Bottom lines

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The world says good-bye to the World Cup and Paul the soothsayer octopus. By Hassan Belibel in the Lebanese daily Al-Mustaqbal

"If Badr is issuing politically motivated decisions, this is a genuine catastrophe, but if his decision regarding the top thanaweya amma students is politically motivated this is an even bigger catastrophe." -- Mohamed Amin, Al-Wafd

"Criminals have become more ferocious. The language of love has been substituted by that of weapons." -- Gamal Hussein, Al-Akhbar

"There is nothing that justifies the state's silence and indifference to the crisis unless it is incapable of understanding it or is conspiring against everybody, including itself." Ahmed El-Sawi, Al-Masry Al-Yom

"It is high time Iraqi leaders break the deadlock by reaching an agreement that does not exclude any political party and prioritises the interests of the state. That is the only way that will allow the people and the country to regain their political power."-- Al-Bayan

"Iraq's present political scene is hazy as the negotiations among the parties are still far from reaching the core of their differences, the coalitions are fragile and the political state is volatile." -- Jaber Habib Jaber, Asharq Al-Awsat

"The US citizen does not elect his president because of his external agenda but mainly for his internal policies especially those regarding health insurance, education and taxes." -- Atef Abu Seif, Al-Ayyam