Gaza toll tops 800, four Palestinians killed in West Bank
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories: International efforts for a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza ramped up on Friday, as tensions erupted in the West Bank where four Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire.The United States has worked with Egypt on a plan that, diplomats say, would provide a humanitarian pause in the deadly Israel-Hamas conflict ahead of talks on key issues.The plan is being pressed by US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is with UN chief Ban Ki-moon in Cairo for talks to end violence that has killed 832 Palestinians as well as 36 people on the Israeli side.Israel’s security cabinet was meeting to discuss a truce proposal passed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by Kerry, Israeli media reported.Meanwhile, Hamas claimed it had fired three rockets at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport, with an army spokeswoman confirming that “two rockets were shot down over metropolitan...
Wreckage of Air Algerie plane carrying 116 people found in M...
ALGIERS/BAMAKO: Authorities said on Thursday they located the wreckage of an Air Algerie flight afte...
Last-minute travel bookings cause chaos
Last-minute bookings are causing chaos at some of the country's airports, train and bus stations as...
Belt glitch strands hundreds at Riyadh airport
Hundreds of outbound Saudia passengers were left stranded at King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) for several hours on Thursday because of a faulty conveyor belt. Several passengers, who called Arab News from KKIA, claimed one of the belts at the departure terminal had broken down, causing flight delays and discomfort.The malfunction, which affected only Saudia international flights, created a chaotic scene at the che...
Human development boost: KSA ranked 34th
Saudi Arabia ranked 34th in the Human Development Index (HDI) of 2014 out of a total of 187 countries and territories.Saudi Arabia’s HDI value increased from 0.583 to 0.836, an increase of 43.3 percent, or an average annual increase of about 1.10 percent, between 1980 and 2013.The current figure is considered very high within the global indicator.According to the 2014 Human Development Report released by the United Nation...

SAUDI ARABIA »

Governor orders safety measures following Grand Mosque fire
Makkah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah has urged the Civil Defense, as well as the contracting company responsible for the Grand Mosque expansion project, to adopt safety measures to prevent any possible fire during ongoing construction works after a fire gutted wooden scaffoldings on the northern...
Nitaqat woes dampen Eid for some expats
While many expatriates are preparing to celebrate Eid by shopping, traveling domestically or to their home countries, others are not so lucky because they have not been able to renew their residence permits and had their bank accounts frozen.This has been the result of some companies failing to comply with the rules of the...
Traffic rerouting irks Riyadh residents
Riyadh’s residents have expressed dismay over many traffic rerouting moves as a result of various road projects currently being implemented by the government.“We appreciate the fact that the public will ultimately benefit from these initiatives, but rerouting traffic without making motorists aware causes problems,” said one...
18 percent of Saudi students are smokers
Some 13 percent of Saudi male students and 5 percent of female students are smokers, said an expert citing data released by the World Health Organization (WHO).“The Kingdom loses SR5 billion annually as a result of the negative effects of smoking and thanks to the fact that the price of cigarettes in the Kingdom is the lowe...
Hospital waives medical bill for Sudan refugee
A hospital in Riyadh has allowed its doctors to remove a large-sized malignant tumor from a critically ill Sudanese refugee free of charge.The tumor, almost 15 centimeters big, had obstructed the patient’s colon, posing a threat to the 60-year-old man’s life.The hospital waived the entire medical bill, worth SR20,000, which...
Fireworks sold in Asir despite ban
Some traders are still selling banned fireworks at markets in Asir despite warnings by the Civil Defense of the dangers of these products.Arab News has discovered that some people are selling these products to children at shops and shopping centers here, in an attempt to exploit the upcoming Eid Al-Fitr celebrations.Saeed A...
Indian expat worker reunites with family
The ordeal of Mohammed Abdulaziz, an Indian expatriate who was threatened with separation from his family after languishing at a deportation center for months, came to an end after his story was published in Arab News, prompting several Indian officials to intervene and get the family a final-exit visa.Mohammed’s wife and s...
Asir promised adequate water in 10 days
The Asir governorate has promised to resolve the water shortage in the region in 10 days.The governorate is working with the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) to ensure there are adequate supplies to consumers in Abha, said Saad bin Abdullah Al-Thabet, spokesperson of the governorate.“Under the directions of Prince...
Henna business gets an Eid boost
Eid is not only a time for happy celebrations, but also the chance for enterprising women to boost their henna businesses.These enterprises have evolved to such an extent that various designs are on offer including Khaleeji, Arabic, Indian and traditional ones.Women have already starting making appointments at beauty salons...
Jazan’s Ramadan road toll 21
At least 21 people died and 123 were injured in 1,463 traffic accidents in Jazan during Ramadan, a report carried by the Saudi Press Agency said.Col. Ahmed Qassadi, assistant director of traffic in Jazan, said his officers had recorded more than 14,000 traffic violations in the region during the month.“We have arrested 67 p...
Peruvian envoy lauds excellent ties with KSA
Peruvian Ambassador to the Kingdom Eduardo Martinetti highlighted on Wednesday night the excellent friendly bilateral diplomatic relations between his country and Saudi Arabia.“Peru and Saudi Arabia share many common stances on regional and global affairs,” the Peruvian envoy said during the iftar he hosted for 60 members o...
PIF to set up new companies
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) aims to establish companies in areas including housing, petrochemicals and technology as it expands its investments locally and overseas, Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf said.His statement, quoted by Asharq Al-Awsat, a sister publication of Arab News, was a fresh sign th...
Envoy: 21m Chinese Muslims fast in Ramadan
An estimated 21 million Chinese Muslims fast during the holy month of Ramadan and are allowed under the country's constitution to freely practice other Islamic rituals, according to the Chinese ambassador to Saudi Arabia.Li Chengwen told Arab News here recently that these Muslims are from 10 ethnic minorities in the country...
» Choppers reduce Makkah traffic...
» All roads lead to Makkah ahead of Eid
» Crime rate up 102%
» DQ’s shaded area a welcome haven for...
» Riyadh readies up Eid preparations
» Jeddah public gardens ‘lack basic...
» Al-Athr showcases abstract and...
» 19 arrested in Riyadh for crimes...
» Dammam market to be relocated
» King discusses Gaza violence with...
» KSA flays Israeli savagery in Gaza...
» Crown Prince: We consider Pakistan...

MIDDLE EAST »

IS militants destroy ancient mosque in Mosul
BAGHDAD: Islamic extremist militants blew up a revered Muslim shrine traditional...
‘Almost impossible for Gazans to shelter from Israeli strikes’

JERUSALEM: Britain is “gravely concerned” by the high number of civilian casualt...

IS ordering female genital mutilation?

GENEVA: The United Nations, expressing deep concern, said on Thursday that milit...

Strategic tunnels used by Hamas spook Israelis

NIR AM, Israel: With deadly fighting raging next door in the Gaza Strip, souther...

Twin car blasts welcome new Iraq president; 21 killed

BAGHDAD: Iraqi officials say a double car bombing in central Baghdad has killed...

WORLD »

India summons Pakistan envoy over Mumbai trial delays
NEW DELHI: India summoned a top Pakistani diplomat, two days after announcing re...
CIA ran secret jail in a Polish forest, says European court

WARSAW: The CIA ran a secret jail on Polish soil, the European Court of Human Ri...

Health, agriculture ‘key to Africa’s development’

ADDIS ABABA: Health and agriculture development are key if African countries are...

Taiwan launches probe into plane crash that killed 51

TAIPEI: Taiwan authorities launched an investigation on Thursday into the crash...

Philippines deports Australian preacher

MANILA: Philippine authorities said Thursday they deported an Australian preache...

SPORTS »

Navardauskas rules 19th stage of Tour de France
BERGERAC, France: Ramunas Navardauskas of Lithuania led a late breakaway in a do...
Tseng gives Taiwan sweep of top seed US at Crown

BALTIMORE: Yani Tseng sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole Thursday to g...

Hamilton fastest in Hungarian Grand Prix practice

BUDAPEST: Lewis Hamilton took the early initiative when he topped the times as M...

Drogba returns to Chelsea on one-year deal

LONDON: Didier Drogba completed a remarkable return to Chelsea on Friday, signin...

FIFA nixes calls to strip Russia of World Cup

GENEVA: FIFA has rejected calls to move the 2018 World Cup from Russia, saying...

ECONOMY »

Amazon loss widens despite climbing sales
SAN FRANCISCO: Internet retail titan Amazon has reported a money-losing quarter despite impressive growth in sales, sending shares plummeting by more than 10 percent.The...
Kia Motors Q2 net profit down 13.3%
SEOUL: South Korea’s Kia Motors said its second-quarter profit fell 13.3 percent year on year, as a pick-up in sales was offset by a stronger won that hurt exports.Net profit for April-June at the country’s second largest auto maker came to 1.02 trillion won ($988 million), with unit sales up 4.3 percent year on year.Operat...
Skyscraper mania grips China as ambitions trump economy
SHANGHAI: The eastern Chinese city of Suzhou isn’t even the biggest in Jiangsu province, yet it’s joining a national rush for the sky with what’s slated to become the world’s third-tallest building.By 2020, China may be home to six of the world’s 10 highest skyscrapers, including Suzhou’s 700-meter (2,297-foot) Zhongnan Cen...
RBS privatization prospects brighten after surprise profit
LONDON: Part-nationalized Royal Bank of Scotland boosted its chances of an earlier than expected return to private ownership, posting a surprise 1 billion pound ($1.7 billion) second-quarter profit as its painful restructuring begins to bear fruit.The government has already started selling off shares in its state-backed riv...
Carillion eyes Balfour in $5.1 billion merger
LONDON: British support services and construction company Carillion made a bold move to capitalize on its successes with a possible 3 billion pound ($5.1 billion) merger with infrastructure firm Balfour Beatty .Carillion and Balfour Beatty said in a statement that a merger would have the potential to create a company with m...
British economy grows to above pre-crisis level
LONDON: Britain’s economy grew strongly in the second quarter, overtaking the size it achieved before the global financial crisis, data showed in the latest sign of robust recovery.The latest figures, along with a sharp fall in unemployment to the lowest level for five years, give a boost to the government before a general...
KSA boosts renewable energy investments
The Kingdom has confirmed its commitment to allocate over $109 billion of investment to develop a strong renewable energy sector by 2032, according to energy industry sources.The Kingdom’s strategy targets renewable energy to contribute 20-23 percent of its energy needs, with the world’s most valuable company, the Saudi Ara...
Mega-cap status: Facebook now valued more than AT&T, Coke
NEW YORK: In the days after its infamously mishandled initial public offering in May 2012, it looked as if Facebook would struggle to become a must-own for fund managers.Now the company’s $190 billion market value makes it bigger than such bellwethers as Coca-Cola and AT&T. It’s not a member of the Dow industrials, but...
Statoil disappoints in Q2 as production falls
OSLO: Norwegian oil giant Statoil stood by its production target for 2014 on Friday despite a second-quarter drop in output which weighed on its results. Adjusted earnings, an indicator followed closely in financial markets, were down by 15 percent to 32.3 billion kroner (3.87 billion euros, $5.20 billion) compared to 38 bi...
Oil slips below $107 as ample supply outweighs risk premium
LONDON: Oil fell below $107 a barrel as plentiful supply outweighed concerns over conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.Brent crude for September delivery LCOc1 traded 18 cents lower at $106.89 a barrel by 1400 GMT. The contract had closed 96 cents lower on Thursday.“There is ample prompt supply of crude oil, but the geo...
Gold price trades near 5-week low
LONDON: Gold edged up on but not far off a five-week low, and was headed for a second straight week of losses, as a strong dollar after robust economic data offset a fall in equities due to rising political tensions.Spot gold was up 0.2 percent at 1,294.36 an ounce by 1409 GMT, after losing nearly 1 percent on Thursday, whe...
India stays silent on foreign investment
Two months into the tenure of India’s new and ostensibly pro-business government, what’s happening with the long, drawn-out issue of foreign direct investment in the multibrand retail sector?The answer: nothing. And that’s how it’s going to be for the near future. Like the head of a family confronting a distressing new deve...
GM and Ford hopeful of European rebound despite Ukraine, Russia
FRANKFURT: Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co. said the crisis in Ukraine has exacerbated a sales slowdown in Russia, but the carmakers said they were on track to turn around their European operations after years of economic instability on the Continent.Ford said again it expected to have a full-year profit in Europe next...

OPINION »

Bikram Vohra
A Muslim forced to break his fast
AT least 11 members of Parliament belonging to the right-wing Shiv Sena allegedl...
Nadeem Qureshi
Listen to the screams of hapless Palestinians, please
People are perplexed. They ask why do you only blame Israel? What about the Pale...
Aijaz Zaka Syed
What’s with Modi’s silence?
Silence is the virtue of fools, counseled Sir Francis Bacon. Throughout the long...
Khalid Abdulla-Janahi
Mideast elite’s indifference
A few weeks ago, the US Supreme Court, the highest federal court in the United S...

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Events & Exhibitions

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ART & CULTURE »

Al-Athr showcases abstract and geometry...

Jeddah’s Al-Athr Gallery is hosting the abstract and geometry inspired work of 40 local and international artists until Oct. 10.
The gallery opened its door in 2009 and has already displayed the work of some leading artists.
The theme of this exhibition is entitled “The Language of Human Consciousness,” and explores how artists over th...
Street art to serve society
Dana Eshki’s emotionally inspi...
Clash of two worlds: Calligraf...
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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY »

Twitter’s new move threatens WhatsApp do...

SAUDIS are taking on Twitter and booming on Facebook; these are the usual news we hear about Saudis committing to social media websites, but we tend to overlook the simplest of them all, WhatsApp.
It is definitely booming, which explains Facebook's $19 billion deal to take it over. The number of messages and photos shared on the platform is...
UAE’s giant leap into space
Arab News ranked most influent...
Androids take us closer to ‘Bl...
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FASHION »

Hermes names new womenswear designer

PARIS: French luxury powerhouse Hermes has named Nadege Vanhee-Cybulski as their new womenswear designer.
The low-profile, 36-year-old French designer will replace Christophe Lemaire, whose departure was announced earlier this week and who will take his final bow in October.
Though Vanhee-Cybulski is not a big name, she was previously...
Eid gift ideas for the loved o...
Mishael Al-Rajhi designs for s...
Saudi women look to mesotherap...

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TRAVEL »

Balad takes on a festive mood in Ramadan

Ramadan in most cities of the Kingdom brings with it a festive mood and Jeddah is no exception. The entire city comes alive after the Taraweeh prayer, a downside of which are jam-packed roads.
Downtown Balad, which was recently declared a historical heritage by the UNESCO has a unique charm in Ramadan. Glittering lights, especially put up d...
Naxos island: A glimmer among...
Mobile zoo attracts Baha visit...
A land of festivities and rich...
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FOOD & HEALTH »

Study: Sleeping habits affect ethics
Do you consider yourself an ethical person? Chances are you answered “yes.” But new research suggests that our ability to act honestly in a given situation depends, in part, on the time of day. A study forthcoming in the journal Psychological Science finds that early-risers, or “larks,” are more likely to act dishonestly in the late evening hours. Night owls, on the other hand, exhibit a tendency toward ethical lapses early in the morning.Most of us are hard-wired to go to sleep and wake up at certain times of day. Some of us go to bed early to wake up early, while others prefer to stay up late and wake up late. Many of us fall somewhere in between. Researchers refer to this preference for...
Inside Loulou’s Kitchen
Louloua Elazzah is an ambitious and enthusiastic Saudi chef who lives between Saudi Arabia, Canada, and Greece with 19 years of experience in the field of culinary arts.Elazzah created a cooking academy called Loulou’s Kitchen that offers special cooking classes as well as basics in kitchen management.The ability to recognize different cultures and traditions of people through cooking is what first attracted Elazzah to cooking. Even though, she has a passion for Asian cuisine, she considers herself as an international cook who gets creative with globally celebrated cuisine.Arab News met with Elazzah to talk about her cooking classes, her passion for food and future plans. You give cooking...
What is the point of fasting? (Part 4)
Last week, I discussed the latest scientific research on fasting and its effects on the body, brain, and health in general. Fasting was found to have multiple benefits such as promoting fat loss; detoxifying the organs and systems; eliminating toxins; causing the body to heal itself; repairing damaged cells and organs; generating new white blood cells; balancing hormones; producing Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and an anti-aging hormone; relieving and energizing the digestive system; boosting the immune system; enhancing insulin sensitivity; reducing blood sugar count; breaking up plaque build-up in the arteries; enhancing the memory and mental activity; intensifying spirituality; and...

OFFBEAT »

China’s ageing millions look forward to bleak future
As she nears retirement along with millions of other Chinese, He Xiangying is too busy sending her son money and raising...
The color of confidence
What is this thing women have with color and why do men have to be dispatched on these hazardous missions to match the blouse to the sari or the used up favorite nail polish and carry little strips of cloth in an envelope when they go on business trips? Men are not equipped to handle these expeditions. Speak of misplaced confidence.Men know of black and white and red, yellow, green and blue and if we are stretched we can figure out that VIBGYOR is the acronym for the colors of the rainbow. Wives, they have it all so complicated. Like my wife will say, but I asked you for Coral Pink lipstick,...
Priyanka excited to go bald for ‘Mary Kom’
MUMBAI: For a crucial sequence in the forthcoming biopic ‘Mary Kom’, based on the life of Olympic bronze medallist boxer M.C. Mary Kom, Priyanka Chopra went for a bald look. The actress says it was her “responsibility” to do justice to her character.Priyanka’s bald look can be seen even in the films promos.The versatile actress says she was very excited about it — so much so that she was all around the film’s set in that look.“Mary has done it (gone bald) in her life. This is an authentic scene in the film and I was very excited about it,” Priyanka said here Wednesday at the launch of the...

CLASSIFIEDS »

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MATRIMONIAL
Indian Hyderabadi Sunni Muslim parents seek alliance for their son, 28 years Height 5, 8, MBA, brou...
2014-07-23 15:26
MATRIMONIAL
Sunni family from Lahore,looking for proposal for their MBA Britsih national son, in Riyadh.plz cont...
2014-07-22 16:43
MATRIMONIAL
Alliance required for a sunni muslim saudi iqama holder girl age 20 height 4ft9"inch , BA Final year...
2014-07-20 16:40
MATRIMONIAL
Hyd SM parents invite proposal for their daughter, born and brought up in KSA, 22 years, BE computer...
2014-07-17 18:51

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