Southern Agenda
President Hosni Mubarak said this week that Egypt welcomed any progress in Arab-Iranian relations, adding that Cairo is "in direct contact with Iran without the need for mediators.
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Mediating peace in the Horn
Cairo played host to the leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea this week as part of efforts to defuse the conflict between the two Horn of Africa states. Nevine Khalil reports
In quest of stability
Egypt, irrespective of its differences with some of its neighbours to the south, is concerned, first and foremost, with restoring stability to the Horn of Africa. Dina Ezzat explores the prospects
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Egypt and US bolster defence ties
Field Marshal Tantawi is on a visit to the US for talks on military assistance, arms sales and joint manoeuvres. As Amira Ibrahim reports, the visit will boost bilateral military and political relations
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Parliamentary
row over social services
Prime Minister Kamal El-Ganzouri, in a session of parliament this week, engaged in verbal clashes with opposition and independent MPs over budget allocations for dealing with social inequalities. Gamal Essam El-Din attended
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Discussing democracy, desperately
What is wrong with Egyptian democracy? Some say its teeth are too sharp, others complain it is toothless. Fatemah Farag samples the debate
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As the controversy over the relocation of sections of the Islamic Museum continues, Amira Howeidy reports on an angry meeting of intellectuals opposed to the plan, and Youssef Rakha writes on another meeting, ostensibly called to show support for Culture Minister Farouk Hosni
Defending Bab Al-Khalq
Rallying behind the minister
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Less than a week after it won the cabinet's approval, a bill that regulates the activities of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) was endorsed on Monday by the People's Assembly. The controversial bill, which will be debated soon in a plenary assembly session, will almost certainly be approved by parliament but has already triggered NGO fury
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NGO bill 'satisfies' MPs
MPs were generally satisfied with the draft law that is designed to replace a highly restrictive legislation that dates back to 1964. Gamal Essam El-Din reports
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... but provokes NGO wrath
Disbelief, anger and disappointment best describe the reactions of many NGOs to the draft bill. Mariz Tadros gauges reactions
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The balance sheet
Shaden Shehab reviews the bill's controversial provisions as well as its positive aspects
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