From the depths: Egypt raises archaeological relics from sunken city The raising of three massive artifacts from an ancient sunken city in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Alexandria is Egypt's first such operation in 25 years. Egypt
Saudi Arabia’s falcon auction aims to spin tradition into tourism gold Under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is seeking to diversify its economy and cultural tourism. Saudi Arabia
Syria mandates burkinis for women at public beaches: What to know The decree has sparked concern that Syria’s new government could be veering toward a more strict Islamist governance system. Syria
What to know about 1,500-year-old Byzantine tomb uncovered in Syria A contractor found a tomb complex dating back to the Byzantine Empire in Syria's Idlib province, just as many residents have started returning to their homes following the fall of Assad. Syria
Pope Francis, voice for Middle East peace and first to visit Gulf, dies at 88 By Rosaleen Carroll In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East
Huge crowds descend on Egyptian city to celebrate Sufi mystic For one week, hundreds of thousands of Egyptians travel to the city of Tanta to honor Ahmed al-Badawi, the most popular Sufi mystic in the country, with ancient rituals and traditions. Egypt
Iraq's female booksellers turn the page on gender roles Iraqi women have started operating their own bookstores in different Iraqi cities, challenging the country's book selling industry that has been dominated by men. Iraq
Egypt added to Roman Catholic pilgrimage list Egypt's elated tourism officials are ready to roll out the red carpet for Catholics now that the country has Pope Francis' blessing as a pilgrimage destination. Egypt
Israel’s first international film festival hits 33 The Haifa Film Festival, known for its fine selection of documentaries, launched new categories this year, such as foodie and environmental cinema. Israel
Amman Design Fair pays homage to disappearing crafts Amman Design Week, one of the budding events in the region, underscores the need to modernize traditional crafts with new design. Jordan
How did haircuts, nail polish become part of Iran's Shiite mourning rituals? Traditional Shiite mourning rituals for the holy month of Muharram are being altered in Iran by what some see as superficialiity and a lack of religious principle. Iran
Explosions, heartbreak rock ancient Turkish site as dam moves forward More than 60 years in the making, Turkey's Ilisu Dam project is set to finally flood 12,000-year-old Hasankeyf and all its relics. Turkey
Why Palestine needs national library more than presidential palace Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' announcement of a national library was welcomed by the country’s cultural elite who consider it a start in securing Palestinian heritage and memory. Palestine
Popular board game in Palestine gets e-makeover A group of Palestinian programmers transform their childhood game from board to screen to save it from disappearing. Palestine
