This week's battle between the Lebanese army and Fatah Al-Islam raises murky questions about the government's relation to radical Sunni groups, Lucy Fielder reports

It is imperative that Fatah and Hamas reach an accord sooner or later to prevent further infighting, writes Khaled Amayreh in the West Bank

Iraqis are being left in the dark about the real consequences of the proposed oil law Maliki and Bush are trying to impose on Iraq, writes Nermeen Al-Mufti

The NDP blocked moves to call for a vote of no confidence in the People's Assembly after the publication of a report into the sinking of the Al-Salam ferry cited deep seated corruption as one cause of the disaster, writes Mohamed El-Sayed

The NDP will be fielding candidates against itself while dissident Wafdists break their party's boycott. Gamal Essam El-Din reports on the confusions surrounding the Shura Council elections

Doaa El-Bey examines the obstacle in the way of the resumption of Egyptian-Iranian diplomatic ties

Teachers and physicians are to get a substantial financial and social boost. Reem Leila sees how this will come about

Could Egypt really serve the cause of human rights at the international level? In some ways, argues Dina Ezzat

Egypt made it on the UN Human Rights Council despite opposition from local and international human rights groups. Gihan Shahine examines how it was done

Geneva brings Dina Ezzat in contact with a Gaza never seen on the news

Turkish government actions unite opposition groups, reports Gareth Jenkins in Istanbul

The low turnout of the Algerian parliamentary polls augurs ill, reports Fayçal Saouli from Algiers

Assassinations in Somalia and Sudan bode ill for these two troubled northeastern African nations, writes Gamal Nkrumah

Middle East politics dominated this year's Middle East WEF, with Hamas denouncing Israel's high profile involvement, and the US pointing the finger at Iran and Syria. Although there was much talk of high unemployment, the economic and social initiatives were pretty thin, write Nisreen El-Shamayleh

Assem El-Kersh, in Islamabad, relays the mood of an upbeat premier

The killings in Karachi have left President Musharraf more isolated than ever before, writes Graham Usher in Islamabad

Young they may be, writes Sara Abou Bakr, but their potential for leadership is all but realised

Samir Farid reviews Cannes's 60th-anniversary special feature

Sarah Carr dodges stilts