The file on elusive peace and security in the Western Sudan zone of Darfur will figure high on the agenda of the regular African Union summit due to open later today in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa...

Opposition MPs say there is a pressing need to improve Egypt's human rights record but deny there is any discrimination against religious minorities, reports Gamal Essam El-Din

Gamal Essam El-Din examines the significance of recent visits to Cairo by senior Iranian officials

Police Day celebrations of 25 January were the date chosen for President Hosni Mubarak to give the go-ahead for the gradual replacement of the existing, hand-written Egyptian passport, with an updated, automated version, reports Rehab Sayed Ahmed

Thousands of Egyptians of varying backgrounds demonstrated angrily to protest at Israel's blockade of basic supplies and medicine to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Reem Leila observed the collective response

Leadership of the Wafd Party is once again the subject of a legal battle, reports Mona El-Nahhas

Rehab Sayed Ahmed reports on plans to de-mine and develop the northwest coast

Gamal Nkrumah reviews the controversy surrounding the publication of Mohamed Hassanein Heikal's letters to President Mubarak in Al-Masry Al-Yom

The newly-elected chairman of the Alexandria Judges Club appears determined to court controversy, writes Mona El-Nahhas

Aziz Sidqi (1920-2008)

Nevine El-Aref reports on the completion of the first phase of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation

Families are out in the cold in Boulaq Abul-Ela after being evicted from their homes to clear the rubble of five buildings which collapsed. Reem Leila exposes an often corrupt and ineffective housing licensing system

Egypt's desert monasteries are now favoured as locations for international conferences. Jill Kamil draws attention to a forthcoming event in Upper Egypt