The Kite Runner has run into trouble. The film version of a best-selling
book that has put Afghanistan on the literary map will not be screened in
Kabul after controversy erupted over a pivotal rape scene.
Khaled Hosseini’s novel hinges on a life-changing boyhood incident. Amir,
the narrator and a privileged member of the Pashtun tribe, [...]

Reading a book in a pub might seem an inoffensive activity but when drinkers
saw the title of a book being read by Michael Chalk, they complained to
bouncers and he was ejected.
Mr Chalk was reading The Unknown Terrorist, the latest novel by the
Australian author, Richard Flanagan. [...]

A mystery over car-parking places was today adding to the questions
surrounding the Causeway visitor centre controversy.
Environment Minister Arlene Foster last week signalled her intention to
grant planning approval for a commercially-developed centre at Northern
Ireland’s top tourist attraction.The Minister’s press release said
the blueprint tabled by developer Seymour Sweeney involved a total of 200
car-parking places.But [...]

The bleak tale of a sprawling Irish family grieving the suicide of one of
their clan was a rank outsider to scoop the most prestigious literary prize
in the calendar.
But last night, Anne Enright’s fourth novel, The Gathering, was named the
surprise winner of the %26#163;50,000 Man Booker Prize.
After two and a half hours of [...]

Irish rugby ace Simon Best has revealed how he suffered a panic attack when
he thought he would never be able to speak again.
The 29-year-old Co Armagh man - who was rushed to hospital in France with a
mystery illness during the World Cup - also admitted he has [...]

The expectation resting on Christopher Kane’s slight shoulders is heavy.
Donatella Versace is a fan of the 25-year-old Glaswegian designer and even
Anna Wintour, the editor of US Vogue, flew in to watch his spring-/summer
2008 catwalk show at London Fashion Week yesterday.
After just two collections, the [...]

Formula One has become embroiled in its second spying scandal of the year after Renault were charged with possessing confidential information belonging to McLaren.
Ironically, it is a remarkably similar accusation to the one the Woking-based team faced in the season which has just finished and resulted in a record [...]

The countdown to the witching hour gets into full swing this weekend with a
host of Halloween family activities.
Nature lovers can uncover the creatures that only come out at night as
Ulster Wildlife Trust stages an evening of spooky activities at Delamont
Country Park, outside Killyleagh tomorrow.Visitors will [...]

Young Manchester United star Jonny Evans last night refused to comment after
being unmasked by the Belfast Telegraph as the %26quot;mystery Northern
Ireland player%26quot; fined by the Irish FA for misbehaviour in Iceland.
This newspaper revealed yesterday that although the IFA had disciplined two
international players following a bust-up on the London-bound flight from
Reykjavik last Thursday, [...]

Actor Marc Warren is in Belfast this week to take on a new role as a
detective in the fifth story of the popular BBC One series Messiah.
The powerful two-parter is being filmed in the city and stars Warren, best
known for his roles in Hustle and Dracula.Also filming in Belfast
yesterday were Marsha Thomason [...]