As they seek to consolidate their lead in the second round of parliamentary elections, Islamist parties face some uphill competition, reports Gamal Essam El-Din

Islamist forces say there is no need to fear their ascendancy, writes Amani Maged

During the rule of Hosni Mubarak, Mahmoud El-Khodeiri was one of the most vociferous advocates of an independent judiciary and a staunch advocate of social and political reform. In 2009 he resigned as deputy chief justice of the Court of Cassation to protest against executive interference...

Islamist forces will not countenance any sharing of parliamentary power with the newly formed advisory council, reports Amani Maged

Official and voluntarily bodies joined to educate voters for the second round of parliamentary elections, Amirah Ibrahim reports

Opening more polling stations which will work overtime and lengthening voting periods were some of the steps taken to make parliamentary elections easier for expatriates the second time around, Doaa El-Bey reports

The prime minister's office -- for now at least -- remains off limit for its newly appointed occupant, Mohamed Abdel-Baky reports

What chance does the new minister of interior have in building public confidence in the way Egypt is policed? Reem Leila examines the possibilities

By Samir Sobhi

The new cabinet plans a series of measures to push the economy forward, Mona El-Fiqi reports

The Syrian army occupied the city of Homs several months ago, but residents continue their demonstrations calling for the end of the regime, writes Bassel Oudat in Damascus

The opposition boycotted this week's local elections in Syria amidst low voter turnout

As Syria hots up, Lebanon begins to feel the heat too, says Lucy Fielder in Beirut

With the Muslim Brotherhood on the rise in Egypt, Tel Aviv knows that its latitude to strike Hamas will soon diminish, writes Saleh Al-Naami

Despite knowing that settlements have broken the peace process, Israel is forging ahead with plans to build new Jew-only colonies on Arab land, writes Khaled Amayreh in occupied Jerusalem

Saudi Arabia has promised to pay for all urgent needs of the recently established government of Yemen, reports Nasser Arrabyee

As Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki visited Washington this week to mark the official end of the US-led war in Iraq, observers were asking whether the war had really ended, writes Salah Nasrawi

In part II of a survey of Russian politics, Eric Walberg looks behind the political crisis sparked by parliamentary elections which surprising everyone, from the president down to the demonstrators themselves

Hani Mustafa engages with the first Egyptian take on the epidemic of the age

Nesmahar Sayed talks to supporters of Asmaa

Gamal Nkrumah marvels at how French painter Paul Beanti managed to make an exhibition of himself

Rania Khallaf interviews an artist famous for his obsession with typical Egyptian faces and places

Venus Fouad takes an armchair tour of Egypt's desert beauty spots

In the wake of the revolution, the unrest and the parliamentary elections, there may be something to be said for understanding and mutual listening, says Dena Rashed

Egypt is dominating the All-Arab Games, reports Ghada Abdel-Kader