11 - 17 December 2003 [668]
Graphic version | Current issue | Previous issue
Mahfouz's birthday
As Naguib Mahfouz enters his 93rd year celebrations abound...Going for IT
President Mubarak's address to the World Summit on Information Society underlined the importance of IT in development, writes Ibrahim Nafie from GenevaUnraveling Sharon
In failing to reach a ceasefire the Palestinians have again handed Ariel Sharon the political initiative. What will he do with it, asks Graham Usher in Jerusalem
Readying for development
Egypt is preparing to cross the digital and economic divide through cooperation between North and South, writes Nevine KhalilFractious factions
Amira Howeidy looks into the collapse of the Palestinian factions' Cairo ceasefire talksNDP's plan backfires
The Supreme Administrative Court dealt the NDP a stunning blow by ordering that the 25 December by-elections in 17 districts be confined to those who ran in 2000. Gamal Essam El-Din reportsBooks for the future
The Cairo International Children's Book Fair celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Dina Ezzat reports on the forum's debate over the future of booksA non-case?
The trial of an anti-war activist charged with forming an underground communist group opened this week. Amira Howeidy was thereNewsreel
On Wednesday Egypt's two major highways were smothered in morning fog causing a series of car crashes...The fog of peace
Despite feverish diplomatic activity, demographics were the only indication of progress for the Palestinian cause. Khaled Amayreh , in the Palestinian West Bank, reportsSoothing Sudan
Although the ideological divide remains, it has become evident that the Sudanese government and opposition forces have finally decided to pull together, writes Gamal NkrumahLebanon TV on trial
The owner and chairman of a Lebanese TV station was released a day after being arrested on charges of collaborating with Israel. Mohalhel Fakih reports from BeirutCrack down in Iraq
As its commanders in Iraq expect the anti-American insurgency to escalate, Washington is considering a new get-tough strategy including enlisting Iraqi militias, writes Salah Hemeid'No militia for Iraq'
A leading member of the Iraqi Interim Governing Council spoke to Omayma Abdel-Latif about the current situationThe hunt continues
Saudi Arabia offers financial incentives to obtain information on terrorists, writes John R Bradley in Riyadh
IT summit: at your service
Minister of Communications and Information Technology Ahmed Nazif talks to Niveen Wahish about the first global Information Technology summit in Geneva and how IT can improve people's daily livesInto the eye of the storm
The appointment of Farouk El-Okdah as the new governor of the Central Bank of Egypt has been met with cautious optimism. Yasser Sobhi reportsIn need of investment
Participants at a recent conference agreed that a host of new economic reforms are needed to encourage much-needed investments. Sherine Nasr listened in
Russian roulette
Putin's United Russia Party won Russian parliamentary elections on Sunday even as the country was reeling from a train blast which claimed the lives of 44 innocent people in southern Russia, reports Shohdy Naguib from MoscowIndia-Pakistan thaw
India and Pakistan now have an opportunity and an incentive to mend fences, reports Sudhanshu Ranjan from New DelhiHomeward bound?
A Greek Cypriot's decades-long struggle to return home has important repercussions for refugees worldwide, writes Michael Jansen from Nicosia
The Latin touch
During his Middle East tour, Brazilian President Da Silva is seeking closer links between the Middle East and Latin America, writes Mahmoud MuradReady for the world
Accompanying his president on the tour, Brazil's Foreign Minister Celso Amorim spoke to Nevine Khalil in Cairo about his country's vision for changing the commercial and political geography of the worldTurning the tide
The visiting Brazilian president strongly believes that there is plenty of room for improvement in bilateral commercial and economic relations with Egypt, writes Gamal NkrumahA people's president
Brazilian President Lula is setting precedents and conquering hearts and minds in the Middle East, writes Faiza Rady
Night and day
Last week's meeting of Palestinian factions in Cairo has paved the way for future progress, writes Ibrahim NafieReturn of the reality principle
Graham Harman discusses how French philosopher Bruno Latour, lecturing this week at the American University in Cairo, rejects the Kantian tradition putting the human being at the centre of philosophy and, instead, calls for an absolute democracy of objectsUnilateral unity
If inter-Palestinian talks ended in failure it is because they focussed on a ceasefire rather than unity, argues Azmi BisharaAn opportunity lies waiting
Despite the tremendous challenges facing them, the Palestinians are capable of achieving tremendous development and still long for a "normal life". Timothy Rothermel posits an alternative perspectiveThe streets of Baghdad
Ibrahim Nawwar describes the mood on the streets of the Iraqi capitalOn the Palestinian right of return
Can the Geneva Accord and the roadmap for peace be reconciled, asks Mohamed Sid-AhmedAn alternative course
As the US occupation flounders, the need for an Iraqi constitutive conference abroad grows, writes Abdul-Amir Al-RikabiEditorial:
Valuable dialogue
That Palestinian factions meeting in Cairo last week did not agree on a total, or even partial, ceasefire does not mean the consultations failed...Reflections
Let's play prime ministers
The young man singing on the stage in the Geneva auditorium could easily have been Egyptian...
By Hani ShukrallahClose up
NATO's regional mission
When NATO is placed in charge of forcibly transforming the countries of the region into democracies mirroring the American model, a new situation will have emerged...
By Salama A SalamaSoapbox
Colonialism in Arab garb
What does the universality of human rights mean?
By AUTHORBirthdays
How do I feel on the occasion of my 93rd birthday?
By Naguib MahfouzBahgory One-line: LULA DA SILVA
Arms and the law
From handgun possession to the cost of chandeliers to the price of bread, Fatemah Farag reviews a week of revelationsThe possible and impossible
One peace deal reached, one close at hand and a near miss were all in the Arab press this week, writes Dina EzzatBottom Lines
Quotes from the Arab press
Dreaming on
Youssef Rakha celebrates a Nobel laureate's anniversaryNo puzzles here
Amal Choucri Catta listens to an eventPlain Talk
I was interested to read about a recent poetry competition with the title "Essential Poems for Britain", organised by the BBC...
By Mursi Saad El-DinSuggestions of the new
Sonali Pahwa examines works showcased at the third Youth Film FestivalEyes wide open
Min Nazret Ein (At First Sight, literally in the glance of an eye) -- one of three films released this Lesser Bairam -- offers Mohamed El-Assyouti less than meets the eyePhoto caption
Paul Pfeiffer, who represents the US at the 9th Cairo International Biennale...Coastal comfort
Fatemah Farag revisits childhood hauntsCamembert Chicken Kiev
Weekly recipe
By Moushira Abdel-MalekDreaming of a Nile Christmas
Not one for planning ahead? Rehab Saad guides you through the few Christmas holiday getaways still availableThe locusts have landed
Following reports of a deadly locust outbreak in Sudan, Yasmine Fathy questions how safe Egypt is from attack swarmsDonating life
There are over 250 blood banks in Egypt, but can they keep up with the demand? Amira El-Noshokaty investigates
The Mouseion revisited
The grand new Bibliotheca Alexandrina reminds us of the glory of the famous ancient Library of Alexandria, which was much more than a repository for books but a university and teaching hospital, writes Samir SadekOde on an Egyptian vase
An unusual vase featuring three warriors in military uniform has been restored a decade after its discovery reports Nevine El-ArefA new vision for our ancient past
Several years ago, I met Mrs Suzanne Mubarak at the Pyramids of Giza during the official visit of Hillary Clinton, the then first lady of the United States...
By Zahi Hawass
Out is Africa
All four African countries, including Egypt, were ousted from the football Youth World Cup, writes Mohamed El-SayedOn hold
Because of several club and national team commitments, the football league has been suspended for 75 days. Eric Asomugha reportsRunning for peace
In commemoration of the inauguration of the Mubarak Al- Salam Bridge over the Suez Canal, a mini marathon was held last week in the coastal city of Ismailia...Not again
Once again Egypt finds itself with African champs Cameroon in the same football championship group. Eric Asomugha reportsWhy Egypt?
Why should Egypt host the 2010 football World Cup? Because we already have everything else -- safe streets, vibrant cities, people with ever-ready 60-watt smiles...Summer of a lifetime
Tarek Atia imagines what it might be like to visit Egypt during the World Cup in 2010Ahmed Hossam: Portrait of a young pro
It is not hard to find a young Egyptian with a passion for his country's national sport...
Check it out
Despite the Great Depression, there were still things to buy and there were still newspaper advertisements urging those who had the money -- and in many cases those who didn't -- to go out and spend. Financially-strapped Egyptians were wary of the adverts but curious all the same. Professor Yunan Labib Rizk sees what sold
Enid Hill: Merry-go-round
A circuitous route to Cairo, political science and the law
Profile by Jenny Jobbins
Pack of Cards
By Madame SosostrisLimelight
By Lubna Abdel-Aziz