Iran begins trial of accused ‘CIA spy’, says report
TEHRAN: Iran opened a trial on Tuesday of an American of Iranian descent accused of spying for the US Central Intelligence Agency, the Fars news agency reported. "The first hearing…
Kuwait releases 32 stateless protesters on bail
KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait's public prosecutor released 32 stateless people on bail on Tuesday after holding them for nine days for taking part in a protest to demand citizenship, their lawyer…
Afghanistan sets ground rules for Taliban talks
KABUL: Afghanistan will accept a Taliban liaison office in Qatar to start peace talks but no foreign power can get involved in the process without its consent, the government's peace…
Israeli girl’s plight highlights Jewish extremism
BEIT SHEMESH: A shy 8-year-old schoolgirl has unwittingly found herself on the front line of Israel's latest religious war. Naama Margolese is a pony tailed, bespectacled second-grader who is afraid…
Satire flourishes in Syria as violence intensifies
The violent repression of dissent in Syria has sparked an explosion of satire produced by anonymous artists who are flooding the internet with film, music and art that mock the…
Spielberg seeks ‘old-fashioned’ spectacle in war film
Steven Spielberg's new film "War Horse" is almost deliberately old-fashioned, pitting noble beast against the horrors of war, with sweeping, emotional set pieces — and dividing critics as Hollywood's awards…
Nepal’s ‘singing nun’ shares the sound of music
Wrapped in a maroon robe, her head shaven, Ani Choying Dolma treads gingerly into a Kathmandu hotel, exuding the composure and serenity one might expect from a Buddhist nun. But…
Ugly, gaudy Christmas sweaters all the rage in US
Gaudy Christmas sweaters have become all the rage. Ugly-Christmas-sweater parties are so popular that US thrift stores and specialty retailers are making sure the kitschy clothing is in stock, and…
Court ends virginity tests procedures in military prisons
CAIRO: The Administrative Court Tuesday banned the practice of virginity tests conducted on women inside military prisons, in a landmark case filed by protester Samira Ibrahim who was subjected to…
Rights group resorts to UN, African commissions as investigation into prisoner mass killings drags
CAIRO: The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights called on the United Nations and African commissions to intervene in the cases of the mass killing of prisoners during the January uprising,…