Marked for liquidation
This week's bloody events announced the death of the unilateral Palestinian ceasefire, reports Khaled Amayreh in Hebron

Nowhere to turn
US officials say there is no option but to try to revive the roadmap while insisting on dismantling Palestinian armed resistance groups, Khaled Dawoud reports from Washington

Iran in the crosshairs
British-Iranian tensions have climbed yet another notch following the arrest by British police of the former Iranian Ambassador to Argentina, writes Mustafa El-Labbad

What Iraqis want
Arabs need to do more to help Iraq in its reconstruction process, writes Salah Hemeid

Wanted: dead or alive
The arrest of two of Saddam Hussein's closest and most ruthless aides closes a chapter in the book of repression for Iraq's Kurdish population, writes Nyier Abdou

Against the occupation
Although a previously unheard of group claimed responsibility for the bombing of UN headquarters in Iraq, the US believes it is an "inside job". Michael Jansen reports from Baghdad

Going after the big fish
Tony Blair's government looks increasingly vulnerable in the harsh glare of daylight, reports Alistair Alexander from London

NDP doing damage control
With its first annual conference less than a month away, the ruling NDP is facing an unprecedented attack on both political and economic grounds. Gamal Essam El-Din reports

Just business?
Political blowback from a recruitment campaign for security personnel in Iraq has caused the government to suspend it indefinitely. Omayma Abdel-Latif reports

Egypt:

Rethinking militancy
Why has the change of heart on the part of Al-Gama'a Al-Islamiya's jailed leaders been given such extensive press coverage? Jailan Halawi investigates

Spinning Nefertiti
A British Egyptologist who claims to have identified the mummy of the legendary Queen Nefertiti is accused of breaking the Supreme Council of Antiquities' protocol. Nevine El-Aref reports

Economy:

S&P downgrades Egypt's credit rating
The credit rating of Egypt's local currency debt was downgraded, the outlook for the foreign currency is appraised as negative. Sherine Abdel-Razek reports on the reasons and repercussions of those moves

Modest modernisation
The current government plans for Egyptian industry are much more about renovation than modernisation, writes Salah El-Amrousi

Sports:

Uniting for Africa
The NBA and FIBA will bring together Africa's top-100 basketball players for a historic joint-venture basketball camp, community outreach programme, and new reading and learning centre in South Africa. Inas Mazhar writes