Society

Egypt's "World Press Photo" winner

"If we as locals don’t tell these stories, who will?"

Photographer Mohamed Mahdy has documented life in Alexandria, where residents suffer from severe pollution from a cement factory. He explains how they are pushing back, why he looks for his stories close to home, and what he expects from international media.
By Anna-Theresa Bachmann
Lebanon

Shia families struggle for shelter in divided Beirut

More than one million Lebanese have been displaced by Israeli strikes. Destruction and occupation have made return impossible for many from the south, including Shia families, who are stranded in Beirut with limited shelter amid deepening sectarian mistrust.
By Alizée Lambin
Lebanon

When war reached my Beirut home

In Lebanon, war is a test of social cohesion. Beirut-based author Manal Khader recounts how fear and uncertainty spread through her neighbourhood. Her building's WhatsApp group came to life—first with updates and practical questions, then the tone shifted.
By Manal Khader
War and memory

Gaza's lost photographs

Through years of war, many people in Gaza have lost their personal photo albums. Palestinian journalist Asmaa al-Ghoul reflects on her family's vanished images and what their absence means for personal and collective memory.
By Asmaa al-Ghoul
Ralph Ghadban on Iran

"The Islamic Republic is rooted in society"

Whether through appeasement or escalation, the West keeps making the same mistake with Iran, argues Islamic studies scholar Ralph Ghadban: it fails to recognise the regime's radical Shia ideological foundations.
By Teseo La Marca
Jewish community in Syria

"One day we’ll drive from Damascus to Jerusalem"

The fall of Assad has prompted the return of millions of Syrians, including a small Jewish minority. Under Henry Hamra, son of the country’s last chief rabbi, they are asking whether a lasting return is possible.
By Justus Könneker
Palestinians in Egypt

Time to return to Gaza?

In Egypt, Palestinians displaced by war in Gaza face a painful dilemma: return to their families and a devastated homeland or remain in limbo without residency. Medical needs, financial hardship and border fears make the decision fraught.
By Rehab Eliawa
Culture in Germany

The politics of neutrality

This year’s Berlinale highlighted the tensions between art and supposedly neutral institutions. But state-funded cultural bodies don't operate outside politics; they set the terms of debate. Greater transparency about how boundaries are drawn could strengthen trust.
By Sayed Jalal Shajjan
Damascus book fair

A new benchmark for freedom

Syria has held its first book fair since the fall of Assad. The landmark event sets a new standard against which the government and its cultural policy will be judged.
By Stefan Weidner
Research on Jew-hatred in Germany

"Antisemitism cannot be deported"

The concept of "imported antisemitism" is widespread in German politics but remains poorly researched. A new study provides nuance, context and data on antisemitism among both migrants and non-migrants. An interview with co-author Neta‑Paulina Wagner.
By Judith Poppe
Traumatic mutism

Gaza's silent children

Two years of war have left deep scars in Gaza. Some children have lost the ability to speak as a result of trauma. A team of psychologists is using new technology to help them find their voices again.
By Doaa Shaheen
Education in Syria

Returning pupils face language barrier

Eleven-year-old Ali spent six years in Germany. Now back in Syria, he is struggling with Arabic, his native language, as the new government appears overwhelmed by the task of reintegrating returning schoolchildren.
By Huda al-Kulaib