Be still our beating hearts! The recent report of the Dubai Crown Prince's engagement to a commoner (a “street girl”, no less!) turns out to be a hoax! The original story, scooped by World News Daily Report, asserted that Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, the handsome heir apparent to the Emirate of Dubai, was getting hitched to a Palestinian former street girl whom he met whilst at a charity event in a Dubai slum. A fairy-tale movie script if we ever heard one! The Prince is uber- active on Twitter ...

This year, the start of Ramadan will likely coincide with the fiercest phase of the 2014 FIFA World Cup . On or near June 28th, a real Hunger Games will begin for Muslim players, whose behavior while at the global tournament -- and with the holy month upon us - is guided by trainers and spiritual advisers. But where do millions of football fans turn for guidance on “fair play” during the competition? If you’re watching the games in the seductive “Home of Samba”, a bearded mascot called Salaminho is ...

No government has the right to tell its citizens when or whom to love. The only queer people are those who don't love anybody. ~Rita Mae Brown, speech, 28 August 1982 Gay rights is globally trending as one of the hottest and most controversial topics du jour. Everywhere you look, members of the LGBTQ community are fighting an uphill battle just to be treated as equals. At best LGBTQ individuals face discrimination, lack basic civil rights and are unable to lawfully wed, at worst they are forced to hide their ...

"You can live to be 100 if you give up all the things that make you want to live to be a 100," said comedian Woody Allen, who’s getting close to triple digits himself (and who has yet to retire from film-making). But if you have millions in your pocket, old age is a lot less scary! Retirement is largely a Western world concept - a time of leisure and self-indulgence - a prize earned after years of hard work. For those lucky enough to stay healthy, it’s a chance ...

Over the next four weeks, 32 nations will battle it out on football fields across Brazil during the FIFA 2014 World Cup football tournament - but only two teams will represent the Middle East. Proud props to Algeria and Iran - (and mabruk for a winning outcome!) - but while MENA nations may not be crowding the roster, these international games are increasingly dependent on contributions from dozens of Muslim players, many of whom are challenged with integrating faith with career. This year, the last weeks of the World Cup ...