Latest Saudi Arabia government News

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...

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...

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.,...

Yemen's Houthi rebels target oil tanker in the Red Sea. US says rebels also hit Saudi-flagged tanker

Sep. 02, 2024 22:49 PM EDT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels targeted a Panama-flagged oil tanker in the Red Sea on Monday, authorities said, as a nearby Saudi-flagged tanker ship also allegedly came under fire from the group. The attacks are believed to be the latest in...

Former Saudi official alleges Prince Mohammed forged king's signature on Yemen war decree

Aug. 19, 2024 20:31 PM EDT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A former Saudi official on Monday alleged that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman forged his father's signature on the royal decree that launched the kingdom's yearslong, stalemated war against Yemen's Houthi rebels. Saudi Arabia did...

Today in History: August 7, Twin Tower tightrope walk

Aug. 07, 2024 00:35 AM EDT

Today is Wednesday, Aug. 7, the 220th day of 2024. There are 146 days left in the year. Today in history: On Aug. 7, 1974, French highwire artist Philippe Petit performed an unapproved tightrope walk between the two towers of the World Trade Center in New York, over...