May 25, 2013
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The week's top five must-sees,
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Description
Cairo; Arabic: القاهرة; is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa. Its metropolitan area is the 16th largest in the world. Located near the Nile Delta, it was founded in 969 AD. Nicknamed "the city of a thousand minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life. Cairo was founded by the Fatimid dynasty in the 10th century AD, but the land composing the present-day city was the site of national capitals whose remnants remain visible in parts of Old Cairo. Cairo is also associated with Ancient Egypt as it is close to the ancient cities of Memphis, Giza and Fustat which are near the Great Sphinx and the pyramids of Giza.
Egyptians today often refer to Cairo as Maṣr, the Egyptian Arabic pronunciation of the name for Egypt itself, emphasizing the city's continued role in Egyptian influence. Its official name is القاهرة al-Qāhirah, means literally "the Vanquisher" or "the Conqueror", sometimes it is informally also referred to as كايرو Kayro. Cairo has the oldest and largest film and music industries in the Arab world, as well as the world's second-oldest institution of higher learning, al-Azhar University. Many international media, businesses, and organizations have regional headquarters in the city; the Arab League has had its headquarters in Cairo for most of its existence.
(via Freebase)
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![Egypt's military rulers renew pledge to step down after Abbasiyah 'massacre' [Al Jazeera, Qatar]](/images/image_cache/base-3933000/3933954/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=8b40e6411e9316279fa80b23fa07a4ee "Major General Mokhtar al Molla (left) and Major General Mohammed al-Assar and speak during a news conference by the Supreme Council for Armed Forces (SCAF) in Cairo, May 3, 2012: REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih")
![Deadly clashes erupt in Egypt ahead of vote [Al-Alam, Iran]](/images/image_cache/base-3889000/3889557/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=aa982e9cd9c00c66dfefa592622fd303 "Islamist protesters and their supporters help an injured protester during clashes with armed \"thugs,\" after an attack on protesters late Tuesday night, in Cairo May 2, 2012: REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih")
![Egyptian Islamists rally against attempt to revive Mubarak era [Press TV, Iran]](/images/image_cache/base-3764000/3764650/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=78f1514a5d875d68a51a3f81e1d1aae6)
