25 - 31 December 2003 [670]
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Return to the fold?
Libya's decision to end weapons of mass destruction programmes will open up the country's economy to American investors, reports Gamal NkrumahTrial and error
Salah Hemeid examines the political and moral questions surrounding the trial of Saddam Hussein
'A petty and despicable attack'
The attack on Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher in Jerusalem will not discourage Cairo from its drive to achieve peace, Gamal Essam El-Din reportsJosé Martí on the Nile
Last Monday Cuban Ambassador Luis E Marisy Figueredo and Cairo Governor Abdel-Rehim Shehata inaugurated a bust of celebrated Cuban writer, poet and freedom fighter José Martí Pérez (1853-1895) at the Horreya Park near the Cairo Opera House...Handshake heard 'round the region'
A handshake between Presidents Mubarak and Khatami brought high hopes for a breakthrough in Egyptian-Iranian relations. Rasha Saad examines the possibilitiesNDP versus NDP -- again
By-elections in 23 districts will take place today in spite of 10 court rulings declaring them null and void. Gamal Essam El-Din reportsFighting for Ali
An armed assault on a Nasr City villa ended with the kidnapping of an Egyptian-American six-year-old. Gihan Shahine investigates a cross-cultural custody battle that has turned unexpectedly violentAiming for change
Al-Ahram Weekly looks at the trends, people and events that dominated the local news scene in 2003Obituaries
Hosny Guindy, Mohamed Abdel-Ghani El-Gamasi, Fathi Naguib, Saad Fakhri Abdel-Nour, Adel Abu Zahra, Salah Hilal, John Gerhart, Aida Guindy
All's not so quiet
The Palestinian Authority as well as the general Palestinian public condemned the "thuggish and irresponsible" assault on Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher, Khaled Amayreh reportsFacing up to fitna
Iraqi observers downplayed growing fears of intra-Iraqi divisions, Omayma Abdel-Latif reportsThe long road ahead
Beginning with the war that ousted Saddam Hussein from power and ending with his capture, 2003 afforded Iraqis a great deal of suffering yet presented them with high expectations, writes Salah HemeidTarget dodge
Earlier in 2003 bets were divided between Syria and Iran as to which would be target number three in the US "war against terror". By year's end Tehran had masterfully dodged the potential bullet. Rasha Saad reviews a turbulent year in IranSharon must be stopped
There is only one way to save Palestinian-Israeli peace in 2004: drop Sharon, writes Mustafa BarghouthiSyria: much ado, but nothing happened
The war on Iraq was used to put pressure on Syria in 2003 to amend foreign and domestic policies, writes Sami MoubayedTurkey: new era or fading false dawn?
By the turbulent standards of recent Turkish politics, 2003 was remarkably tranquil, writes Gareth JenkinsPrinciples and personalities
In 2003, improved prospects for peace in southern Sudan were offset by the eruption of war in western Sudan, writes Gamal NkrumahGulf on the brink
Hot on the heels of the capture of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, the GCC summit wraps up developments that launched a new era in the region. Sherine Bahaa reports
Wake-up call for development
The Arab Human Development Report 2003: Building a Knowledge Society, United Nations Development Programme & Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, New York: 2003. pp210Vodafone rings off 2003 on a high
Vodafone Egypt's stock market listing and sale of shares to Telecom Egypt may be the one piece of good news to ring out the old year, writes Niveen WahishThe year the pound sank
What started off as a floatation soon dragged the pound down to unprecedented levels, and pushed the economy into intensive care. Al-Ahram Weekly scans the ramifications of devaluation in 20032003 in the economy:
Compiled by Gamal Essam El-DinConspiracy theory
How was Saddam really captured? Amira Howeidy reviews alternative, albeit unsubstantiated theories, in this week's Egyptian pressOne fine morning
The Arab press forecasts what will make news in 2004. Dina Ezzat reads aheadBottom Lines
Quotes from the Arab press
A tense placidity
Youssef Rakha spotlights major cultural events in 2003Hail the heralds
Amal Choucri Catta is in festive moodPlain Talk
It was a night to remember when H E the ambassador of Greece gave a dinner to celebrate the 2004 Olympic games...
By Mursi Saad El-DinNostalgias old and new
Nigel Ryan on the exhibits that form the core of PhotoCairoAlternative narratives
Jihan Ammar: "I like to blur the lines between documentary photography and traditional genres of portraiture...
Colour me beautiful
Rest assured, the gift of beauty is not just a gift from the heavens. Reem Leila rummages in the make-up bags of some famous beauty artists for tipsRestaurant review: A sobering experience
Colette Kinsella tracks down the accidental Oriental offerings in high-rise Nasr CityHoroscopes: Shooting stars and fireworks
Sagittarians are in for some pleasant surprises...Sufra Dayma: Assorted Christmas drinks
Weekly recipe
History of a home
As the Sakakini Palace marks its 106th birthday and the courts officially declare it a national antiquity, Yasmine El-Rashidi delves into its history
A bountiful year
Retrieving some of Egypt's illegally smuggled antiquities, celebrating the Cairo Museum's centennial, opening Alexandria's National Museum and finally choosing the winner of the Grand Museum of Egypt design are the year's major achievements, writes Nevine El-Aref
In form and style
Egypt swept a football tournament in Bahrain that included an encounter with Iraq, reports Nashwa Abdel-TawabSoccer, the hard way
No money, no players, and, of course, the permanent fear. From Baghdad, Karim El-Gawhary covers one particular soccer battle in post-war IraqFrugal football
A narrow victory over Spain earned Brazil a fourth football World Youth ChampionshipA champion at the end
As the year closed, an Egyptian literally squashed the opposition at the World Open squash championship. Inas Mazhar reviews that conquest and the rest
Egypt's Amr Shabana squashes French Thierry Lincou's shot during the World Open Squash final --caption--
Socking it around
Egypt's own sock football is an art of its own. Galal Nassar shares the secrets, and looks at other local streetwise sports inventionsWHY US?
Egypt 2010 bidPortrait of a pro: Hossam Hassan
Football with a flairThe stadiums and their cities
Egyptian 2010 World Cup bid factfiles
Nabil Boutros: A spiritual convenience
Of departures, prayers and the soulful night
Profile by Youssef Rakha