Pushing for statehood
Ibrahim Nafie, writing from Washington, reviews President Mubarak's agenda during his crucial four-day American visit

Destroying Arafat's leadership
The bomb blast in Megiddo yesterday will alter President Hosni Mubarak's agenda in the United States,reports Graham Usher from Jerusalem

When the Arab Music Institute first opened its doors in 1929, it was legendary Egyptian composer and singer Mohamed Abdel-Wahab who sang at the opening night before King Fouad..--read on--

INTIFADA IN FOCUS

Egypt

The scent of a deal
Speculation that a peace deal is on the cards reached fever pitch as President Mubarak arrived in the US.Mohamed El-Sayed Said, in Washington, investigates possible agendas and interviews the Egyptian ambassador in the United States

NGO bill enacted into law
The NGO bill has been approved by the People's Assembly over strong protests by opposition parties, human rights groups, and a number of civil organisations. Gamal Essam El-Din attended the stormy debates

Fighting for civil space
The new NGO law has failed society's expectations, but the NGOs vow to battle on, reports Mariz Tadros

Region

Fiendish predicament
Pressing Arafat to carry out reform is not necessarily in Sharon's favour, writes David Hirst

'Our heroes'
Although the Israeli siege of the Church of the Nativity is over, the battle continues for two American activists. Dena Rashed reports

Judicial partiality?
Jonathan Cook reports from Jerusalem on the legal chances of ending the Israeli practice of using Palestinian civilians as human shields

Shaking Algeria's kaleidoscope
The results of Algeria's parliament elections last week proved that the rules of the state-controlled game remain unchanged, writes Hugh Roberts

International

Changing times
The FBI is undergoing radical change in the wake of the 11 September attacks on New York and Washington, writes Anayat Durrani from Washington

The heat is on
When Vajpayee and Musharraf went to the Almaty summit this week, the situation was still tense between India and Pakistan, reports Iffat Malik from Islamabad

Economy

InfoTech

Pushing ahead with reform
Sherine Nasr investigates the challenges Egypt must face in order to have a fair share of the international market

The rights way to go
The passing of the country's first comprehensive intellectual property rights law is a milestone in its path to modernisation and economic growth. Gamal Essam El-Din reports

Is CIT worth the fuss?
As the CIT sector continues to climb up the development ladder, critics are pushing for the approval of the revised communications draft law. Yasmine El-Rashidi finds out what is happening

Putting 'fast' into 'food'
On-line food delivery was meant to be the great e-bang, but reality is more mundane

Features

Heritage

Sports

Living

It's Ismaili
The players who wear the colours of Brazil became champions in their own right, crowning an electrifying season-ending finish. Alaa Shahine reports

Up in smoke?
Studies bear out the theory that smoking is the world's deadliest addiction, and that it is spreading like wildfire among developing countries. Gamal Nkrumah reports on why the global anti-smoking campaign must not go up in smoke