MANILA: The Philippines’ justice department said on Friday it had found cause to indict online news site Rappler and its top executive for tax evasion.
The justice department said it “found probable cause” to indict Rappler for violation of the country’s tax laws after it did not declare gains made in its 2015 tax returns.
Rappler said in a statement the indictment “is a clear form of harassment” and “an attempt to silence reporting that does not please the administration.”
The news site’s lawyer, Francis Lim, also said the case “has no legal leg to stand on” because Rappler did not evade any tax obligation.
Rappler is a frequent critic of the Philippines’ leader, Rodrigo Duterte, questioning the accuracy of his public statements and scrutinizing his war on drugs and his foreign policy decisions.
In a resolution last month, but made public only on Friday, a state prosecutor upheld a complaint from the internal revenue agency that Rappler and its top executive, Maria Ressa, had attempted to evade paying taxes by not reporting gains of almost $3 million in its 2015 tax returns.
The justice department’s statement said that the state prosecutor had dismissed Ressa’s defense that “the non-declaration of such gain was neither intentional nor willful.”
Philippines to charge news site Rappler for tax evasion
Philippines to charge news site Rappler for tax evasion
- There was ‘probable cause’ to indict Rappler for violation of the country’s tax laws
- Its top executive, Maria Ressa, had attempted to evade paying taxes by not reporting gains of almost $3 million in its 2015 tax returns
Snap launches AR Souq in Saudi, expands regional AR Ramadan Mall
- Snap Souq features Najdi-inspired design and interactive brand activations
- The mall returns for fifth year with new ‘districts’
DUBAI: Snap has launched the Snap Souq, an augmented reality experience designed to resemble a traditional Saudi souq, for the Ramadan season.
Snapchat users can access the virtual souq, which features Najdi architectural design, through a selfie lens that provides a digital key.
“For many of us, our strongest Ramadan memories are tied to evenings spent together, gathering, exploring, and discovering something new. Those moments shape how we connect, and that sense of discovery is deeply cultural,” said Abdulla Al-Hammadi, managing director for Saudi Arabia at Snap Inc.
He told Arab News the Snap Souq used “technology to scale that feeling without losing its essence, bringing discovery into a digital space that feels natural to today’s audiences.”
Each brand kiosk has a different design and features interactive gaming elements aimed at increasing user interaction beyond product browsing.
Although users cannot shop directly within the AR experience, Snap said the launch highlights the “importance of culturally aligned digital experiences” during Ramadan, as spending in the Kingdom typically increases by 35 percent during this period. Some 84 percent of users in the Kingdom have expressed interest in using AR to engage with products before purchasing, according to the company.
Brands taking part include NiceOne, Abdul Latif Jameel, Rama Clinics and Stars Smile.
“By reimagining the traditional Saudi souq through the Snapchat camera, we created a space where heritage, community, and modern discovery come together naturally,” said Al-Hammadi.
Snapchat has also brought back its AR Ramadan Mall for the fifth year. In 2025, the experience reached 16.8 million shoppers, driving a 30 percent increase in engagement time year-on-year.
This year, the mall includes five “districts,” each dedicated to a specific sector.
The new format is based on data obtained over several years and allows each category to have its own AR environment, creating a more focused and contextual approach to brand engagement.
“This approach moves away from a one-size-fits-all structure and instead supports deeper engagement by giving people the freedom to spend time in spaces that align more closely with what they are looking for,” explained Mohammed Bouarib, regional creative strategy and innovation lead at Snap Inc.
The mall features 11 brands across five categories — luxury, automotive, food and beverage, self-care and retail. They include YSL Beauty, Dolce & Gabbana, Roberto Cavalli, Nespresso, Puck, Neutrogena, Sensodyne, Centrum, Al‑Futtaim BYD & Denza, and MAX.
Snap Souq is only available in Saudi Arabia, while the AR Ramadan Mall is available across the Middle East. Both can be accessed through the Lens Explorer and the carousel feature on Snapchat until the first week of Eid.
