‘Kidnappings’ mar Sudan Christmas without South
KHARTOUM: The fear of kidnappings, a dwindling number of worshippers, and shrinking church finances mar the first Christmas in Muslim-majority Sudan since the Christian South separated, church sources say. "We…
France spotlights short films on winter solstice
France marked the shortest day of the year on Wednesday with the launch of a nationwide short film festival, 30 years after starting a hugely popular music festival on the…
Famed Myanmar satirist ‘shocked’ by freedom
He kept his quick wit throughout jail terms, torture and solitary confinement, but it seems nothing quite prepared Myanmar's most famous comedian for his first trip out of the military-dominated…
Hepworth statue latest target of British metal thieves
Police were searching Wednesday for a sculpture by renowned British artist Barbara Hepworth which thieves tore from its plinth in a London park. The theft of the bronze work of…
In Lapland, young and old fall for Santa’s magic
The letter came from Italy, addressed simply "Babbo Natale," but that was enough to reach this frozen, far-north address — along with hundreds of thousands like it from around the…
New Islamist group vows attacks in Sinai
WASHINGTON: A new Islamist group in Egypt's Sinai peninsula has vowed attacks on the military government in Cairo and US targets, according to a statement posted on a militant forum.…
US denies interfering in Egyptian affairs
WASHINGTON: The United States Wednesday rejected accusations that it was interfering in Egyptian affairs, after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's comments provoked an angry response from Cairo. "We are…
Jordan, Egypt ink amended gas deal
AMMAN: Jordan has signed a revised natural gas deal with Egypt under which its gas imports will cost three times more than before. The deal was signed in Cairo on…
PM calls for dialogue to resolve crisis
CAIRO: Egypt's military-appointed prime minister on Thursday called for national dialogue to resolve the country's political crisis and pleaded for a two-month calm to restore security after weeks of protests…
FJP: Immediate handover of power will not solve current crisis
CAIRO: The Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party said calls to hand over power to parliament are premature. In the wake of this week’s deadly crackdown on protesters, a number…