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
Emerging Egyptian artist gives Orientalism new look Up-and-coming Egyptian artist Hossam Dirar has used old Orientalist paintings for his works in a new exhibition in Cairo. Egypt
An archive of resistance: Documenting Egypt's revolution As videos of the Egyptian regime’s violations during the 2011 and 2013 uprisings were disappearing from social media, the Mosireen Collective launched an online archive to keep the memory of the Arab Spring alive in the minds of citizens. Egypt
Girls of Jerusalem ensemble gets Palestinian voices heard A girls’ ensemble in East Jerusalem uses both traditional and Western musical instruments to perform traditional songs of Palestine. Palestine
Culture Alert: Art speaks to power in February February exhibitions in the Middle East offer satirical and fantastic looks at politics and society, clearly demonstrating that the fighting spirit in the arts is far from being defeated by the powers that be. Egypt
Palestinians pay homage to poet Fadwa Tuqan Palestinians are commemorating the centenary of their great poet Fadwa Tuqan, a fighter for her country and her rights as a woman. Palestine
Collectors hunt down forgeries as Arab art market flourishes As Middle Eastern art experiences an international boom, Lebanese collector Basel Dalloul is leading a drive to expose forgeries and follow more stringent standards for authentication. Lebanon
Icelandic musician discovers fan base in unlikely place Young Iranians welcome the rare opportunity to see a popular international musician perform live in their country. Iran
Palestinian artist turns olive leaves into silver jewels Nadia Abu Ghattas turned her handicraft hobby into a profession that reflects her love of olive trees. Palestine
Egyptian school aims to make archaeology fun for youth The Young Archaeologist School in Egypt seeks to educate young students on the importance of antiquities through different activities and field trips. Egypt
Iranian painter's mouthless women speak volumes at Istanbul exhibition Maryam Salahi, an Iranian artist living in Turkey, taps into her "foreignness" for an exhibition in Istanbul exploring identity and freedom in the Middle East. Turkey
Gazan artists, intellectuals seek to revive culture cafes The mushrooming cultural salons in the Gaza Strip provide writers and artists with an outlet for expression. Palestine
Iranian directors see little respite despite support for Rouhani Despite their support for moderate President Hassan Rouhani, Iranian film directors remain under the same kind of pressure from the authorities they faced during earlier administrations. Iran
