Music for the deaf

Published 28 December 2012 16:16

It sounds impossible: music for the deaf. But that odd sounding concept is exactly what Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra are trying to achieve. Scientific studies show that, under the right conditions, the brains of deaf people show a similar enjoyment of music to the brains of people who can hear perfectly well. Al Jazeera's Nick Spicer reports from Cologne, Germany.

Syrian refugees find peace in Lebanese town

Published 28 December 2012 14:54

Refugees from Syria continue to flood into neighbouring countries like Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon to escape the violence. The United Nations estimates there are more than 126,000 registered Syrian refugees in Lebanon with harrowing stories of escape. There are at least 1,800 Syrian families in the Lebanese town of Arsal, and the local people are doing their best to accommodate them. Al Jazeera's Mohammed Vall reports from Arsal.

Kazakhstan mall caters to new rich

Published 28 December 2012 19:07

Much of the world's news these days is about economic doom and gloom, but there evidently no crisis in Kazakhstan. The country's economists estimate it will manage five percent fiscal growth this year. The boom has drawn some companies that aim to capitalize on Kazakhstan's newly rich. Al Jazeera's Robin Forestier-Walker reports from Almaty, Kazakhstan.