By Aya Batrawy Published 3:41 pm, Wednesday, April 18, 2018 Photo: Amr Nabil / Associated Press Image 1of/1 CaptionClose Image 1 of 1 A car similar to the one used in “Black Panther,” is parked outside a theater that will screen the film. A car similar to the one used in “Black Panther,” is parked outside a theater that will screen the film. Photo: Amr Nabil / Associated Press Saudi Arabia to show ‘Black Panther’ to mark cinema opening 1 / 1 Back to Gallery RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia is to hold a private screening on Wednesday of the Hollywood blockbuster “Black Panther” to herald the launch of movie theaters in the kingdom that are expected to open to the public as early as next month. Authorities are planning an invitation-only screening of the … [Read more...] about Saudi Arabia to show ‘Black Panther’ to mark cinema opening
Saudi arabia
NGOs urge Spain not to sell warships to Saudi Arabia
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, shown here at the United Nations last week, has been on a charm offensive. Photo: Bryan Smith/AFP A coalition of NGOs on Wednesday urged Spain not to sign off on a planned sale of warships to Saudi Arabia during an upcoming visit to Madrid by the kingdom's crown prince. The "Arms Under Control" collective, which includes Amnesty International, Oxfam and Greenpeace, also called on Spain to stop exporting arms to the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, where thousands of civilians have been killed. During his trip to Spain on Thursday, Prince Mohammed bin Salman will meet King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy -- "a meeting during which bilateral agreements will be signed," read the Spanish government's agenda, without giving more details. Spain's loss-making shipyards are placing a lot of hope on the planned sale of five corvettes, which has reportedly been under negotiation for two years. … [Read more...] about NGOs urge Spain not to sell warships to Saudi Arabia
US Approves $1.3B Sale of Artillery to Saudi Arabia
The Trump administration is signing off on selling more than $1.3 billion in artillery to Saudi Arabia as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visits the United States. The State Department says the administration told Congress on Thursday that it plans to approve the sale. Lawmakers will have 30 days to act if they want to try to stop it. The package includes about 180 Paladin howitzer systems. The artillery-firing vehicles launch 155mm shells. In total, the U.S. has agreed to more than $2.3 billion in arms deals with the Saudis just since Prince Mohammed arrived in the U.S. last month. A previously announced deal involved more than $1 billion in missiles. A mother allegedly shocked her teenage son with a stun gun when she tried to wake him up for Easter, according to Phoenix police. Sharron Dobbins, 40, said she only used the noise from the stun gun to try to wake her two sons. (Published Thursday, April 5, 2018) The U.S. has raised concerns previously about heavy civilian casualties … [Read more...] about US Approves $1.3B Sale of Artillery to Saudi Arabia
AMC to open Saudi Arabia’s first movie theater
Jake Coyle, Ap Film Writer Updated 1:46 pm, Wednesday, April 4, 2018 Photo: Pavel Golovkin, AP Image 1of/1 CaptionClose Image 1 of 1 FILE - In this May 30, 2017 file photo, Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman in Moscow's Kremlin, Russia. AMC says it will open Saudi Arabia’s first movie theater on April 18, 2018. Cinema operators are rushing to build theaters in the Gulf kingdom. The Saudi government in December said it would open the country to commercial movie theaters for the first time in more than 35 years. It’s part of the crown prince Mohammed bin Salman’s efforts to transform Saudi society. In June, Saudi Arabia will allow women to drive. less FILE - In this May 30, 2017 file photo, Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman in Moscow's Kremlin, Russia. AMC says it will open Saudi Arabia’s first movie theater on … [Read more...] about AMC to open Saudi Arabia’s first movie theater
Saudi Arabia’s heir to the throne talks to 60 Minutes
At 32 years old, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is already the most dominant Arab leader in a generation. This week, he embarks on a cross-country American tour, where he'll pitch his kingdom to a skeptical U.S. public. He was named heir to the throne nine months ago by his 82-year-old father, King Salman, who granted his son vast new powers. Known by his initials -- "M-B-S" -- his reforms inside Saudi Arabia have been revolutionary. He is emancipating women, introducing music and cinema and cracking down on corruption, in a land with 15,000 princes. But selling Saudi Arabia won't be easy. In his first interview with an American television network, he was eager to discuss his country's promise and its troubled reputation head-on. Norah O'Donnell: When many Americans think about Saudi Arabia, they think about Osama bin Laden and 9/11. They think about the terrorism that he brought to American soil. Mohammed bin Salman: Right. Osama bin Laden recruited 15 Saudis in … [Read more...] about Saudi Arabia’s heir to the throne talks to 60 Minutes