Top Azhar cleric says Quran burning would ruin US ties
CAIRO: A top official of Cairo's Al-Azhar university, which US President Barack Obama referred to as a "beacon of learning" in an appeal for reconciliation with Muslims, warned Wednesday…
Police beat customers at crisis-hit Afghan bank
KABUL: Afghan security forces used batons on unruly customers scrambling to withdraw their savings on Wednesday from a branch of the graft-hit Kabulbank, the country's biggest private financial institution. Kabulbank's…
Metro changes Dubai scene but car-lovers stick to the wheel
DUBAI: Dubai Metro may have altered the commuting scene in this car-loving city, but a year after the first train left the station winning over the hard-core motorists remains an…
Kuwait appoints first stock market regulator
KUWAIT: Kuwait has appointed its first independent regulatory body, the Capital Market Authority, to oversee its stock exchange, Commerce Minister Ahmad al-Harun said on Wednesday. The managing director of the…
Hassan brands injury as ‘blessing from God’
CAIRO: Egypt midfielder Ahmed Hassan described his major knee injury as a 'blessing from God' because it will give him the chance to rest after years of tireless work. Hassan…
Standard’s lack of potential turned me off: Meteb
CAIRO: Emad Meteb said that Standard Liege's lack of potential triggered his move back to Egypt. The international striker signed a two-year deal with Standard but terminated his contract before…
Iranian-Egyptian tension hits the big screen
A pro-government Iranian militia is planning to produce a damning documentary about Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in retaliation for an Egyptian film which is set to present a negative biographical…
NGO takes battle over culture ministry IP decree to court
CAIRO: An NGO has lodged a case against a decree allowing the Ministry of Culture to closedown websites held to be in breach of intellectual property regulations. In a statement…
Hesham Al-Gakh uses poetry to express frustration
CAIRO: When it comes to criticizing the current political and social conditions in Egypt, Egyptians tend to get creative. From using props in demonstrations against soaring prices such as plates,…
Ministry officials to be tried for Van Gogh theft
CAIRO: “The deputy culture minister and the director of a Cairo museum were referred to a misdemeanor court on charges of severe negligence and harming state property in the Van…