The often sedate Shura Council faces a stormy two weeks before adjourning on 24 April, reports Gamal Essam El-Din

Nermeen Al-Mufti catches the vibe of Baghdad on the eve of 9 April

In any prisoner swap deal with Israel, the cards are stacked in favour of the Palestinians, writes Khaled Amayreh from Jerusalem

Is the amendment of Article 5 meant to separate religion from politics? Gihan Shahine sifts through conflicting government policies

As industrial unrest spreads, accusations of a Communist plot have bubbled to the surface. The problem, writes Karim El-Khashab, is that there is no evidence

Rubella and tuberculosis are only the latest diseases to afflict the population, Reem Leila investigates

Whereas Israel has appeared in the past as the US's main proxy in the Middle East, now it apears the relation has reversed, writes Ramzy Baroud

Iran is seizing the initiative in regard to its nuclear programme and its negotiations with the US, writes Mustafa Al-Labbad

In Beirut, Serene Assir examines the plight of Iraqi refugees, defenceless and destitute in countries that do not want them

Experts believe that several economic decisions undertaken by the government are flawed in nature and procedure, writes Mohamed El-Sayed

With fewer than two weeks to go before the French presidential elections, what might a Sarkozy victory mean for France's immigrant communities, asks David Tresilian in Paris

Pelosi's recent regional trip signals a new approach to Washington's Middle East, writes David Dumke

Recent fighting between tribesmen and foreign militants has been presented by the Pakistani government as a vindication of its strategy in the Pakistan-Afghan border regions. The reality is more complex, writes Graham Usher in Islamabad

Youngsters are learning how to be a football referee. Ghada Abd El-Kader reports on what it takes to blow the whistle