Bombs and fences
Neither fences, nor George Bush's likely answer to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, nor Ariel Sharon's answer to it, will stop suicide attacks, writes Graham Usher from Jerusalem and Salem

Out of sight
Four university students in urgent need of medical treatment in London have been denied visas to the UK, reports Mariz Tadros

SIX-SHOOTER: Should Senegal defeat Turkey on Saturday not only will it have become the first African country to reach the last four of a World Cup but the number of African countries in the 2006 World Cup will be increased from five to six. --read on--

INTIFADA IN FOCUS

Egypt

Reshuffling EgyptAir
Egypt's national carrier is being converted into a holding company and its long-serving chairman, Fahim Rayan, has been replaced. Amira Ibrahim reports

Enigmatic extradition
Over two decades after his conviction in absentia for involvement in the assassination of President Anwar El-Sadat, an Islamist militant has been handed over to Egypt by the US. Jailan Halawi looks into the case

G-17 versus Al-Azhar
A parliamentary debate on Sunday night was managed so as to divert an attack on Al-Azhar by Muslim Brotherhood MPs. Gamal Essam El-Din reports

Political postponements?
For the 94 suspected members of "Al-Waad" -- including a defendant recently handed over to Egypt from Azerbaijan -- the wait for trial's end promises to be a little bit longer. Khaled Dawoud reports

Region

Assassins, bulldozers and human bombs
As Palestinians and Israelis awaited a statement by Bush concerning Palestinian statehood, a new wave of violence swept through the occupied territories. Khaled Amayreh reports from Jerusalem

Adding another fence
Israel's decision to build a fence separating it from the occupied territories was met by strong opposition from Palestinians and Israelis alike. Jonathan Cook reports

Ruling over the law
How serious is the PA about reform? The case of detained PFLP leader Ahmed Saadat is viewed by many Palestinians as a litmus test. Sherine Bahaa reports

Down to the wire
Bush's much-anticipated policy statement on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict will likely satisfy nobody, and will almost be impossible to implement, Mohamed El-Sayed Said writes from Washington

International cloak and dagger
An international investigation claims to have foiled an Al-Qa'eda plot in Morocco, but investigators are keeping details of the alleged plans close to their chests, writes Mukul Devichand from London

International

War against world hunger
Leaders of the rich nations stayed away from the World Food Summit that ended last Thursday in Rome, but their counterparts in the underdeveloped world attended in record numbers with Africans meeting to discuss a continental economic rescue plan. Samia Nkrumah attended and spoke to the Ghanaian leader

Gearing up for the G8
After last year's fiasco in Genoa, the upcoming G8 Summit will be held in a remote Canadian resort. Gamal Zayda from Montreal examines its agenda

Writing on the wall
As Africa gears up to adopt the New Partnership for Africa's Development, Gamal Nkrumah asks whether NEPAD really can be an effective blueprint for the continent's survival

Victory to the right
In a landslide victory for the centre-right at last week's parliamentary elections, French voters approved Chirac's agenda of tax cuts and tough line on crime and immigration, writes David Tresilian from Paris

Economy

Budget priorities in the balance
Liberal-oriented MPs have berated the government for drawing up a budget that they allege espouses 'socialist' objectives in an age of liberalisation. Gamal Essam El-Din reports

Foreign aid or band-aid?
Egypt should maximise its use of available foreign aid, but, with a long history as a recipient, must avoid falling into its traps, argues Talaat Abdel-Malek

Features

Heritage

Travel

Looking for the unexpected
Buried in a Muslim stronghold is the oldest church in Iraq. Nermin Al-Mufti visits the ruins

Sports

Shaping up as the best
This World Cup is not sticking to the script. Making at least the first round arguably the best ever

1952-2002