Cultural heritage

This picture taken on April 24, 2018, shows Meroitic pyramids at the archaeological site of Bajarawiya, near Hillat ed Darqab, some 250 kilometers northeast of Khartoum.

Sudan's war devastates cultural heritage as rival generals vie for power

Sudan’s civil war is now well into its second year, and alongside forcing the population to the brink of famine, warring parties have also come for its heritage.

Rebecca Bradshaw

By Rebecca Bradshaw

A visitor looks at portraits of late Franco-Lebanese film director Maroun Baghdadi and pictures from his movies at the venue of an exhibition dedicated to his memory in Beirut on December 12, 2023, as Lebanon commemorates the 30th annivesary of his death in an accident at the age of 43. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP) (Photo by ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images)

Lebanon's resistance through culture: Return of Beirut’s Metropolis Cinema

As Beirut continues to navigate its path toward recovery, Metropolis Cinema stands as a symbol of the enduring power of art and culture to resist, unite and inspire.

Rodayna Raydan

By Rodayna Raydan

In Boqaata, reporting on culture

A man checks his mobile phone standing next to his camel while waiting for tourists at the Giza Pyramids Necropolis on the outskirts of Giza on April 30, 2024. (Photo by Jewel SAMAD / AFP) (Photo by JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images)

Quick Take

Mysterious structure at Egypt’s pyramids could be undiscovered tomb

The l-shaped structure was discovered at Giza’s Western Cemetery, known as a burial place for royal family members in ancient Egypt.

Tourists visit the Chora (Kariye) Church Museum, the 11th century church of St. Savior on August 21, 2020 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Regional View

Erdogan's Byzantine church conversion roils Greece ahead of PM's Turkey visit

The Byzantine-era cathedral's inauguration as a working mosque came just days before a landmark visit to Turkey by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, which is due to kick off on May 13.

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Quick Take

Erdogan and Germany's Steinmeier chuckle over doner kebab as ties grow

Steinmeier Kabob

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Turkey's famed Van cats see birthrates surge

Turkish Van cats play in an enclosure at the Van Cat Research Center on Feb. 8, 2018, in Van, Turkey.

Nearly 1,000 buildings in Tripoli, Lebanon are at risk of collapse: Amnesty

This picture shows a general view of Lebanon's port city of Tripoli on April 26, 2023. A crushing economic crisis in Lebanon has impelled members of the security forces to take on side hustles to get by, raising concerns about security in the eastern Mediterranean country. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP) (Photo by ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images)

Beatrice Farhat

By Beatrice Farhat

In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict

Regional View

One year after earthquake, Turkey's ancient Antioch still devastated

Hatay Archaeological Museum after the earthquake.

Regional View

Gaza 100 days: Palestinian heritage, churches, mosques decimated by Israeli strikes

Orthodox worshippers attend a Christmas mass at the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, Jan. 7, 2024.

Amazon Egypt storefront.

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Amazon Egypt launches page for Egyptian handicrafts

Amazon Egypt launched a new page for thousands of Egyptian handicrafts and heritage products, with the aim of supporting and encouraging Egyptian products.

A view of the of Sardis Synagogue's interior, Manisa, Turkey.

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Monumental synagogue emerges from ancient ruins in Turkey

Relics from the largest known synagogue of antiquity will go on display next year in a museum in western Turkey.

This picture shows the pyramids of Khufu (Cheops) (L), Khafre (Chephren) (C) and Menkaure (Menkheres), at the Giza pyramids necropolis on the southwestern outskirts of Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 26, 2021.

Regional View

How Nile branch helped ancient Egyptians build Giza pyramids

A group of scientists has reconstructed 8,000 years of the history of the river in the Giza floodplain to better understand how it was used to erect the iconic Pharaonic structures.

Souvenir stand in Petra, Jordan.

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Gendarmerie operation sparks controversy in Petra, Jordan

Petra’s tribal entrepreneurs react to a security operation carried out inside Jordan’s most-visited UNESCO World Heritage Site with criticism and concern for their livelihoods.

A Shiite Muslim pilgrim marches with a flag bearing the image of Imam Hussein.

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Iran shuts borders with Iraq as millions of Shiite pilgrims arrive for Arbaeen

Iraq is struggling with the large number of Shiite pilgrims, at least 5 million — mostly from Iran — who entered Iraq over the last few days to attend the Arbaeen ceremony.

Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities restorers and archaeologists restore the statue of King Thutmose II.

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Egypt restores massive statue of King Thutmose II

Within the scope of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities’ efforts to restore monuments and paintings at the Karnak Temple complex in Luxor, the Supreme Council of Antiquities completed the restoration work of the statue of King Thutmose II on the southern facade of Karnak.

The Alfred Merlin undersea archaeologist team during the sail toward Trapani in Italy, August 2022.

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Mediterranean countries take on archaeology project off Tunisian coast

Algeria, Croatia, Egypt, France, Italy, Morocco, Spain and Tunisia are working together on an underwater archaeological expedition, researching the Skerki Bank region off the Sicily and Tunisian coasts.

British archaeologist Howard Carter (1874-1939) (R).

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New evidence emerges of looting of King Tut's tomb in Egypt

While Egypt celebrates the 100-year anniversary of the discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb, new evidence emerged that the discoverer, Howard Carter, stole objects from it.

Rashid Hassan teaches visitors how to harvest lavender correctly.

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Lavender ecotourism throws lifeline to rural Lebanese villages

As Lebanon experiences a tourism hike this summer, rural villages and attractions hope to draw tourists away from the capital with the help of ecotourism companies. A day spent discovering lavender in the south is one example.

Hatzeva field school.

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Unique eco-art center to open in Israeli desert

The soon-to-be-created Art Laboratory for Future Ecologies in the desert Arava region in southern Israel was envisioned by Israeli international artist Galit Eilat.

Mazeej community products at a HORECA booth in Beirut, Lebanon, March 24, 2022.

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Lebanese initiative to support struggling zaatar producers

Small-scale producers in Lebanon are struggling to stay in business due to harsh economic conditions, but projects like Mazeej are helping them to turn things around for the better.

This picture taken on March 10, 2021, shows a view of a Dionysiac stone sarcophagus depicting the god Dionysius riding a lion.

Regional View

Libyan antiquities at risk from political instability, conflict

After years of neglect and looting, authorities in Libya are showing growing interest in protecting the country’s heritage and archaeological sites.