Saudi Arabia has expanded its new tourist visa system, according to media reports. Following an announcement last month, citizens from 49 countries were initially eligible for online e-visas or visas on arrival, including the United States, Australia, several European nations, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, China and Kazakhstan. This has now been extended to nationals of other countries holding a valid commercial or a tourist visa issued by the US, the UK or the European Union's Schengen visa, reported leading Arabic daily Okaz. Others looking to visit Saudi Arabia can approach Saudi missions for a tourist visa provided they attach to their applications a return ticket, a residence booking in the kingdom, financial status and address in the home country, according to the report.

US President Donald Trump says he is an “island of one” for removing American forces from northeastern Syria. Trump's decision drew swift bipartisan criticism in the US and abroad that he was endangering regional stability and risking the lives of Syrian Kurdish allies who helped the US bring down ISIS in Syria. But Turkey views those Kurdish fighters as terrorists and a threat to its security and has launched a military operation against them. Trump defended his actions during a speech Saturday to social conservative activists, saying “it's time” to bring US troops home from fighting “endless wars.” He sought to portray the Middle East as a hopeless cause, saying it's less safe, secure and stable

The United States Department of Education has recently been incensed by a Middle East studies programme run by two major American universities. Why? Let us explore.   You will have to read a bit further down the report to discover that what the US Department of Education, led by Betsy DeVos, is really concerned about is the programme's supposed "anti-Israeli bias". President Donald Trump's civil rights chief in the Department of Education, Kenneth L Marcus, it seems, is now leading a campaign to make all US universities Israel-friendly. Marcus is a Zionist crusader who, as the New York Times puts it, "has made a career of pro-Israel advocacy and has waged a years long campaign to delegitimize

Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa said on Sunday that any threat to freedom of navigation is considered a disruption to world trade and oil prices. King Hamad said that the international community must join forces to take resolute steps to deter the aggressor. Bahrain's King's comments came during his opening speech of the second session of the fifth legislative term of the shura and representatives councils in the Bahraini capital, Manama on Sunday.

An Emirati astronaut who became the first Arab to reach the International Space Station received a hero's welcome home on Saturday. Hazzaa al-Mansoori of the United Arab Emirates was greeted by Abu Dhabi's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan at the capital's airport. Men, women and children lined a red carpet to welcome back Mansoori and his colleague Sultan al-Neyadi - who underwent the same training and served as a backup astronaut.  Children rushed towards the first Emirati spaceman to present him with flowers and hugs, as a group of men performed the traditional Yola dance. Although Mansoori's mission was short - eight days in total - it has been the source of great pride in

Dubai Water and Electricity Authority (DEWA) has awarded a $267 million (AED981m) contract to Ghantoot Transport & General Contracting and Ghantoot Gulf Contracting who will build its new headquarters. DEWA previously awarded the first phase of construction of Al-Shera'a (Arabic for sail), worth $12.5m (AED46m), to Dutco Balfour Beatty, which brings the total cost of the building's construction to over one billion dirhams. Al Shera'a will be built in Jadaf in Dubai and will be the tallest, largest, and smartest government zero energy building in the world - total energy used in the building during a year will be equal to or less than the energy produced on site during that year. “By building

One of the most powerful typhoons to ever hit Tokyo paralyzed the Japanese capital on Saturday, leaving millions confined indoors and streets deserted as fierce rain and wind killed two, flooded rivers and threatened widespread damage. A 50-year-old man was killed near Tokyo early on Saturday in a car overturned by punishing winds, while another person died after being washed away in a car, public broadcaster NHK said. Some 80 injuries have been reported so far, while more than 270,000 households lost power, NHK said. The storm, which the government said could be the strongest to hit Tokyo since 1958, brought record-breaking rainfall in many areas, including the popular resort town of Hakone, with a whopping 939.5 mm (37 inches) of rain over 24 hours.