Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture and Information banned and confiscated books by Egyptian writer Youssef Zeidan from the Riyadh International Book Fair.

Two movies – ‘Beit Al-Baher’ and ‘Mawlana’ – were not granted screening permissions during the Beirut Cinema Days film festival.

Authorities have released musician Hoang Nhat Thong (Tran Vu Anh Binh) from prison on 21 May 2017, 4 months before serving out his 6-year prison sentence.

Freemuse co-founders Marie Korpe and Ole Reitov received the 2017 Danish Nairobi Award on 31 May 2017 in Copenhagen.

Authorities raided theatre Gogol Centre, its artistic director's home and other related addresses in embezzlement investigation.

At least 22 concertgoers have been reported killed and 59 more injured in a suicide attack after US singer Ariana Grande’s concert ended in Manchester.

Russia’s State Duma will discuss a bill at the end of May 2017 seeking to “protect high important values” in public, including art and cultural venues.

Egyptian heavy metal musician and concert promoter Nader Sadek is suing Head of the Music Syndicate Hani Shaker for libel and defamation.

Venezuelan singer Oscarcito received a death threat over social media by MP Juan Díaz who told the singer to wear a bulletproof vest at his concerts.

Freemuse co-founder Ole Reitov is a keynote speaker at the forthcoming World Press Freedom Day event in Jakarta being held from 1-4 May 2017.