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
Mud, rocks on menu in Beirut for Sharjah cultural event One of the major contemporary art experiences in the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates' Sharjah festival, held events in Beirut, Istanbul, Ramallah and Dakar. Lebanon
Artists in Istanbul grapple with migration, loss The refugee crisis sparked by war and economic upheaval in the Middle East leaves its mark on the Istanbul Biennial and satellite events. Syria
Virtual museum brings world’s masterpieces to Gaza The University of Palestine's new virtual museum lets Gazans experience the world's artwork and monuments without having to leave the besieged Gaza Strip. Palestine
Huge crowds descend on Egyptian city to celebrate Sufi mystic For one week, hundreds of thousands of Egyptians travel to the city of Tanta to honor Ahmed al-Badawi, the most popular Sufi mystic in the country, with ancient rituals and traditions. Egypt
Iraq's female booksellers turn the page on gender roles Iraqi women have started operating their own bookstores in different Iraqi cities, challenging the country's book selling industry that has been dominated by men. Iraq
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
Israel’s first international film festival hits 33 The Haifa Film Festival, known for its fine selection of documentaries, launched new categories this year, such as foodie and environmental cinema. Israel
Amman Design Fair pays homage to disappearing crafts Amman Design Week, one of the budding events in the region, underscores the need to modernize traditional crafts with new design. Jordan
How did haircuts, nail polish become part of Iran's Shiite mourning rituals? Traditional Shiite mourning rituals for the holy month of Muharram are being altered in Iran by what some see as superficialiity and a lack of religious principle. Iran
Explosions, heartbreak rock ancient Turkish site as dam moves forward More than 60 years in the making, Turkey's Ilisu Dam project is set to finally flood 12,000-year-old Hasankeyf and all its relics. Turkey
Why Palestine needs national library more than presidential palace Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' announcement of a national library was welcomed by the country’s cultural elite who consider it a start in securing Palestinian heritage and memory. Palestine
Popular board game in Palestine gets e-makeover A group of Palestinian programmers transform their childhood game from board to screen to save it from disappearing. Palestine
