Key players in place, the region waits to see if anything decisive can emerge from direct Israeli-Palestinian talks this time, Ezzat Ibrahim reports from Washington

Egypt is finally starting its nuclear programme, reports Mohamed Abdel-Baky

Dina Ezzat tries to read the political signals emanating from the recent meeting between the president and cabinet

An old hand on Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, Nabil Fahmi shares with Dina Ezzat his concerns and meek expectations over fresh US-sponsored peace talks

As students start a new academic year, so too are bird and swine flu fears making a comeback, reports Reem Leila reports

Thousands registered in an attempt to secure an NDP official nomination in upcoming elections to the People's Assembly, reports Gamal Essam El-Din

Gamal Essam El-Din reports on the ongoing campaigns promoting presidential bids by both Gamal Mubarak and ex-IAEA chief Mohamed El-Baradei

The theft of a Van Gogh painting from the Mahmoud Khalil Museum continues to make headlines as the minister of culture and the head of the Fine Arts Section engage in a very public squabble, reports Nevine El-Aref

The Coptic Orthodox Church has come under fire from human rights groups who accuse it of abducting and holding the wife of a priest against her will, Amira Howeidy reports

Two years after Cast Lead Hamas is indomitable and the Palestinians withdrawn, writes Graham Usher in Gaza

As direct Palestinian-Israeli talks begin, few are optimistic, but all know the outcome will be decisive, writes Khaled Amayreh in the West Bank

Israel's new prospective army chief of staff is a man who makes war his only option, writes Saleh Al-Naami

US combat operations in Iraq may be officially over, but the mischief of the invasion lingers on, writes Salah Hemeid

Those planning to invade Iran because of its nuclear programme have found a new tact, notes Amani Maged

Escalating violence reopens Somalia's wounds, writes Gamal Nkrumah

In September a new French envoy will attempt to push forward peace between Syria and Israel while some observers believe his job is to mediate between Syria and the US, reports Bassel Oudat in Damascus

While model Naomi Campbellšs appearance at the Special Court for Sierra Leone drew renewed international attention to this UN tribunal, far more is still owed to the people of Liberia and Sierra Leone, writes David Tresilian from The Hague

As the United States leaves Iraq to concentrate on improving Afghanistan, an idea has got about that British imperial policy in India towards Afghanistan was a failure, reflects Robert Harneis

A shortage of energy poses a real threat to the future of the industrial sector, Mona El-Fiqi reports

In an attempt to control the quality of imported cars and car components, new regulations are now in force, Mona El-Fiqi reports

Nehad Selaiha applauds El-Saqia's daring decision to celebrate Ramadan with a theatre festival for young people

"One-Shot Society", a group of artists working under fine arts professor Abdel-Aziz El-Guindi, has been portraying Egyptian society for the past two decades, writes Mohamed Mursi

This year's Ramadan talk shows gravitate towards the familiar both in terms of content and guests, says Osama Kamal

Yousra El-Sharkawi looks at the case for desterotyping women in drama, possibly with a little help from the law

Ramadan is an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of many people. Nashwa Abdel-Tawab reports on new ways of distributing zakah to the poor

It's not just the electricity which is weak in Egypt these days. The country's three representatives in Africa's premier club football tournaments could not muster one win, reports Abeer Anwar