Wine connoisseurs talk about needing "a nose" to assess the quality of a vintage. President Donald Trump just uses his eyes.

Saudi Arabia's easing of travel restrictions on women was hailed in the kingdom Friday as a historic leap for gender equality, but it also drew anger from hardliners backing contentious male "guardianship" rules.

Saudi Arabia will allow women to travel abroad without approval from a male "guardian", the government said Thursday, ending a restriction that drew international censure and prompted extreme attempts to flee the kingdom.

The Netherlands banned the wearing of a face-covering veil, such as a burqa or niqab, in public buildings and on transport from Thursday as a contentious law on the garment worn by some Muslim women came into force.

Then-California governor Ronald Reagan made racist remarks about Africans, calling them "monkeys" in a newly-discovered taped conversation with U.S. president Richard Nixon.

World famous Lebanese band Mashrou’ Leila has condemned what it called "a deliberate campaign" against it, after the organizers of the Byblos International Festival called off its August 9 performance over “bloodshed” fears.

In a statement, the band said the campaign was built on false accusations and a distortion of their lyrics.

The organizers of the Byblos International Festival on Tuesday said they have called off the performance of world famous Lebanese rock band Mashrou' Leila to avert any "bloodshed."

The gig had been scheduled for Friday, August 9.

The Episcopal Media Committee, the Maronite church’s media watchdog, on Monday urged authorities to ban a controversial concert for the renowned Lebanese rock band Mashrou' Leila.

The call followed a meeting for the committee at the Catholic Media Center that was presided over by Bishop Boulos Matar and attended by Maronite Archbishop of Byblos Michel Aoun and the members of the committee.

U.S. President Donald Trump defended Sunday his latest attack on a prominent African-American lawmaker in comments that drew more accusations of racism.

Kataeb Party chief MP Sami Gemayel has voiced concern over freedoms in Lebanon in connection with ongoing controversy over Lebanese indie rock band Mashrou’ Leila.

“Freedoms are in danger and for years now we’ve been witnessing police-state-like practices that ban movies and books and repress individuals expressing their opinions on social networking websites,” Gemayel said in an interview on al-Hurra TV.