Spanish film director Josep Joan Bigas Luna, who discovered actors Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem and whose 1992 movie Jamon, Jamon launched their careers, has died in northeast Spain, aged 67.

News agency Europa Press and Spanish state broadcaster RTVE, said Bigas Luna died at home in Riera de Gaia after a battle with cancer.

Five killed in sectarian clashes

Five people were killed in clashes between Muslims and Christians outside Cairo, Egyptian security officials said.

Officials say yesterday’s clashes started when young Muslims drew upside down crosses on an Islamic institute.

Christian onlookers began quarrelling with Muslims nearby and soon residents wielding guns began firing on one another.

Traces of pork found in Ikea’s moose lasagne

Ikea withdrew 17,000 portions of moose lasagne from its home furnishings stores in Europe after traces of pork were found in a batch tested in Belgium.

Ikea spokeswoman Tina Kardum said the product had been on sale for a month when it was withdrawn on March 22.

Ms Kardum said the company found out on Friday that a follow-up test in Belgium confirmed the lasagne contained 1.6 per cent pork.

Ikea has previously recalled meatballs and other meat products sold in its cafeterias and frozen foods sections after tests showed they contained traces of horse meat.

Court refuses to ban satire show

A Cairo court has turned down a lawsuit demanding that a popular Egyptian satirist’s TV show be banned.

The Administrative Court said yesterday that the lawsuit against Bassem Youssef’s El-Bernameg, or The Programme, was dropped as the plaintiff did not have an interest in the case.

Youssef frequently satirises Egypt’s Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

A lawyer filed the suit demanding the suspension of the licence of the channel that broadcasts his show, claiming it corrupted morals and violated religious principles.

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