France hopes for more film action with new tax break
France is hoping for more Hollywood action at home after parliament adopted a tax break for foreign films expected to bring in ?200 million ($282 million) of fresh revenue over…
"Silent Night" for small Austrian village, 190 years later
Born on a cold night in the chapel of a small Austrian village, Silent Night, the most famous Christmas carol in the world, celebrates this year its 190th anniversary.The song,…
Egypt central bank says will ease rates only at right time
CAIRO: The Egyptian central bank said on Sunday it was not against easing monetary policy, but would only do this at the right time, raising expectations it may leave key…
Egypt stocks dips in light trade on profit taking
CAIRO: Egypt s main stock indexes lost more than 2 percent of their value on Sunday, as regional sentiment and profit taking depressed prices in very low volume trade, dealers…
Egypt truck explodes in Gaza smuggling bid
AL-ARISH: A fuel tanker truck exploded in an Egyptian border town where it was unloading its 50,000 liter cargo for smuggling into the Gaza Strip, destroying four homes, a security…
Relatives of killed Bedouins speak out
CAIRO: Relatives of three Bedouins found partially buried in the desert near the border have spoken out on the grievances they harbor towards the regime and the treatment meted out…
French first lady wins 'nude Carla' bag lawsuit
A French clothing company was ordered to pay Carla Bruni-Sarkozy ?40,000 ($58,000) in damages on Thursday over a shopping bag featuring a photo of the first lady in the nude.The…
Curious couture
Some people love shopping for Christmas gifts. They get a kind of festive cheer from it, a tingle of excitement at the prospect of lighting up somebody's face with that…
Eid in the Land of the Rising Sun
During Eid Al-Adha, I skipped slaying sheep in the streets of Cairo and went to visit my girlfriend in Japan instead. Culture shock hit me like a 50-kilo sack of…
7 ½ reasons why I hate my lovely iPod
Every time the word iPod is mentioned in a conversation someone has to interrupt, sigh and say dreamily: "I love my iPod. The truth is the iPod is one of…