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
Is Egypt ready to end underage marriage? Egypt is seeking to curtail customary marriages of girls under the age of 18 after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called for measures to combat this phenomenon amid opposition by some religious scholars. Egypt
Meet the generation of Palestinian division Palestinian youth hope reconciliation will compensate for the dreams they lost as a result of the 10-year-long internal division. Palestine
Will new regulations help Palestinian-Syrians in Lebanon? New regulations could put an end to legal challenges faced by Palestinian-Syrian refugees who have, in some cases, gone to extreme lengths just to get hold of even the most fundamental legal documents. Lebanon
Erdogan forges ahead with his 'dream' to build a canal to rival Suez The government wants to dig an artificial waterway between Istanbul’s two seas to spur economic growth, but conservationists and economists say the Istanbul Canal will prove costly for the city. Turkey
Egypt’s soccer fans hope for return to stadiums Amid excitement over the national team qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in 28 years, Egyptians hope for a removal of a ban on fans attending matches that was instituted following stadium clashes years ago. Egypt
Past meets future at Jerusalem's Tower of David The Digital Innovation Lab at the Tower of David Museum in Jerusalem aims to use augmented reality to create an enhanced visitor’s experience. Israel
Libyan activists team up with Al-Azhar to tackle extremism A group of Libyan activists are working alongside Egypt’s Al-Azhar to protect religious clerics defending moderate Islam in Libya from extremist attacks. Libya
Ottoman fez gets face-lift in Beirut Two Lebanese designers are collaborating to reinvent the traditional tarboosh and give it a 21st-century look. Lebanon
Film about interfaith dialogue opens in Egypt to praise "The Sultan and the Saint," an award-winning film about interfaith dialogue at the height of the Crusades, has found an enthusiastic reception in Egypt, where the true story played out. Egypt
Palestinian journalists launch independent online news channel At a time when biased media outlets are a dime a dozen in Palestinian territories, a group of Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip decided to launch an independent online news channel that uses Facebook and YouTube to disseminate news items. Palestine
West Bank telecom authorities flounder in flood of Israeli phone tech Increasing numbers of Palestinians are using Israeli SIM cards for better cellular service despite their illegality, and the West Bank's economy and security are paying the price. Palestine
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
