Pope Francis, voice for Middle East peace and first to visit Gulf, dies at 88 Pope Francis died on Monday after serving as pontiff for 11 years, advocating for human rights and inclusion in the Middle East and beyond. By Rosaleen Carroll In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East
Khartoum accuses RSF of looting and destroying Sudan's heritage: What to know The Sudanese government accused the Rapid Support Forces of looting and destroying cultural heritage sites, including the Sudan National Museum, during their occupation of Khartoum, calling the actions war crimes and pledging to work with UNESCO and Interpol to recover stolen artifacts. Sudan
In photos: Muslims celebrate Eid el-Fitr across the Middle East Muslims in the Middle East came together on Sunday and Monday to celebrate the end of Ramadan. Saudi Arabia
Israeli army escorts ultra-Orthodox Jews to religious site in south Lebanon: What to know The Israeli military allowed hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Israeli civilians into southern Lebanon to visit a religious site, meeting condemnation from Lebanon's army. Lebanon
Muslims across Middle East welcome Ramadan despite war, inflation By Rosaleen Carroll In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East
Feature Christians in Syria hopeful but wary of Sharaa’s intentions By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Analysis In Morocco, France's Macron dangles Western Sahara concessions to mend ties After years of diplomatic disputes, French President Emmanuel Macron is adamant on repairing ties with Morocco. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Tyre, Lebanon's ancient city, bombarded by Israeli airstrikes Israeli airstrikes are pounding ancient Tyre in southern Lebanon. Lebanon
Analysis Why Ben-Gvir's Al-Aqsa compound rhetoric is dangerous and disruptive Israel's far-right minister of national security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, called for the establishment of a synagogue at the sensitive Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount complex, engendering fierce responses from Palestinian and Israeli leaders alike. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
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. Sudan
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. Lebanon
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. Egypt
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. Turkey
Erdogan and Germany's Steinmeier chuckle over doner kebab as ties grow The German president’s visit, marking the centennial of diplomatic ties between Turkey and Germany, came during a challenging time for Ankara-Berlin relations, given the wide gap over the Israel-Hamas war. Turkey
Turkey's famed Van cats see birthrates surge The exotic cats have been saved from extinction by a research and breeding center. Turkey
Nearly 1,000 buildings in Tripoli, Lebanon are at risk of collapse: Amnesty Amnesty International has denounced the local Tripoli government’s lack of action to protect residents who have been living in unsafe buildings since last year’s earthquake. Lebanon
One year after earthquake, Turkey's ancient Antioch still devastated Scars of the quake that killed 53,000 people and displaced millions run deep, and the road to restoration is fraught with political bickering. Turkey
Gaza 100 days: Palestinian heritage, churches, mosques decimated by Israeli strikes Hundreds of heritage and other historical landmarks have been damaged in the ongoing Israeli offensive on Gaza. Palestine
