A parliamentary pause
President Hosni Mubarak interrupted his speech during the opening of parliament yesterday owing to "severe flu", reports Gamal Essam El-Din

No pressure
Senior NDP officials vehemently denied that American pressure was playing a role in the party's recent political reform initiatives. Gamal Essam El-Din reports

Forcing resistance
Washington has resorted to a show of force against insurgents in Iraq. But will it help crush resistance, asks Salah Hemeid

Against sectarianism
Iraqi political figures have welcomed America's new strategy in Iraq, although some problems remain. Omayma Abdel-Latif reports

Building from the ruins
While the Palestinian Authority settles on another cabinet in Ramallah, Hamas delivers governance in Rafah. Graham Usher reports on the new Palestinian order

Terror strikes Turkey
Two bombings in Istanbul on Saturday killed 25 and wounded over 300. The ostensible target was Turkey's tiny Jewish community, but the majority of the victims were Muslims. Gareth Jenkins reports from Istanbul

The reality of war comes home
Italy is reeling from the shock of receiving the mortal remains of 19 Italians killed in a suicide bomb blast in Iraq, reports Samia Nkrumah from Rome

Lynch mob
The Jessica Lynch ordeal has stirred debate over the Pentagon's spin tactics as well as a media hungry for white heroes. Khaled Dawoud reports from Washington

Egypt:

To explain, not to embellish
In his first exclusive interview, Taha Abdel-Alim, the new head of the State Information Service, talks to Fatemah Farag about creating a credible media source

Blood in vain?
Rights groups are crying torture. But, asks Amira Howeidy, is anybody listening?

High time for patients' rights
Will a recent Doctors Syndicate endorsement of Egypt's first "Patients' Rights" document trigger more positive change for health care? Hala Sakr looks for answers

Economy:

Banking on the interbank
Despite government promises, a mechanism that could help solve Egypt's forex market problems has failed to materialise. Yasser Sobhi investigates

Back to the WTO
Egypt is heading regional efforts to get the multilateral trade negotiations which collapsed in Cancun back on track. Niveen Wahish reports