We are proud to announce a list of Western stars and luminaries of the entertainment and art world who have something of the Arab within! Part Arab, many generations ago or just a single remove away, we expose the closet Arabs and the all out Arab-embracing celebs. Most descend from the Levant region between Syria and Lebanon, but there is the occasional Iraqi, Jordanian or Palestinian lurking within this gallery of Arab blood. Did you know that the following famous people had Arab origins? Here's a selection of Hollywood acting ...

After quite the build up, and biding our time with the ' funniest' Egyptian potential candidates for President , here's the real deal, with the top ten, big guns, in the presidential race, 2012. Ten serious contenders for the title of Mr. Presidient of Egypt, as the electoral commission approves the final presidential candidates. Still, it's not over til the 'fat lady sings' or in this case, the forces that be who sit on the electoral commission. Just yesterday, t en from Egypt's 23 presidential candidates were barred from running ...

In case you haven't heard of the latest buzz in the Wikileaks saga that spawned a whole trend of exposing high-level hacked documents , we bring you Stratfor, the Global Intelligence (GI) files . This email trove of 5 million gathered from the Stratfor database has caused the latest spy drama to leak out of our security conscious world. Stratfor , is a private intelligence firm based in Austin, Texas with both domestic and foreign ties to intelligence in the military, corporate, and government sectors. It is precisely because of ...

On the occasion of the Western Church's Easter weekend, starting this Good Friday, we think about Easter time and its traditions in the food department throughout the Arab world. Arabs have food to suit every occasion as well as season . Much of the Arab world, including Lebanon, Iraq and Syria, celebrate Easter with the Western world, which falls on April 8th this year, that is Easter Sunday. Palestine and Jordan, as well as Egypt tend to mark their Eastern Easter the week after, which in the case of 2012 ...

It's arrived, the next must-see TV to storm the Arab world is back in Arabs Got Talent's second appearance. As the Arab World awaits with bated breath, we sneak a preview into what's in store for Arabs Got Talent, 2012 , the second season. Here's a glimpse of the action-packed second series of the hit show. With some new ingredients and familiar faces, Arabs Got Talent is back. And just in the nick of time before our Arab Idol withdrawal kicked in. Egypt Takes All? Last year's winner was Egypt's ...

Heavy is the head that carries the crown, and no one represents this more than the weary leaders of the Middle East. At Al Bawaba HQ, the editors came upon a nice attache of youthful, sometimes embarassing, photos of the Middle East's most prominent male figures . The region's pioneers in their prime! These heads of states- Arab kings and Presidents , current and past, over all show a staggering degree of aging. It's as though this panel of guys have carried the world's weight on their shoulders -- or ...

It's probably a healthy sign of the changed times in Egypt, ripe with the promise of 'democracy' that Egypt's run up competition to the presidential elections includes some pretty bizarre candidates, vying for nomination. In past, less enlightened times, even the most qualified for the coveted role of President of this pan-Arab-esque nation would have shied away from running for presidential office in this nation that has seen just 4 Presidents in 60 years . There's certainly no holds barred for the freedom to run for President this time round ...

Palestinians wishing to return to their land-roots, and olive tree heritage, can celebrate Palestine Land Day. An unsung protest of the Palestinian cause is nearly upon us. March 30 presents Palestine's Land Day - a day which has in the past been overlooked by more prominent calendar dates . But perhaps this year it will attract its share of attention, as Palestinians get riled up to make some peaceful protest! to mark the memory of confiscated lands and ongoing losses in 2012, in home and land-stakes. Marching for Milk and ...

The final show-down for Arab Idol was not without all the drama and sentiment that such a pan-Arab talent contest might warrant. The Egyptian young thing, Carmen Suleiman won, in a crowd-pleasing moment of both classic Arab world pride in their Egyptian stars, mixed with a feel-good fever on the wave of Egypt's heady 2011 revolution days. The show was not free of the usual controversies that surround reality TV and talent shows. For the Arab version of things, this translated into religious debate over the word idol or concept ...

From the commotion caused by the only female judge, loud-mouthed Emriati Ahlam, to the debate on how fair this 'amateur' contest has been, Arab Idol has been the talk of 2012. Whether it's Ahlam's fashion faux pas or Jordanian contestant's tears or even the departed Arafat's oscillating nationality, it's all been up for commentary - emotional and comedic. Here are some reminders of the talking points, ahead of today's final showing of Arab Idol . Egypt Vs. Morocco - who will it be? The lovely Carmen or the soulful Dunya?

Mother's Day, as universally 'hallmarked' as it has become, is still celebrated on different calendar dates around the world. Arabs have earmarked their own date for this occasion. The Arab world has registered March 21st as its unique and fixed-dated ' Eid il Um '. This Spring Equinox date is not shared by the US and Canada's May-date, nor indeed the UK's rotating Mothering Sunday . Why Spring time - a Vernal Mother's Day? What is it with Arabs and Spring? Well it's not just Arabs being contrary, not even ...