CP World Report: Palm Sunday, Aung San Suu Kyi, Iran, North Korea
Christian visitors flocked to Jerusalem Sunday to celebrate Palm Sunday, the first day of Holy Week. Pilgrims joined a procession of about 15,000 Christians that began at the Mount of Olives. They waved palm and olive branches as a reminder of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem the Sunday before his crucifixion. And…After visiting Cuba and Mexico, Pope Benedict was back at the Vatican in time or Palm Sunday where he preached a message of unity at St. Peter's Square.
Global icon of democracy and dissident-- Suu Kyi-- has won a seat in Burma's Parliament. Her landslide victory is seen to signal a new era for the country as it moves toward democracy after decades of oppressive military rule. The 1991 Nobel Prize Laureate joins a Parliament controlled by the military-backed ruling party.
Described as an effort to treat all religions equally, the Ontario public school board has decided to reject the handing out of free Gideon bibles to students. It's part of a new policy that will see an end to free distribution of bibles to students in Grade 5. The committee, comprising most of the board's 11 trustees, rejected a proposal that would have allowed any religious organization to hand out literature. The reasons given: that the bible discriminates against gays; because of potential legal challenges and the problem of trying to manage handouts if the practice was opened up to any religion. Gideons International, has been placing its bibles in Canadian public schools since 1936.
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Despite the Iranian government's ongoing crackdown on Christians, the number of Muslims converting to Christianity is growing at an explosive rate in Iran. Open Doors USA reported that there is even talk of witnessing a Christian revival, especially among young people there. The house church movement within Iran is part of that revival and has triggered many secret meetings. There have been ongoing reports of the arrest and detention of Christians by the Iranian authorities. Iran is ranked 5th on the Open Doors 2012 World Watch List of the top 50 worst persecutors of Christians.
With the increasing radicalisation of Turkey—once considered a key U.S. ally in the war on terror—the country has now been placed on the list of the worst religious offenders. A U.S. Commission on has placed Turkey alongside countries like Iran, Iraq and North Korea – once known as the "axis of evil," a phrase coined by former U.S. President George W. Bush in the wake of 9/11. Christians are a distinct minority in Turkey; and they are constantly targeted and discriminated against.
IN HEALTH NEWS…
Some good snacking news……
A new study confirms that popcorn could be healthy for you. Well, there's a downside: no salt and butter. According to researchers at the University of Scranton popcorn is rich in antioxidants that prevent damage to cells, and may have disease-fighting properties..
Next…. raisins and soy. They may help lower blood pressure in young adults. That's
According to two studies presented at the American College of Cardiology's annual meeting in Chicago. A handful of raisins three times a day for several weeks, helped lower blood pressure. The study also found that a cup of soy milk a day lowered blood pressure by about 5 points.
AND THE BEST OF ALL:
CHOCOLATE….A study at the University of California found those who ate chocolate on a regular basis had a lower body mass index . And it wasn't that they ate fewer calories or exercised more than their heavier counterparts. It seems chocolate increases your metabolism that may offset the calories consumed.
AND IN SPORTS:
Canada's Patrick Chan won the second straight gold at the world Figure Skating championships in France. The 21 year old from Toronto is the first in six years to win two Golds back to back. Last year, it was in Moscow.
Jeremy Lin, who brought "Linsanity" into the lexicon when he came off the bench and led the New York Knicks to a string of wins, suffered a knee injury . The team says he will be out about six weeks. The injury could sideline the guard for the rest of the season.
An MRI revealed a small tear to Lin's left knee.
