As protests continue, the regime is expected to take the opportunity to respond to demands of reform, writes Shaden Shehab

President Hosni Mubarak projected calm this week in the face of a host of domestic and regional ups and downs, reports Dina Ezzat

Copts aim to be constructive but are uncertain about the authority's blame of a foreign hand for Alexandria's New Year's Eve bomb blast, concludes Gamal Nkrumah

Over the last two weeks religious freedom in Egypt has been debated by the US Congress and EU parliament, leading officials in Cairo to reject what they see as foreign interference in domestic affairs, reports Mohamed Abdel-Baky

The attempts of some citizens to commit suicide by setting themselves alight was a matter of intensive discussion in the People's Assembly, reports Gamal Essam El-Din

The dispute over the ownership of the iconic bust of Queen Nefertiti, which is now on display at the Neues Museum in Berlin, has reached a new level, Nevine El-Aref reports

Dina Ezzat examines the reaction of the ruling party and its government to wide-scale public anger

As Lebanon's new prime minister sets about forming a new government, the coming days will be crucial, Lucy Fielder reports

The appointment of Najib Mikati, backed by Hizbullah, to Lebanon's premiership provoked Sunni anger this week, Lucy Fielder reports from Beirut

In its treatment of former British prime minister Tony Blair last week, the UK Iraq Inquiry has shown itself to be more irrelevant than ever, writes Salah Hemeid

While Salam Fayyad's project of creating a Palestinian state by building credible institutions divides Palestinian opinion, even this moderate approach is unacceptable to Israel, writes Saleh Al-Naami

Sanctions remain Washington's preferred strategy for dealing with Iran -- even though they are not working, writes Graham Usher

Student demonstrators push in Yemen for a revolution Tunisia-style as pressure builds upon President Ali Saleh, 32 years into his rule, writes Nasser Arrabyee

Protests continued in Tunisia this week, with protesters demanding the resignation of members of the former ruling party from the transitional government and a timetable for elections, writes Mourad Teyeb in Tunis

With the Islamists preparing to join the country's political process, is there room for them in the new Tunisia, asks Mourad Teyeb in Tunis

The real story of the Tunisian revolution is the restoration of collective dignity, writes Dina Jadallah

Former Tunisian president Zein Al-Abidine bin Ali used all the means at his disposal to crush dissent and destroy civil society. Now that his regime has gone, thoughts are turning to the challenges ahead, writes Ramzy Baroud

Al-Jazeera's release of 1,600 secret documents revealing unprecedented Palestinian concessions and Zionist expansionism has all but killed the peace process, writes Amira Howeidy

Revelations contained in Palestinian documents leaked to the television channel Al-Jazeera this week left Palestinian negotiators with much explaining to do, writes Khaled Amayreh in Ramallah

Growing social discontent may be causing uncertainty but will not scare away serious investors, writes Niveen Wahish

Rising prices and unemployment are what regional economies, including Egypt, need to worry most about, International Monetary Fund (IMF) experts say, Niveen Wahish reports

Nehad Selaiha reviews the 3rd 2B Continued Laboratory and Festival at the AUC Falaki main stage

Ati Metwaly finds some good music, finally

Osama Kamal finds there is a comeback for a quirky instrument once drummed out of use

Jim al-Khalili, Pathfinders: the Golden Age of Arabic Science, Allen Lane: London, 2010
Reviewed by David Tresilian

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