Condoleezza Rice's visit to Egypt was an exercise in mutual accommodation, writes Dina Ezzat

New bills aimed at liberalising the exercise of political rights were heatedly criticised by the opposition. Gamal Essam El-Din reports

Palestinian expectations were low before the meeting between Ariel Sharon and Mahmoud Abbas -- they are now non-existent, writes Graham Usher in Jerusalem

Karim Mruah remembers George Hawi, assassinated on Tuesday in Beirut

As the presidential race goes to the wire, Iranians face a choice between international isolation and the possibility of rapprochement, writes Mustafa El-Labbad

Egypt and Israel are nearing a deal on the Gaza disengagement plan's security arrangements. Dina Ezzat reports

What does this week's high-profile resignation of Akhbar Al-Youm Editor-in-Chief Ibrahim Seada reveal about the state of the Egyptian press? Omayma Abdel-Latif seeks answers

A Human Rights Watch report highlighting the lack of academic freedom at Egyptian universities seems to have rubbed everyone the wrong way. Gihan Shahine reports

The late President Sadat's nephew wants to run for president as the Liberal Party's candidate. Which Liberal Party? Wonders Mona El-Nahhas

Hopes are pinned on an international conference on Iraq in Brussels to facilitate Iraqi national reconciliation, writes Salah Hemeid

Lebanon has a new parliament, dominated by an opposition movement that successfully expelled Syria from the country and forced a sea of political change, reports Mohalhel Fakih from Beirut

While full of good intentions, the cabinet, in its first year in office, has left experts unsatisfied. Niveen Wahish reports

Within one month, three international carriers launched scheduled services to Alexandria. Amirah Ibrahim reports

Injy El-Kashef walks through a newly rearranged treasure trove