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
Gaza girls take plunge in male-dominated sport After her father's death by Israeli shelling, a teenager from Gaza decided to realize his dream — having an international swimmer in the family. Palestine
Israel continues to deny travel permits to Gaza cancer patients Despite its acknowledged humanitarian responsibility toward the residents of Gaza, a ruling by the Israeli Supreme Court to allow five cancer-stricken relatives of Hamas members to travel for treatment is a notable exception to policy. Palestine
Likud lawmaker seeks to ban Palestinian flag in Israel In the wake of protests at which participants waved the Palestinian flag in Tel Aviv, a bill is being fast tracked to ban the banner at even small gatherings. Palestine
Turkish millennials seek their own literary heroes Millennials and post-millennials read differently than their elders, as they are faster in skimming, better in sharing and interested in interactive literary works. Turkey
Palestinians mobilize to restore Mosul library in memory of past Iraqi support In a gesture of solidarity to Iraq, Palestine has sent thousands of books to the Mosul library and promises more to come. Palestine
Jordanian military supports pilgrimage to Christian holy places The Jordanian army sent Christian military officers to Christian sites in Palestine and Jerusalem in a symbolic move that reflects the kingdom’s aim to promote pluralism and equality between its citizens. Palestine
False rumor reignites row over Egypt’s mixed-gender classes The Egyptian government once again has managed to quash a recurring false claim that men and women will be banned from attending university classes together. Egypt
Israeli and Palestinian civil defense teams join hands to save lives The Israeli and Palestinian civil defense agencies have more regularly been conducting joint first-responder exercises for handling traffic accidents after a horrendous collision on the West Bank last October, and they also cooperate in exercises to develop regional responses to natural disasters. Palestine
Ghalibaf retools image to lead Iran's new conservatives After several failed presidential bids, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf appears to be maneuvering to become the leader of a younger generation of Iranian hard-liners by trumpeting what he calls the 'new conservatism.' Iran
Three Arabs beaten nearly to death as nationalism sweeps Israel Shocking violence against three Arab Israelis is just the latest disastrous consequence of the right's hateful policies. Palestine
Tunisia’s next political battle: equal inheritance rights President Beiji Cai Essebsi’s call for a law establishing equal inheritance rights for men and women has sparked debate in Tunisia, a pioneer in women's rights in the Middle East but also a largely conservative society where most people reject contradicting Sharia. Tunisia
Palestinian refugee dances his way to top in Germany Tarek al-Turk startles his audience with his combination of acrobatics and dance on top of buildings; yet none of his dance figures are as dangerous as his escape journey to Europe. Palestine
