The road to Washington
As tensions in Iraq simmered in the background, Cairo's diplomatic efforts focussed on the deadlocked situation between the Palestinians and Israelis. Nevine Khalil and Soha Abdelaty report

NDP gears up
The ruling party has provoked the ire of independent and opposition political pundits by claiming that calls for amending the constitution amount to fomenting instability and unrest. Gamal Essam El-Din reports

'Tis the season
The 51st anniversary of the July Revolution is intersecting with a frenzy of initiatives for "political reform". Amira Howeidy examines the significance or lack thereof

Press Syndicate faces unpredictable poll
Fierce competition is expected in the upcoming Press Syndicate elections -- and so are the surprises. Shaden Shehab reports

A system for Sisyphus
Educators say the decision to reintroduce a sixth year of primary schooling points to serious shortcomings in Egypt's educational system. Gihan Shahine reports

Obituary: A tremendously talented Texan
John Gerhart (1943 -- 2003)
By Reem Nafie

Newsreel
Commemorating the 51st anniversary of the 1952, 23 July Revolution, in a televised speech President Hosni Mubarak acclaimed the achievements of the revolution...