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. Iraq
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. North Africa
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. Legacy: Gulf
Gaza's first female beekeeper expands apiary The enclave's first female beekeeper speaks about the challenges facing Gaza's beekeeping profession. Palestine
Young cleric names and shames Iran's luxury-loving elite With 233,000 followers, a young cleric from Qom has become the voice of Iranians who resent the ruling class' lavish lifestyles while the rest of the country is in dire need. Iran
Arab Israelis lament community violence as lawmakers point at police Arab Israeli lawmakers say that the high crime rates in their communities can largely be blamed on police negligence, but their constituents quietly acknowledge the reality is more complicated. Israel
Turkey funds job training for Syrian youth The Turkish government and the local council in Marea, a town in the northern countryside of Aleppo, have opened a training center to help young people find work. Syria
Iranian baby bottoms smacked as sanctions, hoarding create diaper crisis Diaper prices have doubled as the product joins the growing list of goods experiencing sudden price jumps in Iran as the nation struggles with sanctions and currency issues. Iran
Egypt’s festivals fear future amid new funding regulations As Egypt's cultural season starts in September, many festival organizers worry that they will be unable to go on after recent additional bureaucratic measures and cuts in state aid. Egypt
Bumpy road ahead for Egypt's first female Coptic governor Women's rights activists and Christian figures rejoiced as Egypt appointed its first Coptic Christian woman as governor, but not everyone in the city of Damietta was delighted with the appointment. Egypt
Is 'The Wedding' new beginning for LGBTQ cinema in Egypt? Film director Sam Abbas' "The Wedding," which tells the story of a gay man forced into a heterosexual marriage, will be screened privately and by invitation only in the Middle East, making the already controversial movie even more controversial. Egypt
Entrepreneur brings blueberries to Lebanon Talal Nassereddine's Tout Berry Farms aims to make berry cultivation a big business in Lebanon and the broader Middle East. Lebanon
Idlib museum throws open doors in defiance of threats The Idlib museum, whose collections rival those in Aleppo and Damascus, reopened last month, despite having lost an unknown number of its treasures to looters. Syria
Palestinians get ton of mail after eight-year delay Palestine's post offices are swimming in mail that Israel finally released after eight years. Palestine
Israel’s ‘Mizrahi revolution’ enters a new stage Education Minister Naftali Bennett is acting to include works by Mizrahi figures in literature and poetry in the school curriculum. Israel
Iraqi Jews organize to regain citizenship Some Iraqi Jews are organizing to officially petition the Baghdad government for the right to reclaim their Iraqi citizenship. Iraq
