THE future of democracy in Syria
is the subject of many concerns:
people are worried about the
treatment of minorities and
women, possible acts of revenge,
and the likelihood of transitional justice.
Some ask about universal human
rights ...
AT a fundraiser for the president
at his Westport, Conn,
estate Monday night,
Harvey Weinstein spoke in
a softly lit room shimmering
with pink dahlias, gold Oscars,
silvery celebrities and black
American Express cards.
"You can make the case,"
Weinstein said of Barack Obama,
"that he's ...
ALEPPO SYRIAN troops and rebels fought fierce battles on Friday in the city of Aleppo, where several people died when a shell crashed into a bakery as hundreds queued for bread, AFP correspondents said. ...
THREE years into the eurozone debt crisis, the gravity-defying German economy has stalled and some fear it could fall into recession in the second half of this year...
ALLYSON Felix won her second Olympic gold medal at the London Games and added a world record for good measure as she powered the US sprint relay team past its Jamaican rivals in the 4x100 meters...
MANY moviegoers had never heard of Melissa Leo when she was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Actress for her performance in the little-seen Frozen River (2008)...
DOHA THE Aspire Zone Foundation Ramadan Sports Festival (RSF) concluded with the men's basketball tournament and an award ceremony honoring the participating athletes and winners. The highly competitive matches saw intense battle for the trophy, which was eventually won by Team Heat. The team beat The Homeboys 24-22, while Team Aspetar and Team Sustainable Energy secured the third and consolation spots respectively. Ziyad Omar, the shooting guard from Team Heat was thrilled to have taken home the trophy. "We wanted so badly to win. We had lost to The Homeboys in Doha Jam, so we were determined to win this time.....
DOHA WITH the beginning of harvest season, a large variety of fresh and crispy dates have started flooding the city markets. These half-ripe crunchy and juicy dates are relished by Arabs and expatriates alike. Omani market in Doha is one such centre for the arrival of freshly harvested dates from different parts of the Arab world. This season, a homegrown variety known as Khalas is in huge demand from the locals. Priced at around QR4, it is yellow in colour and is more fleshy than its imported cousins. Some of the other dates available in the Omani market are Khaneezi, Sheeshi, Berhi, Lulu, Nabat Saif, Dajlah Nour, Razeez and Hilali...
DOHA THE Wyndham Grand Regency Doha is currently offering iftar, Ghabqa and suhour meals for groups at two different venues at the centrally- located five-star hotel. Guests are being offered an authentic Arabian experience during the holy month of Ramadan at the Wyndham, which was named Qatar's 'Leading Meetings & Conference Hotel' at this year's World Travel Awards in May. Diners at the Wyndham will enjoy time-honoured dishes, as they feast surrounded by elaborate decorations and staff dressed in traditional costumes. Sumptuous buffets for iftar...
US IMPORT prices unexpectedly fell in July for the fourth straight month as costs declined for imported oil, industrial supplies and even many consumer goods, further icing inflation pressures. Overall import prices dropped 0.6 percent last month, the Labour Department said on Friday. Import prices have only risen once in the last eight months. Analysts had expected import prices would rise 0.1 percent in July, and the decline could give the US Federal Reserve more scope to ease monetary policy if policymakers think the economy needs it. ...
TOKYO/BEIJING ASIA'S major crude buyers are finding ways around tough U.S. and EU sanctions to maintain imports from Iran, suggesting that, for now, the worst may be over for the OPEC producer that is losing more than $100 million a day in oil export revenues. China, India, Japan and South Korea buy most of the one million barrels per day of crude Iran is able to export despite financial, shipping and insurance sanctions aimed at curbing funds for its controversial nuclear programme. After a lull in imports in the middle of the year caused by Asian refineries reducing purchases as sanctions kicked in...
ATHENS GREECE managed to shrink its deficit in the first seven months of 2012 and squeeze it below targets as it scrambles to finalize 11.5 billion euros ($14.13 billion) of additional savings to secure continued bailout funding from the euro zone and the IMF. Finance ministry data on Friday showed the central government deficit came to 13.2 billion euros, down from 15.98 billion in the same period a year ago and below a target of 14.83 billion euros. The data released on Tuesday refers to the central government budget gap, which excludes local authorities and social security spending and does not coincide with the general government budget deficit...
SOUTH Korea's men beat fierce Asian rivals Japan 2-0 in the play-off for bronze on Friday to claim the country's first ever Olympic football medal. Japan was bidding to emulate the Japanese team of 1968, who won bronze at the Mexico Games, but despite enjoying more possession, the Asian champions were twice unpicked by their opponents' clinical counter-attacks. Arsenal striker Park Chu- Young and captain Koo Ja- Cheol scored either side of half-time, as the Taeguk Warriors claimed a measure of revenge for the senior side's penalty shoot-out loss to Japan at last year's Asian Cup. ...
LONDON KENYAN athletics officials confirmed on Friday that distance runner Mathew Kisorio had tested positive to a banned substance in June but rejected his claim that doping was widespread in the country. A day after Kenyans celebrated David Rudisha's stunning world record victory in the Olympic 800 meters, they were brought back to earth as Kisorio's confession and accusations cast a shadow over one of the sport's powerhouses. Kisorio, a former African junior champion in the 5,000 and 10,000m who had hoped to make the Olympic team, returned a positive test for an anabolic steroid after the Kenyan championships in June where he raced in the 10,000...
KEVIN Durant scored 19 points and LeBron James added 18 to lead the United States team of NBA stars over Argentina 109-83 on Friday and into the Olympic men's basketball gold medal final against Spain. The Americans booked a rematch of the 2008 Olympic final and reached the gold medal game for the 15th time in 17 attempts, having missed out in 1988 and 2004 and skipped the 1980 Moscow Olympics in a boycott. The US men, who also had 18 points from Carmelo Anthony, seek their 14th gold medal against a Spanish side filled with NBA standouts...
ACTRESS Jennifer Garner's actor-husband Ben Affleck plans to increase their brood, but the mother of three does not want any more kids. "The fact that Ben wants another baby is true. But I can tell you that would be a pretty uphill battle with me. I am not anticipating having any more kids," femalefirst.co.uk quoted Garner as saying. She gave birth to their third child, son Samuel, in February.
ACTOR Mathew Perry says he often gets confused between his off-screen self and his former on-screen character Chandler Bing in famous sitcom Friends. The 42-year-old played Chandler in the show for a decade. His character was known for his sarcasm, and Perry believes the character is very much part of his own life. "Yes, he is (a part of my life) but a lot of that is me too, so you have to try to figure out which is which," accesshollywood.com quoted Perry as saying...
POPULAR Punjabi singer Mika says he is set to feature in a film titled Balwinder Singh Famous Ho Gaye, which will also star singer Shaan. "My friend Sunil Agnihotri (director) is making a film in which he had cast Shaan. Later, (production banner) Tseries said ´If you club Shaan and Mika, it would be great.´ So we are doing a movie," Mika said. "I am happy that someone thought that I can work in their film. The name of the film is very funny," he added...
HEFEI FOUR Chinese policemen admitted on Friday to attempting to protect the wife of powerful politician Bo Xilai from suspicion of the murder of a British businessman....
