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The Shard is Qatar’s London land grab

When Britain’s own financing institutions staggered under the weight of the 2008 economic crisis, a Qatari consortium stepped in to finance The Shard in London- it’s a sleek pyramidal skyscraper designed by Italian starchitect Renzo Piano. Officially inaugurated amid great pomp and circumstance, the building is small when compared to Dubai’s 2,717 foot Burj Al-Khalifa, but at […]

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Yemeni Children Addicted to Khat are Skipping School

Khat addiction in Yemen has reached epic proportions and not only among adults. A recent report released by the World Health Organization shows that up to 20% of the nation’s children under twelve are also addicted to chewing the bitter stems of the Catha edulis plant, which produces a mild high akin to the effects […]

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Arab Building Showcases Traditional Green Architecture

A building in the Lower Galilee which showcases traditional architectural Arab styles with ecological benefits demonstrates that modern concerns can be resolved with ancient techniques One of the most important things we need to do to tackle climate change is reduce the amount of energy we use. One way to do this is ensure buildings […]

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Jerusalem Dig Reveals First Etrog Tree in the Holy Land

Ramat Rachel is an ongoing archeological dig on the southern outskirts of Jerusalem. A 2,500-year-old garden at the site, probably built by local Judeans, holds many secrets about the past waiting to be uncovered. An elaborate network of irrigation channels made it clear that this was a garden, but what was planted in it has […]

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Egypt’s Taziry Ecolodge and the Golden Age

The golden age is undergoing a quiet revival at the edge of Egypt’s western desert thanks to the Taziry eco-lodge. So much more than just a holiday destination, this peaceful resort located roughly 752 km west of Cairo at the footstep of Siwa’s Red Mountain (Adrar Azugagh) runs a camel and Arabian horse-breeding program as […]

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Iranian Warden Fined After Shooting Poacher in Foot

An Iranian warden is being asked to pay ‘blood money’ to a poacher he shot in the foot whilst guarding a wildlife protected area Sabz Press, a green Iranian news site, is reporting that a warden working in the protected wildlife area of Lawvardin in Hormozgan province has been ordered to pay blood money to a […]