INDIA. Canine marriage goes to the dogs. A Hindu wedding ceremony of 18 dogs has been called off in India after hardline religious groups and animal rights activists said it was a mockery of the religion and cruel to the canines, a newspaper reported yesterday. The marriage of nine dogs to nine bitches to promote canine culture was expected to take place yesterday in the northwestern town of Jaipur, the Times of India reported. But the wedding which, according to Hindu rituals involves sitting in front of a sacred fire and exchanging flower garlands, was cancelled after groups including People for Animals (PFA) criticised the event. The marriage would also have included a procession and a huge feast with a special dance party. Event management company B Positive and the Pink City Canine Club were organising the spectacle. ?In my opinion, marriage of dogs is cruelty on animals,? the newspaper quoted the PFA?s chairman Naresh Kadyan as saying. ?People hold the front legs of the dogs against their will and force them to dance, which is cruel. The lights, noise, sound used in these kinds of events also hurt them.? The organisers said they were sorry for hurting people?s sentiments but added they still planned to go ahead with the other events, including a beauty pageant for ?unmarried dogs?.

MOROCCO. Desert concert raises cash for water. Jean Michel Jarre gets ready to perform among sanddunes for UNESCO. Morocco?s famous Erg Chabbi sanddunes provided the backdrop to sound checks and dress rehearsals as French musician Jean Michel Jarre prepares to host a concert at the site. The temporary stage is nestled in the village of Merzouga near the Algerian border. ?Water for Life? is the theme United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organisation (UNESCO) Goodwill Ambassador Jarre chose for the exceptional concert.

USA. Miss in danger of losing crown due to behavior. Miss USA 2006 is in danger of losing her crown due to bad behavior, organizers of the annual beauty pageant said on Thursday. Property magnate and TV ?reality? series star Donald Trump, who owns the Miss USA and Miss Universe contests, will decide next week whether or not Tara Conner would keep the title, they said. ?The Miss Universe Organization and Mr. Donald J. Trump will be evaluating her behavioral and personal issues to see what we can do to work with her, and what we will do about her reign going forward,? Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization, said in a statement. ?Mr Trump will make a determination and announcement within the coming week.? A spokeswoman for the contest declined to give any details on Conner?s misbehavior or comment on online reports about incidents of inappropriate conduct at New York bars. ?Miss USA is a role model. There are moral rules that we go over with them,? she said, but declined to outline the rules under which the winners accept the title. Conner won the Miss USA contest in April this year.