Al-Ahram Weekly

Reading between the polls

Preliminary reports from the first stage of the parliamentary elections suggest a landslide victory for the pro-Sisi coalition, writes 
Gamal Essam El-Din

Reading between the polls

Elections: An in-depth account

Al-Ahram Weekly visits the constituencies where the closest election battles were fought

Elections: An in-depth account

What next for the Salafists?

Al-Nour Party was a major loser in the first round of parliamentary elections, further weakening the Salafist party, reports Khaled Dawoud

What next for the Salafists?

Reasons for optimism

With comparisons being made between this week’s parliamentary elections and those held in 2010, Dina Ezzat speaks to Hossam Badrawi, a senior figure in the former ruling party

Reasons for optimism

Expatriates start the vote

The turnout among Egyptian expatriates taking part in this week’s parliamentary elections was “average”, reports Doaa El-Bey

Expatriates start the  vote

Landslide victory at the UN

Winning a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council will put Egypt closer to international decision-makers, and raise expectations from Arab and African states, reports Doaa El-Bey

Landslide victory at the UN

Russia marginalises Iran

Russia has excluded Iran from its military intervention in Syria, and Tehran will not take this lying down, writes Bassel Oudat in Damascus

Russia marginalises Iran

Palestine’s youths stand tall

Violent acts of resistance to the Israeli occupation by teenaged Palestinians are a symptom of the society they are struggling to survive in, writes Samah Jabr

Palestine’s youths stand tall

From friends to potential enemies

Russia’s move into Syria has brought relations with Turkey to their lowest level in six decades, threatening energy cooperation and economic ties, writes David Barchard from Ankara

From friends to potential enemies
EGYPT No long lines

No long lines

Ahmed Morsy tries to find out the reasons behind the low turnout in the first phase of parliamentary elections

Smooth voting

Smooth voting

Election observers recorded only minor violations and small-scale violence, reports Mohamed Abdel-Baky

Call to separate politics from religion

Call to separate politics from religion

A group of Coptic activists has called for demonstrations in front of the Coptic Cathedral in Cairo in a bid to halt the Church’s involvement in politics, reports Michael Adel

Refugee remains revived in Port Said

Refugee remains revived in Port Said

Once again, the Armenian community in Egypt added a new chapter to their rich history which thousands were recently proud to witness. Nora Koloyan-Keuhnelian reports from Port Said

ECONOMY Pound moves closer to ‘fair value’

Pound moves closer to ‘fair value’

As bad news hit the economy this week, the government has been setting out its plans to fight back, reports Sherine Abdel-Razek

Importers worried

Importers worried

The government’s intention to decrease the country’s imports is raising concerns, reports Mona El-Fiqi

WORLD Let them speak

Let them speak

A generation of well-educated and articulate Palestinians are present around the world to explain their struggle. But too often it is others who speak in their name, writes Ramzy Baroud

The EU looks to Ankara

The EU looks to Ankara

No love is lost between EU leaders and Turkey’s Erdogan. But the refugee crisis has opened a door to improved relations, as long as Turkey works to staunch the flow of new arrivals in Europe, writes Sayed Abdel-Meguid

Regional impact of the Turkish elections

Regional impact of the Turkish elections

The regional implications of the forthcoming Turkish elections could be enormous, writes Salah Nasrawi

Iran’s adoption day

Iran’s adoption day

Last Sunday was Adoption Day for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iran nuclear agreement, reports Camelia Entekhabifard

Sudanese discourse

Sudanese discourse

Sudan’s national dialogue, begun this week, is being boycotted by the opposition, writes Gamal Nkrumah

A liberal Canada

A liberal Canada

Canadians assess the aftermath of Harper’s political demise, writes Eric Walberg from Toronto

The debate we have, the debate we need

The debate we have, the debate we need

The Democratic presidential debate on foreign policy has gone far beyond that of its blinkered and xenophobic Republican counterpart, but it hasn’t gone far enough, writes James Zogby

SPORTS In honour of the winners

In honour of the winners

Egypt’s victorious athletes were singled out by the Egyptian government at a star-studded event. Inas Mazhar reports

In the Rio ring

In the Rio ring

Egypt’s Hossam Bakr became the first Egyptian boxer to qualify to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, writes Inas Mazhar

LIVING Letting go of worry

Letting go of worry

Anxiety may not be chasing you, but you may be chasing anxiety, as Mai Samih finds out

opinion

What Obama won’t admit

The US is not admitting the reality that the Russian offensive in Syria is targeting the biggest threat to the regime, writes Gareth Porter

opinion

Apocalypse in Syria and beyond

Despite claims that the Syrian rebel group Ahrar Al-Sham is taking a moderate turn, its leaders are still pursuing a sectarian vision for the region, writes Nafeez Ahmed

opinion

Palestinians need hope, not ‘calm’

Convincing Israelis that their lives would be better if the brutal occupation of Palestine ended is a key step in moving beyond the present recursive stalemate, writes John Whitbeck

opinion

Zionism’s double ghettoisation

The twisted replay of history seen in the brutality displayed by Israeli settlers in recent weeks has resulted in a kind of double ghettoisation, writes Jeremy Salt

opinion

Pushing Israel to peace

As desperate as the situation appears in occupied Palestine, the momentum of a new wave of resistance can be used to force Israel to negotiate a just political settlement, writes Mohamed Ibrahim

opinion

How did we get here?

Almost every part of the Arab world is wracked by violence. Meanwhile, the prospects for solutions ahead are slight at best, writes Abdel-Moneim Said

opinion

Humanitarian masks, imperialist intent

When it comes to Washington and its geopolitical outlook, beneath all talk of human rights and democracy is the old face of imperial interests, writes Bassem Hassan

opinion

The Tunisian Nobel

The decision of the Nobel Committee to recognise the Tunisian mediators that held together the country’s democratic transition is a refreshing and meritorious honour, writes Hassan Nafaa

opinion

Revisiting the Nobel Peace Prize

Al-Sayed Amin Shalaby recalls his time as ambassador in Norway, seat of the most prestigious of all annual awards

opinion

Vote of confidence

Egypt gaining a seat on the UN Security Council is a significant endorsement of its direction, internationally and domestically, and presages continued enhancement of Cairo’s regional role, writes Hussein Haridy

culture

Hope for change

Soha Hesham takes a look at the awards of the Egyptian National Film Festival, which wrapped up this week

Exporting love

Nesmahar Sayed talks to photographer Lamiaa Khalil

Obituary: Gamal Al-Ghitani (1945-2015)

Gamal Nkrumah

Finding new meanings in old texts

Heritage
Mosques reopen in Fuwah

Mosques reopen in Fuwah

The newly restored Ottoman-era mosques of Abu Issa and Al-Sada Al-Sebaa were reopened last week in Fuwah in Kafr Al-Sheikh governorate

Ancient Egypt in Japan

Ancient Egypt in Japan

A touring ancient Egyptian exhibition has opened in Japan

features

Destination Oasis

Mahmoud Bakr visits the Siwa Oasis and finds that prospects there are improving after decades of official neglect

Press review
Digest

Digest

Compiled by Doaa El-Bey