Black Panther to Be First Movie to Screen in Saudi Arabia’s Cinemas

Cast member Chadwick Boseman poses at the premiere of 'Black Panther' in Los Angeles, California, US, January 29, 2018. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/Files
Cast member Chadwick Boseman poses at the premiere of 'Black Panther' in Los Angeles, California, US, January 29, 2018. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/Files
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Black Panther to Be First Movie to Screen in Saudi Arabia’s Cinemas

Cast member Chadwick Boseman poses at the premiere of 'Black Panther' in Los Angeles, California, US, January 29, 2018. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/Files
Cast member Chadwick Boseman poses at the premiere of 'Black Panther' in Los Angeles, California, US, January 29, 2018. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/Files

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has completed his plans by visiting Los Angeles and holding meetings to accelerate changes. His visit to the global cinema stronghold wasn’t for the sake of knowledge but to implement required changes and put them on the right track

To serve a population of more than 32 million, Saudi Arabia wants to set up around 350 cinemas in the coming years. Every cinema will contain eight to ten screens (maybe more).

AMC Theaters is not the biggest cinema institution but the oldest, founded in 1920, ahead of Regal Entertainment Group and Cinemark Theaters. The Company didn’t cease growing, especially in the past two years. In 2016, it acquired similar firms such as Odeon, UCI and Carmike, adding 2,200 screens in 244 cinemas in Europe alone, in addition to 8,200 screens in 661 cinemas in the United States.

Black Panther will be the first movie shown in a Saudi Arabian movie theater on April 18.

This movie is considered among the most successful movies of the year – its most recent box revenues surpassed billion American dollars. It is a US comics figure, which was founded by Marvel in 1966, which was the premier appearance of the African hero of superpowers.

Unlike other super heroes, Black Panther has other features such as intelligence, fighting skills, capabilities to endure gravity and control time. The message of the movie wouldn’t be complete without mentioning that he doesn’t fight alone but has a female assistant.

The kingdom’s decision to open cinemas and allow the showing of movies has been described as the event of the year 2017.



Visibility Drops in Parts of Delhi as Pollution Surges

Indian people walk as the city is covered in smog near Rajpath in New Delhi, India, 13 November 2024.  (EPA)
Indian people walk as the city is covered in smog near Rajpath in New Delhi, India, 13 November 2024. (EPA)
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Visibility Drops in Parts of Delhi as Pollution Surges

Indian people walk as the city is covered in smog near Rajpath in New Delhi, India, 13 November 2024.  (EPA)
Indian people walk as the city is covered in smog near Rajpath in New Delhi, India, 13 November 2024. (EPA)

A toxic haze enveloped India's national capital on Wednesday morning as temperatures dropped and pollution surged, reducing visibility in some parts and prompting a warning from airport authorities that flights may be affected.

Delhi overtook Pakistan's Lahore as the world's most polluted city in Swiss group IQAir's live rankings, with an air quality index (AQI) score of more than 1,000, considered "hazardous", but India's pollution authority said the AQI was around 350.

Officials were not immediately available to explain the variation.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the pollution had reduced visibility to 100 meters (328 feet) in some places by around 8 a.m. (0230 GMT).

"Low visibility procedures" were initiated at the city's Indira Gandhi International Airport, operator Delhi International Airport Limited said in a post on social media platform X.

"While landing and takeoffs continue at Delhi Airport, flights that are not CAT III compliant may get affected," the authority said.

CAT III is a navigation system that enables aircraft to land even when visibility is low.

The IMD said the city's temperature dropped to 17 degrees Celsius (63 degrees Fahrenheit) on Wednesday morning from 17.9C on Tuesday, and may fall further as sunlight remains cut off due to the smog.

Delhi battles severe pollution every winter as cold, heavy air traps dust, emissions, and smoke from farm fires set off illegally in the adjoining, farming states of Punjab and Haryana.

Previously, authorities have closed schools, placed restrictions on private vehicles, and stopped some building work to curb the problem.

The city's environment minister said last week that the government was keen to use artificial rain to cut the smog.

Pakistan's Punjab province, which shares a border with India, has also banned outdoor activities, closed schools, and ordered shops, markets and malls to close early in some parts in an effort to protect its citizens from the toxic air.