'Exceptional ties'
Speaking after a busy week involving meetings with France, the UK and a speech before the UN General Assembly in New York, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder spoke to Ibrahim Nafie about Europe, Iraq and the Middle East shortly before he travelled to Egypt on Saturday. The following are excerpts of the interview given in Berlin and published in Al-Ahram on Saturday

A bounty of common good
The inauguration of a German university offered opportunity for Egypt and Germany to share visions and positions, writes Nevine Khalil

Visions of peace
While the 30-year-old military feat of 6 October paved the way for peace in the region, this goal has yet to be achieved

Opposition wants deeper reforms
The opposition welcomed recent NDP initiatives, but said the ruling party has not gone far enough to level the political playing field and bring true reform to the country. Gamal Essam El-Din investigates

A new page?
In a sign of historic reconciliation, three Al-Gama'a Al-Islamiya leaders were released after 22 years behind bars. Jailan Halawi writes

Smugglers ring broken
Switzerland has helped Egypt crack on an international smuggling ring and bring its members to trial. Nevine El-Aref reports

Keeping to the straight and narrow
Islamists keep quiet as corruption is rooted out at the Bar Association. Mona El-Nahhas reports

Underground overpriced?
Finding low-cost parking around the city's main square has just become a little more difficult. Reem Nafie tries the new Tahrir underground garage

Priority for traffic?
A major Heliopolis traffic improvement project -- involving three new bridges and two new tunnels -- has just been completed. Gihan Shahine tracks its ups and downs