Two years later, the charges were reduced to so-called cyber crimes and he was sentenced to a 30-year ban on leaving Saudi Arabia. The announcement that Almadi, a dual citizen and retired engineer who had lived in the US since the 1970s, would be free to leave the country came after the US president delivered a speech touting US-Saudi ties, including arms sales and investment deals, during a second day of public events in Washington.
When the F-35s tore across the sky above the White House on Tuesdaylow, loud, and flying in a perfect Vit looked less like a foreign visit and more like a demonstration. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman wasn't just being welcomed back to Washington. He was being showcased, affirmed, and rehabilitatednot despite what happened seven years ago, but because the price had been paid.
Indian media reports have not confirmed the death toll, but one official reported that up to 45 people many from the southern Indian state of Telangana, had perished. Diplomats and politicians expressed their condolences over the tragic incident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on social media that he was deeply saddened, that his thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones, and that he was praying for the swift recovery of all those injured.
India's consulate said a "tragic bus accident" involving Umrah pilgrims took place near Saudi Arabia's Medina. More than 40 Indian nationals are feared dead. The Indian Consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's second-largest city, said in a press release Monday that Indian pilgrims were involved in a bus accident near the pilgrimage city of Medina. Saudi officials did not immediately confirm the crash or any casualties.
Can you imagine someone giving you $170,000 (129,000)? What would you buy? Can you imagine getting another $170,000 one minute later? And the handouts then continuing every minute for years? If so, you have a feel for the colossal cash machine that is Saudi Arabia's state oil company Aramco, the world's biggest producer of oil and gas last year. That tidal wave of cash keeps the authoritarian kingdom afloat,
Sitting on an investment panel in Saudi Arabia last week flanked by fellow billionaires, Bill Ackman's mind was more than 6,500 miles away. Leaning forward in his black leather chair, the outspoken hedge fund manager prodded his finger towards the other business leaders, including JP Morgan boss Jamie Dimon and Blackrock's Laurence Fink, who were all seated around the table in the vast Riyadh conference room.
The esports partnership between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Saudi Arabia is no more. On Thursday, the IOC said that it and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) have "mutually agreed" to part ways. The breakup comes weeks after Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund and other investors bought EA for $55 billion. The IOC and SOPC agreed on a 12-year esports partnership in 2024.
Saudi Arabia has named Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan al-Fawzan as the country's new grand mufti, the kingdom's top religious scholar. The state-run Saudi Press Agency reported that King Salman appointed the 90-year-old to the position late on Wednesday, based on a recommendation from his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. list of 2 itemsend of list Born in Saudi Arabias al-Qassim province, Sheikh Saleh studied the Quran with a local imam after his father's death and gained prominence through the Noor ala al-Darb (Light the Way) radio show, as well as his books and his television appearances.
Comedians looking to donate their fee from the Riyadh Comedy Festival, look elsewhere. A spokesperson for Human Rights Watch told it "cannot accept" money from comedians who have "generously offered to donate part of their performance fees." According to Arvind Ganesan, Human Rights Watch's head of economic justice and rights division, taking money from people who took money from the government of Saudi Arabia could "create the perception that somehow we compromised our independence after the fact."
Kevin Diks put Indonesia ahead from the spot in the 11th minute on Wednesday, but Saleh Abu Al-Shamat levelled six minutes later before Al-Brikan scored either side of half-time to secure the points despite a second Diks penalty two minutes from time. Saudi Arabia next face Iraq in Jeddah on Tuesday and know that a win over Graham Arnold's side will guarantee their place in December's draw for the finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
I am no stranger to cancel culture. I was cancelled after 9/11 simply for being Middle Eastern, as Arab terrorists were behind the attacks on the twin towers. This is despite the fact that I am not Arab, nor am I, contrary to popular opinion, a terrorist. In certain circles there have been calls to boycott my UK tour Namaste, a show in which I try to explore the nuances of the complex geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.
This is something that's become a big part of the news because people, a lot of comedians especially, are very upset because the people who paid the comedians to come to this are not good people. It's a pretty brutal regime. They've done a lot of horrible, horrible things... I'm curious as to why you decided to do that.
The park will feature what will be the world's tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster. Falcons Flight is an Intamin coaster that will reach a top speed of 155 mph with a drop of 519 feet on nearly 14,000 feet of track. The park will feature seven other coasters as well as multiple dark rides and water rides. That has made the park a dream destination for many fans around the world.
Over the next eight days six Asian nations will battle for two 2026 World Cup places and it feels as if Saudi Arabia and Qatar are already a little closer to North America. The two countries have been handed home advantage for the games in the two mini-groups by the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) with the winners of each qualifying.
I [want] to express my sincere regret for having performed under a government that continues to violate fundamental human rights. I deeply regret participating under the auspices of the Saudi government.
Warehouse laborers from Asia say the world's second largest employer, Amazon, has failed to live up to its promises to compensate them for financial abuses tied to their work for the online retailer in Saudi Arabia. In 2023, Amazon promised to reimburse recruitment fees to its contract workers from Asia who had been forced to pay large sums to secure jobs at the company's warehouses in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking on Real Time With Bill Maher, CK, who is co-headlining the festival with the British comedian Jimmy Carr on Monday night local time, said other comedians had been really surprised by the response from audiences in Riyadh so far. There's a woman who's a lesbian and Jewish, who did a show there, and she got a standing ovation, CK said, referring to Jessica Kirson, who has expressed sincere regret for performing at the festival.
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Yves Bissouma has been linked with a move away from the club in recent weeks. The 29-year-old has fallen down the pecking order since the arrival of the Portuguese International Joao Palhinha earlier this summer. He was expected to leave the club before the transfer deadline day, but a move did not materialise. West Ham wanted to sign Bissouma.
Kirkpatrick estimated that the family has raked in more than $3 billion dollars since the start of Donald Trump's second term, with significant earnings linked to foreign investments.
Since the acquisition by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Newcastle United finds itself at a crossroads with executive instability, lack of transfers, and overlooked projects.
Jeddah Tower construction has restarted, with expectations of completion within four to five years. Builders have finished about a third of the tower, totaling over 40% of the final build.