Before the storm
Cairo's view is that the Arabs need to get their act together as war looms ever closer. Nevine Khalil and Soha Abdelaty report on the diplomatic mood just moments before a hastily-prepared Arab summit convenes

Preempting activism
The government clampdown on anti-war activists is widening the gap between official policy and the view from the street. Amira Howeidy reports

Three more years
A three year renewal of the Emergency Law was rammed through parliament this week despite vociferous objections from opposition MPs. Gamal Essam El-Din reports

No white flags
The Intifada is not over, but it may be shifting gears, writes Jonathan Cook from Ramallah

'Halt the invasion, not the Intifada'
"Suicide" is the way Hamas's politburo chief Khaled Mesh'al described Abu-Mazen's call for "demilitarisation" in a telephone interview with Sherine Bahaa

Spill over effects
Beirut will do everything in its power to prevent a possible Israeli expulsion of Palestinians to Lebanon. Mohalhel Fakih reports

Confronting the empire
The present crisis has demonstrated the ambitions of the United States -- nothing short of bringing the entire planet under its military control, writes Samir Amin

Zero-hour approaches
The months and the weeks are over, and it's only a matter of days before America invades Iraq. Khaled Dawoud reports from Washington

Arab apathy
The Arabs are facing a situation fraught with great uncertainties. When will they stand up and be counted? Omayma Abdel-Latif asks Arab intellectuals

How much is enough?
Ankara has finally allowed US troops on its soil but at what price? Gareth Jenkins reports from Istanbul

Out on a limb
With the countdown to war under way, British Prime Minister Tony Blair may be staking his career on a dubious gamble, reports Nyier Abdou in London

A friend to all
With a few "Satans" in its own closet, Russian diplomacy is making steady gains against the backdrop of the current disarmament crisis, Shohdy Naguib reports from Moscow

Traces of poison
Israel, not Iraq, holds that distinction of being the first country in the region to use weapons of mass destruction with genocidal intent. Salman Abu-Sitta digs into a dark history

Shades of fear
The Bush administration sounds alarm bells, playing on deep-rooted fears of terrorism. Anayat Durrani reports from Washington

No bunch of fence-sitters
The old spirit of non-alignment is not in retreat, NAM has simply changed with the times writes Gamal Nkrumah

Muddling through the forex mess
Exporters and travel agents are at loggerheads with the government over the fate of their foreign currency earnings. Sherine Abdel-Razek and Niveen Wahish sift through the confusion

Paying the war price
While a short and successful war on Iraq is actually thought to be good for the global economy, the same is not true for Egypt's market. Wael Gamal reports

Pulling the carpet
Hani Mustafa speaks to Atom Egoyan, the director celebrated in Cairo's first Canadian Cinema Festival

Preludes and poems
Amal Choucri Catta strolls between executions and exhibitions

'Being among difference'
Empire old, empire new: Hala Halim reports from Los Angeles on two lectures delivered by Edward Said

Cyber Islam
As the world continues to debate the "clash of civilisations", Sherine Bahaa reports on the latest initiative of the Arab world's most esteemed religious educational institution to keep up with the times

Beads of praise
A rosary is not only a religious object with a history but, as Reham El-Adawi discovers, an ancient craft struggling to survive

House of the Nation
A hundred years after its construction, Beit Al-Umma (The House of the Nation) is a symbol of Egypt's political identity. Nevine El-Aref describes Saad Zaghloul's home, which is now open to the public

Remembering Babylon
Babylon, an early historical settlement in what is now Egypt's capital, is the heart of Old Cairo. Jenny Jobbins takes a walk round

The buck stops here
The head of Egyptian handball takes the blame for the team's dreadful showing at the world championship, reports Inas Mazhar

Zamalek on the move
Zamalek have edged closer to the football league lead. Nashwa Abdel-Tawab looks at the title chase and the week's results