The Mediterranean Cruise Directory Egypt is “Misr” in Arabic. It occupies the northeastern corner of Africa, and is connected to Asia by the Sinai Peninsula. Egypt is bordered by Libya on the west, Sudan on the south, Israel on the east, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north. Egypt has a surface area of 386,662 square miles, approximately the same size as Texas. The population of Egypt is about 75 million. Cairo, Egypt's capital city, has a population of more than 17 million. This great metropolis is the meeting place of Africa, the Arab world, Europe and Asia. Cairo is the most important city in the country and is the political, cultural, and economic center. The oldest part of Cairo lies in the vicinity of the Khan El Khalili Bazaar and Al Azhar Mosque. The modern part of Cairo was built by a descendant of Mohamed Ali, in the 19th century.  Today a sprawling city, with its ever expanding suburbs, surrounds this historic core.  The most famous mosque, the Mohamed Ali Mosque, was built in Cairo in his memory. Cairo is known as the city of a thousand minarets due to the profusion of mosques. In approximately 3000 B.C., a civilization emerged on the banks of the River Nile. It reached a stage of development and sophistication that none of its contemporaries surpassed. The ancient Egyptians' ability to organize society, keep careful records, and maintain the continuity and advancement of their civilization almost without interruption for 30 centuries set them apart from all other civilizations. A land of motion within the stillness of centuries, the silent felucca sails in contrast to the chaos and cacophony along the Nile. Among today's monuments are the world's largest textile mill, one of the highest dams, and the largest manmade lake. Yet, all the noises of construction, cries of street vendors, even the braying of donkeys, in ever-expanding Cairo are absorbed by the eternal quiet of the deserts. Egypt is a country with many secrets tied to its past. It is an explorer's land, with places to find treasures such as antiquities, gold or jewels. It is a place to see palaces and bazaars, where the real and the reproduced can be considered. It is a land where flowers bloom in the desert and in the underwater gardens. For those who can “drink the water of the Nile,” the rewards are magnificent.

PM calls for national pride in City Gate project (Times of Malta)
The government is forging ahead with the idea of moving Parliament to the old Opera House in Valletta in a project that should see the theatre and City Gate rebuilt by world-famous Italian architect Renzo Piano.

REAL ESTATE (St. Petersburg Times)
Vacationing abroad has become something of a tradition for Russians who can afford it, and now many are also choosing to invest in property in other countries. This trend is being affected by the global financial crisis and new conditions for investment.

Creamery site to rise anew (The News & Observer)
Local restaurateur Lou Moshakos is making more plans. The proprietor of The Carolina Ale House, Bentley's and Taverna Agora is finalizing a deal to purchase an office building at 500 Glenwood Ave.

Creamery site to rise anew (The News & Observer)
Local restaurateur Lou Moshakos is making more plans.

A La Carte: Nov. 28 (The Record)
- Dee's Thai Cuisine & Diner: The former Pompton Lakes Diner still serves diner fare from breakfast through midafternoon, but a full Thai menu is available starting at 2 p.m. 246 Wanaque Ave., Pompton Lakes; 973-248-1700.

Holiday shopping: A guide to gift guides (Naples Daily News)
Need some help sorting through the dizzying array of gift guides? Here are some of the more distinctive gifts from the annual gift guides by major specialty publications.

Ipsos Reid & Diversity Media Services Join Forces to Conduct Largest Ever Study of Canada's New Mainstream(TM) (CCNMatthews via Yahoo! Finance)
TORONTO, ONTARIO-- - Diversity Media Services Ltd. , and Ipsos Reid have joined efforts to launch Canada's first national multicultural research study. This study will explore the buying behaviours and cultural intricacies of Canada's 13 largest ethno-cultural groups in six key census metropolitan areas where nearly half the population of Canada resides.

Building a better life after work (Swissinfo)
Construction workers in Switzerland have been benefiting from an early retirement scheme for the building sector from the age of 60.

Tasty Middle Eastern flavors tweak Thanksgiving table (The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles)
Hilit Gilat knows her way around the kitchen. For the past two years, the Israel-born chef has built a steady reputation for preparing sumptuous, slow-cooked meats, savory stews and Mediterranean delicacies for families and private events, corporate affairs and even visiting dignitaries.

Buckley House to reopen (The Marietta Times)
There isn't a lot that brings a smile to Marietta residents more than the opening of a new restaurant. When the restaurant is also a local historic treasure, even better. Add to the mix, an eclectic Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Morrocan, Turkish, and Northern Italian cuisine, along with upscale decor, and the recipe aims to please. The Buckley House Restaurant, 332 Front St.