Hussein Madi's new exhibition very much seems to complement downtown Beirut's renewed sense of cheer. "Omaggio alla Donna," the Lebanese artist's acrylic-on-canvas paintings, staunch iron sculptures and more delicate ink-on-paper nudes, offer an inviting but somewhat puzzling humor.

Irish singer Chris de Burgh has realized a lifelong dream by visiting Iran, he said Wednesday, and expressed hope he would be the first Western pop star to perform in the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution. The 59-year-old arrived

A disgraced former Dutch MP and outspoken critic of Islam has published a children's book, about a friendship between a Muslim boy and a Jewish girl, that she says seeks to fight prejudice in both communities. Somali-born Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Iraq's World Cup qualifier with Australia will go ahead this weekend after football's world governing body FIFA on Thursday "provisionally and conditionally" lifted its 12-month ban on Iraq taking part in international competition. Sunday's match in Brisbane had been under

This isn't a case of an unaccomplished "fringe" personality trying to attract attention. Diaz is an accomplished artist. He has been awarded the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation prize and The Adolph and Esther...