Egypt delays opening of grand museum due to regional turmoil
Egypt on Saturday announced delaying the long-awaited opening of a grand antiquity museum near the Giza Pyramids, which was scheduled for next month, citing regional tensions amid ongoing war between Israel and Iran, state media reported.
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said the opening, which was originally scheduled for July 3, would be postponed until the last quarter of this year.
The state-run newspaper al-Ahram quoted Madbouly as saying the postponement of the event aims to provide an "appropriate atmosphere" for the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), and the new date would be set soon.
GEM, deemed the world's largest museum of the ancient Egyptian civilization, showcases thousands of artifacts, including the full legendary collection of Tutankhamun featuring the king boy's iconic mask.
Despite the delay, GEM will remain open to visitors as part of its ongoing soft opening, al-Ahram Online reported.
Egypt has in recent years announced a string of archaeological discoveries in several parts of the nation to boost its tourism industry, which is a main source of national income.
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4 hours ago
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