Egypt

In the face of calamity
As attempts to salvage a hopelessly deteriorating regional situation continue, Nevine Khalil reports on Cairo's reading of the state of the region

A fuzzy map
Though Cairo was encouraged by a modified American peace plan, the path ahead of this particular road map remains murky. Soha Abdelatyreports

A Challenging session
If President Mubarak's keynote speech at parliament's inauguration is anything to go by, the People's Assembly and Shura Council have their work cut out for them. Gamal Essam El-Din reports

Brothers in succession
The outlawed Muslim Brotherhood seems likely to conduct an orderly transfer of power within its ranks.Omayma Abdel-Latif reports

Region

Iraq

Ringing in the old
All the polls indicated that Israel's Labour Party would elect a "new and different" leader. He is neither new nor different, writes Graham Usher in Jerusalem

Expanding the settlements
Israel is consolidating its reoccupation of Hebron following a guerrilla attack earlier this week. Khaled Amayreh reports

Alone with the settlers
Jonathan Cook visits Yanun, a Palestinian village with much to tell about transfer and the settlers' clout

Two premiers, one party
After naming Turkey's new premier, Islamists are ready to run the secular country. Gareth Jenkins reports from Ankara

The wait before the war
Despite the war rhetoric coming daily from Washington, Iraq is likely to be given "some time" before military action takes place. Khaled Dawoud reports from the US capital

The bike shop's door
Lamis Andoni on the campaign at home to prepare for America's war on Iraq

Whither Arab independence?
Does UNSC 1441 signal the beginning of the return of imperialist armies to the Arab world, asks Basheer M Nafi

No spying this time
Nermin El-Mufti, in Baghdad, interviews Ewen Buchanan, the spokesman of The United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and Mark Gwozdecky, spokesman of The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Economy

Reinstating lost faith
The Central Bank of Egypt's decision to cut the discount rate last week was hailed as a good step, but plenty still remains to be done to boost the economy. Yasser Sobhi investigates

A financial jihad
A historic gathering aimed at expanding and regulating the Islamic banking system in the face of American opposition, was recently held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Gamal Essam El-Din attended

International

An uncertain start
Democracy has made a rather uncertain comeback in Pakistan. And, the execution of Mir Aimal Kasi in Virginia has opened up a can of worms over his illegal extradition from Pakistan. Iffat Malik reports from Islamabad

Al-Qa'eda's spectre
Tony Blair is taking the threat of Al-Qa'eda attacks on Britain seriously, writes James Corbett in London

The 'green room' syndrome
It was business as usual at the World Trade Organisation Ministerial meeting in Sydney, writes Faiza Rady

The voice of reason
On the sidelines of the launch of the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) in Kuala Lumpur, Gamal Essam El-Din spoke with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed in his office in Putrajaya (south of Kuala Lumpur).

Living

Features

Music of the soul
Singing in praise of God; what better vocation? Rania Khallaf listens to an art form that struggles to survive

Heritage

Travel

Fruitful seasons
Excavations at Karnak Temple complex have been focusing on areas hitherto little explored, with rewarding results. Nevine El-Aref takes a look

Sports

The top of Africa
North Africans Zamalek and Raja are in the final of the Champions League. Abeer Anwar reports on how they got there