Under American pressure, Abbas has agreed to indirect talks with Israel, with some Arab support and without preconditions, writes Dina Ezzat

Egypt is positioning itself on Asian investors' radar screens, writes Niveen Wahish from Hong Kong

Mohamed El-Baradei, former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has issued a declaration outlining his vision of political reform, reports Gamal Essam El-Din

Official opposition parties plan to organise a three-day conference on constitutional reform, Gamal Essam El-Din reports

On the eve of anticipated national elections in Iraq, Dina Ezzat speaks to Iraqi refugees in Egypt about their fears and hopes

Thunderstorms lashed the country in ways not seen in years, prompting calls for the government to put in place a proper drainage system. Reem Leila reports on a day in which it was even snowing

The appointment of female law graduates to the administrative judiciary is far from settled, reports Mona El-Nahhas

The National Council for Human Rights' new anti-torture unit this week announced its action plan. Amira Howeidy reports

The Labour Party is back, at least according to one of its factions. Mohamed Abdel-Baky reviews the reality behind the sound-bites

Dealing with the budget deficit will need more than a nip here and a tuck there, writes Niveen Wahish

A court verdict ends the debate on gas exports to Israel but opens the door to other interpretations, reports Sherine Nasr

Israeli provocations, including annexing Islamic sites to an alleged heritage list, are creating a powder keg in the occupied territories, writes Khaled Amayreh in the West Bank

When everyone knows that Israel's occupation cannot be ended when Palestinians are disunited, why does division continue, asks Saleh Al-Naami

Will next week's elections be enough to put Iraq back on its own feet after years of turmoil, asks Salah Hemeid

The detention of 68 serving and retired members of the Turkish military on suspicion of plotting a coup in 2003 marks a shift in the balance of power in Turkey, reports Gareth Jenkins from Istanbul

Was it a war council or a sign of Iranian angst, asks Bassel Oudat in Damascus

National security comes into focus in Lebanon as the US embassy in Beirut seeks information no foreign entity should have, reports Omayma Abdel-Latif

The opposition coalition in Yemen has a mixed record when it comes to supporting the struggle of southern Yemenis, writes Mohamed Abdel-Meguid

Eight hundred vs 250,000 dead. Chileans moved on all fronts to cope with catastrophe while Haitians fight for their survival a month after a disastrous earthquake, writes Gamal Nkrumah

The Cairo Opera Ballet Company's production of Aram Khachaturian's ballet Spartacus left the audience with some intriguing questions, writes Ati Metwaly

The last film in Turkish director Samih Kaplanoglu's Yusuf Trilogy won the Golden Bear at this year's Berlin Film Festival, writes Samir Farid

Who is the real champion here? Is it Qassem Amin, or is it the Egyptian woman? Rania Khallaf attends Walid Aouni's latest dance performance

Osama Kamal pays a virtual visit to a dilapidated palace that turns itself inside out to tell its story

More and more conservative religious channels are appearing on the small screen, changing the way people consume religion, writes Mohamed El-Sayed

Introduced to the work of Project Yourself, an innovative forum for young people, Injy El-Kashef gives three cheers for self-expression

Before meeting Egypt in a friendly, Fabio Capello downplayed the personal matters plaguing some of his best players. Abeer Anwar reports from London