Home | Arab News — Saudi Arabia News, Middle East News, Opinion, Economy and more.

GAZA CITY: Israel on Tuesday unleashed its heaviest bombardment in a 3-week-old war against Hamas, striking symbols of the group’s control in Gaza and firing tank shells that Palestinian officials said shut down the strip’s only power plant.The station’s shutdown further disrupted the supply of electricity and water to the 1.7 million people packed into the narrow Palestinian coastal territory.More than 100 bodies were brought to Gaza morgues on Tuesday after savage Israeli fire, bringing the number of Palestinians killed in the 22-day assault to over 1,200.Israel stepped up its artillery fire on Monday night, especially in central Gaza’s Bureij refugee camp, spreading in the afternoon to Jabaliya in the north and Rafah in the south. The Israeli Army said troops killed five militants in a Gaza tunnel.Fifty-six lives have been lost on the Israeli side, including 53 soldiers, although Hama...

PLO offers truce as at least 100 killed in Gaza

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip: A senior PLO official proposed a 24-hour humanitarian cease-fire Tuesday in t...

Riyadh boy’s death sparks alert on dangerous fireworks

The festive fireworks that mark the beginning of Eid ended in tragedy for a Riyadh family when a 14-...

Sharif eyes Saudi investment

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has suggested that Saudi corporates and the private sector invest in his country’s power industry.“They can set up coal-fired power stations in Pakistan,” he said during an informal meeting with journalists at his Jeddah residence on Tuesday.“We now have a stable economy and we are offering excellent returns on investments.” One coal-fired power station requires an investment of $1 bi...

Obama’s Eid greeting backfires

WASHINGTON: A White House tweet wishing “Muslims in the US and around the world a blessed and joyous celebration” of Eid has sparked backlash over President Barack Obama's position on Gaza, where over 100 Palestinians, including several children, were killed in Israeli attacks in less 24 hours.Earlier, Obama’s statement said: “Muslims throughout the United States and around the world celebrate Eid Al-Fitr, Michelle and I...

SAUDI ARABIA »

Riyadh welcomes Eid with fireworks

Colorful fireworks display lit up the the pitch-black skies over seven locations in the Saudi capital on Monday night as residents of all ages expectantly welcomed the Eid Al-Fitr holidays.Families of various nationalities — Saudi, Bangladeshi, Sudanese, Sri Lankan, Egyptian, Jordanian, Syrian, Fili...

Police implement special plan to control traffic during Eid

Jeddah Traffic and Security department has doubled its security patrols to control the traffic on the first day of Eid in different parts of the city particularly at the Corniche and the historical district of downtown Balad where large crowds are expected to gather to enjoy the festivities and entertainment activities orga...

Jeddah residents enjoy comedy performances

Theaterical performances are ongoing across Jeddah during Eid courtesy of the creativity of Saudi artists.The festival is held under the slogan “Eidna kidda” (Arabic for “this is how we celebrate Eid”) in Jeddah’s downtown historical area, slated to enter into UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites.Four shows debut every day...

36 teams to secure women-only venues

The Riyadh Municipality has mobilized 36 teams among its Saudi female employees to ensure security at female-only venues during the Eid festivities.Several locations have been devoted to women-only entertainment events across the city. The teams have been tasked with ensuring security at the King Abdulaziz Historical Center...

Ailing Filipino illegals seek assistance from community leaders

Several filipino women who are illegally residing in the Kingdom have approached community leaders for help to go home to the Philippines after falling ill, according to a source.“Community leaders told them that procedures for going home are no longer the same as during the amnesty period and that it’s back to the old proc...

Biggest mobile zoo comes to Abha

An entertainment and shopping festival has been organized by Bawabat Al-Shorouq Company on Abha-Khamis Mushaiyt Road.It covers a space of 30,000 square meters, in addition to facilities and visitor parking.Mansour Al-Qammash, general supervisor, said the festival will extend over a three-month period, and includes the bigge...

Land ports experience congestion

Several Saudi borders with neighboring Gulf states were a scene of congestion on the first day of Eid.The port between the Kingdom and Kuwait, in particular, suffered huge bottlenecks during the festivities, while the Salwa border port with Qatar experienced chaos in spite of the small number of travelers crossing over. Con...

SR108m spent on birth control pills

Saudi women have bought over six million birth control pills costing SR108 million last year, according to a study by Saudi-based pharmacies, Makkah newspaper reported. The total sale of the medication amounts to SR108,585,594 for about 5,877,318 medical boxes and units while the list also shows that women usually buy certa...

One million likes … and counting

Arab News has now passed the one-million likes milestone on Facebook, thanks to the page's fans. What seemed to be an unrealistic target a year ago has turned out to be achievable after all, even without resorting to paid promos. The page was set up in 2009, but it wasn’t until 2013 that it became really active. From only 1...

Huge Jeddah fire doused

Civil Defense forces doused a huge fire that broke out in a paper factory in south Jeddah on Monday.Several fire-fighting and rescue teams combated the blaze with the help of helicopters, which guided ground teams.Nearby warehouses filled with grass for animal feed, coupled with high temperatures and strong winds, added to...

Fireworks vendors take to Twitter to promote product

Firework vendors have taken to social media outlets, such as Twitter, to promote their products despite warnings issued by the Civil Defense and the Ministry of Commerce.These vendors also sell on sidewalks alongside commercial complexes and markets, a familiar scene just before Eid every year, despite extensive security ca...

Saudi stamps society to honor editors in chief of GCC papers

The Saudi Philatelic and Numismatic Society (SPNS) will mark its 50th anniversary at the King Fahd Cultural Center (KFCC) by honoring the editors in chief of leading dailies in English and Arabic in the Kingdom and other GCC countries.“The event, which will be held at the King Fahd Cultural Center, will be held in conjuncti...

Volunteers spread joy among orphans

More than 100 volunteers spent the last day of Ramadan and first day of Eid spreading joy and happiness among less fortunate children in Jeddah’s different neighborhoods.The volunteers distributed kiswa (Eid clothing), candy and Eideyya as gifts given in Eid Al-Fitr. “We feel like it is our responsibility as volunteers to c...

» Low-income bachelors feel the pinch...

» Barbers hike prices during Eid

» GOSI subscribers increase by 30% in...

» Beauty parlors in capital did brisk...

» Erring engineers face prosecution

» Rights bodies in govt agencies...

» 'Reject extremism, defeat...

» July 28 is the first day of Eid Al-...

» SRO sets new policies on safety and...

» King Abdullah meets with Palestinian...

» Residents urged to avoid Grand Mosque...

» Skyrocketing prices don’t deter...

MIDDLE EAST »

Newly displaced Gazans cram into packed schools

JABALIYA: Dozens of displaced Gaza families flooded into a UN school early Tuesd...

Erdogan ‘glad’ to return US Jewish group award

ISTANBUL: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan would be glad to return an award...

Benghazi clashes kill 30; Tripoli fire rages on

BENGHAZI: Libyan forces on Tuesday battled militants with rockets and warplanes...

Islamic State’s video wages psychological war on Iraq soldiers

BAGHDAD: Islamic State, the Al-Qaeda spin-off that seized wide swathes of Iraq a...

Israel escalates attacks in Gaza; 26 killed in airstrikes, shellin...

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip: Israel escalated its military campaign against Hamas on T...

WORLD »

US weapons company fined for Pakistan and Indonesia bribes

WASHINGTON: US gunmaker Smith & Wesson was hit with $2 million in fines Mond...

American negotiator gives no hard deadline for Iran deal

WASHINGTON: The Obama administration’s chief nuclear negotiator refused Tuesday...

Dozens dead in Xinjiang terror attack, says China

BEIJING: Dozens of people were killed and injured in a “terrorist attack” in Chi...

Fighting rocks eastern Ukraine

DONETSK: Intense fighting between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian rebels in eas...

CDC issues a health alert on Ebola

WASHINGTON: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday that the...

SPORTS »

Francis Tiafoe falls in ATP debut

WASHINGTON: Sixteen-year-old Francis Tiafoe lost his ATP tour debut while fellow...

Ecclestone offers 25 million euros to settle German bribery case

MUNICH, Germany: Formula One magnate Bernie Ecclestone offered on Tuesday to pay...

Heavyweight trio says Langer, 56, merits Ryder consideration

LONDON: Tom Watson, Colin Montgomerie and Tony Jacklin have called for the 56-ye...

NCAA settles head injury suit, will change rules

CHICAGO: The NCAA, the powerful collegiate sports governing body, agreed Tuesday...

India struggles to avoid follow-on

SOUTHAMPTON: Stuart Broad took wickets at either end of a long, hot day while Mo...

ECONOMY »

Profits of petchem firms up 14% to SR18.5bn in H1

Profits of the listed petrochemical companies rose by 14.4 percent to SR18.54 billion in the first half of the current year compared to SR16.2 billion in the same period...

Oil nears $107 as supply offsets global tension

LONDON: Brent crude oil fell toward $107 a barrel as ample supply outweighed concerns over political tensions in the Middle East, Africa and Europe.Despite conflicts in Ukraine, Iraq and Libya, global oil production has exceeded demand, leaving pockets of excess supply in Africa and Europe.“The likelihood of a supply disrup...

BP’s second-quarter profit rises on US oil output boost

LONDON: BP Plc, Europe’s third-largest oil company by market value, reported a 34 percent increase in second-quarter profit while warning that increasing sanctions against Russia could “adversely impact” business.Earnings adjusted for one-time items and inventory changes rose to $3.6 billion from $2.7 billion a year earlier...

Ranbaxy losses narrow despite dip in sales

MUMBAI: India’s Ranbaxy Laboratories narrowed its net loss in the April-June quarter from a gaping deficit a year ago as lower currency losses helped offset a dip in sales, the firm reported.The New Delhi-based pharmaceutical major reported a net loss of 1.86 billion rupees ($31 million) against a loss of 5.24 billion rupee...

Airbus cancels $2.2bn jet order from Skymark

TOKYO: Airbus said it has canceled a $2.2 billion deal with Skymark Airlines for the purchase of six A380 superjumbos, reportedly over concerns about payment.The Airbus announcement came hours after Skymark said it was locked in “difficult” talks with the European aircraft manufacturer about its 2011 order, which had marked...

UBS earnings rise; responds to ‘dark pools’ investigation

GENEVA: Switzerland’s biggest bank, UBS, has reported a 15 percent rise in second-quarter profit, driven by its core wealth management business, and disclosed it was part of a group of financial companies being investigated over alternative trading systems called “dark pools.”UBS AG said its net profit for the April-June pe...

Merck net income jumps to $2bn

NEW YORK: A big one-time gain and a tax benefit helped drugmaker Merck & Co. more than double its second-quarter profit, raise the lower end of its profit forecast and easily top analysts’ expectations.The maker of popular Type 2 diabetes pill Januvia and cholesterol medicines Vytorin and Zetia said net income increased...

Pfizer’s Q2 profit sinks 79 percent but tops forecasts

NEW YORK: Pfizer’s second-quarter earnings plunged 79 percent from last year, when the world’s second-largest drugmaker booked a business spinoff gain of more than $10 billion. The latest results still edged analyst expectations.The New York company said it earned $2.91 billion, or 45 cents per share, in the quarter. That c...

Honda quarterly net profit jumps 19.6% to $1.4bn

TOKYO: Japanese automaker Honda said its latest quarterly net profit jumped 19.6 percent to $1.4 billion thanks to a weak yen and growth in global auto sales, as it boosted its full-year profit forecast.Honda said it earned 146.5 billion yen ($1.4 billion), up from 122.5 billion yen a year earlier, as sales rose 5.4 percent...

Flipkart raises $1bn in funds to tackle Amazon

MUMBAI: India’s top e-commerce company Flipkart said it had raised $1 billion (60 billion rupees) in funds as it battles US giant Amazon for supremacy in the hyper-competitive local market.Flipkart, set up in 2007 by two former Amazon employees, said Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC was among those to participate in the...

Nissan profit beats estimates on gains in China, US demand

TOKYO: Nissan, Japan’s second- biggest carmaker, reported profit that beat analysts’ estimate as deliveries rose in China and the US, its two biggest markets.Net income rose 37 percent to 112.1 billion yen ($1.1 billion) in the April-June quarter, beating the 84.3 billion yen average of 14 analyst estimates compiled by Bloo...

Suzuki recalls nearly 26,000 cars for fire risk

DETROIT: Suzuki is recalling nearly 26,000 midsize cars in the US because the daytime running light modules can overheat and could cause a fire.The recall covers the Verona from the 2004-2006 model years. It’s an expansion of an earlier recall of the Forenza and Reno.All the cars were made by General Motors in Korea. Suzuki...

Investors dump higher oil bets as prices fall

LONDON: Hedge funds and other large speculators cut their bets on higher Brent crude oil and gasoil sharply in the week to July 22, IntercontinentalExchange Inc. said, following a big fall in prices.The ICE said money managers reduced their net long futures and options positions in Brent by 34,786 contracts to 117,195, and...

OPINION »

Mohammed Fahad Al-Harthi

Gaza: Falling rockets and failing media

Lies are easily exposed when the truth comes out.Indeed, social media outlets an...

Bikram Vohra

Israeli lies exposed

Score: One thousand dead and climbing. Several hundred thousand wounded, displac...

Mahir Ali

Heads you win...

A pair of recent elections, both coincidentally in mainly Muslim countries, yiel...

Neil Berry

Sinister Israeli rabbis and blind Western eyes

Published in the US at the close of 2013, Max Blumenthal’s big, brash, furiously...

LATEST VIDEOS

Video shows smiling American bomber in Syria

Stay Connected

Follow @Arab_News

Facebook

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...

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY »

NASA rover breaks off-Earth distance rec...

WASHINGTON: The US space agency’s Opportunity rover has now clocked more miles on Mars than any man-made vehicle to reach another celestial body, NASA said Monday.
Since arriving on the Red Planet in 2004, the solar-powered robot has journeyed across 40 kilometers of Martian terrain.
That surpasses the previous record held by the Sovie...

German scientist starts 4-week...

Earth survived near-miss from...

Twitter’s new move threatens W...

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...

TRAVEL »

4-day Eid festival planned

The Jeddah Municipality, the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) will organize an entertainment festival for four days during Eid Al-Fitr following the success of the Ramadan festival in old Jeddah, which attracted 800,000 visitors throughout the holy month, said Yasser Madda...

Balad takes on a festive mood...

Naxos island: A glimmer among...

Mobile zoo attracts Baha visit...

FOOD & HEALTH »

E-cigarette ban sought: Decades of education against smoking...

A prominent professor at King Saud University (KSU) has called for a ban on the sale of e-cigarettes, especially to those under the age of 18.Sultan Ayoub Meo, a professor at the KSU’s College of Medicine, told Arab News on Friday that e-cigarette smoking should be regulated in the same way as traditional cigarettes. “Retail outlets, including pharmacies, must not be allowed to sell it to children and adolescents,” he said.E-cigarettes, which generate a vapor containing nicotine as a tobacco substitute, were initially released as a device to help smokers quit, but Meo fears “the huge rise in users could normalize smoking, and undo decades of anti-smoking education and campaigning.”He...

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...

OFFBEAT »

‘Jazz comes easier vs. pop’

NEW YORK: Lady Gaga is a bonafide pop star, but the singer says recording jazz music was easier than pop.Gaga has spent...

Marvel adds 70s music to ‘Guardians of Galaxy’

BURBANK, California: A lead actor known for playing the slovenly sidekick, a director who only made small films, a talking raccoon and a 1970s pop music soundtrack — together they form an unlikely tableau for a mega-budget space adventure movie.And yet, Marvel Studios banked on these outliers for its $170 million launch of the new franchise “Guardians of the Galaxy,” a novel combination of sarcasm and sci-fi that opens in US theaters on Friday and could be the late summer’s box office hit.If it delivers on that promise, “Guardians” will show that the Walt Disney Co. studio can score with its...

Teacher who survived Sandy Hook has book deal

NEW YORK: A Connecticut teacher who helped save students’ lives during the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre has a book deal.G.P. Putnam’s Sons announced Tuesday that “Choosing Hope: Moving Forward from Your Life’s Darkest Hour” by teacher Kaitlin Roig-DeBellis will be released next spring. The publisher says the book will be a “poignant account of personal triumph over unbearable tragedy.” Robin Gaby Fisher is co-writing it.Roig-DeBellis hurried 15 first-graders into a bathroom upon hearing gunfire at the school in Newtown, Connecticut, on Dec. 14, 2012, saving their lives. The gunman...