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
Can YouTube series compete with Egypt TV dramas during Ramadan? A group of Egyptian actors known for their award-winning play "1980 and Above" try their hand at a Ramadan series on YouTube. Egypt
Jordan's political parties see uncertain future The loss incurred by Islamists in Jordan’s second largest union, the Engineers Association, suggests a general loss in confidence by Jordanian voters in Islamist political parties. Jordan
Syrian family finds shelter, job in Mardin church In the multicultural city of Mardin, a Syrian refugee made her life taking care of a church. Turkey
Israeli art students protest Gaza killing Israeli Science Minister Ofir Akunis, displeased with artwork by students at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design commemorating the 62 Palestinians recently killed by the IDF in Gaza, is denying all students from the school the opportunity to present artworks at an upcoming conference. Palestine
French group's manifesto against Quran draws rebuttals in Egypt A French group's call for removing some Quranic verses prompted responses ranging from "Ignore it and it'll go away" to "Go to hell." Egypt
Mosul's Great Mosque to be restored to its former glory The city of Mosul, which was the capital of the Islamic State in Iraq until less than a year ago, is planning to rebuild the historic Al-Nouri Mosque and its hunchback minaret with financial support from the UAE and under UNESCO supervision. Iraq
Can Al-Azhar persuade Egyptians to stay married? Al-Azhar has launched a unit to research the causes behind Egypt's exploding divorce rate and to counsel people considering divorce to reconsider. Egypt
Israelis divided after tumultuous week Israelis were caught in a storm of emotions this week, with many rejoicing the relocation of the US Embassy to Jerusalem and other wins while others are sickened by celebrations while Gazan protesters are killed. Palestine
With help from Copenhagen, Cairo makes room for bicyclists In partnership with the Cairo government, the United Nations and the Danish Embassy, a civil society organization hopes to cut down on traffic and encourage healthier lifestyles with bicycle-friendly infrastructure. Egypt
What's next in Israel-Palestinian conflict? With Israel riding high after a series of political and military victories, and the Palestinians having suffered 60 deaths on the Gaza border at the hands of the IDF, observers wonder what's next for the leaderships on both sides. Palestine
Swedish meatballs just one taste of Turkey's rich kofte culture The Ottoman roots of Sweden's beloved meatballs has caused an amusing social media flurry and reminded the world of the incredibly diverse culinary heritage of Anatolia. Turkey
Israeli group looks to bring peace back into agenda Amid Israeli hopelessness and indifference toward the conflict with the Palestinians, the Geneva Initiative convened a conference on restoring a dialogue on the two-state solution. Palestine
