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 ...

Algeria’s ‘ Desert Foxes ’ - who represent the Middle East’s main hope this year- are up against the likes of Belgium, Russia, and South Korea from their World Cup group this summer of 2014. The odds will be stacked against them in overcoming their historically successful rivals, Korea, whilst the Europeans will surely present a serious challenge- but what if, just what if, they did pull through for an exciting underdog victory? It would be a tall order for Coach Vahid Halilodzic , leading this relatively seasoned albeit youthful ...

General Al Sisi may have won Egypt's presidential elections with 96% of the vote (unofficial statistics) this week, but his victory means a win for his entire family as well. Packing their bags ready for the big move to the presidential palace are Sisi's wife and kids, who will now become as talked about by the world as their father's arguably dubious policies. Meanwhile, the First Lady will be placed in a category of her very own, as she becomes the new center of attention in the eyes of housewives ...