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...

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: 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: 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...

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...

Source: Gulf Times

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 "...

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-...

Author: Mike Houlahan

Source: New Zealand Herald

Source: Fairfax Digital

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Muslim-and-evangelists-trying-mediation/2007/06/01/1180205484534.html

An evangelical Christian church group and a Victorian Muslim body it is accused of racially vilifying will go to mediation over their long-running row.

The Victorian Court of Appeal last December set aside a 2004 finding of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) that...

Author: Uthayla Abdullah

Source: SALDEF

http://www.saldef.org/content.aspx?a=1702&z=8&title=Training%20gives%20look%20into%20other%20cultures

It was a consciousness-raising game of free association.

The question: “What do you think when you see a Muslim?”

Among the answers by a group of mostly police, airport security and corrections officers: “terrorist,...

Author: Anthony B. Robinson

Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/318247_faith02.html

It wasn't all that long ago that what most Americans knew of religions such as Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism came from books, not personal encounter or experience. That's changed. Not only have travel and technology made the world smaller, but America has become a religiously pluralistic nation. Islam is now the fastest- growing...