POLITICS-MIDEAST: Increasing Scrutiny Chains Islamic Charities

Muslim charity organisations are coming across increasing scrutiny into their work, but say that global efforts to plug loopholes in the system to prevent funds from reaching terrorists must not undercut the tradition of helping needy Muslims around the world.

POLITICS-U.S.: U.S. Discovers Its Le Pen

Even as the United States intensified its preparations for a possible invasion of Iraq as early as next month, official Washington this week became consumed by controversy over racism.

MEXICO: Runners Carry Torch to US for Patron Saint and Immigrants

Runners with the ''Guadalupe torch'' relay reached New York city Thursday, 45 days after the first group set out from the Mexican capital to call attention to the plight of four million undocumented Mexican immigrants living in the United States.

POLITICS: For Tibetans, Compassion is Antidote to Terrorism

With war clouds gathering over Iraq and his chosen country of refuge, India, in the throes of religious strife, Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has stressed the value of compassion as the only viable antidote to terrorism in a 'Tibetan Festival of Compassion' that opened here Thursday.

POLITICS: For Tibetans, Compassion is Antidote to Terrorism

With war clouds gathering over Iraq and his chosen country of refuge, India, in the throes of religious strife, Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has stressed the value of compassion as the only viable antidote to terrorism in a 'Tibetan Festival of Compassion' that opened here Thursday.

MEXICO: Runners Carry Torch to US for Patron Saint and Immigrants

Runners with the "Guadalupe torch" relay reached New York city Thursday, 45 days after the first group set out from the Mexican capital to call attention to the plight of four million undocumented Mexican immigrants living in the United States.

ENVIRONMENT-GUYANA: Natives say Forest Conservation Deal Premature

An Amerindian group here is upset that the government has signed a deal with a U.S. conservation group without first dealing with some of their issues.

POLITICS-INDIA: Film Stars, Holy Men Roped into Poll Campaign

Movie stars, soothsayers and cricket-hero lookalikes have been roped in by rival political parties to campaign in crucial assembly elections in India's communally-charged Gujarat state, which goes to the polls on Thursday.

POLITICS-INDIA: Muslims to Vote against Extremist Hindu Party

Muslims in India's western Gujarat state, still fearful after the pogrom unleashed on them earlier this year, are determined to vote Thursday against the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which also leads the coalition leading the central government.

POLITICS-INDIA: Muslims to Vote against Extremist Hindu Party

Muslims in India's western Gujarat state, still fearful after the pogrom unleashed on them earlier this year, are determined to vote Thursday against the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which also leads the coalition leading the central government.

POLITICS-INDIA: Film Stars, Holy Men Roped into Poll Campaign

Movie stars, soothsayers and cricket-hero lookalikes have been roped in by rival political parties to campaign in crucial assembly elections in India's communally-charged Gujarat state, which goes to the polls on Thursday.

POLITICS-INDIA: Gujarat Poll Litmus Test for Country’s Future

When the 33 million voters of Gujarat state go to the polling booths on Thursday, they will to a large extent determine what happens to India's one billion people, and whether or not the country can survive as a plural, inclusive, multi-cultural, and multi-religious democracy.

/ARTS WEEKLY/FILM: Born Into Fear, U.S. Citizens Arm Themselves to Death

On the same day in April 1999 that the United States conducted its most intense bombing of Kosovo, two teenagers shot to death 13 others and then killed themselves at Columbine High School in the western state of Colorado. But first they went bowling.

/ARTS WEEKLY/CULTURE-COLOMBIA: Annual Showcase for Crafts-cum-Art

Colombia's urban dwellers, peasant farmers and indigenous communities are taking advantage of the Expoartesanías crafts fair this month to exhibit their best hand-made decorative and practical objects, expressions of their unique cultures.

/ARTS WEEKLY/FILM: Born Into Fear, U.S. Citizens Arm Themselves to Death

On the same day in April 1999 that the United States conducted its most intense bombing of Kosovo, two teenagers shot to death 13 others and then killed themselves at Columbine High School in the western state of Colorado. But first they went bowling.

/ARTS WEEKLY/CULTURE-COLOMBIA: Annual Showcase for Crafts-cum-Art

Colombia's urban dwellers, peasant farmers and indigenous communities are taking advantage of the Expoartesanías crafts fair this month to exhibit their best hand-made decorative and practical objects, expressions of their unique cultures.

/ARTS WEEKLY/THEATRE-CHILE: The Reunion of a Lost Lieutenant Bello

The innovative theatre troupe Lieutenant Bello, which erupted on the scene in the 1980s when Chile was beginning to rebel against the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship (1973-1990), is preparing the debut -- after 16 years away from the footlights -- of "La pieza que falta" (The Missing Piece).

/ARTS WEEKLY/FILM-ASIA: Animation Houses Turn to Cross-Cultural Content

"With more than 5,000 years worth of conflicts, conquests and cultural developments, Asia's cultural heritage is a treasure trove of plots and stories waiting to be discovered and brought to life," said David Lim, Singapore Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts.

/ARTS WEEKLY/FILM-ASIA: Animation Houses Turn to Cross-Cultural Content

"With more than 5,000 years worth of conflicts, conquests and cultural developments, Asia's cultural heritage is a treasure trove of plots and stories waiting to be discovered and brought to life," said David Lim, Singapore Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts.

/ARTS WEEKLY/FILM: Born Into Fear, U.S. Citizens Arm Themselves to Death

On the same day in April 1999 that the United States conducted its most intense bombing of Kosovo, two teenagers shot to death 13 others and then killed themselves at Columbine High School in the western state of Colorado. But first they went bowling.

/ARTS WEEKLY/CULTURE-COLOMBIA: Annual Showcase for Crafts-cum-Art

Colombia's urban dwellers, peasant farmers and indigenous communities are taking advantage of the Expoartesanías crafts fair this month to exhibit their best hand-made decorative and practical objects, expressions of their unique cultures.