Three countries where abortion is legal in the Middle East and North Africa

Abortion is illegal in much of the region, and there are various legal and societal barriers to the practice in the countries where it is allowed.

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

4,500-year-old Canaanite statue discovered in Gaza

A farmer found the treasure by chance while plowing his Gaza field.

Palestine

Egypt launches renovation of rare weapon cache dating back to Muhammad Ali Pasha era

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the restoration of a historic warehouse of weapons dating back to the era of Muhammad Ali Pasha in Old Cairo, as part of a wider project to develop the historic area to promote tourism.

Egypt

Jews celebrate end of Passover in UAE

Muslims and Christians gathered inside the Jewish Council of the Emirates in Dubai upon the invitation of Rabbi Eliyahu Abadi to celebrate together the Mimouna — a Jewish feast that comes seven days after Passover.

Gulf

Egypt to restore historic synagogue

The Egyptian government announced the launch of restoration works at the Ben Ezra Synagogue in Old Cairo, as part of efforts to revive Jewish heritage and attract more tourists to the country.

Egypt

Historic Sawa Lake disappears from Iraqi map

The Sawa Lake in Iraq has been associated with tales of history and human activity for hundreds of years, but today it has turned into just another plot of the desert that used to surround it after it has completely dried up.

Iraq

Women in Yemen trapped by war, abuse

Eight years have passed since the war in Yemen began, and women there continue to exist in dire situations in which they are faced not only with the hardships of displacement but also with threats, persecution, imprisonment and banishment from exercising their political rights.

Gulf

Reverse-Orientalism, feminism inform work of Omani artist Eman Ali

Sexuality, the performance of gender, and religious and socio-political ideologies are at the forefront of Omani artist Eman Ali's art, and her hybrid of artistic expression ranges from photography to installation.

Gulf

WATCH: Ramadan storyteller roams Syria displaced camps

A storyteller is roaming the displaced camps in north Syria to help children forget about the daily bombardments and suffering.

Syria

Russian social media star Hasbulla performs umrah pilgrimage in Mecca

Hasbulla Magomedov has been spending considerable time in the Gulf recently, taking time from his rivalry with UAE-based singer Abdu Rozik to visit Mecca.

Saudi Arabia

Palestinian woman breaks male monopoly on folk art of zajal

Aida Abu Farha is a Palestinian woman who excels in writing and singing zajal, after years of this oral poetry art form being the preserve of men.

Palestine

Water scarcity in Jordan threatens nature reserve of rare Arabian gazelle

Water collection and a lack of available supplies are putting nature reserves in the east of the country under increasing pressure.

Jordan