Martin Kear, University of Sydney - Despite the euphoria surrounding the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, Gaza is still wracked with violence. More than two dozen Palestinians have been killed in recent days in clashes between Hamas and members of various clans. Hamas has also reportedly executed blindfolded men in a public square. With the Israeli military withdrawing to pre-determined ceasefire lines, Hamas members are beginning to re-assert their control. However,...

Casher Belinda, University of Notre Dame - Though neuroscience suggests that boredom can be good for us, we all try to avoid it. Even the most exciting jobs in the world — astronaut, nuclear engineer,...

A living tapestry of heritage, nature, and culture, Lebanon represents a thrill holiday for both mainstream icons as well as off-the-beaten-trail adventure. In addition to its world-famous archaeological sites and cosmopolitan urban areas, the country contains many more secrets to be unraveled that still represent an almost daunting challenge to everyone who embraces the challenge of traveling off the beaten tourist track. Travels commence in northern town Bcharre, within the Kadisha Valley. Famous for mountains and history, Bcharre has the Cedars of God, a UNESCO Heritage Site. Centuries-old cedries' forests, in deference to the Lebanese sustainability, provide tourists with a peaceful promenade between centuries-old trees and an eerie experience with...

By Fatima Al-Hadrami ~ When you dine at Yemeni dinner, you don't eat, but you enfold yourself in luxurious brocade woven for three centuries of history, geography, and hosting culture. Yemeni Food is Yemen's history of its mixed country-desert, mountains—and ancient trade routes that once flourished here. Each meal is a story, a sampling of Yemen's rich cultural heritage to experience something more than a meal. Bread is the center of Yemeni occupation and cuisine, artistry. Lahooh is full-bodied spicy stews to bite into pan-fry pancake bread breakfast highlight to most enjoy with. Malawah is pancake, pan-fry crispy standard to share with sweet and savory delights too. Bread is not—and breads...

Laura Noszlopy, University of Birmingham and Jean McHale, University of Birmingham - Three years have passed since the UK government implemented emergency legislation in response to the COVID pandemic. The Coronavirus Act 2020 made amendments to laws affecting many aspects of society, including the duties and powers incumbent on England’s local authorities to provide adult social care under the Care Act 2014. The Coronavirus Act 2020 set out legislative changes to statutory requirements, known as Care Act “easements”, which provided local authorities with a legal avenue to operate with reduced workforce capacity. The easements allowed care and support provision to be changed or, in extreme circumstances, withdrawn to meet more...

There has been a cultural renaissance across Palestinian societies whereby creatives and artists use writing, music, drama, and visual arts to reclaim and safeguard their identity during extended socio-political turmoil. The cultural renaissance is a branding move towards safeguarding cultural narrative and resilience using imagination and articulation. Palestinian artists engage...

By Layla Al Mazrouei ~ United Arab Emirates awakened to golden glory will be economic fantasy, morning but of fashion, luxury, and brash cultural life. On Dubai Fashion Week technicolor ramps and staid mega-balls of Abu Dhabi skyscrapers, UAE is world cosmopolitan melting pot where future meets past.". At the center...