Democratic rumblings
Omayma Abdel-Latif gauges reactions to the US's new role as a "democracy broker" in the region, finding deep scepticism to be the overwhelming mood

A good catch?
Confusion surrounds the recent announcement that a high-ranking Al-Qa'eda official is in Egyptian custody. Jailan Halawi investigates

Tycoons in trouble
The government's crackdown on businessmen who defaulted on their bank loans witnessed a serious new escalation this week. Gamal Essam El-Din reports

A leftist reshuffle?
As a leading member aims to introduce a quiet sort of opposition to the Tagammu Party's attitude, some party members cry foul. Mona El-Nahhas examines the prospects

The viceroy
Continuing her series on US war hawks, Lamis Andoni traces the history of Zalmay Khalilzad

Covering history with concrete
Is Nazareth the victim of politicisation of archeology? Jonathan Cook investigates the case of an archaeological find that may rewrite history books

Hear no evil, see no evil
Israeli bullets and the scourge of poverty are the enemies in Palestinians daily struggle for survival. Khaled Amayreh reports from occupied Jerusalem

Road blocked
Bush said he is not yet ready to adopt a diplomatic "roadmap". It is another case of the US weighing Israel's interests above all others, writes Graham Usher in Ramallah

The ultras' comeback
Tensions are running high in the wake of the right-wing's electoral victory in Gujerat, reports Iffat Malik from Islamabad

Weapons of mass deception
Britain's anti-terrorism campaign exposes the British government's cynicism and hypocrisy, writes Gavin Bowd

Kissinger bows out
Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger withdraws from a commission investigating the 11 September attacks on New York and Washington, reports Anayat Duranni

Venezuela on the brink
A new challenge to Venezuela's Hugo Chavez suggests an imminent showdown. There may be more at stake than the stability of the country's oil exports, Hisham El-Naggar writes from Buenos Aires

The next Sim City
Do the US administration's grand plans for Iraq include rebuilding the country's devastated economy? John Sfakianakis asks

Pushing cotton ahead
Egypt's cotton sector has come a long way since its liberalisation eight years ago, but it has yet to strengthen its international market position. Niveen Wahish investigates

Ibn Khaldun resurrected
Amina Elbendary attends the Mahfouz Award Ceremony at AUC

Not so young and single
You're young, successful, and generally pleased with your life. But if you're unmarried, the chances are you're under pressure, says Amira El-Noshokaty