People fleeing battles between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and ISIS fighters in the Syrian village of Baghouz, arrive after crossing the desert in the back of a truck to a region controlled by the SDF in the countryside of the Deir Ezzor province. The SDF, backed by air strikes of the U.S.-led coalition, are fighting to expel the last ISIS fighters from the few hamlets that remain in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor. For days, hundreds of civilians have been fleeing what remains of the so-called "Hajin pocket" ...

The master of one of Egypt's most traditional crafts for years watched sadly as his once lucrative craft-business dwindled. Fellow artisans deserted the ancient art known as Khayamiya, or tent-making, for better paying jobs. Khayamiya has been handstitching the decorative appliques that nowadays range from wall hangings to bed quilts for more than half a century. In days gone by, this craft was used to make tents and large tapestries but has evolved as demand changed. These days, Khayamiya refers to the creation of ornamental items mostly in cotton that ...

War is the cause of so much pain, and sometimes it's easier to express that through song. The sound of music fills the halls of a school in Yemen's Taez. The three-storey Al-Nawras School was hit in 2015-2016, right after Saudi Arabia and its allies joined the government's fight against the Houthis. When it reopened its doors, the walls was still pockmarked with bullet holes, educators decided to expand the music programme, making it part of the core curriculum alongside maths and Arabic with the hope it would restore joy ...

Palestinians, Thursday 24 January 2018, decided to rally against the closing of Rafah crossing which links Palestine and Egypt. The Rafah Border Crossing was recognized by the 1979 Israel–Egypt Peace Treaty. The original crossing point was called the Rafah Land Port.

By Ewelina Lepionko Herat is located in the western part of Afghanistan. With international border trade playing an important part in the economy of the Herat province, most of the population live in rural areas and economic activity is heavily reliant on agriculture and horticulture production (saffron, rugs, cumin, marble, aluminium, animal skins and wool). The province is home to 90% of Afghanistan's Saffron production. Afghan businessman invested $2 million to open a saffron processing factory in Herat offering jobs to 700 women. The factory processes and packages saffron before ...

Preserving the beauty and a bright look requires a lot of effort and healthy habits over the years. Many Arab celebrities seem to never grow old. Dancer Fifi Abdo for example, who recently announced her return to belly dancing, is 75 years old. Stars such as Majida Al Roumi have also maintained a young look for years without any change, as well as Moroccan star Samira Said. Among the male stars that never seem to age are the Iraqi star Kazem El Saher, who admits sticking to many healthy habits ...

One of the most trending things that people love to see and try in a frigid day is to throw boiling water in the air and watch it turn into ice in a few seconds. Scientists reveal the water rapidly evaporates into vapor that immediately condenses into a cloud. However, you need to try it in a very cold, dry atmosphere. The experiment works best when the air temperature and dew point are far below zero.

Iraq's players gather in a huddle ahead of during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup Round of 16 football match between Qatar and Iraq at the Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi on January 22, 2019. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Kabul residents, this winter, face deadly threat: Air pollution. For weeks a thick layer of toxic smog has blanketed the sprawling city of Kabul as cold air traps pollution caused by people burning coal, wood, car tyres and even garbage to stay warm. The choking contamination peaks in evenings and early mornings when temperatures plunge below zero. Dangerous particulate matter, including toxins like sulphate and black carbon, hang in the air like a thick curtain, reducing visibility and making breathing difficult. Residents complain the air is getting worse, a view ...

#10YearChallenge hashtag has gone viral over the social media as people started to share photos betwen these years to show the changes in the past 10 years. However, this challange is different when it is applied to the Middle East. Some countries have 'super' developed, others such as Iraq, Syria, and Yemen have reeled under literally bombed centuries back because of the destructiveness of war.

Rania Youssef has set Instagram on fire again after posting a set of photos in the swimming pool, declaring that 'this is the challenge'. Rania Youssef participated in the 10-year challenge, and surprised the public with hardly any difference in her looks between the past and the present. This is not the first time that Rania Youssef stirs controversy as the storm her famous bold dress caused at the closing ceremony of the Cairo Film Festival is still cooling down, and she occasionally makes a fuss either because of her ...