News

afp.google.com WASHINGTON, D.C., December 7, 2007: A US Congress-appointed commission expressed concern Thursday at the destruction of Hindu temples and other alleged discrimination faced by religious minorities in predominantly-Muslim Malaysia. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom urged the administration of President George W. Bush to raise the matter with Kuala Lumpur and “insist that immediate measures be taken…

timesofindia.indiatimes.com NEW DELHI, INDIA, December 7, 2007: People who abandon parents or neglect their basic needs or otherwise maltreat them in their twilight years will have to face three months of imprisonment and a penalty of up to US$131. The provision is now enshrined in the new legislation passed by Parliament into law on Thursday. The law — Maintenance and…

in.news.yahoo.com LONDON, ENGLAND, December 7, 2007: The British Home Office will introduce a English language test for those either planning to marry a resident of Britain or already married and intending to join the spouse in the country. A legislation to implement this will be initiated in early 2008. India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, from where over 17,000 spouses entered Britain…

video.google.com USA, December 7, 2007: The History channel aired a documentary on Transcendental Meditation and its founder, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on November 28, 2007. This well-made and comprehensive piece follows the movement from its inception in the 1960s through to today. It is available now on the web at the URL above.

www.dhs.gov WASHINGTON, D.C., December 6, 2007: An examination of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service reports reveals that, after Mexicans, Indians are the largest group of legal immigrants to the US in three out of the last four years. Here are the statistics by year, country and number of legal immigrants gaining permanent resident status drawn from their yearly…

sify.com THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA, December 6, 2007: Security was tightened today across Kerala,especially around major temples like Sabarimala and Sri Krishna temple at Guruvayur, because of the 15th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition. The vigil around railway stations, airports and bus depots in major towns received additional backup, police sources said. Special commandos, armed police personnel and bomb squads are…

www.ddinews.gov.in MAJULI ISLAND, ASSAM, INDIA, December 6, 2007: Undeterred by last year’s failure, India trying again to get UNESCO to name the picturesque Majuli island in Assam a World Heritage Site. The island is an important seat of Vaishnava culture. The Culture Ministry is tying all the loose ends to avoid the repetition of the petition’s rejection in 2006. The…

www.thetimes.co.za NUSA DUA, INDONESIA, December 5, 2007: Hindu priests on the island of Bali, where the world’s nations are gathered to come up with an answer for global warming, think they have one solution — a day of silence. The proposal harks back to a traditional Balinese festival when everything is switched off and shut down for 24 hours, to…

www.unitedsikhs.org QUEENS, NEW YORK, December 4, 2007: Last week, a meeting convened by the New York City Assemblyman for the Sikh community has decided to provide prayer facilities for Sikhs at the John F Kennedy Airport in New York. Airport officials agreed that there was a need for a prayer room for Sikh travelers. The participation of Sikhs at the…

www.yoga-in-daily-life.org PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC, December 4, 2007: The 5th International Youth Conference, organized by the International Youth Union of Yoga in Daily Life, has held in Prague this year. The creator of the event, H. H. Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Swami Maheshwaranandaji, author of “Yoga in Daily Life”, and a group of 40 delegates were received in the City hall on November…