Two deadlines
The United States could escalate the current attack on Afghanistan as Ramadan, and a deadly winter, close in

The Israeli re-conquests
Under US pressure Ariel Sharon may have been forced to retreat from his strategic designs for now. But they are on hold -- not abandoned. Graham Usher writes from Jerusalem

Opinion

Edward Said: A vision to lift the spirit
Ibrahim Nafie: The very model of a rogue state
Mohamed Sid-Ahmed: Science, technology and politics
Azmi Bishara: Mythical transformations

INTIFADA IN FOCUS

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War

Time for a policy rethink
US punitive strikes on Afghanistan have yet to flush out the enemy, but manifold and unforeseen repercussions are already evident, writes Mohamed Hakki in Washington

Give and take, American style
Improved relations between Pakistan and the United States might not be all good news for President Pervez Musharraf, writes Mariana Baabar from Islamabad

Many options, few choices
The US ground war in Afghanistan is less straightforward than it first appears, writes Galal Nassar

One problem begets the next
A proposal for the deployment of an "Islamic peace-keeping force" in Afghanistan begs the question of whether such a solution is workable, writes Michael Jansen

Annan super star
"Saint-like" for some, a villain for others, this year's Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kofi Annan remains a highly controversial figure, writes Faiza Rady

Who's doing it?
Someone, or some group, is creating an anthrax scare throughout the world. US investigators are working to find out who the culprits are. Gihan Shahine joins the search

Egypt

Economy

Monitoring suspected passengers
EgyptAir is denying reports that it refuses to cooperate with US authorities in the early screening of airline passengers. But, as Amira Ibrahim reports, the national carrier also says that the final decision on the matter rests with the government

A noble purpose, but
Will the new urge to save the world from a global recession bring more pliant developed and developing countries to the table of multilateral trade talks? Niveen Wahish seeks an answer

Region

Sharon's new era
Following the killing of Israeli minister Rahavam Zeevi last week Ariel Sharon went for the jugular. He may yet go for the kill. Graham Usher reports from Bethlehem

Police and the politics
Investigations into the killings of 13 Arabs inside Israel is turning up the heat on the country's political leadership. Jonathan Cook reports from Nazareth

Features

The (awful) truth about cats and dogs
Fayza Hassan finds that help is finally at hand for those who cannot help themselves

Taxi!
Amira El-Noshokaty finds out that hailing a cab may be just a phone call away

Travel

The spirit of Omdurman
The Sudanese capital Khartoum is where the Blue Nile (Bahr El-Asarco) meets the White Nile (Bahr El-Abiad). It is also a meeting place for people, and for an exchange of goods and culture. It is interesting, exciting, it defies superlatives writes Khaled El-Fiqi, who captured its spirit with his lens Sudan is the gateway to middle and southern Africa, so it is no wonder that its inhabitants, transitory or permanent, come from a variety of cultures.. --read on--