Common Ground News Service

Identity, Politics, Secularism: A Heady Mix in Egypt

Identity, Politics, Secularism: A Heady Mix in Egypt

H. A. HELLYER, CGNEWS: The opportunity to gain the views of a noted intellectual, academic and political figure on the future of Egypt was not to be missed.

 Francis Matthew

Obama set to Disappoint Friends Around the World

Obama set to Disappoint Friends Around the World

FRANCIS MATTHEW:Obama failed to deliver this vision in his first term, and sadly, it is unlikely that he will use his second term to re-find his sense of purpose in the world.

 Common Ground News Service

Humour: A Creative, Intelligent Way to Debate Difference

Humour: A Creative, Intelligent Way to Debate Difference

ALICE HACKMAN: In all of the uproar and furore of the past few months in the ongoing West vs Islam narrative a few voices have risen above the heat of rage.

 Common Ground News Service

Men Step Up To Combat Egyptian Female Harassment

Men Step Up To Combat Egyptian Female Harassment

NIHAL MAGDY, CGNEWS: The issue of sexual harassment is huge in modern Egypt. Men are joining women’s groups to combat the problem.

 Common Ground News Service

Cairo’s Latte Drinking Salafis: Stereotype Busters

Cairo’s Latte Drinking Salafis: Stereotype Busters

NADA ZOHDY, CGNEWS: You’ll find them at Costa or Starbucks. They’re happy to discuss rather than denounce and they’re seeking ways to build Egypt’s civil society.

 James M. Dorsey

Duo Out: Major Victory for Egypt’s Football Militants

Duo Out: Major Victory for Egypt’s Football Militants

JAMES M. DORSEY: Two leading football executives have withdrawn from election to the Egyptian Football Association. The Ultras have prevailed

 Rob L. Wagner

Hate Ad Spray Can Protest: ‘It’s All About Mona’

Hate Ad Spray Can Protest: ‘It’s All About Mona’

ROB L. WAGNER: She seems to specialise in self-aggrandizing stunts that diminish the message and provide fodder for anti-Muslim parodies.

 M.-Lynx-Qualey

Egyptian Artists vs Government: Is Conflict Inevitable?

Egyptian Artists vs Government: Is Conflict Inevitable?

ASMAA NAGUIB, ARABLIT: Many prominent Egyptian artists met recently to discuss how best to regulate the relationship between the Culture Ministry and themselves.

 Tabsir

Turbanned, Bearded and Angry: Western Media on Islam

Turbanned, Bearded and Angry: Western Media on Islam

DANIEL M. VARISCO: The Newsweek cover this week is lazy and sensationalist. Not a lot has changed since Edward Said wrote a famous essay 30 years ago.

 Juan Cole

Top Ten Consequences of Today’s Regional Turmoil

Top Ten Consequences of Today’s Regional Turmoil

JUAN COLE: ‘A collapse in tourism’, ‘improvement in Barack Obama’s election chances’ – two of the the most significant predicted outcomes of the crises enveloping the Middle East

 James M. Dorsey

Militant Fans Once Again Battle for Egypt’s Future

Militant Fans Once Again Battle for Egypt’s Future

JAMES M. DORSEY: The opposing fans of Cairo soccer clubs Al Zamalek and Al Ahly are engaged in a separate but parallel struggle with the authorities

 mai abdul rahman

‘This Hateful Movie Is Not Worth A Drop of Blood’

‘This Hateful Movie Is Not Worth A Drop of Blood’

And so the violence associated with a vile, hate filled movie escalates. Why can we not fight hate with wisdom and rationality?

MAI ABDUL RAHMAN: And so the violence associated with a vile, hate filled movie escalates. Why can we not fight hate with wisdom and rationality?

 Juan Cole

Benghazi Attack: Romney Gets It Badly Wrong

Benghazi Attack: Romney Gets It Badly Wrong

JUAN COLE: His comments were hasty, distasteful and unwise. Can we afford to have an individual with such poor judgement in the White House?

 Mich Cafe

Hollywood Stars Join Call to Free Syrian Filmmaker

Hollywood Stars Join Call to Free Syrian Filmmaker

MICH CAFE: Orwa Nyrabia has been missing for almost three weeks. Pressure is mounting to find out where he is though it’s being led from outside the Arab world.

 Alexander McNabb

Aleppo: Favourite City Under Attack ‘Familiar Sight’

Aleppo: Favourite City Under Attack ‘Familiar Sight’

ALEXANDER MCNABB: As a long term resident in the Middle East you become used to seeing favourite places under bombardment

 James M. Dorsey

Egypt ‘Tests the Waters’ With Lift on ‘Soccer Fan Ban’

Egypt ‘Tests the Waters’ With Lift on ‘Soccer Fan Ban’

JAMES M. DORSEY: The Egyptian authorities are moving tentatively to check how radicalised football fans will react to the lifting of a ban on their attendance at matches.

 James M. Dorsey

Egyptian Football: A Litmus Test of Morsi’s Control

Egyptian Football: A Litmus Test of Morsi’s Control

JAMES M. DORSEY: The debate about soccer is as much about politics as it is about sports. It is a debate that is likely to be fought out politically rather than on the pitch.

 Common Ground News Service

Feminist Activism in Arab World: Diverse Approaches

Feminist Activism in Arab World: Diverse Approaches

HELEN RIZZO, CGNEWS: There is a surprising degree of commonality between the objectives of Western and Arab feminists

 James M. Dorsey

Arab Springs Eternal: Evolution of a Revolution

Arab Springs Eternal: Evolution of a Revolution

JAMES M. DORSEY: The civil war in Syria dominates the news the wave of protests in the smaller cities of Arab states foretells a groundswell of mass demonstration.

 James M. Dorsey

Morsi’s Power Play In Sinai, and on the Pitch

Morsi’s Power Play In Sinai, and on the Pitch

JAMES M. DORSEY: Mr. Morsi’s response to this week’s killing of 16 Egyptian soldiers by militants has allowed him to position himself as the country’s co-commander-in-chief