16 - 22 October 2003 [660]
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Opening many diplomatic fronts
Egyptian diplomacy picks up in the shadow of Israel's provocative actions that all but push the roadmap off the table, writes Nevine KhalilHousing for all
On Sunday in Sixth of October City President Hosni Mubarak presented several young Egyptians leases for their newly purchased low-budget housing units in several new community cities...Securing the skies
Air Force Commander Lt Gen Magdi Sha'rawi spoke to Amira Ibrahim about the continued development and modernisation of his troopsMare Nostrum
The concept of inter-cultural dialogue between European Union and Mediterranean Basin countries was stressed at a top-level conference this week in Alexandria. Gamal Nkrumah attendedTowards a better future
This week Mrs Suzanne Mubarak pursued an agenda promoting health care and cultural awareness...'Serious' national dialogue
Opposition parties have demanded guarantees that the NDP's initiative for a proposed national dialogue is serious, comprehensive and fruitful. Gamal Essam El-Din reportsTesting the waters
A coalition of political parties and human rights activists plans to submit an agenda of political reforms to President Mubarak. Gihan Shahine investigates the prospectsItaly and Egypt meet online
So you want to migrate? Click here. Nyier Abdou looks at an innovative project aiding Egyptians seeking foreign employmentSeparate lives
In just two weeks, two pairs of Egyptian conjoined twins -- one in the US and the other in Saudi Arabia -- have been surgically separated. Reem Nafie investigates'Remarkable' restoration
After decades of negligence, Alexandria's exquisite European-style Sayed Darwish Theatre has been restored. Nevine El-Aref took a lookNewsreel
Hundreds of university students staged campus protests on Tuesday against Israeli raids in the Gaza Strip and Syria. A peaceful rally at Ain Shams University ended with an appeal to Arab heads of state to respond to the latest Israeli attacks...End of an era, again?
New Palestinian Prime Minister Qurei's emergency government exposes cracks in the foundation of Arafat's power. Khaled Amayreh reportsNice is not enough
US officials say they ran out of patience with Syria, and that the time has come for Damascus to bow to pressure, Khaled Dawoud reports from WashingtonNaming names
Hizbullah and Israel say they remain engaged in a long-awaited prisoner exchange deal despite recent violence, reports Mohalhel Fakih from BeirutFree to foment trouble?
The leading proponent of militant Islam in Sudan, Dr Hassan Al-Turabi, was released after a two-year detention. Gamal Nkrumah reviews the probable repercussionsTurkish pledge of troops stirs
While criticism for Turkish decision to send troops to Iraq has been coming from various directions, the Turkish army did not think twice. Gareth Jenkins reports from AnkaraPeace prize incites strife
The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to an Iranian lawyer is another bone of contention between reformists and hard-liners in the Islamic Republic. Mustafa El-Labbad reportsOnce again divided
An Arab media forum on the coverage of war in the Arab world exposed a schism in the region's media, reports Mohamed DarwishThe six-month mark
The American administration this week marked the six-month anniversary of the toppling of the former regime in Iraq. Nermeen Al-Mufti reports from BaghdadWaiting for Al-Mahdi
Discord divides southern Shi'ite Muslims over the future of Iraq amid celebrations of venerated saint. Nermeen Al-Mufti reports from KarbalaIs today better than yesterday?
The deteriorating security situation in southern Iraq is an ominous reminder of the inability of the occupation forces to restore law and order. Judit Neurink reports from Basra and NajafForex markets apprehensive
After last week's dollar retreat, a wait-and-see attitude prevailed in the foreign exchange market throughout the week. Sherine Abdel-Razek reportsGoing global, thinking local
Experts in Alexandria wrapped their minds around the global integration of the Egyptian economy. Mona El-Fiqi listened inTaking stock of flotation
The depreciation of the pound proves a blessing to the stock market. Sherine Abdel-Razek reportsCrushing imbalance
Montasser Fathy Ahmed lashes out against a world trading system that favours developed economies, and looks beyond the failed trade talksBriefs
Some 50 Egyptian companies took part in the Anuga international food and beverage fair, which ended Wednesday in Cologne, Germany...Turmoil in Afghanistan
A wary and defeated Bush administration is scrabbling to get NATO reinforcement in Afghanistan, writes Negar AzimiPakistan takes on Al-Qa'eda
President Musharraf is bending over backwards to please the US and shake his country's "soft on terror" image, reports Iffat Idris from IslamabadTerminator on top
In what could be described as part American dream and part Hollywood swank, Austrian immigrant and action movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger will take on the role of governor of California. Anayat Durrani reportsLost horizon
Emerging security breaches at the US's top security facility in Guantanamo Bay are a new headache for the Pentagon and raise the spectre of a new backlash against Muslim and Arab-Americans, writes Nyier AbdouCommunity under fire
Abdurahman Al-Amoudi's arrest is a serious blow to the American Muslim community, writes Jaideep MukerjiHopping on the campaign trail
Arab-Americans flex their muscles as they prepare for presidential elections, writes Heba Abdalla from Washington
There's mischief afoot
The purpose of the Israeli strike against Syria and the leaks on Israel's intention to strike Iran is to make the Arabs cower while Tel Aviv flexes its military muscle, writes Ibrahim NafieUS return to UNESCO
Is the US decision to return to the fold of the UNESCO simply a ploy to gain credibility for its plans for the Middle East, asks Hassan NafaaAs peace seeking becomes hell...
Is there an alternative to the escalating violence in the region, asks Mohamed Sid-AhmedNeo-conservative plan on the rocks
The neo-conservative grand design for the Middle East is being unravelled by terrorist attacks, writes Muqtedar KhanAn example to follow
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is a model of dynamic modernisation, writes Mohsen YoussefPolicy of conquest
Israel does not want the Palestinians to have a viable state. Its threats to Arafat, says Medhat El-Zahed , are not surprisingThe Arab world is not impotent
The world's largest oil reserves are still under Arab feet, writes John WhitbeckEditorial:
Turmoil lies ahead
US policies towards Arab and Muslim nations are endangering international peace, spreading fanaticism and terror, eroding economic progress, threatening political stability and ripping apart the very fabric of society in these countries...Close up
Fragmenting the region
The Middle East is currently witnessing the spread of chaos and violence, with the danger of much greater escalation...
By Salama A SalamaSoapbox
Lower dollar rates
It was interesting to note the effect on the price of the dollar on the Egyptian black market caused by the Central Bank's decision to inject $400 million into the market...
By Ahmed El-NaggarThe attack on Syria
Washington's position on Syria is certainly strange: the Israeli army attacks Syria and what do Americans do?
By Naguib MahfouzBahgory One-line: HOSNY GUINDY
'Syria is not Iraq'
The Israeli jet attack on Syria and America's unequivocal support of Tel Aviv continued to be the focus of the Egyptian press this week, writes Jailan HalawiNot so great expectations
Can the Middle East extricate itself from its current dilemmas anytime soon? Highly unlikely, as Dina Ezzat gathered from the Arab pressBottom Lines
Quotes from the Arab press
Egyptology today
Egyptology At The Dawn Of The Twenty-First Century, Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press, 2003.Pathways to religious reform
Syasaat Al-Adyan, Al-Sira'at wa Darourat Al-Islah (The Politics of Religion(s): Conflicts and the Necessity of Reform), Nabil Abdel-Fattah, Cairo: Merit, 2003. pp695Mistakes in the run-up to war
Misr minal-Thawra ilal-Hazima (Egypt from Revolution to Defeat: Preludes to the June 1967 War), Mamdouh Anis Fathy, Abu Dhabi: Centre for Strategic Studies, 2003. pp643Wilfred Thesiger: Among the Arabs
- Arabian Sands, Wilfred Thesiger, London: Penguin, 1991 [1959]. pp347;
- The Marsh Arabs, Wilfred Thesiger, London: Penguin, 1967 and reprints [1964]. pp233'First Impressions of the Madan'
From The Marsh Arabs. A Zair is a man who has made the pilgrimage to the tomb of the eighth Imam at Meshed in Iran in Shi'a Islam.Wives and ancestors
Awraq Al-A'ela (Family Papers), Mohamed El-Bosati, Cairo: Dar Al-Hilal, 2003. pp136At a glance
A shorthand guide to recent publications compiled by Mahmoud El-Wardani
Three versions of woman
Hani Mustafa questions the agendas informing Middle East productions dealing with women's issuesFilms in competition
Cairo Film Festival highlights
By Sonali Pahwa, Sherif El-Azma, Youssef Rakha and Sherif Iskander
Algeria unveiled
Two major Paris exhibitions display a fascinating panorama of Algerian history, writes David TresilianPlain Talk
It is exceptional for two writers from the same country to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in quick succession...
By Mursi Saad El-DinNo business like show business
Mario Kassar tells Mohamed El-Assyouti about US censorship and the history of RamboA symbolic overloading
This year's Tribute to Arab Women Directors leads Sonali Pahwa to wonder whether the time is not ripe for women filmmakers to be relieved of their responsibility for representing women's questions and allowed to expand the resources of their artWithout calculation...
That, at least, is how Sherif Sonbol says he takes his photographs. The images he produces, however, make the formulation a little hard to believe. Following a hugely successful five-week exhibition of his work at the Lincoln Centre in New York he talks to Nigel Ryan about his metamorphosis from insurance underwriter to award winning photographer
The lonely fanous
This year holy-month festivity crawls in the shadow of inflation: Youssef Rakha pities the melancholy consumerMood Swings: Claiming my birthright
My whole body gave a slight quiver. My very identity about to be redefined...Restaurant review: Heart and Seoul
Nyier Abdou goes treasure huntingSufra Dayma: Shepherd's pie
Weekly recipe
By Moushira Abdel-MalekThe lonely fanous
This year holy-month festivity crawls in the shadow of inflation: Youssef Rakha pities the melancholy consumer
'I couldn't take it any more'
Depression can be fatal in one's darkest hour. Amira El-Noshokaty reports on the stigma surrounding depression and suicide in EgyptWorld Mental Health Day
The theme of this year's World Mental Health Day, on 10 October, was "Emotional and behavioural disorders of children and adolescents"...
'Save our marshland'
The Marsh Arabs cannot live without water, and a way of life is being lost. Jill Kamil looks into their centuries-old heritage now on the verge of extinctionDig days: Against all odds
As you know, I am appalled by Joan Fletcher's announcement that she had found the mummy of Nefertiti...
By Zahi HawassCoptic studies on the bookshelf
By Jill KamilThe shape of things to come
The other day, scientists reported that they believed the world was shaped like a soccer ball. I knew that...Holding at No 3
Egypt remains in third place at the All-Africa Games. Eric Asomugha reports from NigeriaFine tuning
Egypt beat Senegal in a warm-up for the African Nations Cup. Nashwa Abdel-Tawab reports on the match and the team's preparationsHospital run
Thousands of people from all over the country will take part tomorrow in the third Marathon Festival 57357 to be held at Cairo Stadium to raise awareness and funds for the new children's cancer hospital...Almost the best
The Ukraine might have surprised many by winning the world five-a-side football championship. But Egypt pulled off a shocker of its own, reports Inas Mazhar
Clean living
In 1932 Al-Ahram began a clean-up campaign, literally, publishing a series of articles on the benefits of cleanliness of the home, streets and body. Obviously, the stories simultaneously tackled the dangers of ignoring personal and environmental hygiene. Professor Yunan Labib Rizk looks at the crime of grime
Mohamed Ali El-Hamamsy: sketches from life
It is all a matter of maximising whatever potential you have
Profile by Yasmine El-Rashidi
Pack of Cards
By Madame SosostrisLimelight
By Lubna Abdel-Aziz