# World

Terror attempt foiled to ‘burn’ Kaaba in Mecca

Police in Saudi Arabia have foiled an attempt to "burn" the Kaaba, located in the centre of the Grand Mosque…

IANS | Riyadh | February 7, 2017 9:35 am

Terror attempt foiled to ‘burn’ Kaaba in Mecca

Police in Saudi Arabia have foiled an attempt to "burn" the Kaaba, located in the centre of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, a media report said on Tuesday.

According to local daily Sabq, an eyewitness said that he saw a man pour gasoline on the Kaaba, Xinhua news agency reported.

He alerted the police, who arrested the man.

The daily confirmed that the incident occurred at 11 pm, on Monday.

In May 2016, the police foiled a suicide bomber from reaching the Prophet's Mosque in Madina, leaving the attacker and four police personnel killed.

# India

Jaishankar calls for Gaza ceasefire, says S Arabia crucial for regional stability

Describing Saudi Arabia as an important factor of stability in the region, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday expressed deep concern over the continuing conflict in Gaza and called for an early ceasefire.

# Sports

IPL 2025 mega auction to be held in Jeddah on November 24-25

Notably, the timing of the auction coincides with the third and fourth days of the first Test between India and Australia in Perth.

# Sports

Gauff hopes WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia can ‘open doors’ for women’s progress

Coco Gauff, currently ranked world number three, has expressed hope that the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia could “open doors” and pave the way for women’s progress and positive change in the conservative kingdom.