Dec 16th, 2008 · The conservative Islamic kingdom of Saudi Arabia is hardly a place to hear about up-and-coming rock bands, let alone an all-female one. The AccoLade has gained an international following via Facebook and MySpace. The band talks about attracting attention from religious clerics, as well as the way creating a somewhat anonymous identity online lets the band thrive in a strict society.
Nov 27th, 2008 · Eighteen years ago, four dozen Saudi women staged a protest against their country's ban on women driving. For 30 minutes, they drove in a convoy around Riyadh. Though the ban still stands, they say the country has made some progress toward equality for women.
Nov 20th, 2008 · So far, more than 500 Afghans, Pakistanis, Europeans, Saudis and others have been released. But 101 Yemeni detainees are still held at Guantanamo. They represent the single largest contingent at the camp.
Nov 18th, 2008 · Somali pirates have seized their biggest prize to date — a supertanker loaded with $100 million worth of Saudi oil. Meanwhile, the U.S.-backed Somali president warns his government is losing its hold on power.
Nov 18th, 2008 · Somali pirates have hijacked a supertanker loaded with crude hundreds of miles off the coast of East Africa. The Saudi ship is the largest vessel pirates have seized that far from shore. The hijacking occurred despite the fact that foreign navies patrol the region.
Nov 13th, 2008 · Nearly a thousand Saudi men are set to stand trial on charges of belonging to al-Qaida. The men are accused of involvement in a string of terrorist attacks in the kingdom earlier this decade.
Sep 24th, 2008 · The Saudi government offers former Gitmo detainees a rehabilitation program. It includes spiritual counseling, financial payments, help getting a job and occasionally a Toyota Corolla.
Aug 4th, 2008 · Saudi Arabia is not known for great research universities, so the oil-rich country has decided to build one. KAUST, the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, is rising in the desert near Jiddah. The biggest lure is the freedom to work without constantly having to beg for money because King Abdullah is giving the school one of the world's biggest endowments.