kashmir’s Nunwan and north Kashmir’s Baltal base camps Friday despite restrictions in the valley to thwart the proposed separatist rally here.

“We have allowed 7,500 pilgrims to move towards the cave shrine from the Baltal base camp early this (Friday) morning,” Imtiyaz Hussain, superintendent of police, … Original article on : Amarnath Yatra continues smoothly.

Reyes, Pagan missing from Mets starting lineup for 2nd game in a row with injuries

Reyes, Pagan again out of Mets starting lineup

WASHINGTON – Jose Reyes was out of the New York Mets’ starting lineup Thursday for a second consecutive game because of tightness in his lower back.
Reyes, who was scratched from Wednesday’s game in San Juan, Puerto Rico, against the Florida Marlins because of the problem, said he needed …. Source article  : Reyes, Pagan missing from Mets starting lineup for 2nd game in a row with injuries.

Protesters end sit-in at Cleveland church being shuttered by Roman Catholic diocese

Protesters end sit-in at closing Cleveland church

CLEVELAND – Carrying U.S. and Hungarian flags, parishioners ended a 16-hour sit-in at a Cleveland Catholic church that is closing after police told them Thursday they would be trespassing if they did not leave.
The protesters staged a vigil at midnight Wednesday at the 106-year-old St. Emeric Church near downtown …. Original article  : Protesters end sit-in at Cleveland church being shuttered by Roman Catholic diocese.

Amarnath yatra begins peacefully, curfew extended across Valley (Intro Roundup)

SRINAGAR – The annual pilgrimage to a Himalayan cave shrine kicked off Thursday under heavy security cover amid the continuing turmoil in Kashmir. There were fewer street protests but the authorities extended the curfew in this summer capital and other towns in the Valley in an attempt to stall a threatened march here by the … Read more : Amarnath yatra begins peacefully, curfew extended across Valley (Intro Roundup).

UAE families to get free dry fruits during Ramadan

Abu Dhabi, July 1 (IANS/WAM) Around 45,000 families in the United Arab Emirates will get free dry fruits and other food items that are consumed by Muslims observing the month-long fast during Ramadan.

Under the project “Ramadan Supplies for 2010″, the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Charity Foundation in cooperation with the ministry of social … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : UAE families to get free dry fruits during Ramadan.

Parishioners lock themselves inside closed Cleveland Catholic church in protest

Faithful refuse to leave closed Cleveland church

CLEVELAND – Several members of the last of 50 Cleveland-area Roman Catholic parishes shuttered in a downsizing locked themselves inside Thursday, declaring they were well-stocked with food and ready to stay “for a long time” in order to save their church.
Meanwhile, police and officials of St. Emeric Church near …. Original source  : Parishioners lock themselves inside closed Cleveland Catholic church in protest.

Britain delays new EU airport security rules over Sikh concerns

LONDON – Britain has delayed implementation of new European Union (EU) airport security rules for hand searches of passengers after concerns from the Sikh community that this could also mean searches of their religious headgear, officials Thursday said.

Consultations are currently going on with the Sikh community over the issue, a spokesperson of the …. Original article  : Britain delays new EU airport security rules over Sikh concerns.

Amarnath yatra begins peacefully amid turmoil in Kashmir (Roundup)

SRINAGAR – The annual pilgrimage to a Himalayan cave shrine kicked off Thursday under heavy security cover amid the continuing turmoil in Kashmir. But there were fewer street protests as compared to previous days that had forced authorities to impose curfew in parts of the valley.

Over 16,000 pilgrims started the climb to the south Kashmir … Read : Amarnath yatra begins peacefully amid turmoil in Kashmir (Roundup).

Pope meets controversial German bishop

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI received controversial ex-Augsburg bishop Walter Mixa for a private audience Thursday, with the pontiff definitively ruling out Mixa regaining his post.

In a Vatican statement about the meeting between the two men who have known each other for years – Benedict is the former Cardinal Ratzinger from Munich – the … Original article on : Pope meets controversial German bishop.

Pope names Swiss archbishop Koch to head Vatican office for relations with Christians, Jews

Pope names new head of ecumenical relations office

VATICAN CITY – The pope has named a Swiss bishop with experience dealing with Orthodox and Lutheran churches to head the Vatican office responsible for relations with other Christians and Jews.
Archbishop Kurt Koch replaces Cardinal Walter Kasper as head of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity. Kasper, 77, …. Read the original article  : Pope names Swiss archbishop Koch to head Vatican office for relations with Christians, Jews.

Tory MP moves private bill to outlaw ‘burqa’

LONDON – Conservative MP Philip Hollobone has introduced a private member’s bill in the British Parliament to regulate the wearing of “certain facial coverings” that would include the ‘burqa’.

The MP from Kettering said his bill would make it illegal for people to cover their faces in public “which would obviously have a big impact …. Original article  : Tory MP moves private bill to outlaw ‘burqa’.

Pope lays out terms for accused German bishop to resume work; urges forgiveness

Pope lays out terms for accused German bishop

VATICAN CITY – The pope on Thursday told a German bishop who resigned amid accusations of physical abuse, sexual harassment and alcoholism that he must take time for silent prayer, treatment and reconciliation if he wants to return to pastoral work.
Pope Benedict XVI laid out the terms for … Read more »».

Moily’s Ramayana weaves current realities into epic

NEW DELHI – Union Law and Justice Minister M. Veerappa Moily, also a Kannada scholar-poet-playwright, has woven burning contemporary realities into his modern re-telling of the 2,000-year-old Indian epic – Ramayana.

In his “Shree Ramayana Mahanveshanam”, Sita is anguished when she finds an “alcoholic husband harassing his wife”, king Rama vows to “work tirelessly for the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Moily’s Ramayana weaves current realities into epic.

Millions mourn death of religious leader in West African nation of Senegal

Millions mourn death of Senegal religious leader

DAKAR, Senegal – The spiritual chief of Senegal, who assumed leadership of the West African nation’s most powerful Muslim brotherhood three years ago, has died. He was 85.
Serigne Bara Falilou Mbacke died of natural causes late Wednesday in the holy Senegalese city of Touba, Prime Minister Souleymane Ndene Ndiaye … Original source on Gaea Times at : Millions mourn death of religious leader in West African nation of Senegal.

Vatican backs cardinal named in graft probe

Vatican City, July 1 (IANS/AKI) The Vatican has expressed its “respect and solidarity” with a cardinal who has been named in a graft probe in Italy.

Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, archbishop of Naples, led the Vatican’s office which funds missionary work abroad and has been linked to several shady property deals involving a former government minister. … Read more : Vatican backs cardinal named in graft probe.

15,000 start Amarnath Yatra amid Kashmir turmoil

SRINAGAR – The annual Amarnath pilgrimage kicked off from the Kashmir Valley Thursday with over 15,000 men and women beginning the climb to the cave shrine dedicated to Hindu god Shiva.

“More than 7,000 yatris began their uphill 14-km trek at 8 Thursday morning from Baltal to the cave. Another 1,100 yatris has left the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.