News updates

Women above 25 to be allowed Saudi tourist visas; no ‘chaperon’ required

JEDDAH: Women aged 25 and over can be granted a tourist visa to go to Saudi Arabia alone, a spokesman for the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) has said. However, women under 25 must be accompanied by a family member. Omar Al-Mubarak, director general of the commission’s licensing department, said: “The tourist visa will be a single-entry …

Read More »

Why is the West praising Malala, but ignoring Ahed?

Ahed Tamimi, a 16-year-old Palestinian girl, was recently arrested in a night-time raid on her home. The Israeli authorities accuse her of “assaulting” an Israeli soldier and an officer. A day earlier she had confronted Israeli soldiers who had entered her family’s backyard. The incident happened shortly after a soldier shot her 14-year-old cousin in the head with a rubber bullet, and fired tear-gascanisters directly at their …

Read More »

Indonesia introduces new Internet censorship system

JAKARTA: Indonesia’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Ministry is set to implement a new $14 million Internet censorship system from Wednesday. The new system will automatically block pornography and other content deemed to be unsuitable by the government, following years of manual monitoring which has failed to adequately police the abundance of illicit online content. The ministry’s Information Applications Director General Semuel Pangerapan said the machine is …

Read More »

Makkah Grand Mosque management to pilgrims: Don’t get carried away taking selfies

MAKKAH: The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque urged worshippers and pilgrims not to get carried away with taking photos or selfies inside Makkah’s Grand Mosque. Those who are interested in photography are requested to get an official permit. Mashhour Al-Mun’emi, the assistant under deputy for Grand Mosque services, told Arab News that …

Read More »