Bahram Beyzaie, a Giant of Iranian Cinema and Theatre, Dies at 87
Bahram Beyzaie, one of the most influential figures in Iranian cinema, theatre, and literary scholarship, passed away in the United States on Friday, December 26, 2025, coinciding with his 87th birthday, according to a statement released by Stanford Iranian Studies, where he had been a professor and colleague for the past fifteen years. View this […]
Tragic Death of Rob Reiner and His Wife in Los Angeles
The global film community has been shaken by the tragic deaths of acclaimed American filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle Singer Reiner, who were found dead on Sunday evening in their home in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), preliminary investigations indicate that both victims […]
Kamran Fani, Influential Persian Translator and Bibliographer, Dies at 81
Kamran Fani, a distinguished Iranian translator, bibliographer, librarian, and encyclopedist, passed away on Saturday, 13 December 2025, at the age of 81, following a prolonged illness. Reports confirmed by multiple reputable Persian-language and international media outlets indicate that Fani had been living with Alzheimer’s disease in recent years. Born on 14 April 1944 in Qazvin, […]
Eurovision at 70: Celebration of Pop Unity or a Stage for Europe’s Deepening Political Rift?
As the Eurovision Song Contest approaches its 70th edition, scheduled for May 2026 in Vienna, the event long marketed as a flamboyant showcase of cultural diversity and pan-European togetherness is entering what multiple observers now describe as its most severe legitimacy test in decades: a collision between entertainment spectacle, public-broadcaster accountability, and the unresolved politics […]
Why Shervin Hajipour Has Shifted From Hero to Accused
The announcement that Iranian singer-songwriter Shervin Hajipour has received official authorization to release his first studio album, Vaghe’i (“Real”), has reopened one of the most polarized cultural debates in Iran. Hajipour, whose 2022 protest anthem “Baraye…” became an international symbol of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement and later won the Grammy Award for Best Song […]
Frida Kahlo’s “The Dream (The Bed)” Sets Historic Auction Record for a Female Artist
In a landmark moment for the global art market, Frida Kahlo’s 1940 painting El sueño (La cama) — The Dream (The Bed) sold on Thursday night in New York for $54.7 million, setting a new all-time auction record for a work created by a female artist. The painting was offered at Sotheby’s during its highly […]
Homayoun Ershadi, star of “Taste of Cherry,” dies at 78
Homayoun Ershadi, one of the most distinctive and quietly powerful figures in Iranian and international cinema, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 78 after a period of illness. His death marks the end of a rare artistic presence whose minimalist style and profound emotional depth left an enduring imprint on world cinema. From […]
Aki Banayi, Pioneering Voice of Pre-Revolution Persian Music, Dies at 81
Aki Banayi, one of the defining voices of Iran’s pre-revolution musical landscape, has died at the age of 81. Akram Banayi, known professionally as Aki Banayi, passed away on November 2, 2025 (11 Aban 1404) in the United States. The news was shared by her sister, the renowned film and theater actress Pouri Banayi, who […]
The Grand Egyptian Museum Opens Beside the Great Pyramid
Seven Millennia of Heritage Reborn for the World After more than two decades of anticipation, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) officially opened its doors on November 1, 2025, at the edge of the Giza Plateau — a landmark event widely hailed as “the most significant cultural opening of the 21st century in the Middle East.”Covering […]
Wahed Khakdan, Prominent Iranian Hyperrealist Painter, Dies at 75
Wahed Khakdan, a distinguished Iranian painter and a significant figure in contemporary Iranian art, has passed away at the age of 75 in Tehran. The Iranian Painters Association confirmed his death in an official statement released on Thursday, October 23. Born in 1950 in Tehran, Khakdan studied at the Tehran School of Fine Arts and […]
A Comprehensive Report: The 2025 Heist at the Musée du Louvre — A Deep-Dive into Heritage, Security and Aftermath
1. Prelude: A Museum under Strain The Musée du Louvre, the world’s most-visited museum located in the heart of Paris, welcomed approximately 8.7 million visitors in 2024. Alongside this heavy footfall, multiple internal reports and labour unions had warned of mounting pressures: reduced staffing in security, delays in the deployment of new surveillance infrastructure, and […]
Nasser Taghvai: The Lone Captain of Iranian Cinema
On the morning of October 14, 2025 (Mehr 22, 1404), Nasser Taghvai — filmmaker, writer, photographer, and teacher — passed away at the age of 84.Born in Abadan, Taghvai was one of the most visionary figures in Iranian cinema, whose works — from Bad Jen to Kaghaz-e Bi Khat (Unruled Paper) — bridged anthropology, literature, […]
Diane Keaton, the Enduring Smile of American Cinema, Dies at 79
Diane Keaton, the acclaimed actor whose wit, originality, and unmistakable style reshaped the image of women in American film, has died at the age of 79 in California. Her family confirmed the news late Saturday, requesting privacy and offering no further details about the cause of death. Born Diane Hall in Los Angeles in 1946, […]
Hungarian Postmodern Master László Krasznahorkai Wins the 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature
The Swedish Academy has awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature to László Krasznahorkai, the celebrated Hungarian novelist and screenwriter, citing his “compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art.” At 71, Krasznahorkai stands among the most distinctive voices in postmodern European literature — a writer whose […]
Sean “Diddy” Combs — The Fallen Star of Hip-Hop Sentenced to Prison
Sean “Diddy” Combs, the American rapper, producer, and one of the most influential figures in hip-hop, has been sentenced to four years and two months in prison after being found guilty of transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution. The verdict, issued by a federal court in New York, marks a dramatic downfall for one […]
