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Culture & Society

Artist Tara Abdulla in her studio in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Artistic heart of Iraq's Kurdistan thrives, but wants more public engagement

Sulaimaniyah, often called the Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s “culture capital,” has become something of a haven for artists, though obstacles remain for the vibrant and self-sustaining artistic center they envision.

Libyan youths pose for a picture in front of the Corinthia Hotel after a swim near the city's main port, Tripoli, Libya, April 22, 2019.

Libyan artists turn to black comedy to show youth exploitation

A play dubbed “Chocolate Egg” uses black comedy to show the exploitation of young Libyans by officials to lure them into military formations.

In this handout image provided by MD Beast, MDL Beast Festival - the Saudi Soundstorm has arrived, wowing over 130,000 fans on its first day on Dec. 19, 2019 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Saudi 2030 to expand art scene in Jeddah, Riyadh

With Saudi Arabia’s new social reform plan the local art scene is blooming with a plethora of cultural initiatives.

Samar al-Baa inspects honey collected from her beehives in Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip, in a still from a video uploaded May 30, 2021.

Gaza's first female beekeeper expands apiary

The enclave's first female beekeeper speaks about the challenges facing Gaza's beekeeping profession.

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Egyptian-German archaeologists unveil inscriptions, reliefs of Esna Temple

An inscription from the Esna temple.

Bicycling movement sweeps Lebanon

One of the slogans displayed in street art by Chain Effect on Hamra Street, Beirut.

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Beirut artists interpret experience of nonconformance in Middle East

Joseph Kai

Controversy in Egypt over film starring ex-IDF soldier Gal Gadot

Gal Godot appears in a scene from "Death on the Nile"

Culture & Society

This picture taken on August 9, 2020 shows a view of destroyed freight containers before the cranes at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut, while in the background are seen the damaged grain silos opposite the blast site of a colossal explosion due to a huge pile of ammonium nitrate that had languished for years at a port warehouse. - The huge chemical explosion that hit Beirut's port, devastating large parts of the Lebanese capital and claiming over 150 lives, left a 43-metre (141 foot) deep crater, a sec

International donors pledge nearly $300M in Beirut relief

The virtual conference on Sunday was co-hosted by France and the United Nations.

TOPSHOT - A Lebanese protester beats a drum amid clashes with security forces near an access street to the parliament in central Beirut on August 9, 2020, following a deadly explosion that turned the city into a disaster zone. - The huge chemical explosion that hit Beirut's port, devastating large parts of the Lebanese capital and claiming over 150 lives, left a 43-metre (141 foot) deep crater, a security official said. (Photo by JOSEPH EID / AFP) (Photo by JOSEPH EID/AFP via Getty Images)

Lebanese government resigns amid fallout from Beirut explosion

Prime Minister Hassan Diab said he and his cabinet were stepping down in response to popular demands, saying "the system of corruption is bigger than the state."

Cairo, EGYPT: The mummified remains of Queen Hatshepsut, ancient Egypt's most famous female pharaoh, lie in a glass case under the national flag moments before being unveiled at the Cairo Museum 27 June 2007. The discovery is considered as the most important find since the discovery of King Tutankhamen?s tomb. Hatshepsut, who ruled for 21 years from 1479 to 1458 BC, was one of the most powerful female monarchs of the ancient world, who declared herself pharaoh after the death of her husband-brother Tuthmosi

22 mummies to parade across Cairo

Preparations are almost ready for the transfer of 22 pharaonic mummies from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat.

Israel struggles to reach out to Lebanon after blast

Not all Israelis were pleased with Tel Aviv's gesture of solidarity with Lebanon, with quite a few saying that lighting the city hall up like the Lebanese flag went too far.

A picture taken on March 6, 2020 shows Algerian protesters carrying journalist Khaled Drareni on their shoulders after he was briefly detained by security forces in the Algerian capital Algiers. - Drareni was arrested on March 7 while covering an anti-government protest, accused of "inciting an unarmed gathering and damaging national integrity". (Photo by RYAD KRAMDI / AFP) (Photo by RYAD KRAMDI/AFP via Getty Images)

Algerian journalist's trial begins behind closed doors

Reporters without Borders warns that independent journalist Khaled Drareni is being persecuted for his opinions amid scant press freedom in Algeria.

Benny Gantz (C), A former IDF Chief and the head of Israeli Resilience party speaks to supporters during an election campaign event in Tel Aviv. Israelis will vote in a parliamentary election on April 9, choosing among party lists of candidates to serve in the 121-seat Knesset

How Yair Netanyahu's mockery of protesters fits in Bibi's plan

While his son ridicules the mass demonstrations on Twitter, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is exploiting the protests against him to unify his own camp.

This picture taken on October 19, 2018 shows a view of the exterior of the 6th-century Greek Orthodox Christian monastery of Saint Catherine, near the Egyptian town of the same name in south of the Sinai peninsula. (Photo by Sally KANDIL / AFP) (Photo credit should read SALLY KANDIL/AFP via Getty Images)

Cairo denounces Hagia Sophia move, develops Egypt's Christian sites

Days after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared Istanbul’s historic Hagia Sophia a mosque, Egypt announced ambitious restoration plans for South Sinai's Saint Catherine area.

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - APRIL 06: A teacher inspects a newly made surgical face mask amid the COVID-19 outbreak at a Vocational and Technical Anatolian School on April 06, 2020 in Istanbul, Turkey. Since the outbreak of the Coronavirus Turkey's Ministry of National Education Istanbul Province Directorate, has launched a school program, turning some schools into makeshift factories to produce medical equipment. The program that is run and operated by the schools teachers themselves, has produced 2,700,000 surgic

Turkish health officials watch for COVID-19 cases to rise after holiday

Turkish health officials are calling for increased precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19 as citizens conclude festivities for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 11: The ceiling of one of the dome's inside the Hagia Sophia Museum is seen on February 11, 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey. The Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) Museum is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Turkey, with more than 3 million visitors per year. Constructed in 537 the museum originally served as an Orthodox Cathedral, later a Roman Catholic church and was converted into a mosque when Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1453. In 1935 it was opened as a mu

UN experts urge Turkey to use Hagia Sophia as 'intercultural space'

Experts from the United Nations called on the Turkish government to use the contested landmark as a place of interfaith dialogue.

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL - OCTOBER 20: The golden Dome of the Rock Islamic shrine dominates the Temple Mount on which it stands, and at right, the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest shrine October 20, 2005 in this aerial view of Jerusalem's Old City. The picture is taken facing east. (Photo by David Silverman/Getty Images)

Israeli worshipers storm police barricades at Western Wall

More than the 1,000 visitors permitted to visit the Western Wall showed up on the fasting day of Tisha B’Av, leading to scuffles and removal by police.

Egyptian designer creates virtual runway for fashionistas at home

COVID-19 restrictions led Egyptian fashion designer Farida Temraz told put on an online fashion show July 20, a first for Egypt.

TOPSHOT - Protesters crouch down as Israeli police use water cannons during clashes at a demonstration against the Israeli prime minister outside his official residence in Jerusalem, early on July 22, 2020. - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 70, was indicted in January for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three cases. He denies all the charges and accuses the media and legal officials of a witch hunt. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Israeli protesters attacked again in Tel Aviv

President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Yair Lapid have all condemned yesterday's violence against anti-government demonstrators.