Why did the Met Opera lose its Saudi funding deal? The deal, announced as a nonbinding memorandum of understanding last September, would have seen the PIF inject up to $200 million into the opera institution over the next eight years. Saudi Arabia
Analysis 'Is it worth it?' Syria's Sharaa faces backlash over Missy Elliott performance Backlash erupts after dancers perform to Missy Elliott’s “Work It,” exposing the tightrope between Sharaa’s outreach to the West and pressure from his Islamist base. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Culture The weight of war: Erdal Duman’s sculptures probe politics of violence As missiles cross again Middle Eastern skies, Turkish artist Erdal Duman’s brightly colored weapons ask an uncomfortable question: When does war really begin? Turkey
Culture 'Gesture of resistance': Gaza war and Iran repression in Oscars spotlight This year’s Oscars nominations include Middle Eastern films whose themes of war, government violence and protest have shone a spotlight on politics at home. Iran
Egyptian artist portrays soccer stars as saints Proud Egyptians have been putting the faces of their soccer team on everything from T-shirts to Ramadan lanterns, but when an artist decided to paint them as saints, all hell broke loose. Egypt
Film about Egyptian superstar a hit everywhere but Egypt In Europe, Iranian director Shirin Neshat’s "Looking for Oum Kulthum" is seen as a landmark artistic collaboration across the Middle East, but Egyptian critics are unimpressed with its historical inaccuracies. Egypt
Why do Iranian conservatives hate this top-rated TV series? “Don’t Leave Me,” a family saga, got top ratings in Iran’s Ramadan TV. But its rape scene and secular tone raised the ire of conservatives. Iran
Egyptian censors succumb to 'Karma' Egypt’s General Authority for Censorship made a swift U-turn after its ban on screenings of Khaled Youssef’s “Karma” was met with resistance, confusion and parliamentary pledges to investigate. Egypt
Does Mhebis, a Ramadan tradition, have a future in Iraq? Al-Muhaibis, or Mhebis, a traditional game centered around finding a ring, is being played by Iraqis this Ramadan, but some foresee its disappearance as younger generations prefer spending time online playing electronic games. Iraq
Can Egypt’s superheroes stop corruption? Egyptian superheroes with a common touch tackle the ills of the country such as corruption, injustice, violation of human rights, loss of Egyptian identity and even bad grammar. Egypt
Middle Eastern artists give traditional art a modern twist Bahraini weaving, Palestinian embroidery and Iraqi miniatures are among the traditional art forms being reinvented and adapted by the Middle Eastern artists competing for the fifth edition of the Jameel Prize. Palestine
Egypt’s Ramadan TV series marked by controversy — again From sexual harassment accusations to diplomatic summons, Egypt’s Ramadan TV series are facing controversy, with prankster Ramez Galal as the top villain. Egypt
Iraqi artists transform derelict tobacco factory into culture hub The sprawling grounds of Sulaimaniyah's old tobacco factory are finding a second life as an arts center, although financial and bureaucratic obstacles have greatly hindered its progress. Iraq
Death does not stop voice of this Palestinian singer A posthumous album by Rim Banna titled "Voice of Resistance" expresses her hope and despair for Palestine through her own texts while she battled cancer. Palestine
Women fill leading roles in Egypt’s Ramadan TV series Egyptian cinema was considered a pioneer in featuring strong female characters 50 years ago; is this trend making a comeback in Ramadan TV series now? Egypt
Egyptian director's debut film honored at Cannes The touching low-budget Egyptian film "Yomeddine" took the Francois Chalais Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Egypt
