Obama picks Indian American as special envoy to world Muslim group

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has appointed Rashad Hussein, an Indian-American Muslim as a special envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the 57-nation organization that calls itself the “collective voice of the Muslim world.”

Indonesia’s devoutly Muslim province of Aceh holds first transvestite contest

Indonesia’s Aceh holds first transvestite contest

Letter to Iran’s leader: son of opposition figure harshly beaten inside mosque

Letter: Iran opposition figure’s son beaten

Hindu, Muslims to celebrate Prophet’s birth anniversary

MUMBAI - People from all communities gathered here Sunday afternoon to resolve to jointly celebrate Prophet Mohammed’s birth anniversary and pray for the victims of Saturday night’s Pune terror attack.

Dalai Lama expresses concern over plight of Tibet’s people

DHARAMSALA - The spiritual head of the Tibetan community, the Dalai Lama, Sunday once again expressed concern over the plight of people living in Tibet and asked them to put in more efforts in studying Buddhism.

Report: Iran detains 5 more members of Baha’i minority

Iran detains 5 more Baha’i

TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian authorities detained five more members of the Baha’i minority, a hardline newspaper reported on Sunday.

Obama-Dalai meet advocates Tibetans’ cause: Rights group

DHARAMSALA - The scheduled meeting between Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and US President Barack Obama advocates the cause of Tibetans, says a US-based rights group that hopes the two have “constructive talks”.

SGPC not averse to printing Guru Granth Sahib abroad

AMRITSAR - In what could come as a major relief for Sikhs across the world, especially non-resident Indians (NRIs), the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has said it is not averse to printing of the Sikh holy scripture Guru Granth Sahib in other countries provided certain conditions were fulfilled.