Rising hope

unherd.com The 17th-century Moroccan sultan Moulay Ismail dedicated his reign to the construction of a palace complex so vast – initially meant to stretch over 300 miles – that it became known simply

On 30 October 2025, a cross was set on the spire of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí’s masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia cathedral of Barcelona, turning it into the world’s tallest church – a title previ

SAUDI ARABIA

TODAY, THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF Iran resembles a half-lifeless body collapsed on the ground, but holding a gun. With the support of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and other military forces, it

Abu Dhabi aims to educate and inspire with an influx of new attractions, reflecting the region’s vision for the future, says its Department of Culture and Tourism chairman

IT MAY BE 2026, BUT MANY HARD-WON RIGHTS FOR WOMEN ARE UNDER THREAT. WE ASK GROUNDBREAKING ACTIVISTS, STORYTELLERS AND A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER HOW TO MAINTAIN HOPE AND EFFECT CHANGE, EVEN WHEN THE WAY FORWARD IS UNCLEAR