The Malaysian government has evoked its Printing Presses and Publications act to ban a book  on the grounds that it could undermine people's faith and understanding of Islam.

The book is entitled Muslim Women and the Challenge of Islamic Extremism. Its publishers, Sisters in Islam, as well as Malaysia's Centre for Independent Journalism and Benar for Free and Independent Media have condemned the government's actions, saying that the book should have been allowed to be debated in the public forum.

Interfaith dialogue is nothing new, but new technology is changing the way it's done.

Before, the average Muslim Pakistani might never have crossed paths with a Jewish Israeli; a Nepali Buddhist might never dialogue with a Christian American. On the World Wide Web, however, social interactions that before were limited are now commonplace. It's like internet dating for the world religions.

A series of bomb blasts have claimed lives and disturbed the peace in India.

Sixteen small bombs killed at least 49 people in Ahmedabad, capital of the Indian state Gujarat, on July 26, between 6.45 pm and 8.15 pm. Eleven of the bombs went off in two hospitals.  The blasts occurred a day after eight similar blasts struck in Bangalore, Karnatka, killing a woman and wounding seven people.

The Ahmedabad explosions were the highest number of bombings to occur in any single terror strike in India. The highest known number of synchronized blasts in a single attack is about 500, which took place in Bangladesh three years ago.

One hundred people were wounded as the explosions targeted railway stations, a theatre, a bus and markets. One of the worst attacks occurred at the trauma centre of Civil Hospital in the heart of the city at 8.15 pm, just as the injured were arriving from the other bomb sites. Ten people including a resident doctor and his wife were killed.

UPDATE: The Supreme Court in the Philippines has halted the final signing of a peace agreement between the Philippine government and MILF as opponents to the agreement challenge its constitutional legitimacy.

Radio Australia's Connect Asia program reports that the situation between the two groups deteriorated rapidly after the halt was announced, and MILF troops have occupied the territory specified in the proposed Ancestral Domain agreement.

 Yet Executive Secretary to the president, Eduardo Ermita, has told Connect Asia that the peace process has not been completely destroyed. "The government as well as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front continue to give out statements that they're sticking by the peace process," he said.

Before the peace processes was paused, talks in Kuala Lumpur between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) had made several tentative steps towards a permanent mutual understanding.