The decision to take Palestine to the United Nations Security Council may be the start of a new Palestinian strategy, writes Graham Usher at the UN

Six months after refusing a loan, is Egypt again seeking IMF help, asks Niveen Wahish

Sunday's meeting between army officials and representatives of political forces fore-grounded the difficulties involved in agreeing a roadmap for Egypt's transition towards democracy, writes Gamal Essam El-Din

Schools began the new academic year amid parental concerns over teachers on strike and security on the streets, Reem Leila reports

With families of victims criticising evidence gathered by prosecution authorities as worthless, the trial of Hosni Mubarak now hinges on the testimony of his minister of defence, and now Egypt's de facto ruler, Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, Gamal Essam El-Din reports

Doaa El-Bey examines what might lie behind the political pleasantries exchanged this week between Egypt and Ethiopia

Calls for demonstrations against the expansion of the 30-year-old emergency law have not attracted widespread support, reports Khaled Dawoud

A two-day meeting of the Islamic Heritage Committee has resulted in much progress in the fight to preserve some of the region's greatest monuments, reports Nevine El-Aref

By Khaled Dawoud

By Doaa El-Bey

While official announcement asserted the government's intention to apply minimum wages for the private sector, businessmen representatives have not yet reached a unified approval, Mona El-Fiqi reports

High stationery prices dealt another blow to parents' pockets, Nesma Nowar reports

The scene is heating up as the Palestinian Authority presses ahead in its bid for full UN membership for a Palestinian state, writes Ezzat Ibrahim from New York

Will the US abstain or veto? This is the key question, in the run up to Friday, writes Khaled Amayreh in Ramallah

How will Israel -- particularly Israeli settlers -- react if Abbas is successful at the UN and a Palestinian state is admitted on 1967 borders, asks Saleh Al-Naami

Amira Howeidy examines why Mahmoud Abbas's bid for statehood is receiving ferocious criticism from Palestinians

There have been rumours that the Palestinian factions intend to quit Syria even though the regime may have been trying to persuade them to stay, writes Bassel Oudat in Damascus

Palestine's move to become an independent state has benefited from the growing BDS movement, as the world wakes up to the enormous and unjust suffering of the Palestinian people, writes Eric Walberg

Syrian opposition groups have held their first public meeting inside Syria, announcing a seven-point roadmap away from "catastrophic scenarios", reports Bassel Oudat from Damascus

Two international envoys arrived in Yemen earlier this week after conflicting parties went to war, reports Nasser Arrabyee

Last week's slaughter of 22 Shias in Iraq is an example of the deep divisions that still exist in the country, writes Salah Nasrawi

Ati Metwaly evaluates the performance of the Cairo Symphony Orchestra in the hands of a Japanese young man

The Wandering Who: A study of Jewish Identity Politics, gives a unique insider's view of the Israeli mind. Its author explains to Eric Walberg how you can take the girl out of Jezebel, not the Jezebel out of the girl

Ammar Ali Hassan, Shajarat al 'Abid (Worshipper's Tree), Cairo: Nefro, 2011
Reviewed by Lamis Yahya

By Mona Anis

Amany Abdel-Moneim helps you maintain a clutter-free kitchen

Egyptian club Ahli said goodbye to the African Champions League after being held 1-1 at home by Esperance of Tunisia, Abeer Anwar reports

The draw for the first post-revolution Egyptian domestic league has been made, Ahmed Morsy reports