Art and movie

INSPECTOR Rebus, one of the world's most popular fictional detectives, has been unceremoniously booted out of the police, according to his creator, writer Ian Rankin.

ORGANISERS of a Chinese cultural event have accused the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh of "unprofessionalism" after canceling a show for technical reasons with only two hours' notice.

IT WAS intended as a quirky literary detail in the eccentric life of Mma Precious Ramotswe, Botswana's only female detective, who sips it morning, noon and night.

THEY have grown immune to the aroma of freshly made coffee and the uplifting sight of well-arranged flowers.

DIET Coke, one of the world's most popular soft drinks, has harnessed the hip style of a Scottish indie band to put a sparkle back into its brand.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 28 (IPS) - An open letter demanding "an immediate halt to the deforestation of the Amazon jungle" has been released by Brazilian television stars taking part in the Globo Network series " Amaz- nia, de Galvez a Chico Mendes" (Amazonia, from Galvez to Chico Mendes).

MEXICO CITY, Feb 26 (IPS) - The 79th Oscar awards ceremony left Mexico with a bittersweet taste. Films by Mexican directors were nominated for Academy Awards in 16 categories, but only earned four -- for art direction, cinematography, make-up and musical score. Nevertheless, Mexicans made their mark.

HAVANA, Feb 23 (IPS) - The expansion of a debate among a group of intellectuals in Cuba that began as an e-mail discussion at the beginning of the year would seem to demonstrate the need to bury once and for all the cultural restrictions of the past and open up spaces for dialogue, debate and diversity.

MEXICO CITY, Feb 22 (IPS) - Millions will be glued to their television sets in Mexico this Sunday to watch the 79th Academy Awards ceremony in the United States, where Mexican artists and filmmakers have been nominated in 16 categories.

BUENOS AIRES, Feb 21 (IPS) - With the aim of strengthening linguistic diversity in Argentina, the University of Buenos Aires language school has launched a successful programme providing instruction in the country’s most widely-spoken indigenous languages.