Polio: The Latest Disaster to Befall Assad’s Syria

MICH CAFE: Prior to the civil war its prevalence in Syria was very low indeed but the conflict has seen a spike in polio in the country
This Ramadan ‘A Miserable, Painful Time’ For Syrian Families

MICH CAFE: This is the third Ramadan where conflict has wracked Syria and it’s the toughest one yet for many families there
A Lost Ramadan Tradition: Where Have the Drummers Gone?

MICH CAFE: It’s a feature of Ramadan that I grew up with – the M’tabeel passing through the neighbourhood beating their drums. Not any more however.
‘Help Now’: Syrian Refugee Crisis ‘Unprecedented In Its Scope’

MICH CAFE: If Americans diverted the money they spent in a month on ice-cream to the UN Syrian refugee fund the target would be met.
The 13 Most Beautiful Things in the World: My Choice

MICH CAFE: A friend threw out the challenge on Twitter and it’s something I’ve been thinking about for a few days.
It’s ‘Summertime’ and In Jumeirah ‘The Cotton Is High’

MICH CAFE: An unlikely source of the world’s favourite garment fabric is to be found in the leafy streets of Dubai’s exclusive residential district
‘Safe to Speak’ For Journalists in the Middle East? Not Yet.

MICH CAFE: I’ve personally known several journalists who have been assassinated. It’s still a very dangerous occupation in the Middle East.
Syrian Refugee And Family Receive Kindness of Strangers

MICH CAFE: It’s a touching story that has captured hearts around the world – the story of one woman and her family’s flight from Syria to Turkey
Sleeping Rough in Dubai: Understanding & Kindness

One of my worst nightmares is not to have a roof over my head and not to have a home to return to every night. I was therefore in shock to find out a couple of weeks ago, purely by chance, that one of my friends had been sleeping rough on a beach in Jumeirah for the past four months.
MICH CAFE: I managed to miss all of the signs but now that I know what happened to ‘Eva’ they appear blindingly obvious
Zeinab and Iyad: Love Across the Syrian Divide

MICH CAFE: They met, fell in love and got married. A simple story but not so simple when you’re on two sides of a sectarian divide in the midst of a civil war
‘Charlie’ Had His ‘Angels’, Now Assad Has ‘Lionesses’

MICH CAFE: It seems to be a common theme among Arab dictators – recruiting women to front up the military in your regime.
Horse Meat Furore: Time for a Trip Down Memory Lane

MICH CAFE: The current hoo-hah in the UK over horse meat found in hamburgers caused me to shrug my shoulders and say ‘Why the fuss?’
The ‘Immortal Olive Tree’: Part of Every Palestinian

MICH CAFE: More than 7,500 olive trees belonging to Palestinians were damaged or destroyed last year by Israeli settlers. A well-thought through assault
Digital Prayer Beads: New Technological Marvel

MICH CAFE: I’d noticed that some women coming into the shop where I was working were carrying a new device. So I did a little investigating
Two Syrian Female Activists Receive Global Recognition

MICH CAFE: One is a lawyer and human rights activist the other is a leading author but the bravery of both women has been acknowledged by a wider audience
‘Let’s Paint Dubai’s Ugly, Grey Wheelie Bins’: Why Not?

MICH CAFE: I’d like to see a wonderful idea which has brightened up the streets of Amman implemented in Dubai.
Rape: The Culture of Impunity That Exists in Syria

MICH CAFE: The catalogue of brutal rapes and sexual assaults of women, men and children grows by the day. A new documentary makes grim viewing
Oqda: “I Will Film Until My Last Breath”. He Did.

MICH CAFE: Abdelkareem al-Oqda was a Syrian blogger and citizen journalist who exposed the horrors of the Syrian revolution and for that he has been killed.
Subway Ad: So Who’s ‘Civilised’ and Who’s ‘Savage’?

MICH CAFE: The ‘Battle to Offend’ seems to be getting more intense by the day. More fuel will be thrown on the fire with the appearance of a U.S ad campaign