Neighbours in deed
President Mubarak went south yesterday, signalling that relations with Sudan have improved dramatically since a decade ago, writes Mahmoud Murad

Shameful conquest
As the US-led war on Iraq to oust Saddam Hussein's regime comes to an end, many questions remain about the future of one of the world's oldest civilisations, writes Salah Hemeid

All the king's horses
After the fall of Saddam Hussein, who will put Iraq back togerther again? Nermeen Al-Mufti reports from Baghdad

Touring the road to peace
Whether on Iraq or Palestine, the US has made it clear that it alone will name the rules of the game, Khaled Dawoud reports from Washington

US to 'punish' France
With French diplomatic initiatives multiplying in the wake of the US-led war on Iraq and occupation of the country, Washington has declared that it will "punish" France for its anti-war role, writes David Tresilian in Paris

Dina Ezzat takes a closer look at the current state of the debate on the Arab League and its secretary-general
The blame game
'It's all about political will'

Abu Mazen's enormous task
Mahmoud Abbas this week unveiled to the Palestinian parliament his roadmap to independence. It received the bloodiest of welcomes, writes Graham Usher in Jerusalem

Roadmaps and roadblocks
The region is almost on the cusp of a new order, but is not quite there. Nevine Khalil and Soha Abdelaty report on the latest developments

Democratisation debate
The ruling National Democratic Party's initiatives aimed at democratising the political system are being criticised by the opposition as more window-dressing. Gamal Essam El-Din reports

Reforming the message
Will a thought-provoking parliamentary report about the dangers of extremism make a difference on the ground?

Winning the west
Western Sudan has become a battleground as a cease-fire agreement between the Sudanese government and armed opposition broke down, writes Gamal Nkrumah

A shocking response
There was astonishment and jubilation as the Green Line that divides Greek and Turkish Cyprus began to crumble. Michael Jansen reports from Nicosia on Cypriot history in the making

Keep them out
The contradictions of international migration and the ascendant role of organised crime in moving people across borders is explored by Tamam Ahmed Jama

A threat to us all
Hala Sakr examines the causes and international ramifications of the SARS epidemic

Jobs on the brink
The war on Iraq and regional instability have dealt a devastating blow to an industry already on the ropes. Rehab Saad investigates working conditions in the tourism sector

In search of the system
Has the time come to launch a new policy addressing the plight of disabled children in Egypt? Hannah Rashdan explores some of the answers discussed last week

'Something must break'
Is the Egyptian labour movement ready to assume the role of an agent for political change? In these times of war, recession and unemployment, writes Fatemah Farag , it might still be possible