Faith drives millions to throng Deoghar temple

DEOGHAR – They come in droves on foot, trekking for over 100 km to reach this town revered by Hindus for its ancient Shiv temple.

The revered Bababaidyanath temple in Deoghar, about 385 km from Jharkhand state capital Ranchi, is witnessing close to 100,000 devotees every day to offer oblations at the Shiv linga there …. Original article  : Faith drives millions to throng Deoghar temple.

Ramzan Celebrations In Egypt

CAIRO, EGYPT (GaeaTimes.com)- The devout Muslims will start celebrating the holy month of Ramzan that begins Wednesday worldwide and the community in Egypt is no exception to the trends. The Egyptian Muslims have their own ways of celebrating the holy month and a lot of them buy decorated lanterns for the purpose. Typically this …. Read the original article  : here.

Morocco to close 1,250 mosques

RABAT – The Moroccan government will close 1,256 mosques found to be “unsafe” to avoid the repeat of a minaret collapse that killed 41 people in February this year.

Mohammed VI, the king of Morocco, ordered all the country’s mosques to be examined after a centuries-old minaret of a mosque in Meknes fell during Friday prayers. …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Morocco to close 1,250 mosques.

10 Mideast nations declare Wednesday first day of Ramadan

AMMAN – At least 10 countries in the Middle East decided Tuesday night that the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan will start Wednesday.

The decision was first adopted by Saudi Arabia’s legal moon sighting panel, with other Arab and Islamic countries following suit.
Middle East countries celebrating the start of Ramadan Wednesday so far are Saudi … Original article on : 10 Mideast nations declare Wednesday first day of Ramadan.

State Department sending ground zero mosque imam to discuss religious tolerance in Middle East

US govt sending ground zero mosque imam to Mideast
WASHINGTON – The imam behind controversial plans for a mosque near the site of the Sept. 11 attacks is being sent by the State Department on a religious outreach trip to the Middle East, officials said Tuesday.
The department is sponsoring Imam Feisal Abdul …. Source article  : State Department sending ground zero mosque imam to discuss religious tolerance in Middle East.

Saudi to test giant clock under construction in Mecca during Muslim month of fasting

Saudi to test giant clock in Mecca during Ramadan

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia will test what it is billing as the world’s largest clock in the holy city of Mecca during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, the official news agency reported Tuesday.
The four-faced clock tower will top a massive skyscraper that when completed …. Source  : Saudi to test giant clock under construction in Mecca during Muslim month of fasting.

After Abbas-Mitchell meeting, some optimism about launching direct Israeli-Palestinian talks

US officials optimistic about direct talks
RAMALLAH, West Bank – The White House’s Mideast envoy failed Tuesday to secure Palestinian agreement to go to direct talks with Israel, but U.S. and Palestinian officials said a possible solution to the standoff is emerging.
The U.S. has been calling for a speedy resumption of face-to-face negotiations, with …. Source article  : After Abbas-Mitchell meeting, some optimism about launching direct Israeli-Palestinian talks.

NY governor offers state help if developers of ground zero mosque seek to relocate

NY governor offers help moving ground zero mosque

ALBANY, N.Y. – New York Gov. David Paterson offered state help Tuesday if the developers of a mosque near the site of the Sept. 11 attacks agree to move the project farther from the site.
Paterson, a Democrat, said that he doesn’t oppose the project as planned but indicated … Read more »».

Vatican mulling Arabic and Russian versions of website

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican plans to revamp its official website and is considering opening sections in Arabic and Russian, an official said Tuesday.

The need to use language “that is comprehensible to today’s internet users”, is prompting the initiative, Monsignor Lucio Adrian Ruiz who manages the site, told the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano.
The site: …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Vatican mulling Arabic and Russian versions of website.

Less duty hours for Abu Dhabi workers during Ramadan

Abu Dhabi, Aug 10 (IANS/WAM) Abu Dhabi government Tuesday announced a regulation reducing the working hours for employees of private firms from eight hours to six hours a day during the holy month of Ramadan.

Labour Minister Saqr Ghobash has issued a circular under which the work hours of private sector firms will be reduced from [..] Read the original article: here.

US envoy fails to secure Palestinian agreement for going to direct talks with Israel

US envoy falls short on latest Mideast mission
RAMALLAH, West Bank – The White House’s Mideast envoy failed Tuesday to secure Palestinian agreement to go to direct talks with Israel, despite mounting pressure from the U.S. administration to begin negotiations in early September.
Even so, a U.S. official sounded somewhat optimistic that direct …. Source article  : US envoy fails to secure Palestinian agreement for going to direct talks with Israel.

Vatican expresses satisfaction after plaintiffs give up sex abuse case in Kentucky

Vatican pleased US plaintifs seek to dismiss case

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican said Tuesday it was satisfied that three men who had sought to hold the Vatican liable in an American court for sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests have decided to abandon the case.
The Kentucky case was being closely watched as the clerical abuse …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Controversial Danish cartoonist to publish memoirs

COPENHAGEN – The former Danish newspaper cartoonist who received numerous death threats for his drawing depicting the Muslim Prophet Mohammed with a bomb in his turban is to publish his memoirs, reports said Tuesday.

That controversial cartoon will be the cover of the book, to be published in November. The autobiography was co-written with journalist and …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Controversial Danish cartoonist to publish memoirs.