Free Republic

Hollywood, CA (BANG) - Sharon Stone has been dropped from Christian Dior's Chinese adverts. The 'Basic Instinct' star - who suggested the devastating natural disaster in the Sichuan province on May 12 was "karma" for their government's treatment of Tibet - will no longer appear in the French fashion house's campaign in the Far East country even though she has now apologized. Stone said in a statement released by Dior: "Due to my inappropriate words and acts during the interview, I feel deeply sorry and sad about hurting the Chinese people.""I am willing to take part in the relief work...

A Tibetan nun in her mid twenties was shot dead by Chinese border patrols and at least one other Tibetan may have been killed while on their way into exile in Nepal on the Nangpa pass five days ago, according to eyewitness reports. Tibetans traveling with the nun were unable to bring her body, with evident wounds from several rounds of bullets, with them because they feared arrest before entering Nepalese territory. There are reports that up to seven more Tibetans may have been killed after the group was fired upon by Chinese armed personnel, but these could not be...

BEIJING – Ming Zhaung is never without a place to sleep, food to eat, or ink for his brush. The Zen master of the Bailin Temple in Hebei Province is constantly cared for by his devotees - now more than 1,000 students, most of whom started attending his lectures last summer. "I am always traveling to spread the Dharma," says Mr. Ming, who makes a circuit of homes and meeting places throughout China. "Everything is provided by my students." As China becomes more wealthy and worldly, it's also experiencing a growing interest in spirituality. Chinese are emerging with "more time...