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
Turkey’s repression of media turns violent In the wake of a brutal attack on a Turkish journalist, few believe the official story of a traffic altercation as political violence ravages the country. Turkey
Can Golan Heights' vultures be saved? Faced with poisoning by cattle breeders, the vultures of the Golan Heights are practically extinct, with only five still alive. Israel
NGO offers Lebanon taste of lionfish in effort to contain invasive species A Lebanese group is promoting the lionfish, a threat to the Mediterranean Sea ecosystem, as a tasty and profitable fishery. Lebanon
Egyptian tattoo artist draws flowers, butterflies to hide burns Shenouda Abdel Malak draws free tattoos on burn victims as part of a project called "Love Yourself." Egypt
Should women cover up so men can fast in Egypt? An online campaign calling for "girls to dress modestly during Ramadan" has provoked the ire of critics who see it as a veiled call for sexual harassment under the pretext of piety. Egypt
Festival brings Sufi bands from region and beyond to Palestine This year's Al-Kamandjati festival has brought Sufi music to Palestinians despite some technical difficulties and entry permit denials for musicians. Palestine
Many Palestinians apply, but few get to visit Al-Aqsa for Ramadan Though Israeli announces measure allowing some Palestinians to visit Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan every year, applicants complain of opaque selection processes and poor odds. Palestine
Egypt's camel racing shifts into high gear The Egyptian government seeks to modernize camel racing by establishing a new international racetrack and opting for robot jockeys. Egypt
Local Israeli authorities lose a little freedom on Independence Day With local governments paying increasingly exorbitant prices for performers to entertain on Independence Day, Interior Minister Aryeh Deri has introduced a cap in pricing to take effect in 2020. Israel
The politics of mutual grief Bereaved Israelis and Palestinians held an annual memorial event for victims on both sides of their conflict after the High Court of Justice overruled an attempt by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prevent Palestinians from entering Israel to attend the ceremony, which is held on the same day that Israel honors its fallen soldiers. Palestine
Israeli-Arabs key to returning the center-left to power Comparing Israel’s demographic profile with the results of the recent election show that large numbers of Israeli Arabs not voting, some due to intimidation, had a dramatic impact on the political map. Israel
Frustrated Jordanians work off daily woes in rage rooms A rage room in Amman helps Jordanians cope with their frustration by smashing things in a safe space. Jordan