Saudi Arabia to launch app for Mecca pilgrims amid virus
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia on Monday released new details on how it plans to gradually allow Muslims back to Islam's holiest site in Mecca to perform the smaller, year-round pilgrimage, which has been suspended for the past seven months due to the coronavirus.
Hajj Minister Muhammad Benten said the kingdom will launch an online application that allows citizens, residents of Saudi Arabia and visitors to apply and reserve a specific time and date in which they can perform the pilgrimage, known as umrah, to avoid crowding and maintain social-distancing guidelines.
The minister, who spoke during a virtual seminar, did not say when the pilgrimage would be permitted to resume nor how many people would be allowed to perform it at the same time.
The kingdom held a dramatically downsized, symbolic hajj pilgrimage in July due to concerns that it could easily have become a global super-spreader event for the virus. Pilgrims were selected after applying through an online portal and all were residents or citizens of Saudi Arabia. Rather than the more than 2 million pilgrims the kingdom hosts for the annual event, as little as 1,000 took part after being tested for the virus and quarantined.
Saudi Arabia on Monday began easing some restrictions on international flights for the first time in six months.
The kingdom allowed Gulf Arab nationals and foreign residents of Saudi Arabia abroad to enter the country, provided they are not infected with the coronavirus. The kingdom also allowed for some residents of Saudi Arabia, such as Saudi students with scholarships abroad and foreign embassy staff, to exit and enter the kingdom.
Despite taking early and sweeping measures to contain the virus, Saudi Arabia has recorded more than 330,000 cases, including more than 4,500 deaths.
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Bengaluru: Dance studio owner arrested for cheating woman on false promise of marriage
Bengaluru: The Parappana Agrahara police have arrested a 31-year-old man for allegedly cheating a woman by having a physical relationship with her on the false promise of marriage.
According to Asianet News, the accused was running a dance studio named on Hosur Road and also operated a housekeeping and security services business.
According to police, the case was registered based on a complaint filed by a 24-year-old woman from Hulimavu. The two had known each other since 2018, and in June 2025, Jeevan allegedly proposed to her, promising marriage. The woman’s family had also reportedly agreed to the alliance.
After this, Jeevan took her to a service apartment in AECS Layout and a hotel on Hosur Road. He had a physical relationship with her, all while promising they would get married soon.
However, when the woman recently asked about the wedding, he allegedly refused and told her, "I won't marry you. You are not satisfying me physically." He also reportedly insulted her and questioned her character.
The accused further threatened to kill her if she approached the police.
Despite the threats, the woman filed a complaint. The police arrested Jeevan and he has been sent to judicial custody, officials confirmed. The case has been registered at the Parappana Agrahara police station.
During interrogation, police found that the accused had allegedly cheated five to six other women in a similar manner. Further investigation is underway.
