Latest from Alex Martin Astley
The Undimmed Passion of Damascus’ Pigeon Fanciers
Above Damascus, pigeons flying in tight formation trace arcs in the sky that crisscross and collide. It is a choreography as old and enchanting as the city itself. But as the country recovers from years of war, the centuries-old tradition of pigeon fanciers could be on its final flight.
Clearing Lebanon’s War Rubble
Lebanon is grappling with 32 million tons of rubble — and counting — created since war with Israel broke out in 2023. A controversial proposal to dump the debris in the Mediterranean is raising environmental concerns, while some advocate recycling it for reconstruction, amid government inaction and a financial crisis.