The Syrian artist bringing beauty to a desert refugee camp

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When Malak fled the war in Syria she packed her whole life into a few bags. She was sure to keep hold of her beloved sketchbooks and pens. Today she's creating art and changing attitudes in her new home, one of the world's biggest refugee camps, Zaatari, in the Jordanian desert. Malak's story features in a book: 25 Million Sparks: The Untold Story of Refugee Entrepreneurs. Thank you to Nisreen Alzaraee for interpreting. Masahiko Kimura is known as one of Japan’s greatest bonsai masters. His bonsai creations are sought after by collectors and fetch record-breaking prices. He tells Outlook’s Laura Thomas about growing up in Japan’s post-war years; becoming a bonsai apprentice aged fifteen following the death of his inventor father, and his enduring love for Elvis Presley. Thank you to Akiko Sato for interpreting Mr Kimura and to Charles Nishikawa for speaking his words. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Mobeen Azhar (Image: A painting by Malak. Credit: Malak)