Saudi Arabia sets 1,000-person limit on Hajj pilgrims – down from 2.5million in a normal year – and bans foreigners from Mecca as country battles coronavirus The Hajj pilgrimage is the largest gathering of Muslims in the world It lasts for five or six days as pilgrims travel to the ‘House of Allah’ in Mecca … Read more
Saudi Arabia has banned Muslims from outside the kingdom from performing the annual hajj pilgrimage this year in an attempt to control the spread of coronavirus. The nation has seen 161,005 cases of COVID-19, with 1,307 confirmed deaths, the biggest outbreak in the Gulf region. But the pilgrimage ban marks the first time in Saudi Arabia’s recent … Read more
As another year draws to a close, it’s time to spin the globe and think about where we might travel in 2020. The good news is the choices have never been better, as airlines launch new routes, destinations stage major events, and hotels and tour operators create original and enticing experiences. This year the Foreign … Read more
Facebook building a 23,000-mile-long undersea cable to bring high speed internet to 23 poorly served countries in Africa and the Middle East The social media giant aims to increase internet access in Africa with new cable The 23,000-mile cable will circle the continent and triple its network capacity It will reportedly cost $1billion, though Facebook … Read more
Muslims around the world are celebrating a Ramadan like no other as the Holy Month begins amid unprecedented restrictions due to coronavirus. Countries across the globe have enforced lockdowns and strict social distancing rules to limit the spread of the deadly bug. King Salman of Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s holiest shrines, said he is … Read more