Saudi Arabia’s SRMG Makes Strategic Investment in Anghami, Spotify’s MENA Region Rival

Here are your Manchester City evening headlines for Friday, September 8.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent London and Paris-based Film Constellation has taken international sales on Egyptian director Abu Bakr Shawky’s hotly anticipated Saudi-set travel movie “Hajjan,” ahead of its Toronto Film Festival world premiere. “Hajjan,” which will launch from Toronto’s Discovery section, is a followup to Shawky’s first feature “Yomeddine,” which had the rare distinction of making the competition cut for Cannes.

Cristiano Ronaldo admits his rivalry with Argentina forward Lionel Messi has 'gone' after the former Manchester United superstar was snubbed for Ballon d'Or recognition for the first time since 2003.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Rani R. Raad, a former president of CNN Commercial Worldwide, has been appointed CEO of Abu Dhabi-based media company International Media Investments.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 850th career goal on Saturday evening as Al Nassr continued their impressive form in the Saudi Pro League.

Naman Ramachandran Bollywood producer Sajid Nadiadwala is investing INR10 billion ($121 million) in U.K.-based projects featuring industry A-listers. Coming up is “Housefull 5,” the latest instalment in the blockbuster comedy franchise starring Akshay Kumar (“OMG 2”) and Riteish Deshmukh (“Ved”), directed by Tarun Mansukhani (“Dostana”). Like the previous four films, “Housefull 5” will be filmed in the U.K.

New details are coming out about Erica Mena‘s arrest.

Con-Air and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider director Simon West will shoot his upcoming historic drama Antara in Saudi Arabia in the country’s growing production hub of Neom.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent British Hollywood director Simon West (“Con Air,” “Lara Croft:Tomb Raider”) is set to direct Saudi Arabia-set epic “Antara” that will be shot in Neom, the sprawling production hub in Saudi Arabia’s northwestern corner. The English-language blockbuster based on Arab history is the tale of Antara ibn Shaddad, a slave warrior who was propelled to mythical status in the sixth century after winning his freedom and becoming a beloved knight and a widely celebrated Bedouin poet in the region. “Antara,” which was announced during the Venice Film Festival – where there is a strong Saudi industry presence – is co-produced by Irish entrepreneur, writer and producer Alexander Amartei.

Erica Mena will not appear on the next season of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta after she referred to her co-star Spice using a slur during a heated argument.

Erica Mena has been fired from Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta.

EXCLUSIVE: Saudi Arabia’s Red Rea Film Foundation has announced it is investing in Johnny Depp’s Modi, Michael Mann’s Venice title Ferrari and Guy Ritchie’s World War Two spy action feature The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has denied reports that clubs from the Saudi Pro League such as Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr could feature in future Champions League tournaments.

Riyadh-registered Middle East and North Africa integrated media group SRMG has announced the launch of Asharq Documentary, an Arabic language, free-to-air factual channel available on a variety of platforms.  

Taylor Swift just keeps breaking records.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Five rival late-night TV hosts — Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers and John Oliver — are teaming with Spotify for “Strike Force Five,” a limited-series podcast discussing the WGA writers strike, which is on the cusp of entering its fifth month. Proceeds from the podcast will go to staffers on each of their shows, which have been suspended because of the strike. “Strike Force Five” will launch Wednesday, Aug.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Martin Scorsese is set to be the official patron of the upcoming Marrakech International Film Festival’s Atlas Workshops. The revered filmmaker is a Marrakech festival regular — he notably presided over its jury in 2013 and presented an honorary tribute to Robert De Niro in 2018.

Miguel performed a jaw-dropping stunt to promote his upcoming album,. The 37-year-old singer pierced the skin on his back to allow him to be suspended through the air by hooks.

Iggy Azalea has claimed that she wasn’t “allowed” to finish her gig in Saudi Arabia last week, citing a wardrobe malfunction and pro-women statement.The singer was playing the esports event Gamers8 on Friday (August 25) when her set was cut short.Taking to X/Twitter after the gig, the singer said that the curtailment of the show was partly due to her splitting her trousers during the performance.However, she also added that when she made a statement in support of women – “Ladies make some noise, it’s a woman’s world!” – it had, in her words, “sent the authorities over the edge”.She told fans: “Saudi Arabia please know to everyone at the show tonight… I LOVE YOU.

Iggy Azalea says her concert came to an abrupt halt Friday night in Saudi Arabia, where she claimed authorities kicked her off stage after she split her pants open.The 33-year-old GRAMMY-nominated rapper was headlining the e-sports event Gamers8 at Boulevard Riyadh City, which marked her Saudi Arabia debut. But, according to video she posted on Instagram, it all came to a screeching halt after Iggy split her pants open while in the middle of performing her 2014 track, «Work.»The video she posted shows the rapper looking to the side of the stage and signaling that her pants ripped, exposing her left leg, and that's when she said cops put an end to the performance.