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Tens of thousands of Muslims attend annual Biswa Ijtema event in Bangladesh

TONGI, Bangladesh (AP) — Tens of thousands of people gathered on a riverbank near Bangladesh’s capital on Friday to listen to sermons by Islamic scholars at the Biswa Ijtema, or global congregation of Muslim devotees. The three-day annual event will end Sunday when hundreds of thousands of Muslims are expected to join final prayers like every year. This is the first phase of Biswa Ijtema, while the second phase will be held Feb. 3-5. The third phase will be held Feb. 14-16. Biswa Ijtema is one of the largest gatherings of Muslim devotees, held on the sandy banks of the Turag ...

What kind of influence do you have on others?

Any serious science student knows about the work of Sir Isaac Newton. Back in 1687, after an encounter with a falling apple, Newton began to study the force of gravity. Newton’s work shaped the study of physics for centuries. As important as Newton’s contribution was, however, humanity might have missed out if it were not for the work of Edmund Halley. Halley encouraged Newton’s study, corrected Newton’s mathematical mistakes, and urged Newton to publish his findings, even financing the printing despite the fact that Newton was independently wealthy and could have easily afforded ...

Louisiana law requiring Ten Commandments to be displayed in classrooms is back in court

(AP) — As Louisiana schools remain stuck in the middle of a legal battle over a new state law requiring every public classroom to display the Ten Commandments, a panel of three judges heard arguments over the controversial mandate on Thursday morning. The law, which has been touted by Republicans including President Donald Trump, went into effect on Jan. 1. However, schools have seemingly been stuck in limbo. At the start of the year, the state issued guidelines for districts to comply with the mandate that requires poster-sized displays of the Ten Commandments in all public K-12 ...

Syrian Christians want their identity and freedoms protected in any new constitution, envoy says

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — As Syria begins recovering from 50 years of autocratic rule by the Assad family, an international envoy says Christians and other religious groups expect their rights and freedoms to be preserved under a new constitutional settlement. Salina Shambos, a senior Cypriot diplomat and the newly appointed special envoy for religious freedom and protection of minorities in the Middle East, said on Friday that religious leaders in Syria expressed a “strong sense of patriotism” and are now “free to hope” that their country will be more inclusive and a respected ...