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,...

Andrew White, King's College London - It is not much of an exaggeration to say that Spotify saved the music industry. Global revenue for recorded music reached its zenith in 1999 – the same year...

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...

Kuwaiti cuisine remains grounded in its very nature in straightforward, homemade fare such as the Majboos, or the scented rice, a witness to itself. Kuwaiti cuisine is internationally famous to be a volcano of colors, and flavour, which has matured over centuries of commerce, emigration, and multilateral trade on the shores of the Persian Gulf. And diversification, in which the classic nature was that of a foreign cuisine's richer and cosmopolitan beauty. Tradition is also at the heart of Kuwaiti food preparation and meaning. Harees, for example, the slow-cooked meat and wheat, that is typically eaten during Ramadan, is a classic example of the identification of tradition. Made within hours...

Editorial - The prevalence of addiction is a growing concern in today's society. Addiction can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or socioeconomic status. It is estimated that over 20 million Americans struggle with addiction, and the number is only increasing. Drug addiction is perhaps the most well-known type of addiction, and it affects millions of people worldwide. The opioid epidemic has brought drug addiction to the forefront of public attention, with thousands of people dying from overdoses every year. Alcohol addiction is another common type of addiction, with approximately 14 million Americans struggling with alcoholism. Nicotine addiction is also prevalent, with over 34 million Americans addicted to smoking or...

Kuwait City – Those were the times when Kuwaiti coffee culture revolved around strong, thick Arab coffees and very old, venerable coffeehouses. Today, they exist in the memory. Today's city-cafes are not houses one would happen to stumble upon and have a drink of the stuff-they are now thrill...

By Layla Al-Sabahi ~ Lies beneath the Peninsula Yemen, a nation whose elegance and poise have their origins in stories of strife. Yet to the adventurous traveler, Yemen opens her arms in welcome and proves to be history, art, heritage—jewel of Middle Eastern culture fabric. A Cut in Stone and Legend...