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,...

By Yael Ben-David ~ Where deserts previously towered as a threat for dry climates and unpredictable rains, Israel has turned the dictum on its head: it has fashioned scarcity into means to irrigate surfeit. Through...

By Layla Al-Khafaji ~ Baghdad — Amber gold sunsets cloak the Tigris River, its radiance on the Baghdad skyline. Blood and war in memory now, disappearing before sweeter harmonies — of rebirth, culture, and reunion. Iraqi spirit stirs from dust and decades. And it's reclaiming its heart for the world. From Sumer ziggurats to Mosul minarets of yore, new Iraq's tourism legacy is not monuments — but hope, survival, and memory to return and resell the nation not in battered history but in unsoiled beauty. Heritage Reclaimed Iraq is the "cradle of civilization," and theirs it still is. Of Mesopotamia's middle land, land of the written word, land of law, land of cities,...

Jonas Loubin - What we eat can determine whether we feel good or bad from one day to the next. Food is not only fuel — it’s medicine, energy and, at times, comfort. But with all the hype surrounding “superfoods” and fad diets, it can be hard to know what’s truly good for you. Let’s get back to basics with a list of simple, nutrient-rich foods that really nourish the body. Leafy Greens They don’t win any awards for excitement, but greens like spinach, kale and Swiss chard are nutritional all stars. Loaded with vitamins A, C and K, iron and calcium, these veggies are indispensable for bone health and immunity....

Ida Karlsson, Karolinska Institutet and Elsa Ojalehto, Karolinska Institutet - It’s well known that a high body mass index (BMI) has negative effects on our health, increasing the risk of several diseases. This is concerning since nearly one-third of the world’s population is now classified as overweight or obese. One disease strongly linked to obesity is cardiovascular disease (such as heart disease and stroke) which, according to the World Health Organization, is the leading cause of death worldwide. Obesity is a complex condition, and can be influenced both by genetics and a person’s lifestyle and environment. The latter can include air pollution, smoking, diet, physical activity, medications, education, socioeconomic status, and...

By Mariam Al Suwaidi ~ In the midst of sun-blinded, scorch-scorched bustle of United Arab Emirates, where life coexists in tradition and modernity, silently there is revolution simmering—on the battlefront, led by women, who are reshaping the nation's life in fantasy, in composure, and with unbreakable determination. From food temple...

By Aisha Al Hameli ~ Half way along the Arabian Gulf, far and wide apart from each other in the location of convergence of revolution and tradition, United Arab Emirates women are writing a new page—redrawing the book on inspiration, on motherhood, on leadership. From the multi-national corporation boardroom to...