Russian couple faces deportation from Turkey after Bible reading at Hagia Sophia The couple were detained after reading from the Bible inside the Istanbul landmark, which remains one of Christianity’s most important historic sites despite its conversion into a mosque. Turkey
Culture Tyre, Lebanon’s ‘Queen of the Seas,’ devastated by Israeli bombing: What to know A series of Israeli strikes near ancient ruins in the Phoenician port city has raised concerns about potential damage to historical landmarks. Lebanon
Between heat and war, Saudi Arabia seeks incident-free Hajj Mecca's temperature reached a high of 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40.5 degrees Celsius) on Tuesday and is expected to hit 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42 Celsius) on Wednesday. Saudi Arabia
Culture Syria advances cultural revival with nine new heritage listings Nine heritage sites have been added to list of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which restored Syria’s membership last year after a 14-year suspension. Syria
Analysis Pushed out of Sahel, Macron turns to Egypt and Africa's anglophone countries By Rina Bassist , Rosaleen Carroll
How an archaeologist saved Turkey's 'cotton castle' from careless tourism Francesco D'Andria, the Italian archaeologist who led the excavations of Turkey's ancient Hierapolis/Pamukkale for 15 years, has recently retired and leaves behind a legacy of defending antiquities from reckless tourism. Turkey
Egyptians outraged by wedding photos as ancient sites tapped for revenue Egypt's cash-strapped Ministry of Antiques is making money from renting out historical venues, but the public is less than pleased with archaeological venues being used for private events. Egypt
Arak distillery promotes ambitious new brand in defiance of alcohol ban A small home distiller wants to revive the long tradition of alcohol production in the Iraqi town of Bashiqa, which was once a center of multiculturalism and revered for its booze. Iraq
Why 'vintage' in this Turkish village means confectionaries, not wine In the southeastern Anatolian village of Cirali, harvesting grapes ends with a variety of sweets to consume rather than wine. Turkey
Jerusalem craftsman struggles to preserve Palestinian leather tradition Palestinian leatherworker Zuheir Abdul Rahim Daana is still making the crafts of his father and grandfather, but his business is suffering from supply challenges and cheap competition. Palestine
2018 'year of archaeological discoveries' for Egypt The Egyptian government has delivered on its promise that the year 2018 would be filled with notable archaeological discoveries in Egypt. Now the government has to find a way to boost tourism based on these archaeological treasures. Egypt
Week of art, design begins as twin fairs open in Beirut Beirut, a growing regional destination for artists, is showcasing its rich and diverse art scene with weeklong programs dedicated to contemporary art and design. Lebanon
Iran's rich, influential religious singers eclipse clerics As Iran's traditional eulogists grow in fame and influence, they have drawn criticism from the clerics who used to have the main voices in religious ceremonies. Iran
Small Lebanese craft brewers introduce big new tastes in beer Micro and craft breweries are paving the way for locally made Lebanese beer by working around the lack of traditional ingredients and doing what they can to avoid contributing to the Lebanon's persistent environmental problems. Lebanon
Does Egypt need museum to save film set props? After a fire destroyed many of the iconic props of Egyptian cinema, prop master Abbas Saber appeals to Cairo to help put what remains in a museum. Egypt
Museum to showcase bewildering history of Palestinian money A new money museum in Ramallah will display all the 28 different currencies Palestine has used over the ages. Palestine
Idlib museum throws open doors in defiance of threats The Idlib museum, whose collections rival those in Aleppo and Damascus, reopened last month, despite having lost an unknown number of its treasures to looters. Syria
