Author: Staff Writer

Source: Dawn

http://www.dawn.com/2007/06/05/int7.htm

LONDON, June 4: The two-day interfaith conference on ‘Islam and Muslims in the World Today’ began here on Monday with Prime Minister Tony Blair emphatically declaring that the voices of extremism are no more representative of Islam than the use, in times gone by, of torture to force conversion to Christianity, represented the true teachings of Christ.

He said Islam...

Source: Black Britain

Author: Sukree Sukplang

Source: Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSBKK294647._CH_.2400

PATTANI, Thailand, Jun 4 (Reuters) - Thailand's state railway halted all train services in the rebellious Muslim far south on Monday after a derailment, probably caused by insurgents, injured 14 passengers and crew, a senior rail official said.

Suspected Muslim militants hit five tracks, removing nuts and bolts...

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6718235.stm

Tony Blair says he wants more Muslim imams trained in UK universities, to reduce reliance on imams from overseas.

There are concerns that imams from another country may not understand British society or speak good English.

He also pledged a £1m boost for Islamic studies at university after a report criticised the quality of teaching.

He told a London conference politicians must...

Author: UMENDRA SINGH

Source: 24 Hours

http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/News/2007/06/04/4232217-sun.html

A joint meeting of Sikh and Hindu leaders Sunday condemned a local newspaper for publishing an article calling for the destruction of a 16th century Hindu temple in Punjab.

The president of the Vedic Hindu Cultural Society, Amrit Lal Arora, said the article in a Punjabi-language newspaper based in Surrey could incite religious hatred....

Author: Fabio Scarpello

Source: World Politics Review

http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/article.aspx?id=822

DENPASAR, Indonesia -- Often praised as a model pluralistic society, Malaysia is showing signs of increased religious tension, and many wonder whether Kuala Lumpur's reluctance to protect non-Muslims' rights could lead to serious problems.

Non-Muslims make up roughly 40 percent of Malaysia's 26 million people, and among them...

Author: Ed Moorhouse

Source: Burlington County Times

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/112-06042007-1357287.html

BURLINGTON CITY — Burlington Island was once a place where Indian tribes native to Burlington City held meetings and performed religious ceremonies.

Yesterday, the island was used for that purpose for the first time in 200 years, according to Danawa Buchanan, the founder of the New Jersey American Indian...

Source: PR Inside

Wire Service: AP

http://www.pr-inside.com/wounded-in-2-bomb-blasts-r142613.htm

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Two bomb blasts--including one during a soccer match-- wounded 21 people in Thailand's insurgency-plagued south on Sunday, police said.

Two local teams were playing a friendly soccer game on a school field in Yala province when a bomb went off Sunday, injuring 17 players and spectators, three of them...

Author: Adil James

Source: New America Media

http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=526fac6157b30d9729690ee246bced4b

TROY, Mich. -- The Muslim Observer and the American Jewish Committee together hosted seven prominent journalists during their visit to America and the Detroit area from countries scattered across Asia May 21 in Troy.

The event was an opportunity for the journalists...

Source: Gulf Times

Author: Venice Buhain

Source: The Buddhist Channel

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=65,4252,0,0,1,0

Olympia, WA (USA) -- A patchwork of colors, styles and cultures at Saint Martin’s Pavilion on Sunday marked the 2,551st anniversary of the birth of the Buddha.

It was the first time that the South Sound Buddhist temples and meditation groups got together to celebrate the birthday of Siddhartha Gautama, whose teachings...

Author: Matthew Rosenberg

Source: The Washington Post

Wire Service: AP

http://washingtontimes.com/world/20070601-103635-3046r.htm

KILINOCHCHI, Sri Lanka -- Day and night, warplanes roar over this rebel-held town as the steady thump of artillery echoes from afar -- a preview, many fear, of a military showdown in Sri Lanka that could leave thousands dead.

"All we hear is war," says Tavakumar, a 43-year-...

Source: The Advocate

http://www.2theadvocate.com/features/7798366.html

In Second Life, the online virtual universe that is attracting some 3.7 million users, you can light virtual candles for Shabbat, teleport to a Buddhist temple or consult the Oracle for some divine guidance.

Second Life is a three-dimensional, online game produced by San Francisco-based Linden Lab in which participants create a virtual world, buy and sell land and products and interact in all the...

Source: The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/01/AR2007060102283.html?sub=AR

Although Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is a Christian, he "embodies the basic ideals and values of most Hindus," said Prianka S., a Hindu from Chicago.

Obama's "love for Israel" is "evident not just in his work, but also in his heart," said Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.), an Orthodox Jew.

Obama "...