A picture tells a thousand words. It also conveys meaning when words fall down on the job. And words fail frequently when stories are raw and emotional, and when they involve crossing boundaries - national ones in times of war, and cultural and linguistic ones in refugee camps. Therein lies the power of the graphic novel. Canadian artist Jean Bradbury, a frequent visitor to Jordan, started a small non-profit called Studio Syria to raise funds for art and educational supplies for refugees in Zaatari camp and in centers serving Syrian ...

All over the world, more and more people are looking abroad for medical treatment, whether it’s for a complex heart operation or a simple facelift. Medical tourism is said to be a $50 billion-a-year business, and one that is increasing by 15-25 percent year over year, according to Patients Beyond Borders, an industry publication. While countries like Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia have traditionally dominated the market, a number of Middle Eastern nations are fast becoming go-to destinations for affluent people looking to find affordable, quality healthcare and catch some sun ...

Selfish, conceited, superficial? Not these celebs! These Arab stars see the gritty reality beyond the glitter and glamour of showbiz. From conservation to campaigning on behalf of refugees, buying ambulances to fundraising for autism charities, there are more than enough causes for our Arab celebs to support. Not everyone can be like Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who recently announced that he would be giving away his $32B fortune to charity – and certainly being a royal comes with a job description that includes championing philanthropic causes. But even amongst ...

There’s not much new to say about the Middle East’s scorching summertime heat . Typical daytime temperatures hover at 40 °C, but a cloudless sky and wind shift can bump them anywhere between 43-48°C. An extreme heat wave has the region broiling, reaching record-high temps that caused the Iraqi government to call for a mandatory, four-day national holiday. How hot is THAT? We’ve heard of being snowed in, now here’s being boiled in! Iraq’s hotspot was Kanaqin, reporting a July 30 high of 52°C. Baghdad trailed at 51°C and Bahrain ...

Paris Saint-Germain have made signing a new midfielder a priority. The French champions are looking at both Real Madrid's Toni Kroos and Barcelona's Sergio Busquets as they target a replacement for Thiago Motta, who will join Atletico Madrid.

Last week, a Libyan court sentenced Saif al-Islam Gaddafi , son of deposed leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, to death over war crimes linked to the 2011 revolution. In terms of atrocious actions across the Middle East, he‘s not alone. A suite of startling images flying ‘round social media are attention-grabbing, and stomach-turning. Created by Kurdish artist Ahmad Nabaz, they make bold artistic commentary in a region where political opinions are not freely broadcast. Nabaz riffs off formal portraiture of world leaders, digitally erasing backdrops of pricey paintings, fine furniture, and ...

If there’s one thing the media attention span has no limit for, it’s the painstakingly detailed accounts of Western recruits to Daesh (ISIS). Since the extremist group swept into northern Iraq last summer, news organizations have been climbing over each other to find the latest chef/rapper/ athlete turned militant in Syria. This is especially true for a handful of figures whose lives were not so private even before they went to the battlefield. In this year, we’ve seen world famous athletes and small town punk rockers join the group, leaving ...