Saudi Arabia

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Saudi Arabia Executes Dissident Cleric, 46 Others

Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr's execution expected to deepen unrest

(Newser) - Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday it had executed 47 prisoners convicted of terrorism charges, including al-Qaeda detainees and a prominent Shiite cleric who rallied protests against the government. The execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr is likely to deepen discontent and spark protests among Saudi Arabia's Shiite minority, largely concentrated...

Good News, Bad News for Adulterer Sentenced to Die

Saudi court reduces sentence to 3 years in prison

(Newser) - An appeal has spared the life of a Sri Lankan maid sentenced to death by stoning for adultery in Saudi Arabia. A court announced the unidentified woman's sentence would be reduced to a three-year prison term on Wednesday, about four months after she was convicted of adultery with a...

Fire in Saudi Maternity Ward Kills at Least 24

'We could hear the women screaming'

(Newser) - At least 24 people are dead—including one child—after a fire tore through the maternity and neonatal intensive care unit of a hospital in Saudi Arabia early Thursday, Reuters reports. The fire—which one witness says spread through the hospital in only minutes—occurred in the city of Jazan,...

Saudis Lead New Islamic Counterterrorism Alliance

34 nations have agreed to join new coalition

(Newser) - Saudi Arabia said Tuesday that 34 nations have agreed to form a new "Islamic military alliance" to fight terrorism with a joint operations center based in the kingdom's capital, Riyadh. The announcement published by the state-run Saudi Press Agency said the alliance will be Saudi-led and is being...

Saudi Women Vote—and Win— for First Time

At least 5 win council seats in historic election

(Newser) - At least five Saudi women have won seats on local municipal councils a day after women voted and ran in elections for the first time in the country's history, according to initial results Sunday. The women hail from vastly different parts of the country, ranging from Saudi Arabia's...

Woman Jailed for Driving in Saudi Arabia Is Now Running for Office

'I want to make a point; it's a personal thing now'

(Newser) - What a difference a year makes. In 2014, activist Loujain al-Hathloul was arrested for purposefully violating Saudi Arabia's law against women driving, the Washington Post reports. This weekend, Saudis will be able to cast a vote for her. Al-Hathloul received international fame when she live-streamed herself behind the wheel....

Saudis Reopen Case of Woman Sentenced to Die Over Adultery

Court will take new look after Sri Lanka raises objections

(Newser) - A Saudi court has decided to reopen the case of a Sri Lankan woman who was sentenced to death by stoning for adultery. Deputy Foreign Minister Harsha de Silva told parliament that an appeals court in Riyadh has decided to hear the case again following pleas by Sri Lanka's...

Saudi Arabia: We'll Have World's Tallest Building by 2020

Financing in place for Jeddah Tower

(Newser) - For years, Saudi Arabia has had plans to construct the world's tallest building—and now, per a Saudi government press release, the financing is in place. The Jeddah Tower has already been built to the 26th floor, but there are many more to go; ultimately, the tower will boast...

Saudis Find Huge Beer Shipment Disguised as Pepsi

48K cans of Heineken, to be exact

(Newser) - A ban on alcohol in Saudi Arabia recently drove a smuggler to try to cross into the Arab state from the UAE with 48,000 cans of Heineken beer—all disguised as Pepsi cans, Al Arabiya reports. "A truck carrying what first seemed to be normal cans of the...

US Won't Budge on One Key Point as Syria Talks Begin

US, allies want Assad gone from Syria—and want Russia, Iran on board

(Newser) - Talks designed to seek peace in Syria began Friday in Vienna, and this time there's a new player involved in the negotiations: Iran, Bashar al-Assad's No. 1 ally, Reuters notes. "Those who tried to resolve the Syrian crisis have come to the conclusion that without Iran being...

Man Facing 'Most Gruesome' Penalty Wins Elite Award

Raif Badawi gets Sakharov Prize for human rights—but he's stuck in Saudi prison

(Newser) - A Saudi blogger has joined the ranks of Nelson Mandela, Malala, and all other notables who've taken home one of the European Union's most elite human-rights prizes—but as of now, he can't go and collect his award in person. EU leaders announced Thursday that Raif Badawi...

Flogging of Saudi Blogger Said to Be Resuming Soon

Wife says Raif Badawi could receive another 50 of his 1K lashes any day

(Newser) - Whippings could soon resume for a blogger in Saudi Arabia sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes for "insulting Islam," CNN reports. Raif Badawi, who advocated for secularism on his blog Saudi Arabian Liberals, has been in prison since 2012 and received the first 50...

The Gulf Is Becoming Too Hot for Humans
 Persian Gulf Is Getting 
 Too Hot for Humans 
NEW STUDY
Oct 27, 2015 5:23 AM CDT

Persian Gulf Is Getting Too Hot for Humans

Heat, humidity will create killer conditions, study warns

(Newser) - A stark warning, even by the standards of climate research: If emissions continue at their current level, parts of the Persian Gulf region will simply become too hot and humid for people to survive in. Researchers say that by the end of this century, the combined heat and humidity "...

Saudi Prince Arrested at Airport With 2 Tons of Drugs

Authorities allegedly found amphetamines on his private plane

(Newser) - A Saudi prince was arrested in Beirut Monday after Lebanese security forces at Rafik Hariri International Airport allegedly found an incredible two tons of drugs on his private plane. Abd al-Muhsen bin Walid bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud was about to fly back to Saudi Arabia at the time, RT....

Mom Begs Obama to Save Son From Crucifixion

'Head of this world' can 'interfere and rescue my son'

(Newser) - A Saudi Arabian mother is begging President Obama to intervene before authorities behead her son and crucify his corpse. Nusra al-Ahmed, whose son, Ali Mohammed al-Nimr, was 17 when he was arrested for taking part in anti-government protests, tells the Guardian that the gruesome punishment is "backwards in the...

Family: 360 Lashes for Wine Could Kill Elderly Brit

Karl Andree, 74, faces steep punishment in Saudi Arabia

(Newser) - British PM David Cameron is personally appealing for the release of a British who faces 360 lashes in Saudi Arabia—a punishment family members say will kill him. Karl Andree, 74, was arrested for transporting homemade wine in the port city of Jiddah in August 2014, reports the New York ...

India: Saudi Employer Cut Off Maid's Arm

Attack was revenge for complaining of mistreatment

(Newser) - Indian diplomats say they are disturbed by reports that one of their nationals working in Saudi Arabia had her arm cut off by a vengeful employer. The family of 58-year-old Kasturi Munirathinam says that when Saudi officials conducted a routine check of the home where she was working as a...

Wife Posts Video of Husband With Maid, Could Face Jail

A lawyer says she could be fined more than $100K for defaming her husband

(Newser) - A Saudi wife who posted footage of her husband pursuing and groping their maid could face jail time and a stiff fine for defaming him—and in the process has caused a social media outcry, largely in her defense, reports Emirates 24/7 . The woman let the footage of her husband'...

Judge: 9/11 Families Can't Sue Saudi Arabia

Evidence doesn't overcome 'sovereign immunity'

(Newser) - Saudi Arabia, homeland of 15 of the 19 Sept. 11 hijackers, can't be sued by families of victims for its alleged role in the attacks, a federal judge decided on Tuesday. US District Judge George Daniels ruled that the evidence—including "20th hijacker" Zacarias Moussaoui's claim that...

Iran: Diplomat Is Missing in Hajj Disaster

Tehran blames stampede Saudi 'incompetence'

(Newser) - As the hajj religious pilgrimage entered its final day today, officials in Saudi Arabia continued to grapple with the aftermath of a deadly stampede that killed at least 719 people. Iran announced in a state TV broadcast that among those Iranians still missing are a former ambassador to Lebanon as...

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