Lindsay Lohan, in spite of really needing the money, apparently is passing on a $200,000 deal to appear in Dubai. Mr. Pink Energy drink had been hoping to pay for Lohan's travel expenses as well, but the actress is insisting that she won't show up for less than a cool half million dollars. This is presumably to help her straighten out her current tax debts, without continuing to use Ashton Kutcher like an ATM. While Dubai might seem an odd destination for the starlet, it seems she's been rubbing elbows with royalty from the region, including Prince Haji Abdul Azim. She's also been around town with Saudi-born film producer Mohammed Al Turki, pictured above with her at an amfAR affair during fashion week.
Another odd tidbit is a video that has apparently been going viral in the region. We've seen hundreds (thousands?) of takes on the Harlem Shake on YouTube. Who would have thought it would gained traction in the Middle East? Well, it has, and one version from Iraq is trending according to Al-Monitor's Pulse media tracking. Of course it isn't the only offering from the region, but that one apparently is one of the most popular ones.
Finally, there is yet another sign of inner-turmoil in the Egyptian government, in the form of an argument between Salafists and the Egyptian ministry on tourism. The Salafists, an ultra-conservative Islamist organization, wanted to take advantage of a rare solar event at the ancient temple of Abu Simbel to teach foreign tourists about Islam. They wanted to offer a program called "What is Islam?", but the ministry of tourism didn't want to muddy the waters, and possibly cause a drop in tourism.
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