Indian artist seeks dialogue on faith in age of terror

WASHINGTON – Connecting two key historical moments linked to 9/11, but 108 years apart, Mumbai-based contemporary Indian artist Jitish Kallat has sought to engage the American people on faith in the age of terror.

Opening Saturday, Kallat’s “Public Notice 3″ links a landmark speech delivered by Swami Vivekananda at the First World Parliament of Religions in … Read more : Indian artist seeks dialogue on faith in age of terror.

Fla. pastor, imam at odds over deal to cancel Quran-burning in exchange for moving NYC mosque

Fla. pastor, imam at odds over Quran-burning deal
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Two religious leaders are at odds about whether a deal was struck to stop a Quran-burning at a tiny church in exchange for moving the location of a mosque planned near ground zero, with the church’s pastor leaving the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Fla. pastor, imam at odds over deal to cancel Quran-burning in exchange for moving NYC mosque.

Clinton greets Indians on Eid

WASHINGTON – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Friday greeted Indians on the eve of Eid ul-Fitr.

Extending “warmest wishes” to the people of India, Clinton said the “joyous celebration” must inspire people across the globe to work towards peace and mutual respect.
“May this holy season of spiritual renewal for Muslims everywhere inspire us to …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

BJP’s Hussain condemns US pastor’s Quran burning move

NEW DELHI – Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain has condemned the move by a US pastor to burn copies of the Quran and asked the Christian community to “alienate such narrow minded people”.

The former union minister, the party’s lone Muslim face in the Lok Sabha, said the US authorities should prevent any such …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Mumbai readies for Ganesh festival revelry from Saturday

MUMBAI – Come Saturday and millions of people will immerse themselves in Ganesh festival, a 10-day gala that sees the elephant-headed god being worshipped in Mumbai’s nooks and corners and crores of rupees being splurged on preparations.

The festival starts with Ganesh Chaturthi Saturday and will end with Anant Chaturdashi Sep 22, when the Ganesha … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Mumbai readies for Ganesh festival revelry from Saturday.

Word that 1 of 3 Americans held in Iran for 13 months will be freed offers hope to families

Moms of US hikers held in Iran get some good news

PINE CITY, Minn. – Three U.S. mothers who have pleaded with Iranian authorities for more than a year to free their sons and daughter from a Tehran prison finally received a piece of the news they’ve been longing for.
Iranian officials have announced that on Saturday … Read : Word that 1 of 3 Americans held in Iran for 13 months will be freed offers hope to families.

Malaysian PM calls for racial unity on Eid

KUALA LUMPUR – Tear down the walls of suspicion and discard prejudices, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has said while greeting his countrymen on Eid, which is known as ‘Hari Raya Aidilfitri’ in Malaysia.

In his message to the country of 28 million people, including Malay Muslims, ethnic Chinese and Indians, the prime minister urged …. Original source  : Malaysian PM calls for racial unity on Eid.

Rains play spoilsport on Eid in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – Rains played spoilsport Friday morning in Kerala as Eid-ul-Fitr prayers were hurriedly shifted indoors from open Eidgahs and grounds across the state. But the showers didn’t dampen spirits with large crowds seen at most Eid congregations.

Prayers planned in the state capital were delayed due to the rains while organisers at places like Kochi … Read more : Rains play spoilsport on Eid in Kerala.

US pastor rethinking on cancelling Quran burning (Third Lead)

WASHINGTON – A Florida pastor who called off his controversial Quran burning plan was “rethinking” his position after being told that there was no deal on moving the proposed Islamic center near New York’s ground zero.

The new twist late Thursday was one of several on a day when President Barack Obama and Defence Secretary … Original source on Gaea Times at : US pastor rethinking on cancelling Quran burning (Third Lead).

Muslims welcome American church leader’s decision to suspend Quran-burning plans

Decision to suspend Quran-burning met with relief

LHOKSEUMAWE, Indonesia – Religious and political leaders across the Muslim world welcomed a decision by a small American church to suspend its plans to torch copies of their holy book – but some said Friday the damage has already been done.
The Rev. Terry Jones from the Dove Outreach Center … Read more : Muslims welcome American church leader’s decision to suspend Quran-burning plans.

Pastor cancels plans to burn Qurans, then backtracks (Second Lead)

WASHINGTON/GAINESVILLE – A Florida pastor who wanted to burn Qurans to protest Islamic extremism said late Thursday that he might reconsider his earlier decision to call off the event.

The Reverend Terry Jones told NBC News that “we are a little back to square one” after what he claimed was a deal to relocate a controversial …. Source  : Pastor cancels plans to burn Qurans, then backtracks (Second Lead).

Imam: Pastor ’stretched my words’ about deal to cancel Quran burning in turn for moving mosque

Imam: Pastor misrepresented Quran-burning deal
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – An imam says the leader of a small Florida church told him that he would call off a plan to burn the Quran because it would endanger troops, not because they had a deal to move the location of a mosque planned near ground zero.
Imam Muhammad …. Source  : Imam: Pastor ’stretched my words’ about deal to cancel Quran burning in turn for moving mosque.

Fla. pastor cancels Quran-burning, then reconsiders, saying imam lied about moving NYC mosque

Pastor cancels Quran-burning, then reconsiders
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – An anti-Islamic preacher backed off and then threatened to reconsider burning the Quran on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, angrily accusing a Muslim leader of lying to him Thursday with a promise to move an Islamic center and mosque away from New York’s … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Fla. pastor cancels Quran-burning, then reconsiders, saying imam lied about moving NYC mosque.

Fla. pastor cancels 9/1l plans to burn Qurans, says NYC mosque will be moved; imams disagree

Pastor nixes Quran-burning, claims NYC mosque deal
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The anti-Muslim leader of a tiny Florida church backed off his threat to burn the Quran, defusing an international firestorm Thursday after he said he was promised that a planned Islamic center and mosque would be moved away from New York’s ground zero. The … Read more >>>.

US defence secretary calls Florida pastor

WASHINGTON – US Defence Secretary Robert Gates Thursday called the Florida pastor at the centre of global controversy over plans to burn Korans and apparently helped persuade him to change his mind, according to a Florida imam who has mediated the conflict.

Muhammad Musri of the Islamic Society of Central Florida told CNN that he was … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : US defence secretary calls Florida pastor.

Florida minister insists Muslims promised to move NY mosque if he agreed not to burn Qurans

Fla. pastor insists NY mosque move promised
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The pastor of a Florida church is adament that he was promised that officials planning an Islamic center near ground zero in New York would move it if he canceled his plans to burn Qurans on Sept. 11.
Pastor Terry Jones spoke again to reporters … Read more : Florida minister insists Muslims promised to move NY mosque if he agreed not to burn Qurans.

Investor in proposed NYC mosque site turns down Donald Trump’s offer to buy him out

NY mosque investor declines Trump’s buyout offer

NEW YORK – Donald Trump offered Thursday to buy out a major investor in the real estate partnership that controls the site near ground zero where a Muslim group wants to build a 13-story Islamic center and mosque.
The offer, though, fell flat nearly instantly.
“This is just a cheap attempt …. Original article  : Investor in proposed NYC mosque site turns down Donald Trump’s offer to buy him out.

Imam and developer say no deal and no talks for moving NYC mosque site

Imam and developer: No deal for moving NYC mosque

NEW YORK – The imam and developer behind a plan to build an Islamic center near ground zero are denying reports that there is a deal to move the facility.
A Florida pastor who had threatened to burn copies of the Quran in protest of the center announced … Original source on Gaea Times at : Imam and developer say no deal and no talks for moving NYC mosque site.

Florida imam: No deal to move NY mosque at ground zero in exchange for not burning Qurans

Fla. imam: No deal to move NYC mosque
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A Florida imam says no deal has been reached to move the site of a mosque near ground zero in exchange for a Florida minister to call off plans to burn Qurans.
Imam Muhammad Musri tells The Associated Press that what he offered was … Original article on : Florida imam: No deal to move NY mosque at ground zero in exchange for not burning Qurans.

A Christian minister in Fla. cancels plans to burn Qurans on Sept. 11, heeding to outcry

Fla. minister cancels burning of Qurans on 9/11
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The leader of a tiny church on Thursday backed off his threat to burn the Quran, saying he gave up the plan in exchange for a deal to move a planned Islamic center and mosque away from New York’s ground zero. The imam … Read more >>>.