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Culture

Neymar

After Ronaldo, Neymar scores $54 million penthouse in Dubai

The Brazilian soccer player is the latest athlete to acquire property in the UAE’s largest city.

United Arab Emirates

Head coach Robert Saleh of the New York Jets looks on against the Denver Broncos during the first half at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 29, 2024, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

What’s behind firing of Robert Saleh, NFL’s first Muslim, Lebanese head coach?

The New York Jets were performing poorly under the Lebanese American Saleh amid rumors of tensions with outspoken quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur drops out of 2024 tennis circuit

Tunisia's Ons Jabeur, currently ranked 22nd in the Women's Tennis Association, will step away from tennis until 2025 as she recovers from a shoulder injury.

Bassem Youssef attends the 2020 Sundance Film Festival Cinema Cafe on January 31, 2020, in Park City, Utah.

Egyptian comedian Bassem Youssef no longer on X: What we know

The exiled comic has been a vocal critic of Israel, highlighting the plight of the Palestinians during the Gaza war but has recently been accused of antisemitism.

Latest News

CT scans reveal mysteries of ancient Egypt's 'Screaming Woman' mummy

Visitors tour the site in the Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo, where archaeologists unearthed two human and animal embalming workshops, as well as two tombs, on May 27, 2023. The head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, told reporters the embalming workshops, where humans and animals were mummified, "date back to the 30th dynasty" which reigned around 2,400 years ago. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Middle East athletes rack up 44 medals at Paris Olympics

Imane Khelif

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From Egypt to Saudi: Meet Middle East's athletes at Paris Olympics

This photograph shows Paris 2024 Olympics Games banner in front of the National Assembly, in Paris, on July 18, 2024.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Analysis

Saudi Arabia's soccer dreams tested as Vision 2030 goal posts move

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - MAY 4: Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr celebrates after scoring the 2nd goal during the Saudi Pro League match between Al-Nassr and Al Wehda at Al Awwal Park on May 4, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.(Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Beatrice Farhat

Associate Editor (Lebanon)

In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict

Nazlan Ertan

In Izmir, reporting on culture

Danny Makki

In London, reporting on Syrian politics and culture

Naima Morelli

In Rome, reporting on Middle East culture

Rebecca Anne Proctor

In Dubai, reporting on culture

General view of the Nobel Prize Awards Ceremony at Stockholm Concert Hall on Dec. 10, 2022, in Stockholm, Sweden.

Nobel Foundation rescinds Iran's invitation to 2023 Prize ceremony

Iran was excluded from last year’s ceremonies following the government’s violent crackdown against protesters.

Lebanese protesters denounce violence the LGBTQI community and others in downtown Beirut, July 31, 2022.

Hard-line Christian group attacks queer-friendly bar in Lebanon

The LGBTQ community in Lebanon has faced increasing violence in recent weeks amid a rising wave of hate speech against them.

Canadian actor Ryan Gosling and Australian actress Margot Robbie.

Lebanon minister calls for banning of 'Barbie' movie

The Hezbollah-backed politician accused the film of promoting homosexuality, among other things, amid rising anti-LGBTQ sentiment in the region. "Barbie" is scheduled to be released in the Gulf this week.

Barbie movie poster

Saudi, UAE theaters to screen Barbie this week, despite earlier push to delay

The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar have changed the release date of the record grossing film for a second time to Aug. 10, and the film will open in Saudi Arabia Aug. 9.

United Arab Emirates

COLIN MURTY/AFP via Getty Images

Breaking | Last Updated: August 3, 2023, 10:37 am

Morocco makes history, advances at Women’s World Cup

The Atlas Lionesses are the first team from the Arab World to play in the soccer tournament.

Mideast heat

From Egypt to Iran, heatwave compounds Middle East electricity problems, climate change burdens

Countries like Iraq are particularly susceptible to climate change, as recurring blackouts make it harder to stay cool indoors.

MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP via Getty Images

Tunisian wins gold at world swimming championships

Tunisia has a history of success in swimming, and athletes from the North African country have also performed well in tennis and soccer recently.

Jordanian parliament members are separated during an altercation in the parliament in the capital Amman on December 28, 2021. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Jordan’s LGBTQ community faces increased attacks, including from Islamists

Jordan’s LGBTQ community is increasingly under attack, leaving them with few options and spaces for safety.

Image courtesy of Anissa Helou.

Lebanese food author Anissa Helou looks back on varied career

After 20 years in the art world and 30 years as a published food writer, the author of numerous award-winning cookbooks has launched a newsletter and is planning a new cooking school.

The head of the gynecology department of the in vitro fertilization unit at Aziza Othmana hospital, Fethi Zhiwa (L), speaks in the egg and sperm processing and freezing laboratory with the medical biologist and associate professor in reproductive biology of his service, Khadija Kacem Berejeb, on February 9, 2022 in Tunis. - Under Tunisian law, single women can only freeze their eggs if they are facing medical treatment, such as chemotherapy, "that could affect their ability to procreate". Under the country'

'Discrimination will not stop us!': How Arab women scientists are fighting to learn

The controversy surrounding diversity and gender-based discrimination in the sciences is continuing, but Arab female scientists persist in what they started.

Mohammed Magdy

By Mohammed Magdy

In Berlin, reporting on Egyptian politics

Valentina Cernoia of Italy competes for the ball with Fatima Gharbi of Morocco during the Women´s International Friendly match between Italy and Morocco at Stadio Paolo Mazza on July 01, 2023 in Ferrara, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Morocco chases history at FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia

The Moroccan women’s team is the first team from the Arab world to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Their success follows a historic run by the Moroccan men’s team at last year’s World Cup in Qatar.

Ebrar Karakurt

Turkish volleyball star becomes target of homophobic slur

A conservative paper’s attack on a gold-medal-winning volleyball star for her sexual orientation has created controversy as Turks rallied to her defense.