A country that was once visited only by intrepid backpackers has quickly become a place where visitors must book accommodation well in advance to ensure a place to stay, particularly in the major cities. Moreover, the easing of economic sanctions has lured hordes of business travelers and, because many companies block-book rooms that would have normally been occupied by leisure travelers, the shortage has been exacerbated.

Tino Sehgal and participants of These AssociationsLaure Prouvost is an artist who seems to pop up everywhere, as filmmaker, installation artist and all-purpose artistic agent provocateur. The London-based French conceptualists latest appearance is in Tate Britains acclaimed Kurt Schwitters exhibition, where she has constructed a video and installation around a fictional grandfather, a conceptual artist who supposedly worked with Schwitters.

The news boosted Japanese stocks. The August reading suggested that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's policies, dubbed 'Abenomics', were filtering through to companies.

The conversation took place following ain tone between Tehran and Washington over Iran's contentious nuclear programme.

In a session on contemporary African writing, an audience member pointed out that books are out of reach for many of the citys residents and writing remains largely the preserve of the middle class.