Saudi Arabia Set to Own Title of World's Tallest Building

Kingdom Tower Adrian Smith & Gordon Gill Architecture

The design, by Chicago-based Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, pairs radical developments in skyscraper technology with a sleek, tapered aesthetic inspired by the folded fronts of young desert plant growth.

Saudi Arabia is set to shatter the record for the tallest building in the world, with a slender, asymmetrical spire that'll rise at least 3,280 feet in the air. That's more than twice the size of the Willis Tower, the tallest building in the United States, and 568 feet taller than the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.

Hosni Mubarak goes on trial

Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak goes on trial on Wednesday on charges that he ordered the killing of protesters in February's uprising against his regime.

Mubarak could face the death penalty if he is found guilty of ordering the use of lethal force against the demonstrators.

The former president's security chief and six top police officers are also on trial.

Almost 850 people were killed in the 18-day mass protests.

Law professor at Ain Shams university in Cairo, Dr. Ramadan Batikh, said it was unheard of for a former Arab president to be tried.

Gold Price Soars to New Record as U.S. Economy Stalls

The gold price soared to yet another all-time high Tuesday morning, rising $21.50 to $1,640.80 per ounce.  The price of gold dipped briefly following the deal to raise the debt ceiling, but quickly bounced back amid concerns that the United States would lose its AAA credit rating.  Helping to further boost gold prices was a fresh batch of economic data showing the U.S. economy was slowing materially.  Weak Q2 GDP data, downward revisions to previous quarters, and softer June manufacturing figures has fueled a surge in investment demand for gold and investments tied to the gold price.

News this morning that consumer spending fell 0.2% in June was weaker than market expectations of a 0.1% gain.  The gold price has begun to significantly outperform cyclically-sensitive stocks and commodities as a series of disappointing U.S. economic reports has been released.  Gold has also outperformed its sister precious metal, silver, in recent months.  Silver – which sits 20% below its spring all-time high of $49.79 per ounce – is following the gold price higher Tuesday morning, rising 2.0% to $40.11 per ounce.

Liverpool Concede 3, AGAIN!

Mohammed Fellah's last-gasp strike offset two late goals from Daniel Agger as Liverpool were held to a 3-3 pre-season draw against Valerenga in Norway.

Kenny Dalglish's side were slow to get off the mark and quickly found themselves 2-0 down, with Lars Iver Strand sliding home for the hosts inside the first 10 minutes after a low cross inside the box from Havard Nielsen before Fegor Ogude slide home from the penalty spot.

Valerenga were perhaps fortunate to be given such a gilt-edged chance from 12 yards, however, as Yssouf Kone was clumsily tackled by Charlie Adam as he attempted to hit a first-time volley.

It was almost half-time before Liverpool got back into the match, as Andy Carroll rose highest to plant a trademark header beyond the despairing goalkeeper.

HTC Sues Apple In The UK, Following ITC Ruling

HTC Corp. (2498), the Taiwanese smartphone maker locked in a patent battle with competitor Apple Inc., sued the iPhone maker in Britain.

The complaint, filed July 29 in London, comes two weeks after HTC lost a ruling against Apple at the U.S. International Trade Commission. Notice of the U.K. case didn’t specify the nature of the new lawsuit.

The Washington-based ITC ruled on July 15 that HTC’s Android-based mobile phones infringe two Apple patents, a judgment that HTC, Asia’s second-biggest maker of smartphones, has said it will appeal.

Top Mexico drug boss who 'ordered 1500 killings' captured

A former Mexican police officer who allegedly admits ordering 1500 killings during a campaign of terror as a drug gang chieftain along the US border has been captured in northern Mexico, federal officials say.

Jose Antonio Acosta Hernandez also is a suspect in last year's slaying of a US consulate employee near a border crossing in Ciudad Juarez.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon said through his Twitter account that Acosta's capture is "the biggest blow" to organised crime in Ciudad Juarez since he sent about 5,000 federal police to the city in April 2010 to try to curb violence in one of the world's most dangerous cities.

Acosta, 33, was caught on Friday in the northern city of Chihuahua along with his bodyguard, said Ramon Pequeno, head of the federal police anti-drug unit.

Oil price hike, again!

Oil prices climbed as a tentative resolution to the U.S. debt ceiling crisis eased concerns about a potential credit downgrade or default for the world's largest oil consumer.

Delays to seven August-loading cargoes of North Sea Forties crude, the main component of the benchmark for over half the world's oil, were also supporting Brent futures. At one point, the European benchmark had climbed 3.1% to hit a 6½-week high of $120.40 a barrel, but quickly pulled back.

Ahead of the New York day, the front-month September Brent contract on London's ICE futures exchange was up $2, or 1.7%, at $118.74 a barrel. The front-month September contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange was up $1.22, or 1.3%, at $96.92 a barrel.

Apple To Launch iPhone 5 In October, Not September

We have been hearing a number of rumors over the last few weeks that the iPhone 5 would launch in September, first we heard it would launch on September the 5th, and then we heard that it would launch in the first two weeks of September.

Now according to the guys over at All Things D, we will see the iPhone 5 launch at the start of October, this follows on from a recent Gizmodo report which said it would land at the end of September after they received some information from an AT&T employee.

Hague condemns Syrian violence

Foreign Secretary William Hague has condemned the "shocking" Syrian security force raids that have killed between 70 and 120 people.

Tanks stormed the city of Hama before dawn in a brutal crackdown on protests over President Bashar Assad's rule.

Bodies lay scattered on the streets following rounds of shelling and gunfire, according to residents.

Raids were also reported in southern Syria and in the suburbs of the capital Damascus.

It comes ahead of the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on Monday.

Mr Hague said there was "no justification" for the attacks and called on the President to "stop this assault on his own people".

Britney Spears Nabs Joe Jonas For Femme Fatale Tour

There was a time when Joe Jonas was rumored to be an opener for Britney Spears on her Femme Fatale Tour. Well, it seems that rumor turned out to be true — for one date, at least. Jonas tweeted Friday (July 29) that he's opening for Spears at her August 5 stop in New Jersey.

"This just in ... I will be performing at the BritneySpears concert in NJ on Aug 5," the Jersey native wrote. Just last week, it was announced that DJ Pauly D will also appear on several dates of the tour, which also features Nicki Minaj, Nervo and Jessie and the Toy Boys.