New exhibition spotlights forgotten Egyptians who discovered King Tut Delving into the archives of British archaeologist Howard Carter, who led the mission down to the pharaoh’s burial chamber, the University of Oxford’s Bodleian Libraries shines a spotlight on the immense contribution of the locals — a role largely overlooked by history. Culture
Photographer captures surrealist post-explosion Beirut at Dubai art show Surreal silos and ruins of ancient buildings are the subjects of the new series of works by Dia Mrad, recently presented at the biggest art fair in the Middle East. Culture
Threat of demolition looms over Cairo’s historic necropolis A group of architects, historians and other heritage enthusiasts have launched a campaign to safeguard the City of the Dead in the face of the government’s new infrastructure plans. Culture
First underwater fashion show in Egypt Egyptian fashion designer Amany Yehia held her first underwater photo shoot, the first of its kind in Egypt. Culture
The show must go on: Egypt's Ramadan soap operas defy COVID-19 Egyptian production teams are racing against time to complete the TV shows they hope will bring some Ramadan cheer to Egyptian and Arab audiences during the crisis. Egypt
Reports of child abuse in Turkey spike amid pandemic A prominent children's rights activist told Al-Monitor that complaints of child abuse incidents have doubled since the closure of the schools amid the coronavirus pandemic. Turkey
Independent filmmakers dramatize COVID-19 in videos posted online With art and culture temporarily confined to the internet, Egyptian artists are documenting the pandemic in short films, graffiti and creative photography. Egypt
Virtual tours bring Egypt's museums, archaeological sites online Cairo had hoped that 2020 would be a golden year for Egyptian tourism, but the COVID-19 pandemic has upended the industry. Egypt
Mothers versus minister as Egyptian students go online because of COVID-19 Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has done much to secure women's support, but angry mothers may be a major crack in the relationship. Egypt
Baghdad's monuments fall apart or destroyed despite laws Laws cannot protect Baghdad's monumental buildings, particularly when owners prefer that they fall down so they can replace them with modern buildings. Iraq
Coronavirus changes Iraq’s traditions of physical touch The imposition of social distancing in Iraq to avoid the spread of the coronavirus has affected Iraqi cultural habits such as shaking hands and kissing. Iraq
No sanitizers, fresh food or distance in some of Gaza's quarantine centers Gaza quarantine centers, which are mostly converted from schools and hotels, lack the basic necessities such as fresh food and sanitation that are necessary to survive the coronavirus pandemic. Palestine
Services emerge to help Middle Eastern men beat high costs of marriage In Gaza and Egypt, men are seeking help from religious authorities and matchmaking services to persuade their prospective brides' families to lower financial demands. Palestine
Why returning to classics may mean success for Egyptian cinema Egypt, known as the Hollywood of the Middle East, now wonders whether nostalgia will draw in new audiences. Egypt
Tel Aviv, the city that never stops, now paralyzed Although Tel Aviv is known as "the city that never stops," its entire entertainment and tourism scene — plays, other performances, bars, restaurants and hotels, the seashore — have come to a halt as a result of the coronavirus. Israel
Egypt's family planning policies tested by COVID-19 Egypt has struggled to lower divorce rates and to convince people to have no more than two kids, but the pandemic may challenge these polices, as more couples stay home during lockdown. Egypt
