John Travolta meets fans in Saudi Arabia to celebrate cinema ban lift

Women in Saudi Arabia were banned from driving until 2018. Now, Saudi Arabian women are taking to motorsport in a big way at the country's first all-women motorsport event - the Rally Jameel.

Michelle Yeoh battles her way through a multiverse, Angela Bassett leads a grieving nation at war, and Cate Blanchett deviously manipulates members of a world-class orchestra.

The two long-time foes say they will improve their relationship. If they do, the detente could have a major impact on politics in the Middle East.

With film shoots, star-studded festivals and modern studios, the conservative kingdom of Saudi Arabia is sparing no expense to become a land of cinema. Showcasing the wonders of Saudi Arabia on the big screen also helps attract tourists and project a modern image of the country, which is usually better known for its serious attacks on personal freedoms.

The two sides in Yemen's conflict have agreed to free nearly 900 people in a prisoner exchange. That deal comes less than two weeks after Saudi Arabia and Iran re-established diplomatic ties after years of hostility. The two regional powers have backed opposing sides in Yemen's war, and their rapprochement has galvanised efforts to end the conflict. We take a closer look.

Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal has reportedly offered Lionel Messi a mind-boggling contract. Reports claim that their offer to the Argentine World Cup winner is worth $438 million (€400 million) per year. That offer is more than double what his longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo is earning playing for Al-Nassr.

A Beijing-brokered deal between rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia marks major diplomatic progress which could reshape relations across the region which has witnessed decades of conflict and violence.

The two parties agreed to exchange nearly 900 detainees following a round of talks which aims to revive an expired ceasefire. Saudi Arabia restored diplomatic ties with Iran last month.

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Spanish paper El Pais reveals that Saudi authorities bribed academics around the world in a bid to improve university rankings. There's outrage in Sri Lanka after authorities agree to make debt repayments to China in the form of macaques.

Production on some of your favourite TV shows could soon come to a halt, after unions representing thousands of TV and film writers voted overwhelmingly in support of a strike. The Writers Guild of America polled their members to gauge support for labour action and the results were unprecedented: almost 98 percent of writers were in favour. FRANCE 24's Culture reporter Olivia Salazar-Winspear tells us more.

A boatload of civilians from more than 50 countries have arrived in Saudi Arabia from Sudan. Meanwhile, Germany said it had evacuated 700 people from the country.