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1,000 Ancient Tombs, Unique Remains Found in Colombia

Fri, 09 May 2008 23:15:16 GMT

clipped by: arifsali

Clip Source: news.nationalgeographic.com

Builders clearing land for a housing project in Colombia have uncovered an ancient burial site containing nearly a thousand tombs linked to two little-known civilizations. (See photos.)

The site covers some 12 acres (5 hectares) in the impoverished Usme district in southeast Bogotá (see map) and includes one set of remains that some researchers believe could be a victim of human sacrifice.

Clip Source: news.nationalgeographic.com

The possible victim is a young woman who seems to have been buried alive, said Ana Maria Groot, one of the lead anthropologists from the National University of Colombia working at the site.

"Her mouth is open as if in terror, and her hands seem contracted as if she had tried grabbing hold of something," Groot said.

Another tomb contains the remains of a man with a curved tibia, or shinbone, possible evidence that the man was a shaman, she added.

Tags: colombia, discovery, anthropology

Practising Muslims 'will outnumber Christians by 2035'

Fri, 09 May 2008 22:01:55 GMT

clipped by: arifsali
clipper's remarks: Go ahead, get scared!

Clip Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Practising Muslims will outnumber worshipping Christians in Britain within 30 years, according to research published today.

By 2035, there will be about 1.96 million active Muslims in Britain, compared with 1.63 million church-going Christians, according to calculations by Christian Research, a think- tank.

The figures are published in the latest in a series of reports entitled Religious Trends.

The think-tank has warned that 4,000 churches could close by 2020 if congregations continue to shrink at current rates.

According to the most recent figures from the Church of England, regular Sunday, weekly and monthly attendance each fell by one per cent in 2006.

Fewer than a million people attend church every Sunday.

Although at the last count there were only 1.6million Muslims living in Britain – compared to 41million Christians – experts have suggested Muslims are more likely to practise their faith.

British Muslims perform their traditional prayers

Tags: muslims, britain, christian, religion

India children's health 'ignored'

Fri, 09 May 2008 19:11:38 GMT

clipped by: arifsali
clipper's remarks: More than half??

Well, the more visibility is good, eventually they will reduce the numbers as they progress.

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

More than half of Indian children under the age of five do not get the health care they need, according to a report by Save the Children.

It ranks India alongside Ghana when it comes to providing basic health care to its children under five years of age.

The annual report looks at whether developing countries are delivering health care effectively to children.

It found the Philippines was performing best with almost 69% of children able to get access to health care.

Ethiopia ranks last - only 16% of children under five get health care when they need it.

Indian girls are more likely to die than boys

Tags: india, children, health, healthcare

Malaysian woman can leave Islam

Fri, 09 May 2008 19:04:53 GMT

clipped by: arifsali

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

A religious court in Malaysia has allowed a Muslim convert to leave the Islamic faith, in what is being hailed as a landmark ruling.

Penang's Sharia court ruled that Siti Fatimah Tan Abdullah was free to return to Buddhism, following the collapse of her marriage to a Muslim man.

It was decided she had not had proper counselling during her conversion.

Malaysians are rarely allowed to renounce the faith - those who do can be prosecuted under stringent laws.

Religious rights are a sensitive issue in Malaysia - which is 60% Muslim.

The country has large Hindu, Christian and Buddhist communities - mainly drawn from the ethnic Indian and Chinese minorities.

Tags: islam, malaysia, religion