Latest Saudi Arabia News

Saudi startup Riyadh Air orders 60 Airbus A321neo planes

Oct. 30, 2024 11:40 AM EDT

PARIS (AP) — Saudi startup airline Riyadh Air has ordered 60 Airbus aircraft, the European aerospace manufacturer said Wednesday. Riyadh Air plans to begin passenger flights next summer and has placed an order for 60 A321neo planes, the largest among Airbus’ best-selling A320neo...

Malaysian court orders Najib to enter defense in his 2nd graft trial linked to 1MDB scandal

Oct. 30, 2024 00:48 AM EDT

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia's High Court on Wednesday ordered imprisoned former Prime Minister Najib Razak to enter a defense in his second corruption trial over the multibillion-dollar looting of the 1MDB state investment fund. Najib set up the 1Malaysia Development...

Jailed former Malaysian leader apologizes for fund embezzlement scandal, reiterates his innocence

Oct. 24, 2024 20:39 PM EDT

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Imprisoned former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak issued a rare apology Thursday over the looting of a state investment fund worth billions of dollars "under my watch" while reiterating his innocence. Najib set up the 1Malaysia Development Berhad...

A Saudi cartoonist has been sentenced to 23 years in prison, activists say

Oct. 15, 2024 10:04 AM EDT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A Saudi cartoonist who once drew for a Qatari newspaper as a yearslong diplomatic crisis engulfed Doha has been sentenced to 23 years in prison, an activist group says. The sentence for Mohammed al-Ghamdi marks the latest in a widening judicial...

Rulings signal US courts may be more open to lawsuits accusing foreign officials of abuses

Oct. 15, 2024 07:15 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. court has given two top associates of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman until early November to start turning over any evidence in a lawsuit from a former senior Saudi intelligence official who says he survived a plot by the kingdom to silence him. ...

Saudi Arabia loses bid for a seat on UN's premier human rights body

Oct. 09, 2024 18:58 PM EDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Saudi Arabia was defeated for a seat in the U.N.’s premier human rights body Wednesday after a campaign by rights groups that accused the Saudis of serious rights violations. The 193-member General Assembly elected 18 new members to serve on the 47-nation...

Saudi Arabia executes Filipino convicted of murder despite Philippine presidential appeal

Oct. 08, 2024 03:53 AM EDT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Saudi Arabia has put to death a Filipino citizen convicted of murder despite years of efforts by the Philippines to prevent the execution, including a presidential appeal, officials said Monday. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other...

What to know from the UN: China, Russia have their say, and a frog metaphor makes a cameo

Sep. 28, 2024 22:42 PM EDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — China and Russia got their turns at the U.N. General Assembly podium on Saturday, but — per usual — their top leaders didn't speak. Instead, they turned to their foreign ministers, WANG YI and SERGEY LAVROV. Wang's speech, per usual for China at the U.N.,...

Today in History: September 24, Protesting NFL players take a knee

Sep. 24, 2024 00:14 AM EDT

Today is Tuesday, Sept. 24, the 268th day of 2024. There are 98 days left in the year. Today in history: On Sept. 24, 2017, more than 200 NFL players kneeled or sat during the national anthem after President Donald Trump criticized the players’ protests in a speech...

Dubois changes perceptions and muscles onto the top table of heavyweights. He wants Usyk next

Sep. 23, 2024 11:42 AM EDT

Tyson Fury looked as stunned as everyone else inside Wembley Stadium after witnessing Daniel Dubois dismantle Anthony Joshua in the latest shake-up of boxing’s heavyweight division. Except Fury had other things on his mind. “Listen, that’s cost me 150 million,”...