Hindus, Chinese, Dwindling Minorities in Malaysia

Source: The Straits Times KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, November 8, 2001: The number of Malays and other indigenous groups has gone up by 4.5% in the past ten years, a gain of 4 million people, according to the most recent census reports released November 6 by the government. The percentage of Hindus dropped from 7.9% to 7.7%, and the percentage of…

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Turmeric May Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

GO TO SOURCE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, November 21, 2001: Research conducted at the University of California in Los Angeles has led a team of scientists to conclude that curcumin, the main chemical compound constituting tumeric, may be responsible for “slowing down the progression of the neurodegenerative disease” called Alzheimer’s. Apparently curcumin prevents the formation of knots in the brain called…

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Pujaris Protest Change in Retirement Age

Source: The Hindu HYDERABAD, INDIA, November 27, 2001: The Andhra Pradesh State Endowments Minister, Mr D. Sivarama Raju, has said that there is “no point in temple priests still continuing their agitation with the closure of temples on Karthika Purnima day” on November 30 after regular worship, when their demands have already been met by the Government. Referring to the…

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Religious Hatred Bill Moves Ahead in England’s Parliament

GO TO SOURCE LONDON, ENGLAND, November 26, 2001: An attempt to block legislation for a new offense of incitement to religious hatred has been defeated despite the rebellion of several Labour MPs. The bill extends the racially aggravated offenses of assault, public order, criminal damage and harassment to cover attacks aggravated by religious hostility. They extend the provisions concerning incitement…

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Canada Military Chaplains Unhappy With a “Generic God”

GO TO SOURCE CANADA, NOVEMBER 20, 2001: Asking military chaplains to forego their Christian beliefs during public services represents a new low in political correctness, says Canadian alliance member of parliament Art Hanger. “How on earth can a Christian chaplain represent a Muslim cleric?” asked the former defense critic. “Unless they’re going to pray to a generic god, how can…

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Religious Leaders Split on Cloning

GO TO SOURCE MASSACHUSETTS, USA, November 27, 2001: Roman Catholic and conservative Protestant leaders condemned the first reported cloning of a human embryo, while other Christian and Reform Jewish leaders supported using the procedure to cure diseases. Massachusetts scientists announced Sunday that they had cloned a six-cell embryo. It wasn’t clear whether the cloned embryo that Worcester, Massachusetts-based Advanced Cell…

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Desecration of Illegal Temple Sparks Tension in Bombay Outskirts

GO TO SOURCE BOMBAY, INDIA, November 21, 2001: Tension prevailed in the sprawling Borivli National Park on the outskirts of Bombay following the desecration of an illegal temple in the area, police said. The icons of Siva, Parvati, Hanuman, Ganesha and the resting place of a local saint, Khadeshwar baba, were desecrated. Police have taken possession of the icons to…

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Estimating the US Muslim Population

GO TO SOURCE USA, November 21, 2001: With a spotlight cast on American Muslims since September 11, one simple question has defied a clear answer and become the focus of a politically charged dispute: What is the size of the U.S. Muslim population? Four major Muslim organizations released a study in April that estimated the population at 6 million to…

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Wave Of Attacks Shatters Nepal Truce

GO TO SOURCE NEPAL, November 24, 2001: Maoist guerrillas in Nepal have broken a four-month truce by launching attacks on police stations in the west of the country, killing at least 100 people — most of them policemen. The violence comes two days after a senior Maoist leader, Prachanda, said the cease fire could no longer be justified because the…

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Women in Kashmir Valley Toss Their Burqas Aside

Source: Times of India SRINAGAR, INDIA, November 19, 2001: While the women of Afghanistan are celebrating the fall of the Taliban, their sisters in the Kashmir valley have also been liberated from wearing a burqa to cover their faces. Quoting Rifat Hyder, a working woman, ” If Afghan women who were covered from head to foot can now remove their…

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