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
Algeria victory in Africa Cup fuels protest movement With Algerians continuing to protest the political elite, the state tried to win points by co-opting the national fervor over soccer, which is intrinsically linked to the Hirak movement, subsidizing travel to shuttle fans to see the national team play in the Confederation of African Football final in Cairo. Algeria
Life is no bowl of cherries in Idlib's groves Constant shelling by regime forces has disrupted Idlib's centuries-old tradition of cultivating cherry groves. Syria
Will this mall put Beirut's fruit vendors out of business? A new mall for produce, scheduled to be opened next year, will test Beirut's attachment to traditional markets and street vendors. Lebanon
Work in Israeli settlements means high risks, no safety net for Palestinian laborers Most of the 36,000 Palestinians who work in Israeli settlements across the West Bank lack basic benefits including personal protection equipment and have little to no recourse when the worst happens. Palestine
Cairo's long-awaited Naguib Mahfouz Museum disappoints It took Egypt 13 years to create a museum dedicated to literary giant Naguib Mahfouz and now that it has finally opened, many find it not worth the wait. Egypt
Istanbul soup kitchen serves hope to homeless A former homeless survivor of rape and other violence not only got herself off the streets but established a foundation to help others do the same. Turkey
Improved Turkish-Chinese ties come at a cost to Uighurs Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s rhetoric on protecting Uighurs' human rights has become subdued as he attempts to lure Chinese investment and other funds to Turkey. Turkey
Where should Israeli Arabs spend the summer? So long as the Israeli government does not solve the severe housing shortage of its Arab citizens, it is logical that Arab families will try to upgrade their lives by moving to Jewish localities. Israel
Meet the 'fast and furious' of Lebanon Leila Nasrallah developed a passion for cars and driving at the age of 13 and today has helped assemble a community of fellow enthusiasts who meet every day to talk cars, race each other and drift. Lebanon
Palestinian students look at gender equality through cameras A short film project in the West Bank urges high school students to examine gender issues through the lens of a camera. Palestine
How this Ramallah shop teaches women to fight against harassment Palestinian-American Yasmeen Mjalli created BabyFist to speak out against street harassment in Ramallah, but the shop quickly turned into a safe space for women to share their stories and seek legal advice. Palestine
Iraq's diversity institute combats religious stereotypes and hate speech A new Iraqi institute aims to change the country's discourse toward minorities through educational curricula designed by religious minorities. Iraq
