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Octavia Nasr | BIO
AC360° Contributor
CNN Senior Editor, Mideast Affairs

This is one for the Middle East’s record books; a story that falls under the ‘unbelievable but true’ category.

Last month, a 32-year-old Saudi man appeared on an Arabic satellite channel and discussed – without reservation and in great detail – his sexual likes and dislikes, his favorite sex toys and how he lost his virginity to a neighbor at the age of 14. Mazen Abdul Jawad described how he picked up women in the ultra-conservative Muslim Kingdom, brought them to his bedroom and had sex with them.

But in a region where sex is considered taboo, Jawad’s public admission of his sexual exploits outraged religious conservatives in the Muslim state. He was arrested more than a week ago and now faces charges under the strict Islamic sharia law code.
As soon as the Jawad appeared on A Thick Red Line, a popular social taboos show on the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC), people all over the Middle East were quick to condemn his comments and the station that gave him a platform to commit the “sin” of “bragging about his wrongdoing.” The LBC has refrained from commenting on the situation.

The story, not surprisingly, made headlines around the region. Jawad subsequently denied it, claiming the station had fabricated the story and taken his words out of context. Saudi authorities then arrested Jawad and launched a full-fledged investigation into his real crime and tried to determine how to manage the major image crisis he had created for the kingdom.
While most people were simply shocked by his stories, others used the opportunity to discuss the antiquated societal norms of the Middle East that don’t respect people’s sexual freedoms. Others called for Jawad’s severe punishment. Suggestions ranged from flogging him on live television, to stoning him in a public place, to cutting off his sexual organs and hanging him to teach the masses and send a clear message that this type of behavior would not be tolerated in Saudi Arabia, home of Islam’s holiest shrines.

Although Jawad’s fate has become the topic of the hour in many circles around the region, what really is the basis for the investigation? What crime did he commit? Is it his sexual exploits or the fact that he bragged about them? Judging by commentaries and religious explanations, it seems that the punishable-by-death act was the bragging.

Muslim clerics and scholars quote from the Hadith – a collection of stories and tales that Prophet Mohammed’s Companions told about his time on earth to which clerics usually refer in order to come up with rulings or edicts also known as “Fatwa” – that it is a sin to brag about a wrongdoing or an offense if Allah has already covered for you by not allowing others to find out about it. It’s a complicated story and millions of Arabs — especially in Saudi Arabia – find themselves grappling with its meaning.

The show that aired Jawad’s story is as popular as it is controversial in the Middle East region. It tackles taboos sometimes never discussed in public. In most cases, the show’s guests appear wearing oversized dark shades or wigs and strange clothing to disguise their identities as their lives can be endangered for talking about such taboo subjects. Previous topics on the show have included homosexuality, polygamy, spousal abuse, deviant sexual behaviors, forced marriages and honor killings.
The host is a popular young man who talks to his guests as if he’s known them forever. Think a Middle Eastern version of Oprah Winfrey and Jerry Springer: he has the ability to get guests to reveal shocking things about themselves and admit to their most hideous behaviors. In one instance, a guest admitted he put up his children for sale and tried to justify why he continued to look for the highest bidder even though his kids were begging him to change his mind and promised to go to work or beg in order to help him with expenses.
Jawad did not use a disguise when he discussed his sex life on the show. And in a society in which sex is never discussed, that fact alone could have been the most shocking piece of this bizarre story. Jawad invited the crew to his red-themed strangely decorated bedroom where Mickey Mouse meets stuffed bears in sexually suggestive positions. The cameras gave audiences a glimpse of the room’s nightclub-like chandeliers mixed with seafood-shaped wall sconces, perfume bottles, sex toys, condoms and a book in Arabic that Jawad calls his “reference” entitled ‘101 Questions About Sex.’
On the show, Jawad, wearing a red shirt, explained that put a phone number on the side of his red Mini Cooper. He said that women usually call him to ask if the car is for sale. He went on to boast, “some go out with me that same night, others take longer and in all honesty some don’t work out.” At the end of the report Jawad walked away saying, “Time to check out my luck,” – in reference to whether or not he’d be able to pick up a woman that day.
Right now, the fate of Mazen Abdul Jawad hangs in the balance. Will he get the death penalty for bragging about his sexual life? Will he be held responsible for the acts he allegedly committed?
In Saudi Arabia, terrorists such as captured al Qaeda members — whose intentions are to kill and maim in the name of religion – are given the opportunity to repent and to be set free after undergoing special rehabilitation. With such an extreme “merciful” side, it sounds strange that a man caught bragging about his alleged sexual exploits could be sentenced to death by hanging. source: cnn.co

MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- The former Soviet republic of Georgia and one of its breakaway territories, Russia-backed South Ossetia, accused each other of violating the cease-fire that ended last year's Russian-Georgian war, days before the conflict's anniversary.
EU monitors watch a Russian helicopter flying near the border between Georgia and South Ossetia on July 29.
The European Union, which monitors the boundary in place since the 2008 conflict, said on Tuesday it had not seen any evidence to confirm either side's claims but expressed concern about the allegations.
"The EU urges all sides to refrain from any statement or action that may lead to increased tensions at this particularly sensitive time," the union said in a statement issued Tuesday.
And in Washington, U.S. State Department official Philip Gordon told a Senate committee that the situation over the weekend was "all too much like the events of last summer."
Days of sporadic clashes between both sides led to a Georgian assault on South Ossetia's capital, Tskhinvali, on August 7, 2008. The following day, Russian troops poured into South Ossetia, which declared its independence from Georgia in the early 1990s after a bloody ethnic conflict between Georgians and Ossetians.
An EU-brokered cease-fire ended the conflict five days later, after Russian troops had driven Georgian government forces out of South Ossetia and Abkhazia -- another Russian-backed separatist territory -- and pushed into Georgian government-controlled territory. Russia said Tuesday that its remaining forces in South Ossetia were on high alert.
"It is an alarming situation. There are incessant provocations from the Georgian side ahead of the anniversary of the events of August last year," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said in a written statement. But he added that both sides' claims have been "contradictory and full of mutual accusations."
South Ossetia's government said Tuesday that three Georgian mortar shells struck outside one of their villages late Sunday, but there were no injuries. It said its troops did not return fire after what it said was the third such incident since July 30.for more detail please visit cnn.com. source: cnn.com

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/medical_notes/default.stm

Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso is expected to sign for Primera Liga giants Real Madrid on Wednesday after the two clubs agreed a fee believed to be in the region of $50 million for the Spanish international.
Xabi Alonso is set to become Real Madrid's latest big-money signing after joining from Liverpool.
The end of a summer-long saga over the 27-year-old's future ended on Tuesday when Liverpool issued a short statement effectively bringing to a close his spell on Merseyside.
The statement read: "Liverpool Football Club this evening confirm they have reached agreement for the sale of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid, subject only to a medical. The terms of the deal will remain confidential and undisclosed."
Although Liverpool will not reveal the details of the deal, privately sources are maintaining that manager Rafael Benitez had finally got his way over the transfer fee. Latest transfer gossip and rumors
It is believed that Madrid made another attempt to end the deadlock on Tuesday with an offer of $50m that will rise to $57.5m depending on Alonso's success over the first two years of what is believed to be a five-year contract.
Real Madrid issued a statement of their own, confirming he will have a medical on Wednesday.
Assuming all goes well, Alonso will join his former Liverpool team-mates Alvaro Arbeloa -- who moved last week for $6 million -- and goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek at the Bernabeu. source: cnn.com

Simon Cowell and the other judges on 'American Idol' will not have Paula Abdul to kick around anymore.
Paula Abdul announced late Monday on her official Twitter page that she will not return to 'American Idol.'
Abdul announced late Monday night on her official Twitter page that she will not be returning to the highly popular show.
"With sadness in my heart, I've decided not to return to IDOL. I'll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day 1 become an international phenomenon," the statement said on Abdul's verified Twitter account.
A statement from Fox and the companies that produce the show verified that Abdul was leaving.
"Paula Abdul has been an important part of the 'American Idol' family over the last eight seasons and we are saddened that she has decided not to return to the show," the statement said. "While Paula will not be continuing with us, she's a tremendous talent and we wish her the best."
Fans had been posting comments on social network sites for over a week wondering whetherAbdul was going to return to the show.source: cnn.com

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Pentagon is reviewing its policy concerning the access by military personnel to social networking Web sites such as Facebook and Twitter, a spokesman said Tuesday.
The Pentagon is reviewing whether personnel's use of sites like Twitter and Facebook could pose security risks.
The review follows a Marine Corps ban on accessing such sites on its computers, due to security concerns. The ban announced Monday only applies to Marine Corps networks and computers, allowing Marines to access the sites on their own computers or at Internet cafes.
A policy review for the entire Department of Defense should be complete by the end of September, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.
Whitman said the Defense Department realizes that social networking sites have value, noting the Army recently ordered all U.S. bases to provide access to Facebook.
In addition, commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan have Facebook pages to share information about operations, while the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, has 4,000 followers on twitter. cnn.com

Two missiles, suspected to have been fired by a US drone, have killed one of the wives of a leading Pakistani militant, relatives have told the BBC.
The missiles struck the house of top Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud's father-in-law, locals told the BBC.
They say that several other relatives of Mr Mehsud were injured in the attack in the South Waziristan tribal area.
The region is a haven for Taliban and al-Qaeda militants and has been repeatedly targeted by US drones.
See a map of the region
Pakistan has been publicly critical of such attacks. The government says that they fuel support for the militants.
Most of the strikes have taken place in the tribal regions of North and South Waziristan.
The region is the stronghold of Mr Mehsud, who is Pakistan's top Taliban commander.
'Unharmed'
Four children were also injured in Wednesday morning's attack, local officials told the BBC.
The house is located in the Zangarha area, 15km (9.3 miles) north-east of Ladha town.
bbc.com

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday expressed happiness and relief at the release of two journalists, on whose behalf her husband, former President Bill Clinton, sought amnesty from North Korea.
Former President Clinton meets Tuesday with North Korea leader Kim Jong Il.
1 of 3 "Obviously I am very happy and relieved to have these two young women, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, on the way home to their families," the top U.S. diplomat said on arriving in Nairobi, Kenya, for an economic forum.
"I spoke to my husband on the airplane, and everything went well. We are extremely excited that they will be reunited soon when they touch down in California," the secretary of state said. "It is just a good day to be able to see this happen."
North Korea pardoned Ling, 32, and Lee, 36, after the former U.S. president arrived in Pyongyang.
They were arrested in March while reporting from the border between North Korea and China and sentenced in June to 12 years of hard labor on charges of entering the country illegally to conduct a smear campaign.
In a phone call to their families in July, Ling and Lee said the North Koreans were open to granting amnesty if a high-level envoy, such as former President Clinton, were willing to travel to Pyongyang, a senior administration official said.
That is when the families and Al Gore -- Clinton's vice president and whose California-based media outfit Current TV employs Ling and Lee -- appealed to Clinton. source: cnn.com

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been sworn in for a second term as Iran's president, after weeks of post-election unrest.
In an address after the ceremony, he criticised foreign powers who have cast doubt on the validity of the election, saying Iran would resist them.
Opposition supporters protesting outside parliament were met by hundreds of riot police.
Germany, France, Britain and the US all said they would not be sending letters of congratulation to Mr Ahmadinejad.
At least 30 people died during the street protests which followed the 12 June poll.
Mr Ahmadinejad now has two weeks to form a government that must then be approved by parliament.
'We will resist'
Taking his oath of office, broadcast live on state TV, Mr Ahmadinejad promised to "protect the official faith, the system of the Islamic revolution and the constitution".
He vowed to "refrain from being autocratic and to protect the freedom and dignity of individuals".
We heard that some of the Western leaders had decided to recognise but not congratulate the new government... Well, no-one in Iran is waiting for your messages
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
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Following the swearing-in, he used his first address to defend the official results of the election - which gave him an overwhelming victory - and criticised Western powers' response to the disputed poll. sorce: bbc.com

CHONGQING, China (CNN) -- At the Chongqing Children's Palace, experts are hoping to revolutionize child-rearing with the help of science. About 30 children aged 3 to 12 years old and their parents are participating in a new program that uses DNA testing to identify genetic gifts and predict the future.
For about $880, Chinese parents can sign their kids up for the test and five days of camp.
more photos » When Director Zhao Mingyou first heard about the technology earlier this year, he instantly knew it could be a success in China.
"Nowadays, competition in the world is about who has the most talent," said Zhao. "We can give Chinese children an effective, scientific plan at an early age."
The test is conducted by the Shanghai Biochip Corporation. Scientists claim a simple saliva swab collects as many as 10,000 cells that enable them to isolate eleven different genes. By taking a closer look at the genetic codes, they say they can extract information about a child's IQ, emotional control, focus, memory, athletic ability and more.
"For basketball, we can test for height and other factors," said Dr. Huang Xinhua, a leading scientist on the project. "We also test listening ability so that can tell us if (the child) might be talented at music." Would you be happy to test your child? Have your say
DNA testing has been used more widely to determine susceptibility to genetic disease. The test can identify mutations in the genetic code that lead to certain disorders, allow patients to assess risk levels and decide whether they want preventative treatment. For example, the test can identify cancer genes that may make a woman more likely to develop breast or ovarian cancer. Some women have decided to have a mastectomy based on DNA test results and family history.
But according to Chinese scientists, this is the first time the test is being offered to children in China to help discover their natural talents.source: cnn.com