BALKANS: Art Breaks Some Ice

An exhibition presented by Serbia in Croatian capital Zagreb is doing its bit to thaw icy relations between Serbs and Croats, who fought one another in the bloody war of disintegration of former Yugoslavia.

COLOMBIA: Black Communities Organise in Country’s Poorest Region

During the "high season" of popular festivals in Colombia’s Chocó region, "pregnant girls as young as 13 start flowing in," says a nursing assistant in the obstetrics department at the hospital of the provincial capital, Quibdó.

AUSTRALIA: National Rights Charter May Follow Victoria’s Lead

On Jan. 1, Victoria became the first Australian state to implement a human rights charter. But while the charter has been heralded as a boon for individuals’ rights, a government-appointed human rights ‘champion’ argues that its focus is too narrow.

POLITICS: Alliance Hopes to Dispel “Culture of Fear”

Preparations for an upcoming international gathering to promote worldwide respect for cultural and religious diversity are now in full swing.

RELIGION-MALAYSIA: Holy Row Over Who May Use Some Arabic Words

In a move that may hurt Malaysia’s multi-religious social fabric the government has announced that certain Arabic words like ‘Allah’ cannot be used in the literature, gospel and speeches of non-Muslims faiths.

RELIGION-BURMA: Falling Back on Buddhism

Burma’s military leaders lived up to their reputation as repressive rulers on the day this country celebrated 60 years of independence from British rule. This erstwhile capital's main road was closed for two hours on the morning of Jan. 4.

PAKISTAN: Bhutto&#39s Murder Rekindles Ethnic Suspicions

The assassination of Benazir Bhutto, leader of the powerful Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and twice prime minister, has pushed to the brink a country already known for regionalism and ethnic suspicion.

RIGHTS-US: Styling Hair, and Watching for that Telltale Bruise

When Maria, who asked that her full name not be used, began working as a New York City-area hair stylist almost 26 years ago, she had a client named "Betty" who would often show up to her appointments with serious-looking injuries.

RIGHTS-AUSTRALIA: Controls Over Ex-Taliban David Hicks ‘Excessive’

As David Hicks, former ‘Australian Taliban’ and Guantánamo Bay inmate after his capture in Afghanistan in 2001, savours his freedom restrictions imposed on him continue to be excessive say lawyers and human rights activists.

SPAIN: Sparks Fly Between Church and Government

The Spanish Catholic Church "has strayed from the fundamentals of democracy," said the governing socialist party (PSOE) Wednesday, in response to harsh criticism from the Church leadership.

CHALLENGES 2007-2008: Terror Prosecutions Shed More Heat Than Light

The U.S. government's spotty record in obtaining convictions of people charged with providing "material support" to terrorist organisations is adding new impetus to the efforts of prominent constitutional lawyers to seek substantial changes in the law.

RIGHTS-AUSTRALIA: Indian Doctor’s Case Challenges Migration Laws

The decision by Australia's federal court to uphold an earlier ruling reinstating the work visa of terror suspect Mohammed Haneef appears to have signalled the end of the Indian doctor’s involvement and possible changes to the country's immigration laws.

POLITICS-SOUTH AFRICA: A Trying Passage for Women in the Ruling Party

The past weeks have been tumultuous for women in South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC).

CHALLENGES 2007-2008: Support Pledged for Women in S. Leone&#39s Local Elections

Sierra Leoneans will doubtless celebrate the past year as one in which their country distanced itself still further from a war-torn past, by holding general elections in August that were broadly viewed as free and fair.

CHALLENGES 2007-2008: Civil Society Ready for Regime Change

As the year draws to a close no solution is visible for Malaysia’s worsening ethnic and religious divide, either from the political establishment led by an indecisive Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi nor a judiciary tainted by charges corruptions.

EDUCATION-US: Seminole School Thriving In Florida

Elementary school children in U.S. public schools are preparing for their winter holiday vacations, but at a charter school here on the Seminole Indian Tribe of Florida’s Brighton Reservation, the children are enjoying their education so much that some of them want to keep on attending classes throughout the holidays.

ARTS-CHILE: Shedding Light on the Torturers

"Where Are They?" is the title of an installation by Chilean artist Iván Navarro, prompting visitors to pick out, from a gigantic word search puzzle, the names of 332 agents who tortured and murdered opponents of the 1973-1990 dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet.

POLITICS-KENYA: For Women, Elections May Be the Milestone That Wasn&#39t

General elections are underway in Kenya, marking the end of a titanic struggle between incumbent President Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga, heading the Party of National Unity and the Orange Democratic Movement, respectively.

CUBA: Elizabeth and Monica’s Wedding

The veils, gloves, roses and dresses are white. Monica and Elizabeth hold hands and exchange rings on this afternoon in Cuba overflowing with symbolism, tears, laughter and hugs from people who have supported them over the last two years.

POLITICS-KENYA: NGOs Bolster Women Candidates&#39 Media and Voter Savvy

A number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have come to the assistance of female candidates ahead of Kenya's general elections, scheduled for Thursday, in the hope of giving them a fair shot at the polls - this in a country where lack of funds, resistance to women in leadership positions and various other factors tend to undermine women's electoral performance.

Q&A: "For Me, Money Has Been the Real Issue"

As IPS reported earlier this year, the financial cost of campaigning has weighed heavily on certain women candidates in Kenya's general elections, set to take place Dec. 27. With just hours remaining before the polls, we caught up with one of these candidates - Pamela Mburia - to find out how she'd managed to press ahead with her bid for office in the face of such difficulties.