Saudi Arabia

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Climate of Skepticism Swells in Copenhagen

Leaders all but abandon hopes for binding treaty this year

(Newser) - Global warming talks kick off today in Copenhagen, but leaders have already largely given up hope of a binding international treaty amid a climate of swirling skepticism toward the issue. The “climategate” emails do little to debunk two decades of climate science, scientists and policymakers tell the New York ...

Female Saudi Journalist Gets 60 Lashes for Sex Show

During episode, man boasted of conquests

(Newser) - A female Saudi journalist has been sentenced to 60 lashes for her involvement in a TV show that featured a man detailing his sexual conquests. The court also banned Rosanna Al-Yami from leaving the country for two years, sources tell CNN. She is believed to be the first Saudi journalist...

Saudi Family Feud Rocks World Banks
Saudi Family Feud
Rocks World Banks
Oct 22, 2009 8:03 AM CDT

Saudi Family Feud Rocks World Banks

Saudi economy suffers as in-laws squabble over business

(Newser) - A bitter dispute between two of Saudi Arabia's richest families is damaging the world banking industry, dragging down the Saudi economy, and causing deep discomfort over Ramadan party invites. The Gosaibi clan accuse their son-in-law Ma'an al Sanea of embezzling $10 billion from the family business, while Sanea says the...

Wife: Bin Laden Loves Gardening, Cars, Jihad

New memoir describes family life in the bin Laden household

(Newser) - Osama bin Laden was a tough dad who liked growing corn and sunflowers when he wasn't busy preparing for jihad, his first wife and his fourth son reveal in a memoir to be published this month. Bin Laden loves fast cars and owned a gold Mercedes and a speed boat,...

US Eyes Saudi Rehab for Yemeni Detainees

But Saudi Arabia not jumping at the chance to take in Guantanamo detainees

(Newser) - When a Saudi Arabian returns home from Guantanamo Bay, a top Saudi prince personally informs their families—then asks them to sign guarantees that he will not return to terrorism. It’s part of Saudi Arabia’s highly effective extremist rehabilitation program, which has so far graduated 108 detainees. Now,...

Iran Fingers US in Scientist's Disappearance

Researcher, AWOL in Saudi Arabia, rumored to work at Qom facility

(Newser) - Iran’s foreign minister has accused the US of conspiring with Saudi Arabia in the disappearance of Shahram Amiri, a scientist thought to be involved in Iran’s nuclear program. Amiri disappeared four months ago on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia—around the time President Obama asked for a report...

Saudi Man Jailed After Bragging About Sex on TV

He earns 5 years and 1,000 lashes

(Newser) - A Saudi man has been sentenced to 5 years in jail and 1,000 lashes after boasting about his sexual promiscuity on a TV show. Broadcast in July, it features the man displaying sex toys and talking up his exploits. Three friends who appeared on camera got 2-year sentences, notes...

10 EU Countries, Others, in Deals to Take Gitmo Detainees

White House upbeat on 80 cleared for release

(Newser) - The White House, in talks ranging from Australia to Georgia, is making progress on its attempts to resettle Guantanamo Bay detainees, the Washington Post reports. Ten EU countries have agreed to take detainees; the US is negotiating with Saudi Arabia to accept Guantanamo's 98 Yemenis; and 11 detainees, including four...

Thieves Steal $16M From Saudi Princess in Italy

(Newser) - Thieves made off with $16 million in cash and jewels from the safe of a Saudi princess in Sardinia, the BBC reports. Investigators believe the burglars used a master key to gain access to her room in a chic resort and rip the safe from the wall. The theft sparked...

Under the Veil, Plastic Surgery Soars in Saudi Arabia

Clerics, surgeons say Islam approves certain procedures

(Newser) - Does Islam frown on nose jobs or breast implants? Three years ago, clerics and surgeons said certain procedures were sanctioned. The results may not see much light of day in a kingdom where women cover up from head to toe, yet cosmetic surgery is booming. Plastic surgery centers were rare...

Adulterous Saudi Princess Facing Death Wins UK Refuge

(Newser) - The UK has granted secret asylum to a Saudi Arabian princess who feared being stoned to death after having a child with a non-Muslim British lover, reports the Independent. The woman's elderly husband is a member of the Saudi Royal family, so asylum was kept hush-hush to avoid appearing to...

Saudi Family Charges Genie With Harassment

(Newser) - A Saudi Arabian family has taken a genie to court and charged it with harassment and theft, the BBC reports. Family members say they were forced to abandon their home near Medina after the spirit made strange noises, threatened them, and stole their cell phones. A local court is looking...

Saudi Fast Food Joint Serves Baby Camel Burgers

(Newser) - The camel is many things to Saudi Arabians: companion, war machine, racing beast, and even a delicacy served in fancy restaurants. But it’s never been good old fashioned junk food… until now. A fast food restaurant in Saudi Arabia is selling baby camel burgers, Reuters reports, and the Saudis...

Saudi Prince to Liberal Bro: Stop Spreading Vice

He's mad that media mogul reintroduced movie theaters

(Newser) - A conservative Saudi prince has exposed a rift in the royal family with an unprecedented attack on his liberal brother, the BBC reports. Prince Khaled called for the assets of Prince Whaled—owner of a huge media empire that includes a big stake in Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.—to...

Saudi Women Learn to Sell Bras—But Still Can't

Women push for the right to work in underwear shops

(Newser) - Two dozen Saudi women are pushing change in Saudi Arabia, one underwear at a time. The graduates of the first lingerie class in the kingdom—where women can't sell such products—learned essentials such as how to measure bra sizes during the 10-day class. An Australian woman taught the course,...

Obama Granted Saudi King's Bling Award

'Goodness gracious,' says prez of golden top honor

(Newser) - President Obama was given Saudi Arabia's weightiest honor by King Abdullah yesterday, the Daily Telegraph reports. "Goodness gracious. That's something there," Obama exclaimed as he was presented with the thick gold chain and medallion of the King Abdul Aziz Order of Merit. The president put the necklace...

Obama Lands in Middle East, Ready to Make Tough Sell

(Newser) - Open arms and a full red carpet rollout greeted President Obama on his arrival in Saudi Arabia this morning, but the pleasantries will likely end when the policy talk starts, the New York Times reports. Obama wants the Arab nations to offer a peaceful gesture toward Israel, but Saudi officials...

Saudi Arabia Displays Beheaded Convict

(Newser) - Saudi Arabian authorities decapitated and publicly displayed a convicted killer last night, drawing fire from Amnesty International, CNN reports. A state press agency said Ahmed Al-Shamlani Al-Anzi was sentenced for murdering an 11-year-old boy and his father. The Saudis likely sewed Al-Anzi's head back on before his display, or "...

Saudi Crackdown Sends Female Gym Rats to Sidelines

Religious leaders say sports are unfeminine

(Newser) - Though obesity and diabetes are on the rise in Saudi Arabia, officials there are cracking down on women-only sports clubs because they lack licenses—which no government body will actually issue. Leaders say their opposition is based on Islam, but, Caryle Murphy writes for GlobalPost, it stems as much from...

Lavish Wives Deserve a Slap: Saudi Judge

His comments are met with protest at domestic violence conference

(Newser) - A Saudi judge says women who spend lavishly on items like designer abayas (black gowns) deserve to be slapped by their husbands, Arab News reports. His comments at a domestic violence conference invoked loud protests from women in the audience. The judge also lamented that "nobody puts even a...

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