Is Egyptian diplomacy living up to old and new regional challenges? At times, but not always, writes Dina Ezzat

Mustafa El-Feki tells Assem El-Kersh that Egypt should temporarily reduce its regional emphasis and focus instead on a domestic-oriented agenda

Abdel-Moneim Said indulges in some crystal ball gazing

A tough year for both the NDP and the government of Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif. But it is unlikely to be terminal, predicts Gamal Essam El-Din

Egypt's opposition parties and professional syndicates sank further into irrelevance, reports Mona El-Nahhas

2008: When demonstrations and strikes became the norm

The year ended much as it had begun, with headlines dominated by tragic accidents. Reem Leila examines the attention grabbing stories of 2008 and prospects for the new year

Al-Ahram Weekly sums up a year of extremes in Egyptian economy and sounds out expert opinions on ways forward

2008 has left the Egyptian economy edging towards slowdown, no thanks to a global recession. Minister of Trade and Industry Rachid Mohamed Rachid is in the midst of it all. Now perhaps more than ever he is on the alert for the slightest change in financial variables, locally and internationally. Of late he has adopted a cautionary tone urging market players to beware. Nevertheless, he remains hopeful, and even believes that what may lie ahead of the crisis could be good for Egypt. On the eve of a new year, he speaks to Niveen Wahish about his fears and hopes

Despite bleak predictions for the global economy, Heba Handoussa sees Egypt as being uniquely situated to exploit the downturn