Court stops polls at Canada’s oldest Sikh temple

VANCOUVER – The cancellation of elections to North America’s oldest Sikh temple, the Ross Street Gurdwara, by a court this week has opened divisions between moderates and hardliners in the local Sikh community.

Vancouver and its surrounding areas in British Columbia province – which were the first places where Punjabi immigrants from India arrived in the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Court stops polls at Canada’s oldest Sikh temple.

At Minnesota State Fair, Muslims hand out information in effort to repair tattered image

Muslims take to Minn. State Fair to repair image

FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. – Despite the smells of fried dough and roasted meat wafting from the Minnesota State Fair, Salim and Zuleyha Ozonder were focused on the people who were leaving, not the food or festivities beckoning from across the street.
Each time a new wave of people …. Read the original article  : At Minnesota State Fair, Muslims hand out information in effort to repair tattered image.

Half of poll respondents oppose mosque near WTC; majority say people have right to build it

Poll: NYers conflicted on mosque near WTC
NEW YORK – A new poll finds New Yorkers are conflicted about the construction of a mosque near the World Trade Center site, with half of respondents opposed to the project and a majority saying people have the right to build an Islamic center near ground zero.

The New York …. Source article  : Half of poll respondents oppose mosque near WTC; majority say people have right to build it.

Iraqi Shiite bloc names new candidate for PM, further complicating govt. formation process

Shiite bloc names new candidate for Iraqi PM

BAGHDAD – A powerful Iranian-backed Shiite bloc put forward its own candidate for prime minister Friday, further complicating Iraq’s fractured political scene as the country stumbled into month six without a new government.
The March 7 parliamentary vote produced no clear winner, setting up a contentious fight between the …. Source article  : Iraqi Shiite bloc names new candidate for PM, further complicating govt. formation process.

Rs.100 crore Vivekananda education project approved

NEW DELHI – The government Friday gave in-principle approval to the Rs.100 crore Swami Vivekananda Values Education Project aimed at encouraging research on religion.

“The National Implementation Committee in a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has approved in principle Swami Vivekananda Values Education Project worth Rs.100 crore,” an official statement said.
The meeting …. Read the original article  : here.

Shiite cleric warns Iraqis security forces against working with remaining American troops

Shiite cleric warns Iraqis against working with US

BAGHDAD – A powerful Shiite cleric in Iraq has warned the country’s security forces against working with the remaining American troops in the country.
In a statement read at Friday prayers in mosques across Iraq, Muqtada al-Sadr extended support to Iraq’s police and soldiers, as long as they don’t …. Original article  : Shiite cleric warns Iraqis security forces against working with remaining American troops.