Priyanka Navani

Lebanon heads to polls amid fear and hope

A crucial election in the cash-strapped country offers hope of a recovery for the battered economy. But some voters fear things can get even worse.

The Israeli Pavilion at the Dubai Expo attempts to cement a cultural shift

The pavilion aims to “connect minds” and create space for a "better future for all humanity."

What's behind the meteoric rise of Turkish dramas in the Middle East

Common history and cultural proximity make Turkish dramas all the rage in the Arabic-speaking region, surpassing the Western entertainment industry by a massive margin.

The whitewashing of Syria’s Al Hol camp

The fixation of Western media on blue-eyed, blonde-haired women in the camp erased the sufferings of thousands of people residing at the same site.

Middle East’s first casino fights for its life through war and crisis

Casino du Liban is six decades old and at least 1,200 families are counting on this institution.

How the internet's leading account on Palestine maintains its message

In the era of memes and flowered ‘Free Palestine’ squares, it's a constant struggle to ensure the message is not lost to an internet set on producing "more digestible" content.

Cricket reaches refugees in Lebanon, bridging gender and sectarian divides

The game quickly became popular among Syrian and Palestinian refugee children, as it lifts their morale and does not discriminate along ethnic or gender lines.

Inside Lebanon's 'deep trench', the meaning of revolution differs

Khandaq el Ghamiq is the embodiment of an anti-revolution, but at a closer look, they have misgivings about the way the country is being run, too.

Lebanon's prisons: A microcosm of disease, sectarianism and near-anarchy

Inter-ministerial wrangling over the control of the prison facilities coupled with police brutality and a lack of funding has exacerbated the human rights situation of incarcerated people in the country.

How one state-owned cigarette company profits through Lebanon's crisis

Cheap filter cigarettes produced by Regie are in demand as various people, from Syrian refugees to low-income people, are chain-smoking them, braving the odds.

Smuggler and smuggled: The realities of human trafficking in Lebanon

At the heart of human smuggling lies one unsaid principle that is to ensure that not everybody smugglers take money from gets on the boat.

’Where can we get joy from?’: Gloom lingers over Lebanon’s Christmas

Many families haven't eaten meat or chicken for over a month. It's the faith in God and the desire to support their children that keeps them going.